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G’day NOPE .....Not One Puff Ever.... (replace Ever with Min Hour Day as required!)

NOPE!!

NOPE!!!

NOPE!!!!!!!!!!!

Nope!!

NOPE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NOPE!

NOPE!!!

NOPE

Honestly I don't know Cristobal, I've not chatted with him or seen any of his post. However, according to the calendar, Cristobal is 8 years smoke free today. That is an awesome achievement and an inspiration to all newbies. So let's celebrate this anniversary, Congratulations Cristobal!

Huge Congratulations to you both ....8years is Inspirational....

Congratulations Cristobal and to your wife as well

Congratulations on 8 years smoke free, Cristobal. Thanks for all the support that you have given fellow quitters over the years.

NOPE!

NOPE

NOPE!

Maybe you are waiting for an epiphany or for something to happen in order to jump start your quit. If nothing's going on to really motivate you, take Boo's advice and quit cuz it's the right thing to do. Boo is right. Do it cuz it's the right thing to do. You'll thank yourself for it some day in the future.

NOPE!!!!!!

NOPE

I haven't Jillar, I'll send her a PM now.

I've been wondering about her too @JohnQ. Have you tried sending her a pm to check on her?

Does anyone know what's happening with Michelle @idontsmoke ? She used to be very active however she hasn't visited Quittrain for about a month now I think. Hope she's ok.

Because in your mind, you are not ready to accept the reality of the consecequences of your addiction. Unfortunately, many of us chose to ignore the reality of what smoking was doing and smoked for way to many years. We are now experiencing the consequences of our addiction. I smoked for 42 years thinking the benefits outwayed the consequences. The older I became, the fear, shame and health issues all became too real. The only thing the members of this forum want, is the opportunity to save another person from the consequences of smoking. Stick around and get to know us. There is wonderful friendship and lots of help here!

NOPE!

NOPE!!!!!!!!

Not one puff for Thursday...

So sorry to see this Margee, I thought you fit in fine. Hope you decide to try again.

@Margeetx, Anyone and everyone can fit in on this Quittrain. Hope you decide to jump back on the train some day, there's always a seat here for you.

Hello Matthew, First of all, there's not just 1, there are hundreds of meaningful reasons to quit smoking, and every smoker knows them, I'm sure you do too. But all smokers choose to ignore those reasons so that they can continue smoking. I quit and failed many, many times in the past 40 years. The willpower slowly faded away and the many great reasons got replaced by pathetic excuses as the "cravings" get stronger and stronger. The reason you're having a hard time quitting smoking is not that you're lacking willpower or you don't have a good meaningful reason to quit. The reason for failing is the lack of understanding what smoking is all about. It's not just a bad habit, as Doreen already indicated: it's an addiction People don't smoke because they enjoy it, people smoke because they're addicted to Nicotine and they need to feed the addiction, period. For me personally, educated myself is the reason for my successful quit so far. Once I learned about the addiction, I was able to overcome all the cravings (physically and mentally) without relying on "willpower". My only advice is educate yourself about the Nicotine addiction, there are many great materials on this site in the static posts as well as links to other great resources. The understanding about this nasty addiction will enable you to quit much easier than relying on "willpower". Start with the post on "How Nicotine works", then slowly go through all the other materials, the more you read, the better understanding you have, the easier it is to quit. Welcome to Quittrain, hope you stay and enjoy the ride.

Welcome Margee! Hope your first quit days have gone off smoothly. Congrats on taking your health back into your own hands! You know that stopping smoking will do you so much good and reduce your risk profile for all the terrible diseases....so yay!!! And you already know you can do it. Yes, do watch the Joel Spitzer videos to arm yourself with information that will help you stay the course during the beginning days. It's like having your own counselor on recording. Browse the forum. Read as much as you can to stay informed. There are some awesome tobacco documentaries to blow your mind and deepen your resolve to make it through the first days. And games to keep you occupied if you are bored or having a crave. Best of luck on your new quit journey! You got this! We are here to support you.

Wow!!...There is a first time for everything ..!!!! Matthew... You came here asking for help .... Help comes in many ways ....some give hard facts ...thier experience,s.... Some come along and slap you with a feather.... It doesn't matter as long as you get help in your Nicotine Addiction .... If you don't need my help ..that's ok ....take what you need , and leave the rest .

Perhaps the simple answer is you're just not ready to quit yet. I'm guessing that not many people are successful at quitting if they can't find the motivation to do so. Hope you find that answer soon.

NOPE...

I am here too , Covid 19 has made life dull .. I am always looking for vaccine news these days

We're under there I just made you say "underwear"!!

@reciprocity It looks beautiful. I can't believe it is still warm up there. I bet she is a real beauty (your daughter - not the boat)!

Congrats, @Cristóbal! Eight years quit!!! Hope you are celebrating this extraordinary achievement! KTQ!!

Helping the kids haul the boat out of the water for the season. it was so nice out, we couldn't resist going for one last rip on Lake Ontario, just off of Niagara On The Lake! Can't believe my daughter was doing the driving! @Boo take heed; I can remember changing her diapers and reading her bedtime stories and even playing doll-house with her. It happens fast so, relish the moments! Glad I still have a few more to come!

Yes Margee, I hope you're not leaving because of that. As far as I'm concerned it's done and over with. We're here to support you if you decide to stay or come back at a future time.....

I hope you're not giving up your quit @Margeetx. I must admit I was taken aback when you referred to Jill as a buttlicker. Jill was a really good sport about it but you can't blame her for wanting a little more respect. Maybe you'll change your mind and stick around?

Congrats to you, MQ!

I like Johnny5. It always cracks a smile for me whenever I see that fist pump baby, especially whenever he makes a serious post.

G’day NOPE .....Not One Puff Ever.... (replace Ever with Min Hour Day as required!)

And who knows, maybe you'll be presented with an opportunity that is contingent on not smoking. Then you'll be so glad you did it "just because"...for you.

If it seems like we treat quitting smoking like a matter of life and death around here, it's because it is a matter of life and death.

'Motivation is not the spark that keeps you eager to do hard work. It is the RESULT! Real motivation comes after you start.' 'Motivation is the pride you take in the work you’ve done, fueling your willingness to do more.' Write and you become a writer https://medium.com/@sarahcy/motivation-is-overrated-the-motivation-myth-by-jeff-haden-98df2623dcdd

Bope, Focus on the immediate health benefits. Quit Smoking Recovery Timetable Within ... 20 minutes Your blood pressure, pulse rate and the temperature of your hands and feet have returned to normal. 8 hours Remaining nicotine in your bloodstream has fallen to 6.25% of normal peak daily levels, a 93.75% reduction. 12 hours Your blood oxygen level has increased to normal. Carbon monoxide levels have dropped to normal. 24 hours Anxieties have peaked in intensity and within two weeks should return to near pre-cessation levels. 48 hours Damaged nerve endings have started to regrow and your sense of smell and taste are beginning to return to normal. Cessation anger and irritability will have peaked. 72 hours Your entire body will test 100% nicotine-free. Over 90% of all nicotine metabolites (the chemicals nicotine breaks down into) have passed from your body via your urine. Symptoms of chemical withdrawal have peaked in intensity, including restlessness. Unless use cues have been avoided, the number of cue induced crave episodes experienced during any quitting day have peaked for the "average" ex-user. Lung bronchial tubes leading to air sacs (alveoli) are beginning to relax in recovering smokers. Breathing is becoming easier and your lung's functional abilities are improving. 5 - 8 days The "average" ex-smoker is down to experiencing just three cue induced crave episodes per day. Although we may not be "average" and although minutes may feel like hours when normal cessation time distortion combines with the body's panic response, it is unlikely that any single episode will last longer than 3 minutes. Keep a clock handy and time the episode to maintain an honest perspective on time. 10 days The "average" ex-user is down to encountering less than two crave episodes per day. 10 days to 2 weeks Recovery has likely progressed to the point where your addiction is no longer doing the talking. Blood circulation in your gums and teeth are now similar to that of a non-user. 2 to 4 weeks Cessation related anger, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, impatience, insomnia, restlessness and depression have ended. If still experiencing any of these symptoms get seen and evaluated by your physician. 2 weeks to 3 months Your heart attack risk has started to drop. Your lung function has noticeably improved. If your health permits, sample your circulation and lung improvement by walking briskly, climbing stairs or running further or faster than normal. 21 days The number of acetylcholine receptors, which were up-regulated in response to nicotine's presence in the frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital, basal ganglia, thalamus, brain stem and cerebellum regions of your brain have now substantially down-regulated. Receptor binding has returned to levels seen in the brains of non-smokers (2007 study). 3 weeks to 3 months Your circulation has substantially improved. Walking has become easier. Your chronic cough, if any, has likely disappeared. If not, get seen by a doctor, and sooner if at all concerned, as a chronic cough can be a sign of lung cancer. 4 weeks Plasma suPAR is a stable inflammatory biomarker that helps predict development of diseases ranging from diabetes to cancer in smokers. A 2016 study found that within 4 weeks of quitting smoking, with or without NRT, that suPAR levels in 48 former smokers had fallen from a baseline smoking median of 3.2 ng/ml to levels "no longer significantly different from the never smokers' values" (1.9 ng/ml) 8 weeks Insulin resistance in smokers has normalized despite average weight gain of 2.7 kg (2010 SGR, page 384). 1 to 9 months Any smoking related sinus congestion, fatigue or shortness of breath has decreased. Cilia have regrown in your trachea (windpipe) thereby increasing the ability to sweep dirt and mucus out of your lungs. Your body's overall energy has increased. 1 year Your excess risk of coronary heart disease, heart attack and stroke has dropped to less than half that of a smoker. 5 years Your risk of a subarachnoid hemorrhage has declined to 59% of your risk while still smoking (2012 study). If a female ex-smoker, your risk of developing diabetes is now that of a non-smoker (2001 study). 5 to 15 years Your risk of stroke has declined to that of a non-smoker. 10 years Your risk of being diagnosed with lung cancer is between 30% to 50% of that for a continuing smoker (2005 study). Risk of death from lung cancer has declined by almost half if you were an average smoker (one pack per day). Risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus and pancreas have declined. Risk of developing diabetes for both men and women is now similar to that of a never-smoker (2001 study). 13 years The average smoker lucky enough to live to age 75 has 5.8 fewer teeth than a non-smoker (1998 study). But by year 13 after quitting, your risk of smoking induced tooth loss has declined to that of a never-smoker (2006 study). 15 years Your risk of coronary heart disease is now that of a person who has never smoked. Your risk of pancreatic cancer has declined to that of a never-smoker (2011 study - but note a 2nd pancreatic study making an identical finding at 20 years). 20 years If a female, your excess risk of death from all smoking related causes, including lung disease and cancer, has now reduced to that of a never-smoker (2008 study). Risk of pancreatic cancer has also declined to that of a never-smoker (2011 study).

Changing your routines is a big thing when it comes to conquering cravings. This will help by getting your mind off of smoking because it will be processing things in a whole new order without cigarettes. You can beat the nicotine monster just like we all have. It's a little uncomfortable at first by the rewards are so worth in the long run. You got this and we will be here to help support you along the way.