Dutch, I think it is both. I have been very positive about quiting. Most days are ok, even w/a smoker hubby. There are a few days that have been bad, mostly because I woke up in a crappy mood. So maybe we are lucky to have gotten a handle on what makes it easier to deal???? I don't know anything really. I think you have done well, maybe you can use some of those positive thoughts to inspire others..well More than you already have Good job Grace [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 8/8/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 31 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 631 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $124 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 2 [B]Hrs:[/B] 5 [B]Mins:[/B] 56 [B]Seconds:[/B] 20

hi dutch we like you the way you are to. I have to agree with rusty alot of it is our make-up and are chemical structure in our brain some of us have other issues on board, other demmons we have had to tackle, other people to take care of other then ourselves just a lot of differant avenues we have all gone down. all we can do is support without judgement and learn at the same time and that is what you do dutch you support without judgement and are allways picking us up after we have had a ruff day. keep your humor up we love it dutch and breaking free that was a great post it says it all. thanks you guys for giving us all courage when needed [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 8/18/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 21 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 538 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $83.58 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 2 [B]Hrs:[/B] 3 [B]Mins:[/B] 39 [B]Seconds:[/B] 1

Hey Dutch, I was wondering about this myself. I had been feeling rather guilty that I was having such an easy time of it. I had a bad first week while the Nicotine got out of my system but since then I have been great. No mood swings, no craves and no desire for a ciggie at all... I have a partner who smokes but I have left it to him to decide if and when he would like to quit, only rule is that there is no smoking in the home. I think I have found it easier because I have been at home for the past 3 months without easy access to cash (I would have to walk a mile to get to a cash machine) so have not been able to buy ciggies even if I wanted to... LOL. Also, there is a smoking ban in public places here in Scotland. It is so nice to be able to go out for an eveing without exposing yourself to the risk of having to breathe 2nd hand smoke.. and I get to stay indoors while the smokers head out into the cold and wet... My attitude this time round has been along the lines of not wanting to fail because I want to prove to myself that I can do it... If I was afraid I would be failing someone else I would have folded by now... I have had great support from my partner and friends too. I think that a successful and easy quit is a mixture of many factors but anyone who quits is a winner in my book!!! Krissie Non Smoker for 1M 1W 4D 19h 10m (42 days). Saving �189.59 by not smoking 855 ciggies, adding 2D 23h 15m to my life span

Dutch Fini Good luck on your book. Post the name of it here please when you published it. What better author thaa a positive soul like you Dutch. Your English is great by the way! Yes my dear 100% mental after the physical addition side. It's that mental which is very difficult for people to overcome. That's why we use self talk,a toolbox with plenty of trigger fighters, etc. Whatever works for you. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 1/22/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 230 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 3,456 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1207.5 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 42 [B]Hrs:[/B] 22 [B]Mins:[/B] 52 [B]Seconds:[/B] 36

I don't think that's true, Rock. Just because nicotine is out of your system in 3 days, or 3 weeks - whatever it is - nobody seems to actually know, doesn't meen that the withdrawals to it stop. They don't. It also doens't meen that every single system in your body is going to finished heeling either. For most of us, our nervous system has been badly damaged from smoking so much for so long, and as it heels, it causes nervouse problems. Our blood flow is going back to normal, and our hearts have to adjust. The dopamine receptors in our brains have to re-open and until that happens, we will have a chance of suffering the blues/depression or anger. Not to mention the whole notion of haivng to learn how to adjust, and how to cope, and how to handle things. Even my happy times seem out of control, because I am learning how to handle them. I'm really happy for hose of ou that have had such an easy time. and i'm sorry if i've contributed to you not wanting to come here because it depresses you.

Excellent post, i missed this the first time around. Im glad you are who you are :) I love reading your posts. I like most have my ups and downs but all in all i see the positive side to everything. I have had a couple of rough days in my quit but nothing that i couldnt handle. A positive attitude is the key to success. PrincessC :) x

Hello to all, Thanks for all the replies. I know I am lucky and I know that I have an easy quit. I still think it's all in the mind. I know for 100% sure: If I was able to let people feel what I feel inside since I don't smoke, I bet that no-one would smoke one cigaret ever. I mean, I have never ever been happier in my whole life. It's a strong, happy feeling and also relief. I was a heavy smoker, I've smoked day and night for almost 40 years. Then I thought it was time to quit. I searched the whole internet for information, I've learned everything about smoking and quitting and then on the first of april I did it. I threw away everything that could remind me of smoking and after 1 day I figgered out that it was all in the mind. If you can change your mind you can change your life. I tried to tell other peole, but no-one wanted to listen to me. That made me mad enough to write everything down. That's how my writing became a book. All my experiences are in my book. My book is almost finished and I have contact a publisher and next week my book will be printed. I am on a Dutch stop smoking internetsite and there are also people who want to quit. I tell them how I did it and they all say the same: I never looked at it that way. I know that my book is going to be a good book for quitters and a great help. I help them in every way I can and I even have a chatroom for quitters now. The knowledge is power saying is true for me. Because of all the knowledge I have I am able to sell cigarets all day long at work. Every time I sell a pack I'm happy that I don't need that poison anymore. When my boyfriend comes home in november (he is an American from Florida) we are going to translate my book in English. I cannot do that alone because my Dutch is good but I need to work on my English. (lol) That's my story and I'm still happy that my life is so much healtier now. I walk every day, I love to be in the fresh air and I will never smoke again in my whole life. Thank you all for listening. Thank you guys ((((love)))) P.S. I know that not everyone can think the way I can but if they could they would be much happier .... [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 4/1/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 161 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 4,028 [B]

Believe me Rusty, I am grateful !!! If I had known that it was this easy for me I would have quitted years ago....lol [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 4/1/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 113 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 2,834 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] �333.35 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 15 [B]Hrs:[/B] 14 [B]Mins:[/B] 24 [B]Seconds:[/B] 23

Hello girls and guys, I read most of the posts here. Most people have problems by quiting smoking. I quited cold turkey, no patches or chewinggum. The first week was a little hard because the nicotine had to go out of my system. After that week I realized that smoking was a habbit too and I changed a lot of the things I do during days. I have no cravings, no withdrawal symptoms and I have never felt better in my whole life. I am 55 years young and I have smoked for almost 40 years. The only thing I feel is a big relieve. I am so happy that I don't have to smoke anymore. I have to admitt that I am a happy person, almost always in a good mood and full of fun, always joking arround. Could it be that I am just lucky or is it the way I think about things? Who can help me out? P.S. I'm glad that I am who I am....lol. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 4/1/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 113 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 2,834 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] �333.35 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 15 [B]Hrs:[/B] 14 [B]Mins:[/B] 23 [B]Seconds:[/B] 19

Thanks for all the replies. Breaking Free you just said what I mean only your English is so much better ....lol. I do sometimes think that I shouldn't come to this site because I feel a little depressed after reading some posts. On the other hand, if I can only help one person with my positive additude then I'm really happy, that's the reason I keep coming here and try to help people. I want to tell the quitters for whom it is not as easy that I stay busy and do things I really like. Since I don't smoke I have about 3 hours more in a day. That 3 hours I used to smoke and sit and did nothing. Now I am doing fun things and that is why I am so happy. Stay busy, fill the 3 hours. Yesterday I went to a party and there I realized that there is a life after smoking. A fun and better life. I'm glad that you all took the time to respond. I think I love you guys ;) Dutch hugs for all (((((((((((((( quitters)))))))))))))) :)FINI :) [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 4/1/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 113 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 2,840 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] �333.35 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 15 [B]Hrs:[/B] 15 [B]Mins:[/B] 0 [B]Seconds:[/B] 0