New Beginnings

Good afternoon to all of you out there in the wonderful world of blogland.  'Tis a wonderful day indeed.  Spring will be here in about 16 minutes although you might as well say it is here already.  It's a gorgeous day outdoors.  I did my food shopping this morning, and it felt good not to have to bundle up in the hats, and skarves, and heavy coats, and stopping every once in awhile to allow the sunlight fall on my face.  Life sure feels wonderful on a day like this. 

Spring is a special time of the year, a time of new beginnings, new life, wonder and joy.  And, I have decided it is definitely time for a new beginning as far as my health is concerned.  On July 4, 2009, I celebrated two Independence Days...one with everyone else and a personal day as I lay down my cigarettes for good.  For a few months, I felt wondeful...running up the stairs for the train...not breathless anymore.  I was up there on that pink cloud...that time when an addict experiences a reprieve from the struggles associated with early recovery.  But, when I reached my third month, the breathlessness came back, my back and my knees began and still are hurting me more than ever before...so badly that on more than one occasion I mentioned retirement.  Why?  What is this?  When you quit smoking you are supposed to feel better, not worse.  The doctor says I am fine...so why is it that I have to stop and rest at least 3 times on my way up the subway stairs?

And, it wasn't until the spring weather arrived that I realized what had gone wrong.  I could barely close my spring jacket...and and pants that once fit me won't go up past the thighs.  I've gained a minimum of 25 pounds, maybe more. It's the extra weight that's been weighing heavily (no pun intended) on me. I'd quit with the help of an online support group and continue to be active there to help out the newbies, but I haven't been following my own advice. Most women...and men...worry about the extra poundage when they quit smoking so my advice to the newbies has been not to worry for the first couple weeks, just get over the hurdle of what we call "hell week"; then start watching what you eat...But, the trouble is, I never started watching.  

  The first thing to go is the daily 12 ounce pepsi cola.  Addicts tend to switch addictions and that became my new one and soda can really put on the pounds.  But, what to do?  I need my caffeine...so now, it's going to be iced tea...and not sweet tea, either.  If I don't have sugar in my coffee, why should I have it in my tea?  And as far as today's shopping?....gone are the chips, the cakes, the cookies...and added are the veggies and the fruits and the yogurts...and the low calorie puddings.  I'm not saying this is going to be easy on me.  I'm so used to eating whatever I want when I want...in my smoking days I didn't gain...but this is a time of new beginnings, new starts in life, and I'll be 63 on Tuesday.  I'd say it's about time, wouldn't you?

So, Spring has come and is now about 30 minutes old.  The wonders of new lives ..the magic of rebirth.  May you all have a blessed day.