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Hello everyone. I just want to thank you all and announce that Anita(my wife) and I are 50 days Nicotine-FREE!! She quit cold turkey and I have about one month of patches. Last time Anita didn't commit to quitting and I went on the journey alone. This time we both quit and for good! Wish us luck as we go forward. Thanks. I'll pop in every once in a while to keep you all posted.

Yesterday I got a bed frame delivered and decided to put it together. It's one of those frames where you don't need a box spring just a mattress on top. Well it took me two hours to finally get it right. Something a 10 year old could probably have done in half an hour. But when I finally finished and sat down I realized that the whole time I worked on that frame I never thought of a cigarette. That for me was a first. First time without the constant thought of cigarettes felt so good. So I got out of my pajamas today and decided to find things to do to focus on something other than smoking. Staying busy does help.

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

NOPE!

NOPE…

Great job, Sunshine. Enjoy your new bed setup (I'm impressed) and those smoke-free thoughts.

@Sunshine Good for you!! Hope you find something fun to do.

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

One thing that has helped me is singing the No No song by ringo starr. Maybe you remember it, it goes: No no no no, I don't smoke it no more I'm tired of waking up on the floor No thank you please it only makes me sneeze And then it makes it hard to find the door. Now I've added a little fun into my quit. Try it you might like it!

Staying busy AND productive does help. Not only does it distract us from the craving but we begin to feel better about ourselves. I'm glad you are doing well!

Congratulations to you both!!!

This is wonderful news @Sal and wife! We are here if you need us! KTQ!!!

Awesome!!! Congratulations on your 50 days smoke free @Sal and Mrs Sai

"Two puppies!" I love the idea! I've been thinking about it, too. Sofia had an expensive year with surgery, but for my 3-year anniversary...there just might be another puppy in Sofia's and my future! The puppy in this photo (in the chair, purple cover) is Sophia, aged almost 8 years old. The tiny dog my son is holding in the palm of his hand in my ... what do you call it, an avatar photo? is Marius, who passed away four years ago, today, at age 13, of heart failure.

I remember when you first joined and were unsure that you could do it. Then Mrs. Sal said she would join you. Like they say, many hands make light work, two heads are better than one, true love always wins. I am so happy for the both of you!

Nope!

This is awesome @Sunshine! What a glorious day this has turned out to be for you. I hope that you have many more!

Yay @Sunshine, I'm happy for you! That first realization that smoking thoughts DO go away eventually is awesome!

Congratulations. That is amazing.

Nope Congratulations @NOPEster for your 5 years smoke free!!

NOPE!!

NOPE

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Congratulations ,you are both doing wonderful....

NOPE!

Congratulations Mr and Mrs Sal. Great job

Thanks everyone. Oh I am having a time of it today. Craves are strong at times but just having that first realization that there is some relief at times is so worth the effort

Good for you. Its nice when you first realise there have been no thoughts of smoking. Your doing so well

Well done Sal and Anita. Congratulations

Nope... I am stronger than the addiction!!!

Nopester here, from long ago. I’m still not a smoker. FIVE years!!!!!!!! You guys helped me so much with quitting cigs. I was 2 1/2-3 packs a day. I cannot tell you how happy I am now. thank you

Nope

Kdad I really don't have much advice to give you except to hope that this time you fight really hard for that sticky quit.

Sometimes the train makes unscheduled stops and then you get to ride along time without interruption. Check the maps for your destination to get on the right platform. You will get there then.

What they said. It does get easier but it won't so long as we cave to the crave. Have patience with yourself. Know and trust that it will pass. I think we can trust @jillar and @Doreensfree on that score. I am experiencing much more freedom these days so I can safely represent that. But I don't know (yet) what it feels like to be fully out of the woods. I am very vigilant. Spent about an hour on here just looking at relapse stories. Not sure why but I am really grateful for those who posted. Keeps me honest. Thank you everyone-hope your day(s) are going well!

Yaaa....well done ...hope you enjoy your new bed It does get easier as time passes ....you just have to stay the course ..

Heard this one on the radio this morning. Gets ol' Boo feeling sentimental every time.

Yay Sal and Anita, that's AWESOME!!

Good to "see" you @NOPEster, Congratulations on five years quit! NOPE!

Congratulations, NOPEster! Excellent!

NOPE

Nope

Ooo--la-la...I like your style, Doreen! One-year quit was an accomplishment. Two-years quit feels like a lifestyle. Wow, just watching these guys. How many hours a day does it take to maintain those pecs? Doreen, ever watch "The Arrow?" Speaking of pecs.

So long as they remain nightmares, Kate, smoking dreams are protective, especially once complacency arrives. While I don't claim to be "average," during my first year I think I had 2 or 3. And for the first few years I probably averaged one a year. Now, 22 years since my last nicotine-fix, it's been 4 or 5 years since my last nightmare. But considering I was a 30-year heavy smoker (3 packs-a-day during the final 5 years) I find it amazing that while my brain is filled with hundreds of thousands of smoking memories, when constructing dreams my subconscious has only made me a smoker roughly a dozen times over 22 years. And let me tell you, my smoking dreams truly are nightmares. To set the stage, in 1999 I quit and started WhyQuit (then purely a motivational site) and in the fall started an online support site. Since then, I've presented nearly a hundred live quitting programs, have had a number of journal articles published and wrote a quitting book. So, imagine what it was like relapsing during my last dream and thereafter worrying that I had to start all over again, and that at any second I could be caught smoking and exposed. My emotional response was so disturbing that it forced me to awaken. Even then, it took a few seconds to realize that it'd all been a nightmare. That being said, my next smoking dream, if any, will again remind me just how much I relish being free. For it will be a vivid reminder of the amazing journey I once made. Breathe deep, hug hard, live long, John (Gold x22)

Just love a man with fringe on his jacket!

NOPE

I am 73 and began smoking right out of highschool. Never had a solid quit. It would be a week here or a few days quit and then re do the process over and over. When I decided to quit, this time for good, I had read and re read Alan Carr's Easy Way over and over until I finally got it. Smoking is doing nothing for me. It is killing me slowly. Being here these past few days has helped me stay the course. In a few days I will have a week into this forever quit. Being here has helped tremendously.

Congratulations @Sal to both you and your wife. You've gotten past the hardest month of them all

@Sal, must ask your geographic area, I always seem to catch you in the wee hours for me about 3:00AM here. I have insomnia and don't sleep well and am always up late.