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14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 100

Oh nothing is by accident for anyone I think... I tried over 7 times to quit smoking (see Nov. 2002 Hall of Fame for my story).

I had to finally tell myself 'No More' and not allow myself any indulgences in order for ME to make MY quit happen. It's different for each person, I'm only telling my account of my quit.

Day 5, Day 200, Day 2912.... it doesn't matter to me, I know that I can't have one puff or I'd be back to two packs a day

Leslie

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 2/14/2002
Smoke-Free Days: 2913
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 116,520
Amount Saved: $10,195.50
Life Gained:
Days: 308 Hrs: 12 Mins: 50 Seconds: 56

Quit Meter

$171,071.25

Amount Saved
Quit Meter

Days: 5989 Hours: 2

Minutes: 23 Seconds: 22

Life Gained
Quit Meter

45619

Smoke Free Days
Quit Meter

1,140,475

Cigarettes Not Smoked

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 1904

My sentiments exactly, Todash. I think those of us who have 6 months, one year, five year, and ten year quits did not stumble upon them by accident. So I did not compare the scenario with my present quit.

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 5/1/2009
Smoke-Free Days: 280
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 7,840
Amount Saved: $3,038.00
Life Gained:
Days: 31 Hrs: 13 Mins: 46 Seconds: 46

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 984

With all due respect gang, the viewpoint I think I share with Brenda is not nearly one of indulgence but more one of planning a point of closure that begins a meticulously organised life change. It's not 'wanna be' vs. not, it's a personality type that demands the full stop at the end of the sentence (pun intended) in every part of their life. I am one of these. Many folks here are not but some I'm sure, are.

If I were in the position described here, having quit 'accidentally', the mere fact that I hadn't personally mapped out the quit would niggle me to death that I wasn't actually in control of it – that ready-made excuse waiting to happen weeks, months, years down the line. The addict in me would lie and say 'well, I never did have what I want, I never do...and I want this' (yes, I know this happens to everyone). But that last smoke IS what I wanted. That planned quit WAS what I wanted. I got what I wanted to the letter. This was armour to fight off those excuses. And thereafter, every time that 'just one' thought came up, I had that to reflect on so I could think 'I DID have what I wanted, and now I want to stay quit, so shove off already'. That served to strengthen my resolve tenfold.

The quit itself was truly my way of taking back control of my life. "I've gone five days so I guess I'll just be strong and keep going" would never have worked for me or that same type of person - they'd feel dragged along on a wave of unexpected. That would've sat near cataclysmic to me because at the time that I quit smoking, I was feeling dragged along in every other aspect of my life. This quit was my salvation and that 'last smoke' was key - the 'first day of the rest of my life' and all that goes along with it. And because of the way I went about it, I have succeeded, I am so proud of myself and my life is in many ways unrecognisable from that I was living just three short years ago. The fact that I owned this quit in my way and few people I knew thought I could actually do it makes 'my way' even more valuable to me and has put me in a new place within every relationship I have.

Mind you, I did try the other 'just stop and see how we get on' method. It failed. So I knew it wouldn't work for me again some ten years later.

There are so many of us here and what works for one won't work for all. I agree the strength to not give in to 'just one' defines the committed quitter and whether that means just one at day five or day five thousand, if quitting is part of your plan, stick to it, no excuses. No ‘just one’. NOPE. But I think without a plan you're starting as the underdog in a battle you must win. Why give yourself a disadvantage at the get go? You're already disadvantaged. You're addicted to the most powerful drug going.

I have never known any heavy smoker who quit entirely 'by accident' and kept it up forever. If there is anyone here who's actually done or is currently doing that, I'd love to hear your story, because I cannot begin to comprehend how it is possible.

x T

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 1/1/2007
Smoke-Free Days: 1131
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 26,013
Amount Saved: �7,153.58
Life Gained:
Days: 100 Hrs: 21 Mins: 26 Seconds: 25

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 100

For me, I couldn't do that. If I did smoke that one cancer stick on day 5 then I know that I would be back to two packs a day within a day or two. That's how addictive I am, I realize that and will not allow myself any indulgences! Even now I will not allow myself to take even a puff for that same reason and it's been almost 8 years!

We're addicts, many of us will crave it for the rest of our lives... the difference between the quitters and the 'wanna be quitters' is the strength to not give in to "just that one"!

Keep the quit!

Leslie

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 2/14/2002
Smoke-Free Days: 2912
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 116,480
Amount Saved: $10,192.00
Life Gained:
Days: 308 Hrs: 10 Mins: 12 Seconds: 15

Quit Meter

$171,071.25

Amount Saved
Quit Meter

Days: 5989 Hours: 2

Minutes: 23 Seconds: 22

Life Gained
Quit Meter

45619

Smoke Free Days
Quit Meter

1,140,475

Cigarettes Not Smoked

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 1904

Considering how hooked I get, my answer is sort of dumbfounding: I would go ahead and have my last smoke, and then tell the habit and addiction goodbye and get back on the wagon, because I believe that if I don't have the "last" one I'll have a successful quit. If I don't feel like I've had my last one, then I'm not done. Quitting smoking to me is like going to war: I have to engage while fully equipped and mentally prepared.

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 5/1/2009
Smoke-Free Days: 279
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 7,812
Amount Saved: $3,027.15
Life Gained:
Days: 31 Hrs: 11 Mins: 9 Seconds: 42

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 1843

Once you open that smoke free door, don't look back! If I had that "last one" on day 5 I would have had to start all over again. And chances are good that I might still be smoking now. Its NOPE for me FOREVER! If you can get to day 5, you're 2 away from Hell Week. The nicotine is out of your body. Your body is adjusting. Your lungs are already loving you! Don't give in to the Nicodemon for that "one last smoke"!!!
My Milage:

My Quit Date: 8/20/2008
Smoke-Free Days: 533
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 21,320
Amount Saved: $5,330.00
Life Gained:
Days: 82 Hrs: 2 Mins: 51 Seconds: 58

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 3875

NOPE!

If you can go 5 days, you can go 10 or 30 or 100! You have made a great start, if you smoke one, you will smoke one more and one more until its a thousand more! Why make it harder than it has to be? If you made it thus far and it hasn't been hard, why make it harder by going back smoking? People usually don't quit by accident, they plan or have circumstances (like a hospital stay) help them quit. If circumstances like this have helped you find yourself five days quit, I say run with it and never look back!

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 3/5/2007
Smoke-Free Days: 1067
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 26,675
Amount Saved: $11,256.85
Life Gained:
Days: 146 Hrs: 23 Mins: 5 Seconds: 11

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 62

If I went for the "one", it would be all over for me like every time before. N.O.P.E.
Rationalization, rationalization, rationalization....smoker.

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 1/22/2010
Smoke-Free Days: 12
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 480
Amount Saved: $114.00
Life Gained:
Days: 2 Hrs: 4 Mins: 7 Seconds: 16

Quit Meter

$114,047.50

Amount Saved
Quit Meter

Days: 9938 Hours: 7

Minutes: 44 Seconds: 5

Life Gained
Quit Meter

45619

Smoke Free Days
Quit Meter

456,190

Cigarettes Not Smoked

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 984

I should extend one thought...'it'll taste like crap anyway, AND you'll stop immediately thereafter, resolving the nag before it can fester.'

x T

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 1/1/2007
Smoke-Free Days: 1129
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 25,967
Amount Saved: �7,140.93
Life Gained:
Days: 100 Hrs: 17 Mins: 59 Seconds: 26

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 984

My initial reaction, and I'll keep it simple. Smoke it. Wait til you're ready and meaning to quit or that last smoke you want on day five will haunt you on day five thousand. If you really want to quit, it'll taste like crap anyway.

My 'last smoke' was a huge huge huge deal and I'd have failed miserably without it in my plans, for about the exact reason you've laid out here.

x T

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