I'm so excited! I'm in my countdown for my 2 year smoke free mark! I'm still so much happier being a non-smoker! Even beyond the money saved (sometimes I smoked up to 2 packs a day) it's the freedom that still has me stoked! I love that I'm not always in a hurry to leave places so I can smoke, or always wondering if this place to that place will have a place to smoke....ot if it will even be allowed.
For me, quitting this time wasn't as hard as times before (I did use Chantix and also read Allan Carr's book) and I think in combination it was what it took to make it stick this time. The Chantix helped with any cravings I had (and for being a smoker for 34 plus years I expected hard cravings...which i ended up not having thank God!) and the book helped with the understanding part of being addicted to nicotine. I had it in my head that grabbing that smoke when I was in an emotional state (mad, sad, happy,....etc.) helped with that emotion. What I learned in reading the book was that that was B.S.! Smoking a cigarette did nothing to help with any of those emotions. To me, that was what it took.
Advice I can give? Educate yourself on nicotine addiction. Reading Allan Carr's book should be a part of anyone's "quit smoking" plan. Also stop making excuses. We all have had hard times, but it's up to you how to handle it. In my time of being quit, I've lost a beloved fur baby I had for 16 years (was within 2 months of my quit) and lost my step-dad. I didn't reach for a cigarette in either instance as I know that it wouldn't have helped with my mourning, and in fact probably would have made me feel worse had I smoked.
If you want it, you can do it! Just take it one day at a time...relax, and breath! Don't beat yourself up, but don't make excuses either! Embrace everyday you have smoke free and celebrate that! Reward yourself at every milestone! I rewarded myself with a little gift every week up until I hit a month, then every month until I hit a year! Now I'll just celebrate every year smoke free!
709 days smoke free, and looking forward to a smoke free tomorrow!
