***I TOLD MYSELF: I can eat, drink and do anything I want while I get through the first month of not smoking. Do not feel guilty about any pizza or ice cream and DO NOT CARE about gaining weight. It's more important to breathe and not get lung cancer/heart disease one day.***

Here is what I've felt so far:

First few days: dealt with cravings. chewed a lot of gum. resisted urges to take my cigarette breaks, smoke after eating, while in a bar, around other smokers, etc.

Day 4-5: Quit taking Wellbutrin also. Headache and chest pain, but almost no real craving (just habitual thoughts). Lungs felt a little painful, but the good kind of pain, like a muscle that has been exercised.

Day 6-7: some coughing and continued chest pain, but able to breathe deeply more easily. Habitual cravings also subsiding. Drinking wine with 4 smokers on Saturday night, their smoke actually irritated me. They toasted me for sticking with it, ha!

Day 8-9: Slight headache, chest pain has moved to upper back and neck pain, VERY UNCOMFORTABLE, but the thought of smoking makes me feel worse.

Day 10: Had dry heaves in the shower this morning. Back pain still there but less. Had lunch with a smoker friend and ALMOST caved in. So glad I didn't. Had a hot fudge sunday instead. Later tonight noticed my sensitivity to smells (ex: air pollution) is more keen.

Day 11: Didn't sleep well last night. Very restless with dreams about boiling water and setting off fireworks. Maybe slept a total of 3-4 hours. Back pain almost gone, but now feeling light-headed with a funny taste in my mouth. Feeling warmer too, a few sweaty moments today. A co-worker said I looked like I got some sun over the weekend, when in fact I was simply flushed. Also a bit constipitated and moved down a notch on my belt, but that's probably from my increased appetite and too much pizza and ice cream.

***I've been telling everyone I meet that I have quit smoking. Smokers and non-smokers both have been very supportive. Regardless of the negative symptoms, overall I'm breathing easier and see light at the end of the tunnel. Cravings for cigarettes are pretty much gone.

Day 12: Back pain is gone. Funny taste in mouth subsiding. Cravings practically zero. Didn't even notice my friend smoking after dinner while I reached for a stick of gum. I can't believe how fast I've gotten over this. My muscles feel more flexible, as if I can roll my shoulders and turn around without feeling so stiff. My sense of smell is more sensitive! I was very irritated by air pollution on the way home tonight and catching whiffs of other smokers' made me wrinkle my nose! My body temp is up, I'm less cold.

Appetite is also up and I'm forming a little belly and some saddle bags, because I'd given myself permission to eat and drink anything while going through cigarette withdrawal.

I thought it would take a month to get over cigarettes. I still can't believe in less than two weeks I'm already looking ahead to my diet and planning for a short fast in the coming weeks. I feel inspired.

:-D

P.S. As for "Jones," I have't seen him and have been dating a lot, but still feel hurt by him. Although less and less hurt as time goes by...

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