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Nope

Nope

Not today !!!!

NOPE!!!

NOPE!!!!!

NOPE!

NOPE!

For the first time in 37 years, I left the house without a pack of cigarettes two weeks today . I will never forget that day. I felt absolutely lost, empty. That feeling of forgetting something. Haven’t had one puff since That Friday night at 10:30 was my last cigarette. Never woulda thunk it. Thank you quittrain!!

Did I hear my name ???? I can still remember the relief I felt, even if it is over 4 years ago!!!! The people here and this wonderful place are probably the main reason I still have my two feet intact...I know I did the work,but having these folks right behind me , Have me the courage and support to pull it off. No matter how long you have been smoking ,and you quit ,the beniefts start immediately... I knew something was not right,even a numpty like me ,knew my ankles were a massive growing concern... They were getting blacker and sore by the day...I would have this painful itch..I had to scratch ... Before my daughter dragged me to the doctors... I spent my last few cigs..sitting on my back step with tears flowing.... Thinking the worst... Of course was told with no fancy ribbons in a bow...stop NOW...or face amputation of both feet.. I promised my daughter who's tears were slipping down her face ..i would give it my best shot... Very slowly my ankles started to heal,I could walk better... the itch dissapeared.... All I have today is one black area...like a small bruise... I think God has left me this to remind me ,what will happen ,if I took up cigs again....noooo chance.. I always thought because my breathing was fine...I was fine.... Smoking effects so much more than our lungs... This place works... Keep buckled up and sit tight...losing limbs is more uncomfortable... You can do it folks...

Great Job PT! Another monthly milestone achieved. You're really rolling along now plowing through anything the Nicomonster can put in your path. Celebrate your achievement then ..... keep on rollin'

Holy jeez it's only been a couple days and my resting rate dropped from80 to 58. I should start running or something could get that puppy down to 45. ?

Walked 3 miles outside today thinking about going snowshoeing again tomorrow Lisa

8 months.. wow! I’m getting a new big screen at a year. What do you get for 8 months, new audio speakers? No wait, a new Yamaha receiver? New wheels and tires for the truck? A new lawnmower? Motorcycle needs new tires… The wife says I’m taking this reward thing a little too far. Says a new pair shoes will do just fine LOL. (Complied with a wink) Congratulations PT!

Just finished a big breakfast. One of the things I like about a running day is that I can, without even a trace of guilt, load up on carbs. Feeling good and heading for the trailhead here in about a half-hour. Have a good weekend with lots of moving around folks. Edited to add: Did my planned 11.2 miles plus an additional 1.4 miles with some bushwhacking thrown in. Lost the trail at the rock garden, but fortunately picked up another trail that intersects with the loop I was running. Some days you go looking for adventure. Other days the adventure finds you.

I practiced for my grand entry to the Lido Deck pool today! My approach still needs work tho

Hey Katie. Good to see you still hanging around. Like the others have said, it only gets better. Day 13 for me and I honestly don’t remember ever feeling this good. But I’m trying really hard not to let it go to my head. I don’t want to get too confident because tomorrow is another day. That’s not to say I don’t think about a cigarette, because I do. But something I learned around here, that thought goes away pretty quickly. One day, or necessary one minute at a time. They do nothing for us. They contribute nothing to our lives. They take away our money, our health and our time. Hang around. This is a good place.

And it only gets better as your quit goes on. I am on day 16 and I am surprised at what has improved, especially after 40 years of smoking. I was well aware of how the lungs were affected but I was not really aware of the damage it was doing to my cardiovascular system (even though it was told to me and I had read about those negative effects I just was in denial about it). Since my quit date not only has my heart rate gone down but my blood pressure has beginning to really improve. Keep it going it will only get better for you and use this knowledge of how the health benefits are improving for you to get you thru any difficult time, I have and it has really helped.

Nicotine stimulates the reward path in our brain and by replenishing ourselves with nicotine, we were rewarded with Dopamine. Many times a day we went from the panic of, 'I've gotta have a smoke' to 'Ahhh', the brief relief of satisfying addiction. We were jerking our own chain every twenty minutes or so....for years. When quitting nicotine, that dance of our reward system shuts down. It's a shock and we miss the consistent rewarding rush of dopamine. Our brain doesn't understand where all the feel good stuff went so, it is essential to amplify rewards, to jump start our natural pathways for the release of Dopamine. The physical act of rewarding ourselves is crucial for the brain to access Dopamine. It took me a moment to wrap my head around this, The Physical Act of Rewarding Ourselves, Is Crucial For The Brain To Access Dopamine. Our friend, bakon, is a big advocate of rewards, quite rightly, too. Celebrate your first moments, days...your first weeks and months. The first year, the next... This can take the form of exotic holidays, paid with the ducats you were giving to Big Tobacco, to simple gifts to yourself, a new book, a magazine, a film... ooh ! plenty of excellent chocolate passed these lips (dark chocolate, apple, almond, banana, strawberry, salmon, beet, watermelon and pumpkin seeds also stimulate Dopamine). Choose activities that make you feel pampered like the perfect bath, an afternoon nap in freshly laundered sheets, a candle lit dinner. Getting through difficulties and experiencing your triumphs are all opportunities to reward yourself. Keep in mind, you are not spoiling yourself, you are re-training your brain to deliver dopamine as an honest reward. Like quenching your thirst with a long tall cool glass of water. Celebrate as the hours go by, while the body adjusts to the new normal. A normal of being rewarded with dopamine but, naturally, of course, the way it was before we allowed nicotine to control our reward system. I remember the first day that I forgot to think about smoking or not smoking, wow ! this is what being nicotine free feels like ! I was so happy and celebrated by purchasing a small tree, a Sweet Viburnum full of blossoms, a living reminder of my freedom. My continuing reward is the luscious freedom I appreciate every single day. I am in better health and free-er in spirit... Tell me what your rewards have been, my nicotine free friends, what are your rewards now ? S p.s. Along with Dopamine, we can hack into our other happy chemicals to improve the quality of our lives, in addition to aid in quitting smoking/nicotine. All are accessible simply through Meditation; taking time for slow, measured breathing letting thoughts slip away. Exercise and laughter induce the release of Endorphins, Oxytocin flows with orgasm, giving/receiving gifts. Serotonin gets you high when sitting in the sun, hanging with friends and by reflecting on your accomplishments. I would also like to add a link from our friend, Joel Spitzer Using Cigarettes As Rewards

Proud of you girl Ya done good

OMG thanks, you guys!!! I can't believe it myself... but I never once thought about it being my 8th monthiversary today! I had thought about it earlier in the week but not today with it being such a fun day seeing friends and going to the show. More later on that... But you all have been such a help and have made this quit journey a much easier ride than I thought. Thanks to all!

Glad you’re doing well. You help me as well. We all help each other. That’s what’s so great about this place. I’m not sure that I could have made it this far without this forum. We are all doing this! Keep up the good work!

Go Peace Train....... Go Peace Train?

+20!

Keep it going Octain, since were so close to each other on quit date I follow your posts and what your are saying and are doing greatly helps me keep me motivated. Keep up the good work, we can do this.

19

There's no stopping the Peace Train! Awesome job PT. Congratulations.

I'm excited for you because those benefits and health wins only improve over time! You just wait until your self esteem and self worth start kicking in too, those are epic wins when you only expected health and finances. You're doing amazingly. x

8 months already... Aww sweetie...I'm am so thrilled to post this ...this board would not be the same without our PT.. You are a massive part of this community.... I love you lady !!!!!

12.. stopped at Doreens cup of Joe.. lol.. the wait was too long... going back for breakfast tomorrow.

10 Good morning to you! Happy Saturday. Working… Sorta Kinda LOL

Thanks Doreen. You are a inspiration to us all. Congratulations to you also.

Congratulations on your quit, and happy birthday.

NOPE.

Oh my, you'll need to work on that. Not much time left!

I'm not either, Reci and from my pov, yes , it's the common goal which leads to focused interchange concerning a topic that's of paramount importance to all of us. I think there's also something liberating about the anonymity of the site in contrast to the Instagram/Facebook etc sharing of personal photos and minutiae which is of zero interest to me. Yes, there's joking around but the personal information shared largely connects to the goal we all share.

Yes! Hang around & participate as much as you can because every time you post, you are not only helping someone else (even people just lurking here) but you are reinforcing your own quit! That was the idea behind my profile name - reciprocity. More or less equal parts of giving what you can and taking what you need I am almost at the end of my original goal but I can tell you, this place worked for me and I think it works for most if you join in regularly. I know I was blown away by what a powerful tool this site was to me in my quest for a permanent quit. I am not a social media person but there's something really different about this place. I guess the common goal we have?

The benefits begin immediately and accumulate quickly. Trust the process and the process will reward you many times over.

You new quitters are right to focus on the good things you are already starting to realize. Seeing the positives, that last for good providing you stay quit, helps put the struggle of those early days in perspective because, those day don't last that long. Just seem it at the time. Speaking of cardiovascular issues and smoking, ask our Doreen about that. Her story is impressive and scary! You Newbies are doing great! Keep it up

NOPE!!!

Congrats Wendy! Hope you have a great birthday!

Congratulations on your quit and happy birthday.

NOPE!!!

NOPE!

5...hey..am not.............shut up !!!!.......lol.....

NOPE!

NOPE!

NOPE!

NOPE

Not one puff ever again. Its that easy

Ooga, Chaka, Ooga, Ooga, Ooga, Chaka! I can't stop this spanking.