Reciprocity

Hey Ren. I read your post about "getting more information on smoking "It is important to not only know what smoking does to your bodies health but equally important in the education process is to truly understand that nicotine is an addiction and just how that powerful addiction will do everything in it's power to get you back to smoking. It will play tricks on your mind to get you to feed the addiction. Read. read, read, the "pinned" posts on the Quit Smoking Page and watch all the Joel videos you can. This stuff will help educate you on what's really going on with nicotine addiction and will show you that by refusing to give in to the addictions demands for long enough, you too can be free for life if you want to be. Education about this addiction will help you make the right choices because as other's have said ....... the choice is yours. Smoke or don't smoke - your choice. NOPE is the only way (Not One Puff Ever)!

Oops ... Guess I screwed up (again)? Sorry about that. I will fix my spread sheet. 10 months would be cool though ..... ya gotta admit

There ........ fixed that for ya

You're doing well my friend. Just keep moving it forward and noping every day. Take it day by day and pretty soon you will find you are further along than you could have imagined. Don't look too far ahead and don't over-think things. It's as simple as NOPE! That's it right there, all in a four letter word

I love reading these early quit blog posts because it reminds me so much of what my own early days were like so thanks you Rose I only wish I had done my own day by day blog. A couple of things that caught my attention in your post ..... I agree that you should go to your places where you used to enjoy smoking. If you go there knowing it will be a challenge you want to overcome then you will be successful 100% of the time. It's soooo important as a step in rewiring your brain to be able to just sit out there and really enjoy yourself again without a smoke. You've taken a huge step toward that now. The other thing you said was that "you'll choose not to smoke right now." That's right Rose! Smoking is a choice that we make. No one is forced to smoke. The power to choose is all ours.

What happens when you go back to your normal diet tho? Does your metabolism go to hell in a hand basket again or is the idea that the 30 days on the diet jump-starts your metabolism again and it keeps going even after the diet stops. I think dieting would be harder for me than quitting smoking. I have never had to even give a seconds thought to what I eat and I never gained a bit of weight. Been the same weight since before I was 20 until I quit smoking. It's been a race to fatty-land ever since then. I bet I have gained 5 or 10 lbs ..... maybe more. It's not going away on it's own

Just for future reference: 1. Yes, there is a Rant Thread. It's on the "Off The Record" Page (at the bottom of the main page). There you will find a thread titled "Can We Have A Curse Thread" You can go nuts there - fill yer boots so to speak. 2. If the "reactions" you receive are bothering you, you can dial those back somewhere in your profile setting I believe. It's been awhile since I did my own but if you need help - let us know. Someone can let you know how to adjust those. Just to help you out .... I didn't "like" your post above

Welcome aboard Ren! Nova Scotia eh? Nice one hoser My Mom & dumber brother live in N.B. Anyway, as you will find out if you haven't already, there is no just having one here and there to keep the addiction at bay. You are just prolonging the withdrawal process doing that and who want's that? You can use the NRT if you feel it's right for you and yes, that's keeping you physically addicted to nicotine but, while you are on the NRT the idea is to start working on the mental part of quitting. That's the process that takes the longest anyway. Just think about all the associations you have formed with smoking and other activities or situations in your life. Even just smoking lightly, you will need time to rewire your brain to live life comfortably without smoking. When you feel you are strong enough, ditch or cut down on the NRT based on the product or your doctor's recommendations. Read all you can here. Watch the Joel videos. Education, determination and great support will get you there. Remain active here. It helps big time

Great job Weegie. You're now into double digits and approaching that Lido Deck. Not long now! Take some time to celebrate this milestone by treating yourself to something special

9 Hey .... Sonic

Wow Moom - 8 months smoke free?? That's fantastic!! Congratulations for putting in all the hard work necessary to get here. Celebrate your proud achievement today

Congrats Latoya on reaching the 4 month smoke free mark!! You're doing great with this quitting thing. Go treat yourself for achieving yet another milestone

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ate

^^^ Hey! You're not allowed to play!! There's a 1 month probationary period for newbie chicks 6

FINALLY!!! An actual photo of you

Oh my .... Yes, Sticks Rule!! Happy Birthday Bakon! And, keeping with the Trump hair thing ........................

I didn't experience this but I know Jetblack did. The same as you, right at the 3 month mark and she had said up to then, her quit had not been all that challenging for her, which made it all the more surprising to her I think. Battle the craves using all the tools you have gathered so far in your quit and you will be fine. It WILL get better for you.

Good stuff DV! You have the plan so now it's all just execution. Based on your story above, I'm betting that's one mistake you will never make again. Thanks for sharing your story too because it's always a good reminder to the rest of us just how fragile our quits really are. Hope you participate here as much as you can.

Great job Rose! Your words above ring very true "a celebration of victory because I can do this not smoking thing and it's ok; i'm not gonna die from it; it's not impossible." This quitting thing is VERY possible. Education about the addiction, a positive attitude toward it and a supportive community are all huge tools in building your quit and I believe you've checked all those boxes Those quit symptoms all fade to nothing with time so carry on .... one day at a time for now.

5

Congrats Joe! Great news for the whole family I'm sure

Great work Birk! 3 Months smoke free .... yes, 1/4 year quit now!! This is worthy of a celebration! Keep up the good work

Congrats MD! 11 Months smoke free is fabulous You are getting so close to that Lido Deck. In fact, I can see that cruise ship coming already!!