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14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 8

thank you all.

great advice and great answes to my question.

ill try my hardest from here.

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 2778

Hey Morgan...

As you read further along in the posts on these forums, if you are in fact doing that as part of your preparations, you will notice that yes, MANY of us do have craves at different times. Even some long-term quitters comment that they get an urge when one of their various triggers hit them! I am the same way... Yes, one trigger for me is when I am enjoying a refreshing beverage after work or taking a break between yard chores, etc. Others fortunate quitters state that they no longer crave or even think about smoking again! All quits are different, as we are all different individuals.

So, it's a matter of making up your mind that you want to be a Non-Smoker... that you want control of your life back... freedom from the addiction before it kills you! You should really take the time to read some of our quit buddies "Quit Pledges" and see why we decided to quit! Read the thread posted by Joe Cool in the "Forum for new users"... there are some very powerful messages written in these forums that may help you understand this addiction and help to sway your thinking into really hating smoking and in turn really make you want to quit!

It's all part of the preparation process... read and learn! Do ask questions and we'll answer! Start hating smoking and what it does to us! The more you learn, the more you will want to quit and the easier it will be for you to psych yourself up for your quit day! Go ahead and set your quit meter up and get ready to do battle with the demon! It may be the fight of your life, but that is exactly what is at stake here!

Crave the quit!!!

Jim

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 3/5/2008
Smoke-Free Days: 505
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 12,625
Amount Saved: $2,083.13
Life Gained:
Days: 85 Hrs: 14 Mins: 17 Seconds: 45

Quit Meter

$44,220.00

Amount Saved
Quit Meter

Days: 1058 Hours: 8

Minutes: 48 Seconds: 18

Life Gained
Quit Meter

5896

Smoke Free Days
Quit Meter

176,880

Cigarettes Not Smoked

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 625

Breaking any addiction is not easy. This one is THE most addictive their is.

I have a bro-in-law that has been Quit over 25 years.....he tells me he still has a fleeting thought about smoking now and then. My son has been Quit for 14 years and asked me how I was doing the other day. I told him I still wanted a smoke but that it wasn't near as bad as it had been and I only thought about it on occasion. I asked him if he was the same. He said "No. I can't even stand the smell anymore......makes me feel sick"

My point is we are all different. Each of us is going to react and respond to being Quit in our own way. We all have one thing in common though and that is we WANT to be Quit. We will keep saying N.O.P.E. and we will hopefully not cave.

I did NOT WANT to be Quit in the past and I never came close to where I am now. I have a change in mindset to thank for it. Changing to Wanting to be Quit. Changing to "I can do this". It has to work that way or you won't stay Quit.

Is it bad that some don't stay Quit and cave? Not for them, it's what they need at that time. I sure can't tell them it's bad. My opinion is it's bad to Quit Quitting because we're giving up to the addict. None of us likes to be controlled by him but it takes some of us longer to make a Quit stick. Just Keep on Quitting and you may be as surprised as I am about how easy it gets to keep saying N.O.P.E.

Keep the Quit

Bob

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 1/27/2009
Smoke-Free Days: 177
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 5,310
Amount Saved: $743.40
Life Gained:
Days: 37 Hrs: 1 Mins: 27 Seconds: 45

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 1904

Morgan, you've already tied to cut down. It's down to quit or smoke. I wish you luck.

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 5/1/2009
Smoke-Free Days: 82
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 2,214
Amount Saved: $830.25
Life Gained:
Days: 9 Hrs: 0 Mins: 16 Seconds: 50

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 1693

Morgan,

This is an excellent question, and I am sure that the members will have a lot to say on this issue.
It is important to identify situations that place you at high risk for slipping and or relapse.

Common high-risk situations for many an include:

* Being emotionally upset
* Social settings in which temptation is likely
* Unexpectedly encountering the to-be-avoided object

It is equally important to have a plan prepared ahead of time to cope with these situations before we encounter them. Although the easiest way to cope is to avoid these high-risk situations, for some scenarios, it is not possible.

For these situations, try writing down the specifics of what happens to you.

Ex: When I am stressed, I just want to relieve it by grabbing a cigarette and calming down.

Next try finding alternatives to what you habitually do when in this high-risk situation.

Ex: When I am stressed, I will take a long warm bath instead.
Ex: When I am stressed, I will take a walk.
Ex: When I am stressed, I will have a cup of tea and write in my journal.

Members, please join us and share what your high-risk situations are and how you cope with them.

You can do this Morgan!

Breanne, Bilingual Health Educator

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 8

my birthday is august 4th.

this is a hard desicision to make . with the recession going on i've noticed cigerrettes have gone up in pricing atleast in canada.

that's a big push to try to quit. august 10th does sound great as well. I've been told by many people who quit, they become social smokers espically when drinking. My mom was able to quit cold turkey in 2 days and she smoked for 25 years on and off. Even to this day she says when she drinks she always want's to smoke , and she said sometimes when shes stressed out she craves a ciggerette too. she's quit for 5 plus years now. Do you guys notice you crave a cigerette when you unwind and drink , or when you're super stressed out ????

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 1693

Morgan,

The members bring up a good point about smoking a lighter brand of cigarette. Have you thought about cutting down instead? If you can reduce your smoking before a quit you will be further along. You will build confidence by practicing what it will be like to live as a nonsmoker.It is important to note that you have to reduce smoking by at least 50% to get any real benefit in health. This is because most smokers compensate by dragging harder, or smoking more of each cigarette. Please don't do that ! Keep a record of the exact number of cigarettes you smoke each day. Start this record before you start tapering. The easiest way to reduce is by not smoking all the cigarettes that you think you need to smoke, that you smoke out of habit. Before each cigarette ask yourself, "Do I really need to smoke this one?"

Delay having your first cigarette after you wake up. If you usually smoke within 15 minutes of getting out of bed, try waiting at least 30 minutes. Gradually lengthen the time you delay.

Hang in there, and please keep us posted on how you are doing.

Breanne, Bilingual Health Educator

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 2778

Hey Morgan...

Two weeks until your 18th! That would put your birthday on August 5th? Soooo... how about setting your quit date for after that weekend, say on Monday the 10th!!! Make the commitment and go for it! Set up your quit meter with that date and start getting psyched up!!! That's the only way you're going to get this done is to just do it!

Also, I agree with Brenda. It really is all or nothing. Going light isn't the answer and often times cutting down isn't either. Both methods only cut down on the amount of nicotine your nico-demon wants and you just end up smoking more to satisfy it's need! Does that make sense?

Anyways, think about just making the commitment, setting the date and start the big psych up to start the slaying of the nico-demon! You can do it!!!

Jim

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 3/5/2008
Smoke-Free Days: 504
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 12,600
Amount Saved: $2,079.00
Life Gained:
Days: 85 Hrs: 10 Mins: 17 Seconds: 22

Quit Meter

$44,220.00

Amount Saved
Quit Meter

Days: 1058 Hours: 8

Minutes: 48 Seconds: 18

Life Gained
Quit Meter

5896

Smoke Free Days
Quit Meter

176,880

Cigarettes Not Smoked

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 1904

No, I don't think you should start smoking lights. They are not any safer. Studies show that smokers just inhale more deeply when smoking lights. As was said earlier, it's all or nothing. You say you think you can quit. The first step is willingness. Are you willing to quit?

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 5/1/2009
Smoke-Free Days: 82
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 2,214
Amount Saved: $830.25
Life Gained:
Days: 8 Hrs: 23 Mins: 2 Seconds: 44

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 8

as stressful as it is, i feel as if i can quit. I know i can quit. I have two week's before my 18th birday , which im stoked about.

it's just the fact of giving up something i think . It's like giving up your pride and joy, for me next to smoking it would be my car. I worked so hard to have my car, which im proud to say i drive a 2005 chevrolet equinox LT, which i bought all on my own with no help, paid outright ( cash to be exact ) . So quitting smoking would be like giving up my car.

there's so much support here, do you guys think maybe i should try smoking a lighter brand of cigerettes. About a month ago i was smoking Benson hedges blacks and du maurier regular, i've went down to Export `a' gold, which are like a medium i guess you could say. Maybe i should go for Export `a' Silver ? do you guys think that would be a good idea ?

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