Day 9 - Could It Really Be This Easy?

I mean seriously...an addiction that I thought years ago I'd never be able to break...seems like it's totally history for me!?! Really!?!

All I have to so though...is thank you to not only my friends and family for the great encouragement, but also the trusty 'ole iPhone! This application entitled "My Last Cigarette" is by far and above the best one out there. It gives you that immediate gratification and delivers you results to the palm of your hand to keep you motivated. I'm pushing 195 hours of being smoke-free...NOT EVEN A DRAG...it's incredible.

Good news for you smokers if you're wanting to try my approach to quitting - the iPhone now only costs $99!!! Are you freakin' serious!?! Wow - two years ago I paid $400(+) for mine. Nevertheless - here's my quit smoking plan for you.

Go out and buy an iPhone. ($99)
Get the data plan from AT&T. ($30/month)
Download My Last Cigarette from the App Store. ($.99)
Quit smoking. (FREE)
Start saving money and your life! (+$X,XXX,XXX,XXX)

It's that simple!

~ Jeff ~

My Last Cigarette Readings (1:30 p.m. CST)
Increased Life Expectancy: 11 hours 46 minutes, 39 seconds
Money Saved: $28.04
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 122.1917
Number of People died from smoking causes since I've quit: 78,114
Moderate/Poor Circulation (Level continues to fall...but at an EXTREMELY slow pace!)
Poor Lung Health
Excellent (None) Carbon Monoxide Levels
Exteme Cravings (Continuing to drop...still a LONG way to go, though!)
Excellent (None) Nicotine Levels in Body

Day 7 - A Great Smoke-Free Weekend!

Well, well, well - not that I wasn't confident in my ability to kick the nasty habit...but, I believe this habit is definitely gone - FOR GOOD! I was out and about with the wife and kids all day yesterday - went to a summer festival, farmer's market, garage sales, looking at houses - all the while - never had a craving to light up a smoke. In fact, I was near someone at some point that was smoking and tought that the smell was REPULSIVE!

Today, I would imagine, would be just more of the same. I do have a lot I need to accomplish on the computer today for some clients.

I guess that's about it for now! Talk to you soon!

~ Jeff ~

My Last Cigarette Readings (9:28 a.m. CST)
Increased Life Expectancy: 8 hours 38 minutes, 38 seconds
Money Saved: $20.58
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 89.6853
Number of People died from smoking causes since I've quit: 57,334
Poor Circulation (Level continues to fall...but at an EXTREMELY slow pace!)
Poor Lung Health
Excellent (None) Carbon Monoxide Levels
Exteme Cravings (Continuing to drop...still a LONG way to go, though!)
Excellent (None) Nicotine Levels in Body

Day 6 - The Weekend is Finally Here!

It's Saturday...FINALLY! After a long week at work, I can enjoy some quality family time...without cigarettes! Today we're heading out to Wagonerfest - a local festival about 20-25 minutes away from the house. This will get us out of the house and enjoying this weather!

After that...probably just business as usual - come home and play with the boys!

The non-smoking thing really is getting easier every minute. It is definitely more of a mental game than a pharmacalogical game. It's kind of like a competition to me now. I've hit 100 hours of being smoke-free. My attitude was..."Okay, bring on the 200 hour mark!"

I really am feeling better, I'm sleeping better, I'm more awake in the mornings now - hell, I was up and at 'em by 7:00 this morning on the weekend - and HAPPY about it!

Hope all of you have a great weekend...here's to a great one for my family!

Talk soon!

~ Jeff ~

My Last Cigarette Readings (8:47 a.m. CST)
Increased Life Expectancy: 7 hours 9 minutes, 25 seconds
Money Saved: $17.04
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 74.2556
Number of People died from smoking causes since I've quit: 47,470
Poor Circulation (Level continues to fall...but at an EXTREMELY slow pace!)
Poor Lung Health
Excellent (None) Carbon Monoxide Levels
Exteme Cravings (Continuing to drop...still a LONG way to go, though!)
Excellent (None) Nicotine Levels in Body

Here's a screenshot of what the iPhone app looked like after Day #1 and then today on Day #6:

Day 5 - 100 Hours Has Come and Gone!

I'm so excited that I can honestly say I've been smoke free for more than 100 straight hours. It's actually been much easier, all things considered, than I originally thought it would be. The day here at the office is FINALLY wrapping up - seems like it's gone on for an eternity! I decided to take the last couple of minutes to share with you my celebration of hitting 100 hours and, of course, my latest reading. The circulation meter is starting to move some more...hopefully with another couple of days, I'll be more in the "moderate" section of the chart.

Nevertheless...here's to a great weekend!

~ Jeff ~

My Last Cigarette Readings (4:51 p.m. CST)
Increased Life Expectancy: 6 hours 11 minutes, 46 seconds
Money Saved: $14.75
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 64.2871
Number of People died from smoking causes since I've quit: 41,097
Poor Circulation (Level continues to fall...but at an EXTREMELY slow pace!)
Poor Lung Health
Excellent (None) Carbon Monoxide Levels
Exteme Cravings (Continuing to drop...still a LONG way to go, though!)
Excellent (None) Nicotine Levels in Body

Day 5 - Another Night with the In-Laws

So apparently my timing was a little off in the week to quit smoking. Last night when I got home, my mother-in-law, father-in-law, sister-in-law, niece and nephew were all there and let's just say the volume was a "little loud". Actually...it was a zoo. With our two boys that are exploring everything and my niece and nephew who have collectively more energy than a case of Red Bulls - it was crazy! Although it was crazy...I still managed to not smoke! That was probably the toughest out of everything so far. In the past, I've always just gone outside when "I've had enough" - or just need to get away. This time - I've found my new refuge. We've got a table right by a window in our Master Bedroom. I went back there, shut the door, sat on the table, got out the trusty iPhone and jammed to a few songs from iTunes as I stared into the backyard. It was nice. It was quiet. It was much needed.

Once the family left, and we got the boys down to bed...it was so nice to have a quiet evening - our house back to "just us" - and we sat on the couch together, had a snack and watched some tv. Later in the night I talked to my best bud, Henry. I must say, if it wasn't for my wife and him - and the support that both of them have given me - I probably would have started back up by now. It's great to know that I have an awesome support group.

Lastly...I must say that I can honestly tell you just how much my wife HATED the fact that I smoked. I don't think I've ever been kissed more and hugged more by her. She's never sat closer to me or laid closer to me than she has this week. She's so much happier. So fellas...if you're a smoker - and your wife isn't - TRUST ME...you should quit. There's plenty of LOVE that she wants to share. She'd just rather not do it with an ashtray! :)

Well - time to get to work here. TGIF! I've been ready for this day all week long! Talk to you soon!

~ Jeff ~

My Last Cigarette Readings (9:03 a.m. CST)
Increased Life Expectancy: 5 hours, 43 minutes, 30 seconds
Money Saved: $13.63
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 59.3987
Number of People died from smoking causes since I've quit: 37,972
Poor Circulation (Level continues to fall...but at an EXTREMELY slow pace!)
Poor Lung Health
Excellent (None) Carbon Monoxide Levels
Exteme Cravings (Continuing to drop...still a LONG way to go, though!)
Excellent (None) Nicotine Levels in Body

Day 4 - Last Night = No Fun.

So last night was terribly hard for me. My sister-in-law and nephew were in town staying the night last night so we could have a small birthday party for him today at our house. Let's just say that my timing to quit smoking wasn't the greatest when it comes to having company over. The volume was so loud in the house and everything was just going crazy - I had to get out.

I left the house to go pick up dinner for everyone - I was planning on going with someone. I decided that I needed time to myself. Long story short...I still didn't smoke. I so wanted to make that turn into the gas station and buy a pack of smokes...but I've made it this far and I'm not going to let a few extra people in my house stop me from quitting this nasty habit.

Alas - It's been 70 hours, 27 minutes since I last had a drag off a cigarette. This is getting harder I think - my throat is starting to flare up, my eyes are burning, my focus is gone...but I will NOT give up.

I'm doing this for myself, my beautiful wife AND my precious boys at home! I will persevere.

Talk to you soon!

~ Jeff ~

My Last Cigarette Readings (8:22 a.m. CST)
Increased Life Expectancy: 4 hours, 14 minutes, 57 seconds
Money Saved: $10.12
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 44.0892
Number of People died from smoking causes since I've quit: 28,185
Poor Circulation (Level has started to drop...that's a good thing!)
Poor Lung Health
Excellent (None) Carbon Monoxide Levels
Exteme Cravings (Leveal has started to drop...FINALLY!)
Excellent (None) Nicotine Levels in Body

Day 3 - Thanks for Lunch!

I'm glad my wife packed me a good lunch today! I just scarfed it all down - two bratwursts and a bag of cracker jacks! Nothing like some great comfort food when you're kicking the habit...not to mention it's kind of a gloomy, cool day here in Tulsa.

Well - today's going good. This morning I was pretty fidgety and all over the place, but I think I've found my zone for now and we're doing good. Lunch helped out tremendously - now I'm going to get to work here...lot's to do at the office today!

Check out the reading below!

~ Jeff ~

My Last Cigarette Readings (8:22 a.m. CST)
Increased Life Expectancy: 3 hours, 4 minutes, 22 seconds
Money Saved: $7.32
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 31.8822
Number of People died from smoking causes since I've quit: 20,369
Poor Circulation (Level has started to drop...that's a good thing!)
Poor Lung Health
Excellent (None) Carbon Monoxide Levels
Exteme Cravings (Leveal has started to drop...FINALLY!)
Excellent (None) Nicotine Levels in Body