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That first one of the day was the hardest for me ... Changed my breakfast routine ,till i felt stronger One day ,it just clicked,and the new soon became the norm .. Dont worry about the Meltdown,s There is nothing we havent heard here . We gave all been where you are . Keep going .

Thanks!! I keep plugging along Doreen. I just take one day at a time and try not to look too far ahead. I think the most difficult time for me is in the morning when I am having my coffee. I never smoked in my apartment. My mom and I have a 2 family house, she lives downstairs, I live upstairs and I have a terrace. My mom smokes in her apt so I would go down there and smoke or in the basement in the cold weather. When the weather was warmer I would go out on my terrace. Even when I went back to smoking the 2nd time, I never smoked up here. Anyway, I look forward to the day when I wake up and don't think of smoking anymore and I hope that happens soon!! I am quite proud of myself though. 😁 I think weaning myself was better for me than just going cold turkey. I honestly don't think I could have gone from smoking 3/4 pk to 1 pk a day and then to nothing. The weaning, even though was not easy, I feel was better for me than cold turkey, until I got down to the 2 cigs a day, which as many of you said, kept me in a constant state of withdrawal so that is when I decided to give up the 2 cigs. The urges were definitely worse when smoking 2 a day and also the first week. It is getting better, and I have you and all the other great people on this forum to thank for helping me along, especially when I have had my meltdowns!!! 🥰

@robin0212 I remember that when I was younger I would want to fight someone whenever I tried quit. The frustration, anxiety, and anger(at myself, I later realized. How could I allow myself to become an addict? Me?! AN. ADDICT.) would just cause me to blow up! I have a scar on the outside of my hand when I just so happened to hit a wall where a paneling nail had backed out of it. Yeah, I smoked a bloody cigarette. Deep breaths. They worked wonders for me. They still do. You say in your mind or aloud if you want, you can even scream it, “I’m not doing this.” Walk away and breathe. Just breathe. Just breathe in all of the beautiful air that you can and be thankful for it. Or you can pull the covers over your head and cry it out. I cried, ugly cried, and sweated and fought the Nicodemon in my mind for three whole days when I first quit and that was with the patch! I suffer from severe anxiety and panic attacks. I don’t take medications for it. I really needed the assist from NRT. I know that you read this all of the time on this board but, “if I can quit, anyone can.” It is so true though. As bad as it is, it’s still not as bad as I imagined it would be. You can do this. However you need to do it. For you. It has to be for you. I hope that you succeed in your quit. Don’t give up. Keep trying. Show those girls of yours just what their Mama can do!

I hear ya gf, life happens Yes I only found out/realized cigs were my onlyyyy coping strategy for lots of emotions…it was crazy. I think I’m still learning good coping strategies lol. Hey 6 hours is a big accomplishment, even if u don’t think so. It was 1 hr at a time for me for a while. I bought an analog clock and put it by the tv it was helpful

Well done Sandi.. Already you have felt the benieft Of quitting ..it gets better and better. Try and snack on healthy stuff..it does take time before the hunger subsides .. Look how far O has come and its still under a year .. Be patient with yourself .. Quutting is a journey

Have you tried Chantix? You can get it from your doctor, it's a prescription. The first time I quit it really helped me. It makes you forget to smoke. I was quit for 6 years when unfortunately my husband had a heart procedure and I was so stressed and nervous that I went back. Or you can try the Nicoderm patch or gum. A lot of people say that really helped them. Yes, keeping busy helps. I have been walking since I quit and I find that helps too, plus it's easier to breathe when you don't smoke. Hang in there!!

Robin .. Sorry to read you smoked. Sounds like you still believe cigerettes do something for you .. Read read read everything on our main board ,watch joel,s video,s. You need to stay closer to the board ,so we can help you through . We have a SOS..we carnt help if you won't let us.. Get back on the train ,take your sest And stay buckled up .. You can do it !!!

11 months, 7 days and 9 hours per my ticker lol. I was determined to quit and nothing was going to stop it, took a week off work, bought all kinds of snacks and distractions to stay busy. Sunday night, Monday morning prepared for the battle. My family was a big support so that was a help, but in the end you have to do it for yourself. I think the biggest thing was all the information, everything I learned, here on the Train and support from all the quitters. For me knowing (the why) .. I felt, was acting, was thinking... was key to battling the cravings. All the best, there are a lot of great/smart people here to help you if you choose.

Thanks!! I have prediabetes and want to get my A1C numbers down, so I'm hoping the walking will help. I even read that quitting smoking reduces your blood sugar. Thanks!!!

Thanks Doreen!! Yup, everyone on this forum has been where I have been because we all have to go through the "firsts"! It's just harder this time because last time I used Chantix and for me that was a wonder drug!!

NOPE

NOPE

NOPE!

NOPE

3,341 steps is awesome!!! That pride is well deserved. Smoking is a long term recovery process, and it is totally normal for you to sill have cravings. Truth be told, I still have cravings myself, 16 months after quitting. The psychological and emotional associations are VERY deep. The difference is that now I get cravings every once in a long while… not every ten minutes. And they don’t have power over me anymore. Smoking no longer controls my life and cravings do not dominate my thoughts. This gradual diminishing of the cravings will happen for you, too. Stay strong, and swat those cravings away like you would a pesky gnat. They don’t own you any more, and that’s worth celebrating!

WTG Sandi!! 3 weeks is amazing!! The urges and hunger (and big emotions) def were there for me at three weeks too, but everyone is different. I think you’ll start to see even more major changes for the good very soon ❤️ That’s great abt the walking too!! I’m on the cusp (or am) of prediabetes so I’m w u on eating right exercise etc. I’m sry abt your hubby too, you can vent like Jillar said on a forum or private message or just write in a journal, it helps more than u might think! You go girl for such an amazing quit!

It’s NEVER too late!! A real turning point in my quit was when I started feeling fierce. I began to climb out of despair and instead got pissed that I’d let myself become an addict, furious at the purveyors of poison who hooked me, and angry about being manipulated. I became super protective of my quit. I wasn’t going to let a moment of madness rob me of my quit after all the blood, sweat and tears I’d put into it. I became annoyed at, rather than terrorized by, the cravings. Part of that shift was the short temper and “prickles” that come with quitting. (Might as well turn them to our advantage!) But I think mostly it was about turning the tables on smoking and taking my own power back. Find your own fight, Robin. You can do this!

Well I am kind of shaking in my boots here .... ummmm .... Gus is that why your avatar looks so .................. nevermind. 😁

Omg I could have written this exact post! And NYer here also! You are doing great!! Keep doing what your doing!

@jillar Agree so much worse in our head. Thinking about getting beyond that first month helps.

@Brioski Frustration. 14 and 19 year old daughters. That sums it up lol. For me smoking was always so medicating for anger. Or maybe for everything. Like any addict. It's been 6 hours, sigh.

When I relapsed last year i never went back to never smoking while driving. That was THE WORST association for me to give up. It has to be easier now right?! The mental torture of walking away from the garage door (i only smoke outside near garage). I know. It sounds dramatic but it's so hard to verbalize what that moment feels like as it passes. Though you all know that feeling, just need to vent! Ty!

^^this^^. We have it in our heads that it's going to be horrible but in hindsight it isn't that bad. It sucks for a while but it's not painful. If anything you'll start feeling better. Your blood will start flowing better, your sense of smell and taste come back. All things you didn’t even know you were missing until you have them back 🙂 As far as quitting because you have to and not because you want to was my story too. Have to or want to they are both totally doable as long as you want it.

NRT never worked for me, tried almost everything .... no I did, tried them all. 😄 For me knowing if I made it three days and the Nicotine was out of my system, from then on was going to be a battle in my mind. I started out prepared and it was not as bad as I thought it was going to be.

Thank you everyone. I have been watching Joel's videos for 2 hours. I am feeling like I NEED to quit more than I WANT to quit, and everytime I have this thought I start crying. I don't want to do nicotine replacement or Chantix. I may sound stubborn, but If I can go 8 or 9 hours then I dont want to add nicotine.

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

I finally decided to take the pledge folks! NOPE!!

You can be....just keep trying, I have failed so many times and finally have a good little quit going on. Don't give up, keep trying, gaining information, getting better and stronger each time. Stay on the train and you no longer have to be a slave to nicotine.

NOPE!

Yikes, the hunger took a few months?? Thankfully, I have started a walking program the day I quit, so hopefully I won't gain any weight. I have to say though, I can breathe a bit better when I walk. My legs and feet still hurt but today I took 3,341 steps which is a huge amount for me. When I was smoking I could barely walk down the block and since I stopped, I have been walking 3-4 times a week. I started going around the block, and then did 2 extra blocks and today I did over half a mile!!! It was not easy, my feet and legs hurt but I wasn't out of breath like I would have been a month ago...I was just a little out of breath as that was the farthest that I have gone since I quit!!😁 I am so proud of myself, I really have come a long way!!!😆

Nope....

I see lots of long term quits of people whom I remember from the early days of my quit,...... Congratulations! To all the newbies, whether you are brand new to your quit or you have already crossed many milestones.......... 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, a holiday, an anniversary, that 1st cigarette of the day, the one before bed, after eating, a stressful situation, an excuse that you powered through.....whatever it may be....I hope that you are proud.....i hope that you are so excited about the strength that you possess...I hope you know what a rock star you are for committing to your quit and making it a top priority. The only way over it is through it.....you are doing it. Congratulations!!! I may not visit the board often, but I do think of the folks here (and my former board) that were such a huge part of my success. When people ask how I finally achieved my sticky quit, I always talk about how this online group educated me and supported me. Absolutely picked me up, held me up and never gave up on me. CONGRATULATIONS TO ONE AND ALL

NOPE - Not One Puff Ever Life is much better without cigarettes.

I love this! I need to turn the tables!

Ouch re the nail! I know the anger from withdrawal is so real! Tears too..and everything actually! New coping skills will be hard to learn for me but never to late right? Ty for the cheer! Haha!! I was thinking the same thing!

YAY YOU!!! You’ve got this! 🤗

I totally get that, Robin….I used to smoke in my garage so every time I went in there was a mini battle, it took a while for the smell to go away but I liked it lol. That’s HUGE that you broke that association w the car!! I guess quitting is doing that in a bunch of places in a way. The mental game is a real one but look at all these ppl who are doing it, it’s totally doable…I never thought I could do it. My mom quit way before me, 8 yrs ago, and I neverrrr thought she’d quit. What was it on Thursday that u decided to have them? Sorry u caved gf…..all u can do is try again when you’re ready.

Hi Sandi, is this a new post from today? Still learning how to navigate the forum. I was smoking 5-6 a day for over a year. Stopped for almost 2 weeks. I smoked on Thursday. It's not working. I hear you. It has to be all or nothing for me because 1, 2 or 6, it doesn't matter. I still feel terrible!

I thinks it's boredom-I will work on this. Maybe take on knitting!! Thank you for reaching out. How long has it been now for you? What helped?

Thanks! Jill, I will take a look at that!! I can't believe it's been almost 3 weeks!! But I did it!!!! I am a non smoker!!! Yippeee!!!! Thanks everyone for all your help! Its been so hard but I did it, and I'm going to do more!!!😄 I am doing this for ME, and nobody else, just ME!!!!! 😄👍

What a great post @beazel, and I know I say this every time you stop in but its really great to see you 🤗 😘

Well done @Sandi149, you survived the three hardest weeks of them all! You so got this now We have a vent thread in our Off the Record forum that a lot of us use to get things off our chest, maybe that topic will help you at least get it off your chest?

NOPE Life is far better without cigarettes,

You are doing great @Sandi149 Keep up the awesome work!

I am tooting my own horn tonight!! It's almost 3 weeks, Yay! I still have urges every day, still lots of urges many, especially in the morning with my coffee, but I'm hanging in there. In addition to the usual cravings, I am struggling with marital problems! Is there a forum on here for that? I hope there is, But, I haven't smoked in almost 19 days, even with all my problems....so YAY!!! ME!!!!! 😁

You know what I wish!! I Wish that I never started smoking when I was 17, and that was a very long time ago!! Back in the day I used to smoke pot, I don't smoke it anymore ,(haven't smoke it in so many years, even though it's legal in NY, I don't like it and don't like the way it makes me feel). I used to like it as a teenager, but not anymore. When I smoked pot, I smoked cigarettes because it would enhance the "high" of the marijuana. But that was years ago, and I don't smoke pot anymore!