My day 1

[Lstout15]

Today is my official quit day! I've made a whole lot of attempts to quit in the past but I'm going for it again. I've been in the hospital all week so smoking really couldn't happen. The nurse offered me a patch every morning which was a huge blessing buuuut, when I left the hospital last night, I smoked the rest of my pack (about 8 smokes) then I was like, I don't need this. I haven't needed it all week and don't need it now. So, NO excuse November. I will beat this. I will live my life smoke free!

[kristen-9-7-15]

I used the patch. It really helps take the edge off.  I found that the cheaper Walmart brand patches stuck so much better than the Nicoderm. 

Welcome to the NON-Smokers Club!!

[Lstout15]

Thank you! I agree. Last time I tried Nicoderm and I had to hold it on with tape and was way more expensive without helping more then walmart brand

[JustSharon]

Congrats on your first day! It is my first day as well and has taken several attempts. I pray you get through this well and that it is your forever quit.

[maryfreecig]

Wow. Congrats on your commitment. Glad you are here.

[Dotgirl_1-28-16]

Welcome to the EXcommunity and your day 1.

[JonesCarpeDiem]

you don't need it

[prjimm01]

Everybody has their own story.  Do whatever works for you.  Just know that we are all rooting for you, we want you to succeed.  Come to this page often and stay for a while!!!

NOPE and SINAO

[shashort]

Hello and welcome to the community, Congratulations on the decision to quit smoking and also for today being day 1.  Stay strong! NOPE (not one puff ever) one day at a timewill get you there.

[joyeuxencore]

Hang in there friend!!

Tomorrow is my quit anniversary of 4 years because of the 24/7 support on this site! Welcome! Do the reading, blog often, ask for help when you need it. xo

[YoungAtHeart]

Welcome to our community!


The most 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. Here is a link to a free PDF version of it:

http://media.wix.com/ugd/74fa87_2010cc5496521431188f905b7234a829.pdf
 
As well, read the sections on this site, and read the blogs, responses and pages of folks you think might be helpful.  You might visit whyquit.com and quitsmokingonline.com for the good information contained there.


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.

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!

Nancy
 

[Silverstar]

Welcome, Lstout, so glad you are here!!!  Today marks 28 DOF (days of freedom) for me, so still pretty new, but I can tell you that I took all the advice offered here, log in everyday and read and write blogs, and credit all of those things with making it this far.  You can do this, the community here can help! 

Oh, and N.O.P.E.: Not One Puff Ever, and S.I.N.A.O.: Smoking Is Not An Option.  Words to live by.