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14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 1209

Hi Steel roots. so glad to see you back.. I had to change my attitude.. I now understand that I am not giving up anything.. I am gaining. taking back control. When I began smoking.. it was not thought of as harmful, addictive, etc. there were ashtrays in Dr offices, movie theatre lobbies. So now we have discovered the harm, poision, and addictive nature of the beast.

I have decided to take back control.. I will no longer be a slave to a little white stick that is trying to kill me, that promises everything and only takes, like a leech. I undertsand the craves are not pleasant, but the only way to get rid of the addiction,, and eventually the horrible craves is to say NO, smoking is not an option today.

I finally know.. what it is to relax. I am not running every time i get a thought to light up, I'm not counting packs or smokes left in a pack. I am not running outside trying to find a place to light up. I m not cleaning ashtray, ashes. I am not worried if I get close to someone ..how do I smell to them..

I used some lozenges the first week I kept them close, sometimes i would only use one for a few minutes.. and save the rest of it. I think I used 3 or 4 a day. I did keep the package with me.. for a week or 2.. kind of a security, but if I did get a bad crave, I had something...

I know now, that if I take one puff.. i will wake up a sleeping dragon.. and i will awaken and tease the craves.. so smoing is not an option.. for today..

Bonnie.. sending warm thoughts for your special Day 1.

My Mileage:

My Quit Date: 5/7/2010
Smoke-Free Days: 77
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 1,309
Amount Saved: $261.80
Life Gained:
Days: 10 Hrs: 2 Mins: 50 Seconds: 54

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 2778

Hey Cat!

Hope today is going well for you! Keep you armor polished and your blade sharpened for the battles and just stare the demon in the eye and shout to it that you are NEVER going to lose another battle!!! Maintain that mindset and you WILL win this war!!!

Keep referring to your list of coping mechanisms... keep them handy in your journal! As you keep racking up the days, keep on writing about how you are coping, what works the best, etc. It really helps! The main thing that helps though is reminding yourself daily that you WANT freedom more than you want to smoke!!! NOPE!!!

Jim

My Mileage:

My Quit Date: 3/5/2008
Smoke-Free Days: 869
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 21,725
Amount Saved: $3,584.63
Life Gained:
Days: 149 Hrs: 17 Mins: 15 Seconds: 17

Quit Meter

$45,787.50

Amount Saved
Quit Meter

Days: 1095 Hours: 20

Minutes: 50 Seconds: 4

Life Gained
Quit Meter

6105

Smoke Free Days
Quit Meter

183,150

Cigarettes Not Smoked

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 109

Thanks so much Todash, Cameless, Impalamania, Rock and Samantha - I need the encouragement as YOU ALL know starting over or starting a new quit. Believe this is going to be my last quit.

I ran across an acrostic today from church a long time ago about FEAR (False Evidence Appearing Real) and I'm holding on to lots of stuff from the last couple of weeks during my relapse. The Joe Cool bump, a statement on all the benefits of smoking (absolutely nothing!) and some other posts that really helped me.

Tomorrow is a new day and the beginning of a new me as a non-smoker for the last time. Renewing my mind and cleaning house (my body).

My quit meter has been reset and brushing myself off and climbing back on to ride off into the sunset (my journey).

Cat

My Mileage:

My Quit Date: 7/22/2010
Smoke-Free Days: 0
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 0
Amount Saved: $0.00
Life Gained:
Days: 0 Hrs: 2 Mins: 52 Seconds: 15

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 984

So great to see you getting back on the horse, steelroots. I'm pulling for you on your big day tomorrow.

Agree it's the small rewards that sometimes have the best effect. My favourite was to go out to the nearest department store handbag department and have a smell. New leather is almost delicious when you smell it through a smoke free nose!

Definitely never quit quitting. One of the things that irritates me most in this life is when I see stopping smoking referred to as 'giving up smoking'. I don't know about anyone else here but I didn't give up a damn thing when I crushed out my last one!

Go get 'em killer

x T

My Mileage:

My Quit Date: 1/1/2007
Smoke-Free Days: 1297
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 29,831
Amount Saved: �8,203.53
Life Gained:
Days: 115 Hrs: 17 Mins: 45 Seconds: 23

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 410

Good attitude Steelroots!

I smoked a couple of cigs on the day I planned to quit. My bride took away my pack and reminded me this was my quit date. From that moment on I have not taken a single puff. What's different this quit? I came to realize I was gaining a lot more than I was giving up. The longer I remained smoke free the less I wanted to go back. I smoked for 42 years and never thought I could ever do this! If you really want to quit you will!

All the best!

cameless

My Mileage:

My Quit Date: 12/17/2007
Smoke-Free Days: 947
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 23,675
Amount Saved: $7,871.94
Life Gained:
Days: 185 Hrs: 8 Mins: 29 Seconds: 31

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 639

You can do this, Steelroots. Take deep breaths, lots of cold water, DEEP breaths are/were a reward for me. The ability to take in and hold a breath of fresh air is the number one reason to keep quitting! Enjoy this chapter of your journey.

Keep the Quit,

Dave

My Mileage:

My Quit Date: 1/19/2009
Smoke-Free Days: 548
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 16,440
Amount Saved: $4,315.50
Life Gained:
Days: 92 Hrs: 20 Mins: 26 Seconds: 26

Quit Meter

$52,316.28

Amount Saved
Quit Meter

Days: 1208 Hours: 17

Minutes: 5 Seconds: 28

Life Gained
Quit Meter

5784

Smoke Free Days
Quit Meter

173,520

Cigarettes Not Smoked

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 109

Yes, I used it before but sometimes don't have access to computer and days or weeks pass and I try catch up and my days, urges/craves etc all run together and I can't always remember. Therefore, if I have a tangible journal I can write most any where and any time.

My Mileage:

My Quit Date: 7/22/2010
Smoke-Free Days: -1
Cigarettes Not Smoked: -15
Amount Saved: $-3.75
Life Gained:
Days: 0 Hrs: 0 Mins: 0 Seconds: -6674

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 2606

Hi Steelroots,

It is great to hear that you have set your quit date and you are determined to make this stick. Which sections of the program did you find particularly helpful? You say you are going to keep a written journal, have you tried using the cravings diary?

Members, what exercises do you continue to refer back to?

Samantha, Health Educator

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 1843

Steelroots, sounds like you've thought this whole thing out and have a wonderful plan put together. Yes, Rewards are important. But they don't need to be expensive. Small daily joys that make you smile. A bubble bath. A nice pot of tea or coffee. A pleasant walk after dinner. And for weekly rewards, maybe treating yourself to a low cal lunch one day? I like the walks because they are good exercise and can help with any weight gain! Grab any of our hands on 7/22 if you need help as we're all rooting for you!
My Mileage:

My Quit Date: 8/20/2008
Smoke-Free Days: 699
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 27,960
Amount Saved: $6,990.00
Life Gained:
Days: 107 Hrs: 14 Mins: 29 Seconds: 41

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 109

Well, I've set my quit day for 7/22. Reading the Allen Carr book that so many have mentioned and going back over program more thoroughly.

Smoking after 85 days - I thought of as another failure and (some call me a perpetual quitter) but decided to reference it to the people that say never quit quitting. Going cold turkey again because it worked better for me than NRT. This time I will DEFINITELY reward myself. Also, working at my lifetime negative attitude and will keep a close watch on my weight. I'm determined not to trade one habit for another.

Learned this last quit that I do really feel better-always before I concentrated on not feeling myself, deprived and making a sacrifice and the myth that I had lost my best friend. Also I will keep a daily "written" journal.

My Mileage:

My Quit Date: 7/22/2010
Smoke-Free Days: -1
Cigarettes Not Smoked: -15
Amount Saved: $-3.75
Life Gained:
Days: 0 Hrs: 0 Mins: 0 Seconds: -7376

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