An Articulate Group of Successful Quitters

[67oldbabe]

I am currently approaching the The 48th hour of living without cigarettes.

I have read many of the “quit” posts out there and remarkably they are all very well written.

I wonder if the posts are written by real people or just computer generated based on subject.

i find the whole “quit” process quite bizarre - all the comments - especially the “support” comments very StepfordWiveish! 

Would like to know if anyone shares these thoughts? By the way I have smoked for 45 years and just stopped - no aids.

[indingrl]

 Welcome and CONGRATS 2 DAYS! 

[Chuck-2-20-2011]

CONGRATULATIONS on 48 hours and on your decision to quit!! I look forward to hearing of the next 48 hours of success. And I can assure you, I'm not a robot or another computer

To be honest, we're just a group of quitters in every phase of the process. Those of us who stay after we've attained our freedom do so because we believe in helping others attain the same freedom that we now feel. I've been quit for nine and a half years now and this site helped me to get there so I simply come here to help others. I do have a bit of writing experience but I simply state what my heart feels. 

 My hope is that you find both the compassion and knowledge on this site to help you to attain the freedom that you chose to fight for. Now I do post this at the end of my posts because it was my mantra when I quit and one that others can grab a hold of also if they want to:

ONWARD TO FREEDOM!!!

Chuck

[marciem]

I for one am a real person, as I believe are the rest of the posters here.  Just regular people who have managed to put smoking behind us, and who desire to help others quit.  Staying with it and supporting others also helps me maintain my own quit.   I don't know exactly how to take your "stepfordwifeish" comment, but I know how testy new quitters can be, having been one myself more than once so I can understand.

We do try to accentuate the positive here, as there are so many positives to be had with quitting.  I personally also try to not sugarcoat and to be honest about the first little while of quitting, as I felt really crappy and admit it.  First week = Hell week.  Second week = heck week.  3rd week = WTF week.  It gradually gets better and easier, but there was nothing easy for me in there.   Taking small bites (a crave, five minutes, a half hour, an hour, finally one day) at a time got me thru and I am almost 7 years quit.  I too smoked for over 40 years, with multiple attempts at quitting along the way.

Best wishes to you!! Remember, the only people who crave forever are those who continue to smoke.  And it is far far better to be a non (ex) smoker with an occasional desire for a cigarette than a smoker with the constant desire to quit.

[JACKIE1-25-15]

Welcome to EX, no robots here. Congratulations on stepping into a life of freedom.  In order for your journey to continue successfully, you must educate yourself on the addiction to nicotine and how to prepare yourself to remain smokefree.  Education is the key to successfully stay quit. It is suggested to read Allen Carr's Easyway to Quit Smoking which can be found on pdf on the web.  Another good site to get info is www.whyquit.com.  There are several articles to read.  Nicotine 101 and Freedom From Nicotine My Journey Home.  Quitting takes planning and preparation go to EX Plan | BecomeAnEX to decide how you are going to go about quitting. To get help on navigating the site go to. Community Help‌. Continue on you smart turkey journey

[67oldbabe]

Thanks - am not testy

Sent from my iPhone

[TW517]

Hah!  Not sure if this is like what you're feeling, but when I first joined, I was miffed at all the positive, cheering me on comments.  I was miserable dam*it, and didn't come here to be cheered up.  I thought everyone was lying to me about how it was doable, and how I wouldn't feel this bad forever.

And now, here I am, 2 years later in the cheering section, being a Stepford husband .

I also smoked for 44 years and quit cold turkey.  Glad you found us!  We're really all pretty different personalities.  We just all share the same goal of wanting to help others quit.

[YoungAtHeart]

Welcome to our community!

Congratulations on your decision to quit smoking and your first 48 hours.  I am CERTAINLY not a robot   If I were, I would probably be programmed to show a bit more compassion and less snarkiness  I am here because I was helped by folks here before me - and want to help everyone who seeks this freedom from addiction to attain it - and that's my ONLY motivation. If you find this site and its volunteers not to your liking, you are welcome to keep looking for one that is.

The important thing you can do right now is to educate yourself on what nicotine does to your body and mind. To that end, I highly recommend Allen Carr's “The Easy Way to Stop Smoking.” This is an easy and entertaining read. You can search for it online or at your local library. If you do nothing else to get ready for your quit, please do give this a 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, quitsmoking.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. Here is a video to inform you further about nicotine addiction: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpWMgPHn0Lo&feature=youtu.be.

The idea is to change up your routines so the smoking associations are reduced.  Drink your coffee with your OTHER hand in a place different from when you smoked. Maybe switch to tea for a bit.  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.  Keep a cold bottle of water with you from which to sip. 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:
 https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/blogs/Youngatheart.7.4.12-blog/2013/02/25/100-things-to-do-instea...
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

[MarilynH]

Welcome to the community I also quit Cold Turkey after 40 yrs of smoking and now have over five years quit maybe I should call my quit Smart Turkey because once I found this site I read everything I could find about this horrid addiction and it really helped strengthen my resolve to kick the nicotine poison to the curb permanently it wasn't easy by any stretch of the imagination but thankfully with the help of this community I made it through.....

[67oldbabe]

Like your sense of humor. At least you understand what I am saying. It all seems rather odd.

Will take the positive re-enforcement - I just want to keep it real.

Most people who blog seem to live a sedentary lifestyle - finally quitting after years of inactivity. Kind of a snooze fest.

I am very active and do not need lists of “things” to do so I won’t think of smoking.

Will follow the bouncing ball and see where it leads me.

Sent from my iPhone

[67oldbabe]

You all push Allan Carr’s book - why? I read it.

Sent from my iPhone

[YoungAtHeart]

If you already understand how this nicotine addiction works and what it does to your body and mind, then don't bother with the book.  It was, however, an eye opener for dumb, uninformed,  little ole me.

[sweetplt]

Hi and Welcome to Ex’s

I was going to write you this long thing about me being real and what I do in my 3D world...and realized how dumb...I don’t have to explain myself to you...I can, however, congratulate you on 48 hours quit...and hope you continue the journey...Colleen 260 DOF 

[JACKIE1-25-15]

Are you seeking support?  How did you find this site? Can we be of support to you? 

[NewMe]

OK, I'll put in 2 cents worth. I also smoked for 44 years. I also was quite testy in the beginning of my quit, and maybe this week as I celebrate four years without one puff of nicotine I may be compelled to write something Stepford Wife-ish  myself. I lost count of how many times I tried to quit over the course of that 44 years. I still have on the bookshelf above me I think 3 different versions of Allen Carr's book, plus I took his online class (for which I paid a handsome sum of money- and still did not quit, sadly). But my neighbor across the street read The Easy Way to Quit, and did quit immediately with no further aids. So people here are just trying to spread information that helped some people quit. For me, many factors were involved ( a big health scare finally provided enough motivation to get me serious about quitting), but to this day, and I believe until the day I die I will credit the people on this site with being everything I needed to finally succeed in quitting when all else failed me. They will lead you to reading material that will finally change the way you view smoking. They will cajole you to come here and blog whenever you are feeling weak. Some of them may taunt you with tough love and hard truths if you try to justify any excuses you might want to use to quit on your quit. Because everyone here is real and different personalities may approach it differently, but we all feel EXTREMELY grateful for this community here because sometimes it takes a village to help somebody quit a very powerful addiction. Yes, most of us here will try to accentuate the positive, but I would swear in a court of law that I believe this community to hold the key to the very best information, support, guidance, hand-holding, cheerleading, and whatever is needed to help anyone who makes the commitment (and even that took me a very long time) have the ability to maintain a successful quit. And if you find that description of a successful quitter apply to you sometime in the near future, odds have it you may just feel compelled to jump in with some Stepford advice/cheerleading yourself as you feel compelled to pay it forward and hope to help even one person find a gem of wisdom in your advice that convinces them to find success. Tomorrow, I celebrate 4 years of freedom from nicotine, and I know I tried everything under the sun, but this community took my hand and led me to understanding exactly what it would take to make it where I am today. And I am eternally grateful.

[Kkplayhouse]

I too quit and am on day 207 after 40+ years of smoking...cold turkey. I recommend Alan Carr's book it helped me get my frame of mind set and understand the quit process. I listened to the audio book often. I'm glad to say I've remained smoke free with the help of these ex ers too.

[Daniela2016]

I read half of the book about 10 years before I quit, and did nothing to me; I'd say, maybe I was not ready.

After I quit on my own on March 21st of 2016, and later joined the group here, the book was recommended to me, as it has been to you.  The second time I read the whole book and it made me change the way I looked at the quit.

This is just sharing my own experience with you, and I am not a robot either

As for the literacy of people writing here, I think it takes a certain level of conscience and love for humanity to stay and help, and as far as I can tell, and as I met some of the contributors, they all have big hearts, and educated themselves, and kept sharing with all of us, about quitting, the tobacco industry, medical challenges related to smoking, and many others (on top of their personal/professional education). I am surprised about first impressions on new quitters, because there are so many personalities, with so many different approaches here, hard to believe we would have all been under the cookie cutter.

Welcome, we are real, and staying here to help is a choice some people make.  Hopefully it will make a difference on your journey to freedom!

[67oldbabe]

I am always seeking support. Found this website the same way you did. I am very positive about my journey. So far so good. I will seek support as I need it via questions - also by reading comments by the general “quit” population.

Do not misunderstand my intentions. I have read hours and hours of blogs on this site. Those blogs helped me prepare. My quit date was supposed to be Friday but, I felt ready on Sunday.

I will reach out as needed.

Sent from my iPhone

[elvan]

Well, that's a FIRST, I have never been called a Stepford wife, I do not lead a sedentary life, I am going to be 70 in September and I am a retired RN, I work as a cashier in my son's cafe one day a week because I CAN'T sit around, it is not me.  I smoked for 47 years and tried repeatedly to quit...I repeatedly failed.  It took a close call with respiratory failure to convince me that it was time.  That was over 5 1/2 years ago, I haven't smoked since.   I will forever be grateful to the people on this site who supported me, answerer my questions, and actually became my friends.  It's a big transition to go from being a smoker to a nonsmoker...I still have friends who are smokers, I wish they would quit but they have no interest and it's not my job to push it.  I remember joining sites in the past, some that sent me text messages telling me how long I had been quit and how much time I  had added to my life.  I wasn't very happy...I really didn't feel like I WANTED to add time to my life.  This site is filled with people who care about other people, people who remember what the beginning of a quit is like and people who want to help others.  We are not computers, we are people you see on the street, in a bank, in a school, in a store...we are your neighbors.

Congratulations on 48 hours, you sound particularly strong and confident.

Welcome to EX,

Ellen

[indingrl]

I SUGGEST Joel Spritzer book - NEVER TAKE ANOTHER PUFF EVER - your welcome 67oldbabe

[indingrl]

I love YOU MY beloved Ellen thank you for HELPING ME REMEMBER but for the grace of God go I - gentle hug

[JonesCarpeDiem]

Ima Robutt

[YoungAtHeart]

Oh, I thought you were

Imadeer!

[TriGirl]

We are all different. I bet you hated my blogs since I am one of those rah-rah types always looking for the magic. But I needed to do that as I worked through my quit. For me, it was about changing my mindset. I truly do love my life as a non-smoker. I wish nothing but success and happiness for you as you begin your quit journey. And I'll be ready to cheer you on or go back in my corner. Take what you need. Leave what you don't. 

[67oldbabe]

Never explain yourself to anyone. I am entitled to my thoughts. There was never any intention to offend anyone -

Sent from my iPhone

[67oldbabe]

I too used this same site to educate myself before I took the big step. This is very helpful.

Sent from my iPhone

[Sootie]

We all understand your question...we can just get a bit silly as a community. I can personally attest that many of the people here who have commented on your post are real as I have met them. We have EX get togethers at various places and meet for a weekend just to have a good time. We just went to VA Beach in May.......there will be another trip next year. We have been to Las Vegas, Nashville, Orlando, HELP ME PEOPLE....I can't remember the other trips! ANYWAY---you get my point....we are real and we are not sedentary.

I didn't care for Alan Carr's book but it has helped many here...to each his own.

I LOVE the articles on whyquit.com....they helped me immensely. during my quit.

The strength of this site is that we are all QUITE real and we are all former smokers. We stick around to help the others who come behind us and help them gain freedom from this terrible addiction. Hope you hang around also.

CONGRATULATIONS on Day 48!

Stay Strong.......

[Sootie]

Oh!!! And thanks! LOVED the title of your post.......................I am honored to be in the Articulate Group of Successful Quitters.

[JACKIE1-25-15]

Found this website the same way you did.

Just a simple question.  I found this site through my work smoking cessation program.  Is that how you found it? I wish you the very best on your positive journey. 48 hours is a good start.

[Giulia]

"I have read many of the “quit” posts out there and remarkably they are all very well written."  And then you wonder if they're written by real people.  Got my dander up.  And that's rare, actually.  How insulting to the group at large.  I think that's why so many people responded right off the bat.

Oh I'm very real.  And I found that statement of yours to be rather arrogant, actually.  Like "surprise, surprise, some of the people on this site have brains."  Hmmm!  Sure pushed my buttons anyway.  And I'd say from the amount of responses you've gotten, a lot of caring people on here want to prove that they are NOT just robots.  I suspect you got their dander up too (though perhaps not in as ruffled feather a manner as it did me).  And that's good.  Because you see the heart of this place through their responses.  And how awesome these people are.

We ARE an articulate group of successful quitters.  And we hope you'll become one too.  Part of becoming articulate is through education.  And we certainly are educated about quitting on this site.  Even if we tend to reiterate the same things, it's because certain truths can't be denied.  

And yes (even though my dander's up and this response is a bit snarky, doesn't mean I don't have a sense of humor and don't support your quit), we do speak the same "mind speak" shall I call it.  So I "get" the "stepford wives" aspect of which you speak.  'Quit' to me was a verb not a noun.  It has since become a noun in my brain.  The quitting process IS quite bizarre.  As well as the lingo expressed.  All the cute little acronyms.  You either choose to go with them or not.  The great thing about this site is that we are all individuals and all support each other, whether we agree with certain points or not. 

What we DO agree on is the fact that smoking is not good for us.  And we are here to either overcome it, or having done so - pass on that knowledge.  As we state often - "take what you like and leave the rest."  

Personally I love your blog because it drew out so many amazing responses.  And I'm glad you've joined us.  (The snark in me doesn't last long.)  Day three approaching.  Stand tall.

[67oldbabe]

Ok - did not mean to offend - just a comment

Sent from my iPhone

[Bree19]

"StepfordWiveish" - my husband wishes!

That was really funny and gave me a laugh out loud moment.

Congratulations on 2 days, possibly 3 now? 

I'm rooting for you.

Keep close to the site - you won't be sorry. 

You can do this if you believe in yourself.

Blessings

Bree

[Daniela2016]

Hi JACKIE1-25-15‌, it is through my medical insurance's cessation program I found out about the site too.  We should be proud, the word it out there about us

[Barbscloud]

Welcome to the Ex and congrats on your decision to quit.  I don't have much else to say to you.  I spend hours on this site supporting other quitters.  You've made a lot of assumptions about us.  We're not robots and if you've read posts for hours you would know nothing is further from the truth:

Most people who blog seem to live a sedentary lifestyle - finally quitting after years of inactivity. Kind of a snooze fest.

I totally understand folks being irritable when they first quit (I'm sure I was).  But if you want support, this doesn't seem the best way to introduce yourself to the community.  You're welcome to become a part of Ex if you need support with your quit.

Barb

[DavesTime]

Lol, I have never been likened to a Stepford wife before'    I smoked for 47 years, not heavily, as I was a closet smoker.  But I was definitely addicted and tried many, many times to quit.  Maybe the Stepfordishness of our comments comes from those of us who have successfully quit coming to see our addictions as they really are and then putting in the work to attain our freedom.  I'm still on the journey, but will be quit for one whole year next month.  Welcome!

[elvan]

[pir8fan]

I am not a robot! However, when I was a smoker, there was a robotic aspect of my life! Then I quit, and making time to enjoy the ongoing support at this site became pretty robotic as well! I finally realized that people in your 3-D life want you to quit smoking, but after a couple of weeks that support wanes! They think you have done it! They do not understand that you are an addict, and will live the rest of your life One puff away from a pack a day! The continued support at this site can help you stay free until you reach the point that the thought of smoking a cigarette is laughable!

As far as all the people who stay and continue to contribute to others, I discovered that here and deemed it to be “Collateral Kindness! Helping yourself by helping others! What a way to quit, what a way to live!” I encourage you to become part of that! 

Sootie mentioned our EX get togethers, and I have been fortunate enough to attend all 7! Plus I have visited many, and spoken to many others on the phone! I assure you these are very real people, with very real struggles! Just looking through the responses to this blog I have identified 12 members that I have met! And others who I have talked with on the phone! It has been said that my phone number is the worst kept secret on the site!

Don’t doubt us! Become part of this great group of people and learn about the Freedom we share!

Tommy

[Barbara145]

I am as real as real can be.  I smoked for 52 years and tried many different things to quit over the years.  I could never make it happen until I found this site 6 years ago.  The support of kind, loving, generous people was apparently what  I needed.  Congratulations on beginning your journey to quit smoking.  I am on my out the door to my yoga class which I have been doing for over 20 years.  I am 72 years old.  Life is good.

[AnnetteMM]

Beep beep beep

[Christine13]

I found your comment insulting.  You have come to a support group and all ready you are trying to bite the hand of the very people who will help you on this journey.  If you read into these blogs you will find there are really a lot of real emotions flowing through them which I doubt would be computer generated.  Yes, we are articulate, we are all intelligent people here the only way we were stupid was we all got sucked into smoking one way or another.

The quitting of smoking isn't linear and yes it's bizarre.  I am not one to stay insulted or mad so take what you like and leave the rest oldbabe!  I wish you well on your journey, and everyone will support you along the way.

I have smoked for 48 years and I'm struggling with staying quit for good.  I wish you success!!

[67oldbabe]

Hey don’t be insulted. Am entitled to an opinion. Have read a lot of blogs and have found it all supportive.

Sent from my iPhone

[kristen-9-7-15]

I'm real; although I've been a ghost lately   Welcome to EX!

[TW517]

Wondered about you.  Good to see you!

[Mike.n.Atlanta]

      

[minihorses]

We're real, we're here, we do what we do because we ARE real, for REAL people to get through quitting smoking.  If we're articulate it's because we are living it. Hope you benefit from the wonderfully real group of us at Ex! Welcome aboard.

[kristen-9-7-15]

TW517‌

*New House

*New Dog

*New Boyfriend

*New Car (forced to buy.  My 2004 took a crap on me).

LOL.  Been a little busy.  I don't have kids but I think they might be easier than a dog.  At least you know where babies poop and pee.  Haha

[TW517]

 

Yay on all 4 counts!  I guess we'll excuse you.  But only if you post pics!  (Especially the dog ).

[indingrl]

Awe please Nancy don't call yourself names gentle hug

[indingrl]

I love your BEAUTIFUL colorful feathers

[indingrl]

No worries - I am NOT offended - gentle hug

[indingrl]