Joe Arena quits smoking Part Two

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Wake Up's own Joe Arena officially quit smoking Wednesday.

Ever since Joe announced that he was quitting smoking, he has received nothing but support from the community. Email after email, even shout outs on the street like, "Hey Joe, you can do it!" And "Our prayers are with you."

So for the past few weeks he has cut down drastically on my smoking.

He has gone from around 20 a day to about five or six, constantly telling himself, "I can wait another half hour," or, "I find something to do to keep my hand occupied during the times I get those cravings."

It's working. But he has to be honest, the fear of never smoking again kind of scared him. Until, he sat down with Doctor Ostrow and found out all he would gain from being a quitter.

Joe works out four times a week, but still has high blood pressure, he is a pretty healthy eater, but he still feels sluggish and tired.

"Your blood pressure will go down when you quit. The amount of oxygen in your blood will go up almost immediately. The amount of carbon monoxide will go down almost immediately, you will begin to feel better, you will begin to have more energy," said News 4 Medical Expert Dr. Peter Ostrow.

Joe keeps reminding myself of these facts every day. When he was overweight back in college he kept telling himself, "I will look and feel better if I continue to eat right and work out," the same goes for a smoker. Keep telling yourself how much better things will be when you quit.

"You will feel more energy you will feel brighter, you will smell things more acutely, you will taste things more acutely and after a couple of weeks you will really notice an increase in energy," said Dr. Ostrow.

That is good news for Joe's girlfriend who just happens to be a former division one college runner. Joe said, "I've told her I was too tired for a bike ride or even a walk on a nice day. And for my niece and nephews, who I don't see very often because I live in Buffalo, I've taken way too many smoke breaks during that special time."

So this will be the last time you catch Joe on camera smoking and anywhere else for that matter.

Joe has the motivation and equally important, he has the support.

"I think I'm prepared for whatever it's going to take to help him quit," said Joe's girlfriend Mary Claire.

Next Wednesday on Wake Up, we'll check back in with Joe and see how's he doing and if he's noticed any differences with how he's feeling.

But most importantly, we'll find out if he's smoked any cigarettes.