Skippy71’s BodyBlog

Well…time’s moving fast I have to admit.  Christmas is just 2 days away and then 2008 is only a week past that.  I can’t believe how fast this month has ripped past.

That having been said, that means I have just 9 days remaining before I (knock on my bald-ass head) join the ranks of the non-smoker. I’ve faced a lot of challenges in my life and have overcome most of them (I’m still alive aren’t I?) but I have to admit, I have mixed feelings about this one.  Part of me is looking forward to being able to conquer this, and experience the financial and health gains that will certainly result.  The other part of me is asking myself "How the bloody hell am I gonna pull this one off?" and is already furiously chomping away on my finger nails in…well, let’s call a horse a giraffe…outright panic.

I’ve tried most of the gimics before.  Pills (they made me horribly ill), the patch (worked one day and then something about the adhesive caused the worst allergic reaction on my skin I’d ever experienced in my life - bleeding welts under the site and my whole arm felt like it was on fire).  Hell, I’ve even tried laser therapy and hypnosis (both were good for about a week each and cost more for the sessions than 3 cartons of coffin nails).

So here I am…a little over a week away…wondering what I’m gonna do to keep myself busy and my mind off it. I’m taking the first week of January off of work so I can seclude myself at home, but I can’t spend the whole week in the gym (as much as I might like to).  My wife and kids have to take the chance on being around me at some point. LOL.

So…I’ll be going cold turkey on this one and I’m wondering if any of you have given up this dreadfully disgusting and expensive habit?  I’d love to hear your stories on this one, find out what - if anything - you used to cope with the first few days of withdrawl.  From what I hear, those first 4-5 days are the most crucial, as the nicotine is filtered from your system.  You get through that first week and your half-way there, then it just becomes a matter of willpower.  So I’ve heard.

I’m gonna use this section as a lead up to my quitting smoking, and beyond.  Been working on my transformation plan for almost 5 months now and I think its finally time to give up my worst habit.

Been a smoker for more than half my life (started when I was 16 and I’m now 36) but I really want to be in the best shape of my life, this seems to be the next logical - and a necessary - step. 

So over the next few weeks, this will be the area I use specifically to - at first - psyche myself up for what will be one of the biggest challenges of my life, and then - after the 1st - to vent my spleen and take my shit out on whatever as the withdrawl takes hold.

Consider yourselves forewarned lol.