Experiment in Accountablity

I've always wanted to blog...I always have lots to say, though not always important.  I feel I've finally found a good reason!  I am ready for a change in my life.  Next month I turn 36.  For my 37th birthday I am giving myself a healthier, happier me.  I plan to lose 50-80 pounds through exercise and healthier eating, and also to quit smoking.  Imagine, me...one year...lots of change.  It sounds so exciting.  Today I am very excited about it.  The reason for starting the blog is self encouragement and also accountability.  I've been told I am brave to take on both things at once, but in truth many of the behaviors used to quit smoking are behaviors that will cause weight loss anyway...such as giving up caffeinated drinks in favor of water, and exercising for stress relief.  So I can't see a reason not to try it, and here, we will track the progress.  

Before 

After

I wonder if this started when I let my hair grow back out and began to feel younger because of that.  In any event, whatever began the chain, tomorrow it continues with a new smile.  I am stressed about the pain, but excited that after the healing I will have a more confident smile.  With that smile comes an inability to smoke...so I will begin using nicotine replacement spray.  As soon as I am feeling better I will begin walks with Nela and the PS3 dance game.  We also have tennis rackets, and I love to play tennis.  The boys are old enough to enjoy it with us now, and mowing the lawn is another exercise. (I did it for the first time this year tonight and yes, it's definitely exercise!)


The reasons for wanting to lose weight are pretty self explanatory, feel healthier, being able to stop taking cholesterol and blood pressure medications, feeling more self confident.  The reasons for quitting smoking can sometimes be a bit fuzzier.  We all know that smoking can cause serious health problems "down the road", but since it is a delayed problem, it is a delayed response in dealing with the problem.  So yes, I want to quit smoking to decrease my chances of heart problems, emphysema, cancer or stroke.  Today, however, I want to quit for these reasons:


I want to smell good when I walk into a room.  


I don't want to have to try to hide my mouth when I talk to others because I am afraid that they will be offended by my smoker's breath. 


I hate the way my yard looks with cigarette butts lying all around it, like we don't care about it.  It's embarrassing.


The smoke particles that stick to my clothes and in my hair also end up on my children who both have allergies and it aggravates the allergies to the point of asthma.


I don't want to wrinkle prematurely!


I want my boys to be proud of me!


The money we will be saving is money we desperately need for other things.  And once some bills get paid off we can use it for things we want, such as vacations or a motorcycle!


I want Dean to quit also in order to be healthier for his surgery and because cancer runs in his family and I want him to have the best chance at a long life that he can.  It's easier to quit if we both quit at the same time.


So days down the road, if I question my motives, they are here for me to see in black and white.  I begin this journey as 219 pound smoker.  I will end it as a 140 pound non-smoker!  I'm excited to begin my journey back to ME!