Coping with being around other smokers

it keeps getting easier....You all are at a tough time....I remember that the smell of stale smoke was awful and irritable....on the other hand, the smell of a newly lit cigarette would make me think of smoking. Both feelings finally passed away. I still don't like stale smoke, but it's not as noticable as it once was....and a freshly lit cig just makes me thankful I no longer feed the demon. I sympathize with smokers....I remember only too well what it was like to be in the grips of my addiction....I thank God everyday that I somehow gained control. hang tough...kick butts....you all have some great quits going!!! Katy [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 1/4/2002 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 1549 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 61,973 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $8519.5 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 202 [B]Hrs:[/B] 2 [B]Mins:[/B] 11 [B]Seconds:[/B] 7

Removing the smoke smell from your car

Fabreeze works wonders.....and you can take the ashtrays out and scour them with sos pads or comet....then fill them with carpet freshner and put them back. I have a Hoover little green machine and I cleaned my own seats and carpeting. by the time I had all that done, the grandkids swore that my car no longer smelled like stale smoke. Katy [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 1/4/2002 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 1544 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 61,793 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $8492 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 201 [B]Hrs:[/B] 12 [B]Mins:[/B] 4 [B]Seconds:[/B] 55

Was I ready to quit?

morningglory...yes we enjoyed smoking cause we were "addicts"...when the junky in us clamored for a fix and we gave in, it satisfied that addiction for a bit and so we felt better. (hence the thinking that you enjoyed smoking) Don't be afraid....there is really nothing to fear about quitting....it's merely 'choosing' to not smoke. You are doing a fantastic job. The first few weeks are by far the hardest....it becomes easier the longer you go. have you got a reward program set up?? get one going....short term and long term rewards.....and then when you have a blue day, treat yourself! It's perfectly natural to have down days (we also had those when we smoked, but we tend to forget that) so when one comes along...jump in here and vent for all you're worth...then give yourself a treat and rest assured that tomorrow you will most likely feel better. Congratulations on your quit....hang right in here....you will never be sorry! katy [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 1/4/2002 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 1544 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 61,793 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $8492 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 201 [B]Hrs:[/B] 12 [B]Mins:[/B] 6 [B]Seconds:[/B] 27

Afraid to step dow

I stayed on each dose four weeks....the first step down I "thought" I noticed a difference for a couple of days.....but in hindsight it may just have been worry that I was gonna feel a difference? the last step down and the running naked....I felt no difference at all......unless you count that wonderful, awesome feeling of FREEDOM!! hang tough....sometimes it's only as hard as you make it? Katy [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 1/4/2002 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 1548 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 61,933 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $8514 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 201 [B]Hrs:[/B] 23 [B]Mins:[/B] 3 [B]Seconds:[/B] 46

Cabbage Soup Diet Questions

there are variations of this cabbage soup that can be found online....or you can use one as a guideline and concoct your own cabbage soup....I have done this diet...and it works! I use fat free chicken broth as a base for my soup....and I usually add more veggies than what are called for. If you get this soup seasoned right it is delicious. Try using lemon-pepper....yum! [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 1/4/2002 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 1548 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 61,933 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $8514 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 201 [B]Hrs:[/B] 23 [B]Mins:[/B] 4 [B]Seconds:[/B] 30

Day 20. Please help!!!

You must conquer these feelings that you have "lost" something by quitting. Smoking brings nicotine addiction and when you do the "little pleasurable things" like have a smoke, it is nothing more than feeding that addiction.....the pleasure is false in that it's only there because the addiction has been appeased for a short time. That's why you "think" you are being "deprived of little pleasures".....that's your addiction...rearing it's head and wondering why you won't give it a fix. you must learn to dwell on the positive aspects of being quit.....and also realize that quitting is a "choice"....you can't be forced into it....you much "choose" it. Begin by making a list of all the great things about NOT smoking.....come on....they are there....you just have to push that junky aside to see them. you lungs, I promise you are SO thankful that you quit bombarding them with smoke.....the fact that you didn't cough proves nothing.....you were still destroying lung tissue by smoking. Some people escape symptoms for years....but when they do appear, it's too late. Hang right in here.....your quit will become easier as you go, and especially if you can work on thinking positively ;) Katy [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 1/4/2002 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 1546 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 61,862 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $8503 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 201 [B]Hrs:[/B] 17 [B]Mins:[/B] 21 [B]Seconds:[/B] 55

Havnt smoked in about 4 weeks...actually almost started back, but can't stand the taste...GROSS!!!

Get rid of the smokes and make a point of not being where you can get one!!! The addiction is whispering to you....you gotta slap him down and bear down on the coping skills Linda

HELP...I smoked today...after 2 months of quit...am I done????

you smoked not because you are stupid....but because you are a nicotine addict....AND you failed to make plans of how you would handle a stressful situation, or a situation where you found cigarettes staring you in the face, or how you would see throught the so called "reason" to smoke cause 'things happened'. The junky in us lurks and waits for moments of weakness for a long while....it takes determination and commitment to keep on the right track. When you first 'feel' yourself heading for a mode that 'reasons' that having a smoke might help things, you have to have a plan!!! and the plan has to distract and delay you from listening to the calling of that junky talk. Will there be additional withdrawal now......yes, there probably will be....it shouldn't be like the beginning though.....of course it will take a tighter grip on you with each and every additional cigarette you smoke. let yourself get really mad....this addiction is taking CONTROL of your actions! ARe you really going to put up with that?? You called the shots and maintained the control for 2 months??? Let's be resurrection that determination and stomping hell out of that junky that is drooling and hanging on your shoulder. Get the hell rid of him!! and then...go and reward yourself for seeing the light and avoiding a full blown relapse. Cravings won't take over if you "determine" that they will NOT. You are not going to give them the time of day! Your thoughts are going to head a different direction......you are going to think "positive" thoughts about what you gain by getting back in control of your actions!!! don't dwell on the mistake.....dwell on "fixing" the mistake....and bask in the glory of getting back in control. Your addiction will love it if you moan and groan and think about how hard all this is and how it would be so easy to just give in.....who wants to fight it forever after all???? well, see, you can STOP that thinking if you work on it.....begin seeing what is GOOD about being quit. How saying NO is empowering. Now get down to it and really kick some butt....you haven't lost a thing....you have learned a really important lesson.....take it to heart and get back in stride Katy [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]

WHEN DOES WITHDRAWL GET BETTER??????

stable you say??? I don't think I was stable even when I smoked?? LOL I think sometimes that after a period of time, we are still blaming our quit with problems that we had even when we smoked?? and I realize that you are only quit a short time and the symptoms haven't left yet.....and I don't mean to make light of them....but it helps to laugh :)......things just 'gradually' get better until one day you realize that you are feelin' just pretty danged good. Just keep kickin butt....you will get there katy [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 1/4/2002 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 1487 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 59,518 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $8178.5 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 194 [B]Hrs:[/B] 2 [B]Mins:[/B] 3 [B]Seconds:[/B] 36

I DO NOT know if I can do this

You really must learn to distract yourself at times like this. Take a walk....practice turning the thinking to why you will NOT smoke instead of why you want to. Entertaining the thinking is playing to the junky. It will increase the strength and length of the longing to smoke....don't just let the thinking 'continue' to spiral......find the way (both physical and mental) to stop it....it may take some practice to find the combination that works for you, but it's there.....begin working at it and remember....no one ever died from quitting. katy [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 1/4/2002 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 1487 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 59,518 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $8178.5 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 194 [B]Hrs:[/B] 2 [B]Mins:[/B] 4 [B]Seconds:[/B] 5