Heard from our recruit!!

[NanKath]

Whoo hoo! Our daughter received a letter from our grandson earlier this week! My concerns have been relieved! He is doing great! He was experiencing shin splints before leaving and was somewhat concerned they might hold him back a bit. He mentioned that his shin splints healed and that he’s one of 4 platoon leaders! I’m one proud Nanny!  

I’m celebrating 62 DOF today! NOPE NMW is what keeps me going and the fact that our grandson helped us both overcome a horrible habit! @papawtim quit 10-7 so he’s 17 days smoke free! 

This morning a life-long friend joined becomeanex! I’m so happy for her and know she will have so much support on this site! I explained that she didn’t need to wait until she quits and that she can build her quit plan right here on this site with the help of others going through the same thing! Her quit date is in about 4 weeks. I honestly believe the support and encouragement she will receive here will help her succeed!

[CommunityAdmin]

Congrats! And glad you recruited someone. What's they're username on here?

Mark
EX Community Manager

[gregp136]

My your grandson stay safe.

[Barbscloud]

Congrats on your 62 days smoke free.   Happy you heard from your grandson--I know you're relieved.

Barb

[Giulia]

Woo Hooo all the way around, for you, your grandson and your life-long friend joining.  You're a great example.  Yippeee!

[sweetplt]

So happy you finally got news on your grandson...he has a great non smoking grandma...how wonderful for both of you to be proud of each other...Congratulations to you and your husband on your great quits...~ keep us updated ~ Colleen 325 DOF 

[YoungAtHeart]

You are walking the walk and showing others the way at the same time!

Proud of and happy for you AND your follower!

Let us know how we can help!

Nancy

[minihorses]

Congratulations on your quit, your grandson's accomplishments and your bringing your friend on Ex!  I'm assuming you will be her quit buddy.  What branch of the service is your grandson in?  I hope he continues on a successful military career.

[JonesCarpeDiem]

Great news on both your grandson and your friend

The support here has helped many.

[elvan]

Congratulations on your 62 days AND on your grandson's progress...you SHOULD be proud.  I am so glad he is doing well.  Platoon leader is no small thing.  Happy that your friend has joined and that your husband continues his quit.  Great job!

Kudos to all,

Ellen

[Mward90]

Great news on both your grandson and your friend and your 62 DOF congratulations!  Sound like an awesome day!  You got this!

- Michelle

[meWisconsin]

Sounds like good news all around. Congratulations.

Terry

[JACKIE1-25-15]

Congrats on 62 days.  That has got to be the best feeling.  You, your grandson and your lifelong friend. Keep Shining. 

[Roj]

Oorah!!! That is fantastic news about your grandson and even more so that you and your husband are now BOTH  non smokers, he is going to be so proud of you both and your life is now so much better....congrats!!!!

[NanKath]

Bbargeloh is her name I do believe, but I can’t find her. Do you have to join the community after joining becomeanex or is it automatic?

[NanKath]

Hey @sweetpit, looks like you have 1 year coming up in the near future! CONGRATULATIONS!!

[NanKath]

Thank you! YoungAtHeart having everyone here to communicate with has been so helpful to me!! 

[NanKath]

Thanks Barbscloud! Takes a load off my mind! 
‘NOPE NMW gets me through along with everyone here to communicate with whenever needed!

[Bbargeloh]

I am here!

[CommunityAdmin]

Bbargeloh wrote:

I am here!

Welcome!

Mark
EX Community Manager

[YoungAtHeart]

Welcome to our community!

Good to "SEE" you participating!

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.

After you have completed the recommended reading, it will be time to make an informed choice of the quit aid, if any, you will use. If you go that route, I personally recommend the aids that don't let the addict control the dose such as the available prescription drugs or the patch. If used properly, gum, lozenges and inhalers are fine, but they need to be used only as a last resort after you have tried to delay and distract.   I have seen folks become addicted to them if they substitute them for every cigarette they used to smoke - just trading one addiction for another.  You need to start out with a plan to reduce use of them over time - which the patch does by decreasing the dose contained in them..  For the gum, you can start by cutting each piece in half, then in quarters, then sub regular gum of the same flavor in between, adding more and more regular gum.  For the lozenge, you need to start subbing a mint in between to begin, increasing the number of them over time. I do not recommend the e-cigarette for four reasons: 1) the vapor has been compared to the polluted air in Bejing on a bad day, 2) they just provide another nicotine delivery system while continuing the hand to mouth smoking motion,  3) the batteries can spontaneously catch on fire, 4) you can become addicted to that and 5) current news is showing it is not safe.
 

It will be informative if you do the tracking and separation exercises recommended here on the site. As you track each cigarette smoked, note its importance, and what you might do instead. Put each one off just a little to prove that you don't NEED a cigarette just because you think you do.
 

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]

Awesome news! 

[NanKath]

Thank you for the encouragement!! My grandson is at Marine Corps boot camp right now. I hope he makes it a career also!

[NanKath]

Thanks Ellen! I am super proud! Happy to hear you feel it’s no small thing also! 

[NanKath]

Thank you Jackie!

[NanKath]

Thank you!

[NanKath]

Thank you so much! 

[MarilynH]

You are so very welcome, you are doing super fantastic with your awesome quit journey YAY for each and every Day WON.....