I know this is a tobacco support forum, but my change is so much more than that. I moved out to Colorado last December. In anticipation of being able to do many more fun activities outdoors, I knew I had to make a drastic lifestyle change. At 29 years old, I weighed 265 pounds, smoked a pack a day, dipped a can every-other-day, drank 6-12 cans of soda a day, and drank my fair share of booze on the weekends.

In November of 2012 I gave up alcohol, but that was the easy one as I was only a social drinker and didn't care much for the taste of beer. When I decided enough was enough, I walked away and haven't even wanted a sip since.

In January I gave up my beloved Grizzly. I switched to an herbal snuff for about a week, but I threw it away quickly enough. I thought this was going to be the toughest for me, but a plentiful stock of chewing gum curbed the habit easily.

Also in January I gave up cigarettes, but had a two-pack lapse in February, but it has been smooth sailing since.

In February I bought a mountain bike and have started to ride 3-5 miles a day (well, up until last week; I had a surgery done and can't ride for 6 weeks). I also have started to watch my calories and what I eat. It definitely helps me that there is no Whataburgers or REAL Dairy Queens out here. I haven't had a fast-food burger since January! As of this morning, I am now down to 250 pounds and still dropping.

A few weeks ago I decided to also give up soda's (though it's not intended to be a 100% forfeit; I will still have an occasional one). This one will prove to be the toughest, I think.


In the short few months that I have started my lifestyle change, I can already see a HUGE improvement. My energy levels are up, my lung capacity is up, my coughing is gone, I can taste food better, I can smell things better, my truck doesn't stick, my hands aren't stained, I don't have spit juice all over the place, and I overall feel so much better. I also haven't had the strong cravings that I thought I would have had. Heck, I don't really think I have any cravings at all. I haven't felt this good in 15+ years and I have no desire to ever again pollute my body with the toxins I have thrown away.

Good for you - keep on stackin' up the days . . . . .

good going

sounds like you have made some great life changes, way to go

Strong steps right in the right direction!!

Figured I would post an update since it's been almost 2 months. Still going strong. Been 100% tobacco free. Had a few Colorado brewed beers at a little work get-together a few weeks back, but nothing major. Still laying off the soda pretty good. Riding the bike 5-10 miles a day with a big ride on the weekends; averaging about 60 miles a week on it. My goal is to get to 100 miles/week. I am ten-fold more active and my energy levels are through the roof. The weight isn't coming off like I was expecting, but I'm overall feeling A LOT healthier.