I am Quitting Too - For My Own Health

I recently started my own wellness program. Watching the signs on the news stating such things as “Once a Quitter Always a Quitter” targeted at Sarah Palin made me think about my own dilemma. I have decided to quit smoking. So I like the saying that if I quit and if it sticks (I am more determined this time to make it stick) I will always be a quitter. Quitting is a good thing for me. I have the Florida legislature to thank for this as the price of cigarettes went up a dollar a pack on July 1 to help pay for the cost of a child medical plan. So I am being selfish. Instead of giving my fair share to help sick kids, I am saving money and possibly my future lifestyle.

At the same time I feel I should be ashamed of myself. I went to college on a swimming scholarship and was very and athletic through my late 30’s. I lost this athleticism about 15 years ago after moving to Jacksonville. I did not have the same people around who I used to work out with by playing basketball, tennis, racquet ball, swimming, golf, etc. This is an excuse as I lost my “stay in shape” support group. I could have found another support group, but got bored with just going to the gym or swimming laps. I need a competitive purpose. Keep in mind that I smoked cigarettes the whole time, but it did not seem to have a bad effect on me. Luckily, I do not think I have any smoking related illnesses yet, but I was developing a smoker’s cough in the last few months.

When you are young, there are no bad long term effects from living life in the fast lane – drinking, smoking and giving up sleeping for a week at a time are all expected. In fact, most of the people on my college swim team were smokers. As a junior and senior, I was designated to drive one of the team vans. We had 16 people on the team and 12 of them would pile into my van while the other four went with the coach. We would lose the coach on the road, stop at a convenience store, pick up a case or two of beer and drive home while the 12 smoked cigarettes and drank beer. A good time was had by all – except me as I concentrated on driving.

Now I am 54, out of shape and in the midst of quitting smoking. I have quit about 20 times in the past for as little as a couple of days and as long as a year and a half. There have always been great reasons for starting up again. I got fat and gained 30 pounds, so I had to light up again to lose the weight. It worked and the extra pounds disappeared as soon as I started smoking again.

But, the main reason I started smoking again in the past is the foggy head. For the last two weeks, I have been in more of a stupor than usual. My job requires me to think and if I cannot think, then I don’t work well. The fog dulls my edge which makes me nervous. The websites on quitting smoking tell me this can last for up to 2 months. I know quitting is the right thing to do, but two months of living in a haze hardly seems worth it when my business and the livelihood of my family and employees depends on me to bring in new business during this critical time.

Smoking a cigarette was a way to go outside, take a break and think. Thinking is good. Few of us actually take time to think. Thinking is good especially with a clear mind. Going outside to smoke a cigarette was a time to take a break, get away from the phone and the computer, light up, think and come up with great ideas. Many people say they have their best ideas in the shower. I had my best ideas while smoking.

So, this is the start of my wellness program. I have to spend over $1,600 every month for my medical insurance because I am 54 and a smoker. That $30 to $35 per week that I would otherwise be spending on cigarettes is now going to help offset the cost of my medical insurance.

With the medical insurance costs going up so quickly and the country split pretty much down the middle with how to fix the health care costs, it is time to start our own wellness plan. Lose weight, start exercising or change that unhealthy lifestyle. You have to start somewhere. Just go for it.