Boo

I was looking at a couple of things on YouTube and accidentally clicked on a video of a couple of chucklenuts on TV doing something called the "In My Feelings Challenge." I just realized that not only am I at a place in my life where I no longer understand pop culture, I don't give a tinker's damn about any of it. I'm perfectly content with not being "cool" or "hip."

Party time for Doreen! Same time, same place?

Great job Martian. Congratulations on seven months.

One month down and a lifetime of freedom ahead. Proceed.

Good work Octain. Congratulations.

Puff your chest out. Dance a jig. However you choose to celebrate...you've earned it. Congratulations on taking your life back.

We lied to ourselves. We buried our head in the sand. However...We knew. We didn't want to acknowledge it, but we knew. There was always an underlying anxiety that went with being a smoker. Knowing full well that we were killing ourselves, but choosing to continue out of fear and doubt. I don't miss carrying that weight on my shoulders. Good riddance to deadly addictions.

Strength work this morning: Front Squats, Incline Bench Press, and Atlas Swings. Did some supplemental work: Racked Farmer's Walks and Kettlebell Presses. As for Saturday...I'm gonna get some sleep. Have to remind myself that adequate rest is a vital component of the whole healthy living thing.

It helps to remember that the only reason we feel the way we do in those early days is because we smoked. Smoking is the cause. Quitting is the cure. Better days are straight ahead. Drive on JackiMac.

This too shall pass. A couple of low energy days in reward for a lifetime of freedom...It's a good trade. You're doing great Nikki.

Yep.

26,100 (rough estimate) coffin nails on the pyre. Now, let's just enjoy the campfire...

Good job Nikki. You've officially started a process that will reward you many times over. Buckle up, knuckle down, and drive on.

Strength work this morning: Deadlifts, High Boy Rows, and Farmer's Walks. Did a bit of supplemental strength/mobility work with the kettlebells: Halos, Windmills, and Get-Ups. Finished up with intervals on the rower. That's it! Instead of getting fat, I can simply say that I'm adding resistance for bodyweight exercises. Get fat enough and every walk is a loaded carry...Genius!

I was eating lunch this afternoon. There was an old man in the restaurant with his little granddaughter. The kid looked to be about four years-old. Seeing the interaction between the two of them, the little girl talked and giggled a lot and the grandfather hung on her every word smiling the whole time...that put a smile on my face.

Great job Catlover. Thumbs up!

I tried some of those willpower quits. Never had any success with them. My head wasn't in the right place and eventually my willpower reserves ran out. Then I found this site. From there, I read Allen Carr's "Easyway to Stop Smoking" and started watching Joel Spitzer's videos. Slowly but surely, the way I thought about smoking and my relationship to cigarettes started to change. Eventually, I stopped fighting it all together. I let whatever smoking thoughts came to mind happen, observed them, and let them pass. There's no willpower needed when you stop fighting it. Education and commitment are the foundation of a strong quit. Willpower and motivation are too fleeting and fickle to be trusted.

Congratulations Wee. Enjoy the Lido Deck and bask in the sweet nectar that is freedom.

Did some rucking on the trails near my house (4.4 miles / 65 pounds). I should have been more clear when I wrote "homemade." A very nice older lady that lives down the road from me has been delivering housewarming gifts. So far she has made us homemade banana pudding and a red velvet cake. If I can get the recipes from her, I will pass them on to you. In the meantime, I'm trying to figure out how much added energy expenditures I will need to avoid becoming fat as a bear with all this delicious food being delivered.

There was talk of acquiring Duvall before the season started. The price was finally right. Not a blockbuster kind of deal, but he does add a bit more power in the lineup. Against left-handed pitching, the Braves will move Acuna to center and play Duvall in left. Removing Ender from the lineup and sparing us all the uncomfortable display that is Inciarte trying to hit against southpaws. Los Bravos also picked up Kevin Gausman from the Orioles. Again, not a blockbuster deal but a move that does have the potential to improve the rotation a bit. If Gausman proves to be a relatively solid starter, Atlanta can move Julio Teheran back into the bullpen. A move that would be a win/win.

Have you tried vigorous exercise when the cravings hit and the anxiety starts to snowball? It worked for me a couple of times during the early days of the process. Glad you didn't smoke, but be careful about flirting with disaster. It was a cool song, but not a good blueprint for quitting smoking.

Did my strength work this morning: Front Squats, Incline Bench Press, and Atlas Swings. Added five sets of Push Press, did a bit of core work(Hanging Leg Raises and Landmines), and finished up with 15 minutes of mobility work. I didn't graze this weekend, but I did go after some homemade banana pudding like I was trying to destroy the evidence. I quit smoking. I quit drinking. I still can't control myself around homemade banana pudding. Knowing your weakness is the first step in doing something about it.

A buddy of mine that lives in Mariposa had to leave home last week. Last I heard, he towed his Airstream up to Oregon and is planning on trying to wait things out up there. Terrible situation. Godspeed Golden State.

Bingo! Great post NOPEster.