January 14, 6:00 p.m.
Number of cigarettes consumed: 0
Number of joints smoked: 1
Weight @ 8 a.m.: 161 lbs
Food eaten: 1 bagel w/ light cream cheese, 1 glass of white grape/peach juice, 1 can of Coke, 1 250 ml serving of Lipton Chicken Noodle soup, 1/2 sandwich (whole wheat bread, 1/2 tomato, lettuce, sliced onion, 4 slices black forest ham, 1 tsp mayo, 1tsp whole grain dijon, 2 tbsp Boursin cheese), 3 mini pitas w/ chipotle/red pepper hummos, 50 Valentine's smarties.
For Dinner: 1 cup cooked rotini, 1/2 tomato, 1/2 C onion, 1/3 C broccoli, 1/3 C mushrooms, 1/3 green pepper, shredded & wilted lettuce, 1/4 C cream cheese, 20 shrimps, 1 glass extra spicy Clamato juice.

How it's going:
I almost gave in today. Came thisclose to smoking a cigarette. Got so desperate I smoked some pot instead (I know, I know, not a good substitute, especially midday), which led to me accomplishing little more than having a nap this afternoon. When I woke up I still was craving a dasterdly ciggie, so I did something I've talked to myself about doing a thousand times.
 
I went out for a walk.

Since Dec 3rd, when I started quitting smoking,  I've gained 14 lbs. It feels like my skin is too tight. Even my track pants feel constricting. I hate it. And yet dragging myself off the sofa to walk for even 20 minutes has been beyond me so far. Today I changed that. I took off for a 20 minute walk and ended up more than doubling my intended walk instead, in a light rain/snow mix no less. I need to make a special walking playlist for my iPod so I've got a steady stream of up tempo tunes to keep me going, but I am proud of myself. It wasn't that hard, and I think I can make it a part of my daily routine. In fact, I'm so pumped I think I may actually try and get up early tomorrow and go for a walk first thing. Put in an hour on my feet and then hit the showers and I should still be able to be out of here by 9.

Anyway, what I am most proud of is that at the end of the walk I stopped at the local 7-11 to use the ATM and even though I had money in hand, and a craving the size of Gibralter, I walked past the front counter, past the cigarette displays, and out the door without a further glance. I made it home without a package of smokes, and that's what I am most thankful for.

If I start my day with a walk, follow it up with an honest effort to both fulfill what I've told people I will do for them workwise, and still have a couple of hours a day to try and land a full time job I should be able to move forward faster than I expect. I just have to keep it up, and when that means pretty much wiping out life as I knew it before, that's a tall order.