love, CONGRATULATIONS!!! Stay strong and keep close to the site, we are all here for you 100% of the way! Keep us posted on your success! Melanie _____________________ The SSC Support Team

Today is my 1st day smoke-free as well. It is sooooo hard. i keep saying 1 won't hurt me I'll be able to stop again. But I can't. I find myself wanting to eat all the time. My hubby has been wonderful- he smokes as well- and has been going outside to smoke so it won't bother me. Gave up Bingo tonight cause too smokey. God i hope this gets easier. i am using the gum to help me, as well as deep breaths. Pray for me! Thanx.

Today is my 2nd "smoke-free" day - I started off oh so very optimistic yesterday, but that waned by early afternoon � then for the rest of the day all I kept thinking was about �it�. I felt possessed, frustrated, angry, deflated and a whole host of other emotions, all at the same time. I really didn�t think it would be so tough. I then thought, �it�s ok, no way can tomorrow be as bad!� Ow, how wrong I was! Today IS as bad � the only positives being a) I haven�t smoked and b) At least today I am under no false optimism that tomorrow will be any better!!! I have just eaten a whole load of carrot sticks with dip � that seemed to help for a while!!!! [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 3/15/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 1 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 14 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1.2 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 0 [B]Hrs:[/B] 3 [B]Mins:[/B] 38 [B]Seconds:[/B] 32

Thanks for the great tips Christine!! I haven't quit yet but my date is 4/1/06, and I am trying to prepare myself as much as I can. Its going to be hard but TOTALLY worth it. The more I read on this site the more I want to quit. Good luck to everyone!!

I stocked up on candy (something I usually do not eat). hard, sweet stuff to keep your mouth and tongue busy. I also read that cutting straws into cig lengths and just puffing through those can help. I think the morning is really the toughest. -Determinedtoquit [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 3/14/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 1 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 18 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $2 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 0 [B]Hrs:[/B] 8 [B]Mins:[/B] 8 [B]Seconds:[/B] 46

Dear Love Congratulations! For me the first morning without a cigarette was the first morning of the rest of my life. And nothing will ever be the same again. I just found out yesterday with help from this group......... That I shouldn't mourn that fact, but REJOICE it!! These first few days will be very difficult. For me what helped was deep breaths........and reciting one of my "mantras" smoking is bad, quitting is good. Also, I used lots and lots of water, candy and good food for the first few days. Christine is right on with her reply to you! WTG Love! Peace Kare [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 1/30/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 40 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 608 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $120 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 4 [B]Hrs:[/B] 10 [B]Mins:[/B] 9 [B]Seconds:[/B] 57

You guys can do it! It is hell. Your body is saying what the f***!! Where is my poison..... It will fight you, but you have to fight back. No more smoke........ N.O.P.E. Stick with it! [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 3/5/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 11 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 238 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $35.97 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 0 [B]Hrs:[/B] 23 [B]Mins:[/B] 0 [B]Seconds:[/B] 23

today was my first day cig free! getting out of bed this morning was hard! i always had a puff first thing. i was so tempted to go buy some on my way to work, that harroble feeling just swept over me, you the fear in the middle of your gut, but i over came it. is there any advice out there on how to beat the cravings because i sure could use it!!!! :8o:

We all find different things to help us through the first couple of weeks. I found for me it was getting very physical - especially if i had to breathe really hard, it reminded me of why I had quit. I have an intense personality, and running got all the aggro and bad temper of quitting out of my system. It also saved me from putting on weight, in fact I've lost it! Well!! running got some of the crap out of my system - I think my husband was still ready to toss me over the back fence! But basically, you need something to replace those moments when you would normally have a puff. My favourite "thingy' was first thing in the morning with a cup of coffee out on the back verandah - now I grab the coffee and head to the computer to see who has posted and to re-inforce my quit for that day. Good luck, all the best you are doing awesomely well.

Hey Love! Welcome to SSC. Congrats on deciding to quit smoking !! You said that you smoke first thing in the morning.. so I'd suggest that you replace that smoke with something else.. perhaps a tootsie roll pop or some hard candy. Something to answer your craving and not smoke. Temporary replacement is common for many people and it is always pretty easy to stop eating candy anyway. Are you using a patch or anything ? Cold turkey ? The first 3-4 days without smoking are the hardest while the physical addiction passes. Help to flush your system of the nicoteen by drinking lots of water and cranberry juice to help speed up the process. Any kind of cranberry juice will do. Eat well and don't skip any meals. Cut back on coffee or get some with less caffeine. Now that you are not smoking, the effects of the caffeine are doubled. You need less for the same effect basically. Clear your house and car of all cigarette stuff and spray everything down. Washing jackets and sweaters and stuff is also a good idea. Take some time to invision some positive stuff that will change now that you have quit smoking.. like playing tennis or exercising or just not being afraid to chase a ball that has gotten away from you. Or being around people without smoker's breath and feeling comfortable. Not having to stand in the cold anymore.. being inside and warm. A garden and you being able to walk around in it feeling clean and free. Reimagine your vision often and feel positive about quitting. Pamper yourself right now because you are in withdrawl.. rehab ! This is not a joke it is real... as hard a withdrawl as any. Sleep as much as you need.. quitting is hard work and you may become tired. Do not go to places that you used to smoke in for a while anyway. Right now, just get through the first stage.. physical addiction. No bars or parties where people are smoking or drinking anything. (drinking and smoking seem to go too hand in hand to deal with now) Be prepared to go through mood changes and perhaps some crying or anger or both. This is all normal and probably a healthy way to deal with quitting such an addiction. (Warn others.. lol) Know that the little voice inside your head telling you to smoke just one.. is your pusher trying to g