It's now been 84.5 hours since having a cigarette. Yesterday and last night were surprisingly easy. I found that I didn't think about smoking very much at all. The dreaded 72-hour "sink or swim" mark came and went, and I didn't even make note of it. It was very smooth sailing.

This morning is a different tune altogether.

I woke up early this morning and lay in bed, wanting to get up because my back was killing me, but not wanting to get up because one of my first thoughts was of smoking a cigarette. Knowing I couldn't have one -- because there aren't any in the house -- I grudgingly tripped to the bathroom and ripped the used patch from my left arm, and turned on the tap, praying that the hot water would hurry upstairs from its basement home in the water heater. With hot water, soap, and washcloth readied, I washed and dried my right upper arm and, finding a spot that hadn’t been occupied before, palmed a patch there. Damn. I’m outta cloth tape. I use cloth tape to ensure the patch stays put in its 24-hour dock, and I’m out. *sigh* I hafta go to the store today anyway. I’ll make a note to pick some up.

Dressed, face washed, and arm all patched, I padded down the stairs to the kitchen, filled my 16-ounce Styrofoam cup with water, placed it directly into the middle of the glass microwave turntable, and set the time for 1 minute, 45 seconds. It was at that moment that I turned to let the dog out for her morning pee and the urge -- craving -- hit me. I wanted a cigarette and wanted one NOW!

What the HELL???? I’m past the magic 72-hour mark! The cravings are supposed to be gone, or at least manageable! Not fair! My body isn’t following the rules! Waaaaaa!!!

So, here I sit, journaling about this, taking deep breaths, drinking my coffee, wanting to kick the cat (if we had one), and nearly experiencing weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth.

All because of wanting a stupid, stinky cigarette.

Get a grip, girl. If I can't make it two weeks without a cigarette, what makes me think I'm gonna make it two weeks on the Medifast Diet my surgeon wants me to be on before surgery?

Bullwinkle I may not be real knowledgable about lapbanding I have my surgery the 4 of Dec, but I know about not smoking and the patch. I quit almost 15 years ago and I used the patch. Are you using a strong enough patch? Not all the cravings will be gone the patch just takes the edge off. I finally got so mad I decided a cigarette was not going to control what I did. Ex: going outside in the cold or heat to smoke or where I had to set in public. This is not an easy choice to make but if you stick to it you won't ever have to quit and feel this way again. Good luck Email me if you need to talk.

You will make it. You are awesome bullwinkle. I wonder if you can get some of that runners high if you run in place for that 1 minute and 45 seconds while the dog is peeing and the water is getting hot. Hummmmm