Leaderboard

Oright you mob, time for a public service announcement from the great land down under..... You've quit before and failed? You are not alone, many others have too, it does not mean you can't quit. STEP 1...ask yourself "wot did I learn" and "why did I fail". STEP 2... don't beat yourself up, don't dwell on the negative, put your focus on now and this quit and move on. STEP 3... Quit again. STEP 4... Never give up, because you are worth it.

The magic cigarette. I had to smoke one first thing in the morning because it woke me up. Also had to smoke one right before bed so I could get some sleep. I had to smoke when I needed to focus on something. Also had to smoke when I just needed to clear my head and zone out for a bit. Finally figured out that attributing so many contradictory "benefits" to identical cigarettes was ridiculous. I need to relax or I need to focus sounds better than I need another fix. Facing the fact that I smoked because I was addicted to nicotine and I was addicted to nicotine because I smoked was important for me. Helped me recognize the futility of smoking.

Hello everyone! I'm currently 55 days of No smoking and had a craving almost all day today. I'm currently on the Nicotine Patches and started Step 2 yesterday. Just a good tip that works for me : Lie down and Meditate and Just stay BUSY! They will pass and you'll just be fine. You have to believe that this works. I did it for 96 days last time. This time is different. I have my Wife also quitting. Anyone else quit by patches? Thanks in advance.

NOPE !! 55+ Days Now !

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

On a related note...couldn't help but notice that Yamaha makes a nice little 50cc dirt bike. I'm thinking that starting up the Moto-Boo crew would be a perfect opportunity to bond with the young 'uns. Sugar Britches gets bogged down with details: "She can't even ride a bicycle yet and he hasn't even been born yet." And that's why I'm the fun parent.

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

NOPE

Oi, be kinder to yourself there mate. Statistics show it takes most people more than one crack to get their successful quit. So lets just look at your previous quits and take the positives.... Wot did ya learn?...then apply that...DON'T waste time or energy beating yourself up over failing, you lost your quit, it happened, can't turn back time and change it so just look forward, only worry about this quit, your sticky one, and let it grow. Instead of "I could have been 4 months" rest your energy and focus to "I'm 1 day, hour, week, etc, etc, ad nauseum." Biggest tip I got when I first quit was just quit for 1 day, then repeat it. 6 months in my target was still to just quit for 1 day, I mean by then I knew I could do 1 day without a smoke cos I'd done a whole heap already. When I'd get a niggle, NOPE not smoking today. Dwelling on the past makes it more likely to repeat it...for the next few quit months live in the now, hour to hour, day to day goals.

And it's a NOPE from me

Dear All, Thanks for replying and wishing me..and encouraging me,,,, Jordan7: Yes relatively younger age! But from 1996 till 2015, i.e roughly in my very young I smoked (age: 18 to 37 yrs). But any way past is always past...I got many chances of smoking,,,But I simply avoided and no one compelled me to smoke. I will post my 7 yrs after 3 months. Cheers, Raj.

Nope

NOPE

My bike was more this

I LOVE THE AUSTRALIANS! So bloody sensible. I very nearly moved to Sydney in 2008 then the world upended. Thank you for sharing this.

NOPE…

Everything you feel is Temporary.... Turn your negative thoughts into positive ones ...after all... What your achieving is flippin Amazin ....keep telling yourself this ...

Welcome back.... All Roads lead to Rome ...do what it takes to not buy cigarettes..... Read all the posts here again ...put all the useful stuff to you in your toolbox... Stay close ..

Welcome back @JustinHoot99I knew you wouldn't be able to stay away. you will make it this time.

I'm not sure if this is helpful but it seems to me it really sucks for about four months. Well, varying degrees of suckiness. I think if you can set the expectation that it is just going to be very challenging for that time, it relieves some of the confusion as to why its not getting better sooner. I can honestly say at almost five months things are dramatically improved in ways I could not have foreseen. This board is one of the biggest reasons I have been able to move through the challenges without picking up again. The other thing is that I also participate in a Nicotine Anonymous support group (on line) which allows me to connect with others who are struggling with their addiction as well as to celebrate victories of recovery. It helps to hear others' voices and stories I have found. Happy to share that resource @JustinHoot99if you are interested.

NOPE!

I didn't use NRT this time so I cannot relate. Just wanted to congratulate Sal and Mrs. Sal on their remarkable achievement. And thank you so much for keeping us posted on your progress because it does help those of us who are still in the very early stages. @DenaliBluesDay 19 is amazing especially since you didn't "plan" your quit. I actually think that might be the best way since our big brain doesn't have time to negotiate us out of a quit. A song keeps coming to mind (and someone I am sure knows the artist), "If you are going through Hell, keep going." The only way out is through. Strength and blessings to you both today.

NOPE

Congratulations on 55 days smoke free. You are right, craves do pass and you are doing great fighting through them. I didn't quit by using patches but many here did. Keep up the great work, Sal.

Congratulations to you both. You sound very positive in your quit.

Papaw's making a comeback!!! .... You'll be up and running the hills before you know it. Besides you gotta get the new boom-stick broke in.

NOPE

Nope!!!!

Nope!

NOPE!

Nope

NOPE…

nope

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

I will be blunt and honest. For me, at 8 months out, I still struggle. That is okay, it just one of the other things that can make life difficult. I have not and will not smoke because I do not have the strength to go thru this again. I think this realization about myself keeps me on the train. I have this place where I can talk, struggle, be silly....and know I am not alone in this. I have people I can turn to for support, advice and comfort. I think that has made a difference for me. Try to keep more focus on the why you quit. Do not focus on the why you think it will be okay to have just one because it will not be okay.

Those pm's are fun @Boo, in my dirt bike club we called them pit bikes, the bikes we liked to ride once we started drinking around the campsite. Much safer

Way to go to Sal and his Gal. Keep it going. Your both doing great.

Varying degrees of suckiness pretty much sums it up based on how I felt after 30days on my previous quit and from what I read others talk about.

Our Newbies are doing amazing ...Sal and Anita ..and Denial..... Congratulations....

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

nope

Congratulations @Sal and Anita, I'm really happy for you both @DenaliBlues, forgetting your patch at only 19 days is AWESOME, you're already seeing the light at the end of the tunnel @KEL, that would be Rodney Atkins, I love his songs

Thank you

Good to be back again. And congrats on coming up on 2mths.

@JustinHoot99So glad you are back! Our paths crossed in the fall and I have been wondering about you, praying that you would be back here. Sending strength your way....

Hi @JustinHoot99 nice to have you aboard the train. Let's make this the sticky one.

Hi @Sal! I'm only on day 19, so it's inspiring to hear that you and your wife have made it through to day 55. A great achievement! Sounds like you have some solid strategies and experience to get you through this transition time. I'm using the patch system, too. I was a very heavy smoker, so the patch gives me only a fraction of the nicotine I used to get from smoking. Which means that cravings and withdrawal are definitely part of my landscape, even on the patch. It's funny how at the very beginning the patch was my lifeline, the only thing standing between me and insanity. I had the daily changes timed down to the minute, without fail. But the other morning I took one off... and apparently just forgot to put a new one on. Several hours later I was restless and couldn't figure out why that antsy feeling set in out of the blue... forehead smack. But the promising thing about that experience was that it means I am making headway. My reliance on nicotine is beginning to shift. I'm able to intermittently forget about it. Not quite ready to toss the patches out the window yet, but that day will come. For a moment I could actually see a glimmer of light at the end of the long tunnel. Freedom is thattaway! Good luck with your step 2 step-down, Sal. Keep us posted, looking forward to hearing more about what that adjustment is like for you. DenaliBlues

I do have a new aditude towards life and my health now Came into the hospital at 245lbs Now 210 will end up around 200 when i leave I am already calculating calories and meals. Physical therapy is a defenent I am bed bound

NOPE!

@DenaliBlues, what you are feeling is completely normal. Most of us are either sad or irritable, or sometimes both, in the early stages of quitting. Smoking was such a huge part of your life that quitting is almost like a death in the family. Your perceived best friend is gone forever. Just hang in there and in no time you'll be past this stage