Reciprocity

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People often think they don't have a voice as an individual when it comes to big business and government. Cutting off the support your cigarette consumption gives to Big Tobacco is a loud voice that each one of has the option to use or not. When we quit, we stop putting our hard earned money into the pockets of those that don't care that they're killing us with their products. Stand up and be counted. Speak up loudly to Big Tobacco and tell them "I'm done with you!!" Quit smoking for good!! In about 4 1/2 months, I have refused to give them over $2,000.00 of my hard earned after-tax dollars. In my mind, I'm giving them the middle finger - lol. Look at all the dollars saved by all the other long term quitters on this site. That's money Big Tobacco is no longer getting and that's just fine by me! (end rant :) )

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Yes - good idea to record stuff as you progress. Wish I had done that. You tend to forget about the small things over time and, the progression of quitting is so slow to happen, it's good to go back a couple of weeks and refresh your memory as to where you were at then compared to now. It will help you see the progression. In terms of your "foggy head"; I had this pretty bad the whole first month of my quit. It eventually cleared up but was frustrating at the time because it made me so unproductive. Just couldn't focus on stuff for long. Someone suggested drinking fruit juice would help. Blood sugar levels or something. Of course, I paid no attention and just suffered through it - lol. The anxiousness and quick to anger issues -well; I wish I had a quick cure for those but I don't. Deep breathing maybe when you feel yourself getting all worked up. I still get a little overly riled at small stuff and I'm over 4 months in. It isn't as prominent now as it was earlier on though - thank God!

Hey Lyn! Make a list of the main reasons you want to quit smoking and keep that with you at all times. That way, you can take it out and read it when ever that little voice inside you head is trying to convince you to smoke "just one". Stay committed to your goal of quitting. If you remain committed, you will win. Every battle you win with the addiction makes you stronger and the addiction weaker. It truly works. It just takes time and hard work on your part. Educate yourself about the addiction too, as others have already said. You CAN do it! It's just up to you and we will be here cheering you on and to lend support along the way :)

^^^ I know. I was thinking that very thing as I posted that; Bakon's gonna kill me!! - lol. 1

Nice going Lone Goose! You're in the back half of your first year not smoking so take a little time today and celebrate with us :)

Hey beazel! 1/4 year without smoking is fantastic. Treat yourself to something nice to commemorate this milestone then get back in the ring and keep fighting that crafty nicodemon. You're doing great!!

Hold on here ............. back at post #47851 DD entered 5 when it should have been 3 so we are 2 too many. I'll make it 3 and now we are back on track :)

Do what you need to so you are not tempted to smoke, especially during the early part of your quit. After your sniffer comes back to normal, you will be able to smell smoke a long way away. Also, you'll be amazed at how stinky people who smoke really are to non smokers. I think you will actually like that part. We call what you are feeling "romancing the cigarette". You remember all the really good one's you smoked. You know, first one in the morning, after a meal, after going without one in a movie or on a flight. Those ones. Not all the ones that you smoked just to feed the addiction. You know, all those ones every day about every 1/2 hour or so? Once you are addicted, you are only feeding that addiction. All those smokes do nothing to help you or fix anything in your life. It's just shortening your life.

Hi helpneeded! As Doreen mentioned in her reply, read all you can about this addiction and watch all the Joel videos you can stand to watch. They are informative and gradually you will begin to understand the addiction and that it does nothing for you. Once this realization is made, quitting will be a lot easier. Start out on the Introductions & About Us Page. At the top, there's some "Pinned" thread topics. They have a green Pinned Bar beside them. I would start with the one titled: 10 Ways To Effectively Use This Forum To Help Yourself and Others to Quit Smoking. There is a lt of stuff there that you can start with. The other thing that seems to do a lot of good is to stay here on this board and participate as much as you can. Ask questions, rant and rave as needed, read others posts and offer your opinion. People that stay here seem to be much more successful. There's a lot of support here from people doing the exact same thing you are.

OK NOPE!

Yet another reason I'm not on Face-Plant!

I think the vast majority of us are in your camp nn! It certainly wasn't "easy" for me and I suspect most of the people on this board who have substantial quits under their belts yet remain here doing what they can to nurture new quitters. It's that understanding of just how difficult it can be and our sincere appreciation for the support we all had coming through the process that keeps them here giving to others. If it was easy for any of these wonderful people, they would just get through their quit and be gone, assuming it would be just as easy for everyone coming up behind them.

It all about the incentive on the far shoreline!

Andy ..... sleep in today?

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Stay with it B57! It will be worth it and yes, it's not easy but you CAN make it through. The bad days (lot of carves) are unpredictable through the first while and yes, it will be up and down but it WILL smooth out at some point. Different timing for all of us but it for sure will get easier - then, a lot easier. And yes, we all have those "life situations" that crop up and threaten to kill our quits - NOPE, just NOPE! Our brains have been tricked into thinking smoking relieves stress when in reality, smoking only feeds the addiction which when it isn't fed, creates a whole other level of stress. No, you solve your own stress as I do and as everyone does. It's much easier to deal with life stress when we don't have to worry about the stress that the unfed addiction creates. Carry on - you're doing great!

We never know, individually, what will "tweak" our interest as we read or watch videos about this addiction but when something does catch YOUR interest; stay with it! Believe in it and live it. Whatever helps you to make sense of this addiction will do wonders for your quit. Once you truly understand that smoking does NOTHING for you, quitting will be much easier because you will know you are now on the road to freedom!

^^^ Hey .... what? I had nothing to do with this. It was Boo & Joe!

You're a keeper Pearlie - stick around!

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4 Nice work boys :)

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