...SMOKING, that is. I know this is a little OT, but smoking and weight loss are linked hand in hand for me, so I hope you'll bear with me for a minute or two.

I started smoking in my teens, because it was supposed to help you lose weight and besides it just makes you look so COOL (yea... stupid teenager LOL). But I never thought that years later in my mid-twenties I would still be puff-puff-puffing away.

I have been feeling like such a hypocrite lately... Here I am, for the first time EVER trying to make an overall change in my lifestyle, rather than just trying to lose the pounds... So, I'm nourishing my body w/ healthy foods, strengthening my body with exercise... and then turning around and shoving cancer sticks into my mouth left and right!

I finally had that "ah-ha!" moment this past weekend... I was out doing an activity that I LOVE, and halfway into the hike I just COULD NOT BREATHE! I just listened to the air whistle in and out of my lungs, and suddenly I realized that my addiction to nicotine really was actually stopping me from doing the things that I love, and preventing me from living my life the way I want to.

So, it's time for a change. I am tired of killing my lungs one cilia at a time. By this time next month, I will have smoked my very last cigarette EVER.

So now, that's it --- I have made a public declaration lol. If you've made it this far, thanks for reading. If anyone else would like to join me... the more the merrier, we'll be grumpy and b!tchy together lol. For those of you who are much smarter and have made much better decisions than I have, I really hope that you hold me accountable and kick my @ss if I don't stay true to my word!

This is my schedule to quit -- and I WILL stick to it, because eventually, it WILL kill me if I don't!!!

Date-Goal # to smoke/# Smoked
3/25-12/8
3/26-12/10
3/27-12/10
3/28-12/8
3/29-10/8
3/30-10/8
3/31-10/8
4/1-10
4/2-8
4/3-8
4/4-8
4/5-8
4/6-6
4/7-6
4/8-6
4/9-6
4/10-4
4/11-4
4/12-4
4/13-4
4/14-3
4/15-3
4/16-3
4/17-2
4/18-2
4/19-2
4/20-1 --- LAST CIGARETTE EVER!!!

Very proud of you!!

That's excellent! Wishing you the best of success!

(After smoking for 14 yrs, my fiance quit cold turkey 3 yrs ago and has never looked back. It is definately doable!)

Rock on sista, may the force be with you!!

Good luck girly! I know it's hard.

Thank you everyone!

I am so scared lol, but this time I KNOW that I CAN and WILL do it!

OMG AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME! I quit too, and sneak a couple here and there, ONLY WHEN DRUNK, which is the hardest part! Good job setting a schedule, looks TOTALLY Dooable,AND You are going to quit on like national smoke out day, hahahaha! Or only have one! Good luck girly, you DEFINITELY can do it, we'll kick your butt for ya!

I love the schedule but it is funny that the last cig is on 4/20. That wont be wacky tobacco right? :P

heh jk

Me too.April 1.

I was never a consistent smoker. The most of my smoking was in college. When I graduated I smoked whenever stressed (which was a lot my first year of teaching!) I am happy to say that I quit smoking all together during the summer.

You are doing your body (and your wallet) a great favor! Smoke your last ciggy and NEVER look back ;-) You can do it!

Thanks again everyone... Congrats to those of you who have already quit or who are in the process of quitting now... It's good to know that it CAN be done!

And LOL btw I had no idea that April 20 was nat'l smoke out day... haha is that good timing or what! Although I did think about the "other" 4-20 connection after I had set my quit date hehe.

Congratulations on your healthy decision! And I love the plan you've written there, very organized!

I wish you all the best!

Congrats. I know you can do it. Plus think of all the money you will save! You can buy new clothes for your new healthy self

I quit cold turkey January 1st...almost three months ago! You can do it!