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How to beat a craving, with a twist...please add to this list

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How to beat a craving, with a twist...please add to this list

17 years ago 0 +0 / -0 925

Wow, everybody has a special something that helps them get through a tough bit. I love all of these ideas...so here's a list. Flash cards Music Dancing Reading bible scriptures Sour altoids Movies SSC Looking in the mirror Running Smelling things Focus on the positives of quitting Focus on the negatives of smoking Hot bath Breath over a bowl of stream with a towel over your head Catch up on emails Write down inspirational song lyrics Sing (***like no one can hear you***) Share movies and books with your kids Organize your spice rack or someone elses (in under 3 years) Clean the bathroom Laugh at yourself Wow, you are all welcome to use my idea and I sure do want to thank everone for sharing yours with all of us. Martha, where do you live, cause if we're close I'll do your spice rack if you'll organize my junk drawers! Any more ideas to get those cravings running :8o:??? Pat :) [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 1/28/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 72 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 2,915 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1008 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 8 [B]Hrs:[/B] 12 [B]Mins:[/B] 9 [B]Seconds:[/B] 45

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$121,190.40

Amount Saved
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Days: 965 Hours: 7

Minutes: 25 Seconds: 22

Life Gained
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6312

Smoke Free Days
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302,976

Cigarettes Not Smoked

17 years ago 0 +0 / -0 357

Pat, Thank you for sharing, these are great!! I'm getting to the point where I am trying to use my extra time (that I used to use smoking) for productive tasks. I was cleaning the bathroom before work today and my husband asked if we were having company, I just laughed and imagined myself in my former life sitting in the cold garage getting my three smokes in before I left. I will definitely use some of your suggestions! Have a great day! :) Dupe [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 3/11/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 30 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 463 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $96 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 2 [B]Hrs:[/B] 18 [B]Mins:[/B] 50 [B]Seconds:[/B] 24

17 years ago 0 +0 / -0 1151

Pat these are awesome! I had decided that some sort of organization needed to take place with my spice rack early on in my quit. Well, uh 2 1/2 years later it still hasn't happened. So, anyone willing to add my spice rack to your cards and maybe you'll pull it out one day? I have the energy but the motivation has fallen by the wayside and my cards are chock full of other non-smoking fun things :blush: [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 8/5/2004 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 978 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 19,572 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $4401 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 75 [B]Hrs:[/B] 11 [B]Mins:[/B] 3 [B]Seconds:[/B] 0

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$37,011.00

Amount Saved
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Days: 640 Hours: 3

Minutes: 32 Seconds: 26

Life Gained
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5694

Smoke Free Days
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74,022

Cigarettes Not Smoked

17 years ago 0 +0 / -0 948

I like to watch movies. So movies and books keep me distracted along with 3 very busy kids! :) [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 3/1/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 40 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,014 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $200 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 4 [B]Hrs:[/B] 7 [B]Mins:[/B] 1 [B]Seconds:[/B] 52

17 years ago 0 +0 / -0 848

I have always looked to music to help. I like to look for songs that have inspirational lyrics and write them down for myself. Also I've found that singing, esp when alone in the car is helpful too. Actually this just inspired me to start a new thread of inspirational song titles and lyrics to help us keep our motivation. ;) [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 3/29/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 12 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 150 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $48.96 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 1 [B]Hrs:[/B] 3 [B]Mins:[/B] 41 [B]Seconds:[/B] 58

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$119,568.15

Amount Saved
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Days: 6402 Hours: 21

Minutes: 28 Seconds: 18

Life Gained
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45420

Smoke Free Days
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408,780

Cigarettes Not Smoked

17 years ago 0 +0 / -0 969

I catch up on e-mail. There is always someone that I should touch base with! Great ideas, everyone! [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 2/14/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 54 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,646 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $261.9 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 7 [B]Hrs:[/B] 13 [B]Mins:[/B] 12 [B]Seconds:[/B] 12

17 years ago 0 +0 / -0 925

Look at all the great ideas already! Keep em coming people. Dupe, I took out a few of my old cards, and naturally these are made for my interests, but you can customize by changing them to anything you are interested in. 1~Search for a special resturant, menu or recipe you can have to celebrate your next milestone ~Go for a walk and watch how freely the birds are flying, think of yourself as a bird, a non-smoking bird that can fly anywhere 2~Make a hot chocolate, take it and an apple to eat in the back yard and enjoy the weather ~Clean the oven or stovetop 3~Make iced herbal tea and drink it while eating 6 creampuffs and reading posts on SSC ~Scrub dining room ceiling/walls 4~Sit in the sunshine and read a book (on couch under blanket if raining) ~Go to nearby store and buy a new shower curtain/liner 5~Read and sort old jokes from your email into the joke file ~Wash all the linens in the kitchen towel drawer 6~Call Mom/Dad, sister/brother, friend or someone you care about ~Vacuum the car and wash the floormats 7~Plan or think about a vacation trip, even if it�s for "next year" ~Try on your old clothes and sort into 1) wear it now 2) give it away or throw it out 3) store it until you gain enough weight (ha ha ha...it really said until you lose enough weight ;-) 8~Do a puzzle, jigsaw, suduko, or online...you choose ~Clean and organize the silverware and junk drawers 9~Walk to the park with the camera and take pictures of trees/nature ~Clean the dining room light fixture 10~Sketch or start painting the picture you like best on the camera or easle ~Sort the paints and artists/craft materials in the hobby room 11~Go for a walk on the beach even if it�s raining and feel the wind in your hair ~Clean and polish all the shoes in the closet 12~Take a nap or watch the first good � hr show you see on tv ~Clean the keyboard, computer, monitor and organize your desk That should be enough to keep you busy for at least a day. Pat :) [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 1/28/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 71 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 2,873 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $994 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 8 [B]Hrs:[/B] 9 [B]Mins:[/B] 15 [B]Seconds:[/B] 57

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$121,190.40

Amount Saved
Quit Meter

Days: 965 Hours: 7

Minutes: 25 Seconds: 22

Life Gained
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6312

Smoke Free Days
Quit Meter

302,976

Cigarettes Not Smoked

17 years ago 0 +0 / -0 12

Ditto to your post. I am 7 days today and still having cravings (actually more than the first few days) I think now i am actually starting to feel somewhat better, the cravings become more of a temptation. But then I look in the mirror, and I swear I have a pinkish tinge back in my cheeks. I have been for a walk everyday, and for the first time in almost 4 years I went for a short run. I gave up this love of mine becuase of smoking. I'm starting to taste a little and feel some energy and enthusiasm again. My eyes don't constantly ache, my mouth feels so much better, I am starting to smell scents again and "I" don't smell..lol but...I actaully had a few (3) puffs on day five while out at a club with friends, but I stopped at that and I glad I did. It was a slip and I am taking the positive from it that I could have chosen to keep going but a didn't. It was a successful slip :) So focus on the positives(over and over and over)... when craving remind yourself of the negatives (over and over and over). A hots baths, when cravings get intense a hot bath is heaven (gonna head for one now..lol) otherwise a bowl of stream with a towel over your head, it clears the airways and chest up and makes u feel fantastic (plus keeps your hands busy :) [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 4/2/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 7 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 156 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $63 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 0 [B]Hrs:[/B] 14 [B]Mins:[/B] 28 [B]Seconds:[/B] 35

17 years ago 0 +0 / -0 357

Pat, Your idea of having craving cards sounds great! I like the examples you gave, would you care to share more- I'd love to hear them!!! Thanks, Dupe [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 3/11/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 29 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 447 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $92.8 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 2 [B]Hrs:[/B] 16 [B]Mins:[/B] 35 [B]Seconds:[/B] 29

17 years ago 0 +0 / -0 1543

Hi Great post. I read bible scriptures. I like sour stuff in this quit for some reason. The sour altoids work great. MMMMMM Tangerine and Mango ones. In the beginning I watched movies AND....AND....I CAME HERE!! :p Mercy [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 1/21/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 78 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,576 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $348.66 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 10 [B]Hrs:[/B] 5 [B]Mins:[/B] 13 [B]Seconds:[/B] 32

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How to beat a craving, with a twist...please add to this list