Tuesday, January 24, 2006

Hooray For Grandma!

A Happy Little Boy

Several weeks ago I realized that I was chain smoking, mostly while on this computer. I decided it was time to address both the blogging addiction as well as the smoking addiction.

I've quit (smoking) twice before by going cold turkey, and felt I wanted to try a different method this time.

I decided against the gum or the patch, why keep nicotine levels high? Reduce the nicotine, and reduce the craving!

Then I saw a documentary about severely overweight people having stomach surgery done, and began thinking... Why are these people going through intense medical procedures to reduce the size of their stomach? They know that post-surgical consumption of food is limited, and that this is where the weight loss comes from. Why don't they skip the middleman and just do the diet?

Relating this to my smoking, I thought "Why not cut down, then cut down again and again until I'm no longer addicted?"

To date, I've cut down my smoking to half of what it was.

I keep the smokes out of easy reach, along with a log. I do not allow myself a cigarette until a specific time period has been attained.

If I start jonesin' I run in place, take a walk, or do stretches.

I'm trying to avoid the things (like blogging) where I'd normally be sedentary and smoking.

My husband is doing the same thing! We've decided to spend the money we're saving on something fun... and believe me, it's a lot of money!

The first item on the agenda is a flatscreen TV for our video games. The second toy is that Nikon D70 I've been waiting on.

I'll still be blogging occasionally while going through this process, after all I am allowed some fun, however I won't be online so frequently.

Most likely, I'll be out in the fresh air taking a walk.

28 Comments:

Blogger shana p. said...

I JUST told all 4 people who read my blog to come over and say we miss you!!!! Good luck, I know how hard quitting smoking is.... I have no intention of finding out how hard quitting the internet is, though...

1:03 PM  
Blogger SierraBella said...

cheesecakey!
How cool, I might get some new blog visitors!
So far, the cigarette slow-down has been almost too easy. I'm about ready to cut back to the next step... in maybe another day or so.

1:59 PM  
Blogger Squirl said...

Woo hoo! Good luck on the smoking cessation. I miss you out here on the blogs, but if that's what it takes for you to quit smoking, then go for it!

My word verification is goaln. Not sure what the n is but goal can't be a mistake. :-)

2:09 PM  
Blogger The Q said...

Oh SierraBella, I'm so happy for you and Mr. SB!!!! No joke, I was just thinking about you today, hoping you were doing ok. I see that you're doing MORE than ok, YEA!!!

Obviously, being an asthmatic (with lungs like a smoker of some 30+ years ~ sad isn't it and I never had the pleasure of smoking one cigarette?), I wish that everyone who HAS a choice (to not smoke or smoke) chooses the "breathing better" option as I don't have the choice.

I think that's a wonderful thing you guys are doing for yourself (health and TV/Camera wise) as well as for your kids and grandson!

Oh I cannot WAIT 'til you get your D70 :-)

2:27 PM  
Blogger eclectic said...

Hurray! **sending "no-nicotine-craving" vibes your direction! Glad you're around still!!

3:01 PM  
Blogger Nina said...

Good for the both of you! While I miss ya here, I understand. Keep up the good work!

4:00 PM  
Blogger shana p. said...

jeez, I forgot to say how much I love the grandson pic!!!!!

9:53 PM  
Blogger Kat said...

YAY for you! Keep us updated. Now that I know you aren't going to completely disappear from the blogging world, I promise not to panic again! :)

5:50 AM  
Blogger Meadow said...

Good for you! I'm impressed!

I tried the cutting down thing and it worked for awhile but then I fell off the wagon.

Funny thing is I really don't want to quit smoking altogether, but I would like to get it down to no more than two or three a day. I'll add that to my list of to-dos. :)

Peace

11:04 AM  
Blogger SierraBella said...

squirl-
Thanks for the support!
You always seem to get such good word verifications... goal indeed!

soozieq-
Yep, we're doing more than OK!
After I posted this yesterday, I began making the rounds (blogwise). I visited almost half my blogfriends, and should be getting to your place sometime today!

eclectic-
Thanks for the vibes!
I'll be around, just not so much as before the holidays.

indiaiynke-
Yeah, I was afraid of getting addicted to the patch, or the gum... all I need is another addiction!
I know what you mean by no such thing as a "former" Marine, I have two of them in my life!

nina-
Thanks!

cheesecakey-
I thought you'd like the grandson pic!

kat-
You're so sweet!
I'm sure I'll be updating on this.

goddess-
I'm already much happier with just cutting down, and hope to not fall off the wagon.
My goal would be satisfied with maybe two smokes a day... one with my morning coffee and one after dinner. My husband is thinking if two per day is all you're smoking, one might as well quit, but I'll jump that bridge (or not) when I come to it!

11:57 AM  
Blogger Katy Barzedor said...

Good on ya!
If I can do it, honey, YOU certainly can.

Pop-Tarts help. Trust me on that one.

1:00 PM  
Blogger SierraBella said...

bucky-
I've been thinking about you!
Dang, I used to like the original brown sugar and cinnamon Pop Tarts without the frosting, but haven't seen those in years.
I'm heading out to the local market to pick up some sunflower seeds in a few minutes...

1:50 PM  
Blogger Sylvana said...

Yay!! Good for you. Really GOOD for you!

I have never smoked...
BUT, I did have a Mt. Dew addiction. I have tried several times to quit but the longest that I have been able to go is around a year.
This time I tried too new things: the addition of a substitute and the attachment of negative thoughts to the object of my addiction.
I would crave one whenever I heard someone pop the top on a can of soda. But instead of grabbing one, I made sure that I had canned iced tea on hand. I could have the feel of the can in my hand and I liked the iced tea so it was a good substitute. If I did drink a Mt. Dew I would try to think about all the things that I didn't like about it while I was drinking it. Eventually, I have come to not even like the taste of it so much.
When I go out to eat and have a soda, I get a cherry cola instead.
I've been Mt. Dew free for almost 6 months and I think this time I will stay that way.

You sound like you are definitely on the right track. I wish you luck! And glad to have you back!

3:18 PM  
Blogger SierraBella said...

sylvana-
Wow, I've never heard of a Mountain Dew addiction!
It sounds like it was as hard for you as one of the more typical addictions.
Thanks for the well-wishes!

killer-
So you're going about this the same way as I am?
It really does sound like you're almost there. Good for you.
I totally love that you said "Hope you smell something cool soon." I know exactily what you mean!

1:10 PM  
Blogger jac said...

Smoking can't be stopped, the way you think you can. It is just will power. Stop it when you are blogging...stop it when you have plenty nearby.
Don't argue.
I have done it. I never thought that I could.

9:59 PM  
Blogger SierraBella said...

jac-
It's working for me just fine.
Some people need to go cold turkey, and some need prescriptions, I believe people need to do whatever works for them.

12:34 PM  
Blogger jac said...

True
:)

The fact remains that I miss your posts.

3:34 PM  
Blogger SierraBella said...

jac-
Thank you so much!
I'll be back posting in a bit.

2:51 PM  
Blogger Joseph said...

That's HUGE!!! I endorse your new strategy whole heartedly, however, I will state for the record, that you are missed. So let's get through this. Well, okay, you get through this, and well, on your time, but you know...HURRY BACK!!!

10:55 PM  
Blogger Rae Ann said...

Wow, that's great! I miss you blogging though.

8:02 AM  
Blogger SierraBella said...

teh chia-
Great idea for a new post!
Actually... we had to lock our three dogs in our bedroom for a couple of hours recently, and ick!
We had to open the slider and let in some pretty cold weather for a while.

greenie-
Thanks!
I'll most definitely be back blogging soon.

rae ann-
Thank you too!
I really miss blogging, and reading about everyone's lives.

12:47 PM  
Blogger Meadow said...

Hey lady, just dropping in to say hi.

8:14 AM  
Blogger Squirl said...

I hope everything's going well for you. Just wanted to say hi!

7:41 AM  
Blogger jac said...

Are you okay ????

10:05 AM  
Blogger SierraBella said...

goddess, squirl & jac-
Hi to you all!
I'm fine, just not on the computer much lately.
We've been having some unseasonable weather, and I've been outside doing yardwork while it's warm.
Will be blogging again soon!

11:42 AM  
Blogger SierraBella said...

susie-
Well hi, been thinking about you too!
I most definitely won't remain a stranger. It's going to take forever to catch up with everyone's lives!

teh chia-
Still working through this, but feeling (and doing) fine!
Had another smell the other night... I could actually smell the grandson's chocolate bar which was both wrapped and in a cupboard. I don't much care for milk chocolate, so it wasn't exactly a happy smell...

10:42 AM  
Blogger Sylvana said...

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!

6:49 PM  
Blogger SierraBella said...

sylvana-
Happy belated Valentines Day to you and everyone! Hope it was a good one.

9:16 AM  

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