Freedombound, Congratulations on having that desire to quit and welcome. We're all here for you and will support you throughout the whole process. First off, let me say that you're just entirely too cute for words when you said that you had to smoke after figuring out how to work the site. I love that. You'll feel better knowing that I've got mints and a toothpick in my mouth right now as I type this. hee hee I know what you mean, we all do, when you say that it's work not to smoke. It really is. But you CAN do it. You've already got a strong foundation beneath you by cutting down so much. There are some tools over to the left that will help you out so much. When you quit, drink lots and lots of water. I mean so much you feel bloated. ha ha ha It helps with the cravings and flushes the poisons out of your system. The water is so important. Do some deep breathing too....Inhale slowly and deeply through the nose and exhale slowly out the mouth. This helps to keep you calm and helps a lot during cravings. Have your supply of snacks that you can eat for that "hand to mouth" thing. I use hard candy but you can get soft candy too and in sugar free. Wal-Mart has a lot of sugar free candy and they're really good but BEWARE, too much of the sugar free stuff works like a laxative. It says that right on the bag in the tiniest print. Yep, caught me by surprise!!! HA HA I'd get some sugar free candy but rotate it with regular soft candy to be on the safe side. Do you like orange slices, marshmellows, or those soft butter mints? Soft peppermint would be great too and you can suck on lollipops. Use toothpicks and straws too to chew on. Your peanut butter sounds good too. I haven't thought of that one myself. Read a lot of the posts on this site and post as much as you want or need to. Ask as many questions as you want or need to. And if you're need help or just wanting to vent, just holler. We're all here to support you. This is a great support group here. They've snatched my back from blowing my quit and are always willing to lend a helping hand or offer praise. Keep in touch, welcome, and I'm really proud of you for cutting down the way you have. You're doing great. Tutti [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 2

caliproctor Welcome to the site, this place has been invaluable for me during my little journey down to quitten town. I have found that water, water and more water is one of the key elements for dealing with the physical process of your recovery. For me at least dehydration seems to make the longing for a butt more real... Looks like you've got a plan of attack started and you have done your research regarding the nature of this addiction. Thats very good. You must begin from a position of strenght. Oh yea never forget that we are all addicts...stone cold junkies on a nicotine dream...Once you get to that you will begin to understand the subtle nature of this thing and how it has altered our perceptions for as many years as we have allowed it to be our companion...Consider this...Does any sane human stand on a freezing street corner just for the pleasure of ingesting 4000 chemicals and a drug that demands more time and effort than we are willing to admit...Any school child knows the right answer to that one...But guess what, we don't...so you see there is alot of theater of the mind at play here... Take your time, get ready for a very up and down ride, stay close to everyone here, we will all invest in your success. And you will invest in others victory too. This is a great example of the Universal Law of Returns... However, I will tell you one key element that has been told to me over and over...YOUR DESIRE TO QUIT MUST BE STRONGER THAN YOUR DESIRE TO SMOKE...Someone here will always catch you when and if you falter, but you must steady yourself along the way by identifying all the triggers (looks like your on to that one), creating and using coping mechanisms that work for you and most of all being aware of the nature of the enemy... Nicotine is a very very potent and insidious drug and it will take you dancing if you listen to its music...Over the weeks that come you will practise and practise and practise your coping skills and you will over come this thing because IT CAN BE DONE and you are just the right person to make it happen. Stay close my friend and I wish you all the best in the days ahead...I think you are beautiful for joining us on this road... nonic [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 12/25/2006 [B]S

freedombound You have had a great insight here...You already know that smoking is more than not doing a thing...Our addiction has made us dillusional for years...Nicotime (the need for it), has caused us to ignore the reality of what we are doing when we smoke...From my perspective, this addiction has two parts...One of these parts is the physical withdrawal, which as you know will last for around 72 hours. The other part of this is the emotional addiction... One of the greatest mind bends that nicotine creates is that we are giving something up. YOU ARE NOT GIVING UP A THING...Everything you do as you stop is a gain. Your lungs will soon expand and contract as they should have for years. You will have more energy. You will no longer smell like an ashtray and you will save a whole lot of money that you can put to better use than increasing the quaterly profits of Phillip Morris and the reat of the merchants of death... Come here often and read read read...the more you know about the addiction and others experiences, you will gain confidence every day... This is a great decision that you have made and you are in the right place to get it done... nonic [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 12/25/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 68 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,637 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $476 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 12 [B]Hrs:[/B] 16 [B]Mins:[/B] 8 [B]Seconds:[/B] 8

Hi caliproctor and Welcome!! Yes..March 1 is a Good Day to quit (my daughter's birthday) I will like watching your progress and remember your date! auntdeb :) [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 1/1/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 56 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 2,821 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $266 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 7 [B]Hrs:[/B] 18 [B]Mins:[/B] 17 [B]Seconds:[/B] 5

Welcome freedombound, Stick close to this site..."major help in building your confidence" You can do this. I too...30+ yr smoker, grandmother... I am smoke free now thanks to this site and the help of Chantix. auntdeb :) [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 1/1/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 64 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 3,219 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $304 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 8 [B]Hrs:[/B] 20 [B]Mins:[/B] 38 [B]Seconds:[/B] 52

Welcome, Caliproctor: It sounds like you're quite serious about quitting -- good for you! You're preparing yourself, researching, reading and learning about addiction, all things that will make such a vast difference between success and failure. We're here to help in any way we can, so just holler if you need anything. We're right behind you every step of the way. Keep the faith [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 10/8/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 140 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 5,635 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1120 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 18 [B]Hrs:[/B] 10 [B]Mins:[/B] 10 [B]Seconds:[/B] 22

[b]Welcome aboard Cali ! We're here for you in every way possible :) Wishing you all the best, so post often and read lots! [IMG]http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o304/Monica58/clappingsmiley.gif[/IMG] (((((((((hugs)))))))) Monica58[/b] [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 1/12/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 45 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 908 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $405 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 5 [B]Hrs:[/B] 2 [B]Mins:[/B] 27 [B]Seconds:[/B] 57

Cali, Congrats on your quit date of March 1. Sounds to me like you are really planning this out. And that's a good thing, because I think it gives you more chance at success. We'll be watching your progress. Cheers, Jan [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 1/13/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 44 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,326 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $396 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 4 [B]Hrs:[/B] 23 [B]Mins:[/B] 22 [B]Seconds:[/B] 25

Welcome Caliproctor! Well done on making one of the best decisions for yourself - good luck for March! We'll be here! Deli [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 8/1/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 208 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 3,129 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] �624 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 17 [B]Hrs:[/B] 13 [B]Mins:[/B] 16 [B]Seconds:[/B] 5

Cali You are not quitting you are stopping there is nothing to quit!! You will not be an ex smoker you will be a non smoker. Look forward to Tuesdays everything is better on Tuesday! Most importantly when you crave along the way post here and SMILE! Phil(UK) [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 8/8/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 202 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 4,245 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] �1060.5 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 40 [B]Hrs:[/B] 10 [B]Mins:[/B] 13 [B]Seconds:[/B] 25