OT Day One (Again)

Today was my first day off of cigarettes for about the millionth time.  I can't tell you how many times I have found myself reaching for one and then remembering that I'm not smoking.  But I have also have periods of time where I haven't thought about it for a while.  I have done this so many times so I pretty much know what to expect.  The Chantix helps but doesn't totally take away the desire.
I'm a little worried about weight gain.  I know that sounds strange since I am underweight but I just hate the thought of watching the scale going up.  I have never really gained weight intentionally before and it just seems wrong.  In the past whenever I was gaining I avoided all scales and stayed in denial as my clothes got tighter.  I understand that quitting smoking can lead to weight gain even if the diet stays the same.  I guess I'll just have to get through it.  I'm not eating more, in fact I haven't been that hungry today.  I did buy some sugar free hard candy to suck on if the cravings got bad but I had one and it tasted nasty so that won't work.  I wish they had sugar free suckers around here.
The funny thing is that with the Chantix I didn't even enjoy smoking.  It tasted like dirt.  It's just the habit of lighting up and putting it in my mouth that I miss.  I need to find something to do with myself so I won't think about it.  If it isn't too cold tomorrow I might go for a bike ride.
Tazzie is doing good.  She doesn't seem to be in pain which is good.  But now it looks like another one of my dogs needs surgery.  Tazzie's daughter Princess has Cherry Eye.  I guess I was lucky for a long time.  Tazzie never was sick before and had only gone to the vet for shots.  JJ has been sick a few times but nothing serious.  I basically made it 11 years without any major problems with my dogs.  I hope this is the end of their health problems.  I sent an email to the vet asking if I could get some kind of multi dog discount and haven't heard back.  It doesn't hurt to ask anyway.
Not really looking forward to the holidays.  They suck when you are broke.  I was never really a big holiday fan anyway.  I've made an effort for the kids but my heart just has never been into it.  This is my first Christmas since my mother has been gone so that is hard.  The rest of the family is estranged.  I really don't have any reason to have a relationship with my brother and sister now that our parents are gone.  I wi**** were different but it isn't.
I hope everyone is enjoying this time of the year. 

Hurray for you for not smoking.  It will help your health in so many ways.  When I quit years ago, I kept telling my self, if I don't smoke today, I can not smoke tomorrow.  And then it was a week, then a month, etc. 

Hope your dogs will stay healthy.  At times the vet gave me a farm discount for the horses and donkeys if I had a lot done at once, other times no discount.  My dogs are 15, 12 and 12 so health issues are either here or coming.  Ziggy, the 15yr old has some liver issues and I don't think she will be here forever.  She just stops eating and then we feed her people food and she will eat again.  Now she waits for the good stuff and we feed her whatever she will eat.  She is 15 and dying.  If it keeps her here a little longer and she isn't in pain, so be it. 

Good luck not smoking. It is the best thing you can do for yourself, trust me I have been there.  The chantix willhelp with the cravings but may also make you not hungry (food cravings) so make sure you are eating even if you are not hungry. You do not need your weight to drop lower!

Tazz
Sounds like ou're having a hard time right now.  I'm sending some hugs your way.

Quitting smoking is very hard - but it will be worth it, as it will really help you heal much faster.  Good luck

My surgeon told me that the reason  he won't operate on a person's hernia if they smoke is because they are almost guaranteed to return with a smoker.  He told me the percentage and I forget what it was but it was high.

Congratulations on day 1.  I know how hard that can be.  I quit for several years then picked it back up and was so aggravated with myself.  Had to go through it several times before I finally quit for good.  I know I can't touch one today or I would be hooked again!!

Hope your puppies all get better soon. I know we spend a lot on our pets and it can be quite expensive pretty quickly.

Linda

Congratulations on quitting smoking!  I have been off them for four years and although its much easier now, I wouldn't want to even have a puff for fear of starting.  I used the Nicoderm inhalers (and my husband is on them now, 4 weeks without a cigarette, YAY) and I found them to be terrific!  You get the little hit of nicotene, and  the habit of hand to mouth all taken care of at once.

All the best!