hi everyone. my name is free at last. and i just signed up to this program. it seems to me that anything to help me quit is a good thing so, why not? i've been smoking for about 25 years and have tried to quit twice. my quit date is tomorrow and i'm finding that i don't want to go to sleep so that i can smoke as much as possible before the big day. i'm going to be using the patch andi am also going to weekly counseling at the tobacco treatment center. any advice and all support is welcome. glad you're here!!!!! [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 5/5/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 0 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 0 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $0 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 0 [B]Hrs:[/B] 0 [B]Mins:[/B] 0 [B]Seconds:[/B] 0

Hello, This is my first time to post and I really need some Help! I need someone to tell me how to really begin to stop smoking. I quit last year for 7 days, I must quit now for many health reasons and because I WANT TO!! This time, I can't even get started! Thanks, Penangel

Penangel . . . I'm in the same place. I've been wanting to quit smoking for quite some time now. I've been telling myself that I could really quit anytime I wanted to . . . I wasn't "hooked." That has proven to be false. I've tried a few times (half-hearted attempts), but I haven't lasted a day! I've started exercising, and I really, really notice how short of breath I am. I'm really too young to feel this way! I set a quit date for this week, but I'll need all the help that I can get!! Just saying "hello," and I'm here for moral support! :-) Best of luck to you. I look forward to this program! We can do it. Kendall

Welcome Penangel :) I notice you say you WANT to quit. One of the keys that is a MUST for a successful quit is if your desire to NOT smoke outweighs your desire to smoke. If you've got that, then you are on your way to a successful quit! Stick around here, read and post as much as you can. Read up on the Hall of Fame success stories, you will be very inspired by what other members have to offer! Hang on tight and do the milestones on the left (as suggested by Shevie) and then set your quit date. We'll all be here for you through the entire process, as much as you need. Many Blessings, Eve :) Proud to be a C.A.R.E. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 4/8/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 22 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 184 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $66 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 1 [B]Hrs:[/B] 22 [B]Mins:[/B] 24 [B]Seconds:[/B] 13

penangel, Welcome to SSC. Roam around the place, read everything you can here. Go through the steps outlined by SSC in the Quit Program. And then.... LEAN HEAVILY on the other members here who so graciously offer themselves as guides, crying towels and sounding boards when we feel weak in our fight to live cigarette free lives! Congratulations on your decision to quit! [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 3/29/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 32 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 327 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $51.2 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 3 [B]Hrs:[/B] 16 [B]Mins:[/B] 20 [B]Seconds:[/B] 39

Congradulations!! I quit almost a month ago, I was ready, I also wanted to quit. I thought I just wake up one morning ready to quit, yea right. I quit in the afternoon, after my morning cough,cough,cough....I smoked a few more and said "THAT WAS THE LAST ONE" Then, I emptied all the ash trays, cleaned out the car, went to the store and bought some gum, and some "dum dum"suckers. I find that the suckers help while driving or while on the computer. Every hour I won the battle, every day I won the war. (At least that is how I look at it). My wife still smokes, at first, that was tough, but now I can deal with it just fine. Take lots of deep breaths, try new foods, enjoy the new smell and taste of them as your quit lengthens. You are going to do GREAT!!! come here often, type, babble, enjoy seeing how much $$ you save and how much more life you will have. One other thing..."tobacco is just a weed that we used to set on fire and inhale the smoke" man that still sounds stupid. ;p [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 4/2/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 28 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,150 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $168 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 4 [B]Hrs:[/B] 5 [B]Mins:[/B] 35 [B]Seconds:[/B] 18

Welcome aboard Penangel, This is the place if you want to stop smoking. We all care about eachother, and try to help eachother out. Were all going through this together. It's tough for all of us. Read the post's, post yourself as often as needed. Use the In. Messenger to talk it out. We band together... and we'll win over the Nicodemon! Good luck and N.O.P.E. Ron [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 3/12/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 50 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,768 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $337.5 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 7 [B]Hrs:[/B] 19 [B]Mins:[/B] 46 [B]Seconds:[/B] 17

Hi Penangel and welcome, I can't really add to what has already been said. We suuport each other here and that is what, for many of us, makes all the difference between success and failure. So read read read and post post post and you can beat this disease. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 2/6/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 84 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,010 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] �210 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 15 [B]Hrs:[/B] 8 [B]Mins:[/B] 42 [B]Seconds:[/B] 11

Hi, Penangel. Welcome to the SSC. OK, here's the secret to quitting smoking. Don't have the next one. Too simple? OK, I'll try to complicate it. :) You quit last year for seven days. Do you know why you started back? Knowing your weak spots is very important. First, write down why you want to quit. All the reasons, no matter how important or not important, how logical or rediculous they may be. Next, write down all the reasons to keep smoking. Every one, using the same criteria as before. Third, make a list of what makes you happy. Activities, material things, people, events, anything that brings a smile and a glow to your heart. Then include the things you've always wanted, but either couldn't justify or afford. This is your reward list. Fourth, decide on the quit method you think would work best for you. Cold turkey, Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) (patch, gum, lozenge, etc.), non-nicotine drugs (Wellbutrin, Zyban, etc.), or alternative methods (laser, acupuncture, hypnosis, etc.). Keep in mind that if your method of choice turns out to be the wrong choice, you can always switch. Nothing's cast in stone here. Finally, choose a quit date. From now until that time, mentally prepare for the quit. As much as possible, tell yourself that smoking is bad, quitting is good. Visualize your life smoke-free. No more stink, no more being controlled, freedom to do as you please instead of having to make it to the next fix. Study the cigs you smoke. Feel their heat on your fingers, face, lips. Feel the sting of smoke on your tongue as you draw it in, in your throat as you inhale. Notice the difference in the smoke's color as you exhale. The difference is what stays inside you, coating your lungs. Got a bit of smoke in your eyes? Burns, doesn't it? Remember that feeling. Remember it all. Commit just how nasty, uncomfortable, miserable smoking really is to memory. Those memories will help get you through the quit. When the day comes, stay close to this site. Read much, post often. Let us know how you're doing; we'll help as much as we can. This is a fantastic thing to do, Penangel. And it can be done, just look around here. Glad you're joining us. :) Shevie [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 5/23/2005

You have definitely come to the right place! Welcome to the SSC. Use the tools on the left (workbook) and read, read, read. This site has made all the difference to many of us. The more you know about the process, the better your chances of quitting. The Quit Program Tools will walk you through. Welcome. :) Not cravin', never cavin'. Hummy [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 5/5/2005 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 360 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 14,425 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $2340 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 46 [B]Hrs:[/B] 18 [B]Mins:[/B] 25 [B]Seconds:[/B] 17