Glad to see so many checking in - it's hard to keep track with so many posts going on.
Jerlasvegas - I thought your May Co comment was funny, 'cause I got it, but I'm a Canadian, and really shouldn't know any better . . . lol . . .
sushik
[B]My Milage:[/B]
[B]My Quit Date: [/B] 5/31/2006
[B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 43
[B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,093
[B]Amount Saved:[/B] $387
[B]Life Gained:[/B]
[B]Days:[/B] 4 [B]Hrs:[/B] 6 [B]Mins:[/B] 8 [B]Seconds:[/B] 28
Cybrduke - you are so right! It's what you do with the crave that is most important, not just the fact that you have one.
I quit smoking for 2-1/2 years, up until last summer. I'm not sure whether it was the craves that did me in, or relaxing my vigilence, or thinking that "just one" was not going to send me back over the brink (which it did, obviously). Maybe all of the above.
I know this time to expect the craves, and the mind games. I learned a very good lesson over the last year. I must always be vigilent, and always on my guard - regardless of how long "after" it is time-wise. It was so much harder to make the decision to quit this time - because I knew it HAD to be the last.
Over the last while, I am happy to report that I can go longer stretches every day without even thinking about smoking, and have stopped some of the automatic reflexes in situations where I used to smoke - drinking coffee, driving, sitting on my deck, doing yard work, heck - just about anything . . . before.
A very good subject. It takes a whole lot longer to get unhooked from smoking than it ever did to get started.
sushik
[B]My Milage:[/B]
[B]My Quit Date: [/B] 5/31/2006
[B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 43
[B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,090
[B]Amount Saved:[/B] $387
[B]Life Gained:[/B]
[B]Days:[/B] 4 [B]Hrs:[/B] 5 [B]Mins:[/B] 48 [B]Seconds:[/B] 40
Cheermom - could it be misplaced PMS disguised as a craving? I felt that way last week - I was emotional, irritated, stressed, absolutely dying for a cigarette - really fooled myself. Every un-normal (sounds better than abnormal) feeling I was having became a craving. It ends up that it was PMS, just like every other time. But funnily, I never considered that at all.
I find that I think about smoking the most when I am tired - I don't feel like I have the energy and iniative to resist. But I do, and eventually, feel better.
You will too. Stay tough!
Take care,
sushik
[B]My Milage:[/B]
[B]My Quit Date: [/B] 5/31/2006
[B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 42
[B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,073
[B]Amount Saved:[/B] $378
[B]Life Gained:[/B]
[B]Days:[/B] 4 [B]Hrs:[/B] 4 [B]Mins:[/B] 15 [B]Seconds:[/B] 8
I recommend Allan Carr's book as well. I didn't start reading it until I had already quit, so his references to "keep smoking until the end of the book if you want" were a little tempting. He does state that if you have already quit when you're reading it, please ignore that advice.
I have found it very helpful, in hindsight. I know that the nicotine cravings are gone, but his theory is great reinforcement when your mind tries to start playing games and tricks on you.
Honestly, I'm not sure that just having read the book would have been enough to get me to quit (I am using Zyban), but I certainly admire all of those who have been successful with it.
I don't even want to lend out the book to anyone, as I've referred back to it a few times since I quit, just to get reinforcement and confirmation.
Take care.
sushik
[B]My Milage:[/B]
[B]My Quit Date: [/B] 5/31/2006
[B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 42
[B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,060
[B]Amount Saved:[/B] $378
[B]Life Gained:[/B]
[B]Days:[/B] 4 [B]Hrs:[/B] 3 [B]Mins:[/B] 5 [B]Seconds:[/B] 13
I squeaked in on the last day of May - so everyone else who quit that month is ahead of me - up to 30 days, I suppose.
How are you all doing?
I've actually gone stretches of hours at a time without thinking about smoking - early mornings seem to still be the toughest - but I think that's common for a lot of us. Otherwise I'm feeling pretty good - combatting a weight gain with exercise, looking much better, feeling much better, not coughing any more.
Once I hit 2 months, I'm going to stop obsessing over the # of days since I quit. I can't wait until all of these days turn into more months, and years - so that I can surpass the 2-1/2 years from my 1st quit. And keep going, and going, and going.
I hope everyone is well.
sushik
[B]My Milage:[/B]
[B]My Quit Date: [/B] 5/31/2006
[B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 42
[B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,060
[B]Amount Saved:[/B] $378
[B]Life Gained:[/B]
[B]Days:[/B] 4 [B]Hrs:[/B] 3 [B]Mins:[/B] 6 [B]Seconds:[/B] 31
Oh, and I forgot something. Just a few days after I quit, I FORCED myself to start running again (I had started during my previous 2-1/2 year non-smoking hiatus). It was very hard to do, but I was determined that I was going to succeed - by running (changing my activities, doing something very positive and healthy) was much bigger stakes - and a very good deterrent to keep me from caving.
I keep telling myself "you can't possibly smoke and run" - I proved that theory about a year ago when I started smoking again. So I have chosen the latter, and am determined to sick with it.
sushik
Hi Tina3869 - somewhere along the way today, I read in one of your posts that you had previously quit for 2-1/2 years and have been smoking again for about a year.
That is exactly my story! I smoked for 25 years, quit for 2-1/2, relapsed for 10 months, and here I am.
I'm sure you'll agree that making the decision to quit this time seemed harder than the 1st - I think because we know that it really HAS to be the last time. And that forever, we can't let our guard down and be less vigilent.
I can't even say that I had a good reason for starting again - I think it kind of snuck up on me when I didn't expect it. From the 1st cheat, I did hold out for almost 2 months before I was buying packs again.
Now I'm up to 40 days, feel much better, and started running again. You are doing great pre-planning - holding out in the morning is an amazing step - I'm sure you will be your strongest by August 1st.
Take care,
sushik
[B]My Milage:[/B]
[B]My Quit Date: [/B] 5/31/2006
[B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 40
[B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,022
[B]Amount Saved:[/B] $360
[B]Life Gained:[/B]
[B]Days:[/B] 3 [B]Hrs:[/B] 23 [B]Mins:[/B] 29 [B]Seconds:[/B] 24
Mmmmmm - do they serve Timmie's coffee here? Large regular, please!
I just realized now that I could have been here days and days ago!
Nice view.
sushik
[B]My Milage:[/B]
[B]My Quit Date: [/B] 5/31/2006
[B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 37
[B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 935
[B]Amount Saved:[/B] $333
[B]Life Gained:[/B]
[B]Days:[/B] 3 [B]Hrs:[/B] 15 [B]Mins:[/B] 26 [B]Seconds:[/B] 54
This is my 2nd (and last) quit.
Over 3 years ago, I quit (using Zyban) and was smoke-free for 2-1/2 years. Not sure why I relapsed - it kind of snuck up on me. It proves that you are NEVER safe, and must remain vigilent ALWAYS. There is no such thing as "relaxing" after you've achieved a pre-determined number of days.
My relapse lasted about 9-10 months. Quitting this time (actually, deciding to do it) was harder than the 1st time.
But overall, I feel better this time - I'm not obsessing about cigarettes every minute of the day.
sushik
[B]My Milage:[/B]
[B]My Quit Date: [/B] 5/31/2006
[B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 35
[B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 881
[B]Amount Saved:[/B] $315
[B]Life Gained:[/B]
[B]Days:[/B] 3 [B]Hrs:[/B] 10 [B]Mins:[/B] 23 [B]Seconds:[/B] 39
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