I QUIT!

Yup, that's right, eight years ago today, I quit smoking.

That's more than 58 THOUSAND cigarettes I have not smoked. And, at today's prices, that's roughly $150 per month I don't suck into my lungs.

I'm not one of those folks huddled in a doorway on a freezing winter afternoon, puffing away on a cigarette. I'm not one of those folks standing in the rain for a nictoine fix. I am a non-smoker.

I used Zyban to help me quit. Since then, I've read a lot of "testimonials" from folks who used Zyban who said that they still wanted a cigarette after taking Zyban. As if it was some sort of magic wand. Zyban never was marketed to make people quit smoking -- it was marketed to mask the withdrawal symptoms while in the process of quitting. I responded very well to Zyban. I was very energetic, my mood was way up, and I felt really, really good! The kids kept saying they were going to ask the doctor to keep me on it permanently. To this day, I would sing the loudest praises from the highest mountains for Zyban. It truly got me through that time.

Of course, I can't not give myself credit. You can't stop smoking unless you really WANT to, and you have to want to quit for the right reasons. You can't want to quit because you should, or because it's too expensive, or because the kids or your spouse rag you to quit. It has to be your terms, in your time, and for your own reasons.

I'm proud to say that I have not had any occasions where I have fallen off the wagon. That's not to say that I haven't been tempted a time or two but, in the end, I've stayed off them and feel that I am healthier for it.

The day I quit smoking, I weighed 138 lbs. Today I weigh 175 lbs. This is the drawback to smoking cessation and I know some folks that have actually gone back to smoking because of the weight gain. While I realize that my weight is not healthy, I still cannot comprehend the thinking that smoking is desirable over weight gain. While my weight is unhealthy, I'd still have to believe that I'm healthier than if I hadn't quit smoking. Weight is more easily controlled than a nicotine addiction.

Speaking for myself, and ONLY for myself, I know that my weight gain and current unhealthy weight status is due to laziness and lack of interest in doing anything about it.

So, I've decided that today I need to start working on that weight -- it's time to stop making excuses about quitting smoking, take some accountability, and literally get my ass (all of it) moving - again.

Wish me luck.....

Also, if you get a chance, check out the intellect test. I'm surprised I scored as high as I did -- I always figured I was a dumbass! LOL!

7/9 Intellect You are 56% knowledgable and 84% intellectual.

Excellent! You have a powerful mind backed by a good amount of knowledge. Keep cracking books and nothing can stop you.

My test tracked 2 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender: You scored higher than 99% on knowledge You scored higher than 99% on intellect

Link: The Knowledge vs. Intellect Test written by rattytintinface on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the 32-Type Dating Test