so i have been a non-smoker for 36 days and i am incredibly proud of myself. on day 31, i had a small slip, but it really only further convinced me that i wanted to be a non-smoker and that the occasional cigarette was not an option or something that will be a part of my life. i really felt it the next day, the withdrawl again, and how easily it can grab ahold of me. it was almost like starting all over again for a few days, and it’s really not worth it.

with that said, i have been eating too much and i have put on weight since i quit smoking. 7-10 pounds depending on what i’m wearing and how accurate the scale is. Which is DEPRESSING. so depressing, but i’ve convinced myself not to go there, not to allow myself to get depressed. i am really making an effort for the month of October, but so far it turned out to be as big of an effort as I had hoped.

You know what he said to me today? HA! he said that when things are tough for me, i’m like a politician and turn it into a good thing and make it sound like it’s great – which i think is hilarious and true, but at the asme time, maybe necessary for coping with the stress and shortcomings of day to day life. this crossed my mind because i am actually eating for health on a budget and not going all out like i should. i guess i am just confused and stressed and don’t want to admit it.

i miss him and i want him and i just wish i could stop longing for something that i’m never going to have. even if i feel in my heart of hearts we are perfect partners for each other, he doesn’t (think so) and if i think about it too much, i feel devastated. it doesn’t matter that he kissed me. it doesn’t matter that he loves me. it doesn’t matter it doesn’t matter it doesn’t matter because it doesn’t change the fact that he’s not here and that he’s not mine. (even though he is). i mean how confusing is THAT?

i have like zero money, barely enough to get by and i literally do NOT know how i am going to get  my rent for next month, but i will. for someone who is supposed to be a writer, i really should be writing a lot more than i do. i should be walking more too. maybe what i need right now is a nice, long walk.

Writing is what I need to be doing so badly now. I need to just get this out of my head and into words. It helps me sort things out and stay on track. Developing the habit is always the hard part, but once it’s there, it is such a great tool for me. I have been thinking a lot about my weight and my body. Thinking about the fact that I really am getting older. I don’t have unlimited time and I need to stop being so consumed by this struggle. I know deeply within myself that I can achieve whatever I desire, but there is obviously something about this particularly hurdle in my life that I keep tripping on every time.

I know how good I feel when I weigh closer to my ideal weight. I know how good I feel when I achieve weight loss goals for myself. I need to make it more about fitness and the diet changes that are permanent. I already know I don’t want to spend everyday in the gym on a machine. That is definitely not my style, but I also know it’s the quickest way to burn excess calories which I need to do in abundance now. I don’t want to be miserable anymore, I want the excess weight gone as soon as possible. For that, I am willing to go above and beyond and work my ass off for the next 126 days, going above and beyond what could be sustainable in terms of exercise, restricting my enjoyment of food to the very occasional, if ever, meal at a restaurant or somewhere other than my own kitchen.

Preparing all of my own food is quite possibly the easiest way to save money and calories. I don’t love to cook, and I am certainly less inclined to cook and eat something that I know is going to pack on the pounds, so I need to keep it simple. I am fine at the house eating basic things like oatmeal, yogurt, fruits, green smoothies, salad with grilled chicken. I am content to eat the same thing day in and day out for breakfast and lunch and then switch it up a little from time to time. I am okay with that and can function pretty successfully with that as my diet. The problem arises when I decide that I don’t want to cook or don’t have any food in the house and I decide to go out to eat. Going out to eat should be the exception rather than the rule for me, and for as long as I can remember, it has actually been a very regular, if not daily occurrence.

I have plenty of classes at the new gym to pack my schedule. I am planning to do one class in the morning and one in the evening and alternate the levels of intensity. Of course I will have to try them all out, but I think more is better in this case. I have a month to complete a few very basic tasks and I have the time to dedicate to exercising intensely, so I should just do it all biggest loser style. The turmeric that I take really helped with muscle fatigue, aches, and pains when I was doing Pilates Plus, so my hope is that it will continue to keep me going everyday. I actually do miss working out as it makes me feel really good.

Things have been going pretty well, but I can definitley step it up a notch. I have been exercising, but not as much as I should be. The gym was going well in terms of training and actually doing something with my muscles but I did not like the trainer. I am now going to try out a pilates center nearby that offers unlimited classes. I think that is more my style.

I quit smoking for a week and then I started again. what a stupid habit I have that has this control over me. I’m not going to let it any longer. I am going to fight this addiction with all I have. I’m going to combat it with exercise. I’m back in the mountains, I have the momentum, and it’s really pretty easy with the patch and the hypnosis. I don’t like that the patch causes my skin to be red, but I still think it is a good temporary solution to keep the cravings and emotional bitchiness to a minimum. I think it helps with not over eating also.

This far I have lost approximatley 7 pounds since I started. While that is fantastic, I really could and should have lost more by staying more focussed. I am going to commit to doing that from here on out. I will include a green smoothie everyday, I will continue to tale my supplements and vitamins daily as regimented. I will go to pilates class and/or walk EVERY day. Moving is essential to this process and it is really good for my mental clarity.

On the issue of vitamins and supplements, I have been taking them very consistently and have noticed an improvement in my skin. I can only assume they not smoking for a week played a great role in my skin looking better as well. I am looking forward to receiving the rest of my supplements and implementing them into my regimen.

Do I really have to throw away the cigarettes or can I have them around for recreational or desperate measures. I hhink that is just a cop-out though. I don’t need them at all. I’m tired of the addiction and any social benefit is not really worth it. I have to be stronger than that.