Showing posts with label starbucks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label starbucks. Show all posts

Sunday, March 2, 2008

30 day trial, day 8

So day 8 of the 30 day trial, i have not ordered a single take out coffee-I did get a coffee to go with my bacon sandwich this morning but I don't don't count this because the coffee was incidental-by which I mean I wasn't going to the place to buy coffee and had a sandwich on the side-so it is unlikely that buying coffee from this particular restaurant will become a daily habit unless I also make it a daily habit to buy bacon sandwiches-not impossible I admit.

Not Smoking is progressing in a mixed fashion. After my lapse on Tuesday the week was pretty easy and by Saturday I was feeling fantastic-nicotine free, definitely feeling the benefits to my health and general well being. Then I got smashed on Saturday night and smoked a 10 pack.

Obviously drink is the problem here. Still not smoked today, nor felt like smoking-do have a mildly irritating headache which I guess is a repeat of the nicotine withdrawal. I know I can beat this and I think if I avoid bars for the next 22 days I'll be completely free of the desire to smoke.

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

30 day trial, day 4

Smoked twice. Feel like shit about it. Really wanted a smoke in the morning. Thanks to the encouragement of my amazing girlfriend overcame the temptation. Felt great all day about being a non smoker and having nearly kicked the tobacco out of my system. Went out for someones leaving drinks and in the company of some French guys ended up having a cigarette. Then a little tipsy on my way home, bought a pack of ten from tescos. Took one and binned the rest. Smoked my second cigarette. Felt appalling as a human being.

Now I can feel myself wanting another smoke, I can smell the filth on myself and I'm really peed off and angry. Still I hope this will serve in contrast to the fantastic feeling I had as a non-smoker this afternoon and spur me on to avoid all cigarettes in the future.

Sorry for letting myself down!

Still I haven't touched a take out coffee...

Monday, February 25, 2008

30 day trial, day 3

Today was the third day of the trial. The first day back at work and the first full day without cigarettes.

Going without take out coffee was pretty easy-it meant I got to work a little faster and saved me a fair bit of money. Ordinarily I'd get a mocha and croissant from Starbucks on the way into the office. This clocks in at around 4 pounds.

This morning I got a croissant from pret a manger and a coffee from the free vend machine. Total cost 95p!

During the day avoiding coffee was more of a challenge. We have costa coffee stores in the office and going for a coffee in the morning or afternoon is usually quite a good break.

Still I just stuck with water and found that I feel a lot more awake than at the the end of a normal day guzzling coffee.

Cigarettes-now they were more troubling. Although I don't actually feel like I want to smoke, I don't miss the smell, the foul taste or the cost. There is a part of me that misses a coffee and cigarette although I know that there is nothing particularly nice about a coffee and cigarette beyond not having to work while you enjoy them.
In terms of symptoms-I couldn't sleep properly last night and woke up five or six times, I've had a mild headache most the day, been fidgety, not able to concentrate fully and mildly irritable. It's been particularly severe (understandably) around those times I usually most looked forward to smoking-walking to and from work, at lunch and right after dinner.

Despite all the irritation I am glad I've quit and viewing the whole experience as a mild illness that will soon be done with.

By day seven or so i think it should be smoothe sailing.

Saturday, February 23, 2008

No coffee, unexpected side effects

Turns out that there is one other side effect to not drinking take out coffee. A massive craving for beer!

All day today I've been walking about completely untempted by Starbucks but craving a pint. Sadly my friends were out of town. In the end i wasn't willing to drink in a London pub on my own. That way leads to destruction. So I bought a few fine ales on my way home to enjoy alone in the privacy of my bedroom. Surely a much healthier approach!

If this continues I might be replacing the 30 day trial with a 30 day stint in rehab.

Cheers

30 day trial, day 1

So today is the first day of my trial. I'm not off cigarettes yet because I still have a few duty free left, and I'm sensible enough to know that I'll not be able to risk quitting with cigarettes left in my house.

I have gone without take out coffee though. Any normal Saturday I would have torn through 2-3 mochas. I found that for most of today it was pretty easy to not buy Starbucks. This was made easier by the fact that I slept all of the morning and the best part of the afternoon.

The only problem has been this evening. I have a splitting headache presumably from caffeine withdrawal. I've made myself a coffee this evening which has taken the edge off a little-my trial is for take out coffee, not coffee in general. Still I can't believe how bad not drinking 4 cups a day made me feel. It's pretty scary how dependent on various chemicals I am without even realising it.

Anyway I also joined a gym today and plan to hit it tomorrow morning-hopefully that will help. Apparently doing exercise once in a while can improve one's mood. Who would have thought it?