I will try to respond to all of you. I stopped smoking Monday after applying my patch. Not one little puff since then. I am to treat the patch as I would regular smoking on my quit day. I couldn't agree more with using exercise as a tool to stop smoking. I have been taking Yoga classes twice a week for the last twelve weeks as I prepared myself for the quit. I'am active as a rule but yoga seemed to be the balance for preparing myself. Not to mention any hobby using ones hands. I have many as I have acquired them through my many other quits. Yes I have tried to quit before. If it is on the market in the US I have tried it. All my failures came from not being an active participant in the quit. I am sure many of you understand exactly what I am saying. You can not be a passive quitter and succeed. I read about Chantix last year online as I was researching my upcoming quit. I faxed all the information to my doctor and told her I wanted this drug. She refused at that time as it was still so new. Please do not be angry with her as I had the option of going to another doctor that would have given me this drug, I did not. That was passive quitter me. She stands behind the last line of her oath, "do no harm" Now she has given it to me and told me what a great drug it is. LOL Yep gotta love that. There are many reasons for addictions and even more excuses but I am taking the blame for this as it was a conscience decision I made and continued to make. I refuse to throw my cigaretts away. I don't feel that they have any hidden meaning. I decided to stop smoking not the rest of the world. If I can't resist my own cigarettes how can I resist others? My husband smokes and I am in the public a great deal. Exposure is something I will have often. I hope this makes everything clearer to you guys. How starnge you really are out there. :-))

I have spent 36 years smoking, went from several a day through the years to a half pack a day to a pack, pack and a half, two packs, two and a half and my all time low hitting three packs a day. Smoke free 49 hours. I started with acupuncture to cut back on smoking 2-15-07. I agreeded to cut my smoking in half before my next visit. Next vist was to be on 2-20-07. Everything went well until the morning of the 19. I found myself constantly trying to light up. I rushed to the drugstore bought CQ patches and put one on. I have not had a smoke since.I was prescribed Chantix yesterday and started them today. Due to the fact that I am currently smoke free my doctor has agreeded that I may wear my patch until my quit day. Quit Date 2-28-07 This is by far the worst habit I have ever tried to break. The first smoke free night was a trip. I didn't sleep well. I felt like I was having a heart attack, a stroke, a panic attack, my body had aches and pains. I ignored all these discomforts as there was no doubt in my mind that it was the addiction talking. It is funny looking back on it today but please keep in mind that currently my emotional state is in the extreme going from pleasant to quick tempered and then to highly amused. Much like my smoking habit was. Each day is improving but I am taking it hour by hour. The first day was minute by minute. My cigarettes and lighter are lying in my room. I refuse to move them. My first accomplishment was three rules I made to live by. No smoking in the car so don't bother taking them, no smoking on the phone so they are placed in an area away from the phone,no smoking while using the computer so they stay upstairs in their no phone/no computer area. I discovered these areas were my mindless smoking stations. Making these rules alone cut my smoking in half. There is my story up to date. Hour by hour my struggle goes on and I hope to win this time. Yet I know there is still only one thing that would make my day perfect and that would be to lite up. There is only one thing that is going to make me strong enough to win this battle and thats not to lite up. What a sorry world I have made for myself.

Welcome Huny, glad you joined us for your quit! I don't know if you've ever tried to quit before, but if you have you will be pleasantly surprised at the difference Chantix makes in the quit. When your day gets here...you will be home free...just leave the patch off. You will experience some withdrawal for a few days, but not real bad.Anything you experience, you'll find a post more than likely discussing it, and if you don't...BRING IT TO OUR ATTENTION!! Keep close to the sight and keep us posted how your doing. you can usually find a little humor here too... which helps brighten our days. I smoked 30 yr+ 2 1/2 pks day. Quit once cold-turkey for 10 yrs. SSC..SSC...WE...ARE... THE CLAN IF WE CAN'T DO IT, NOBODY CAN We will help you Huny to stay strong in your Quit auntdeb :) [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 1/1/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 51 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 2,573 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $242.25 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 7 [B]Hrs:[/B] 2 [B]Mins:[/B] 0 [B]Seconds:[/B] 0

Dearest Huny, For some reason I can almost hear and feel the sadness in your voice. Believe me you have made a life changing CHOICE. I have struggled in the past to quit and I have failed on several different occasions. This time I have faired a little better due to several things that I have changed. I have recently heard the phrase "If you continue to do the same thing and continue to experience the same result, obviously you need to make a change in how you are doing things, in order to have a different result." Something to that effect. Well this time I have made some changes, I am doing so much better in this quit due to the fact that I made those changes and the most important change is - I am making a CHOICE not to smoke, instead of feeling deprived and depressed for losing my frend that has always been there for me thru sadness, happiness, anger etc.. This time I am choosing to let me be in control of all my emotions instead of masking them with a smoke screen. As for the chantix I am not sure since I have not tried it, I do work for a physician and we have had great reviews from patients that have quit. So keep taking it, I have however used the patch in the past with smoe success. I truly believe that each individuals quit is exactly that individual from anyone else's quit. Now there are some here who are going to say move the smokes and light, rid the house of them. I can't answer that, some people say that it helps to know that they are there. Some say it is a crutch and provokes one to return to their old smoking ways. That is going to have to be a personal decision. Stay in those smokeless stations as much as possible and do not light up. Make the CHOICE to not smoke today and worry about tomorrow - tomorrow. You can do this - anything that is worth having is worth fighting for. Stay strong, post, read, post, cry, scream, shower, post again, whatever it takes to keep you strong in YOUR quit. What a CHOICE you have made for yourself. Call out for help anytime - someone is always here to comfort and motivate. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 1/15/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 37 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,124 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $222 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 3 [B]Hrs:[/B] 23 [B]Mins:[/B] 15 [B]Seconds:[/B] 6

You sound like...ME! I was a 3 pack a day smoker (more some days!) and have smoked for 34 years. I struggled with quitting after being such a heavy smoker for so long. Patches/anti-depressants were successful to a point, then I would cave. Chantix has been the answers to my prayers! You still have to have the desire and stamina...but Chantix makes it bearable. I had a bit of an upset tummy, but the quit was well worth the upset tummy. I had thought I would go 2 12 week courses, but I felt comfortable after the first 12 weeks. I'm a bit confused, however. Are you smoking, using patches and Chantix? If you are smoke free, use the patches for the first 7 days and day 8 is quit day (meaning no patches, Chantix only). If you are still smoking and using Chantix, pull the patch off! :8o: I think I may have misunderstood. In any event, welcome to the SSC. It's a greeeat place to quit and we have sooooo much fun! [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 9/8/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 166 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 8,327 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1328 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 17 [B]Hrs:[/B] 15 [B]Mins:[/B] 15 [B]Seconds:[/B] 29

Naw Huny, it is not a sorry world you have made for yourself...you wouldn't have chosen to do this to yourself would you? There are many factors that make us addicted to nicotine. I am a new quitter and I can tell you a few things up front...ATTITUDE is everything, sleep gets MUCH better, attitude is important, changing your routine is huge, a good attitude makes quitting so much easier, exercise a little to help your attitude... oh and did I mention attitude??? Just a little humor on a key that I found to be so important in making this quit easy on myself (and my family). They barely notice that I have quit! Baby yourself but don't dwell...get up and do something! Good luck and keep on reading here at SSC. The knowledge you gain is priceless! [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 1/25/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 27 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 549 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $111.24 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 2 [B]Hrs:[/B] 17 [B]Mins:[/B] 56 [B]Seconds:[/B] 9

huny, Welcome and please know that we are here for you. You have received a lot of guidance so keep it close. We know what you are going through and can help you every step of the way. Start preparing yourself with coping mechanisms and avoidance techniques. Always take some you time and use rewards to congratulate yourself and goals reached. You will eventually have the determination to throw away the lighter and pack and this will feel great! Josie _____________________ The SSC Support Team.