out of the woods

9:32 pm. it has now been a full 48 hours since I have had my last cigarette. according to the literature i was able to google for quitting, this now means almost 90% of the nicotine has effectively been flushed from my body. i can no longer blame physical factors for any cravings i will have in the future and i'm sure they will be many.

so far, things have been alright. i have my nicorette handy which helped me quit a few years ago for nearly 4 months. i pop a piece in my mouth about half an hour before i would usually have a cig and voila! cravings disappear. or at least that's the idea. truth be told, the gum is far worse tasting then cigarettes ever were, but i'm very committed this time and will not give in. i'm still going out for a little walk around the block during break times so that i don't notice the absence as much. i'm drinking lots of water to help the oral fixation. and everytime i feel the urge i remind myself of my reasons. a trick i learned was that most cravings last only 10 minutes, so you tell yourself if you still want a cigarette ten minutes later, you will have one. it's amazing, but it passes and then you can go on with your day.

one thing i did forget about is exactly what craving feels like. the closest thing i can liken it to is a feeling about where my diaphragm is. it feels empty. or like the muscle really wants to do something, like inhale. it's different than hunger or thirst, as neither of those things will satisfy. but, i feel like i really can manage my withdrawal and feel positive about things.

i also launched phase 2 of the butt out program. i have begun to rollerblade again. i bought myself a snazzy pair on the weekend and went out tonight, ipod cranked, through the alleys and lanes of taipei. 30 minutes later, i was ready to collapse but i feel pretty good. i plan to keep up this regiment at least 3x a week in order to improve my lungs and lose some of this winter weight which has found its way 'round my mid-section. damn cream-based soups. i figured not drinking for the month would make me lose some, but instead i have been treating myself to some nicer restaurants on the weekends...turkish, indian, greek...all delicious with rich sauces. all which don't help the waistline.

oh well. i do love food and rich sauces so what can you do? i'm on my way to a healthier lifestyle at long last. i don't know where all these good ideas are coming from but i hope they keep a-coming.