The Basics

[JonesCarpeDiem]

Realize there will be changes being made. This is natural when we give up a daily addiction ..

Promise yourself that you will not smoke.

Do not keep an emergency pack. (what the hell is the emergency that is going to "make you" smoke?)

Learn as you go. There is no need to be fearful. Take control. If you won't, who's going to?

Find something else to do when you get a craving.

Let an ice,cube melt slowly in your mouth, bite into a lemon, laugh out loud. (GUARANTEED CRAVE BUSTERS)

You're going to be on a rollercoaster of emotions for 2-3 weeks. (Think of it as a bad cold on disorienting drugs)

Other "Dopamine Relief" comes in many forms. Laughing/Food/Sex/Chocolate/Exercise/Music smoking

At a month you're going to feel like you've "made it."

And you have. You've made it a month! WOO HOO!!

Now comes the part they don't highlight or barely mention on other sites.

THE NEXT 100 DAYS IS WHEN MOST PEOPLE LOSE THEIR QUIT

they get cocky and think they can have "just one."

130 Days

Promise yourself you will live 130 days from your last puff and just see if your head is not in a much better place than you imagined.

Positive side effects?

More when you need it.

Decreasement (new word) in slow suicide by tobacco assisted death.

The blinders come off. You see things for what they are.

[Brenda_M]

Very concise and clear and well-put. Thanks for posting this!

[Nyima_1.6.13]

Thanks, I posted a comment but it isn't here. Happening to me a lot lately! Hope I'm never too close to the edge when I come to this site! jeez

[jdc1953]

Thanks!

[Nyima_1.6.13]

EMERGENCY PACK?? FYI, if you kept so much as an emergency butt, this is not your final quit.....you are only in between smokes!

[erma2]

 i  never posted a comment until now  you gave me much insight .thanks a lot erma in ohio

[erma2]

 i  never posted a comment until now  you gave me much insight .thanks a lot erma in ohio

[Brenda_M]

Mags, I love that!

[family-first]

But I wont ever get too cocky this time...my slip was well afetr 130....I will always have my guard up!

[Quit-1-12-13]

Nice post.  

NML does not scare me. It would have scared me had I known about it the last time I quit. This time, I know I can do this. 🙂

[Joan_01-02-2015]

Thanks so much for your post - I am only on day 5 and really struggling - tired and taking lots of deep breaths.  Did anyone else just want to sleep when they were starting their quit?  I slowed way down on caffeine two weeks before my quit date so it is not that.  All I know is your  post is wonderful, encouraging, and thank you!

[msterling999]

Thanks for the basics --- I agree completely!

[bella45]

Thank You this makes me think I might actually be able to do it this time

[mary242]

thank you, thank you, thankyou!!! I KNOW I will never smoke again N.O.P.E.!!!

[cderrick13]

Thanks for posting these. The reminders are exactly what Ineed.  In the fog, these basic things are so easy to forget.  I love the analogy of a bad cold on disorienting drugs because that exactly how I feel. A little relieved its not just me.. 🙂 

[lilacsareblue]

Thank for for writing.  It seems the more I read, the stronger I become.  I am just beginning day 8.  Yippee!

[kshields59]

Thank you for writing; this advise will be with me, and help me be stronger, since i started step 2 a couple weeks ago, the sneaky craves love to attack when least expected. This meaasage is what i need to read over and over.  now more relaxed, after reading this. 96 smoke free, I will NOT ruin those  beatiful days of being smoke free. The more i continue reading, the better i feel. Love ya!

[tiffanyann2]

Thank You for your post. It is helpful to me. It has been two months for me and I feel great. My leg no longer fall asleep on me. And the only time I cough is when I'm sick. I hope that one day I will be able to post helpful posts myself

[sharon2009]

Very informative thank you very much~

[xbabybluez]

Thanks for the post, today is my day 1.

[teresapea]

Thank you Today is my first day also!!

[tonik30]

Thank you for posting this, I have read twice and both times it has helped!

[freeneasy]

Thanks for this-Just stopped by to checkout your update. I had read it before but it's good to refresh my memory.

[grandmashell]

I loved this post, please keep them coming!

[rabbitcity]

I'm confident in my own mind i could mkae this quit date happen or maybe before i see my doctor in a couple weeks they wold be pleased...Thanks for thesupport i hope we all can be together someday and meet after one year of smoking or more and have a get together.. Because if we hang out in the smoking area we can mingle without a smoke in our hand. Just a thought for  the cource of our recovery from death of a cig.

[sdarbegast2]

Everyone keeps talking about this nicotine addiction.  True, it is an addiction and this is a virtual meeting just like NA and AA. I've been clean from cocaine for 22 years, now I find myself facing this addition but in my mind it seems harder to quit.  I guess because cigarettes are sold in just about ever store.  As my quit day gets closer, I find myself filled with fear.  Can I do this, this time or am I doomed to fail?  But as recovery goes it can only be a one day at a time deal, so thanks for posting this and reminding me of the old saying "Just for today". 

[alderdice]

this is day one--unplanned!  Husband quit about 5 years ago, and he used Zyban.  I tried Zyban, and it made me crazy!  He got out of the hospital today and said he was done smoking.  I had an instant severe panic attack.  Last time he quit, I decided to to a cut down method.  It was going well--I was down to a few cigarettes a day.  Meanwhile he gained over thirty pounds in just a couple of weeks.  I had to scramble to find him sork shirts and have the office logo appliqued on.  Budget buster!  I had full responsibility for dealing with mother-in-law who flat-out refused to refrain from smoking in my care--she couldn't drive.  Drove me batty!  Once I left her at a doctors office and ran out of the buildng--she was scolding me for being crabby!  I called my husband on his cellphone and told him to come get his *&^%$ mother.  He was 45 miles a way on a service call.  I bought one cigarette from an employee on a smoke break.  Then I sat down and smoked it and cried.  I felt like a total failure.  After that, I tried to get back on track.  Became so depressed that I started obsessing on suicide.  Things are different now--I'm no longer in the middle of menopause.  I'm on a more even keel.  However, I'm still depressed.  Seven or so years ago, my husand lost all interest in sex.  He says it's not me.  I don't entirely believe him.  I am scared to death that I will no longer be able to love him--there is no passion at all in our relationship.  I've hiddend all the ash trays and put away all the extra packs of cigarettes.  I've taken three Xanax (.5 mg.)  I feel better, but still scared.  I need a shrink, but it's out of the questiom!  (Money).  I'm fighting the urge to to run away from home.

[carla-d]

Well stated...Thank you. Day 5 for me!

[luisdeleon619]

thank u post

[luisdeleon619]

love new life been 44 days  without no cigg 

[rabbitcity]

thesource of difference from the pros and cons wil i write something that evryone thinks i'm not trying hard enough. i'm doing my best. Give me a break! Why is everyone picking on me. Maybe i'm just having a bad day ,I'll try to be more positive.

[beverly4]

Thank you! You are so confident and encouraging at a time when I need it most. Love & hugs, Beverly

[SarahP]

How did I miss this blog?? I need to check the "home" page more often. Great messages, Dale!  

[brian123]

Thank you.  I needed this reminder and I learned about the ice, lemon and LOL which I never knew.

[CrazyQuitter]

"Just one" Just doesn'ty cut it. "Just one" is enough to trigger it all off again.

Thanks for the advice, Dale! Great to see you here as always! hugs!

[turk56]

thank you  all