El Bandito

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Looking hot ladies...

Large social occasions where many are smoking and where I used to smoke were a little daunting at first. Will people offer me a cigarette? Probably. Will I feel like smoking? Probably. Will I try to persuade myself that just one at a social gathering is WAY better than smoking every day? Probably. Will I look at people and whine "how come they get to smoke?" Actually... People will offer me a cigarette because misery loves company. Of course I will feel like smoking, my addiction will immediately sense an opportunity to get me back. But a good firm NOPE will put it back in its place. There is no such thing as just one for me. "I am one puff away from a pack a day". Those people that 'get to smoke' are looking at me. "How did he just stop? He used to smoke more than me and for years too. Yet he looks completely relaxed." They know that as sure as eggs is eggs, smoking is killing them. Quitting smoking is a life changing and life enhancing choice. People are inspired by you. Quitting does not mean duck out of life, it means grab life by the throat and LIVE it! In practical terms though...don't drink too much. Have in mind allies that you can rely on if you get tempted and a place to go take 5 mins if you need to regroup and sip some water. My experience was the anticipation was worse than the reality. Also, Grandma will always appreciate a visit. (I bet she is hugely proud of you too)

Nope

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Great work DF! 11 months is fantastic. Congratulations.

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Good work. Keep on rockin'

Around and about

Nope, nah mate, niet

Toni. So sorry to hear of your loss. My condolences to you and your family. Well done on guarding the quit.

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Nice work Ethan!

Cheers. Thinking of you T.

Wrong game methinks.....

-12 Heineken probably likes you right back.

-19 Tempted to smoke to provide some opposition....

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-12 I like Helsinki.

Easy Peasy Initially I found it annoying. Slowly though, I began to realise it's power. I am no expert in addiction, but I did come to realise that it was for me, a very personal battle. Colleen, Nancy, DD, Ava, Jenny et al could not quit for me. They could offer support, a word or two of advice, but in the end it came down to a simple one and one battle with myself. As someone memorably wrote "Just don't put things in your mouth and set fire to them" It was and is, in its essence, that. So, I reasoned, there is Just one thing to do. I can do just one thing. It is Easy Peasy. How my quit went was also my responsibility. None of the lovely people here can give me an easy quit or a hard quit. Only I can choose how to view it. I can choose the 'I loved to smoke, but it was bad for me so I quit' which I think is hard, or I can choose 'smoking? It's all a big con trick. I saw the light and I have never been happier.' The second is, I think easier. Easy Peasy one might say. Some folk like to view quitting as the end of all things. A titanic struggle of good over evil. Some folk go through stages of all the views. The power of this place is that we can all draw on everyone's individual experience and individual personalities. Millions of people have quit smoking. It's not Rocket Surgery :-) but it is a Great thing.

Hey Carly. Monday for me. And hopefully for you too. Your first day of freedom from nicotine. My advice. Keep a bottle of water close by. Sip. Juice. Cranberry was my favourite. Your blood sugars can go a bit nuts. Again sip. If you can. Walk. I got up and walked when a crave came. Helped offset some snacking too ;-) If you feel a 'need' for a cigarette, just take a deep breath, a sip of water and wait it out. Rejoice, this is a sign that the nicotine is leaving your body. A crave never hurt anyone Carly. Smoking kills. Come on here, read, post and laugh. You can absolutely do this Carly.

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