MarylandQuitter

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!

I started mine while still smoking and after about a week smoking made me very nauseous; to the point that I couldn't smoke unless I wanted to get sick. I was on the meds for around 3 weeks or so. When I went off the meds, there was no desire to smoke, any additional cravings etc. :)

Nope. Lurkers? Newbies? You on the train today?

You know, that guy on 1st base. :)

Welcome to the forum! Glad that you've made the decision to completely quit nicotine. You can do this just like millions of other people have. I would recommend that you start my reading the Newbie Database, reading all that you can on the forums and start watching Joel's Video Library from the beginning. I had initially quit using Wellbutrin XL and it worked. Check in each day, at least in this thread and chronicle your quit even though your still smoking. It would be nice to watch you succeed from the very beginning. When is your quit date?

Why do they split it up like that? I don't recall any other series doing that but then again, I'm not a big "series" watcher.

So we have to wait until Feb for it to start back up?

Is it really Paddys? Just doesn't have the same feel to it.

The coffee is free!! Grab a hand and we'll pull ya up on the train and you can sit a spell. :)

Forgotten? Far from it. I know it's hard at times for you to check in but check in as often as you can. Glad to see you still smober! What's new?

Fear generally stops us from realizing our full potential. Fear of moving, a new job, school, marriage (reason to be scared about that! :P ) and all sorts of things that once we face the fear, it really wasn't as bad as we made it out to be (childbirth is probably worse though, lol). Quitting smoking is the same deal. To afraid to quit and the fear is generated by the addiction and junkie thinking.

It's been cold here but two days next week it's supposed to be mid 60's!!! I'll be outside doing some yardwork while jamming to some RHCP!! Woot-Woot!

You've been awesome since day one and I'm so thankful that not only you're here, but also that you're nearly a year quit! Only a few short weeks and you'll be back in the states with your man. Lots of good things on the horizon. :)

That is wrong on so many levels! lol

The tickers have been fixed (last Friday) and are tracking properly. I did the math on mine and it's correct. Everybody's tickers are tracking properly now. :)

Bravo!! :)