Day one, patch is sticking

So today is the project launch. Over the past weeks and even months this idea has been taking shape inside me, and now the site is here.

How was the first day? Actually quite OK. I already put on the nicotine patch yesterday evening — it lasts 24 hours at a time. So when I got up in the morning I didn't immediately have the urge to run out to the balcony for the first cigarette. The rest of the day I was in the home office and worked straight through.

My problem with smoking is the conditioning tied to reward behavior: I get something done, and then I've earned a little treat. Unfortunately that's become very deeply ingrained in my head. That's what needs to change. So alongside weaning myself off with nicotine replacement products, I'm also trying to change this conditioning. To start with, instead of smoking a cigarette I'm trying to read a page of a book. I don't know whether that'll work — but it's definitely healthier.

Right now my focus is on quitting smoking. Diet and exercise are more of a side note for the moment. I have training with my trainer three times a week regardless. When it comes to diet, I'm mainly trying to consistently cut out sweets — I've found that every time I quit smoking I get an extreme craving for something sweet.

That's it for the first day. A good start, but this wasn't the hard part yet. The hard part is consistency. I wish you all the best and see you soon.