NO SMOKING AND A DIET ???????????????

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Well starts a crazy week for me but I am determined to get through it and come out for the better. Today is day three for NO SMOKING. I have coughed for the last two days and have read that will stop in about a month's time. Below is an article I found about what happens to your body when you quit.

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 in similar to that of people who have never smoked. The risk of death returns to nearly the level of a non-smoker.

I am also starting a week long diet today of nothing but fruit and water. I am cutting out everything else for one week. No bread, caffeine only eating fruit. I have bananas, strawberries, apples, oranges, grapes, peaches, pears, mango and cantaloupe. I really wish I had watermelon because I could eat that everyday. I know I will be craving stuff and feel hungry but I am going to flush my guts out and start a fresh with better foods and smaller portions. It is just a week for detox and I love fruit so too shouldn't be too hard.

What Are the Benefits of a Fruit & Veggies Only Diet?

A diet of just fruit and vegetables is a variation of the raw food diet; another label might be a "detox" diet. On the raw food diet, one eats only fruits, nuts, vegetables, leafy greens, seeds and sprouts and other uncooked, plant-based food. If your current diet is leaving you lethargic and overweight, this diet could jump-start your body into a healthier lifestyle. If interested, grab a grocery cart, hit the produce aisle, and expect to see some amazing benefits of an all-fruit-and-vegetable diet.

1. Weight Loss

   • Consuming only fruits and vegetables will lead to weight loss because of the low calorie and carbohydrate content of these foods. Additionally, few fruits (with the notable exception of avocados and olives) contain fat. Therefore, you could eat pounds of fruit and still lose weight because the nutrients responsible for weight gain are minimal or absent.
     This diet, however, may be accompanied by accompany hunger pangs while the body copes to get enough calories. Though "fat" is often associated with "weight gain," eat plenty of avocados and olives to help create a feeling of satiety. Otherwise, expect to be eating every hour.

   Lower Risk of Disease and Illness

   • Fruits and vegetables are rich in vitamins and antioxidants. Additionally, the Harvard School of Public Health lauds these foods for their ability to lower the risk of cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure and other illnesses.
     In fact, Sciencedaily.com links the correlation between poor health and obesity with a low consumption of fruits and vegetables. If your diet was previously low on these healthy foods, then this diet could greatly improve your overall health.
     Other benefits of a raw food diet, which is rich in fruits and vegetables, are outlined in the book, "The Raw Food Diet Revolution." They include improved digestion, increased energy and vitality, elimination or reduction of the allergies, colds and sickness, and less sleep.

   Healthier Body

   • Along with weight loss, a diet high in fruits and vegetables should cause an improvement in eye health, skin, hair, and nails. Each vegetable or fruit can improve certain body functions, depending on their chemical composition. Carrots, for example, are high in vitamin A. This vitamin is responsible for hair and nail growth. Avocados contain monounsaturated fats that make hair shiny and healthy. For a list of how each fruit can improve certain functions, see Resources below.
     
     I think next week I will add vegetables. I will add something back each week but I am trying to keep it a clean diet. Wish me good luck and I hope I can stick with it.. NO negative feelings only positive.