Progress Update

Well, I am officially on Phase 2 of my Quit Smoking Plan. This is the phase where I focus on the habitual aspect of my smoking. During Phase 1 I focused on reducing my body's dependence on nicotine. I found Phase 1 relatively simple. Phase 2 seems like it is going to be a little harder. The saying that "bad habits are hard to break" holds true. But aren't all habits hard to break? If you stop and think for a few moments, how many things do you do throughout the course of a day out of habit? If you look up the word habit at dictionary.com, you will find that the first definition is "an acquired behavior pattern regularly followed until it has become almost involuntary". The key word in the definition is 'involuntary'. A habit is something you do unconsciously...without thinking about it.

Smoking is a hard habit to break. I am finding that out now. There are so many times that I find myself going out for a cigarette without even thinking about it. It just kind of comes naturally. The trick to getting through Phase 2 and 'kicking the habit' is going to be to consciously think about my smoking. I think what I need to do first is to slowly work on cutting out 'unnecessary' cigarettes. I know that sounds a little silly...unnecessary cigarettes. Aren't all cigarettes unnecessary? But seriously, there are times I find myself having a cigarette when I really do not need one. These are the first cigarettes that I am going to work on cutting out. Wish me luck!

A Dilemma

I decided to increase the number of perforations from 3 to 4. By doing so, I have entered the last step of Phase 1 of my quit smoking plan. So far I have found transitions to more perforations quite easy. The first day or so after I start using an additional perforation is a little hard, but not bad at all. It just takes some getting used to.

Now that I am on the last step of Phase 1, I will start to slowly work on Phase 2. If you have not read my quit smoking plan, in Phase 2 I focus on the habit of smoking. I will work on training my mind that I do not need cigarettes to get through life. I will start by cutting out cigarettes that I don't need. For example, when I walk across campus, I do not need a cigarette to make it to my destination AND a cigarette to make it back to my office. I have already begun to cut some of these cigarettes out. When I am at work, I no longer carry my cigarettes with me. I leave them on my desk.

So here is my dilemma. I am just now starting Phase 2 of the plan. And I only have 2 packs of cigarettes left. I could just say that after these 2 packs, I am done smoking. But I also think I should spend some time working on Phase 2. If I just stop smoking after these 2 packs, I think I will fail. I think the withdrawal and cravings will be too much for me to handle. I know that even after I complete Phase 2 that there will be some withdrawal, but I don't think it will be as severe.

In order to work on Phase 2, I will need cigarettes. But I am tired of paying the high prices for cigarettes. I also do not want to buy more cigarettes than I will need. I am used to buying cigarettes by the carton. Maybe I should start buying a few packs at a time. I guess I could try that and see what happens. Well, I think I just solved my dilemma. I will just start buying cigarettes by the pack.

Quit Smoking and Gain Weight

When people think about quitting smoking, one of their concerns is that they will gain weight. One theory is that when people quit smoking, they need something to help with the oral fixation. This makes sense since smoking is an oral habit. When you take away cigarettes, the smoker needs something in their hands and mouth, and many smokers turn to food. But what if the weight gain was not just because you tend to eat more when you quit smoking? What if there was another reason for the weight gain?

I came across an article on Yahoo News yesterday that I found quite interesting. The article, "Smoking may boost 'fat-depleting' gene", discusses the possibility that a gene that is thought to control weight and break down fat is more active in smokers than in non-smokers. If you are interested in reading the full article, click HERE.

While we are on the subject of gaining weight when you quit smoking I want to share some other information that I found interesting. Did you know that nicotine is an appetite suppressant? Or that heavy smokers can burn up to 200 calories a day by smoking? These are 2 more good reasons why smokers gain weight when they quit.

But please, don't continue to smoke because you are afraid you are going to gain weight if you quit. That is just an excuse. One of the main reasons to quit smoking is for your health. Exercising is also good for your health. You do not need to go to the qym and workout for hours on end. Get out and go for a walk. Be active. Don't sit in front of the TV eating junk food and make yourself miserable because you no longer smoke. Get out and enjoy life. And if you do feel like you need to eat, eat fruits and vegetables.

Breaking the Habit

My quit smoking plan has 2 parts. In Part 1, I am working on the addiction to nicotine. This simply involves reducing the amount of nicotine in the cigarettes that I smoke. Part 2 of my quit smoking plan involves working on the habitual part of my smoking. There are times that I find myself lighting up a cigarette, not because I am craving one, but because of habit.

Although I was planning on getting though Part 1 before I start focusing on Part 2, I decided to start Part 2 a little early and start working on the habit. I always have a pack of cigarettes with me. When I am at work, and have to walk across campus, I make sure I have them with me. Here's the problem. When I have to walk to another building across campus, I find myself smoking a cigarette on the way to my destination and another cigarette on my way back to my office. Even if the trip only takes 30 minutes. Kind of stupid, right? So, instead of keeping my cigarettes with me at all times while I am at work, I keep them on my desk. I might have a smoke when I am going from my office to somewhere else, but since I don't have any with me, I can't smoke on the way back. Although it sounds simple, it is another step to becoming smoke free. I will continue to look at other times that I can go somewhere without taking my cigarettes with me.

Little by little, I will eventually be a non-smoker.