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15 years ago 0 +0 / -0 84

Hello Everyone

hi there Karren - good job! this is a great place to go when you need support...encouragement...to swap "i just cried for 2 hours" stories....it may seem like the world's most difficult undertaking...but before you know it...12 days has become 52 and then it becomes 87 and before you know it....triple digits and the rest is easier.....

i smoked for 35 years and never ever thought i would be able to remain smoke-free....i am doing okay and checking out this group as often as i can....we are proud of what you have acconmplished so far and will keep you going if you ever need some extra boosts....what i learned from everyone here is invaluable...especially Not One Puff Ever....remember NOPE! good luck Karren and keep up the good work! you can do it!

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 2/7/2008
Smoke-Free Days: 105
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 3,150
Amount Saved: $1,338.75
Life Gained:
Days: 11 Hrs: 23 Mins: 53 Seconds: 11

This site has helped me tremendously - I have been a non-smoker for 12 years....it hasn't been easy every day but absolutely worth it....I've had 4,022 smoke free days -I saved $5,228.60 in wasted funds, I saved 528 days/1 hour/18 minutes and 3 seconds of my life....4022 cigarettes not smoked! I was a smoker from 12 years old to 50 years old....if I can do it - anyone can!

15 years ago 0 +0 / -0 84

weekend pledge

Hi there. I am checking in on day 120. Basically, i am not a brand new visitor here but i think my message may be important - especially - to the new ones - the ones who think they might not be able to make it. I smoked for 35 years and never thought i could stop...people warned me about 'triggers'...drinking, stress, being near other smokers, bad news, worry...I was such a heavy smoker - i considered blinking a trigger. Life was a trigger. So i stopped, cold turkey on february 7th...cried for a while...stomped my feet - dreamt i smoked - dreamt i stopped smoking....you name it - i went through it. But i never cheated...not once...not one puff.... My daughter graduates High School tomorrow - i have just completed weeks and weeks of financial aid forms - loans - stress unlimited. I did not smoke. Last night was a special Mass at her school for the blessing of her diploma and outside of the Church - afterwards - were all the smoking parents. My daughter came over to me and said - "i know you are proud of me - but i am prouder of you - look around and see how they look - how you are not like that anymore...thank you Mom for caring about yourself and me enough to keep healthy....you gave me the best graduation present i could ever ask for". If the special Mass didn't make me cry - those special words certainly did. So when you think you can't make it - go for a walk. cry. curse. rip up paper. yell out the window. get through the urge, get through the day - add up your stats and count the days you have saved in your life. It goes fast....before you know it, you will be where i am. Before i know it - i will be where some of the incredible non-smokers are on this site...we can do it because we want to. We choose life and smoking isn't life. So my milestone is bigger than i thought it would be tomorrow...i made my daughter as proud of me as i am of her. Any idea what that feels like? Yup, i bet you all do. Enjoy your weekends...non-smokers!!!
My Milage:

My Quit Date: 2/7/2008
Smoke-Free Days: 120
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 3,600
Amount Saved: $1,530.00
Life Gained:
Days: 13 Hrs: 16 Mins: 55 Seconds: 10

15 years ago 0 +0 / -0 84

More tips for dealing with workplace stress

Hi there! Workplace stress is a big issue for me for many reasons. #1 and most important...I am on day #126 of non smoking...cold-turkey...all or nothing. I am doing okay. #2 reason - I am a headhunter and have been for 30 years...so I deal with workplace stress as both a 'placement counselor' as well as someone who listens to the daily stresses of my candidates and clients...I have found the single most helpful way to deal with I AM GOING OUT OF MY MIND FEELINGS is to say that...be honest.... "hi Joe - sorry i didn't get back to you before now...i am having one of those days and have recently stopped smoking..." **every single client and candidate i have said this to has responded in the most caring and empathetic way - i have heard stories about relatives and friends...their own personal plights...i have received emails from the most difficult clients which began "before i ask if you have anyone for my openings..how's the non-smoking thing going??" you would be surprised how many of us are out there and how close we all feel to each other when we share this incredibly difficult journey. Everyone in my office knows my situation - each morning i am asked "what day are you on???" people care and people understand...tell everyone...ask for help...get up and walk outside for fresh air...stop yourself in the middle of the insanity and realize how lucky you are to be working...how stressful the workplace would seem if you were NOT a part of it...count your blessings no matter how small or few and far between they might seem. we are fighting a real fight here and you would be surprised by HOW MANY people 'get that'....when i told my boss "if i cry for no reason it's because of this,..." she said "i am so very proud of you...whatever you need to do - do it...". *life is stress and we need to learn how to deal with it without cigarettes. you can do it. we all can. we need to say this daily.
My Milage:

My Quit Date: 2/7/2008
Smoke-Free Days: 126
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 3,780
Amount Saved: $1,606.50
Life Gained:
Days: 14 Hrs: 9 Mins: 5 Seconds: 29

15 years ago 0 +0 / -0 84

Cold Turkey

hi there.....i think that once you've made the SERIOUS decision to quit - the method is not as important as the action. I did it cold turkey - (this is only the second time i have tried in my 35 years of smoking) - the first being back in the 80's and i don't think any choices were available to me so i did it cold turkey then - and again, this time. the first time i lasted 10 years - got dumb - had the 'one cigarette just to see' and smoked again until february 7th 2008. i am now on day 130 and doing okay...some days are better than others...there are actually days when i never think of a cigarette and there are still days when i wonder how i am going to get through it without caving. I was concerned about the patches, gum, pills, lozenges as i thought it would be another habit to break....so i never considered them an option...if i wanted to stop smoking it had to be all or nothing. willpower is important and not beating yourself up is important too....it's an addiction - physical and mental - take one day at a time and you will get through it. we are all behind you....no matter what you do to stop smoking....you are doing it and that is all that counts. good luck!
My Milage:

My Quit Date: 2/7/2008
Smoke-Free Days: 130
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 3,900
Amount Saved: $1,657.50
Life Gained:
Days: 14 Hrs: 20 Mins: 2 Seconds: 14

15 years ago 0 +0 / -0 84

AAARRGGHHH

i have had many of these days. they pass, really, they pass. when you are going through the arrrrggggghnhh moments it seems like the only thing in life is not smoking...you ask yourself why you started this whole mess (smoking and then - not smoking) everyone gets on your nerves...you can't imagine how the future looks without cigarettes in them - i used to wonder how i'm going to read a book, have a glass of wine, get through stress - open mail - without a cigarette. then, all of a sudden - you get through an hour, a day, a week and realize that you not only survived - but you feel better - look better - smell better and will live longer. i still slam doors - i still cry - i still remind my friends and family "this would be a cigarette moment" and it makes them realize 'where i am' and that i am asking for a bit of support...usually the response has been "oh, right, i forgot..you are doing such a great job" and the thought of 'caving in and smoking' goes away. it isn't easy - in fact, this is one of the most difficult things you will ever do...be proud of each hour you have lived without a cigarette. and then go for a walk...rent a movie...visit a pet store...walk on grass in your bare feet...and most important - congratulate yourself on every non smoking moment. Good luck - we are all behind you!
My Milage:

My Quit Date: 2/7/2008
Smoke-Free Days: 132
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 3,960
Amount Saved: $1,683.00
Life Gained:
Days: 15 Hrs: 1 Mins: 25 Seconds: 54

15 years ago 0 +0 / -0 84

It?s Summer now, time to quit!

Thank you for this. i am on day 154 and still need to remind myself why i am a non-smoker. i am surprised that i am still faced with daily 'junkie thoughts' like...."obviously i can quit since i've come this far....what would one cigarette do?" i still walk by smokers on the street and look at them enviously......i still get angry when i say "i would love a cig right now" and hear "you only think you do...or No you don't...." it is a daily struggle. i no longer dream about smoking and actually dreamt the other night that i was telling a group of people about this site and how it's helped...i was basically 'preaching' in my sleep which is a huge sign i think. i take each day as it comes...but i must admit - i never realized how difficult this would be and how constant a struggle....i am glad i have the support here....do not think i could have done this alone.

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 2/7/2008
Smoke-Free Days: 154
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 4,620
Amount Saved: $1,963.50
Life Gained:
Days: 17 Hrs: 13 Mins: 2 Seconds: 12

15 years ago 0 +0 / -0 84

A Milestone.....

Hi there everyone. First of all....thanks for all your support and encouragement for all these months...could not be where i am without the support of everyone here. I turned 50 yesterday. It was the first birthday in 35 years as a non-smoker...it was the first birthday in 35 years where i didn't have to leave a room to have a cigarette - finish a cigarette - hide the fact that i was smoking a cigarette....I told myself a few months ago that i could not enter the next phase of my life as a smoker..that being 50 should indicate some sense of maturity and strength...we all make mistakes in life but knowing what i know about the horrors of smoking...how could i continue to do so and consider myself an adult with a good head on her shoulders? so here i am...i accomplished my goal of being smoke free at 50. of course, the night before my birthday, i dreamt that i not only smoked...but smoked a pack...i sat on my couch and cried that i let myself down and needed to re-set my meter....but then i woke up and realized it was a bad dream....instead of saying "yikes, i am 50..." i said "wow...that was only a dream and i made it after all!" so thank you for being here ...all of you......WE ROCK!
My Milage:

My Quit Date: 2/7/2008
Smoke-Free Days: 166
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 4,980
Amount Saved: $2,116.50
Life Gained:
Days: 18 Hrs: 22 Mins: 0 Seconds: 50

15 years ago 0 +0 / -0 84

A Milestone.....

thank you! thank you! and yes....those dreams are startling for sure....i went from the dreams where i smoked and woke up sad...then i stomped on them in my dream...then i just said no....then i rationalized for a while and would reach for one but they kept breaking or i had no matches....then i turned them down...then i had the 'junkie thoughts dreams' where i thought one wouldn't hurt...it was really a process...and an exhausting one...so as long as i keep the smoking - stomping - and tar/nicotine frustrations in my sleep and no where else....i am okay....it is really great to have this group of supportive people to turn to...so thank you again to all of you....there is strength in numbers...and we're all number ONE!
My Milage:

My Quit Date: 2/7/2008
Smoke-Free Days: 166
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 4,980
Amount Saved: $2,116.50
Life Gained:
Days: 18 Hrs: 22 Mins: 9 Seconds: 52

15 years ago 0 +0 / -0 84

A Milestone.....

thank you Karren....you have done so well....i have watched your progression on this site and it's really cool to see how far you've come....time flies, doesn't it? There is nothing we can't accomplish - if we can do this...we can do anything!

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 2/7/2008
Smoke-Free Days: 166
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 4,980
Amount Saved: $2,116.50
Life Gained:
Days: 18 Hrs: 22 Mins: 21 Seconds: 58

15 years ago 0 +0 / -0 84

Smoking Dreams!

Wow. smoking dreams. ( could write a book on this one.) they started out as "smoking in my dreams" in the beginning of the quit...it was as if i were able to get rid of the urge by actually smoking while i was asleep. As the quit got easier...i would wrestle with myself "should I? shouldn't I?" then i had dreams with the cig in my hand but no matches....a fierce wind...and i agree...the more stressful the day - the more frequently the smoking dreams...some weeks i would dream every night and lately...almost not at all. The one thing that has helped me is waking up and realizing that it was just a dream - that i didn't ruin my quit...that i can congratulate myself for one more day...that i can actually make this work for my lifetime..that it's NOT temporary....i really believe that our subconscious is helping us remain strong...that the dreams (and i did this cold-turkey so they are not being brought on by anything outside my crazy head :) are reminding us that we are serious about this struggle and we are helping ourselves to remain strong whether we're 'active' in the actual process or not....i think the more serious and determined we are - the more prevalent the dreams will be. **so for all of us smoking in our dreams...Big Smiles in the Morning...it was just a dream...we are strong...we can do this....GOOD LUCK TO US ALL!

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 2/7/2008
Smoke-Free Days: 169
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 5,070
Amount Saved: $2,154.75
Life Gained:
Days: 19 Hrs: 6 Mins: 11 Seconds: 31

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