I've never shared this online before.....

I was a smoker. WAS. I gave it up about 8 months ago and have never looked back. I'm proud of myself for doing it. I am proud of myself for finally being honest about it. Does it make the world different for having shared it? No, not in the least. It serves as a reminder to me that in life we have choices and we don't always make the right ones. But I hope to choose better for myself in the future. This layout I am sharing today is about my first steps into getting healthy. I was inspired from a challenge posted at www.serendipityscrapbooks.com . Check the place out if you haven't I love it there. Everyone is so friendly and welcoming and the challenges ROCK!

Here is the journaling if you want to read it:

2009.….it was the best of times, it was the worst of times. The best thing that came out of last year for me personally is quitting smoking. It’s been about 8 months now. I was ready to quit and so it came easily.….this time. I used the patch for a week and that was it. I never looked back. I feel better, I look better and I smell better. The only downside has been my weight gain. I have never been what you would call thin, but I was comfortable at the weight I was maintaining. I quit smoking and blew that weight all to hell. I‘d heard horror stories of people ballooning up when they quit smoking and I was just going to have to deal with that when it came. Well, come it did. I wasn’t counting on how I would feel internally with the excess weight. I am not happy with my appearance and instead of just whining and complaining about how heavy I currently am, (been there, done that.). I am being proactive, which is to say that I am watching what I eat. Or maybe even more importantly, why I eat. My body told me I was full, but my head told me to eat anyway, and I did, either out of boredom or because I was having an emotion. At least with cigarettes there is the patch to help curb the cravings, not really the case with food. I have had a love affair with food for many years, a sweet tooth of the worst kind. Now when I reach for something to eat I simply ask myself “Self, are you really hungry or just bored? Unhappy? And so far it has worked, and when it doesn’t I eat a stick of gum instead. I can’t predict the future and say I am off snacking, or will never eat out of boredom again. All I can do is try. And I am. In addition to monitoring my intake, I am also working out with Wii Fit Plus, everyday. My hope as the year progresses and the weather starts to warm up, I will be outside playing with my kids more, swimming at the community pool in all my bathing suit glory, and just enjoying life. This journey will be long, and the finish line isn’t anywhere in sight, but I am, as of this day enjoying each step. I hope 2010 is filled with good times with family and friends and happiness and laughter. I will take it one pound at a time.
Journaling by Dawn Moore Age: 36
Photo and layout started and finished on Jan. 06, 2010