Following Directions

[jonas2]

I've never really been that good at following directions but a friend told me to join this site and to "Blog"  Well, I joined the site yesterday and watched some of the videos. I did a couple exercises and read through these blogs a litte. But I was promised that I'd speak up on my first day.

I'm a single father of five and I work a lot in order to keep my companies going. One is actually not doing too well and is causing me a lot of stress. Some decisions are hard to make. But I need to quit smoking despite the stress filled time. A few years ago when I turned 30 my body started to change. I can't run as far or fast as I use to and when I lay down the weazing in my chest is disturbing. Its scaring my kids. I cough all the time, but I want to smoke all the time. One of my sons just tried to start smoking. I don't know if I'm stopping him since I can't be with him every second but I do know that I have to quit in order to back up what I'm saying to him and his brothers.  I work mostly in an office and since I'm the boss smoking is allowed.  I've had the last few days and into the middle of next week off due to my son having sergery on his jaw but once I'm back at work full time I know that it will be hard. My quit date is 11/1/12   I'd appreciate any advise I can get.

[Ex_Nancy]

Hi Jonas and welcome to Ex! Always post her in the blogs so that we can support you!

The most IMPORTANT thing you can do for your quit now is to educate yourself about the addiction and the mind games it plays on us....READ,READ,READ for a successful quit...the more you read, the EASIER it is...

CHOOSE to quit smoking, not TRY. Educate yourself by reading these links to the materials that most of us have used to help us quit and STAY quit! This is about making a DECISION to never put another cigarette in your mouth, mean it, and be committed to follow through on that decision. Also allow NO excuses AND hang in there for as long as it takes, no matter how uncomfortable you become.... This is about re-learning your life WITHOUT cigarettes....start changing your "normal" routine....because a smoker's routine revolves around cigarettes. You will be a nonsmoker so change how you start your morning so it doesn't revolve around cigarette breaks, etc. You CAN do this! ....http://digg.com/newsbar/topnews/Allen_Carr_s_Easy_Way_To_Stop_Smoking_Download_free_PDF

http://quitsmokingonline.com

[Junior7]

Welcome Jonas!!!!  So glad you are here! Congratulations on your decision to quit smoking!  It is the best thing you can do for yourself and your kids. 

One thing that is recommended is to read as much as possible about nicotine addiction.  A good book is "The Easy Way to Stop Smoking" by Allen Carr.  I found it for free online--but someone will probably post a link for you to make it easier.  Two websites that are helpful are quitsmokingonline.com and whyquit.com.

Stay close to this site--there are so many wonderful people who will be here for you to offer you support and advice! 

[Mike.n.Atlanta]

Welcome Jonas. Well when I began my quit I just followed blindly the advice of those with any quit time at all under their belt. I read what they told me & did what they told & pretty soon it became easyier just like they said it would. So keep on reading & preparing yourself for this big day. Being the boss it shouldn't be too difficult to ban smoking in the office. They can go outside just like every other place of business.

Make a real & sincere comittment to your quit & protect it at any cost. I'm sure your kids will see the example & be proud of Dad.

M n @

[Patty-cake]

Hi Jonas,

A suggestion..... As you practice separation exercises, make your first place of skipping smoking be in the boss' office. This way, when you reach your quit date, the office will have been off limits for a while and easy to still work at.

And yes, living by example is the best way for our children to learn. 

Thanks for coming to the site. Welcome.

[Jordan-11-1-12]

should I pretend not to see you?

[joy36]

My best help, was finding this nsite, and all of the help and support from it. I saw how many people that had quit, and thought about all the one's that had stayed for a while, then stopped coming after their quit was for good. There was other's in the same place as me, or close to the same time with their quit. It was a great place to keep comoing to. Family and friend's mean well, but, if they have never smoked, they think you should be fine after a couple of week's. The friend's that still smoke, I think, feel guility about smoking, when you are quitting, they are jealous, I feel like. Plus, both are getting tired of talking about your quit. This place fill's all of those reason's, plus, so much more. That's my advice. I quit on july 14 th,2011, my husband did also. It is possible. I never thought we would beat it, but, we have had a very stressful year, I've been ttold I had cancer twice, and surgery , my husband does have cancer. He had surgery, and the treatment went very well ! I lost my Daddy to a rare type of cancer 6 year's ago. I still smoked, so crazy ! Feel free to message me if you need to talk, vent, or scream ! HA HA I'm here nearly everyweek-end and night. You can do this, look at all of us, who have ! NOPE, " Not One Puff Ever "

[froguelady]

Welcome to EX and to our on-line family. We help and support new quitter and keep ourself vigilant to never smoking again for any reason.  I have been quit since 3/16/11 after smoking 54 years.  I did it and so can you. Nancy is out info lady and gives great advice also.  We all encouage you in your journey to FREEDOM from nicotine. One suggestion I see is about no smoking in the office and that should be a must.  Having to leave the office to smoke is a distraction that will help you control and change your thoughts on the addiction we all have.

Again WELCOME.

[Giulia]

Don't rue it, just do it.  Stick close to the community, keep blogging, work the plan.  You don't run a marathon without training first.  Same is true for quitting.  The more you read, the more prepared you will be.  This takes total commitment, nothing less will get you over the finish line.  We're here to support you all along the way.  Humor helps.  Find it, use it.  Welcome. 

[lois13]

congrats on your decision to quit, stay close to this site, go out side to smoke, don't be alfred to ask for help blog wecome to the site

[julia7]

you can stop & so can I. only been a member on here for 1 day & already feel like I getting more help then any other time I'v quit,so thank you to all on here,your words encourage me.

[Thomas3.20.2010]

Going smoke free will save you and your business tons of insurance money - it's just good business sense to head in the direction of smoke free work place. You will save years off your life and increase the quality of living - it takes a lot of energy to run a business. You will be providing your children a great role model, too! My son quit smoking 4 months after I quit - and I never said a word. He said, "Dad, if you can quit after all those years, there's no reason I can't quit!" Cool! Life is good smoke free! Do your reading = you're investing in your LIFE!