Enter At Your Own Risk

GoodEnuff said:
Bubbles?? And what kind of treats that are not food?? Absolutely YES to the "keep busy".

My relationship with food is very much like the addiction to cigarettes. I have learned over the years to deal with it most of the time. But I know that if I slip up just once, it'll be a battle thereafter. Can I have just one puff of a cigarette? NO! Can I have just one slice of pizza or one cookie? NO! Even fruit can trigger a binge.
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Small stashes all over. Portioned stashes of food.

Books, magazines, nail polish, meet with a friend for coffee, ... .
 

GoodEnuff said:
I have seen what diabetes does to people. I choose the black lung. Well, not anymore. It is a struggle to maintain weight AND stop smoking but I will do my best.
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For me, the worst thing about a diabetic crash is being dead on my feet for days afterward and unable to think, feeling generally unwell. Now my vision suffers the effects too. Binges to be avoided at all costs, I agree.
 
Pepper said:
The hardest part for me is the ritual of smoking, how to break that.
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Absolutely.

Pepper said:
Eating a bit more doesn't equate to diabetes.
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This is very correct. It's the "bit more" that is the tricky part. A bit more twenty times a day turns into a lot more. And oftentimes, that first bite turns into a binge and it won't be a binge of carrots. I have the greatest admiration for those who can, though.
 
Quit Day 19 (with crazy thoughts):

If I were told I had cancer or some other terminal disease, on the way home from the doctor's office I would stop and get an extra large pizza with everything on it (except anchovies and pineapple), candy bars, cookies, soda, McDonald's fries (super size it, twice), a cherry pie, ice cream, hot fudge, caramel sauce, two family size bags of salt and vinegar potato chips, and a carton of cigarettes. Have I forgotten anything? Oh! A loaded baked potato! And a pound of bacon.

I am determined not to pick up another cigarette. I have accepted the fact that I will be miserable, maybe for a few years, without my BFF cigs. Why am I doing this now, for cryin' out loud? 57 years of smoking and now at age 73, I decide to do this? Isn't it just a little bit late?? Would it be cheating if I stood downwind of a smoker?

Today I go see the doctor who told me that vascular disease is caused by three things: Smoking, smoking and smoking. I will ask him, "Well, if that is the case, then why have I been taking statins for 29 years?"
 
GoodEnuff said:
I am determined not to pick up another cigarette. I have accepted the fact that I will be miserable, maybe for a few years, without my BFF cigs. Why am I doing this now, for cryin' out loud? 57 years of smoking and now at age 73, I decide to do this? Isn't it just a little bit late?? Would it be cheating if I stood downwind of a smoker?
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Yes, I admit, I think it's weird but incredibly admirable. Sorry to say, you might always miss cigarettes. I know I do, and I have a sore throat from an upper respiratory infection; couldn't smoke anyway, but think about it all the time.

I often, purposely, inhale smoke from smokers on the street. I love the smell. I grew up with cigarettes, my father heavy smoker. I lost him to small cell lung cancer. He was a teenage 65
 
GoodEnuff said:
Quit Day 19 (with crazy thoughts):

If I were told I had cancer or some other terminal disease, on the way home from the doctor's office I would stop and get an extra large pizza with everything on it (except anchovies and pineapple), candy bars, cookies, soda, McDonald's fries (super size it, twice), a cherry pie, ice cream, hot fudge, caramel sauce, two family size bags of salt and vinegar potato chips, and a carton of cigarettes. Have I forgotten anything? Oh! A loaded baked potato! And a pound of bacon.

I am determined not to pick up another cigarette. I have accepted the fact that I will be miserable, maybe for a few years, without my BFF cigs. Why am I doing this now, for cryin' out loud? 57 years of smoking and now at age 73, I decide to do this? Isn't it just a little bit late?? Would it be cheating if I stood downwind of a smoker?

Today I go see the doctor who told me that vascular disease is caused by three things: Smoking, smoking and smoking. I will ask him, "Well, if that is the case, then why have I been taking statins for 29 years?"
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Now split that cart of groceries into manageable increments. There is nothing wrong with a baked potatoe. Just don't overload it and add something green on the side. I discovered cubed air fried sweet potatoes with chilli and yoghurt.
 
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I gave my stepfather, who had emphysema and was going through misery resisting smoking, large tootsie rolls & flat suckers for something to put in his mouth to suck on when the temptation to smoke was very strong & they helped, but his want/temptation to smoke never left him.
 
Elsie said:
I gave my stepfather, who had emphysema and was going through misery resisting smoking, large tootsie rolls & flat suckers for something to put in his mouth to suck on when the temptation to smoke was very strong & they helped, but his want/temptation to smoke never left him.
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He did not become overweight.
 
GoodEnuff said:
Quit Day 19 (with crazy thoughts):

If I were told I had cancer or some other terminal disease, on the way home from the doctor's office I would stop and get an extra large pizza with everything on it (except anchovies and pineapple), candy bars, cookies, soda, McDonald's fries (super size it, twice), a cherry pie, ice cream, hot fudge, caramel sauce, two family size bags of salt and vinegar potato chips, and a carton of cigarettes. Have I forgotten anything? Oh! A loaded baked potato! And a pound of bacon.

I am determined not to pick up another cigarette. I have accepted the fact that I will be miserable, maybe for a few years, without my BFF cigs. Why am I doing this now, for cryin' out loud? 57 years of smoking and now at age 73, I decide to do this? Isn't it just a little bit late?? Would it be cheating if I stood downwind of a smoker?

Today I go see the doctor who told me that vascular disease is caused by three things: Smoking, smoking and smoking. I will ask him, "Well, if that is the case, then why have I been taking statins for 29 years?"
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19 days is great! You're doing it!!!!!!!!!! 👏
 
Twostep said:
Have you gone over it with your doctor?
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Doctors know very little about nutrition. The NP asked what I was doing and when I told her, she nodded. They are about as much help with that as they are with smoking cessation. I know what is good and what isn't; the problem is I am an eating addict in addition to smoking. I can't eat just one, nor smoke just one cigarette. It's just hard.

After the doctor's visit this morning, there will no cheating on either diet or cigarettes. None. Not one puff, not one bite (of the wrong things). Never. On the way home, I purchased a treadmill. Back to that and as much as I can stand. If I keep my weight down and if I never take another puff, and walk at least 30 minutes/day, I may be able to avoid more surgery.

I also picked up the lower dose nicotine patch. Will wean off that much faster than recommended. It's not as bad as a cigarette but it isn't good, either. So the next few weeks will be tough but wth, won't be the first time.

My very best to all you supportive peeps! Thanks so very very much!
 
Quit Day 20:

Today will be a little busier than normal. The space where I placed the walking pad, the only place it would fit, is now a mess. I have to move and rearrange some furniture to make this work, get rid of all the packing material, etc. Today is trash pickup day; hooray for that. I used it for a bit last night and so far, I am satisfied with it.

Smoking is no longer a choice. Somehow that mindset makes it easier. So far.

Woke up at 3:30 am. I think I'll go back to bed.
 
Quit Day 21:

Managed 30 whole minutes on the walking pad yesterday, at just a normal walking speed. The first 5 minutes were painful but after a few short stops, it actually became much easier. The rest of the day felt pretty good, surprisingly. The doctor said 30 minutes every other day. I am tempted to try every day. Why not, as long as I feel okay?

I switched to the lower dose nicotine patch on Tuesday. This morning, I removed it and will see how that goes. Nicotine replacement is better than cigarettes, but NO nicotine is best.

For dinner last night, I baked a spaghetti squash and topped it with a mexican-style topping of black beans, Rotel tomatoes, onion, poblano pepper, and zucchini. A one cup serving of the topping only is 130 cals and it was actually quite tasty. Top it with an ounce of cheddar and a tablespoon of greek yogurt and it's 330. I am not too wild about spaghetti squash, no matter how you mask it. The bean mixture was pretty good, though. I think I may add more beans as it seems very tomato heavy and the beans will add more protein. Maybe add a little ground beef or chicken to it for variety. And toss the spaghetti squash.
 
GoodEnuff said:
Quit Day 21:

Managed 30 whole minutes on the walking pad yesterday, at just a normal walking speed. The first 5 minutes were painful but after a few short stops, it actually became much easier. The rest of the day felt pretty good, surprisingly. The doctor said 30 minutes every other day. I am tempted to try every day. Why not, as long as I feel okay?

I switched to the lower dose nicotine patch on Tuesday. This morning, I removed it and will see how that goes. Nicotine replacement is better than cigarettes, but NO nicotine is best.

For dinner last night, I baked a spaghetti squash and topped it with a mexican-style topping of black beans, Rotel tomatoes, onion, poblano pepper, and zucchini. A one cup serving of the topping only is 130 cals and it was actually quite tasty. Top it with an ounce of cheddar and a tablespoon of greek yogurt and it's 330. I am not too wild about spaghetti squash, no matter how you mask it. The bean mixture was pretty good, though. I think I may add more beans as it seems very tomato heavy and the beans will add more protein. Maybe add a little ground beef or chicken to it for variety. And toss the spaghetti squash.
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Pan fry your mix and top a baked potatoe with it.

I have thought about a walking pad. As I gave the monster tread mill away it will take some convincing SO. What make/model did you get and why? Thank you.
 
Twostep said:
I have thought about a walking pad. As I gave the monster tread mill away it will take some convincing SO. What make/model did you get and why? Thank you.
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I’m curious about this too, Goodenuff. Downsizing is always in the back of my mind.
 
https://www.dickssportinggoods.com/p/walkingpad-denise-austin-2-0-double-fold-treadmill

It is also on Amazon, same price. I prefer buying something like this in person, not online. Keep in mind that I was a gym rat for some years and am accustomed to high quality, commercial equipment.

1. Size. Space here is very limited.

2. Availability. Not much choice and it was in stock. Also, Dick's said if there's a problem with it, I can return it to their store.

3. Quality. Keep in mind that it is a "walking pad", not a "treadmill". Weighs just over 80#, so not too cheaply made. It seems to be heavy enough to resist falling apart the first week, unlike the less expensive models. Weight limit is 240#. It has side handles to hold onto, not just a bar at the front. It does not incline, and I doubt it would be good if you're a runner as the belt seems a bit light weight. I would prefer something that would survive hard use but that would be foolish for me.

This will work, at least for now. I have used this twice, once for 6 minutes just to make sure it works, and once for about 35 minutes. It is easy to use and doesn't feel like it wants to kill me.

4. It comes assembled. I was able to set it up by myself, not easily but manageable.

The next size up at that store was WOW! It was a real treadmill, not a LOT larger, footprint wise. Drool, drool. I stepped onto it and thought, "Oh, yeah!" I asked how much it was. The girl said, "Well, it's a Pelaton." I stepped right off.
 
Quit Day 22:

I downsized the nicotine patch from 21mg to 14mg. I could tell the difference but it was manageable. Yesterday, I removed it and tried no patch. Went to town, found myself standing in WalMart wondering why I was there. Went back to the brain fog, light-headedness, etc. Came home to tough it out, thinking I shouldn't even be driving, made it home but later in the day put the 7mg patch on. Better. Will do this lowest dose patch for a few days, then try no patch again, but NOT on a day when I have to drive or use heavy equipment (joke) or power tools.

I have read a lot on smoking/nicotine withdrawal and everybody calls this "brain fog". Brain fog my A**. Have you ever seen somebody who is really high on something and is just sitting in a corner, staring into nothing? Basically Unresponsive? That is what brain fog is like, for me. I had gone to Wmt for a few items, with a list, and there I was standing in the women's clothing department just staring at nothing. Thinking of nothing, except I felt a little dizzy. Thought, "Am I going to pass out?" Shook my head and realized what was happening, headed to the checkout and got out of there. This part of the whole process is actually frightening. Some articles say this can go on for months! This can be dangerous!

Giving up is not a choice. Hopefully, I will survive the months-long withdrawal.
 

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