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Prepared For The Worst?


16 years ago 0 1151 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Pen, is that Colin Firth? He doesn't look too pleased that you took his picture :p [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]8/5/2004 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 1116 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 22,320 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $5,022.00 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 85 [B]Hrs:[/B] 5 [B]Mins:[/B] 36 [B]Seconds:[/B] 34
  • Quit Meter

    $36,868.00

    Amount Saved

  • Quit Meter

    Days: 637 Hours: 15

    Minutes: 48 Seconds: 52

    Life Gained

  • Quit Meter

    5672

    Smoke Free Days

  • Quit Meter

    73,736

    Cigarettes Not Smoked

16 years ago 0 1151 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Coffee and driving. Usually both at the same time too! I'm sure I'm not alone but I learned to smoke before I learned to drive and so the two seemed impossible to separate. I had to drive and I wasn't willing to give up coffee so I had to cope. There were a lot of locked-jaw moments that first month but I knew that in order for it to get better, I had to keep going. When the "oh, just one won't hurt" argument started - usually in the car - I would picture myself walking into the store, standing in line and then buying a PACK of 20 cigarettes (the "just one" myth already out the window!), getting matches and inhaling the first drag. Then feeling the guilt times however many drags are in one cigarette TIMES 20! I knew I'd be at a pack a day in no time. Usually I envisioned that scenario with enough detail that it would get me through the length of a crave. Also, when you think of how much time passes in the act of buying cigarettes and lighting them - there are so many chances to stop yourself. Before you go into the store, before you get to the counter (or machine), before you exchange the money, before you open the pack and before you set it on fire. I couldn't give myself enough excuses to pass up so many chances to NOT smoke...and it's worked for over three years :) [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]8/5/2004 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 1116 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 22,320 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $5,022.00 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 85 [B]Hrs:[/B] 5 [B]Mins:[/B] 36 [B]Seconds:[/B] 20
  • Quit Meter

    $36,868.00

    Amount Saved

  • Quit Meter

    Days: 637 Hours: 15

    Minutes: 48 Seconds: 52

    Life Gained

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    5672

    Smoke Free Days

  • Quit Meter

    73,736

    Cigarettes Not Smoked

16 years ago 0 8760 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Pen, Very good question. It's important to have a plan in place before it happens! Danielle, Bilingual Support Specialist
16 years ago 0 3875 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
That is a tough question Pen! I don't know that there is much to experience that would throw me off other than losing my spouse, (or a child) If I lost one of them in death, I guess that would be my worst case scenario. (Talk about morbidity...) On the other hand, I have come far enough now to know smoking wouldn't help, and I have already lost five family members so I know that death is a part of life, and again, smoking wouldn't help. We have to go thru those emotions when the time comes, feeling them is going to be hard, and smoking is NOT going to make them go away or make them any better. I think that's how I know its my final quit. I know in my heart that I can probably make it thru something like that now. My coping mechanism would be deep breathing and "Smoking is not an option - NOPE" :) [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]3/5/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 174 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 4,350 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1,835.70 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 21 [B]Hrs:[/B] 6 [B]Mins:[/B] 49 [B]Seconds:[/B] 48
16 years ago 0 1148 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
My biggest fear in downfall is losing all that I've gained, taking a step backwards as opposed to continuing to move forward. I appreciate and value all that I've gained in my quit and wouldn't part with it as a result. There's nothing back there that I'm interested in anymore, no redeeming qualities. My defenses are a healthy appreciation for a smoke-free lifestyle and a good portion of self-respect. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]3/15/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 164 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 3,280 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $688.80 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 26 [B]Hrs:[/B] 11 [B]Mins:[/B] 15 [B]Seconds:[/B] 54
16 years ago 0 2462 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
About a month after I quit, I had to take an 8-hour driving trip for my job. I always smoked non-stop while driving and this upcoming trip really worried me. I posted for advice here at the SSC and got a ton of ideas...stop every hour for a break, reward myself frequently throughout the day with a coffee, tea or sweet, carry good music or a book on CD, breathe deeply, bring along posts from the SSC to help me. Well, planning ahead like that made my trip a success! Great post, Pen! Rusty :) [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]12/13/2004 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 986 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 27,608 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $3,451.00 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 139 [B]Hrs:[/B] 0 [B]Mins:[/B] 58 [B]Seconds:[/B] 19
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    $54,641.60

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    Days: 645 Hours: 6

    Minutes: 38 Seconds: 30

    Life Gained

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    5254

    Smoke Free Days

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    210,160

    Cigarettes Not Smoked

16 years ago 0 3541 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Good question, Pen. I do think of this often & actuallt imagining it happening, which is kind of morbid. But I envision myself not smoking when it happens & I hope that will help. For me, any situation that involves my extended family is incredibly stressful in itself. Add the fact that most of them still smoke and the only reason I ever see them is for funerals (there's the morbid part), & it really terrifies me that I could lose this quit to people I don't even like! So I do actually envision going home for a funeral (I force myself to believe it's the funeral of one of the few I actually do care about) & seeing all the people who don't get me & I don't get right back. What we used to have in common was smoking, so I see myself chatting with them while they smoke & being disgusted rather than tempted. I imagine my clothes & hair smelling when I leave them, I see the wrinkles around their mouths, hear them hacking & spitting. I hope it works for real, it certainly gags my imagination. I also hope I don't have to test it for a very long time. But mostly I hope everybody here doesn't think I'm a wackjob now! [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]5/13/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 105 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 2,100 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1,155.00 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 10 [B]Hrs:[/B] 12 [B]Mins:[/B] 30 [B]Seconds:[/B] 31
16 years ago 0 2534 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Which single incident holds your biggest fear of downfall and what defence mechanisms have you put into place to protect your quit at such a time? Being mentally prepared for potential dangers is a crucial part of any successful quit. My previous quits were often lost to alcohol because I paid little attention to the quit whilst imbibing. I learnt from those failures and this time my quit was at the forefront of my thinking whenever I found myself in the alcoholic arena, which was often. Every time I walked through the door and periodically whilst I was there, I would repeat to myself "I have no need nor desire to smoke". It was tough, very tough but it was right. It wasn't long before my biggest battle was won and I moved on with strength and confidence, qualities which still support my quit today. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]5/18/2004 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 1195 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 23,900 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] �5,975.00 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 191 [B]Hrs:[/B] 22 [B]Mins:[/B] 5 [B]Seconds:[/B] 41
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    $56,628.00

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    Days: 1121 Hours: 14

    Minutes: 10 Seconds: 22

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    5148

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