I can't stop cheating.

Dear Arwens Mom, There is soooo much to be said for not smoking, but I guess I don't have to tell you that since your boyfriend is faced with the horrible effects caused by smoking. And the fact the you have been suffering with a terrible cough and chest pain also shows the tremendous toll smoking causes. (BTW: have you had this checked out, just curious). Please, please, stay strong! What you are going thru right now are withdrawel symptoms which should ease up very soon. Make sure that you get plenty of rest, and drink lots of water or tea to flush out your system. From what I understand you stayed quit for three years previously, right? So you can do it! This site offers great support. I quit 17 days ago, and it has helped me out in so many ways. Whenever I feel like the nicodemon wants to get the better off me, I come here, and read all the encouraging posts as well as all the struggles people go thru, and how they fight them. Everyone here is such a great inspiration, and many of the "old-timers" have such great words of wisdom and encouragement for those are fairly new. Print out some of the messsages that inspire you, keep them handy so you can read them when you think you can't stand it anymore. Please believe me when I tell you that it will get better. I just can't believe how much my overall being has improved since I quit. Yes, I still feel tired now and then. But to wake up in the morning without this dreadful nicotine hangover and to actually feel fresh can't be beat. My breathing has improved tremendously, and I can't wait to start running again without being afraid to collapse after the first 100 ft. or so. My hair smells like coconut instead of smoke, my clothes smell like they promise in the laundry commercials. But most importantly I know that I am not polluting my organs anymore, because that is exactly what we are doing when we are smoking. Come back, and come back often. I hope to hear more from you, and how your quit is going. All the best, Gaby [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 1/17/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 17 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 352 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $131.75 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 1 [B]Hrs:[/B] 13 [B]Mins:[/B] 12 [B]Seconds:[/B] 6

Weekend Promise 03/02/06

No smoking in NYC either which thanks to our major and his strict non-smoking laws (wow, I never thought I was going to say this) make quitting a lot easier. Hmmm, may be I should write him a Thank-You note. You two are a great inspiration. Everyone, have a fantastic weekend filled with wonderful smells and delicious tasting food. Gaby [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 1/17/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 17 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 352 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $131.75 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 1 [B]Hrs:[/B] 13 [B]Mins:[/B] 13 [B]Seconds:[/B] 10

Good Lord they Hired ME!!!

Congratulations Vicki. Good things do happen to good people. I'm happy for you. Gaby [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 1/17/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 17 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 355 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $131.75 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 1 [B]Hrs:[/B] 13 [B]Mins:[/B] 33 [B]Seconds:[/B] 46

Jan 06 Quitters "The Ash Kickers" What's the Final Tally

Can I join in as well? Pretty Please!? Gaby [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 1/17/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 17 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 348 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $131.75 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 1 [B]Hrs:[/B] 12 [B]Mins:[/B] 49 [B]Seconds:[/B] 41

Sometimes cravings have me paralyzed

Hi Arwensmom, Try some breathing exercises, they really help. Sit with down with your legs crossed. Close your eyes, put your hands palm up on your knees, tips of the thumb and pointing finger should slightly touch. Slowly inhale thru your nose to the count of four, then you slowly exhale thru your mouth to the count of four. Do this four times, increase the count to six, to this six times. Focus on your breathing, and clear your mind (which won't be easy the first few times around, but after a while you'll get the hang of it). Getting some meditation tapes also help. Do this for just a few minutes a few times throughout the day, or whenever you feel the urge to light up. Just whatever you do, don't listen to the nicodemon, he just is mad that you aren't his friend anymore. Hope this helps, Gaby [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 1/17/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 20 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 410 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $155 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 1 [B]Hrs:[/B] 19 [B]Mins:[/B] 22 [B]Seconds:[/B] 27

Jan 06 Quitters "The Ash Kickers" What's the Final Tally

Thanks, Redrosie. Added my name to the list. BTW: Where do you get those cute flashing inserts? Love them. Gaby StuBow Sunnyvale, Ca 1/13/06 Ex Roller 1/4/06 Cookie 1/1/06 Megama 1/16/06 Cuddles 1/16/06 Fishoutofwater - Richmond(philip morris land),Virginia 12/21/05 Janet 1/3/06 Bypass 1/13/06 Polly Dayton, Oh 1/2/06 Redrosie 1/1/06 QuitOrDie 1/5/06 Janet 1/3/06 Tony1023 1/2/06 Mo 1/14/06 Kenoqueen 1/1/06 Minties 1/14/06 Jess 1/1/06 Joy MrsRobinson942 1/1/06 (cucucuchoo) Boosky 1/2/06 KK Chicago 1/3/06 NewsLady429 Okinawa 1/3/06 elizabeth 1/5/06 BJ 1/1/06 missmissy 1/1/06 Echo 1/1/06 Cheerfulstorm 1/4/06 Dreamer 1/18/06 Romper48 1/1/06 Tshot Florida 1/1/06 Cbreeze Florida 1/1/06 Stoppin' 1/26/06 Love My Dogs 1/19/2006 NSA girl 1/29/2006 Forthe11thtime, 1/17/06 [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 1/17/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 20 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 409 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $155 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 1 [B]Hrs:[/B] 19 [B]Mins:[/B] 19 [B]Seconds:[/B] 2

A Far To Complacent Attitude Toward Quitting.....

The fact that people are coming to this website in search for help to beat this addiction, should be commended. They are serious about wanting to quit, otherwise they wouldn't have gone thru the effort finding this website, and share their stories. By coming here people show that they are taking it very seriously, and that they have taken a very first important step in beating this addiction. Gaby [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 1/17/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 14 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 290 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $108.5 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 1 [B]Hrs:[/B] 6 [B]Mins:[/B] 40 [B]Seconds:[/B] 28

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

Ashley, do not beat yourself up over this. You are not stupid, hear? The most important factor is that you realize what a mistake this was, and that you were honest enough to share this with us. I feel that honesty is a very important step to recovery, and that you can do it. Please, let us now how you're doing. Hope to hear from you soon. Gaby [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 1/17/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 14 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 289 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $108.5 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 1 [B]Hrs:[/B] 6 [B]Mins:[/B] 39 [B]Seconds:[/B] 26

30th Day Party Everyone Welcome!

[color=LimeGreen]Congratulations![/color] It's super encouraging. What kind of reward do you have in mind? Gaby [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 1/17/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 14 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 289 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $108.5 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 1 [B]Hrs:[/B] 6 [B]Mins:[/B] 38 [B]Seconds:[/B] 39

Some Facts I found

Hello Fellow Quitters (which in this context is a very positive spin indeed), I found some facts on another site which I wanted to share with you. Forgive me if someone has already posted these in the past, but since I am new I just thought I go ahead and post them anyway. -Every year, tobacco-related disease kills over 178,000 women. -Every year, cigarettes leave about 12,000 kids motherless. -Every year, cigarettes leave about 31,000 kids fatherless. -Tobacco kills more Americans than auto accidents, homicide, AIDS, drugs and fires combined. -By the year 2020, tobacco is projected to kill about 10 million people a year worldwide. -There are 8.5 million people sick with diseases caused by smoking. Gosh, these are some really staggering numbers. I knew it was bad, but to actually see it in black-and-white made it even more real and frightning. I can't express enough how glad I am to have found this website. I check in a few times a day, and to read your messages of encouragement (as well as the despair we all go through at times), gives me the strength to hang in there. Just knowing that we all are in the same boat and have the common goal to beat this potentially deadly habit is empowering. Your fellow Quitter, Gaby [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 1/17/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 6 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 132 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $46.5 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 0 [B]Hrs:[/B] 13 [B]Mins:[/B] 56 [B]Seconds:[/B] 52