Thanks, Stickin -- Glad to hear it; it sure has been a rough couple of days! Interesting article in the latest Newsweek about Barak Obama and smoking -- I think I'll start a new thread with that, as it may speak to many different issues. peteg [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 10/30/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 116 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 5,821 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $638 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 21 [B]Hrs:[/B] 6 [B]Mins:[/B] 16 [B]Seconds:[/B] 35

kiwikeith sorry to hear you are not feeling strong right now yes you are a non smoker and this feeling will pass. It is all a question of mindset you have to believe in yourself, and ssay yes i am quit! Hope this helps lynnexx [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 10/24/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 119 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,797 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] �476 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 13 [B]Hrs:[/B] 11 [B]Mins:[/B] 30 [B]Seconds:[/B] 38

KEITH DON'T YOU EVER LISTEN TO A WORD I SAY? IT WILL BE TUESDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Cheers Phil [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 8/8/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 197 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 4,139 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] �1034.25 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 39 [B]Hrs:[/B] 10 [B]Mins:[/B] 7 [B]Seconds:[/B] 42

Keith, I know exactly how you feel! I felt the same way for a LONG time! I used to think that I should feel "free!" And the truth was that I did - most of the time. But that time when I didn't felt free seemed to over power the time that I DID feel free - even though those moments were conisderably less... they were what I noticed. I didn't notice the times I WASN'T thinking about smoking. What finally did it for me was a total attitude overhaul. I just told myself that "I" control what I do when a smoking thought enters my mind and from then on, I wasn't going to dwell on smoking anymore! It was high time that I started living my life as a "non-smoker" and not an "ex-smoker." And I did. And you know what? It worked! Sure, I had to take a few weeks away from this site to do it, but when I came back, I was a new person! So what I challenge you to do is when you start thinking about smoking, to just let the thought go. Don't dwell on it, even to think "I don't smoke!" Because that for me made me want to smoke so much more! Just let it go! It'll take practice because at first, it's not easy. Lately, I've been having some serious cravings, but the difference between now and before is that smoking just is NOT an option for me. These cravings or smoking thoughts or whatever you want to call them, have been eating away at me for about a week now... but I don't smoke. Period. I can deal with it just as I have the many cravings that have come before it and so can you! When you finally accept that, then you won't have a problem. It's when you overanalyze the situation and think that you should feel differently than you do... that's when you have problems. Just accept the fact that you WILL have times when smoking enters your mind... and then let the thought go. That's all you have to do. Forget the past. All past quits are null and void. They don't exist. The only one that matters is the one that has lasted so far for 144 days and will continue to last for the rest of your life! Don't worry about what you did before. You can't change it, so it doesn't matter. Just focus on what you are going to do from here on out. You're a non-smoker - today, tomorrow and for the rest of your life - whether you feel like it right now or not!

Kiwi A simple answer, you are and have quit. You MUST think in terms that I DO NOT smoke anymore therefore I'm quit. Now, staying quit is determined by how you look at yourself, either I'm quit or I'm not. I suppect after 5 months you are thinking the former. I had a few craves at 5 months however your intake was 25 mine 15 to 20. I went through a period of liking the smoke from other's cigs, to now I don't at all, it stinks you know. You are normal. Tell us how you feel at 6 months that was the kicker for me. You have to admit if you can go 5 months you can go 6 and then.... So you are fine, just rid yourself of the smoking thoughts obviously you have learned to cope and to do just that.

Pam I'm taken back, why the frustation??? [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 1/22/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 394 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 5,924 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $2068.5 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 73 [B]Hrs:[/B] 8 [B]Mins:[/B] 53 [B]Seconds:[/B] 58

Kiwi, Very well said! None never want to suffer the anguish again. So as you have saif, if quit stay quit. Lively discusion, thank you for it. I hope we all helped to strengthen your resolve. You have done so well, so keep truckin with the rest of us, day 150 right around the corner as it gets easier and easier. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 1/22/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 395 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 5,937 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $2073.75 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 73 [B]Hrs:[/B] 12 [B]Mins:[/B] 47 [B]Seconds:[/B] 11

Peteg, It will pass and before you bite it. It seem reasonable that if you were smoking a lot before you quit, then it will take some longer to get over it. 2-1/2 packs per day, gonnadoit was around 3 and she is getting there so will you. You will get to the point one day and you will say, ya know, it occurred to me that I haven't thought about smoking for two days nows. That is when the tide begins to turn. Believe me it happens to all those who let time do the healing, good luck friend.

Kiwi, You've said it all in the post. Yes you are quit, yes you should be happy and yes you are a non smoker. Stop with all the negative thoughts. Be positive!! Being positive takes the same energy than being negative. It makes you feel better. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 4/1/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 326 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 9,783 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] �961.7 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 45 [B]Hrs:[/B] 8 [B]Mins:[/B] 56 [B]Seconds:[/B] 6

I'm right beside you on this, Keith! I am currently a non smoker because I believe in NOPE. However, smoking thoughts are still with me (nostalgia, I believe), but still there none-the-less. I look forward to the day that I realize I have not thought about smoking in, say, a week.... I suppose one day it will happen (I heard ya, Phil, [i]on a Tuesday[/i]) I hope it's soon.... I'm not physically and painfully craving like the early days, just still 'feel' like a smoker (?) [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 9/8/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 165 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 8,294 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1320 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 17 [B]Hrs:[/B] 13 [B]Mins:[/B] 31 [B]Seconds:[/B] 18