One Week Smoke Free

[Stefuri]

A few weeks ago, I set my quit date as July 6, 2020. - I wanted to allow myself to "enjoy" the holiday and be able to smoke. Plot twist: I ran out of cigarettes last Tuesday, June 30th, and have been cig-free since. Today at 10pm marks one full week. I don't think I've gone this long without a smoke in 15+ years (since I was in high school). I'm ready to close the door on smoking but also trying to be patient with myself. A daily habit for over 15 years (?!!) will be hard to break. Kudos to all of the new non-smokers sharing their stories. Keep inspiring us. Thank you!! #thedayiquit

[Barbscloud]

Welcome to the Ex.  I just saw you on the daily pledge today.   You're already through hell week!    We're here to support you, so just reach out anytime you need some encouragement or want to share your journey.  Glad you posted to introduce yourself to community.

Barb

[YoungAtHeart]

Welcome to the community!

Congratulations on making it through H#ll Week!  I don't see where I gave you my usual welcome, and I think some of its information might be helpful even now, so it follows.

The 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 easy and entertaining read provided a world of good information about nicotine addiction, most of which I was not aware.  I credit it in large part with my success at quitting.   You can search for it online or at your local library.

 You should also read the posts here and perhaps go to the pages of folks who you think might be helpful. You might visit whyquit.com, quitsmoking.com and livewell.com for the good information contained there. @https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/groups/best-of-ex has lots of blogs written by members of this site with their experiences and guidance. Here is a video to inform you further about nicotine addiction: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpWMgPHn0Lo&feature=youtu.be.

The idea is to change up your routines so the smoking associations are reduced.  Drink your coffee with your OTHER hand in a place different from when you smoked. Maybe switch to tea for a bit.  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. Buy your gas at a different station. Take a different route to work. Take a quick walk at break time where the smokers AREN'T.
 
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.  Keep a cold bottle of water with you from which to sip. 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.    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

[sweetplt]

Hello and Welcome to Ex’s...

 On 1 week of Freedom Stefuri ... this is super...be proud of YOU...YOU are doing it...but remember it takes more time and patience.  I suggest you read at My EX Plan | BecomeAnEX and keep close to the support site for help and to encourage others on this journey.  Wait it gets better and better...Happy Tuesday ~ Colleen 582 DOF 

[PastTense]

Congrats, Stefuri‌!

The first week is hard and YOU DID IT!!

I'm right behind you, cheering for you all the way!

Keep the quit

PT

[Thomas3.20.2010]

Congratulations! Keep stacking those days!

[indingrl]

 and welcome

[Strudel]

Welcome to the site! Congrats to you on your quit!! Stay close! 

[elvan]

Welcome to EX & congratulations on being near the end of what we “affectionately” call Hell Week. You are about to enter Heck Week but don’t expect any huge changes...yet. It DOES get easier with time, stay close to the site, read everything you can find about nicotine ADDICTION see YoungAtHeart‌’s comment. This is NOT a habit, it is much bigger but you can keep on the JOURNEY to recovering, one day at a time. Remember NOPE, Not One Puff Ever!

Ellen

[Bonnie]

Congrats on one week!  That is a huge accomplishment and now you've got HELL WEEK under your belt.  YOU NEVER HAVE TO SMOKE ANOTHER SICKORETTE IN YOUR LIFE!  If I can do it, you can do it . And do it right the first time (which I didn't).  One day at a time and keep them away from your mouth and the time will stack up and soon your smoking days will be a thing of the past.  It's a great feeling and worth the effort.  I'm 71 years old and have 2 1/2 years smokefree--if I had kept my first quit I would have over 5 decades. Believe me when I say that is one regret I have, that I didn't keep that first quit.  I'm rooting for you and praying that YOU will.

[meWisconsin]

Congratulations on 7 days of freedom. We are glad you decided to join us.

Terry

Keep up the good quit

[maryfreecig]

Congratulations on 7! You gave yourself a nice surprise--keep it going now that you know you can. Great job.