I need to congratulate myself------ Well Done Bill--- as I have now passed the six month anniversay of not having a cigarette.. I really am chuffed about this as I see it as a major milestone along the short lifecycle I have left in front of me. Being 60 years old and acknowledging I have far less time ahead than behind I can at least recognise that I finally did something concrete to try and extend my life before the feet finally loosen their grip and one falls off the perch.
I am feeling somewhat better, my wallet is fuller, my daughter is looking forward to seeing what her father actually smells like without nicotene, I can now smell a cigarette at 15 metres, and my food is tasting better. Thius is still somewhat of a pity as it also means I am enjoying it more and am struggling to shed the 8 kgs I have put on. I remain committed to working on it.
Maybe the upcoming trip to the US, UK and Greece will assist in a lifestyle change in food. This trip is now only 1 week away and is the reward for giving up the cursed nicotene. WE will be staying with Al and Ant in the UK so they will be able to see how I have managed to control my temper and overcome the bad habits that go with smoking.
I dont intend to blog again until I return from the trip so enjoy this, my final blog for a couple of months.
Saturday, 15 August 2009
Wednesday, 8 July 2009
I HAVE NOT FALLEN OFF THE PERCH
For those who may have believed I had fallen off the perch through my lack of blogging I can assure them that all is well. My toes are able to grip the perch very tightly when required.
I can also assure them that I continue to be nicotene free and the time period now exceeds 5 months. This remains an astounding result as I now rarely think about smoking and nicotene. There are some interesting outcomes evident as a result of giving up smoking, the primary one being there is so much money in my wallet at the end of each week that my Bank Manager now wants to talk to me. I might add that I did expect there to be some significant improvements to my health albeit some benefits should be apparent much further down the track. I remain surprised that my taste has not improved as I expected to be able to taste all my food more. This has not really occurred. I have put on some weight but I was totally aware I let my food intake increase until I was able to be sure my nicotene requirement had abated. Now I have started to work on the weight increase which was just on 8 kilos. At the insistence of Shirl the Girl I have commenced a daily walk starting at 30 minutes whoch I hope to gradually increase.
I have also been doing some increased level of work in the yard including paving and fencing which must have been some assistance.
I am trying to limit my food intake and have virtually reduced the level of carbs by eliminating pasta,breads and potato. This is difficult and I really believe more difficult than giving up smoking.
Future blogs will include weight updates as well as a nicotene position.
Bill the blogger.
I can also assure them that I continue to be nicotene free and the time period now exceeds 5 months. This remains an astounding result as I now rarely think about smoking and nicotene. There are some interesting outcomes evident as a result of giving up smoking, the primary one being there is so much money in my wallet at the end of each week that my Bank Manager now wants to talk to me. I might add that I did expect there to be some significant improvements to my health albeit some benefits should be apparent much further down the track. I remain surprised that my taste has not improved as I expected to be able to taste all my food more. This has not really occurred. I have put on some weight but I was totally aware I let my food intake increase until I was able to be sure my nicotene requirement had abated. Now I have started to work on the weight increase which was just on 8 kilos. At the insistence of Shirl the Girl I have commenced a daily walk starting at 30 minutes whoch I hope to gradually increase.
I have also been doing some increased level of work in the yard including paving and fencing which must have been some assistance.
I am trying to limit my food intake and have virtually reduced the level of carbs by eliminating pasta,breads and potato. This is difficult and I really believe more difficult than giving up smoking.
Future blogs will include weight updates as well as a nicotene position.
Bill the blogger.
Tuesday, 26 May 2009
HI HO HI HO ITS OFF THE CIGS WE GO
The confusion regarding the counter has not been clarified but I have decided to leave the counter set to the New Year which is when the actual return date to Australia is anticipated.
In speaking with the daughter the ticketing will be purchased in August as originally planned subject to me still being nicotene free in August.
Cravings seem to be subsiding with less and less thoughts about cigarettes occuring on a daily basis. Reality around food has set in though and I can assure people that one side affect is the need for food. My weight has increased by 5 or so kgs in the past month so I need to sit myself down and have a good think about an approach. Might be a good time to renew friendship with the couch on the back verandah. I could utilise the couch as a sounding board as well as a place of solace.
In speaking with the daughter the ticketing will be purchased in August as originally planned subject to me still being nicotene free in August.
Cravings seem to be subsiding with less and less thoughts about cigarettes occuring on a daily basis. Reality around food has set in though and I can assure people that one side affect is the need for food. My weight has increased by 5 or so kgs in the past month so I need to sit myself down and have a good think about an approach. Might be a good time to renew friendship with the couch on the back verandah. I could utilise the couch as a sounding board as well as a place of solace.
Thursday, 21 May 2009
SOMEONE MOVED THE GOALPOSTS.
I can see that the clock counting down the time to purchase airline tickets has secretly slipped out from less than 80 days to now a much greater 220 days. It now coincides with the expected ( well stated) return date.
It does not matter what time is on the clock as I will continue to remain nicotine free irrespective of the time.
Holding back any craving is getting easier and I find that I think less and less about nicotine or cigarettes day by day.
I dont think I am biting peoples heads off but I leave that aspect to be judged by and commented on by others close to me. I guess my wife, Shirl the Girl, would be the best person to comment here.
It does not matter what time is on the clock as I will continue to remain nicotine free irrespective of the time.
Holding back any craving is getting easier and I find that I think less and less about nicotine or cigarettes day by day.
I dont think I am biting peoples heads off but I leave that aspect to be judged by and commented on by others close to me. I guess my wife, Shirl the Girl, would be the best person to comment here.
Tuesday, 12 May 2009
DOES 13 WEEKS EQUAL 3 MONTHS?
Yesterday was 13 weeks since I made a decision to kick the nicotine habit
Yesterday was 14 weeks since I started to add a prescription drug into my body.
Yesterday I had a craving for a cigarette but I let it pass just as I had done for the past 13 weeks.
Yesterday I was 1/4 of a year nicotine free and I am sure my body must be celebrating. I know my lungs are as now they dont wheeze at me every morning.
I finished my supply of Champix a weeks ago and to date dont see any marked difference with regards to nicotine cravings. In fact it is probably not even considered a craving, more a " I wonder what they taste like now".
I must say I dont believe I could have got through this without Champix. They provided me with a comfort blanket support. I must have been lucky as I did not see any noticeable side affects-certainly none of the more serious ones that have been written about through various sources.
Lets face it- who would not feel some level of depression when you were giving up smoking after 45 years or whatever the time was. I enjoyed smoking, so taking it away did piss me off a little but it was never any level of depression.
The strange thing is that I now have a really bad taste in my mouth. It comes from bleeding gums. I went to the dentist and he decided my teeth needed cleaning and the time was right with the cessation in smoking. Two sessions of pain and polishing and I now have gums that bleed all day and night- not much but the constant taste is terrible. ( Could this be considered another one of those side affects of giving up the nicotine)
I will now manage by future blogging to intervals of 1 month to provide a regular update.
It will be as lonely as my relationship with my couch on the back verandah.
Yesterday was 14 weeks since I started to add a prescription drug into my body.
Yesterday I had a craving for a cigarette but I let it pass just as I had done for the past 13 weeks.
Yesterday I was 1/4 of a year nicotine free and I am sure my body must be celebrating. I know my lungs are as now they dont wheeze at me every morning.
I finished my supply of Champix a weeks ago and to date dont see any marked difference with regards to nicotine cravings. In fact it is probably not even considered a craving, more a " I wonder what they taste like now".
I must say I dont believe I could have got through this without Champix. They provided me with a comfort blanket support. I must have been lucky as I did not see any noticeable side affects-certainly none of the more serious ones that have been written about through various sources.
Lets face it- who would not feel some level of depression when you were giving up smoking after 45 years or whatever the time was. I enjoyed smoking, so taking it away did piss me off a little but it was never any level of depression.
The strange thing is that I now have a really bad taste in my mouth. It comes from bleeding gums. I went to the dentist and he decided my teeth needed cleaning and the time was right with the cessation in smoking. Two sessions of pain and polishing and I now have gums that bleed all day and night- not much but the constant taste is terrible. ( Could this be considered another one of those side affects of giving up the nicotine)
I will now manage by future blogging to intervals of 1 month to provide a regular update.
It will be as lonely as my relationship with my couch on the back verandah.
Thursday, 23 April 2009
10 blogging weeks
Yesterday was a milestone - it was a full 10 weeks since I had a cigarette. Thank god for those Champix tablets. I am still holding out and its still relatviely painless. I have ebough tablets for another 12 days and then it is all up to me as the tablets must stop for a while.
Wednesday last week was another milestone- I achieved the remarkable age of 60- not bad for someone who had been smoking for over 45 years. I intend many more years in the future but dont ask me how many.
For those following this blog I am please to announce that my relationship with the couch on the back verandah has been reestablished. We are back together again albeit not quite as full on as it used to be. It must be working out OK as I am not hearing any complaints from the other party at all.
The next milstone will be the clock winding itself down to lass than 100 days before my beloved daughter needs to make a committment and go book her travel back to Oz. How much I am looking forward to it-oh so very much.
Wednesday last week was another milestone- I achieved the remarkable age of 60- not bad for someone who had been smoking for over 45 years. I intend many more years in the future but dont ask me how many.
For those following this blog I am please to announce that my relationship with the couch on the back verandah has been reestablished. We are back together again albeit not quite as full on as it used to be. It must be working out OK as I am not hearing any complaints from the other party at all.
The next milstone will be the clock winding itself down to lass than 100 days before my beloved daughter needs to make a committment and go book her travel back to Oz. How much I am looking forward to it-oh so very much.
Sunday, 5 April 2009
I AM FALLING DOWN
Not regarding my capacity to refuse a cigarette but to blog. I thought it about time as another week has passed without the taste of a durry. The pang does not go away, only yesterday I had to do some serious talking to myself to convince me that I did not want/need or desire a cigarette.I got over it OK. Maybe my body has started to realise that there is no nicotene in my system so it was calling out for something to happen. On Tuesday is will be 8 weeks so I am very encouraged by this.
I have a birthday coming up soon and for some people,its special to reach 60 but for me I treat it as another day. Its another day of life where I ponder how lucky I have been with with my health over the past 60 years. Nothing major, nothing really stopping me doing what I wanted to do, and certainly nothing which has been life threatening. If we have our health and we have our family, then we have everything.
I have a birthday coming up soon and for some people,its special to reach 60 but for me I treat it as another day. Its another day of life where I ponder how lucky I have been with with my health over the past 60 years. Nothing major, nothing really stopping me doing what I wanted to do, and certainly nothing which has been life threatening. If we have our health and we have our family, then we have everything.
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