Boo

Congratulations Linda. Great job.

Eight years is a great quit. Doreen is an awesome chick. You've been a friend and loyal companion. We've shared a lot of laughs. We've driven multiple threads right into the gutter together. I am eternally grateful for the support you've given me since day one here and proud to know that you are Maddie's honorary "Nana." Enjoy your special day, you deserve nothing but the best. Save a dance for me.

Atta boy Ace. Good job.

Good job Robbie. Congratulations.

No time for whittling. Breaking out the circular saw and power drill. Power tools and sawdust...that's living! I can do window boxes. The other stuff will have to be post-construction additions...tentative.

Drawing up some informal blueprints. Did a bit of bartering this afternoon and traded some C-channel steel for some pressure treated lumber. I'm building a playhouse for my daughter. The finished project will look similar to the playhouse pictured here... Boo the Builder...Yes we can!

Good job Momma Bear.

I knew the song from various internet memes. Then I watched the video. Talk about your guilty pleasures...hey now!

Those red, dry eyes that I used to blame on a combination of allergies and contact lenses cleared right up after I quit smoking. Five years quit now, and I no longer have issues with my eyes.

Every time you want a cigarette but choose to abstain, you are reprogramming your brain. Trust the process Momma Bear. You're doing great.

Here is a recent episode of Mind Pump where the guys discuss intermittent fasting. The title "Why Intermittent Fasting is Bad" is misleading. Sal, Justin, and Adam discuss the pros and cons of intermittent fasting. They mostly take umbrage with intermittent fasting being marketed as a weight loss tool but do acknowledge the benefits as well. If you're so inclined, here is the episode.

Welcome aboard the Quit Train Momma Bear. Congratulations on giving up the smokes. Deep breathing and exercise got me through the roughest parts of the quit in the early days. The exercise doesn't need to be particularly intense. Sometimes a quick walk-around was all that I needed. Realize that any cravings you have will pass. They always do. They can come on fast but are fleeting. Committing to the principle of not making a permanent decision based on a temporary feeling puts a quit on the right track. It gets easier. I obsessed over cigarettes and had daily cravings during the early part of my quit. Now, I can't even imagine lighting one up. You have found the right place. This forum will provide the information and support you seek. Grab a seat and stay awhile.

Dusty Hill passed away last week. Fifty years driving the rhythm section for ZZ top and he played Hank Hill's cousin on King of the Hill. Dusty had a damn good run.

Yep.

Good job Linda. I remember your early days here. You struggled but continued to soldier on. And look at you now, smoke-free for three years. Congratulations.

I did a deep dive into health and fitness after I quit. If I had it to do over again, I wouldn't change a thing. Reading books about strength training and nutrition occupied my mind. The exercise helped calm me down when I was craving a smoke. The new commitment to health and fitness was antithetical to the addiction I was leaving behind; that really helped solidify my quit. I traded a deadly addiction for a healthy addiction. No regrets.

The lurking phase was tougher than the quit itself. I called it preparation. In reality, it was procrastination. Constantly torn between wanting to quit but not wanting to give up my cigarettes. Knowing that the only wise choice was to quit smoking right now, but always finding an excuse to put it off. That lingering feeling of shame and weakness that came with continuing to smoke despite knowing that I needed to quit. After committing to the quit, every challenge was a part of the process. I was honed in. Focused. On target. Like the Blues Brothers, I felt like I was "on a mission from God." Working towards a goal is far more satisfying than looking at moving targets. It all starts with that first step.

This works for me. I've been doing the meal window plan for the better part of three years now. I eat a good breakfast after my morning workout. I prefer working out in a fasted state. During the day, I will eat a very light lunch. More of a healthy snack. This afternoon I had a couple of turkey roll-ups. Dinner fluctuates from night-to-night, but I've been going a bit lighter of late. When the hot weather settles in, my appetite decreases. I've slimmed down a bit recently in spite of my workouts being slowed by an injury. Finding what works for you is the tough part. After that, it's smooth sailing.

That was a good movie. About time to pull out my copy and watch it again. Bruce Dern had a small but memorable role in Hang 'Em High as well. "You ain't ever gonna get me to Fort Grant alive, boy." "Then I'll get you there dead...boy."

It gets old doesn't it. Decide to quit. Quit for a bit. Start smoking again. Hate smoking. Decide to quit again... It is a repetitive and exhausting cycle. The good news is: you can stop it for good. You already have two smoke-free months under your belt. Momentum is in your favor. You can put this all behind you by adhering to the one incontrovertible rule of quitting: DON'T SMOKE!

The temperature here had already reached 90 degrees at 11:30 a.m. Then a co-worker says to me: "It's supposed to get really hot by the end of the week." Tennessee is home, but I here Alaska is nice this time of year.

Good job Amy. Congratulations.

Bingo. You captured the essence of addiction with that one sentence. You're doing great Steven. Good job.