Boo

Welcome aboard the Quit Train Betty. Congratulations on reclaiming your freedom. When you take smoking off the table and refuse to cater to addiction's every whim, the voice of addiction quickly fades from a roar to a whimper.

I'm feelin' easy on a Sunday morning...take it away fellas.

I'm here. In fact, this month marks four years that I've been here. That's enough time to get a college degree or serve one-term as President of the United States. I've certainly gotten an education being here and I think my approval ratings are better than any American politician. Vote for Boo 2020!

Listening to Cash, my black lab, bark. When we got home this afternoon, spotted three wild turkeys in the backyard (two hens and a jake). This set Cash off in a frenzy of running in circles and barking. The sun has set and the turkeys left, but Cash is still out back barking. He's a good dog but he won't listen to reason.

Welcome aboard Britt. Hold on to that line of thinking. Hold on tightly if needed. There is only one incontrovertible rule in this process: DON'T SMOKE! If you adhere to the rule, you're good to go. My personality didn't change much after I quit. My lifestyle changed dramatically. The process of quitting led to me facing some uncomfortable truths and shedding some comfortable delusions in my life. This in turn provided the swift kick in the ass I needed to get myself out of the rut I had settled into. Quitting smoking impacted every facet of my life and I am forever grateful to the process. Strength begets strength. Confidence begets confidence.

If you're stuck in a hole, the first thing you do is stop digging. If your addiction to cigarettes is diminishing the quality of your life, stop smoking cigarettes. The slavery of nicotine addiction is self-imposed. You can walk away from it with a commitment to never smoke again. The choice is yours. Always has been, always will be.

I will keep it brief... If you are looking to lose weight, nutrition must be your primary focus. Exercise is a part of the equation, but there is no way to exercise enough to overcome a bad nutrition plan with the goal of losing weight. Track the food you eat. It is boring and tedious. It is also necessary. Everyone thinks they know roughly how many calories they consume on an average day. Most people underestimate how many calories they actually consume. Incorporate strength training into your exercise routine. Strength training is far more effective at positively affecting body composition than hours of mindlessly trudging away on a treadmill. Exercise is not just something you do at the gym for a few hours per week. Find ways to be more active throughout the day. We're not going for intensity here. We're simply going for consistency of movement. Don't obsess about numbers on a scale. Focus on making lifestyle changes instead.

Congratulations Sammy. Celebrate and enjoy, you earned it.

Congratulations on the new position Saz. If called upon to be Barney Fife to your Andy Taylor...I will answer the call.

Congratulations Jordan. High Five!

Congratulations on keeping your quit Beachmom. You faced down the urge to smoke and stayed true to the commitment you made to yourself. Those are the moments where rock-solid quits are built. Good job.

Congratulations on seven months of freedom HKB.

Taking the cigarette out of the equation does not render anything enjoyable less enjoyable. There is no truth in the idea of smoking adding to our quality of life. It is a lie we agreed to accept to justify our addiction. Everybody here believes you can quit. We know for a fact that anybody can quit. Leave the past in the past. Great success stories are often built on a foundation of earlier failures. But do you want to go back to being a smoker? You decided to break that cycle for a reason. Think about why you smoked, why you knew you needed to quit, and be 100% honest with yourself. Making long-term decisions based on short-term feelings rarely ends well.

Sitting around feeling bloated. Started the day off with healthy activities: climbing and hiking. Ended the day with less than healthy activities. We stopped at a little greasy spoon type joint where I proceeded to eat a cheeseburger the size of my head and a double serving of potato salad. Gluttony always seems like a good bit of fun until the gas and heartburn kick in.

You're among friends here. We all took the same ride you're on now. What sounds crazy to some is just a trip down memory lane for us.

Don't forget the senior discounts. My dad milks those for all they're worth. He flashes his AARP card around like it's some kind of badge.

Pissing on command is tough. Any time I have to take a physical, I drink a bunch of water beforehand. Go in on a full tank. "Yes sir, just fill out these forms and the doctor will be with you soon." "Can I go ahead and get one of those cups? I'm ready to go!"

Attitude is important and commitment is vital. Don't put added pressure on yourself by feeling the need to stay "positive" and "happy" at all times. There will be times when you want to smoke. It's to be expected. There may well be times when you feel a bit out of sorts during the early days of the process. That too is to be expected. It takes a little while for the mind and body to adapt and regulate. Just remember the one and only incontrovertible rule of quitting smoking: DON'T SMOKE. Adherence to this rule will carry you through the highs and lows.

Good job Joe. You committed to your quit and trusted the process. And now, it's all coming together for you. Stay the course and enjoy the ride.

The slavery of nicotine addiction is self-imposed. The moment you ash out the last cigarette and commit to never smoke again, you're free. You have a choice to make. You can continue to smoke and continue feeling tired and trapped, a cycle that will continue as long as you continue smoking. Or, and this is by far the superior choice, you can stop smoking. Make a commitment to yourself. Be relentless with that commitment. Reap the many benefits of being smoke-free. The challenge of quitting is a rewarding process. The challenge of continuing to smoke is a dead end loop.

In time, the body and mind adapt to a life without nicotine. The thrill-a-minute roller coaster ride that is the early days of the quit settles into a more stable ride. Eventually, not smoking becomes second nature. This adaptation should be welcomed. Motivation and excitement cease to be a part of the process. We don't smoke because we don't smoke. Good call Sunshine.