The Hotlegs Runner I Quit! | The Hotlegs Runner

Monday, November 29, 2010

I Quit!

Last week was a week of celebrations...

My awesome god-mother's birthday, my dad's birthday, and Thanksgiving Day.  Today, I am also celebrating something --  my first year of being "SMOKE-FREE!"  Yey!

I am not a quitter.  But this is one thing I can proudly say I quit.  Ugh!  I dunno what I was thinking smoking those filthy cigarettes!  I am one of those reformed smokers who now loathe the smell of cigarettes.  And I can't believe it's already been a year since I lit my last cigarette.  For many years -- since high school -- I was literally huffing and puffing my health away!

 Just before lighting up. Taken during one of our shows. Eek!

I'm glad I decided to stop and I have running to thank for that.  I started running on Nov. 1 and I decided to stop smoking on Nov. 29 --  right after the second race event I joined.  I was out of breath during that run and took a lot of frequent walk breaks.  I wanted to perform better, so I made the best health decision of my life by deciding to stop smoking -- COLD TURKEY!

I was so determined, I didn't even crave for it.  It was simple.  I replaced an existing addiction with another addiction (running) and I set goals.

1. perform better in my sport.
2. get healthy
3. live longer for my loved ones.

That was enough motivation for me.  The most awesome thing about it -- after making one healthy decision -- you make another one and another one, and another one.  A healthy lifestyle snowball effect! I decided to also limit my alcohol intake, eat healthy, sleep early, and exercise regularly.

Cigarettes ... Good riddance!  Hello long healthy life!

  • Did you ever have a bad vice before?
  • What made you stop?

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30 Days of Thanks (Day 29)


I am thankful for my will-power and self-control for without this I will probably won't be the person I am today. It's easy to just give in to things or certain situations. I am thankful that I don't see temptation as a bad thing. Temptation is not only an opportunity to do good, but it's also an opportunity to grow in character.

Julie

38 comments:

  1. Wow--that is so impressive! It has to be hard to give up something so addictive. A big congrats!

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  2. congratulations! that is awesome news!
    i used to smoke as well. I smoked in high school and university and the 2 years that i lived in korea.
    i still cant believe that i was a smoker.
    i also hate the smell now. its so gross!

    congrats again!

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  3. A big huge YAY to you for being smoke-free for a year!

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  4. Congratulations on a year without smoking = in this case quitting is definately a good thing

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  5. Congrats. Thats something to be proud of.

    I completely quit drinking alcohol about 7.5 months ago. Sometimes you don't realize how badly something is affecting you until you give it up and experience life without it.

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  6. Great anniversary to celebrate - congratulations!

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  7. Congratulations! That is a great accomplishment. I wish more people could trade it the filthy habit of smoking for the filthy habit of running:)

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  8. Good for you Julie!
    I have never smoked a cigarette not even tried one puff but I know it is hard to quit. Both my parents were heavy smokers (dad 2 packs a day for many years) and they also quit cold turkey! Congrats to you!!!

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  9. major congrats! that's huge :)and in less than a week you'll be running a marathon. what a long way to come :)

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  10. Great job! Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for your health and it's not an easy thing to do. Congrats!

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  11. Congratultions!!! So impressive that you did that COLD TURKEY!

    Cheers to many more smoke free years!!!

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  12. My mom died of lung cancer and my ada of heart complications due to emphazema - I congratulate you on your anniversary!!

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  13. Congratulations! That is so awesome and your body is thanking you. What a fun week of celebrations! Not a lot of people have been able to quit that addiction, good for you.
    P.S. You can still send in pics of your snacks:)

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  14. Great! I quit on My wedding day in 1997! Best thing I ever accomplished! It's a tough go, but so worth it.

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  15. it's been almost 4 years for me and omg do I ever hate the smell as well lol! Plus you realize how smoking REALLY affects your aging and physical appearance by seeing other people you went to highschool with and what not and how much more unhealthy people look just from smoking. (well maybe not from just smoking but from an unhealthy lifestyle) congrats!!

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  16. Congratulations!! That is a HUGE accomplishment and life changer! Here's to many more years!

    Happy Thanksgiving!

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  17. Congrats and happy anny!! That's wonderful. I quit smoking about 7 years now and it really is the best gift you can give yourself!

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  18. Congrats on your smoke-free anniversary - that is something to celebrate and be proud of!

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  19. Hey, awesome timing! I quit smoking 4 days ago. And started running. Thanks!

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  20. Congrats & Happy Anniversary!! Good for you!

    My main vice is food, and since I can't quit that cold turkey, I am learning to see food as fuel instead of comfort. And running has helped me with that as well. I want to improve my run and I can't be my best if I'm feeding my body crap.

    Hugs to you, girl!

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  21. Probably one of the few times where quitting is acceptable.

    HAPPY QUITTERVERSARY!!!!

    Coffee is my vice. I love the stuff and have at least two cups a day. One in the AM and one right after lunch. I once quit and went to tea but that lasted only 6 months and back to coffee. And the thing is it doesn't have to be caffinated. I just love the smell and taste so decaf works well too.

    Countown is on and I am with you on pressing the FF button to the race.

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  22. Awesome! Congrats on being smoke free for a year! Woohoo!!! :)

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  23. Congrats on being smoke-free for a year! That is a huge accomplishment!!!

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  24. Congratulations!!!!

    My motto always is never quit!!!

    But in this case, by all means quit!!!

    A BIG WOOHOO!!! TO YOU!!!

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  25. Congratulations! It really is something to celebrate, it changes your life. I quit smoking 7 years ago and started running too! I think it's one of the best things I've ever done for myself.

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  26. Happy year anniversary! I know how hard that must have been. My vice is coffee... I used to drink at least a pot a day while teaching. Yikes. I've cut back all the way to 1 cup, but I really need that cup to get going in the morning. I need a little pep to be interesting at 7:25 a.m. every day. :)

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  27. great job Julie! im impressed. i recently quit too after being off and on the wagon for so long. the longest i was without a smoke was a year and a half and it came back. but now i have my motivation to really get rid of my bad vice. also, to tell you the truth, quitting smoking is harder than running for an hour. i used to run and yet still smoke. i could give up being sedentary but i couldnt give up smoking..until my dad died and i realized that its not worth it. i have to quit. i want to live longer and see my kids grow up and admire me for being able to kick the habit. so cheers to you. may you continue to inspire people.

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  28. congrats!!! good job on quitting. I just celebrated my 5th month of not smoking. It feels good to have overcome one habit you thought you wouldn't able to stop, right?

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  29. Quitting smoking is definitely something to celebrate!! What a great healthy addiction to replace it with! Congrats on the lifestyle change!

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  30. Way to go! That's so fitting that you're running a marathon almost exactly a year after quitting smoking.

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  31. Happy Smokinversary. That is awesome. I too, quit smoking and that has been a while. I am now one of those people like you who get disqustipated when I see other people smoke or even have to inhale any bit of it. That is just awesome. Well, here is the deal, I quit smoking and replaced that with eating, then I realized that I needed to counter the eating with regular excercise so I can eat more. lol. So I run, but now I make more healthy choices and don't eat as much so it leveled out. Can you believe I eat this stuff called Greek Yogurt which is actually good for you, pineapple flavor with wheat germ on top. Tastes just like a freaking desert. lol. Well, my other vices? Running when I know I should probably be recovering. Best wishes. You have a big one coming up SOON.

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  32. I'm so happy for you Julie! Never knew you smoked! I did the same 4 yrs ago. I quit cold turkey! I used to smoke almost a pack a day. Way to go Hotlegsrunner! Miss you!

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  33. You are amazing Julie!! Congrats on being a quiter:) You did it and should feel pretty proud of yourself! You know what, I have never ever smoked...not even once:)

    Take care Julie, hugs:)

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  34. yeahhh good for you!! i have never smoked because I have always given my mom such a hard time, I just didn't think i could and now the smell bugs me

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  35. Congratulations Julie! Quitting smoking and staying quit is hard - what a wonderful gift you've given yourself!

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  36. A W E S O M E!!!!

    Congrats to you! :D That is definitely something to celebrate!!

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  37. Congrats on quitting! I quit smoking cold turkey when I was about 23 (so long ago I don't remember the exact year!)

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