What on earth am I coughing up!

OK, so I am at it again, only this time I want those bloody things gone! My reason is health and my inspiration is my mate who has finally quit. 50 days in and he is doing great. Not bad considering he just stopped after some 20 years of smoking.

Me, I have managed it before to varying degrees of success and have smoked pretty much for 25 years. Even after stopping for up to 8 months I have been stupid and picked up the habit again. But this time is different. I am over getting crook. I am over the dregged out feeling in the morning. I don't like the taste or the smell. I am a fire fighter and need to be healthy. I have lost nearly 26kg on a very healthy diet and the non-smoking bit is the next step. I already feel great with the weight loss, imagine how I feel when I'm off the death sticks!

So far... Day 1 was a snap, I just gave it away after a coughing fit that hurt my throat. I had been a bit hay feverish and sick for a while.  Day 2 was OK as well, drinking lots of water helps and Fisherman's Friends give you a great distraction, fresh breath and help clear that strange lumpy feeling in chest and throat, (great idea from Adam).

Day 3... I had to warn people. I could've punched out a wild bull! Oh the frustration and anger! Violently I would just blast. The poor girl that made my morning coffee and spilt it got a blast. I like this girl she is an absolute sweety and I raise my voice at her telling her to be bloody careful and other horrid things... I could have crawled into a hole in those seconds after and realised what I was doing. I thought she was going to cry at my outburst. I felt like such an a-hole! She understood though, apparently her Dad was worse. I left her a huge tip. And my poor wife! I can't even remember eveything I said. My wife Sharon is a Saint to put up with me!

This cheesed off and grumpy attitude carried into Days 4 & 5, I am a very grumpy bear with a sore head.

Around day 5 I also started hacking. And I do mean hacking! <WARNING... Gets a bit gross here...> Like a bloody Cat trying to get rid of a fur ball. There is a rattle in my chest when I breath and a strange and awful grey sticky substance blasts out of my mouth into the tissues as I violently hack, lumps I spit out seem to be like some wierd glue and seem to be grey to brown in colour. (I warned you it was gross!)

The good news is, the Fisherman's Friends and a bit of heart raising exercise helps you get rid of it and there is a very enhanced sense of smell and taste coming to me. (Did I always used to have such a strong sense of smell as a young person I wonder? It seriously is like a super sense, I could smell a rose from 50m!)

Anyway, the cough is subsiding, my lungs are clearing. Sense of smell is great, possibly of Super Human ability. I'm also a lot happier, seems the grumpy bear has buggered off. I do believe the cravings are starting to decrease. It does seem easier then the last time I tried. I do believe that doing the whole healthy thing, fruit and vege's, exercise, avoiding those 'need a smoke' situations is a great way to go. There are some gringe worthy moments still in my craving, but in general, I am feeling pretty damn good!