Day 80

Money I have saved since quiting smoking
$268.80

Wow $268.80, that is almost a week of groceries, a weekend getaway, spring clothes for my kids - not just money up in smoke.

Life is good without cigarettes. I really don't miss them at all anymore.

I have gained about 20 pounds since quitting - but today is the day to start taking care of that problem. I plan to start walking and pushing myself away from the table quicker.

Day 63

Money I have saved since quitting smoking
$211.68

It's really hard to believe that it has been 9 weeks since my last cigarette. I'm feeling really good except for the extra 15 pounds I have managed to tack on.

Each day, I am feeling more and more comfortable telling people that I am a non smoker. That is probably the best feeling of all.

Life has pretty well lined itself out as far as the urges to smoke go, I rarely have the impulse to light up, and the tension from not smoking is far less and few between.

Here's a "nice" little quote for the day!

"If you are thinking of giving up smoking, I'd recommend it. The first week was the most difficult. I used apples and oranges. Oranges were better as they took a while to peel so were more hassle than an apple, also very good from a health point of view. You have to change your routine and habits completely, avoid situations where you'd usually smoke. It's nice to have energy, it's nice to have good skin, its nice to not cough up chunks of blackened lung tissue every morning, it's nice to taste food properly, it's nice to be able to run, it's nice not to stink like an ashtray."

Oh, and by the way, the blue smoking apron is a real product you can purchase from Amazon.
OMG!!!

Day 40

Money I have saved since quitting smoking
$134.40

Have You Decided to Quit Smoking? Hypnotist Reveals 10 Tricks to Make it Stick!

Have you decided to stop smoking? It doesn’t have to be hard! One of the keys for breaking the habit once and for all is to tap into the power of your mind. Here are some tips to help you succeed.

1. Make quitting smoking your number one goal. Rather than having a long list of different goals, make quitting smoking your number-one top priority. By focusing on quitting smoking as your most important goal, you increase your chances of success.

2. Keep the end result in mind. Focus on how much better your life will be as a non-smoker. Think about how you’ll be able to breathe better and your energy level will increase. Imagine all the things you can do with the money you’ll save each year by not purchasing cigarettes. And most importantly, focus on how you’ll add many; many healthy years to your life, so you can do all the things you’ve wanted to do, spending time with people you care about. Make a long list of all the positive benefits of being a non-smoker!

3. Make it easier on yourself. Think of ways that you can make quitting easier for yourself. Can you quit with a friend or family member? Could you ask a co-worker to go for a quick walk with you on breaks and avoid the smoking area? Could you take a smoking cessation class? Could you learn self-hypnosis? Could you stock up on fruit, veggies, or sugar free gum?

4. Make a commitment to yourself. Plan the date and time that you will smoke your last cigarette. Make this promise to yourself as if your life depends on it. Why? Because it does! Write down the "sneaky tricks" that could try to lure you in for "just one" smoke (you know, the things that have triggered you in the past). Write down your strategy for outsmarting these sneaky triggers.

5. Put your plan in writing. Write down everything you’ve thought of while reading this article, plus any other ideas that you believe will help you to remain smoke free. More ideas: stay away from other smokers for a while; get rid of your cigarettes and ashtrays; ask a friend to call you every day for moral support.

6. Flip off negative thoughts like a
   switch. Instead of thinking, "This is hard" change it to "Its getting easier and easier". You could even come up with your own mantra. My favorites: "I take care of health."; "I can handle this."; "I can do it!" Have a positive statement you can say to yourself throughout the day to keep you on track.

7. Give yourself rewards. Why not have a quit jar and put all the money that you would have spent on cigarettes in it? You could save up for a tropical vacation or a down payment on that new sports car. Think of a nice reward to give yourself for being smoke free for one day, one week, one month, and so on! Mark them on your calendar so you have something to look forward to.

8. Approach quitting with a "I can. I will. I
   must." attitude. If your child or loved one was burning in a building and you were the only one there to get them out, would you just
   "give it a try?" Would you simply "give it a shot?" Or would you "give it everything you’ve got?" Of course you would do anything and everything, whatever it took. Well, aren’t you worth the same? So approach quitting smoking with the same attitude, because
   you’re truly saving your own life – you’re worth it!

9. Visualize your way to success. Every morning and evening, close your eyes for a few moments and rehearse in your mind how you will say "no" to any temptations to having a cigarette, and notice how good it feels to be in control of your triggers and urges. Also, picture and imagine yourself as a happy non-smoker for 3 to 5 minutes each day. See yourself as happy, healthy and active doing all the things you love to do.

10. Learn to Manage Stress. Stress is everywhere, and while we think that cigarettes help us to relax, in reality, nicotine is a stimulant to the body. During the first few days of quitting, you will likely have thoughts to have a cigarette when you feel stressed. Learning to take long, deep breaths throughout the day can be a good start. If you can learn to tackle stress, you can tackle kicking the habit much more easily.

Valerie Dawson, MSW is a hypnotist who specializes in helping people to change habits. She offers a free hypnosis audio session to help smokers in taking the first step to quit. Go to http://stopsmokingfastandeasy.com?af=737844 to claim your free hypnosis audio.

Day 31

Money I have saved since quitting smoking
$104.16

Wow - my first month smoke free!!!!!!!!! What a wonderful feeling. I am closer and closer to becoming someone who can say with confidence that I am a non-smoker. Yea!!!!!!

CONGRATULATIONS!

This certifies that TONI TILLERY has met the important milestone of being quit for one month.

Quit Date: January 17, 2008

Tobacco-Free Days: One Month

Date: 2/16/2008

This Milestone Award given by: Tim McAfee, MD

Day 29

Money I have saved since quitting smoking
$94.08

Haven't posted in awhile, but am glad to say that I am still smoke free. It has been four weeks and I never thought it would be possible for me to remain smoke free this long. The patch is a little difficult, I am having a slight reaction to it, but still require the patch to make it through the day. The support I am recieving from my friends and family is amazing, and I know now that I am going to be successful in the quest to stop smoking.

• In 20 minutes your blood pressure will drop back down to normal.
• In 8 hours the carbon monoxide (a toxic gas) levels in your blood stream will drop by half, and oxygen levels will return to normal.
• In 48 hours your chance of having a heart attack will have decreased. All nicotine will have left your body. Your sense of taste and smell will return to a normal level.
• In 72 hours your bronchial tubes will relax, and your energy levels will increase.
• In 2 weeks your circulation will increase, and it will continue to improve for the next 10 weeks.
• In three to nine months coughs, wheezing and breathing problems will dissipate as your lung capacity improves by 10%.
• In 1 year your risk of having a heart attack will have dropped by half.
• In 5 years your risk of having a stroke returns to that of a non-smoker.
• In 10 years your risk of lung cancer will have returned to that of a non-smoker.
• In 15 years your risk of heart attack will have returned to that of a non-smoker.

Day Four

Money I have saved since quitting smoking
I've saved $13.44

Closing the smoking chapter is becoming a little easier day by day. I think my mindset to quit smoking this time was definitely in a better place. However, there are still fleeting moments that I really miss having the option to light up.

Everyday, I find many reinforcements to continue to be smoke free. Yesterday, I saw a woman smoking in her car and something about how she looked while inhaling that cigarette gave me pause. The good thing, is that it didn't make me want to go immediately to the conveniece store and buy a pack, but rather the opposite. And today, with the sad news of Suzanne Pleshette passing at age 70 from complications due to lung cancer, I feel more and more determined to kick this habit.

Day Two

Money I have saved since quitting smoking
I've saved $6.72

Whew, I made it through day one. I'm a little groggy today, don't know if it is the nicotine patch, but I had a rough time sleeping, and when I was asleep, the dreams - omg!!!!! Anyway, it is day 2 and I am feeling more confident that I can kick this habit. However, my next blog may be titled Fat Free - Today is the Day - I am eating everything in site.

After 20 minutes.

Blood pressure and pulse get to a normal rate (not too fast or too slow).

Hands and feet feel a normal temperature (not too hot or too cold).

After 8 hours.

The carbon monoxide level in my blood drops to normal.

Oxygen level in my blood goes up to normal.

After just 1 day.

Chance of having and dying from a heart attack goes down.