Welcome Binky An October 5 quit date will give you plenty of time to identify many of the situations that cause you to light up, we call them triggers. If you like you can also begin cutting back on your daily cigarette intake before the Oct 5 date. I started cutting back about 3 weeks before Q day. I selected various triggers to work on such as, not lightning up when I routinely did when I would be walking into work from my car or having that cig in the car on my way home. I used to smoke about a pack a day and cut down to 4 cigs per day before Q day and then used the patch.

Hi Binky I hope that helps. Go slow on the reduce part. It can be difficult. It take a lot of control but hey that is what you are going to need to quit and practice makes perfect. We all will be here with you.

Aw, PrincessC Yes you are so right and I forgot that part. Keep putting off those smokes while you are in the reduce mode. Keep saying, I will smoke the next one. Yep you are so good! Proud of you PrincessC! Keep on keeping on! You have it!

Hey Blinky :) This will be the greatest gift you will ever give to yourself. Welcome to the site. Work with the tools on the left and post any questions or fears you may have, we will be more than happy to help where we can. PrincessC :) x [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 7/11/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 42 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 855 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $428.4 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 3 [B]Hrs:[/B] 10 [B]Mins:[/B] 36 [B]Seconds:[/B] 21

Hey Binky, Sorry im at work & cant reply immediately sometimes - shhh about being at work tho lol ;P Stickin.. as always you have some wonderful advice. I agree totally with you. I delayed as much as i could, i did this conciously for well over a year before i quit. I came into work one day and just kept delaying and delaying .... and here i am today with a whopping 42 days under my belt. :) PrincessC :) x

Doh oops im so sorry i called you Blinky :blush: Is there anything you have on your mind BINKY (hee hee sorry - i will get it right). What do you fear the most? PrincessC :) x

Binky here goes, I drank 4 bottles of water a day, I used to be a morning smoker, so as soon as I open my eyes I grab the water and I drink half of it. I'm still doing that. After each meal I chewed on straws, then chew gum I would also get up right away and do the dishes or I would go walk the dog. As for the phone I would pick it up with the hand I used to smoke. I would not touch my coffee unless I had finished my water I love coffee and wouldn't give it up. I stayed very busy, the dog walked a lot and I even borrowed my neighbour's dog to take out on walks. I self talk a lot, if i get a smoking thought I dismiss it right away, now I think my brain's gotten used to it, it doesn't speak smoke to me much anymore. I also keep a journal and read it often. Hope this helps :)Marie [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 6/13/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 70 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,062 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $280 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 9 [B]Hrs:[/B] 8 [B]Mins:[/B] 8 [B]Seconds:[/B] 35

Binky Hi, yes I used the patch, there is a test here if you've worked the tools on the left, and for me the test came out that I was very addicted to nicotine, so my doc made me a prescription I'M still on it. The 21mg 6 weeks, 14mg 4weeks and 7mg 4 weeks, I'm almost done with the 14mg. The patch only takes the edge off I went through the withdrawals maybe less severe I don't know. Anyway during this time I have gotten rid of smoking habits: after meals, on the phone, with coffee , all that doesn't trigger a smoking thought anymore. The trouble I was having is when I had to interact socially I was uncomfortable now it's fine, since the last 3 days I have been feeling much better not thinking about smoking. I am very confident in my quit, smoking is not an option for me. I love being free of the stink, the crave, the coughing the wheezing and what not.So you have taken the best decision ,to stop smoking and it can be done I promise :)Marie [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 6/13/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 70 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,062 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $280 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 9 [B]Hrs:[/B] 8 [B]Mins:[/B] 5 [B]Seconds:[/B] 16

Binky congrats on your decision to quit smoking. It can be done one day at a time :)Marie [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 6/13/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 70 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,061 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $280 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 9 [B]Hrs:[/B] 8 [B]Mins:[/B] 2 [B]Seconds:[/B] 41

Congrats on your decision to quit smoking. Knowledge is power, so get prepared. Get prepared for your mind to deal with emotions without the mask of a drug. Know that the nicotine in cigarettes has caused you to be physically addicted. Take comfort in knowing the physical withdrawal will stop approximately 72 hours if you can resist nicotine products. Be fully aware that your life routine will have to be experienced without smoking cigarettes for you to be quit. So throw them away. Do not save any. What is your routine? When do you smoke? Make a list of your triggers (when you would normally smoke). It is better to think about all of these things ahead of time so that you can go into battle prepared. Replace your bad habit (smoking) with good habits. Read about healthy ways to deal with stress/emotions and start practicing your new coping skills. Get yourself ready physically by walking more, take in more fluids, get plenty of rest and avoid becoming overtired. Tell people around you that you�re going to quit. Get yourself a Quit Buddy who will be there to provide you personal quit-smoking help and support. Fight the urge to protect yourself from looking silly if you don�t make it all the way. Believe in yourself from the very beginning. Make it come true. If you don�t make it this time, what matters is that you get back up and try again. Also, don�t forget to make rewards a part of your plan. Quitting takes a lot of work, so you want to make sure you give yourself credit along the way. Keep a list of rewards you look forward to - it will help keep you motivated. Watch out for alcohol, social situations, other smokers, weight gain, and bad moods/depression. These things can make you fall off the Quit Wagon. Like I�ve said � be prepared for these things. We�ve quit. You can too. We�ll be here to support you if you need us. I look forward to celebrating your milestones with you. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 5/12/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 102 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 3,083 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $408 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 8 [B]Hrs:[/B] 15 [B]Mins:[/B] 28 [B]Seconds:[/B] 55