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My husband and I stopped smoking yesterday. We are using the patch. My husband doesn't want to discuss our quitting. He finds it easier not to talk about it. At the same time, it's all I want to talk about. I thought that this website would be helpful. So far things are going ok. Not good, but not as bad as I thought it would be.
Sorry for the delay Welcome to EX. 
Congratulations to you and your husband on making the decision to quit smoking. You have come to the right place for a new day and a rebirth. This is all about you and what you are willing to do to be smoke free. Quitting smoking requires hard work. It can be challenging at times but you will learn that it is doable if you adhere to NOPE not one puff ever no matter what.
Start first, by educating yourself about nicotine addiction.
Education is the key to a successful quit.
Read: Freedom from Nicotine My Journey Home and Nicotine Addiction 101
Here are the links: http://whyquit.com/whyquit/LinksAAddiction.html and http://whyquit.com/ffn/
I also encourage you to read. Allen Carr’s book, “Easy Easier Way to Quit Smoking”.
The link is here: ********************************************************************
Go to http://www.becomeanex.org/how-to-quit-smoking.php#thl and get started.
Welcome to EX, Leslie,
I wanted to talk about my quit all the time too...I KNOW that I drove some people crazy, particularly ones who were smoking. I can tell you that the difference between a successful quit and a failed quit is NOT just using the patch, the big difference is in getting education about nicotine addiction as well as getting support.
I am going to suggest that you go to a couple of different links and I am sure that others will chime in. The first links I am suggesting are from JonesCarpeDiem What To Expect In The First Four Months and My Welcome To New Members (12+ Years Of Watching) . Absolutely DO pay attention to JACKIE1-25-15, her advice is amazing.
Again, welcome.
Ellen
Thanks everyone for your kind welcome and much needed advice. I will read all information provided.
I hope to be a supportive member of this site going forward.
Welcome! You are in the right place if you want to be around quitters and want to talk! For sure! Please read, blog, visit as often as you like. Quitting really matters , so a big high five to you for stepping into a new chapter of your life.
Welcome to the site and congratulations on making the best decision that you'll ever make in your lifetime and we're all here for you and your awesome quit, each day you get through is another day WON! N.O.P.E - Not One Puff Ever will give you a beautiful smoke free life!
Welcome to our community!
Congratulations on your decision(s) to quit smoking and your first day(s)!
The most important thing you can do right now is to educate yourself on what nicotine does to your body and mind. To that end, I also highly recommend Allen Carr's “The Easy Way to Stop Smoking.” This is an easy and entertaining read.
You should also read the posts here and perhaps go to the pages of folks who you think might be helpful. You might visit whyquit.com, quitsmokingonline.com and livewell.com for the good information contained there. @https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/groups/best-of-ex has lots of blogs written by members of this site with their experiences and guidance.
The idea is to change up your routines so the smoking associations are reduced. Drink your coffee with your OTHER hand. If you always had that first smoke with your coffee, try putting your tennies on right out of bed, going for a quick walk, then taking your shower and THEN your coffee! Rearrange the furniture in the areas you used to smoke so the view is different. Buy your gas at a different station. Take a different route to work. Take a quick walk at break time where the smokers AREN'T.
You need to distract yourself through any craves. You can take a bite out of a lemon (yup - rind and all), put your head in the freezer and take a deep breath of cold air, do a few jumping jacks, go for a brisk walk or march in place, play a computer game. Don't let that smoking thought rattle around in your brain unchallenged. Sometimes you need to quit a minute or an hour at a time. You will need to be disciplined in the early days to distract yourself when a crave hits. Get busy! Here is a link to a list of things to do instead of smoke if you need some fresh ideas:
The conversation in your head in response to the "I want a cigarette" thought needs to be, "Well, since I have decided not to do that anymore, what shall I do instead for the three minutes this crave will last?" Then DO it. You will need to put some effort into this in the early days, but it gets easier and easier to do.
Stay close to us here and ask questions when you have them and for support when you need it. We will be with you every step of the way!
Nancy
welcome my new friends! get comfy and hang in there, this is the best ride you will ever be on! And we want you to share the good, bad and the ugly! Every day, several times a day, as much as you can. We are here for you.
NOPE and SINAO
Looking forward to reading every single aspect of your Quit! My favorite subject here - really!
Congratulations on making the Best Decision of your Life! You can do this!
Hi Leslie - welcome to the site! Congrats to you and your husband! You are in a great place for support - stick around!
Hey hi....you found the best site for support. Stay close. Many success stories here on EX and no reason you can't be one of them....
Welcome Leslie!! Congratulations to you and your husband for making the decision to quit smoking. You have found a great resource full of information and tons of support from an awesome group of people. Stay close to the site and pop in whenever a craving hits...Also make sure to take the daily pledge, I have found that super helpful just to get through the day....Keep us posted on your progress..You are not alone in this journey
Jo
34 DOF
YAY for you and for your husband!! My husband and I quit almost 8 years ago about one month apart. He also was not one to discuss what was happening........i held out like that for awhile but finally could feel myself needing to share and I found this community. This is the BEST PLACE for support during your quit.
Welcome to EX......we are all here for each other!
Stay Strong
Have your husband read My Welcome To New Members (12+ Years Of Watching)
It will give him the path of common sense to not fight himself and not give up.
Hey there Lesliex ! Welcome. I'm just 57 days quit, and this site has been a significant force in pushing me forward. Come here every day, read a little and blog. It's been helpful to me to be able to talk about it, and if that's what you need, you're definitely in the right place!
-Brian
Lesliex I really should have advised you to come here often...I came every morning and every evening, it strengthened my quit and helped me to get through some really rough times. It WILL get better but it takes time...there is no way to speed it up, there are no shortcuts...my mantra was NOPE, Not One Puff Ever! Worked wonders for me because it was so simple.
Ellen
Congratulations to both you and your husband. This is a wonderful place to talk. We will listen with understanding ears! Here is a link - that contains some links to material that might be helpful.
Freedom