At 60 years old, I am both excited and ashamed to say that I finally quit. Smoking that is. Yes, I know everyone with half a brain quit smoking years ago. It’s not that I didn’t know it was unhealthy, disgusting, expensive, offensive and a poor coping skill. I was just addicted and I guess more vested into maintaining my addiction to nicotine than quitting.
So here I am – about 6 weeks without smoking. I’ve done this before, in fact, I quit for 2 years before. But here’s the thing, I always used a nicotine replacement product. So, I also got addicted to nicotine gum. And to not smoke so much, of course, I smoked and chewed nicotine gum in between.
Yes, I suppose I must only have half a brain. I’m lucky to be here, I guess. So I finally just got tired of it all. Mostly I’m tired of reaching for some kind of nicotine fix. So for the first time in my adult life, at age 60, I’m nicotine-free. I think my body is in shock and it doesn’t know what to do now it is pure. LOL.
The costs – well it cost me a fortune in dollars. In fact, I can’t bring myself to calculate just how much money I wasted on nicotine.
I can say for a fact that it also really messed up my gums. I have a dental appointment tomorrow. I believe it’s time to go to full dentures since my gums have receeded so much.
Of course, I also gained some weight, but overall I feel better and I can breath much better. It feels good to finally be free of that burden. I just wish I would have found that freedom sooner.
One thing I must admit is that I had no idea how bad nicotine gum was for you. I assumed it wasn’t great but I always rationed that it was better then smoking.
I have high blood pressure – which could be made worse from the gum. I have high cholesterol and I also am very borderline diabetic – which could also be caused by the gum.
So, as a die-hard smoker who just could not or would not ever quit – DON’T BE LIKE ME. Just pick a date, tough it out, and stick to it. Learn how to distract yourself and realize that urges will continue to come and go – but thankfully they are but fleeting moments. You got this – you too can be a QUITTER.
Now on to my next challenge
