My New Years Resolution

I have never been big on making New Year's resolutions. I mean, why make a promise to myself that I'm pretty dang sure I won't be following through with? After my mother's death August 3, 2008 at the age of 50 I decided it was to it was definitely time to make some life changes in New Year's just seemed the best place to start.

According to what I want for my life, there were two lifestyle changes I would love to make. Now both are going to be quite difficult, so rather than turn into a blithering idiot, I knew I was going to have to choose the most harmful to my health first, and wait for the other. My two choices are losing weight and quitting smoking. Since my weight is not life threatening at all, and my smoking landed me in intensive care for five days last year and almost killed me. My decision was simple; I'm going to quit smoking.

After going through several smoking cessation classes in the 19 years I've been smoking and trying all of the over-the-counter quitting aids as well as a medicinal aids I have realized that this is going to be extremely difficult, but worth it.

First things first I need a plan, an outline of what I plan to do so that this time I will succeed.
I. Go to the doctor
A. Try new medication.
II. Change routine and avoid triggers.
III. Make sure I have plenty of help and support.
IV. Utilize types learned from previous cessation classes.
V. Remember the one who's and why's I want to make sure I succeed.

I have already been to the doctor and after discussing my options we decided to go with a medication called Chantix. It's a great thing to have a doctor totally backing you up and supporting her decisions. It also makes getting help and discussing problems with your doctor easier.

Now I guess the most important thing to do is to commit to quit. My commitment is going to rely on changing routines, which include getting rid of all smoking paraphernalia. I will need to change the things I do in the morning and at night. Even small things like changing my coffee or coffee creamer can help me through the cravings in the morning. I will need to recognize the triggers that cause me to want to smoke. That will mean listing the triggers such as driving or going to my in-laws home, because my mother-in-law still smokes and also situations where you tend to get stressed out. I will need to avoid the situations that trigger my cravings as much as possible, and have lots of gum for those times when I can't.

Support, support, support. I will need and utilize every friend, family member, and smoking cessation help line I can find, such as California's stop smoking help 1-800- no -butts, where I can get 24-hour support just a phone call away. Finally I will always have to keep the reasons I want to quit at the front of my mind. Thank goodness my kids are pretty much always there should. I know that I will need to keep myself busy.

I also realize this is going to be extremely difficult, and there is always the chance that I may slip, but I know that is left is not the end of the world. I will need to get over the slip and start right again. I am really excited about being able to go anywhere without finding a place to smoke, or having to go outside in the freezing cold to smoke, plus I've been getting more embarrassed about the fact that I smoke. I know I can make this work. I will make it work.