Sharing is good...

I just wanted to let everyone know that I now consider myself a non-smoker!!!

I found this out this weekend when one of the people that I work with asked me for a cigarette & I was like I don't smoke. There are stages to quitting & shifting to non-smoker that just amuse me.

1. Baby-Step: The one where you don't want to be near anyone cause you are still on the fence about what you are trying to do & think what's one more...

2. La-La Step: The fingers in the ears, don't want to even hear about people going out to smoke a butt cause you still want to inhale it...

3. Smelly Step: You are sitting in traffic with the windows down & you realize that something smells bad and you find out it's the person in front of you wailing a butt...

4. Lifesaver Step: This one includes eating bags of minty lifesavers at a time. Be careful of your dental work & remember to drink fluids...

5. Blah-blah Step: You realize that you start talking about all the things that you used to do & then smoke. Realizing that you are ok with not doing them anymore...

6. Blah Step: You are tired, a bit irritable & definitely don't want to smoke, just sleep...

7. Non-step: You realize that you have gone days without talking about smoking, don't really miss it, can make it up 3 flights of stairs without getting winded & have cut down on the lifesavers...

I am really happy that I did this & was as successful as I have been. It's been like 5-6 weeks now & I am ok being around people while they smoke. I can drink without thinking that I want one. I can work, drive & play on the computer without even noticing that I am not smoking. My biggest thing is that it really wasn't as hard as I thought that it was going to be. I smoked for 17 years & was always worried that it would be really tough to quit. I was aided by Zyban (which I think that I lasted 3 weeks on even though they recommend longer). I guess all you need is a lot of drive, willpower & some meds to help you start...