I've been on a mission of self-improvement for the last few months. While I've stayed pretty quiet about it, except for this entry, it's time I wrote a short post and gave myself a little pat on the back. Even though I'm nowhere close to done, I deserve that much much for what I've done so far.This post comes as a result of me stepping on the scale this morning - something that I've tried to avoid doing too much and obsessing with numbers rather than enjoying the true benefits of what I'm doing.
Up to Snuff
I started this campaign back in April. I went to the doctor to get a prescription for the drug Chantix. I had used it before with no success, but I attribute that to the fact that I just wasn't ready. I didn't use it to quit smoking - I used it to quit using snuff. After allowing the drug to build up in my system, two weeks after I started taking it I quit using the snuff. Here's a few observations:
- I still suffered some withdrawl. It was tough, seriously it was. I thought I was going to go absolutely insane. Serious mood swings. Anxiety up the wazoo. However, it only lasted about three days. And then it was gone.
- I didn't automatically try to substitute the snuff with something else. For example, some people who try to quit smoking will tell you to munch on carrot sticks or something like that. I did try to have mints handy if things got really bad.
- I didn't have bad headaches.
- I drank a LOT of water leading up to the quit day to facilitate flushing the bad stuff out. I don't know if it helped, but I know that I quit so I'm willing to say it helped.
- I still get the urge to use snuff but I can say to myself, "I don't do that anymore."
- I only used Chantix for a month. I know they recommend longer - but the stuff isn't cheap and my mind was made up that I was done.
- Given the point above, I think a lot of this was due to my state of mind. In other words, if you've decided to quit you probably will.
Killing the Buzz
Coming off of that success I decided to try something else. For a long time I've been a caffeine addict. Coffee, energy drinks, soda pop, you name it. Every morning it was either a grande breve mocha or a venti white chocolate mocha or some kind of energy drink. Then, during the day and into the evening I drank Mountain Dew Code Red.
Wonderful diet huh?
I decided it was time to cut out the caffeine. I thought that one of these cleanses that I've heard about might help. I found a week-long cleanse plan and started following it. I didn't finish it all the way through, but I did acheive my goal. I no longer have a daily need for caffeine. But I was punished severely for giving up caffeine. I was burdened with one of the worst headaches for about 2 or three days even though I was drinking more than enough water.
That doesn't mean that I no longer enjoy a good espresso beverage. I do. But I don't do it everyday and I don't order the large sized drinks. I order the smallest drink - usually an 8 oz. I think the trick here is looking at it as something of a reward or a pleasure that you enjoy rarely instead of something that is a necessity..
Now I predominantly drink water. I have been enjoying a Welch's sugar free grape drink when I'm not drinking water. I've only had a coffee twice since I eliminated the caffeine from my system.
Shedding the Pounds
Since I seemed to be on a roll, setting goals and achieving them like nobody's business I decided it was time to shed the pounds I'd added over the last 10 years or so. It isn't that much, but I can tell it's there and I've gotten a little thicker around the waist. I even had to buy bigger pants since I've become a big, fat fatty.
Seriously though, I only weigh 189 lbs and I'm 5'10".
I've dramatically changed my diet and am focusing on vegetables, fruits and protiens over a six-meal-a-day plan. My goal is to get down to 170. I don't have a date set that I want to accomplish that by. As I said earlier, I want to obsess on the benefits instead of the numbers. Along with the weight loss, my goal is improved health. I've motivated my wife to start up her own self-improvement. She hasn't given up smoking or caffeine, but she is trying to eat better and she goes with me for nightly walks.
After we get back from our walk I put in some kind of cardio workout dvd. My favorite is Billy Banks' Tae-bo as I used to be into the MMA stuff when I was a bit younger. Just recently, I broke out my thai pads and I have my son hold them for me after I'm done with the cardio workout.
So, M-F I do a 30 minute walk with the wife. I don't know how far we are going right now.
M-W-F I do a walk followed by a cardio workout followed by a thai pad workout.
T-Th-Sat I do the walk followed by the cardio workout.
In the future I plan on changing the M-W-F workout to be a run followed by a thai pad workout followed by strength workout. I'm not sure when that will happen.
But I stepped on the scale this morning and I can see that the work I've done so far is starting to pay off.
