Set quit date for next Friday...

[joanne4]

And I feel like I'm starting to relapse already. I decided to set a date because I need to get used to the idea of not smoking anymore. I have a box of nicotine lozenges that I'll use after if I get a nic fit. I've been able to skip my morning cigarrette with coffee but kind of fell back the last few days. Gotta get back in the right frame of mind.

[Susan24]

Hi Joanne - congratulations on setting the date. I'm only in my 3rd week, but honestly it wasn't as bad a I thought it was going to be. I'll give you the same advice that I got when I found this site....read the blogs here - educate yourself (the whyquit.com site is fantastic) and come back often for help and advice. The people on this site are fantastic and they honestly help. Good Luck!

[tasha2]

I am afraid to step into that some thinking that you are talking about. I tell myself I am in the comtemplation stage of quitting but SO many times before I have been here and then I begin to fall out and then right back into the same old mode of smoking; but, this time I just keep coming back to this websit every morning to help me get closer to that quit date and stay serious. I am really staying conscious of every cig and for myself too I am skipping that morning cig and waiting a couple of hours before I smoke. So, I understand exactly what you are talking about.

[carole_]

We are ditching the smoking, the health risks, the draining bank account keeping up with our fixes, not a life. 🙂 Yes, it can be 'scary' to quit. It's the junkie thinking that puts that fear in the mix. Nothing more. Ask any addict to quit their daily fixes and they'd rather tell you to take a hike. See it all the time on the show 'Intervention' and in our daily lives. It's not until we truly decide that our life, our quality of life, our life expectancy, and our health matters to do something about it. It's a decision. When we stick to it, WOW. The benefits are beyond words. When we realize (very quickly after quitting) that we never needed nicotine for anything, it was all a big lie, a big hoax, a big illusion, as is the case with any addiction, then it continues to get better and better, easier and easier to stay quit. One day, you'll be going about life, and realize, "I didn't even think about smoking today." Then days like that become months, and months become years. YOU CAN DO IT. The whole process is DOABLE. Education like Susan said, very key, or the drug addict will think up any excuse to light up for no good reason at all. Support, like this site, is key too! CONGRATULATIONS ON THE BEST DECISION OF YOUR LIFE!

[kristi4]

Hey I never tried the whole, Lets see if I can do this or that....while smoking..like your not smoking while drinking coffee. So dont beat urself up over that. When I smoked, I said, I smoke!! Then, when I quit. I said, I quit!! I am going to be very honest here. Good for you for choosing a quit method(lozenges). I used the gum. At around the end of week 2, I hadnt had anything at all! My friend chews the gum, so I said Ahh, give me one! Now, I am at 55days. I have tried to quit several times, and have relapsed on gum! Makes no sense. Stupid sense:) My point is, use the lozenges until you really think u can go without them. I think if you are getting in a "comfort zone" with them, then its time to toss them. Comfort is setting urself up for more addiction. coffee,after eat,ect. If u drag it on, u may become more dependent on it like I did. Hey, others quit it just fine. Guess I'm just a whimp. Lol. Okay, enough rambling. If u need anything, u let me knw, I will be here to help! YOU CAN DO THIS. We all did! And LOVE IT! I'm rootin for ya! Bit** slap, nicodemon. Lol.

[joanne4]

Thanks for all your responses. The thing is, I'm more encouraged because like I've mentioned elsewhere, my boyfriend doesn't smoke. At first, when I was with him I'd try to sneak out to have a smoke but not only do I not do that anymore, I don't even bring my cigarettes. Plus I've gone entire days without smoking so I know it can be done. It's just a matter of having to give something up. Even though it's harmful, it's still difficult to let go.

[carole_]

It's only difficult to let go because we keep 'feeding it.' Stop the fixes and the rest will take care of itself. Realize too that we are addicts and there will never be "Just one." One leads to a pack. We don't give up anything, we just stop feeding what keeps us chained, trapped and addicted. www.whyquit.com is awesome resource. I would go entire days without smoking too, I've even gone a week before while on vacation with people that didn't smoke, but I was salivating as soon as I came home and would go buy a pack. I was not ready to accept back then that I was an addict and what that meant. I just thought I "liked to smoke" and "sneaking them" was my way of getting away and "just doing something for me." Yikes. Junkie thinking at its best. I am so glad you have a boyfriend that doesn't smoke. The support will be great for you. YEAH! You are young and beautiful, get rid of this before it really sinks its teeth in and gives you something you wish you could have prevented. As most of us say in our 40's and beyond that continued to smoke, "If we only knew then what we know now." The statistics are too high, your life is too valuable. Stay connected here, blog often, and you are going to do just fine. 😉