My first blog post

[mike307]

     Hi everyone!  After a few false starts I'm set to quit on 11/19.  I don't really know what to write about, so I'll just run some things by you that I am curious about.  I think the biggest reason for my last few quits having stalled is that I didn't pay enough attention to my triggers.  The big one being a friend circle that frequents bars.  This time I'm thinking of avoiding the bars for a period of time, just to get over the hump.  I arbitrarily came up with a period of 30 days, but am not sure if that amount of time is significant (too much/too little?).  I'm actually looking forward to avoiding the bar scene for a period of time, because I feel it will open up other aspects of my life, ie. More time visiting friends in less conventional (for me) environments, going to movies, focusing on various events and activities, more focus on hobbies, etc.  I also bought a luxury item:  A game system.  I always loved gaming, but also viewed it as a way to miss the party; however, I'm going to allow myself to fall into a different vice that won't negatively impact my health..

        Anyway, anyone have any advice or can impart their experience regarding avoiding the bar scene trigger, of course any wisdom is appreciated!!!

[JonesCarpeDiem]

I would avoid bars for the first 120 days. if that is impossible, limit yourself to one drink and drink water the rest of the night.

[scgquit]

Hi MIke,

I remember the bar days!!!  Boy oh boy!  Fun fun.... too old for that now.  Well, not really, but not interested i guess i should say.    Last several years my bar scene has been in the garage with my hubby.  Him drinking beer and me drinking wine and smoking like there's no tomorrow.  I set my quit date about 3 weeks out and i think that helped.  I just made my mind up to do it.  The last couple of weeks i smoked i kept telling myself how exciting it was going to be to not smoke anymore.  I read Allen Carrs book.  That helped.  Once my date got here, i just went on about my business without smoking.  And i still go outside with the hubby and it doesn't bother me as much as I thought it would.  I have been doing great.  Keep in mind I have only been quit since Oct 26th og this year, but I feel this quit is much different then any other and i think staying close to this sight has helped.  It is just a matter of making up your mind, i think.  For me anyway.  I wish you the best of luck.  I love having other  newbies to go thru this with! 

[JACKIE1-25-15]

Welcome  Mike  You have come to the right place if you are making the decision to commit to quit smoking.  At EX our resolve is to never smoke again.  NOPE “Not one puff ever.”  I suggest that you follow the steps on the web site pages along with reading, writing, studying, researching and blogging if you like.  

This is all about you and what you are willing to do to be a nonsmoker.  If you haven’t read it, here is a link to Allen Carr’s book, “Easy Way to Quit Smoking”.  It is an easy read suggested by the “elders” (those with1+ yrs. Quit). http://media.wix.com/ugd/74fa87_2010cc5496521431188f905b7234a829.pdf

Also check out www.whyquit.com. there is a lot of additional beneficial information to read and study.  Look for Freedom From Nicotine My Journey Home and Nicotine Addiction 101. Both were extremely helpful for me.  Stay close to the site and learn, ask questions. Read the blogs and most of all enjoy your commitment to quit smoking.

If you should need something to do here is a link that will help https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/blogs/Youngatheart.7.4.12-blog/2013/02/25/100-things-to-do-instea...).

 If you take the time to do the work you will have success. 

[YoungAtHeart]

Welcome to our community!

I think your idea to avoid bars is right on the money.  Alcohol clouds your judgement - and thus your commitment. 

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 also highly recommend Allen Carr's “The Easy Way to Stop Smoking.” This is an easy and entertaining read.  I  must admit I never felt quitting was easy,, but the book contains a wealth of information on your addiction.

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. You should also do the tracking and separation exercises suggested on this site

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. But – any method that you think will work well for you will be best for you.

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!

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

[joedice711]

good for you mike.you will find the people here are your best defence,keep coming back like i do..i,m feeling so much better since i quit.i,m pretty new here also.stay away from the bars for now.they will be there when your ready......24 smoke freed days today..

[djmurray]

Welcome to EX, Mike -- I smoked heavily for over 50 years and reading the Allen Carr book completely changed how I looked at smoking and what it is and is NOT. The basic premise is that no smoker actually enjoys smoking and all we're doing is satisfying the crave we created when we smoked the last one.  Therefore, quitting smoking is giving up NOTHING.  Every other time I quit I felt deprived, like I was foregoing something of value.  But it's not true -- there is no value to smoking.  Boy, has that understanding made a difference! I am at Day 309 of my quit and I know that I will never smoke another cigarette.  

Also, read everything you can find here and at sites like whyquit.com (which has a ton of really good information).  Come here regularly and read the blogs, see what people are experiencing at every stage of their quit.  We have people here who are planning to quit just like you are to people who've been quit for over 10 years and come back to reach out to the new people.  Comment on the blogs -- you will find that when you do it benefits you as well.  Write your own blog about how you're feeling about your quit.

The bottom line is that a successful quit is based on education, attitude, acceptance and determination.  Education:  Once you've learned the truth about this addiction it's much harder (for me impossible) to go back to smoking.  Rather, it helps us unlearn the connections we had with smoking.  Attitude:  Your attitude or mindset is key to whether your quit feels like torture or feels like something very doable.  If you feel deprived, if you feel sorry for yourself and just use willpower to get through not smoking, it will be torture (and you'll read more about that in the Carr book).  But if you have that attitude that smoking is nothing and you are willing to go through the discomfort that is generally associated with quitting, then you can be a happy quitter.  I am definitely a happy quitter!  Acceptance: If you can accept that you will have craves early in your quit and sometimes later in your quit than you would imagine, and don't fight them but observe them and say "Yeah, I don't do that anymore" and find something else to do you won't have as many craves.  It's true. Determination:  This is tied up with the willingness I mentioned.  You have an addict's brain, just like the rest of us.  Your addict's brain will whisper to you, scream at you and plead with you to come back.  There will be times when you find yourself thinking "oh, what could it hurt to have just one."  That's your addiict brain trying to entice you.  Determination is your ability to say NOPE -- Not One Puff Ever.  

So welcome to EX -- we're a wonderfully supportive group who've been there done that or are being there doing that right now.   There's no better resource than a good support group to get through the initial discomfort of quitting.

You can do this!

[Puff-TM-Draggin]

Greetings, Mike.

I read that you are in Urbana, hometown of college my alma mater.  Are you a student at the UofI?  If so, I know you are smart enough and tough enough to make your decision to quit stick this time.  If not, I know you are still smart enough and tough enough to make your decision to quit stick this time.  But you do need to get educated about addiction.  If you haven't read the Allen Carr book yet, certainly do that.  There will be a test following ... probably the most important test you will take for the rest of your life.

I can't really add more of value to that which has already been shared above.  Just know that you have a ready group of friends here rooting for your success and ready to listen, advise, and nag as appropriate.

Go Illini!

[Puff-TM-Draggin]

I was supposed to learn to write while I was in Urbana.  So, I read that you are in Urbana, hometown of my college alma mater, not of college my alma mater.

Give me that dunce hat you've got on, please.  I'm going to go sit in the corner.

[jbniceguy]

Hey Mike, I just made it to 30 days! I will not lie, it was not easy but you can do it if you really put your mind to it. It really is all about the triggers. Even if you don’t or can’t change the things that trigger an urge, at least know that it is going to happen so that you will be ready for it. I think it is great that you bought a game system. DONT start playing now and smoke while playing it. That is forming a habit already that you will need to break (a trigger). Good luck and send me a message if you need some encouragement or have any questions.

[joyeuxencore]

Hey Mike! Welcome!!!

Please follow all the suggestions, do the reading and get ready for one fabulous new life to evolve. I am celebrating 3 years quit today because of the support and help on this site. Follow the steps on the EX Homepage to get ready! xo

[kristen-9-7-15]

Hi mike! Just wanted to welcome you!

[mike307]

Oh wow!  Thanks for all the responses, everyone!  Nine more days to go.  I'm definitely going to read the Allen Carr book asap.  It's a good way to think about it, that smoking doesn't actually deliver any particular pleasure, but rather creates a craving.

[TerrieQuit]

Welcome, Mike and Hello! I am glad you have decided to quit! Please do the reading! It helps!