How long have you been smoke free and what has been most the helpful in helping you protect your quit? And what has been the most challenging?

[misty_dawn]

Here is mine.....

"I have now stopped smoking for 6 months, 3 weeks, 5 days, 5 hours, 28 minutes, 7 seconds. That translates into 3,748 cigarettes NOT smoked, for a savings of $1,124.43! At 5 minutes per cigarette I have increased my life expectancy by 1 week, 6 days, 20 minutes, 30 seconds."

Truthfully, I think I would have lost my quit without jonescarp and the other long time members here, when I was on the fence and unsure if I could do it a few months back.  

The most helpful has been the support of my girls (15 & 12), BecomeAnEX, and a wonderful combination of very patient family members and friends, nonsmokers, former smokers, current smokers (who are rooting for me and want to stop themselves).

The most challenging has been to change the way I think about smoking, especially when I'm stressed out, frustrated, tired or upset.  I romanticized the cigarette (and still do sometimes), but I am getting better one day at a time at changing my thinking.

I love coming here, because it helps so much to know I'm not alone in this and the support is outstanding.  Mostly I just read the posts, but it always influences me in  a positive way to stay strong.  And I am so proud of everyone who keeps on keepin on!

Thanks so much for all your help!!!!

[cookiegirl]

I have been smoke free 1month today. My best support has been this site second in this has been my faith lots of praying to keep me going and lots of reading from this site to keep me motivatied. My true coach has been my youngest daughter she has been right there asking how many days...

The most challenging is my keeping stess under control. I'm trying really hard to do that.and getting myself going I don' think I ever wanted as much sleep as  I have right now and it driving me crazy but I know it will go in passing.But I love being smoke free it 's a great feeling.

[bjmarks]

On the 1st of march I will be quit for 11 months, I smoked for 35 years a pack a day. I did have a 2 year quit in my 30's and it is that experience that helps me keep my quit today. I was having a very emotional time and I decided that I needed to smoke, that it would help but only until I could get my life under control. That was 18 years ago. I know that if I take one puff, for ANY reason I may not get another quit and I can't afford that. That helps me more than anything else. I live alone so boredom is a very big trigger for me, I have had to relearn being comfortable in my own skin, just being me and not hiding behind a smoke. I'm getting there.....one day at a time.

You are doing GREAT!! Congrats on your almost 7 months!!

[empathy]

My last smoke was July 6th, 2010, a day that I think is close to your last smoke MistyDawn. I think Tommy said you & I were close in our quit dates. I hope so as it would be cool to know there is another person out there with that freedom date. What has been most helpful is EVEYTHING ABOUT THIS GROUP! I mean it! I could not have done it with out this place. I think the drama that happens at times may have even been helpful but I mumbeled & said I hated it while it was happening. I really hate the taste of smoke  I still get in my mouth from time to time. It goes away fast & really just makes me smile but I could do with out it anyway. I plan to read some old blogs about cravings this late in the game as I know it is mental past 3 days. Hope my information has been of some help to you & good luck! We are in this together so "call" if you need a hand.  Hugs, Tammy

[Debi12]

My last cigarette was November 17,  2009 - 15 months now.  I smoked for close to 40 years, and had many failures at quitting.   Two things were different this time for me. 

1)   I was serious about quitting!!!

2)   This website and all the great support!!!

Congratulations to you on 7 months!!! 

[triomommy27]

I quit on 1-11-11 and I'm on day 42. I'm currently going through "no mans land"  This has been by far the hardest last few days ever!!! I've been so close to lighting up and thinking I could change the law of addiction in some way or that I could just have some form of nicotien and be ok. I keep thinking about how much "pleasure" I would get from just having one. CRAZY STUPID NICODEMON! That's all it is and now I'm learning how to deal with it. I never expected this but I'm going to pull through. I certainly wouldn't be here without this site, that is for sure. Right now it's the one thing that has saved me from lighting up. NOPE is what I keep promising myself! -just for today 🙂

[Yaya2.6.10]

I have been smoke free for a year and a coupla weeks.  This site kept me going one minute at a time in the early days,  What helped me a lot was when I realized the added stress of looking for a time and place to smoke as opposed to smoking due to stress.  I realized that smoking added stress and didn't relieve it.  Its been downhill from there.  I get craves and crazy times but a minute of reflection gets me thru.

[Debi12]

The most challenging times have been some weekends here and there, stress, anxiety, I still have occasional thoughts --- and it bugs me alot that I still do ,,,,,,,I know they will be going away someday soon, but no matter what - commitment  and one day at a time for me.

[_m_11]

Good posts and comments.  

[kat72]

Next week will be the 5 month mark for me that I quit. I thank God for this site every day and I tell all my friends that still smoke that I would of not made it through the first 60 days without it..... Thank you Ex!

[misty_dawn]

Wow, great responses, everyone!  Thank you!  This addiction is a tough one and I'm so proud of everyone!

[jen-jones]

Don't Quit Quittin'... that, an' not bein' able to breathe, what did it fer me... (the Chantix, also, was a big help too) Just keep on, keepin' on... Good Luck, an' GOD BLESS...

[jeannie2]

I quit 20 months ago and what i did was change my attitude and not even go there......i didnt allow myself to think much about it and didnt even care anymore....i was so ready and so tired of all the headaches i was having and they just made me feel like crap. I couldnt believe how great i felt right away and i found it to be so easy to let it go and never look back. Im not gonna lie. i loved smoking. but i loved being free more.  My friends are here to cheer and keep us all in check. I dont remember any challenge.........im being honest......i was so glad it was over and i was done. I think another thing i did right away that helped was i got a complete cardiac work up done, saw my heart beating on my ualtrasound, did the treadmill , and lots of other images. Made it real.........it did the trick and i checked out really good. I have always told myself i could smoke if  i wanted to die of it and i dont.......simple as that.  I dont want  to ever smoke again and im proud of it! Great job on being free! This is therapy for all to come here and share.......i love it when we help each other

[pir8fan]

The hard part was making the committment and believing I could do it! Then I discovered that wonderful phenomenon that I dubbed "Collateral Kindness"! How easy it became! Help yourself by helping others! What a great way to quit! What a great way to live!! There are friends here, who will be my friends until they pat me in the face with a shovel! I give thanks for them all! Everyday!

[Strudel]

I quit 8 months ago after 40 years of smoking. What helped me was a combo of reading (quitsmokingonline.com and Allen Carr's book) - plus this site and the wonderful folks here!!

[cyn9]

I've been quit for 44 days now and have to agree with Jeanie. I was just so tired of it. I don't want my son to be influanced nor for him to watch me die struggling for breath. I want to be around for awhile yet. I rely on EX for support every day. I don't think I could do it with out the EX support to keep me thinking straight.

[sandee]

Nice numbers up there guys!  Keep up the great work!!!

This is such a great place to hang out! 

Thanks to Ex and whyquit.com

I'm

Sandee - Free and Healing for Two Years, Nine Months, Twenty Four Days, 2 Hours and 2 Minutes, while extending my life expectancy 71 Days and 12 Hours, by avoiding the use of 20602 nicotine delivery devices that would have cost me $6,987.16

[Patty44]

89 days I have been able to say I do not smoke. What has helped me the most is reading the quitsmokingonline.com site and sharing with all of you on this site. It was one of you that told me about the quitsmokingonline.com site so there you go. The most challenging for me has been to continue to work this program. To remember that I still need the help of others. To go back to the quitsmokingonline.com site and read again about the myths of smoking and the lifeless cigarette that never did anything good for me and never will. This is a continuous way of life for me now and my commitment is such. Thanks Misty for posing the questions.

[dana52]

23 days 22 hrs and 12min. The support of my faith, my husband, and this site have made this quit different than any other. jonescarp, Dale, saved me many weeks of torture after which, I probably would have given up. He sent me to sites that explained nicotine and my addiction and why N.O.P.E. is the best way to go. He did not advise me one way or the other about NRTs, he just gave me the means to educate myself. I have no idea how much money I've saved since I quit. It seems like I am spending it all on food and gas.LOL I decided to quit stressing so much about my weight gain. Guarding my quit is more important.

[Sootie]

I have been smoke free since November 15, 2009.

The support on this site was a HUGE help in keeping this quit. It was also great that my husband also quit!

Most challenging was keeping the weight off through the beginning of the quit...not reaching automatically for food. I needed to work out twice as much as before quitting even with the same amount of food (slower metabolism).

[jawidge]

Great Post!   I'm 179 days strong,  This site has been my greatest support.  My challenge early on was to stay motivated.  Not about the quit, but about the rest of my life.    All good now.. a bit fearless now, but cautious as well. 

[glory3]

I am 4 months today.  It's really funny but I feel less stress now that I am not smoking. Maybe I was always wanting a cigarette in the middle of all the stress that it just added to it.  I actually feel like I can handle things better now.

[JonesCarpeDiem]

4 years and 2 months.

i was a self starter with my quit. i got through my first two weeks and stopped the patch

then i joined quitnet. was there my first year 14 hours a day when i wasn't working.

i got a lot of joy and knowledge helping there

came here 2 2/3 years ago

never  had a serious reconsideration of tobacco use in 4 years and 2 months

i get a lot of joy helping here

[lynette9]

I'm with Jeannie on this one. I loved smoking, too. But yep, I wanted my freedom more. I wanted to feel like I had control over something. I wanted to feel empowered.

I was like Dale, a self starter and when I had already quit for a while, I then came on here.

I wouldn't be doing this if it weren't for this site, tho, and all these wonderful loving people who really want to help you stay quit. At any time, someone could say they're getting a crave on here, and someone would be here to respond. It happened to me once.

I don't think I'll ever smoke again but you can bet I'm protecting my quit!

[EllenMT]

I've been quit since 12/29/10, I educated myself here and on the net. Read the blogs of the long term exes and made up my mind I will never smoke again.

[wanda4]

I am 29 days, 19 hrs, 10 minutes, a few seconds, and still counting, I have smoked for 31 yrs of my 50 yrs alive.  I must say I have quit a numerous amount of times and never succeeded, now I feel this is it, my worst part of quitting was being afraid of quitting, the difference for me is I'm sorta kinda not looking back, I love being smoke free, I feel strong and wonderful, so why would I need to smoke and smell nasty, I feel awsome!!!! Not ever thinking of going back......I do think of it, but it's not happening, I believe that the thought will always be there, you just have to master the thought......Oh and congratulations on your quit!

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[Doris]

I quit smoking on January 19,2009 with the help on this site...I  saw a commercial about  BECOME AN EX. I  wanted to quit smoking .I had been smoking for 35 yrs. at 2 pks a day ...this site is this best !!!i never will smoke again with the help from everyone here,you read you blogs,you ask for help ....all of this is right here for you to become smoke free .after  i had quit i talk  to  my husband about quiting smoking ...now he is 1yrs. smoke free ...You can quit smoking !!!

[chell]

1/16/2011 was my first day as a non smoker- this site has been great, though I don't post much but do read alot. I have made N.O.P.E. not one puff ever and non negotiable my 2 mottos and they seem to help thru the cravings and mood swings- protect your quit

[byrdsmomma]

I am on day 13 of being cigarette free. I am still using the nicotine patch and chewing gum like crazy! I went through serious withdraws like sweating,headaches and feeling sick to my stomache which still continues. I still have strong urges to pick up a cigarette but I have not so far. One day at time is all I can do.

[bugsbunnylady]

 I have been smoke free exactly one week now.   I went to see my doctor last week and my BP was way to high!  My doctor

told me smoking was probably the main cause, since I am only 26.  That was a huge wake up call!  My mother died 10 years ago from COPD and lung cancer caused by years of smoking.  I don't want to do that to my children.

So, I told myself enough's enough and just stopped.  I came up with my own ways of staying smoke free and so far they are working nicely.

I have begun to Crochet again to keep my mind and hands occupied.  When I feel that bite, I reach for a piece of sugar free gum or hard candy.  Better flavor and it nips the craving quickly. 

I have started drinking more water and better eating habits to dry and not gain weight.  So far, it's working. 

It's only been a week, but I already feel a difference when I exercise and when I wake up in the morning!  It's wonderful being smoke free and even though it's tough, with a 4 year old running around and a military husband, I know I'm doing the right thing and making them proud!  That makes it all worth it!