So I know now that I have two definite triggers that cause such a massive craving, I’m almost helpless in the face of a cigarette. One is coffee, and the other is alcohol and group socializing. So it’s really simple right? Don’t drink alcohol in excess of two drinks and avoid coffee all together. Sounds simple does it not? Well, it’s not.

Another thing I’ve noticed is the effect of Goji berry and fruit drinks. As well as that, I’ve noticed a difference between drinking Zrii every day, and drinking Goji berry mixtures.

By far, the Goji berries WORKED FAR BETTER than drinking Zrii, or Acai berry juice. I’ve tried both now, and I can tell you that mixing real Goji berries in a blender with some blueberries, a banana, and some milk and orange juice will help you curb your cravings for cigarettes and food. I was losing weight when I had the Goji berry blender drinks every day. When I ran out of Goji berries, I felt much worse. I was tired more, felt aches and pains more, and had less fight in me to stop smoking all together.

The relapse I had really bummed me out because I had done well staying off the cigs for 2 weeks. Really bummed me out, and I could feel discomfort in my chest again the next morning. Gross!

So I ordered a big bag (cheap too) of Goji berries which I’m still waiting for, and I have not smoked again since the relapse. I’ll drink this Zrii until the Goji berries arrive.

Junk is still coming out of my lungs with little black spots in the phlegm. Guess you want that to happen so all the tar and crap leaves your lungs.

So what I did was replace the smoking with drinking fruit shake mixes with no sugar. Just the blueberries, goji berries (for cheap), orange juice, peaches, strawberries, bit of milk, 5 ice cubes, and 1 banana.

Mix it up in the blender every night, so I have a small glass, or half a glass every time I have an urge to smoke. Just replaced a bad habit with a good habit. I talk about my goji drink concoction on this post. The results of all this has been amazing for me. I feel so much better it’s hard to describe. Below is a list of what I’ve noticed since the cigarettes have been gone.

List of Positive Things I’ve Noticed Since Quitting Smoking

• nicer going for walks and having breath
• food tastes better
• I can smell things better
• more energy for working
• better (sounder) sleep
• less anxiety
• feeling of accomplishment

Also started taking a huge once-a-day vitamin pill that has a bit of everything in it. I think this has helped allot with everything too. Having the phlegm come out of my lungs has been a little unnerving, but I’ve been reading elsewhere online that it’s very normal. (if you think that is gross – every hear of people that SMOKE PHLEGM) I know that story is really gross, but that is how serious this addiction is. Smoking can turn you into an addict just as desperate as a cocaine addict or a heroin addict.

How Did I Finally Manage To Quit Smoking

The reason is that I’ve been wanting to quit for a long time, and failed many, many times. Start – stop – start -stop – start – stop. I think what happened was that deep inside I really wanted to quit, and intended to quit. What really did it for me was a chest flu and bad cough I had for two weeks.

I was already down to two cigarettes in the morning, and about five smokes throughout the day and evening, for a total of around 7-8 cigarettes every 24 hours. Still way to much for me because I wanted to quit all together. I loathe cigarettes, tobacco companies, tobacco lobbyists, and on top of that – I’m disgusted with governments who make tobacco products legal while at the same time pretend to care about the health of the people they are supposed to be working for (and leading).

I was tired of feeling sick, and feeling tired. I was tired of being out of breathe when I went golfing, or going for a walk. I was disgusted to be giving money to tobacco companies, and I wanted to set a better example in my family – for my wife, the kids, and grand kids.

I was sick of the habit, and really sick of the morning anxiety due to nicotine withdrawal. Most of all, I was sick of feeling like a hostage to a deadly habit.

As soon as I fell sick from the flu and the chest cold, a knew that I was going to be quitting smoking once and for all. I also knew that I HAD to replace my smoking habit with another habit that felt good, and gave me a reward (just like a dog or lab rat). This is why I started blending these berry and banana drinks.

After going through the withdrawal this long and going through the detoxification process (phlegm discharge etc.) I realize that I never want to go through this process again. It’s uncomfortable, but it’s also NOT a big deal. When we quit smoking it’s important that we don’t see it as a big deal – some brutal withdrawal process feels like you are dying.

A Future Classroom History Lesson After Cigarettes Are Long Gone

There will be a day long after we’re all gone when teachers in schools will take about the ancient times when humans used to smoke these gross things called cigarettes that polluted their lungs, gave them diseases, and killed them.

Not only that, these ancient humans used to PAY big money every day to do this.

I can imagine the students looking at the teacher dumbfounded and shocked to learn of how backwards and ignorant the “ancient humans” were. I can imagine the students sitting around the dinner table telling their parents about what they learned in school that day, amazed by the weird old days.

This day WILL come. I have no question this day will come.

So Now I’m Hoping My Wife Will Finally Quit

Now I’m hoping my wife will finally quit smoking too. It’s been hard to quit when this always cigarettes in the house. Still did manage to quit, and I don’t blame her for the difficulty, but now I want her to quit for her health. She has been smoking since she was teenager, and is now 49. I started smoking when I was 21 and stopped at 46.

Would I Ever Smoke Again?

No, No, and NO. My brother-in-law always says that if he ever finds out he has a terminal disease, he will start smoking again, because he misses the high from the tobacco. I disagree.

I’ll never start smoking again, no matter what. I’ll keep my lungs clean of smoke no matter what my future condition is.

I’ll update on this in future posts.