MarylandQuitter

A gem that always seemed to be in the hiding... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9TsbGQ-v3g

No, Sarge. "It really ties the room together. Does it not?"

As we all know, the holidays can be a huge trigger for many ex-smokers especially those...Please join us to watch these videos, discuss and encourage each other during the holidays. http://www.quittrain.com/topic/3630-with-the-holidays-now-in-full-swing-lets-be-ready/

Then of course you could have this along with the holiday triggers! Remember why you quit! The Terrible 3's This video discusses why people "may" have problems at three day and three month marks. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTIr3UEez1w&list=PL4F05C03D0F9B86DB&index=11 Related articles: The Miserable Threes http://www.ffn.yuku.com/topic/13906 The terrible threes http://ffn.yuku.com/topic/12531/The-T... Other related videos: How long before I don't want a cigarette http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLp_ic... Change of season triggers http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADlHtj...

As we all know, the holidays can be a huge trigger for many ex-smokers especially those who've not experienced the entire event and season cycles that take place throughout the year. For some it may be being around family and friends that are smokers and remembering how you used to smoke with them, it could be difficult because of loved ones who are no longer with us, stress for any multitude of reasons being around family, the noise, the chaos and the let down when it's all over. For some it could mean your first road trip as a non-smoker or the loneliness that many feel during the holidays. Just a quit note about feeling along during the holidays: If anyone reading this feels alone, post. I know that I'll be around here as normal so you won't be alone. You may be sitting by yourself typing, as I often am, but not alone. You're not alone if somebody is thinking about you. :) Be Prepared For Holiday Triggers While filmed on Thanksgiving 2011, video relates to how any holiday or special annual event can result in more smoking thoughts than normal, and the importance of being mentally prepared for the occurrence of such thoughts. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOQvS4hjKYY&list=PL4F05C03D0F9B86DB How Holidays That Result In Three Day Weekends Effect Recent Ex-Smokers While discussing labor day and fall kind of changes, issues discussed in this video applies to lots of holidays and situations like three day weekends and the end of vacations for recent quitters. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGCFdg9tY_w Difference between physical and psychological urges Video discusses how while the intensity between the psychological thoughts for cigarettes weeks or months into your quit may feel very much like the physical urges you may have encountered in the beginning of your quit, that there is an important difference in the two states. http://youtu.be/_A8s7Pw7jA0 Everything You Did As A Smoker You Can Do As An Ex-Smoker This video points out that many people don't even attempt to quit because of the fear that they will not only have to give up cigarettes when they quit smoking but also, all of the activities in their lives that they did with cigarettes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqlyAdvafio&index=13&list=PLCDB8BA311D538113

GR8 job, Evelyn! With the holidays now in full swing, stay close to the board. I know I will be. :)

It's okay to be scared. Courage is what keeps us driving ahead despite the fear. That is the true meaning of bravery; it's not the absence of fear, it's not stopping even though you're scared.

Welcome back, Jen. Make this quit last because if you relapse again, you may never quit again or it could be years before you try again. Why do you think you relapsed and what will make the difference this time? Whatever the reason(s), we can help sort them out and help you remain a non-smoker for the rest of your life. :)

Ain't that the truth!

I'm sitting here catching up on some reading here and can't help but think of how much I have to be thankful for. It doesn't take a holiday for me to remember but perhaps it makes it a bit more apt to write about it. I'm thankful that I am alive! "I'm still here you bastards!"--Steve McQueen in Papillon My happy children, family, health, jobs, good music, good company and perfectly brewed coffee. :)

Are you a shut-in? lol What is SOA?

Evelyn, with everything going on in your life, please don't put pressure on yourself to toss the nicotine gum. You're not smoking and you're in a good place. You'll know when the time is right and you'll do it, there is no question about that. But for right now, don't add this unnecessary stress. Your lungs as asthma are happy that you're not smoking. :)

Thanks, Jess and happy Thanksgiving to you as well! We're getting snow here today but it's going to be in the 50's again next week. :blink: This time last year I was only quit for under two months. Newbies and lurkers, make today your quit day!

My favorite book is "The Summons" by John Grisham. 2nd is "Heart Of The Sea" about Whaleship Essex by Nathaniel Philbrick. 3rd is "Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage" by Alfred Lansing. I loved reading Allen Eckert's historical fiction books starting with "The Frontiersman" about Simon Kention through "Tecumseh". R.I.P. Tom Clancy (from Baltimore).

How are you today?

Present!

In one of Joel's videos he says that he hopes to screw up smoking for us forever. lol It's true because once we know the truth, we can never look at smoking the same, even those who go back to smoking. Yep, Joel screwed up smoking for all of us. I'm going to find that video because it's a good one. :) My motivation to quit was out of extreme guilt that I was robbing my kids of time with their father because I was on my way to an early death. It's this very reason that I told my doctor that I wanted to quit and could quit but I enjoyed it too much (he laughed at that called me on my bullshit). When I told him that my daughter was the most important thing in my life he responded "No she's not. Smoking is the most important thing in your life so don't sit here and tell me that your daughter is because she's not. You're an addict and the only reason why you're not out stealing to feed your addiction is because cigarettes are legal." Wow. Tough words to hear but it made me look at smoking in an entirely different way. For the first time I had to admit the truth that I was an addict. He cared enough to piss me off to get me to save my own life. After I left his office I remember lighting up a cigarette and thinking that smoking will never be the same again. I thought about what he said and he was right. I was putting smoking before my family because of all the times they wanted me to stay indoors to play a game, watch a movie or do something else and I had to get up and leave them to go and inhale poison. As soon as I quit this huge weight was lifted from me and that burden was gone. Sure, I may die from a smoking related disease or I may not but I do know one thing for damn sure; I will not die a smoker. I used to smoke. That is all. If you're lurking and are thinking about quitting, please realize that you're an addict just like a junkie or an alcoholic. Treat it like and addiction and take control back of your life. As soon as you quit you'll feel better. Focus on how your blood no longer is polluted with carbon monoxide, your blood pressure lowers and you instantly are less likely to die of a sudden heart attack. Do you know how many people are found dead with a cigarette next to their body? A lot. They died as they were puffing on a cigarette. I don't know about you but I wouldn't want to be found dead that way.

What was it that finally gave you the motivation to quit; something that we all knew we needed to, or wanted to do for most likely a long time. Lurkers or members who are still smoking or are struggling, you might want to check this out. As always, participation is key to gaining insight and paying it forward. http://www.quittrain.com/topic/3574-wk48-group-discussion-how-to-motivate-yourself-to-quit-smoking-what-steps-did-you-take/

How to motivate yourself to quit smoking and what steps did you take?

How cute!!

I remember those days when family and friends would go out to smoke and it like was like a little social gathering with laughing and joking and all that merry bullshit. They had to go out and they could have had just as much fun inside not smoking. The laughing and social hour would have happened inside had none of them been smokers anyway. Misery loves company is about all it boils down to. You being alone set and example that you're in control where they are not. You're strong enough to stay inside while they have to go out and feed their addiction to over 7000 chemicals, many of which are toxic, poisonous and will eventually kill them many years before they otherwise would have died. The only quit that you need to concern yourself with is yours. Some people are going to relapse and there is no getting around that. You've relapsed before right? So have I. Been there done that. When I relapsed I was still believing that smoking could calm me down but I instantly found out differently. Now that I got that last lie blown out of the water I have no desire ever to smoke. I simply don't want to smoke and right this second I'm thinking what it would feel like if I took a puff and I have to tell you that it's not pleasant. The thought right now is one of disgust and almost like I would have an allergic reaction to the smoke. Keep doing what you're doing and if any part of you still believes that you can somehow benefit from smoking, we need to put these myths out in the open and talk about them so we can logically disprove them one by one. :) "It's Inevitable, Some Smokers Are Going To Relapse" If you are a member of any quit smoking support group, whether it be on-line or a live program, it is likely that some members of your group are going to fail. You should not interpret this fact to mean that it is likely or inevitable that you are going to fail. Video spells out the major difference between people who relapse and those who don't. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ego_dpPmfOk Is Relapse A Natural Part Of The Quitting Process? Discusses potential of long-term relapses after quitting, as well as dispelling the idea that people have to quit multiple times for a quit to be able to finally take. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nk6OFRO9BY4&list=PL4F05C03D0F9B86DB Watching Others Smoke Video discussing how to watch others smoke and to use such occasions to reinforce your desire to stay smoke free. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEEk5-0kj1A&list=PL4F05C03D0F9B86DB&index=15

Gabby, your quit must always be kept separate from everything else in your life for if it's not, everything will influence your quit and it will always lead to relapse. Protect it like a little newborn baby. Shit happens. Always has and always will. People will piss you off, be mean, hurt those you love most and still, our quits must be kept separate from all of that. We all know that smoking doesn't make anything better but that doesn't always help when shit hits the fan. Keep that quit in it's own safe little place and deal with life as it comes. What a jerk to treat a kid like that. Kids don't ask for crap like that to be dumped on them. Hang in there.

Yep, it's the down time when you're relaxed. Now I can fully relax because when I was bored and calm, smoking just got the adrenaline pumping. Good video!