Dustin and Doug: Can't Stop Them!

DUSTIN: My mind sucks! Almost 3 weeks into this tobacco free me, and STILL could easily just pick up a cig like I never quit. I WON'T today, but feel it's crazy that I still have these thoughts and cravings. I sit here sometimes with the feeling that I am missing something important. After going through my mental checklist, I always realize its nothing other than tobacco on my mind. These are the times I reach for a healthy snack, or nicotine gum and think "soon this too shall pass".

On a positive note. I have been pushing my breathing, and bringing much more high intensity interval training (HIIT), along with cardio into my routine. I have also started to notice food tastes better, and changing the variety up.

Now that i have cut out a 17 year bad habit, i am paying attention to small details regarding my body. The mucus is starting to break up, and I'm coughing more than ever. BUT, I am coughing up and out the crap that needs to go, without bringing the negative back in. My throat has been dry, and scratchy with swollen glands the last few days. Of course life happens, and I am blaming everything on tobacco. I could just have a sore throat though too.

Ran into Mr. Doug Bentley this morning. I have to say, it felt GREAT to see this guy again. I have not seen him since that one morning we chatted. This is now day number 22 for me being tobacco free. I am now on my second day without the patches, and feeling better and better as days add up.

Happy Fourth of July everyone! 

DOUG: Can it be? The start of your fourth week without cigarettes. Wow! The days just keep ticking by. As I rode my bike to work this morning, I stopped to clean out a storm drain clogged with grass and sticks and dirt. As I finished, I looked up and you were pulling up to the curb across the street. First time I have seen you since the first time we met. You are looking much happier and healthier. And this has helped reinforce my practice of approaching strangers to remind them that they do have a choice. Your are evidence that this can make a difference.