MarylandQuitter

Sounds like a peaceful, relaxing day. I take'em while I can get'em. :)

Anything that we use to rationalize smoking is junkie thinking and or still believing in the cigarette. If we could rationalize smoking all those cigarettes knowing full well how harmful they were, certainly we can rationalize our quitting knowing all the benefits of doing so. Even if you still think smoking is great and you enjoy it too much, you can still rationalize quitting. No excuses.

This was the same day I quit.

There are two things about relapses that remain constant. Relapses are always planned and they are always avoidable. We're all just one puff away from living the rest of our lives as smokers. Around five days into my one week relapse, although I didn't enjoy one single puff, I could feel myself being sucked back into a full fledged addiction of 30-40 cigarettes per day. This scared the hell out of me because I wasn't enjoying smoking yet my body and my mind STILL WANTED TO SMOKE and I could feel the addiction pulling me in a direction that I didn't want to go. That was scary. When I faced how powerful this addiction is, especially when I knew I wasn't enjoying it, scared me more than the thought of dying a smoker. I felt it's power and I never want to test my strength against it again. Now, imagine the person who relapses and feels they are somehow benefiting from it. Perhaps the pull of the addiction is ignored, or even worse, welcomed. Relapse doesn't make you a complete failure, but it does make you a failed non-smoker. The good news is that you're a non-smoker the instant you put out your last cigarette. A person who relapses will never be turned away from Quit Train but accountability must be taken up another level if one is going to succeed and find their sticky quit. I say this from a caring and loving place and not from a place of judgment or supreme reproach. Anybody can quit. Anybody can be a happy and content non-smoker. You have to put in the time to learn how to train your mind to succeed in any situation. Quit Train has dual meaning. It's not just a 240 ton locomotive hauling 21 coaches, but it's also a place to train your mind. We must train our minds ahead of time so we react by instinct when we're faced with a craving, trigger or situation (whether bad or good) as a non-smoker armed with the lies surrounding smoking instead of the reactions of a smoker who still believes the cigarette still has something to offer.

Happy Birthday and congrats on 3 months quit! Woot Woot! :D

WTG, WYE! :rolleyes:

I'm not gonna smoker either.

Congrats, El Bandito!!!! Proud to have a man in a skirt on the train! :D

Marti now has this inner strength as she came face to face with this powerful addiction last night and came out the victor. :)

Congratulations, Aine! :)

http://quittrainblog.com/2014/03/04/how-cigarette-companies-use-free-trade-deals-to-sell-more-cigarettes-to-women-and-kids/

I hope those two adults were tossed in jail. As disgusting as this is, in 3rd world countries, big tobacco are giving away cigarettes to children not much older than the little kid in the video. http://quittrainblog.com/2014/03/05/smoking-epidemic-in-indonesia-video/

I had that nasty virus for over two weeks. Still, I'm a little stuffed up etc. Between the virus and all the tree pollen, it's been a rough few weeks around the house. The kids, wife - all have had fevers, soar throats etc. This virus was going around the MLB teams and if a player showed up sick he was immediately sent home because it's so contagious. Now, my Mom has it and she's been pretty achy from the fever. Drink lots of fluids and get plenty of rest if you can. I wasn't able to get much rest because of work which I'm sure helped prolong my recovery. Imagine how much worse you'd feel if you were a smoker. Bleeek!! Get well soon and drink plenty of water. :)

My workout area has been calling my name and I've been acting like I can't hear. I need to get my ass back in gear, big time!! It's almost May and time is ticking.

El Bandito, you rock, dude. Kilt or skirt, you're a faithful friend to many. :)

Glad you're okay and you're quit is still intact. :)

You didn't have a Marlboro dangling from your lips while you typed that did you? ;) When are you going to quit, or have you already? Also, if you keep this up your signature is going to look like the New York Stock exchange ticker with all the tickers you'll be adding. Just trying to make you laugh as it sounds like you could use one right now. :) You're only human. Don't be so hard on yourself.

By the way, I've been trying to give away some books and I believe that you a copy. Do you have the actual book in hand or the downloadable version, e-book version etc.?

Trish, You continue to torture yourself because you choose to. Nobody can force you to smoke as only you can put a cigarette in your mouth, light it and start puffing on it. My life is a constant roller coaster of emotions both at home and at work. Do I think about smoking? You bet I do. I'm a nicotine addict. It's what I unknowingly signed up for many years ago when I lit my first cigarette as a 12 year old punk. You're scared to quit and you're scared of failure. Okay. What's the big deal? Most people are scared to quit and equally scared of failing. You've been through withdrawal and you've survived. You've been through stressful situations and didn't smoke so you know you that you don't need cigarettes to help you get through life. Does life when you're quitting smoking make you feel uncomfortable? Hell yes it does. Get used to it and put the time in now so your future is one of a happy, content non-smoker. "Get comfortable being uncomfortable" so you can enjoy the freedom which you seek. Your freedom is just around the next bend. Quit now, if you haven't already and ditch those confusing tickers and start fresh. :) The only way you fail is when you give up. Giving up is no longer an option for you. Sorry, it's too late for that. You've been exposed to the lies of smoking and you've had a taste of the freedom that comes with being a non-smoker. Again, sorry but it's too late to give up. That ship has sailed. Now, let's get back to day one. Right here, right now. :)

lol :D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPFJxKOc9cY

Babs, when it rains it pours and I am sorry about all of this you're going through. I've been in that situation and it's scary. I've been bit trying to break apart two dogs and also got into several "altercations" with other dog owners who do not keep their dogs under control. Probably more scary for you and your husband than it was for the dogs. You guys need a break.

You guys are awesome. Within less than two minutes you guys were all over this thread to help her. :) Marti, you just faced down this addiction, looked straight into it's eyes and beat it back down like the boss you are. You're stronger because of this. Great job!

Great! Now go back into chat. :)

That hardest part, especially early in your quit, is your mind and how much of our lives we associated with smoking. It's this part of the quit which is much harder than the actual physical withdrawal. You had a massive craving it sounds like your marching your way through it. The good news is, the longer you stay quit, the less frequent these episodes become and certainly less intense. This is your body's way of reminding you that you're an addict but also that you're beating this addiction and will soon put it to sleep for good.