Hi Fighter, You have made a fabulous decision to quit while you are young. Get that part of your life over with and move on! Then, you will be free forever. In your late 20's, 30's, or 40's, (anytime, really), if those poisonous ciggies whisper in your ear that you can have JUST ONE, you can read your journal and remember how horrible this addiction is. Most people your age do not really believe the dangers of smoking, or they do not care, or they think that it will never happen to them. It is wonderful that you have "waken up" now. Be proud of yourself!! new me [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]5/26/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 326 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 7,824 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1,630.00 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 45 [B]Hrs:[/B] 11 [B]Mins:[/B] 29 [B]Seconds:[/B] 41

It is amazing how much better you feel once you rid your body of those nasty toxins isn't it! You are doing great and you will look back at your journal later and laugh also. Your stats will be there before you know it! You are doing awesome!!!! [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]4/18/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 360 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 7,200 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1,800.00 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 28 [B]Hrs:[/B] 15 [B]Mins:[/B] 52 [B]Seconds:[/B] 49

I haven't felt this good in a long time. I couldn't help but laugh at almost everything that you had said. It was so funny to me because I have gone through those incidents recently. It is funny after the fact you know? The feelings that I got reading your journal entry was mainly a feeling of greatfullness that I am to that point and that someday I will have stats like yours. I am really greatful that I have started a journal though I must say my writing was not nearly as clear as yours by the end of week one, LOL. 359 days is really an inspiration! You go GIRL!!! [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]3/26/2008 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 16 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 320 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $60.00 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 1 [B]Hrs:[/B] 2 [B]Mins:[/B] 11 [B]Seconds:[/B] 39

Fighter, I also kept a journal some early in my quit.. just yesterday I went back and found a post that I had made.... I would love to share it with ya... It was titled, "Things I learned during week one of my quit" and was posted on April 25, 2007... To look back on it now it is pretty funny.... Things that I learned during the first week of my quit: I have learned that there are some wonderful people online, at SSC namely, that are always there if I need them. That wants me to succeed as much as I want to succeed. I have learned that from my house to the stop sign is .2 mile and that if I walk there and back twice I am walking .8 mile. I have learned to play Suduko and found that I really enjoy the game. I have learned that water isn�t nearly as bad as I thought and I have had my fair share this week for sure! I learned that my hair now smells like my shampoo and NOT cig smoke! I learned that even smokers who smoke outside (like I did) still smell just as bad as those that smoke inside. (I have really noticed the smell of smoke on some of my smoking co-workers.) I have learned that it takes more than a week and an air freshener to get the smoke smell out of my car, next thing to try, Febreeze. ***note a year later... febreeze helped but didn't get rid of it... I just had to let it air out with windows down for a bit.... much better a year later***** I have learned that it isn�t a good idea for the kids to break the toilet when my boyfriend and I are both quitting smoking. He goes on a rampage and I just sit there in a daze. He is raving mad and I am near tears. Man, glad that is over. LOL! I have learned when you go to a restaurant and they ask you smoking or non. Don�t just say non when you are only 4 days in your quit. You should say, �as far away from smoking as possible�. We went to eat on day 4 of my quit and she asked smoking or non. We said non and even talked to her about our quits. The way we said �non� she knew something was going on. Well, she sat us right next to the smoking section. It was a challenge because we could smell it and after eating is one of my hardest times, but I made it through with flying colors. I have learned that there are some pretty silly commercials out there. I never saw the commercials before because that is always when I would run outside for my fix. I have learned that I was wasting at least 1 hour and 45 minutes smoking every day. There was something else about self talk, but the thread had cut that off for some reason and I can't find the original here. Thing is, when you get further in your quit it is fun to look back on your thoughts early in your quit. I had completely forgot about the kids messing up the toliet that week... After I read this yesterday all I could do was laugh because I rememeber it so clearly now. My boyfriend quit cold turkey and was the typical quitter going cold turkey.. he was very nervous and all.... I was on Chantix at the time this was written and it kidna but me out in a daze... just priceless moments! [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]4/18/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 359 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 7,180 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1,795.00 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 28 [B]Hrs:[/B] 14 [B]Mins:[/B] 23 [B]Seconds:[/B] 9

a "Buddy" helps greatly too, someone who is also quitting and knows the challenges. Someone who you can email or whatever when you have that sudden craving and who can email you as well for support. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]3/27/2008 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 15 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 300 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $82.50 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 0 [B]Hrs:[/B] 22 [B]Mins:[/B] 38 [B]Seconds:[/B] 21

I'm not big on the whole diary thing, but lemme tell ya writing my daily thoughts and talking about my cravings has helped me out beyond belief. (Not to mention you don't drive ppl. crazy with all the talking you feel you need to do, lol) I started my first journal entry 2 days before my quit date. I write just a page worth about every day. Tonight I have gone 16 days without a ciggy and I was starting to think ahh this is so horrible (the craving I was having). So, I decided to go back to the beginning and read what I had wrote. Wow! I realized then just how far I had come! -I went from fearing my quit to feeling like I owned it. -I went from crying to laughing A LOT MORE THAN I EVER USED TOO! -I went from the jitters to the calmer days slowly. I still get anxious but I can see after reading just how much less it is now than what it was. You can really see the light at the end of the tunnel! -I really have changed as a person in the way that I think all around. -I feel stronger and wiser and less afraid, and my fiancee has never wanted to be close to me as much as he does now (nonsmoker). -I still have a lot of rough moments throughout the day, but looking back to day one where it was all one big rough day really makes me appreciate how far I have come. And now thinks to listening to someones advice about this whole journal thing I am one more day smoke free and ready to fight some more battles! So there it is...Just passing a long the good stuff that I was told to do. Don't fret if you wanna try it and it doesn't work for you-everyone is diffarent. But, what can it hurt??? And don't ever forget how healing music can be. Especially music that you've never listened too before! Then it won't remind you of a square. Best of wishes to all of you!!! [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]3/26/2008 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 16 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 320 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $60.00 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 1 [B]Hrs:[/B] 1 [B]Mins:[/B] 3 [B]Seconds:[/B] 59