time to quit now

[twill1974]

hi. i'm Tricia. i'm 37 yrs old and have been smoking since high school. ive tried numerous times to quit but have failed. this time i really want to quit and need all the support that i can get. i really like this site and i hope i can find the support that i need here. today is my first day quitting. im on the patch. it seems to be doing okay for now but im still having urges to pick up a cigarrette. i know these urges will go away eventually but its soooo hard.

[JonesCarpeDiem]

will you let us help you and follow our directions?

[Alice23]

Yay Tricia!  You can do this and we will help.

The patch is helpful - your determination to not pick up a cigarette is HUGE.

You will never regret the one you never light - so just keep living life with NO regrets when it comes to smoking.  Put the past in the past - and as for your future - keep it SMOKE FREE!

We'll be here for you!

[Dakota_Posse]

Welcome Tricia!

If you want to quit, we'd like to help!  Have you read about nicotine addiction.  Here are some links for sites and reading materials that ALOT of us have read and have based our quits on the information we've gained from reading.  Please spend some time reading...I'd start with Allen Carr's book....after reading the book, I NEVER wanted to smoke again!

http://digg.com/news/lifestyle/Allen_Carr_s_Easy_Way_To_Stop_Smoking_Download_free_PDF

http://quitsmokingonline.com/

http://www.whyquit.com/joel/dayzero.htm

http://www.whyquit.com

Keep blogging and let us know how you're doing!!!  Welcome!

Cindy

[bean5]

This site is instrumental if you want to quit.  I have tried to quit for 10 years, but this website has changed my quitting attitude.  It is important to educate yourself as much as possible, and I recommend this site in order to do so.  I have learned so much about smoking and quitting in the past 2 weeks here.  It is honestly a large part of what has kept me from taking a single puff.  I am happier, more relaxed, and more energetic than I have been in years.  I am going to tell you a secret:  ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING!!!!  You have to remember what a positive thing quitting is.  I don't like to call it "quitting".  I prefer to call it "gaining".  Remember to relax, breathe and whatever you do, do not obssess about smoking--the mind is a powerful thing.  Take back control.  Take back your life.

[_1_]

If you have the motivation this site can provide the education and support.  The cravings are hard at first, but do not fight them or try to change them.  Determined in Dakotas gave you links to some great resources- they have helped so many of us here.

Deep breathing, drinking water and exercise will  relax you when the craves hit. 

Best wishes on your quit.

[jojo29]

hey twill.. Welcome to this site. ur making the right choice,the choice to live. if u have a craving,urge, get busy asap!! u need to believe u can do this, u have to believe u dont want to smoke b/c in reality u dont need to smoke like u think u do. its all about how u think and whats more important to u. its a matterof how strong you are, and always keep a positive attitude. hey I smoked 40 yrs, thats right, 2-3 pks aday, i smoked for everything, always had my SICKORETTES 🙂

the only breaki ever gave my lungs was wen i was sleepin. to bad atthe age of 44 i got copd, but i was stil lbreathing, i was good, soi smoked a few more yrs, but here iam 8 yrs later, at53 yrsold,with stage 4 copd,& end emphysema, lookin at a possible lung transplant,( find out in aug if i qualify) so do u really wana be that smoker who yrs later says wow, if only i had listined??? or the smoker that cant breath,cant walk across theroom.do things with her kids.ihave 4kids,my youngest is 15. so if ur thinkin that b/c uryoung or u have no lung issues right now, thatur safe, ur lyin to ur self,copd dont disriminate,and they are finding it inyounger ppl today like in t here 30s, so thinklong and hard what isimportant,ohyea btw,once u damage urlungs they stay thatway, ucant fix them well ucan do it, exercies,read,blog,yoga, be stronger then theurge,and rememeber itsur life, urlungs, ur control. ur gona live longer and just for today u will not smoke:))) joanne,smokefree 256 days

[Strudel]

Welcome to the site! Congrats on deciding to quit! To prepare I did a lot of reading - blogs here, then the things Cindy gave you - the free course at:   http://quitsmokingonline.com/ and Allen Carr's book.  

Again - welcome! Stick around!

[whiterabbit2]

Welcome! Using this site is really helpful, and it's great you're ready to quit - com'on in, the water's fine:)

[twill1974]

thank you everyone for the great advice. im going on day two with no cigarrettes. i have to admit though ive been thinking about them all day long. ive been trying to keep myself busy and chewing lots and lots of gum. the patch is helping alot. im already noticing that i can breathe better and i smell better too...lol.  my biggest fear is day three because i always seem to fall off the wagon by then. but im gonna do my darnest to stay on that wagon. thank you for all your support and advice.

[sc-m27]

Congrats on making the choice to quit!!!! I have been trying for a while, got on here, set the date and all that, then relapsed multiple times. One of the things to resist the urge to smoke is to keep your hands busy, doing anything really. Might sound kinda silly, but one of the things I did for a while when I "needed" a cigarette was to take a straw, cut it to about the length of a cigarette, hold it between my fingers like on and breathe through it for a few minutes. It kinda helped with the mental part of sitting and smoking, the arm and hand motions and what not. Or when wanting one, just walk around, have a cup of water instead, but keep yourself doing something. Especially things that would be a pain in the rear to do if you were having to hold a cigarette. Keep strong on your quit.