I haven't smoked in 199 days... but whose counting. Though harder in the beginning, I still wanted to smoke up until about a week ago.
It really is about mindset and how we make our decisions. The decision to quit smoking must be permanent!
My decision was not.
I kept thinking I could go back - these thoughts dominated my mind during stress triggers.
I have gotten over almost all of my triggers, except I've allowed the stress trigger to get my thoughts going about smoking. UUGGH! I then realized that, though I have NOT smoked, I haven't fully released this terrible, disgusting habit from my life and keeop thinking I will go back someday.. YUCK!
Remember the commercial.." I could have had a V8" After I got my hand on John Maxwells book. "Today Matters" ( great read), He says good decisions followed by daily disciplines must be life long.
You see- you have to be very careful about the thoughts you allow to posess your mind. We cannot control the first thought, but we can control the second. So when that first thought of smoking enters your mind, relinquish it with a positive affirmation " I am a non smoker" "I am smoke free, now, be gone, you dumb thought", or when the craving in the beginning is just tormenting you, get up and do something else, I liked to clean stuff, start jumping, pace the floor (my favorite). give enough time to pre-occupy the mind until the craving goes away. Sounds corny, but it works.
So if you are still having thoughts or memories of smoking, a wise person told me, it's easy to remember the "good" cigarettes, but the majority of them were smoked out of addiction, not pleasure. Who in their right mind goes outside in freezing weather to light up a cigarette- an addict, that's who! Make that permanent decisoin to quit- I know, Use the "just for today" for the beginning of your quit and simultaneously say NOPE- NOT ONE PUFF EVER!
Oh and I am proud to announce.-after a 25lb weight gain, I am starting to take it off. Lost 3 lbs this week. Just diet and excercise- no magic pills.
It feels so great to be a non smoker!
