happy sunday morning!

[jlmh67456]

wishing everyone a beautiful spring sunday morning!  i'm a newbie still (to my forever quit) just on day 10 today.  had a tough yesterday, wasn't in a great mood so found the stress of the situation making me want to smoke more than anything else has thus far.  but i didn't, i did do an awfully lot of deep breathing lol.  today will be better. in some respects i almost feel like this quit has been "cheating"... my doctor prescribed wellbutrin to get me motivated and to quit smoking.  i know the med doesn't work for everyone but i'm very happy with how this has helped with several things.  it's NOT a magic pill, you have to want it.  but, it sure makes squashing the cravings much easier.  my last quit which only lasted 10 months (started smoking the day my best friend died) i'd have to go outside, walk around my house a time or two; breathe breathe breath, and it really really sucked...when i get that wanting to smoke now - i just say N.O.P.E., take a deep breath and literally the crave is gone that quickly.  THANK YOU DR. AHMED!  who knew?  so yeah, i don't necessarily like being on the medicine however - i believe this is healthier than smoking the 1 pack + a few daily (i had been on the increase) and the paralized feeling i had been experiencing (lots of longs stories).  anyway - i'm feeling rather strong.  keeping positive and still taking a one day at a time approach.  oh and this quit is the first time i've acknowledge and treated this for what it is - an addiction.  period.  N.O.P.E. is my only hope.   I seriously know i'm "one puff away from a pack a day".....  i can't ever smoke ever.   enough of my babbling - wishing everyone a happy easy smoke free wonderful spring day!  enjoy!

[crazymama_Lori]

congrats on day 10 !!!!

[Niebauer7]

You are exactly right, there is no magic pill, it is self discipline.  Don't let any pill take the credit, it was all you that made it this far.  Take pride in that.  It shouldn't matter HOW we quit, just that we DID. Keep up the good work.

[JonesCarpeDiem]

You aren't cheating by not staying addicted to nicotine!

And you aren't cheating yourself by self dosing whenever you get the urge to smoke.

How could it be cheating?

[crazymama_Lori]

gosh, don't think of it as cheating that you're taking Wellbutrin.  think of it as a tool, a helping hand.  I never could have done it without my nicotine patches.  I tried cold turkey.  it never worked for me.  I had too much of an emotional attachment to smoking.  I used the patch as a tool to get over that attachment first and then dealt with the physical part.  That's my story and I'm sticking to it 😉

[YoungAtHeart]

Welcome to our community!

Congratulations on TEN days!  You are on your way!

Have you been around the site for awhile and done the recommended reading? If not, I have given you the links below. 

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 highly recommend Allen Carr's “The Easy Way to Stop Smoking.” This is an easy and entertaining read. Here is a link to a free PDF version of it:

http://media.wix.com/ugd/74fa87_2010cc5496521431188f905b7234a829.pdf

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.

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!  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

[Christine13]

Many Congratulations on 10 days quit.  You take credit for what you are doing.  Keeping quit!!  Just glad you have the tool wellbutrin!

I am using the gum.

You're on your way to freedom!!  Horray!!!

[cpsono]

Big congrats on day 10!  Whatever works to make you a non-smoker and make you stay a non-smoker is AOK.  It's not cheating to get help with that.  I took chantix for 12 weeks and that is what worked for me--I knew I would NEED help; I'm sure I couldn't have done it without help.  So now here I am at almost 11 months free and so happy with my decision.  You are doing great...keep it up!  CP

[TerrieQuit]

Hello, and Welcome to EX! We are so glad you are here! Congratulations on day 10! You are doing great!This is a great place to quit smoking. You have been given links to great information and good advice above. Please do the readings and listen to the Elder's (folks with 1 year + quit) They know a lot about this addiction. Education, willingness to do whatever it takes not to smoke, determination and commitment are the keys to a successful quit!

I would like to recommend a group (that is featured on our home page) called The Daily Pledge Group. It's fun and will help reinforce your commitment not to smoke!

Just click on the link below and scroll down and take the person's hand before you and promise not to smoke! You can state your # of days, post a picture or whatever you want! This is your quit be proud of it! Please join us!

http://community.becomeanex.org/pg/forum/topic/8309395/let-the-nicodemon-be-the-april-fool/

Hope to see you there!    Terrie

I Won't Quit on my Quit!

[joedice711]

congrats on 10 days..that is awesome...keep on keeping on...

[Giulia]

Not cheating.  Cheating is takinig a half a puff here and there.  Love "NOPE is my only hope!"  You've got the quit attitude that will get you through.  And recognizing that this is indeed an addiction is a bit a wisdom that will goe a long way.  kudos on the 10 Days!  You're doing it all - right!

[Legend]

Congratulations on 10 days you are doing great!!!