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Hello

Linda Q

2024-04-11 5:06 AM

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Browse through 411.750 posts in 47.055 threads.

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Do I need to make new friends?


18 years ago 0 28 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
THE BAR THING IS DEFINITELY THE WORST! The fist time I tried to quit while I was in my twenties, the drinking thing was the worst for me, and because of drinking to excess, I was UNSUCCSESSFUL at quitting smoking.I just wasn't ready, and socializing with alcohol was more important than staying off cigs for me at the time. Now, at 39 yrs old, my socializing is a couple of drinks wit dinner with my family, and it is definiely easier to deal with. But for the first two weeks, I drank diet coke instead of Rum and diet coke. My advice is to go on the wagon from alcohol for a couple of weeks. It most definitely WILL NOT ruin your social life if you don't partake in the cocktails while your friends do. It might actually be fun watching them get all silly while you still have you wits about you. Also, consider Nicotine Replacement, like the patch, gum etc. It can make the fist few weeks alot easier. Good luck!
18 years ago 0 103 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Simply put, Stargazer..........if your friends do not support your choice to quit smoking, I would not consider them friends. You will find new friends if need be without compromising your free will and convictions. Look Within as well as towards the stars. Cheers, Pat P. S. I have help my three children, now 30 27 and 22 through many rough spots during a total of 19 years of college life! Seems like a lot? Not really..........one has a Masters and one is a PhD....LOL. Believe me...........you will only be a stonger and better person for trusting your own decisions. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 1/2/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 61 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 920 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $244 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 8 [B]Hrs:[/B] 0 [B]Mins:[/B] 32 [B]Seconds:[/B] 56
18 years ago 0 672 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Firstly, who says you can't be social with your friend(s) in a non-smoking environment !. Your friends need to accept that you don't smoke anymore, just as you accept that your friends choose to smoke, if not.. thats life ! Stargazer, do what you have to do to not smoke, if that means not being in a smokey bar breathing in smoke with your smoking friends - so be it, they should understand this. Unfortunatly smokers stick together in groups so you may even find that new non-smoking friends are the answer. Fortunately smokers are a dying bread.. so who knows, your'e friends may be in your position in the not to distant future (& they will)... you may be all the help they need. :8o: Remember that this is all about you, not them. ;) [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 1/1/2005 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 427 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 10,690 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $2775.5 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 61 [B]Hrs:[/B] 6 [B]Mins:[/B] 24 [B]Seconds:[/B] 3
  • Quit Meter

    $12,517.20

    Amount Saved

  • Quit Meter

    Days: 626 Hours: 8

    Minutes: 16 Seconds: 53

    Life Gained

  • Quit Meter

    3420

    Smoke Free Days

  • Quit Meter

    51,300

    Cigarettes Not Smoked

18 years ago 0 15 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
I guess I made it through "HELL" week, although I feel today was the worst day emotionally that I've had. All of my friends who still live in-state are smokers, and I've had a hard time getting them to support me in the manner I need. They aren't offering cigarettes or anything, but they keep pressuring me to come out to the bars with them and I know I'm not ready. Other than work and spending time with my parents I haven't done anything social all week. I may be being dramatic, but I feel like I'm going to lose all my friends because I quit smoking. This doesn't feel like anything a cigerette would fix, but I was wondering if you had any suggestions on how to maintain my friendships while I strengthen myself as a non-smoker! Thanks for the warm welcome... Stargazer (Liz) :quest: [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 2/25/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 7 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 116 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $24.5 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 0 [B]Hrs:[/B] 12 [B]Mins:[/B] 9 [B]Seconds:[/B] 24
18 years ago 0 15 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
HI guys! I just wanted to say that I made it through the weekend smoke-free and truly no worse for the wear. A couple friends of mine really came through for me when I made it clear what I needed from them right now. Thanks for all of your great advice! ;) Liz [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 2/25/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 9 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 145 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $31.5 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 0 [B]Hrs:[/B] 15 [B]Mins:[/B] 16 [B]Seconds:[/B] 2
18 years ago 0 5195 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Liz - Congrats on making it through HELL week. That is AWESOME! Right now you main focus should be on quitting smoking. That is more than enough for one person to handle. You must also protect your quit. Quitting brings about all kinds of emotional feelings that most just aren't prepared for. A lot of quitters have come across this board who think they can still go to bars with friends becaue they want to be social. Those quitters really aren't here very long. The drinking, social bar scene really has no place early in your quit (this is just my opinion). Quitting will change your life in many ways. There is a whole non-smoking world out there that you probably aren't aware of. Quitting isn't the end of your life. It's the beginning. Protect your quit and hold on for the journey of your life. You will be so glad that you did. By the way, "true friends" are the ones that you can call after long periods of time and you are always able to pick up right where you left off like you had never spent any time apart at all. You will only have a few of these in your life time. :) Protect your quit. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 7/1/2005 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 246 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 4,928 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $861 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 21 [B]Hrs:[/B] 17 [B]Mins:[/B] 7 [B]Seconds:[/B] 14
18 years ago 0 2462 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Liz, I don't think you have to give up your friends if you don't want to. At the same time, you do need to have some distance between you and smokers and smoking situations, at least until you are more secure in your quit. You might have to gently tell them this, that your quit is the most important thing in your life and you hope that they will bear with you while you take a little sabbatical. One week today!!! That is awesome...today you need to give yourself a great reward! New CD, dinner out, movie, new smell-good stuff? Rusty :) [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 12/13/2004 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 446 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 12,499 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1561 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 61 [B]Hrs:[/B] 9 [B]Mins:[/B] 39 [B]Seconds:[/B] 24
  • Quit Meter

    $54,849.60

    Amount Saved

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    Days: 647 Hours: 18

    Minutes: 53 Seconds: 46

    Life Gained

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    5274

    Smoke Free Days

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    210,960

    Cigarettes Not Smoked


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