I set my quit date I've tried to quit in the past and nothing worked. Does this program really help you quit smoking.
I set my quit date I've tried to quit in the past and nothing worked. Does this program really help you quit smoking.
Yes it really does work. I especially liked the cigarette tracker. I never realized that I linked so many emotions with my smoking. The trackers help you to become aware of why you are lighting up. It helped me to be more conscience of what I was doing just before I quit. So many many good blogs on this. Please read and educate yourself on this site. This is the key to a successful quit. So many people here to help you. I never thought I could quit when I first came here cause I was always used to failure. I am living proof. 6 years in now. You can do it.
Sent from my T-Mobile 4G LTE Device
yeah, i don't know nothin
HAHAHAHAHA....me, neither
Until everyone wakes up over there in the US and start responding to you, I thought I would just extend a huge and warm welcome. I found this site just over a year ago in January 2017. I followed the start up steps, did a lot of reading here on the site as well as Alan Carr's book "Easy way to quit smoking", set a quit date and didn't look back.
I quit 27Feb2017 and am so happy to report that I've been smoke free for just over 13 months and don't even think about cigarettes anymore.
The work required to have a successful quit was my responsibility - I read A LOT (and still do), visited the site at least once a day to follow everyone else's progress - wrote a lot just to vent sometimes, or to have a chat, other times to share successes, often to ask for advice from all the amazing ex smokers here, following their advice - they really know what they're talking about. It's all about educating ourselves about our addiction to nicotine AND USING THE SUPPORT that is given here freely. I could never have had a successful quit by trying to do this by myself.
I wish you well and look forward to being part of your quit journey.
Blessings
Bree
Thank you Bree19 I am glad to know I found a site with plenty of support.
I can say that the program works if you can follow simple directions and exercise a certain amount of self control. I have recently returned after smoking after nearly two years quit. I now have 18 days of freedom, and I am back on track...following suggestions, and exercising a small amount of self control. The program works as long as we're allowing it to. Reaching out to EX for help, is an outright must to be successful. Welcome to the site.
Pops with 18 DOF!!!
I am smoking again after having a stroke i am now thinking of excuses to put off my quit for anoter couple of days
I had given up before the stroke butwhen i came home i just wanted to tasteanother one just one more puff
And was that puff everything you thought it would be? There is no such thing as just one more puff. Not for us cigarette addicts. It's a potent addiction. And one leads to many. At least you know you're making excuses. When you stop making them and accept the choice to not smoke, you will understand one of the first Freedoms. Excuses and UNDERSTANDING EXCUSES
Hey Ellen, You're back!!! People here were very worried about. I for one was hoping you were on a cruise! Glad to see your back at it!
No cruise...health issues for my body and my computer and I was basically down for the count. I am getting back to life again, thank God. For a while there, I wasn't too sure I was not going to end up in the hospital. Thank you...I really am sorry to have worried anyone. It's my stubbornness that gets them.
XOXO,
Ellen
Welcome to the Ex. Absolutely. I've tried numerous times, but the support and information on this site has made all the difference. Reach out for help when you need it. It's save my quit several times. And sign up for the Daily Pledge each day. It keeps me smoke free one day at a time. Good Luck.
56 DOF
I love all of your posts, and i am so glad you are on this site, Thanks so much for all the time you put in helping people. God Bless you.
It sure does. I tried numerous times to quit. It wasn’t until I got active on this site that I was able to stick to my quit. Today I am 2 years and 8 months quit all because of the support and the people on EX. Hang out with us, read everything, blog and ask for help any time. Welcome!
~Kristen 974 DOF (Days of Freedom)
Welcome plawson to the community, YES this will work, believe in yourself and be willing determined and totally committed to succeed and you can and will be successful one precious Smokefree Day at a time or hour minute or even a second at a time and we're all here to help you in any way we can ,please read everything you can about quitting smoking and remaining quit because there's a wealth of information here to strengthen your resolve to kick the nicotine poison to the curb and start living a life of Freedom ,I'll have 4 years quit the 14th of July and I thank this community of awesome people that helped me through the rough patches and get to where I am today , welcome again .....
I had six serious attempts (more than 7 days without smoking) before joining EX. Previously, I blamed those 6 failures on the Chantix not working, the Nicotine Patch not working, the Wellbutrin not working, etc. I am now 7 days away from being cigarette and nicotine free for an entire year! So does the EX program work? No. It enables you to do the work. And it does it better than any other method I have tried. You really can do this and make it work! I can't wait to follow your progress!
This is the first site I've found that basically is former smokers helping other smokers quit. Try it cold turkey and see if it works for you. If not, then try the patch. Main thing is while you're are completing the Smoking Trigger Tracker Tool | Guides & Tools | BecomeAnEX , you will become more conscious to when and why you light up. Try to put off the next one to cut down before you completely stop. Also please visit Newbie Quitters and read some there and Best of EX. Therein contains some very useful and timeless knowledge saved to share with those that are serious about quitting smoking and also understanding how nicotine works inside our brains and bodies, How Nicotine Addiction takes over (and what to do about it!) . Be sure to use the search feature on the right-hand side of your screen to find answers to questions you may have along the way. I can guarantee you that at some point or another someone at sometime has or had the same feelings you are questioning. There's some really good articles to read. Again, we're just a bunch of former smokers helping other smokers quit and stay quit !!!!
It works only if you work it.
Keep on keepin on,
I was going to say the same, Mike.."It works if you work it".
It absolutely works if you work it. If you use it as a resource and information site as well as a support site you will get the best of eX.
-Michelle
I attribute my success so far in quitting to this site. I never joined any kind of support group before when I tried quitting because I didn't see how it could help. But I was desperate to quit and was willing to try anything when I came across this site. I wish I had come on here years ago. I like how pops put it, "following suggestions, and exercising a small amount of self control" because it's so true. Take the advice of the elders on this site and read read read. When you have a craving get on and blog about it, get a drink of water, brush your teeth. There are all kinds of ways to help get you through cravings some of which you will never of heard of before. We are in this together!
Thank you I can see there is alot of support on this site I like that. I will definitely be on here for support and advice any time I need it or have a craving for a cigarette.
There's even a list of people who have considerable experience under their belt: ELDER'S LIST
Mark
EX Community Manager
It really helps. The craving only lasts a few minutes. Come to the site and read or write how you're feeling The craving will pass and you'll feel good you were able to beat it
Anyone can quit. This site can teach how and give you support but the rest is up to you.
There is no magic cure. Just keep trying
Welcome! Education and Support are what made THE difference in my quit. And there's plenty of both here. You cannot read too much. Chin up and have heart! Quitting is a Skill that CAN be Learned
Welcome Plawson to our community. Does the program work? For me YES YES YES. Before I quit I was all talk about quitting and it never happened until I accidently found this site and the support is great. But like with anything you do, you have to be willing to put work and effort into your quit. Why I think this program works is like Shawn said earlier the tracking your smokes to see what your triggers are. The big thing here to is we are all former smokers and have been through what your about to go through. So we get it, the discomfort, aggitation, frustration and for me I had antsy jittery pants. Everyone here is your cheerleader. We want to see you succeed. Take advice from the elders (people who have been quit 1 year or more) read the newbies blogs it will help you prepare for what your going through. So read everything you can about this addiction. Read Elder blogs as well as they give advice and helpful info as well. Set a quit date, read and get ready for a life changing experience. Feel free ask questions and ask for help when you need it. We look forward to following your journey.
Sharon 726 days smoke free, which I owe all to myself and this site for my freedom.
I smoked for 43 years, and without the tools and the support that you will find right here, I don't think it would have happened. I hope you stick around and give it a good attempt, and if you fail, never quit quitting!
Sandy 233 Days Of Freedom or DOF
Plawson This is an addiction and recovery from this addiction is a journey...it works if you work it. Learn everything you can about nicotine addiction and understand that it has been controlling your every thought, move, and feeling. As nicotine addicts, we stuffed our feelings into cigarettes, we smoked if we were sad, stressed, angry, anxious....we even smoked to reward ourselves. We stunted our emotional growth because we smoked when we should have been learning how to deal with life. Smoking told us when and where to go and made us look for excuses to get away from friends and family who did not smoke. All the while we were feeding our addiction, it was feeding on us, it was taking our breath, causing our skin to age prematurely, making us smell like old ashtrays, convincing us that we could not survive without it. The fact is that we cannot survive WITH it. Read everything you possibly can to educate yourself about this addiction...make a plan, prepare yourself, know that you can come here instead of lighting up. Know that you can grow in ways that you never even considered. Your self esteem and self confidence will grow, you will learn to deal with your feelings and you will learn that feelings are normal...smoking is NOT normal.
We have all been where you are and many of us were terrified to quit, many of us had more failed quits than we can count but once we found EX, we found the tools we needed for a successful quit. We knew that there were no short cuts and that the only way out is through. My mantra when I started was NOPE, Not One Puff Ever. I said it over and over and over again...sometimes silently, sometimes softly, and sometimes out loud. I will not tell you that quitting has been easy or that it has been without challenges but I WILL tell you that everything you need to quit is here...you just have to bring the commitment. Instead of lighting up, sign on and read, comment, ask questions. We all want you to succeed and we are all here to help you. I smoked for 47 years, thanks to EX, I have been smoke free for over 4 years.
Ellen
Perhaps the true questions you should be asking is "how badly do I want to STOP smoking"?
Then everything else will fall in place.....
Miles of Smiles.....and "Welcome"
Nothing will quit for you - but this site is a great place to learn about the addiction and get encouragement and support while you are quitting. It made a huge difference for me. I hope that you will join us!
Facing your quit with support may be just the thing that has been missing. Quitting takes time and having support is one way to face the challenges of quitting --lots of info and consistent support here.
Plawson , well it looks like you got a whole lot of reading to do. When is your quit date? My advice, watch and be ready to handle triggers. The little things that go on in your life that make you think you need a cigarette/cancer stick. Welcome to Ex, the support is on spot!
Irish Rose
I attribute BecomeanEX with saving my Life! 8 Years 1 Month 2 Weeks 4 Days 16 Hours 25 Minutes and counting.....
But I did my part, too!
So----here we are. We are all EX smokers who are here to offer help and support. No one is a doctor or an expert or anything other than an EX-Addict---or more correctly a recovering addict. As you can see we are all about education on this site. You have to know the enemy in order to beat it. Do all the readings suggested. I particularly like whyquit.com but all of the sites are equally interesting reading. THIS SITE? This site has the most supportive community you will ever find for quitting smoking. And be ready because you will also find life long friends here.
Welcome to EX----we are all here for each other.
This site works if you work it. You must be really ready and to be ready you need to be prepared. You need to UNDERSTAND the why behind the quit.
Knowledge is power. Educate yourself by reading the suggested material on this site and read many of the posts on this site. You will find people who have similar quit stories as yours that you can relate to.
The bottom line is, you do this for you first...not because someone else thinks you should quit.
I wish you the best. This is a fabulous community of support. Take what you need and leave the rest, someone will always take your leftovers. Welcome and I hope we see you around
A lot of good stuff above me here! All will help you quit and stay quit! But, one more thing.
When you quit smoking everyone in your life is your cheerleader! They really want you to succeed! A few weeks later they forget you! They think it is over! You did it! Not true! You have an addiction, and the rest of your life you will be one puff away from a pack a day! Or more!
What makes this place work, is the on going support you will find here! 24/7/365! There is always someone to provide the support you are going to need!
I smoked 44 Years! At times 3-4 packs a day! I have been Free for over 8 Years! It is because of the support of many of the people reaching out to you now! And many more!
Sit down, strap in, and get ready for the greatest ride of your life! You can do this! We will help! Tommy
I would not be at 789 DOF (days of freedom today) if it were not for the EX community. Like many said here, I was all talk about wanting to quit, but I was so scared of loosing something (what, one would ask, the poison killing me???), not realizing it was the addiction which held me down. Once I passed the first couple of weeks I felt free. There is work you need to put into it, but the rewards are hard to even quantify. It is a journey, but not a constant battle, if you learn about how the addiction works, and what it is which will help you keep going. Stay, read, learn, and get ready. When that happens, you will be one of us, and everyone here will do their best to keep you moving forward.
Make the move, it will be the best decision about your health you will ever make!
I never tried without this site. I am now smoke free for 1,200 days after smoking for 18,250 days. Its working for me!
Congratulations!
YESSSS! I would NOT be on 111 DOF without the wonderful support I have here. You have to do the work but you realize you have the greatest support system here. We all need to feel encouraged and supported. When we are not strong, others help us to stay the quit. Welcome!! You have come to the right place. It’s an online support family
Barb
Yes it worked for me but you must work it ! Free for 1,187 days and I was a 52 year smoker ! Stay with us !
Welcome and please keep coming BACK....You gotta want to quit using your drug...nicotine....for you Pawlson...just for you....not anyone else.
Welcome. You have come to the right place. I smoked for 52 years. I tried to quit numerous times. I was unsuccessful until I found Ex. I will have 5 years in October. You can do this!
Finishing my 2nd day of Week 2 This is a great support system. It helps me to take my mind off the urge or craving. It gets better as time goes by. But like anything else, you have to want it for it to work. Good luck. You got this!
Pawlson this is your life line (and mine). I read, as suggested by members in this group, Alan Carr's book about the easy way to quit smoking. It changed my life and rearranged my thinking about the "losses" I would suffer if and when I quit smoking. It helped me with the loneliness I always felt when I quit smoking. Lonely for my closest and dearest friend, my pack of cigarettes. I did not suffer nearly as much this way, so was it the easy way? It worked for me! I am 69 and smoked for at least 50 years. I quit the same time as 2 of my friends. One came on this sight with me but did not continue to engage here. She lasted 2 days and she has not visited this site again. The other friend used Chantix off and on because she just wanted to smoke a little (now we know that doesn't work). She is back up to 2 packs a day and she wont even look into this site even though she sees my success through this method. I'm sure there's an explanation. If there is a part of you that really wants to stop smoking, let that part run the show and stay put. That's my 2 cents. I wish you the best!
Hi Sandy, Thank you and congrats to you too! Honestly, I don't know from day to day. just today is where I'm at.
That is the way to take it, O.D.A.T. It gets easier day by day! Aside from being here throughout the day, I really don't think about it much!
Although this morning, it seemed like everyone I saw walking here and there, all were smoking! As if I were not in the loop, because I don't! Weird! But I maintain daily! Have a wonderful smoke free day my friend! Keep rockin it!
This is a great resource, it keeps you motivated to quit. I found this website when I decided to quit, you have a lot of support . You will still go through all the emotions of quitting, be strong ,you can do it . I'm 4 months smoke free!!!!
I am on day 13 I could not make it with the support of this family, I hope you will give it a chance.
Two sets of holidays and hurdles and you can do it! That’s what I’ve learned on here and that’s what I’m focused on.
its hard.
and yanno it’s supper great since finding this forum for me because now I have sooo many friends planning to quit, have already quit, fell of the quit wagon. Friends and mentors that just make me feel strong and not alone in those hard moments or on the hard days. It’s Been my lifeline
Plawson now looking back 150 days, can you say that whether or not EX works?
Mark
EX Community Manager
I think the people on this site is what makes EX work. All the tools are on EX, but it's the fellowship of all of us who make up this site, and the experience of the ones who quit so long ago, but remain on this site, dedicated to help each and every one of us who come aboard, reaching out to hold a hand or reaching out to grab a hand in need.
The people, my virtual family, all you guys make this site what it is today.
Irish Rose
YES..this site works! Amazing, supportive ex's, who by the way have experienced EVERYTHING you are going through, and have wonderful understanding and caring support. I think back to my early months of quitting ...which was absolutely horrible, unbearable, and thought I would go insane, blogging was so therapeutic. I would say probably within 6 months the craves subsided, thn came change of seasons with challenges. There would always seem to be a familiar reason to smoke..I hurdeled each one successfully with a great sense of pride! You know what..those elders were RIGHT...it will pass. It's surprising how YOU are in control, NOT the cigarettes. Take one day at a time...be proud of each successful day. You will be smoke free before you know it!!
I have been smoke free a little over 2 years. A couple months ago, I suffered a stroke, 99% blockage in left carodic artery. Can you imagine recovering from surgery craving a cigarette that most likely caused the stroke! With that said, if ever I get a crave, I have a scar to touch and remin me, I am successful, blessed to be amazingly recovered and healthy.
One day at a time!!!
~Kathy 909 DOF
In 2 words, Hell Yeah.
Just jumped in here to add a blog that Bree put up as she references this one. And it's a great blog in saying YES, EX works, if you work EX. 600 Days? How did I do that?
Thanks G! ALWAYS appreciate your support.
xxxx
jonescarp.aka.dale.Jan_2007 elvan Marilyn.H.July.14.14. Youngatheart.7.4.12 Thomas3.20.2010 Giulia pir8fan ShawnP Jennifer-Quit-05-01-14 cyn9 smorgy8513 Strudel TerrieQuit Pops Daniela-3-11-2016 JACKIE1-25-15 c2q crazymama_Lori maggie_quit_8-1-2010 Marcie_free_since_4-4-11 shashort
Could probably answer this question for you .
Mark
EX Community Manager