Day 23. I have officially passed the 3 week mark over the weekend. This weekend was Dave’s birthday party and I had originally been very nervous about this because this would be the first time that I attempted to drink without smoking.
I started with one drink at first, and waited for that “awful” feeling I knew was going to come as a result of not being able to have a cigarette.
But you know what??? …it never came.
People were having a great time at the party, and one drink quickly led to several more on my part. I thought about cigarettes several times during the party, but only to marvel to myself, incredulously, each time that I didn’t really feel any great desire to have a cigarette. I was having a fine time without them. Not just that I was having a fine time…I was having an even better time than if I did smoke…because now, at least, I didn’t have to leave the party every time I needed to smoke so I wouldn’t be smoking around the children that were there.
I was quite an extraordinary day. I faced that trigger and I came through it with more confidence than I have ever had to date in this endeavor.
The next night, I had a glass of wine at the bar while listening to some live music…and, again, I didn’t smoke. And it really didn’t matter to me.

At one point on Sunday, I became frustrated at rehearsal over a guitar part I was having trouble with, and my first immediate thought was “I need a cigarette.”
However, that thought is quickly replaced by the realization of just how GREAT my voice is sounding without cigarettes. And that is something I want to keep…it continues to be one of my greatest motivators. I always had a great voice, but I continue to be astounded by how much better it sounds every day that I don’t smoke. The band has a huge show on Friday night and I can’t wait for people to hear my new voice.

I continue to eat well and work out several times a week. I have lost 5 pounds since I stopped smoking. I feel better than I can remember feeling in a really long time.
Updates will follow.