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Quit Smoking Community

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Browse through 411.742 posts in 47.053 threads.

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Starting Over


14 years ago 0 916 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hi Rsfire
Never quit quitting and you will be smoke free!!
Most of my quits lasted only four days this is the only one that has lasted this long, and I feel different. I don't romance cigarrettes. I have learned that they give me nothing but ilness. I understand know that I was enslaved by them and I do not want to go back.
Of course I long for them once in a while but I just make a reality check and visit my reasons to stop smoking and I am ok.

You will suceed, I know
Have a great day!
Marivi

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 1/23/2009
Smoke-Free Days: 222
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 3,330
Amount Saved: $333.00
Life Gained:
Days: 25 Hrs: 6 Mins: 25 Seconds: 45

14 years ago 0 802 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Keep on truckin'.  Your determination will get you through.  You're still so young and have so much time to enjoy a smoke-free life.  I often look back and wish I had quit at your age, or sooner.  Sometimes it takes people a few starts to get going, but I have a feeling about you - once you're truly dedicated, and out of the starting gate, you will succeed!  Best wishes.
My Milage:

My Quit Date: 1/3/2008
Smoke-Free Days: 608
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 12,160
Amount Saved: $4,620.80
Life Gained:
Days: 66 Hrs: 8 Mins: 57 Seconds: 55

14 years ago 0 1127 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
RSWfire,
 
You think it is hard to quit? No, it can be easier if you look at it differently. You can change your mind about smoking. Think how disgusting it is and what it does to your body. Will you miss the terrible diseases? No. Will you miss the smell? No. Will you miss the stains on your hands and teeth? No. Will you miss the smell from your breath? No. Quitting smoking is a positive thing if you can look at it the right way. It's the best gift you can give to yourself: A longer and healthier life.
 
Try to make a plan for the first couple of days. Do things you never do, then you don't have to think about smoking because your mind has no link to smoking. Go for a walk and change your daily program. You will see that it helps you.
 
Smoking is an addiction but evenmore it is a habbit. A habbit which you do for many years so you have to get used to a life without smoking. The more you change your life, the sooner you will get used to not smoking.
 
I did it this way and for me it was not as hard as I always had thought.
 
I wish you strenght but I know you can do it, if you want it hard enough.
 
Bye bye ;)

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 4/1/2006
Smoke-Free Days: 1250
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 37,500
Amount Saved: �5,906.25
Life Gained:
Days: 162 Hrs: 9 Mins: 18 Seconds: 52

14 years ago 0 278 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
RSW... quitting smoking is simple.  Don't smoke.  Don't buy cigs, don't put one in your mouth, and don't light it.  Easy.  Yeah right.  There are cravings, irritability, physical withdrawl, etc that come with quitting, and that can be the hard part.  The inconvenience of these symptons is temporary, and will get better in time once you are quit.  However you need to quit ASAP, you shouldn't be short of breath in your early 30's.  I was the same way, and probably have done some damage that I will have to deal with for the rest of my life.  Quitting smoking, my breathing is back, and I have been assured that I will still lead a long like, provided I keep smoke free.  I'm rooting for your success!
My Milage:

My Quit Date: 4/3/2009
Smoke-Free Days: 152
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 2,280
Amount Saved: $1,140.00
Life Gained:
Days: 16 Hrs: 14 Mins: 7 Seconds: 36

14 years ago 0 29 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
I would say it just gets harder the more times you try. You just start to feel like you're not able to do it. On the bright side, I am smoking less. I don't believe I have smoked more than half what I used to when I first relapsed. But it only takes one and my breathing is more labored. I don't think I ever realized how much smoking had come to affect my breathing until three days after I quit. I don't want to lose faith in myself. It seems like all day I found myself wallowing in self-pity. I've done that all my life at times and I realized that's about the only time that I enjoy smoking. A friend once told me to take the bat away from myself because I'm such a harsh critic of myself. Today is a good example of beating myself with a bat. But after many hours I thought to myself how stupid to actually enjoy this state of being. It made me think about how much of my journals tend to be negative thoughts too. Nothing good can come from that. I don't think I realized that I may actually be suffering from depression until tonight. It is not a big deal - I'm good at picking myself back up. I never let myself stay down for long and as far as the depression it is all external factors, all things that are well within my power to control and change. I want those five days back, lol. That's another thing I have thought a lot about. Those five days were not really all that difficult. I did not have any cravings. It just felt a little uncomfortable. But it also felt really great. And I think what happened is that I was met with the nicotine's final big stand at 5d 18h and I caved. If I had not I just might have been running a marathon right now. So at least I know to look out for that now. Anyway I am probably rambling a bit. Sorry for the lack of paragraphs. I'm writing this from my BlackBerry. Having trouble getting to sleep, one of the side effects I haver whenever I take Chantix. Brenda I'm really sorry to hear you are still having cravings after four months. Please stay strong. Have you thought about why? Does a part of you still think it is missing out on something? That's the one thing about Allen Carr's book I could really relate to - so much of what makes this process hard is psychological, just learning to let go of the habit and accepting that we really are not losing anything by quitting. There's just nothing good about cigarettes, nothing at all. They don't do anything good for us; they never have.
14 years ago 0 1904 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
It's okay. Most of us have had many starts. I've jonesing since Saturday. What I used to tell myself is that I could quit at any time. Now I'm telling myself that quitting won't be any easier later--and that seems to be working.

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 5/1/2009
Smoke-Free Days: 124
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 3,472
Amount Saved: $1,345.40
Life Gained:
Days: 13 Hrs: 12 Mins: 42 Seconds: 24

14 years ago 0 1843 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0

RSW, never quit quitting!  Thanks for sharing!


My Milage:

My Quit Date: 8/20/2008
Smoke-Free Days: 377
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 15,080
Amount Saved: $3,770.00
Life Gained:
Days: 56 Hrs: 7 Mins: 50 Seconds: 30

14 years ago 0 3307 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
RSW, you are not alone.  When I read your post it was like reading my history.  When I had great quits going it was easy to say just keep trying.  As long as you trying you are not failing.  Well when you mess up, that is hard to take.  You vow each and every time that this is the final quit.  Well, we have one in us, we just have to find it and fight a little harder for it.
 
Being bored is one of the demons we have to fight.  Oh sure, I had list of things I was going to do when I quit to keep me busy.  I have so many books that I bought, and have yet to finish one.  The only one I have finished it Allen Carr's.  The first time I read it I quit and felt wonderful for a while and then I messed up.  I do read parts of it now and then and it helps.  I have a friend that has been quit 2 1/2 years from reading his book.
 
Like you, I have tried everything except hanging by my feet.  Chantix helped while I was on it.  Had a year because of it.  I will do cold turkey from now on.  Cheaper and after a few days the nicotine is gone.   I am rambling and I am sorry for that, but I just wanted to let you know you are not a failure and you will not scare anyone away.  You are helping by telling your story.
 
Keep the Quit
Sparky

14 years ago 0 1 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hi rswfire,
 
Yeah i understand where you coming from, i had a similar problem too. However the book your talking
about is where my journey in stop smoking started. It helped me to quit for 3 years! Than i dated a girl who smoked
so i stared again. But now i am free again,
 
What i suggest is
1) cut down, so if you smoke 30 a day, smoke 20 instead.
2) wait till 1 hour before you wake up
3) don't smoke when drinking beer/wine/coffee/tea.
4) wait half an hour after meals
 
hope this helps a bit.

14 years ago 0 12049 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
rsw,
 
Your honesty is outstanding!  Your insight is genuine and we are truly proud that you have posted this journal entry with us.  You are a smart individual that knows what needs to be done and how to get there.  Preparation will help and support from us can be used for encouragement and knowledge.
 
Do start making a "What to do if I am bored list". This coupled with medication, the program tips and tools and your doctors assistance, should be able to get you on your way.
 
This journey is waiting for you, so pack your bag and start walking, we are holding your hand!
 
Excellent post!
 
 
Josie, Health Educator

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