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13 years ago 0 +0 / -0 206

You have such a great attitude, Marbles! Me, I think I've finally learned that quitting isn't an event, it's a process one commits oneself to. When I thought of it as an event, it was a one-time deal, over as soon as the decision was made, and it left way too much "wiggle room:" (I've already quit, I'm already done, so one puff here or even one smoke there won't matter any more, because of course, I quit a long time ago.)

Now I know we choose to quit every time we endure and outlast a crave, temptation, trigger, whatever. The process, we've seen over and over again on these boards, does not end. It becomes more of a way of life, in which the hard decisions must be made again and again and again, until they begin to become second nature.

Hang in... stay way ahead of me!

peteg

13 years ago 0 +0 / -0 3207

straws are good...i used to love them myself ; )

13 years ago 0 +0 / -0 31

Glad to hear I am not alone..

My friend insists this is the best way, and I insist on there is different ways for each person, whatever works to stay quit.

I am 8 days smoke free today (yay

), so it does work for me.

Aloha, I don't have children but I know what you mean. It is easy to distract yourself when you know it will be over soon. This morning I had to look for a parking spot for half an hour and I started holding a straw in my hand as if it was a cigarette, sounds stupid but it helped.

Penitent, that is exactly what I am doing, not smoking just today, and tomorrow I'll do the same thing.

I can't get through another hell week, and I now know it takes years to come up with the courage to quit again, if ever, so I'd better make this quit the last!

13 years ago 0 +0 / -0 45

Marbles, I love your analogy. And I'm with Dawn: Help It Grow! :) It's probably excruciating right now, but it DOES GET BETTER. You CAN do this.

I'm also one of those security-blanket quitters. I'm so used to having something red and white in my peripheral vision that the idea of throwing/giving away my cigarettes is still too much pressure. I know that there will come a day when I won't need to have that security blanket lying around. I have finally started to keep them out of sight while in the car.

I haven't taken even a single drag since I quit. They're just "there", getting more stale by the day. This makes me happy. :)

I do, however, have red and white peppermint hard candy that tastes MUCH better than cigarettes. I'm starting to gag on the smell of cancer sticks. Never, ever thought that I would say that. I used to love the smell. It was comforting. Now I have other comforting smells. Like peppermint. :)

Maybe I'll be like Penitent and do myself a favor on my 7th week. I'm actually starting to get annoyed at having the things around me all the time. All they do is take up space. It's no longer a welcome security blanket but rather a "Why the heck are they here? I don't do that anymore."

YOU CAN DO THIS!

--Rox

13 years ago 0 +0 / -0 3207

Marbles, good for you for getting through a rough day. They will get easier. I don't know if you have children, but I used to think about the early strong cravings like labor pains; I'd breathe through each one and think, "I can make it through a minute of this" What do you do to distract yourself from the craving? Ice water works for many. Drinking it that is. I suppose pouring it over your head might work as well, just never tried it. I kept three packs of cigs as well, and gave them away a pack at a time. I was afraid of panicking too, but they really just made me feel stronger, knowing they were there but not touching them. I did look at them a few times tho...lol I don't really recommend this, but it worked for me. Keep going, pretty soon you should feel a lot better

-aloha

13 years ago 0 +0 / -0 2534

To each their own!

I kept over 300 in my cupboard when I quit. I finally discarded them on my 7 week anniversary!!

It's your quit, do it your way!

Good Luck

PS Don't totally focus on NOPE, the prospect can be very daunting early in a quit; be very, very aware of NOPE but do what you are doing, focus on not smoking, just for today!!

Quit Meter

$56,628.00

Amount Saved
Quit Meter

Days: 1121 Hours: 13

Minutes: 32 Seconds: 38

Life Gained
Quit Meter

5148

Smoke Free Days
Quit Meter

113,256

Cigarettes Not Smoked

13 years ago 0 +0 / -0 31

Don't know why, day 5 is always very difficult to get through, I lost the last quit on day 5.

Had an awful day yesterday.

I was really depressed and very very uncomfortable.

I didn't smoke, but constantly ate, it was awful.

Thankfully it is over now.

..today is a different day, and I am back under control.

Jodee, I still can't make that huge step and say NOPE, I am focusing on today, this moment only.

Just a few hours ago, my friend (who quit years ago) was telling me to get rid of all cigarettes..

I still keep a pack in my drawer, at home and in the office, I feel like I will have a panic-attack if I don't have them.

I couldnt even set a quit date not to feel pressured, just gave it a go on 4th and when I slipped I started over on 11th. Both times, I decided in the morning.

I will throw them away when I am ready, and hope I find the strength to do it soon.

13 years ago 0 +0 / -0 41

Yay Marbles, you can do it. My first meter said 7/7, lucky day right. that one didn't stick, then it 7/27, that one is my b day, oh so many other days, but I made a vow to keep quiting, and it is sticking, YAY, but it is truly NOPE, Not one puff ever, it gets me everytime that my junkie convinces me to have one. I am done with my junkie. He is not good for me.

13 years ago 0 +0 / -0 823

Hi Marbles; Love your Avatar; makes me smile

You're doing well in coming to terms with your NOPE! So smart to understand the healthy diet component; I'm still reining that puppy in! When I faltered in my first CT quit attempt, it was just 2 puffs - then 4 more puffs a few hrs later - then 1/2 cigar the next morning - THEN - I crumpled the poor old other 1/2 of that cigar into a mashed, near liquid paste that I could barely scrape of the pavement LOL! That's when I clued in that I'm truly an ADDICT! No cool (lacking) enzyme that Aloha says some folks have to give them 'social smoking' status! (Awwwww!) So, coming to terms with my junkie brought me back to SSC to reset my Meter 40 days ago. I wasn't handling my Quit well at all without SSC - fam and friends who smoke were toxic, and the ones who don't were skeptical/derisive. So here is where I found a safe haven - a good place to come when ready to stick to your pledge! Please stay and join us newbie 2011 NOPERS Marbles! We have me, JoDee & Roxie (Shy One) all over a Month Quit now! Our Quit days are adding up and yours will too! Just read the long time HOF stories - they do inspire!

13 years ago 0 +0 / -0 31

Eya, 40 days free looks good on you, congrats!

Can't wait to be there myself.

Aloha, like Eya I lost the quit on day 5, and smoked 4 sticks in total until I quit again.

Tiana, I guess I wasn't as determined as I thought.

The good thing is, I lost 3 pounds (in 2 weeks) while I was struggling to get through the hell week. I failed on the quit part but at least did not put on weight and failed which could have happened easily!

But last week was not a total loss, it makes this week much easier. I am reading a lot of the old posts to keep focus. By the way, why can't you make a search for the posts older than 2 years? I am sure lots of information is hidden there:(

Dawn, I had to look again to understand your smoke free days, 651 ?? Amazing! And from where I stand today, it looks sooo difficult to reach.

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