Things They Don’t Tell You About Quitting Smoking

    

June 11th, 2011: Day 23

Just mention that you’re thinking about quitting smoking and you are bombarded with information. My HMO has many pamphlets, seminars, classes and group therapy at my disposal.  However, they don’t cover everything. I don’t know if it’s oversight or their way of protecting you.

Regardless, these are a few of the little things that I have discovered along the way…

  1. When you remove yesterdays  nicotine patch, in its place there is a red-ish square outlined by dirty glue. This makes it easy to follow the instructions “place next patch in a different area on your skin”. In fact, you will not put a patch back on that area for a week because the glue outline remains there after daily showers and soap. Only Mary Kay Sugar Scrub and exfoliating gloves will get this crap off.
  2. The first week you are full of energy, so get as much done as you possibly can. Weeks 2 and 3 you are exhausted and too mentally unbalanced to get anything done.
  3. Do not expect people to notice you. Do not take this personally.  Not smoking is very much on your mind, but  no one else is thinking about it.
  4. Avoid airports. As you wait in the security line and then at the gate 1.5 hours before your flight, you will hear it at least 27 times. “Blah blah blah…There is no smoking inside the terminal… blah blah blah”. Thank you so much for reminding me I can’t smoke. Over and over and over. It’s torture.

That’s all I can think of now. There are more things I’ve learned, but the forgetfulness has kidnapped my brain again.

TTFN…

Diary of a Nicotine Addict: Day 6

May 26th, 2011

Dear Diary,

I’m doing better in the morning now. But after lunch I really want to smoke. In between tasks I want to light up and “reward” my self for a job well done.

I need to learn to reward myself with something good for me. Instead I want something really good, but not for me, ya know? Like sugary desserts, highly caffeinated beverages, and very expensive beauty treatments.

ChocolatesAs a hyperactive diabetic with no money, those treats are not for me. Just when a girl could start feeling sorry for herself, Whitman came out with a sugar-free Sampler. I got a box for my birthday and it even has the map inside the lid so you know what you’re gonna get (unlike Forest Gump’s chocolates).   And, if you are wondering – they taste wonderful!

There happens to be a disturbing side-effect with sugar-free chocolates & candies, however. If you eat too many you can end up, well…, in trouble. Trouble of the ‘RUN FOREST RUN’ kind.

At least this takes your mind off smoking…

The Post I Enjoy the Most

(Hey, that rhymes!)

I have not read every blog (yet), but “Aging and Other Inconveniences” makes me laugh out loud, and Lord knows I need that!  Aginggal, the creator of Aging and Other Inconveniences, is not afraid to tell it like it is – even if “it” is something we don’t want to think about actually happening to us.

My favorite post (so far) is  Retirement Plan: Prison – a must read, especially for us Baby Boomers! And while you’re on her blog, check out Gray Hair “Down There”.

You will want to use the bathroom before you visit this site.

Trust me...