Joined four years ago, I have finally quit

[swfowler]

I have wanted to quit smoking since I began smoking at the age of 16. 20 years later I have made it to 11 smoke free days, and I feel fantastic. It has not been easy, but it has been much easier than I thought that it would be. I have attempted to quit in the past and have used every method on the market. I have never gone this long with out a cigarette since I was a non smoker. As a 2 pack a day smoker, I am (like many of you) addicted to the drug and the habit. 

If anyone ever reads this and is struggling to get through the first day, keet at it. I tried to quit 15 times in the last 60 days. Each time I placed a patch on before bed and by the time I was heading in to work the next day, I was stopping for a pack. Keep fighting, keep trying, keep breathing. We can all be smoke free again. 

[Giulia]

Hallelujah!  Persistence pays off.  Hold it very close. 

[lois2]

wow congrats to you, on 11 days. hang in there.

[YoungAtHeart]

Congratulations on 11 days.  You are through H#ll Week and almost finished with Heck Week.  Your perseverance is to be admired!

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.  Take a different route to work and be sure to always have a bottle of ice cold water with you for the trips to and from.  Try to concentrate on other things, not your usual smokes.  How about counting the red cars you see?  Or the number of lights you hit/miss? 

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.  Don't let that smoking thought rattle around your head alone.  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!

Keep adding ghe days.  Lots of folks here have been successful.  You can be, too!  Believe in yourself!  This is YOUR time!

Nancy

[Thomas3.20.2010]

Great Job! Keep stacking those days!

Knowledge is power! READ READ READ!

[Deena-A-Yenni]

Kudos to you!!!  Kudos to all of us!!!!!

[jonilou]

Great positive and encouraging post! It is amazing to be FREE!

[TerrieQuit]

Great job! Hang tough! Congratulations on 11 days!

Terrie  47  DOF

[amanda_100]

That's awesome news! Congratulations! Keep blogging and let us know how you get on with things!

[Summer-Rain]

woo-hoo!!!  CONGRATS.

The journey continues

[jjbob]

11 days smoke free....the only thing that is better is.........12!!!   N.O.P.E. (not one puff ever).  John 21DOF