Monthly Archives: May 2013

The Quit: Q-minus 32 hours and counting

I’ve set a date (Sunday night at midnight).

I’ve talked with some family (weekend with mom, brother, and sister inspired me).

I’ve reconnected with QuitNet.

While on the site today, I found something I want to post here, so I can come back to it from time to time.

Smoking cessation timeline – the health benefits over time

In 20 minutes, your blood pressure and pulse rate decrease, and the body temperature of your hands and feet increase.
Carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke reduces the blood’s ability to carry oxygen. At 8 hours, the carbon monoxide level in your blood decreases to normal. With the decrease in carbon monoxide, your blood oxygen level increases to normal.
At 24 hours, your risk of having a heart attack decreases.
At 48 hours, nerve endings start to regrow and the ability to smell and taste is enhanced.
Between 2 weeks and 3 months, your circulation improves, walking becomes easier and you don’t cough or wheeze as often. Phlegm production decreases. Within several months, you have significant improvement in lung function.
In 1 to 9 months, coughs, sinus congestion, fatigue and shortness of breath decrease as you continue to see significant improvement in lung function. Cilia, tiny hair-like structures that move mucus out of the lungs, regain normal function.
In 1 year, risk of coronary heart disease and heart attack is reduced to half that of a smoker.
Between 5 and 15 years after quitting, your risk of having a stroke returns to that of a non-smoker.
In 10 years, your risk of lung cancer drops. Additionally, your risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney and pancreas decrease. Even after a decade of not smoking however, your risk of lung cancer remains higher than in people who have never smoked. Your risk of ulcer also decreases.
In 15 years, your risk of coronary heart disease and heart attack is similar to that of people who have never smoked. The risk of death returns to nearly the level of a non-smoker.

Me

I’ve been a smoker for over 20 years. About 6 years ago, I successfully quit for 3 months. I felt great. One day, I bummed a cig off a coworker after some happy hour fun. It’s a slippery slope and I slid right down it again. I’ve been at the bottom of the slope looking up for a long time. After spending the weekend with my family for my sister’s graduation (graduate school!), I decided I am ready to make the climb again. My brother flew out from Seattle and said he was hardly smoking anymore. That weekend, he smoked a lot. If I hadn’t been smoking, he wouldn’t have either. Big brother is a bad influence and I aim to change that relationship. Come tomorrow night, I’m going to try to kill that demon. It will be an epic battle, but I hope to be the one left standing.

If This, Then That…

This is just a test of a couple new recipes I have at If This, Then That. I really enjoy this site although I’m sure I’m not using it to its full potential. That being said, I had created a recipe that would send me a text message any time someone in my area made a “for sale” post concerning Concept2 rowing machines. After a year, I was notified of one in my price range and I bought it 2 hours after it was posted. IFTTT has saved me money!

While the rower I bought is an older model (Model B, last made in 1993), it’s in fine condition and I paid less than half of its true value. These rowers really hold up over the years if properly maintained. Another reason I wanted a Concept2, is their customer service and because they can be retrofitted with new parts. I ordered a few parts for mine (new handle, new foot boards, new seat rollers) and with that added cost, I’m still sitting lower than my rower’s true value. Fun times ahead!

Heritage Farm Park

Today, I finally made it back out to a course and played 18 wonderful holes of disc golf. My score wasn’t great (shot a +14), but it sure was nice to get out into the sun and throw some plastic around. Got some 3’s, too many 4’s and a couple 5’s. I also threw one OB on #6. This is what I get for having not played in over a year. I will not being going that long again. I miss this game!

Hole #2

The drives were off in the beginning and again at the start of the back nine, but I was able to rein it in and get some nice straight drives after the 11th hole. On the 11th, I got some nice distance, but ended up throwing the drive to 12’s tee. Not good. :/

My approach shots were better, but I still had some that were either way too short or came in too hot and shot behind the basket. Many of them were spot on, though, and brought me close enough to close the pars.

My putts were far better than I would have expected given how long I’ve been away from the game. Made quite a few that were in the 15-20 foot range. I think one or two that were even farther.

There is definitely room for improvement and improve I will. I’m going to try to get in at least one round per week until the weather turns. Maybe even two.

To top off the day, it was absolutely beautiful outside. Just about 70° with a slight breeze. Couldn’t have asked for better weather. The sun was shining. The birds were singing. I just wish MY birds were singing. Pars are nice, but bogeys (and even more so, double-bogeys) really suck. Time will improve my game!