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Well here I am again!!! This time seems to be much harder for me. I just didn't want to go through it again,but I know I have to. I smoked my last cigarette at 7.30 pm last night 10/25/23.I'm still mad at myself that I threw my quit away,but I did and I can't change that. Just move forward. So here I go again!!

Hello everybody thank you for having me! I quit smoking on June 11, 2022 and so far it has not been too bad. I have had one other successful quit in my life that lasted for six years.The first time I quit I had a group that I could connect with during my quit and I’m glad that I could find another.

I have been doing so well, the thoughts and cravings have become surprisingly easy and a fairly rare occurrence on a day to day basis. I knew that something was going to disturb my "seemingly" easy pace and put pressure on my humble thoughts. I own an Aluminum boat building, specialized equipment design and fabrication business of 45 years. Well today it started in early morning when I decided to go out on the floor and help out with some welding. I put on my common garb that consists of a sweatshirt and a Carhart heavy vest, picked up a welder, it only took me about an hour of very easy " what we call gravy welding"! From the start i was having cravings and blaming the process of the work, the smoke from the welder, crap they were brutal. I would pick up my helmet and just say man I want a cigarette!!! Well after this I got a call and went to a project in the field. I grabbed the shop truck and took off.... all the way for 3 hours there and back fairly constant cravings putting on the pressure. I ate a whole bag of sugar free Jolly Ranchers! What the hell is wrong.... Well I figured out how to solve the problem.... no not pick up a nasty stick and smoke it! For months in my office, I have been involved in drafting a new hull design and the equipment to go with it. Fairly complicated all electric vessel 70' long by 24' wide. This has been since before my quit, I haven't worn my welding gear for probably 6-8 months,,.. (yea your getting it aren't ya). Yep even though the gear didn't smell horrible it did have a faint odor of cigarettes, didn't really even notice. This is not a regular jacket it just hangs with the welding gear that maybe gets washed 3 time's a year. So then I jumped in the shop truck (that I used to smoke in), again not horrible with cig smell but it is there, old habits and surroundings, just didn't put 2 and 2 together!! Got seriously pissed off that that nicodemon was so frickin hard on me and wtf was this brutal day. There were lots of little, almost subconscious reminders that I would like a smoke.!!! Well when my son said at the end of the day how could I handle driving the shop truck because it still smells like cigs......... Me be a dummy!!!!! Yep I had the constant smell picking at my mind and the nicoman addiction talking crap. Funny because if I am around someone that's smoking it has no effect, but this constant little unexpected faint odor, that was mine from the past really put a powerful almost overwhelming charge in my addiction... Wow. Tough day but >>>-------------------------> I win. Cheer's and Be Happy.

NOPE

good job @Stewbumi've been quit for a little over 2 years now and I still have days where I could. It's easier to just don't than it used to be but i imagine those days will always pop up here and there. Another chicks/sticks victory will put that trigger to rest for good, though.

Mouthfuls of sugar free gum! Open the door and give a "happy" Halloween scream at the neighbors. Call someone a chat up a storm. Read everything you can on here, search through posts and read the stories, really works for me. Start playing a game on here just stay away from the chick's or sticks game, those chicks can be really mean...

Happy to have you here Linda. Iam a newbie with the same scenario of a lost quit. Mine was in 2017 and it was close to 8 months clean. I do believe after you give up a quit, that has some serious time attached to it, starting fresh is a little harder. I believe this is because a person knows what the complications are going to be in the beginning. This for me took 6 years but was like snapping my fingers as time just continued and the new quit date just kept moving forward. From what I see at this point (3 months in) is that the previous quit had taught me some real genuine lessons that carried into my wonderful new quit. You know the beginning strife's because they were imprinted on you before. You know the drill and some questions about how you feel are already answered, but you will most likely still need to be reminded and talk your way through it with fellow quitters. Immediately here you have a wonderful group of brothers and sisters that care about your welfare and will help as much as they can to keep us on track. Remember to try for happiness every chance you get, that nicoman loves to get us frustrated, angry and stressed, don't let it get the upper hand. Addictions are hard but you know we weren't meant to naturally be smokers so keep the grip and get back to who you know you were meant to be.... Cheers. Stew.

NOPE

Good job @Stewbum on getting past multiple triggers, now maybe think about getting those clothes and truck cleaned? Or reward yourself with new gear? And what the hell, get yourself a new truck too!

Welcome @titanif! It's always good to hang with a group of other quitters. It tends to keep our thinking about smoking and quitting on the right track and far away from thinking maybe I can have just one.

NOPE!!

Welcome to the site and congratulations on your quit. Lots of fine folks here to help you during times of stress and help you with the tough times. Best wishes. Hope to see you around.

NOPE!

Welcome aboard @titanif! QuitTrain is a wonderful place not only to be supported but to give support. I’m glad that you’ve joined us!

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Nope!

Aww Stewpot You have been tested today .. Your still early in your quit ,so of course you still get reminded of old days gone by See if you can clean the equipment you use .. On a brighter thought .. You didnt smoke ..you won that battle ..look at the positives You got through the day ,with your beautiful Quit intacked .. Niw go throw in a number or two !!

Welcome aboard.. Congratulations on your great Quit There us tons of great information here abd video ,s that will cover any concerns you may have .. We are a great bunch.. A Family ... Looking forward to getting to know you better ..

Welcome and congratulations on that awesome quit you have @titanif

Thumbs up; nose to the grind stone now and plow forward. We are all here behind you and ready to offer advise, support when needed You CAN do it!!

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

NOPE!! NO WAY. NOT TODAY.

good to have you back on the train. you can do it.

-1

NOPE!

NOPE…

Nope!

Nope...nope..nope

That’s some MAJOR pat-on-the-back, strong, and amazing shit right there. Reward yourself for coming out of that on the better side

Sorry you had that bad day. But I love this story, of coming into awareness of something that felt like a visceral tug, of not surrendering your power to it. Yeah, some days it does seem like triggers are everywhere I look, too. But each time we stay free it makes us even stronger. Pffft on triggers. NOPE!

NOPE

Hey @overcome 11

Big congrats party!

NOPE!

Nice ticker @Linda, I knew you could do it ☺

Good decision @Linda, don't forget to update your quit date on your profile and post an SOS if you feel yourself caving to a crave. You got this!

… the innocent bystanders who I bowled over while I was dodging flying poo. Speaking of UFOs…

OO

Big congrats on your 3 months! Keep on trucking!

LOL, You all are so special and this site is absolutely a life vest through this journey.

There's a couple things at play here I think. 1. You did some welding that you haven't done for awhile, possibly since you used to smoke? That would for sure bring on those cravings. 2. You just reached your 3 month smoke free milestone and I have often heard people say ... "Beware the 3's"! 3 Days, 3 Weeks & 3 Months. Weird shit tends to happen at these points. 3 months and you're no longer a new quitter but you're not completely there yet as a non-smoker; still some work to do. Because you no longer have daily challenges you may tend to let down your mental guard a bit. Use this experience to remind yourself to be on guard always for those sneaky, out of nowhere assaults by the nicodemon. You done good today by realizing what was actually happening! You stood tall and refused to be seduced back to having a smoke. Keep this experience in mind for future when you get bush-whacked out of nowhere and you'll be fine!

Gus you scared me, I did not recognize you! Welcome @titanif!

Doreen. How about a #3 instead.

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Thank you all very much. Just stopping by at work, sure enjoy the comradery. Cheer's Stewpot...

Congratulations on 3 months smoke free @Stewbum Keep up the awesome work!