With one week down and the rest of my life to go, I've observed the following changes as a non-smoker:
1. I have zero coughing. (this contrasts greatly with incessant coughing)
2. Even if they aren't smoking I can now smell a smoker in the bus, metro, elevator, or even just passing on the street. Like little smoke saturated incense bodies walking around. Ick.
3. Who knew food smelled and tasted so good?
4. Strange, but I feel less angsty when the patch is affixed to the left side of my body.
5. Smoking in restaurants is gross.
6. I've seen more movies in the theatre this week than I have in the last 3 years combined.
7. I ran all the way up the stairs out of the subway yesterday and was barely breathing hard. I couldn't do this a week ago. I would have had to stop before reaching the top.
8. Weight is being gained. (May or may not be related to number three)
9. While food is smelling so much better, other less desirable smells have also become stronger. I've gagged a couple times this week from (I'll let you imagine the kind of) odors.
10. I alternately lust after and find disgust with cigarettes. The body lusts, the mind finds disgust. Sigh.
Good for you. Stick with it. Except #8. But that'll pass once you get over the hump of trying to quit.
ReplyDeleteI was going to say another added benefit of not smoking is not tasting like a cigarette when kissed, but since your partner's a smoker ... that's not going to be as noticeable.
Congrats. Keep it up!
ReplyDeleteJane
Excellent, and you didn't listed 20 negative points ;)
ReplyDeleteKeep going, you're over the worst!
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm noticing #9 alot too. I keep checking my shoes to see if I've stepped in something, but it's not me.
And I didn't see Psycho's comment - he's right! You're not bitching as much as you could be.
ReplyDelete:)
I'm astounded by all those changes within a week. Good for you for hanging in there, and thank you for continuing to blog through it all!
ReplyDeleteYeah you sound mellowed out, must be the way to go.
ReplyDeleteSo which fils have you seen?
how are you doing so well while still living with a smoker? i commend you there, it seems that would make it all much more difficult.
ReplyDeletei know this sounds like such a grandma thing to say and that you really don't know me from eve, adam or a hill of beans (another grandma thing to say) but i'm really proud of you, r.
Its working.... When i quit the thing that I loved the most was that when I woke up in the morning I didn't have to hack out a giant ball of brown phelgm. It was such a pleasure to wake up and not have my mouth taste like an ash tray.
ReplyDeletecool. good for you :)
ReplyDeleteSounds like you are doing great...It all sounds good to me, except for the weight gain :(. Up until now I've only used "the patch" on really long flights.
ReplyDeleteWelcome to the wonderful world of the non-smoker, Tornwordo. I'm so glad to see you're already focusing on the positives (well, mostly positives) instead of what you're giving up.
ReplyDeleteKeep up the good work. We're all rooting for you!
I always said that my eye sight improved when I quit--I could spot a smoker a mile away.
ReplyDeleteAs long as your mind still finds disgust, that's the most important thing!
You should be so proud of yourself. I hope that you continue to succeed.
ReplyDeleteWelcome to the world of Good Health.
All of these (except maybe 8 and 9) sound great! Good for you, TornWordo!
ReplyDeletere: your comment on my site ...
ReplyDeleteWhat kind of shot do you like?
(Yeah, actually the bars can be smoky here too -- depsite the no smoking law ... i guess they get an exemption or something ...
... but they're not as bad as they used to be.)
I cannot believe how calm you sound, when I quit I was a raving lunatic for at least a couple of weeks!! I'm proud of you!!
ReplyDeleteYeah Torn!!!
ReplyDeleteIt's only going to get better from here on...
and the extra weight? Big deal. It's not like a couple extra pounds will make you less cute. Besides, a non smoker is automatically allowed 10 extra pounds in my book. One cancels out the other in the shallow pool of judgement.
Keep it up!
It's hard to beat nicotine, but the fact that you're noticing these great benefits has to make it a bit easier. Hang in there. It's worth it!
ReplyDeleteThe last and hardest thing you need to conquer is breaking the habit. It's difficult to get by all those times where you just automatically reach for a cigarette because it's smoking time - not because you actually want one.
ReplyDelete