Day 3, Positive Headed Into The Weekend

Day three and I face the weekend with enthusiasm. Aside from slipping a bit on my goal of fourteen cigarettes for the day I feel very positive about my prospects. (My biggest trigger is now crystal clear. How to deal with it is something I need to work out.)

Yesterday evening I grabbed my green bag and walked to the grocery for a few things. It's a trip I have made many times and like clockwork I know exactly when to light up so I'm done by the time I arrive at my destination. It's a three plus block walk past some local shops and bars and I decided to leave the cigarettes at home. Well, not only did I actually enjoy the walk I noticed the people on the sidewalk smoking and thought "that was me" and how unhappy and frankly unhealthy they looked. I felt good, not superior, just good. And I have not completely quit yet so I am really enthusiastic about the future.

Day 2, Reflection on my first day.

So far so good.

I enrolled in the GetQuit online support plan provided by Pfizer. I don't yet know how helpful it will be but I figured it can't hurt. There are daily activities and the first was to log each cigarette smoked and a few details. Like many, I've tried to quit before and one concept that is consistent is that of "triggers." Looking over my log for yesterday I see a big trigger: interaction with my "ex." (We have recently separated; it was a difficult and painful relationship.) In one hour I managed to smoke as much as I had in half a day. Otherwise I did pretty well and came in 2 cigarettes under my goal.

That goal was to reduce consumption by two a day for ten days prior to my quit date assuming a pack a day habit. (I fibbed when I claimed only a pack so I've had to be more aggressive than cutting two a day.) Still, I am on track and feel an unexpected sense of accomplishment and satisfaction.