Day 71: June 23, 2007, and Today's TIP

I have just taken on a new assignment and as a result, I have been extremely busy this past week. Unfortunately I have not had the time to keep my blog up to date. The good news is that I am still Nicotine FREE.


I lost track of my current day count until today. On one hand this is a good sign. When I quit smoking, I had no intentions of counting all the days I have been smoke free. I'm just glad when I have another day behind me.


I knew Friday was a "weekly" anniversary so it wasn't very difficult to calculate how many days I've been nicotine free. 10 Weeks and still going strong.

Today's TIP - Please HOLD

It's quite clear that surviving 10 weeks is proof that my physical well being does not depend on having nicotine in my system. I occassionally experience "nicotine triggers" when I see someone lighting up a cigarette. Thanks to my Nicotine QUENCH Plan, I have no problem dismissing the idea or thought of even wanting to have a cigarette.

The only true battles that remain are psychological. Knowing this, it's relatively easy to circumvent the "nicotine triggers" by maintaining my Nicotine QUENCH Plan activities. I am still chewing my favorite gum and I have not experienced any negative side effects since I quit (even my weight is back to normal).

I am more focused on the benefits I now enjoy since I quit smoking. The thought of lighting up a cigarette is easily "quenched" by the gains I have achieved. I think the biggest gain is the freedom I now enjoy.

I don't have to put my life on HOLD for a few minutes every waking hour. It's not just the time I was losing that matters but the time everyone around me lost as well. How many people do you put on hold just so you can have a cigarette.

Take your life OFF HOLD and enjoy living. The benefits of quitting last a life time. ENJOY.