Ok, for real this time

[Icandothis1313]

I know I am not alone in a bit of a false start to this. I tried to start my quit a couple of days ago and made it about 30 hours before I broke down, cried and cried and ended up smoking. After a day to gather myself I am back to trying again. Now begins the real quit. No false start this time. I have bags and bags of cinnamon candy and my wits about me.  This quit came up because I have had a sinus infection for 5 weeks, just got put on antibiotics and finally starting to improve.  I had managed to get down to 2 or 3 smokes a day over the last 5 weeks, and now I AM READY to quit.  Being sick this long is my wake up call. I am 37 and it has never in my life taken so long to get better. I don't want this to be a trend.  I have always been a smoker that could do what I wanted despite smoking. A handful of years ago, I ran a marathon as an almost pack a day smoker....want some bad looks, light a pre marathon cigarette.  I was heavily into weight lifting and exercise all of my 20s into my early 30s.  The last few years this habit has started to catch up to me.  I was able to successfully quit for a year while I was pregnant and for a few months after but fell back into it sleeping 2 hours a night and working 7 days a week.  Since I started again, I have been sick more often and feel worse than I ever did before as a smoker. My body is telling me it is time now to stop. STOP! While I may have a chance to undo some of the damage. STOP! Before I get sick and can't recover.  I am prepared now to be uncomfortable and I welcome the struggle ahead.  I will use this community and appriciate everyone's advice and support. 

[5Jacks]

You can DO this!!

 I can remember crying like a two year-old having a tantrum the last time I tried to quit. This time, it was different. I’m on day 6 now so you are not far behind.

Are you going to use an NRT (in addition to the cinnamon candy)?

[PastTense]

icandothis13‌ - great job picking yourself up and getting right back on the non-smoking wagon.  This is HARD. A lot of us have false starts.  That's when we find the holes in our quit smoking plan an plug them.

Please be gentle with yourself because you are going through upheaval right now.  Quitting is a process.  It is a journey.  It is not a single event and it is not defined by one weak moment.

Keep the quit

PT

[YoungAtHeart]

Glad you are back at it.  If you are successful now, by the time you are 57, your risks of disease from smoking are reduced to those of a  nonsmoker.    Here is a timeline of health benefits when you quit. What happens after you quit smoking? A timeline

.Exercise is still one of the best tools to use as you travel this journey to freedom.  Remember that slow/deep breaths, going slower and deeper with each for the three minutes a crave might last will work wonders, too.  In these early days, change up your routines, like finding a different route to work, drinking your coffee in a place different from where you smoked and hold the cup in your other hand.  Stay busy!  Get a crossword book or jigsaw puzzle on which to work. 

This takes commitment AND effort in the early days, but I promise you freedom will be worth it!

Nancy

[Barbscloud]

Glad you're back and ready to make this you're final quit.   It's so important to be prepared when life hits.  Have your plan ready, whatever that may be for you.   Walking, chewing on straws, sour candy, and video games helped me get through the early days.   And, of course the support from the Ex saved my quit a few times.  Reach out before you smoke--that's what we're here for.

Barb

[MarilynH]

You can do this quit believe it deep breaths and know that we're all here to help you in any way we can....

[Barbara145]

Good morning.  Congratulations on your decision to quit smoking.  Smoking wrecks our bodies.  It ruins the linings in our nasal passages for one.  Quitting smoking is difficult for most. Once you quit and stay quit, it just gets better and better.  You can do this.  Stay close to this site. I could not have accomplished quitting without the support from so many wonderful people here at Ex.  Olive leaf nasal spray is wonderful for ailing sinuses.  Feel better  

[sweetplt]

You can do this Icandothis1313 ... The struggle will be worth the reward.  If you feel like smoking, come here and let us try and talk you down from it...We are here for you....~ Colleen 416 DOF

[JACKIE1-25-15]

Congratulations on making the decision to never ever take another puff.  That is what it boils down to NOPE no matter what.  No EXcuse.  You have to dig deep within yourself as you have never done before.  Tap into your spirituality, pray and meditate.  Education is the key to a successful quit.  Read Study Blog.  YouCandothis Icandothis1313‌ met TriGirl‌, she is a triathlete.

[CommunityAdmin]

JACKIE1-25-15‌ good idea.  Icandothis1313‌ check out TriGirl's Content to get a sense of the journey she journaled last year.

Also be sure to update your quit date: Re: How do I get my quit date to show on the community?‌

[Icandothis1313]

Congrats on Day 6!!! I am going cold turkey...for me I find all NRT makes me anxious and makes me want to smoke worse...i wish I did better with them

[maryfreecig]

Congratulations on choosing to quit. It's a journey that is taken one day at a time only. 

https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/groups/newbie-quitters/blog/2019/07/26/no-matter-what-never-give-...  by Jackie

[5Jacks]

I'm rooting for you! We can do this together! In some ways, I think I'm delaying the inevitable by using NRT, but I'm going to enjoy this freedom from cigarettes for a while longer and eventually move on to being nicotine-free. Let's keep up the quit!

[TriGirl]

Thanks JACKIE1-25-15‌ and Mark‌ for tagging me because- YES- Icandothis1313‌ sounds JUST like me!! I am an athlete, a fitness instructor, a personal trainer-- AND I only quit last June. 234 days later I am feeling SO differently than at the beginning of my quit. It's amazing the things I can do now and I feel authentic... BTW, I never smoked at a race because I saw other people get those looks! I'd run, drive home, then light up. Anyway, WELCOME!! Read up, make a plan and feel free to message me anytime! I will certainly keep an eye out for your blogs!

Kelly