Hi all,
I just joined this site today. I have a lot of motivation to quit and to get healthy - I want to get pregnant soon! My quit date is 6/1/15. (I ended up quitting on 5/2!)
I've quit before - for as long as 8 years - but this time I'm going to make it permanent. I went to counseling at our local health department with a nurse, and next week I will get some patches from them. I've been working on delaying smoking when I have a craving - something the nurse advised me to do. He said if you can make it about 10-15 minutes without a cigarette when you have a craving, the craving will go away. So far, I can delay myself from having a cigarette for long periods of time - by distracting, chewing gum, etc. - but the craving is still there. I still end up having one. Granted, I'm having fewer cigarettes, but it seems like it is still going to be difficult to give up...maybe the patches will help take away the cravings? I've never used the patch before - I've always quit cold turkey in the past.
So I would really like it if people shared what has helped them quit. (Now that I've quit, what helps you stay quit?)
I've recently started exercising regularly again. I got a gym membership and went three days last week. So far, I've only made it once this week, but I'm trying not to beat myself up about it. I've learned I can always come up with excuses not to go - I need to work on the reasons to go. One "reason" I gave myself today was by joining a "boot camp" at my gym. The "boot camp" will meet twice a week for six weeks, and I'm hoping it will keep me motivated. Not to mention, the dent in my wallet will hopefully motivate me as well. I'm hoping to see results which will also continue to motivate me.
My diet is pretty good...I'm vegan. I'm working on eating out less, and eating more raw foods. I'm also adding supplements like magnesium and a B-complex.
So, what motivates you to keep exercising and eating healthy?
Thanks for reading!
~Jess
