Breaking Free from Smoking: Days 2 and 3
So far so good... I have been smoke-free for the last 3 days and have been able to stick to my plans.
The weird thing is, I am not yet encountering any of the withdrawal effects that I feared and anticipated, and I think that I may never encounter them at all.
I did not suffer from constipation or migraine, which I had the first few times I attempted to quit smoking. Those were major concerns for me when I planned this. When I finished my contract for a project just last week, I chose not to accept a new one just to give way to this. I delayed this plan when I had multiple jobs and was working for 17 hours a day in fear that it would affect my jobs.
Well, I am not complaining... I just feel bad that I didnt start this a long time ago.
Also, no smoker's cough yet. I know that this would come anytime soon and since day 1, I have prepared for this by taking a lot of vitamin C (tablets and a lot of fruit juices). I hope that I would be able to get rid of 20-year-build-up of tar and toxins 
Since the first day, I also increased my gym-time. I am trying to go there everyday now and increased my cardio workout from my usual 20 minutes to 30 minutes. This is out of fear of gaining weight when I quit smoking (that's what I read 
).
I also am not consuming as much nicotine gum as prescribed. According to the directions, we would normally consume around 9 gums a day. I am only using it when I get the urge to smoke.. and so far, for the last 3 days, I only used 6. If I would be successful with this, I would gladly donate the remaining gums to whoever is interested and would want to stop smoking also.
Aside from feeling good that:
- I have saved Php 120 for the past 3 days (Php 40 per pack of cigarettes)
- I am starting to prove to myself that I am noone's slave (slave of my addiction, marlboro or winston, etc)
- there is still hope for me to cleanse and take care of myself
I am now able to smell myself without the awful cigarette smell. 
I can now now maintain the minty flavor of my toothpaste for hours, and the body spray I use now lasts much longer. I really feel good so far.. I hope I can maintain this.
Breaking Free from Smoking: DAY 1
Today is supposed to be the big day for me to stop smoking. Although I still smoked a few sticks, I would still consider this day (this day only) a success.
My biggest mistake today was not throwing away all my remaining cigarettes. I was doing well from the time I got up from bed until lunchtime, and then I had the urge to smoke. I tried to get my nicotine gum from my pocket then realized that I still had 2 sticks with me which I forgot to dispose of. (Funny, right?)
That was it... it was too much temptation and I couldn't resist it. After the two sticks, I couldn't stop myself from buying a half-pack thinking that I would move my quit-date to the next day instead.
Five sticks after, I reviewed my plans and gathered all the strength to throw away all my cigarettes and lighters.
This is a problem, it is very difficult to stop at the middle of the day as I could still taste the flavor it would really drive me nuts. I decided to take a nap so I could restart my day (I am on night shift) and got up at 6PM.
Since 6PM, and its been eight hours.. I am still smoke-free.
Breaking Free from Smoking: Planning
For more than 20 years now, I have been smoking.
I have previously made attempts to stop but all to no avail. I tried around 5 times already and the best I did, I think, lasted only 2 weeks. I don't know how this attempt now would be different, or if it would be successful at all. Nevertheless, I would like to try again.
According to this blog, there are 2 ways to stop smoking - the "cold turkey" approach and the method of gradual withdrawal. The "cold turkey" approach can be recommended for those whose nicotine addiction is relatively weak (less than 1 pack a day). Gradual withdrawal is for people who consume more than 1 pack a day.
I am going for the "cold turkey" approach which means that I would stop abruptly and (try) not take another puff anymore. (Also) I guess that my addiction is relatively weak after all. There was a period (college days) when I consumed around 2 packs a day but now, and (I think) since I started working, I only consume around 1 pack a day.
This, like all my previous attempts would be a very very difficult process.
There were times, during my previous attempts, that I woke up sweating heavily and almost shaking, looking for a cigarette. One time, I was at the province and the urge was so intense that I had to drive to the nearest city (20 minute drive from our town with no traffic) just to get a puff.
Moreover, during all my previous attempts, I suffered from smoker's cough, constipation and migraines.
Anticipating all these withdrawal symptoms, I have to be prepared.
I decided to schedule the BIG DAY (quit date) on Monday. Last Saturday, the Nicotine Gum I ordered was delivered. A box of 170 pieces of this gum (good for 12 weeks) costs $32 or around PHP 1,500. This should help me against the urges of smoking and hopefully a new habit of chewing gum would replace holding and puffing a cigarette.
Yesterday, Sunday, grocery day, I made sure that we have enough supply of our favorite calamansi concentrate as it works all the time for my cough and cold. I also made sure that we have stocks of
- Mefenamic Acids or Aspirins for possible migraines
- Attapulgite to Loperamide for possible constipations
Finally, I would like to be reminded of my reasons and fears -- why I want to stop smoking in the first place. I would like to place them here so I can review them anytime. I hope they could help me stay focused on my goals.
CBCP Wants Condom TV Ads Banned — Is the Catholic Church Blind?
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I really cannot understand the position of the Catholic church towards contraception and family planning. I would like to be enlightened on this, but until that time, I think that the Catholic church is being blind, insensitive and hypocritical. All I can think of, at the moment, is that they only want new blood in the church to ensure its survival without regard to the consequences.
I do believe that sex is inevitable, within or outside the sanctity of marriage. I think that abstinence will never work as sex is natural and essential for most animals, humans included. It may work for some but definitely not for everybody. Deprivation might only result to more immoral repercussions.
Just last week, a monastery in southern Germany was raided due to sex abuse claims - http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/europe/03/03/germany.abuse/index.html
And we don't have to go far. Here in the country there were various instances of sexual abuse - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/2116154.stm
I think that people can never be constrained from doing it, but we can definitely be educated on how to do it properly, safely and responsibly, with the option of using contraception available.
There are issues to be addressed.
First is the alarming growth of HIV cases in the country - http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=532064
Also, as of 2009, there are already 92 million of us in this small and poverty-stricken country. We are ranked 12th in the world in terms of population, outnumbering those in other countries which are, by far, 'bigger' both in terms of land area and economy. The result -- worse conditions for all of us.
Why is this a better option for the Catholic church? Why are we depriving people the privilege of knowing the "various methods" they can use?
I am glad that Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral is firm on her stand.. and it is about time that we have such a leader. I hope that the next president, whoever he may be, would share the same view as Cabral. I am very sure that most of us would want have only a family that we can support and yet, enjoy the privilege of life, without sacrificing the health, security and well-being of our loved ones.