Day 805 - Day 75
Lifetime Dream # 57 of my list of 155: I will completely quit smoking, improving my health and physical endurance. I will be able to beat any and all cravings that come into my life, never having to be under the influence of nicotine and its damaging effects on the body again.
Completed On: January 5, 2006, and August 28, 2009
I did not begin smoking until I was in college, and I started up for all the wrong reasons (stress, boredom, friends, etc.). I knew at the time that smoking was addictive, but I really didn’t know the “scale” of addiction. Sugar and carbs are addictive, but nicotine is the second most addictive substance known to man. Wow… had I known that I probably would have thought twice about starting.
Cigarettes were my friend through a lot of dark times, a lot of fun times. Through many road trips, road gigs, and good times… but it was a dark stain that I really loved and hated all in the same breath of smoke. I still remember thinking “I envy those people who never started, because they have no idea the battle that this is…” We all have our battles in life… some just more than others.
I tried everything to quit. Cold turkey. Hypnosis. Nicorette gum. The Patch. I even locked myself in my parent’s house to break the addiction and get the chemicals out of my body. In the end, the miracle was will power, Chantix, and United Healthcare. I had been feeling very, very poor. I felt a stroke was coming at every breath, and yet I couldn’t seem to muster the strength to quit on my own. The company that I work for, United Healthcare, decided to cover the quit smoking medication at 100%. Had they not done that, I’m not sure that I ever would have quit.
It wasn’t a breeze, but it was much easier. I had every side effect possible, but it was worth it. I put on weight but it was worth it. This was always a gateway dream: a dream that I had to complete if I ever wanted to complete some of the others on my list… thanks again United Healthcare!
Day 805 - Day 75
Lifetime Dream # 57 of my list of 155: I will completely quit smoking, improving my health and physical endurance. I will be able to beat any and all cravings that come into my life, never having to be under the influence of nicotine and its damaging effects on the body again.
Completed On: January 5, 2006, and August 28, 2009
I did not begin smoking until I was in college, and I started up for all the wrong reasons (stress, boredom, friends, etc.). I knew at the time that smoking was addictive, but I really didn’t know the “scale” of addiction. Sugar and carbs are addictive, but nicotine is the second most addictive substance known to man. Wow… had I known that I probably would have thought twice about starting.
Cigarettes were my friend through a lot of dark times, a lot of fun times. Through many road trips, road gigs, and good times… but it was a dark stain that I really loved and hated all in the same breath of smoke. I still remember thinking “I envy those people who never started, because they have no idea the battle that this is…” We all have our battles in life… some just more than others.
I tried everything to quit. Cold turkey. Hypnosis. Nicorette gum. The Patch. I even locked myself in my parent’s house to break the addiction and get the chemicals out of my body. In the end, the miracle was will power, Chantix, and United Healthcare. I had been feeling very, very poor. I felt a stroke was coming at every breath, and yet I couldn’t seem to muster the strength to quit on my own. The company that I work for, United Healthcare, decided to cover the quit smoking medication at 100%. Had they not done that, I’m not sure that I ever would have quit.
It wasn’t a breeze, but it was much easier. I had every side effect possible, but it was worth it. I put on weight but it was worth it. This was always a gateway dream: a dream that I had to complete if I ever wanted to complete some of the others on my list… thanks again United Healthcare!