Gas station attended must have thought I was crazy

[mathnerd]

I'm the strange customer in this story. I wasn't sure where to put it, so I put it here.

A little background: A month ago I had my "Oh Shit!" moment when it came to my health and weight. I was 250 pounds and could barely walk down my driveway without getting winded. Admittedly, the driveway is 700 feet long, but still. So I started working out. I can now run a mile in 14 minutes and alternate jogging and walking 2 minutes each for the rest of my 4 mile route. I've also drastically altered my diet and have lost 18 pounds. Yay me! The one thing I haven't managed to do is quit smoking. This tidbit is important.

So, there's a gas station about a half mile from the end of my route. I knew I only had one cigarette left at home, and I had my debit card with me, so I decided to swing in and buy more. So, I walk into the store, all sweaty and out of breath, walk up to the counter, take my iPhone pouch off my arm to dig for my card and ask for my smokes. The poor lady looked at me like I'd just sprouted three heads. I think the juxtaposition of a jogger asking for a pack of smokes made her brain explode. She smiled and got what I needed and I paid. Then I smiled, told her to have a great day, hit "resume" on my workout app and jogged out the door. I swear I heard the lady and the other customers burst out laughing as I left.

Sometimes I really do wonder about myself.

[Pixilated]

Well, you've done your good deed for the week -- you gave them a good dinner conversation topic for about that long, LOL.

[DGoddessChardonnay]

Don't sweat the small stuff, Sweetheart.

If I went around believing everything and taking to heart everything that everybody has ever said about me (and probably still do) I'd already be in the looney bin or have offed myself a long time ago.

Do what makes sense for YOU.

[Seshat]

You've started. That's what counts. It takes time to build up habits - and tear down old ones. Be patient with yourself.

As long as you and your doctor are happy with what you're doing medically, that's all that matters.

(Well, I will admit, I prefer to be in on what my husband is doing medically. But if he asked me to butt out, I'd tell him I wanted to know Dr Ganga was happy - and then I'd try to butt out. It'd be hard, but I'd try.)

[mathnerd]

Well, my doctor is thrilled about everything but my inability to quit smoking. That's a tough one. I smoke when I get upset, and I've recently had to move back in with my parents because I couldn't hold down a job due to the medical needs of my kids. My parents....well, lets just say that we're not one big happy family. I know I need to quit smoking, and I do keep trying. I made it three days with the patch last week. I'll try again in a few days.

I think I will take Pixilated's world view: I provided at least a few days' of dinner time amusement for a few people.

[Seshat]

There are 'physiotherapy for the mind' techniques which can help you get less upset over things, and/or help you cope when you are upset.

Doc can refer you to people who can help you learn those techniques.

But - I repeat myself again - be patient with yourself. You've got kids with medical needs, you're in a stressful situation, you're working on other aspects of your own health .... there's only so much you can do at one time.

[fireheart]

If your smoking is triggered by depression/stress, maybe talk to your doc about medication as well?

IANAD

[Cecily]

At least you are one up on the people with their butts on the couch. Nicotine is the hardest addiction to get rid of, so good luck on that. You'll make it.

[csquared]

Radical incremental-ism. Your not going to solve all your health problems in one shot. Make one small change every day. The cigarettes will get their turn.

And now that you have guilted me into it, it is time to go get on the exercise bike. I still have 55lbs to lose.

[XCashier]

Radical incremental-ism. Your not going to solve all your health problems in one shot. Make one small change every day. The cigarettes will get their turn.

Agreed. Too many people make the mistake of trying to do everything at once and end up burned out. Taking it one step, one problem at a time is the way to do it.

I wish you the best of luck. I, too, need to get back to the exercise routine. Especially now that the apartment swimming pool is open for the season.

[fireheart]

Another one for the exercise round! *raises hand*

It's been cold at the moment, so I haven't been getting on the bike. I do however, go out for walks somewhere between 30-75 minutes a day. Take note: these walks are usually in shopping centres or near shopping centres

[iradney]

Speaking as an ex-smoker who fell off the wagon quite regularly:

You'll quit when you're ready to. If you quit because someone else wants it, it probably won't last long.

However, you can cut down, or maybe take two less puffs per cigarette. It all adds up...

[mathnerd]

Thanks guys! I was in a really "off" mood this morning. Now I'm smiling. I know I'll get there eventually. I'm waiting patiently for the parents to leave and then I'm going to go spend an hour or so swimming laps. While I might not get along well with them, they do have a rather nice home, and one of the nicer things is the 10m by 6m pool. I swim on the days I don't run, since I find that the water exercise really helps my joints. Running while this heavy is pretty hard on the knees and ankles, and my doctor recommended water therapy. It's super convenient to have the pool 10 steps out the back door! I'm also thinking about taking my Mastiff to the park. He likes hanging out with other big dogs.

[csquared]

Running while this heavy is pretty hard on the knees and ankles,

It's been cold at the moment, so I haven't been getting on the bike.

Two of the reasons I got an exercise bike. Was able to strengthen the legs and knees without killing my knees. I keep it in the basement where it is nice and cool in the summer and reasonable in the winter. No worrying about the weather.

[fireheart]

I keep it in the basement where it is nice and cool in the summer and reasonable in the winter. No worrying about the weather.

What is this basement you speak of?