El Bandito

Good work One. Trigger defeated. Big tick. New pattern. Big tick. Seeing tobacco firms for what they are. Big Tick. I hope that the tooth is better and that you sleep well.

woof.

My central heating is on the blink. Nothing serious - just does not fire up without manual intervention. Under guarantee. Called engineer yesterday. He is coming today. Now - I'm restless waiting for him. When he gets here - I'll be restless because he is interrupting me positing here. Once he is gone - I will be restless because I had a problem with a new system........ Used to be - "I need a cigarette" Now its "Why you getting restless fool? Get on with something."

Hey Evelyn. Life sometimes gets busy. Joy is - we are always welcome here. ;)

Instincts. That first cigarette...picture your first cigarette in your mind. How did it taste? Sweet? How did it feel in your lungs? Did you cough? Did you suppress a cough? That innocent first reaction was the truth. Then we spent years, literally years, convincing ourselves that we enjoyed smoking. Unable to make a convincing argument - we even invented effects! "It calms me down, when I'm stressed". Lies all lies. Robert is right - we cannot change the past. We can however take control of the now. Every cigarette not smoked is a victory, is a positive step. Great post Jackie.

Good to read positive news. Thoughts and prayers to those on the front line Big cheers for the support teams and their runs! You rock.

-11

Mighty powers reserved for Quit Smoking purposes...sorry. I found that after a couple of months it was important to focus on the positives, make some affirmations and reward myself.. So, RF - 700 stinky horrible cigarettes that you have NOT clogged your lungs up with. GREAT WORK! Your breath is probably quite nice now....your skin, teeth and gums will be getting better. Your health has markedly improved. Way to Go! $380 Dollars better off - does that buy a new igloo in Alaska? You look better. You smell better. You breathe better, You are richer. You are possessed with a new self-confidence. Better days are here! GO RF!

mmmm...Cookies on the Lido deck. I like.

Glitter gun Lock and Load.

WOW. Big hand! Great work

Happy Birthday........Yesterday!

Late as ever... Great work Rob. Well done!

Nope

By decree of the Bandit, the craves and mood swings are banished. There you go. I wish it were that easy. The craves are just triggers, memories of addiction. Increasingly, they feel more like memories. The trick is not to empower them or to build them up. We run the risk of being our own worse enemies here. The moods. Part body chemistry, part empowered quitter. This one calms quite quickly, or did for me at least. Welcome to the new you RF! Great work.

Pimp gotta Pimp.... Hey Ross, hope all is good.

Surfs Up! Ain't it great to be on top of the wave instead of under it? You are doing brilliantly Jackie...Hang tough.

NOPE! Big day tomorrow Rob. Good work sir!

Marti - The Aylesbury Tornado has made it to 11 months. There has been violence, laughter, tears and quite frankly some scary stuff in the swearing thread...but she has made it to 11 months and will soon be up here on the Lido deck. Quit Buddy. You are quite simply the best.

You will not be hit with cravings for a long time to come. I'm not. You have quit. Its done. To undo it requires you to consciously sabotage it. Every day at this early stage is a big deal. Its a great achievement. Well done. Gritted teeth and white knuckles is a look that works for some people - and sometimes it might be required - but most of the time, a relaxed smile and a cheeky glint in the eye is a better look. To borrow from Marti - you are winning One! Nice avatar by the way. ;-)

And you have. Smart. Yes. Sip lots of water. Take some juice too to keep sugars up and help flush the toxins. Cranberry tends to be the fashionable choice. If craves come - take deep breaths, try to relax and ride them out. A crave never killed anyone Julie. Congratulations on the best decision that you have ever made - to quit smoking.

Welcome Aboard Julie! Toughest day is done - Good work! Where are you from? Tell us a bit about yourself.

There is a LOT of rope.....

NOPE

One heck of a month. Seen off like a true winner. BRILLIANT work Jess. Brilliant.