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Growing up in the 70's and 80's of course I had heard all of the talk about cigarettes being a "health hazard". As a thirteen year old this meant little to me as I snuck around getting cigarettes from wherever I could and hiding wherever I could to get my little fix. I was already addicted and I used to hang my head outside the toilet window and smoke. As if no-one knew. They knew they just didn't know what to do about it and neither did I, even at that early point I knew I was hooked. While I wasn't pleased about being hooked, I did seem to enjoy them. In fact I seemed to enjoy them a whole LOT! First thing in the morning I'd dream of my morning cigarette even before I climbed out of bed. This ritual continued for 30 years. Every now and then I would think I'd need to give up smoking. I'd try, fail and then rationalise that I seemed to be breathing ok so maybe I would get away with smoking without bad consequences. At 40 years old I did regular kickboxing classes and I could kick the asses of a lot of people who were younger than me. I continued to think if I kept physically fit, smoking would not hurt me. I was wrong. At forty I injured my back and then developed a disease that affected my joints. I could no longer work out and walking even was tough at times. I did all of the therapies I could to help myself but struggled with quitting smoking. Seven years on and I am approaching 50. I finally kicked smoking but have lingering effects of 30 years of smoking. I seem to be paying more than the mere monetary cost of cigarettes which mind you is almost the cost of rent at $360 per fortnight for a pack a day habit. My health is not good but it's not quite bad enough to get disability support. I've cut down my working hours so I don't have a full income. I never did pay off a home or save much money due to a lifetime of slavery to an addiction. I've reached a point where I should be slowing down due to health issues yet I can't due to my financial situation. Smoking seriously impacted my finances long term. It is only occurring to me now what all those years of smoking really did cost besides money. Seriously, my health to some degree, my ability to support myself (feel safe and trust in my own abilities). I've not included in this the extra odd wrinkle. If this post sounds negative, I make no apologies. It is reality. Only 10 years ago I thought I had everything sorted, with good health and the ability to look after myself. Would things have been easier if I'd have stopped then? Perhaps, I can't be sure. While I always avoid lecturing people, I think in this area I've somewhat earnt the right to lecture. So youngin's listen up (and us dumb older ones) do not continue to smoke if you are smoking and do not have the first one if you are quit. You may regret it more than you can know at this point in time. I also wanted to mention that I am doing well despite the trials I have had. I have a pretty full life. I work, have lots of friends and am also doing uni. I look after myself with a great diet and am hoping this will serve me into old age. While I don't kickboxing, I do yoga and ride my push bike and the elliptical at the gym.

Telling the truth, uncomfortable as it may be, is not the same as lecturing people. "Better a cruel truth than a comfortable delusion." --Edward Abbey

Rumors that I started smoking again is simply Fake News!! Nope!

What the heck was I so afraid of? Why did I think I was not strong enough to beat smoking without nicotine help? Nothing physically hurt, the craves came and went, now I get a couple craves a day, but I fall back on what I learned and this forum - WE are stronger than any crave; you believe in me and I believe in you who have gone before me - what unbelievable power. I was so afraid. I thought I was weak. Now here I am thinking of having a cig several times a day and enjoying saying NOPE...NOT TODAY. I don't Like nicotine, I like being Smoke free, I like being free, I like not thinking about when and where I will have my next cig as I am putting out the last one. I do still think of cigarettes about 2 hours a day, but it is time i am reprogramming my brain. A little voice tells me to Smoke just one. Begins telling me how good it will be and no one needs to know. Weirdest most craziest thing in the world. I try to tell myself lies about smoking???? just one: Can't dummy. i am an ADDICT. ok then, just a puff: cant dummy i am a addict. And i dont like to Smoke anymore. I like myself. So go away...you are not welcome here anymore. Nope. it will be good, just like the good old days Heh. I am onto the lies , nicotine. Busted. It was never good. Smoking hurt my lungs, my heart, my mind, my life. There is not one good thing nicotine gave or did for me. Bye bye nicotine. Leave. I don't want you, I don't like you. Go now. No one needs to know that you just had one Now that I am awoke to my addiction I would know. And that is all that really matters. I cant hide it from myself anymore or live in denial. I am stronger than a crave, you are not a command, you are a liar and you want to control me You want to kill me Some friend you are No way of romanticizing you cig I don't Know if I will ever be free of thought of cig, but I do know that I AM strong enough to keep that thought from becoming real. I am kind of enjoying this "battle" and learning from each round. Yeah, it may be tough when I am in the throes of it, but IF it gets too tough for me, I have you, so I am not Afraid any longer. I hope you are all having a wonderful, Smoke free weekend full of many deep breaths.

G'day NOPE to start the day C

NOPE!

Nope!

I never smoke on Saturdays!

NOPE!

NOPE

G'day it's NOPE from me C

Good morning to all my fellow NOPErs from a cold, wet Melbourne. Today is a super important day... today is International Nurses Day! Sharing the anniversary of Florence Nightingale's birth (my first ever hero who wasn't a stick) International Nurses Day is when we recognise and thank nurses for the amazing and wonderful work they do. Doctors might treat but nurses care and cure. Often under apreciated and abused nurses, chick or blokes, are the heart and soul of any health system and so today we achnowledge our wonderful caring nurses with a big thank you. To all our nurses in here .... we love ya work. and now..... its time to do the pledge because will I smoke? There will only ever be one answer to that: NOPE!!! Topic of the day: Your heroes.

NOPE!!!!

#NOPE

NOPE!

NOPE - Smoking sucks!

Great post Givvy... and just think they are going up again another 5% in June. I am sorry your health has suffered. Hopefully things will improve and you never need to take the disability pension. Does you super have a provision for a partial pension for disability if you have to work part time. I know my dad's did when he had to look at the option.

GITW, thanks for a great post. I'm sorry that your health has suffered in the way that it has. It is easy to look back on our younger selves with some level of disappointment or regret. I think all our experiences bring us to where we are today and that summed up in your post is someone who has a great set of friends, is looking out for themselves both physically and mentally and can do all that and pass on wise advice. I shudder to think of the costs, financial and physical, of 35 years of smoking. So for now I won't. Onwards with our new, improved selves.

NOPE

Yes these things happen and jillar when u mentioned it being windy and your asthma acting up recently on here i heard something similar from my mother. The body does heal but we all did damage, its a good thing we're all aware of it now.

I'm sorry your health has suffered, mine has too. But we can't look back at the what ifs. I smoked for 35 years, rode dirt bikes and quads and my first business was a cleaning business that I had for twenty years. I too thought I was invincible. It wasn't until I turned 50 that my breathing started to suffer. And by 52 it was pretty much quit or plan on an oxygen tank. We just need to be glad that we woke up and saw the light right? So I hope this post helps just one person stay quit or decide to quit. Thank you for sharing givein....

NOPE...

Happy Mother's Day NOPE.... not today, not tomorrow, not ever, forever.... Topic of the day: Sundee Slang Spectacula

NOPE....

NOPE!!!!

I'm sure all us long term smokers ,wish they could turn back the clock...my 52 year smoking career.,near cost me my both feet I can honestly say I feel better now than 10 years ago... Have I dodged the bullet ..I don't know.. G !!! We can only live what time we have left happier ,healthier as a non smoker.. Upward and onwards...

Good morning. NOPE!

Good morning. I pledge NOPE today.

It Saturday, my head is banging, I wonder why....?

Nope!

We have several quitters here on the Train who are in the earlier stages of the quit. Godspeed newbies. I'm noticing some recurring themes and thought I would put in my two-cents. Quitting is simple if you don't complicate it. Quitting doesn't demand that you do anything. You're simply refraining from doing something you used to do. It makes no demands on your time and it's free. Don't stick a cigarette in your mouth and light it on fire. One-step and done. "I quit, but I still want to smoke." Of course you do, particularly in the early days. Old habits alone are hard enough to break. Throw addiction in the mix and now you've got yourself a situation that is going to want to hang on for a while. Be patient with the process and cut yourself some slack. If you wanted to smoke but didn't...congratulations, that's how you build a quit. "I want to get to that place of freedom." Look around; are you sure you're not already there? You used to smoke and now you don't. That's freedom. Some are celebrating making it through their first week others are commemorating five years. Just because someone started their journey before you doesn't mean you're not on the same trail. You've done a great thing for yourself, you quit smoking. You are already right where you need to be. Congratulations newbies. You've committed to a process that will reward you many times over. Take pride and enjoy the ride.

Nope

A big Saturday NOPE from me.

This dumb oldie heard and appreciated your words if wisdom give. Thank you. And I am sorry that your health is suffering.

Boo, this is brilliant. I think this may be a light bulb moment for me (yeah I can be slow on the uptake sometimes). I've been wanting to feel motivated all the time, but you're right, it's first and foremost a commitment to ourselves.

Welcome to the quit train Mike I have also found a recent rough patch due to just life sh*t! We get by that stuff if we really want to and certainly doing that is much better and easier than starting over again. I'm going to do what I need to in order to stay quit. You are welcome to join me if you like?

~ 35000!

Almost 3,000 -- this just blow me away that I smoked that much (it would have been more but I had gone from 2 pack a day to 1 pack a day a few months before my quit)

Congratulations Seren! 2 months smoke free is fabulous You are building a really solid quit now. Be sure to treat yourself with something a little special for all the hard work you have invested in yourself!

And for those of you celebrating without your mum's this year I send a big cyber hug... and remind you to focus on the positives, remember all the joy, wonder and happiness she gave you and how big a part she played in making your the wonderful person you are:

#NOPE

Kids were easily pleased in the 70s!

about 6400 from me. Holy crap that is a lot of cancer sticks.

Thank you for your post, Give. Be proud of your beautiful quit.

Nope. Smoking is not an option.

You are young pharte ? I think I know what you mean, one can’t be constantly enthusiastic and small changes often don’t look spectacular. As a results, the road to freedom isn’t rainbows and unicorns, miracles don’t happen. But it’s worth it, regardless how angry we are, it is worth it

Motivation is overrated. Enthusiasm waxes and wanes. Commitment and relentless forward progress may not be sexy, but they'll make you damn near unstoppable. Never take freedom for granted.

Sazerac you are right on. A crave is NOT A COMMAND! That has been very helpful in my quit. For you newbies you get really strong and good at letting craves pass. It does get easier with time. I also have turned to exercise early in my quit and it’s been the best thing for me. If you can replace smoking with exercising it creates a healthy new habit. I go to the gym now as easily as I used to light a cigarette. It’s a healthy powerful habit. I have hit a bit of a rough patch as of late and this happens. It was smooth sailing for the past 5 months and it just got hard. This is when you must absolutely “protect” your quit which is why I reached out for support. I will do whatever it takes to continue my quit. Btw, if you suffer from anxiety smoking does not help but makes it far worse!