Still winning

nope

Hi Wendy, I'm so glad to see you. I always felt real sorry for your suffering physically in the early quit so to get to 11 months is amazing news, massive congrats! I am so with you on smells, they are so different. Do you sniff all the fabric conditioners in the shop before buying one too? I love everything scentsy. I use fragrance plug ins downstairs now, prefer the fresh linen or cotton type smells but apple and cinnamon is quite festive and nice. The smell of after it rains! It's so fresh, the kids think it's hillarious that I still open the door to smell it...we are in england after all :) Food...all food, smells and tastes better.

Wow, that must have been a torrid time for you, as if a newborn isn't enough of a shock. I think you're amazing, to adjust that quickly and make this beautiful choice. It's not just burying mama, statistically, YOUR CHILD is more likely to smoke if you do. That feels really shocking to realize I think. Try and get some distractions in place for when you're not quite sure what to do with yourself. it's more mental than physical to be honest so get some jobs or reading material or whatever lined up to take your mind off of things. exercise is a big win too. xx

nope

Congrats on 4 months and pushing through. as I've read your pre respond and that you're ok, I'm gonna say you really do need to hold on and that every one of these craves faced down gives the next one far less power. Now a smoking thought simply gets batted away as a romancing type thought, like "swat", oh gone, and carry on with life but the money and health continue to benefit me. Also as I see you like alternative my spiritual gifts have shot through the roof! It's almost as if with the mental push through I awakened on so many levels, it's very cool and you should hang out for that bit. Much love and congrats. x

nope

I'm delighted to hear your quit is well. My heart goes out to you on the funeral planning. Post if you need support. xx

Wow, you ran races, how did it go?? Pleased to see you again and that beautiful ticker of yours :)

About a 4 hour drive for me so I'm thinking probably not. But do keep me posted, just in case it happens to be a child free weekend and I'm suddenly able to afford a b&b, stranger things have happened...and I recon I'd love a spot of pole dancing.... lol. x

We're aloud to feel for you and Mrs Bakon though, so I'm sorry. Much love to you both. You are right about your point to. I know a lot of smokers who hold on with their sick hands to their lifeline...it's brutal to watch and like you, I am forever grateful that we broke free and hopefully our kids won't have to watch that now. x

nope

Hey Cookie. I am so sorry to hear about your Mum. Sending gentle hugs your way. It's great you want to honour her, I really admire that and quitting for you and your kiddos too is a good thing. I'm hoping you're still with us but wanted to give one piece of advice. Don't over think it. Just stay in the moment and don't let your mind drift too far forwards. No matter what happened yesterday, today you don't smoke...find some stuff to do instead. Say NOPE in your head, cough sweets, clean...whatever it takes to distract yourself. Sending strength to you. xx

Buy a pair that make you smile...at least then if you hate wearing them, you still have a little smile when you see them. I went with pink and a little bling on the side :) They are crazy but I only wear mine to drive, you will wear them to read....not all the time. My advice.

My puppy stopped eating the electrical wires :)

It's hard to get people in everyday life to listen or take seriously how much "stuff" surrounds a quit isn't it. Pleased you felt re assured. x

Yep, standard way for the brain to remind you what you're not doing and how big it is. Sorry for how horrid they are but pleased it's only a dream. x

2 years and a celebration :) beautiful my friend. x

nope

massive congrats on 11 months! x

YES!! 1 month is more than worthy!! Fantastic achievement pancakes! Congrats on your 1 month nicotine free. Rinse and repeat :) Great work chick. x

TEw, so sorry I missed this milestone chick. You have bought some thought provoking stuff to this board and I have loved taking this very raw journey with you. I must say, I still think you are far too hard on yourself! But massive congrats on 1 year free from nicotine, smobriety is a big thing I know. Much love. xx

Massive congrats on 1 year free! x

Just the brain making the connections and every time you bat them away you break them down further. You're doing amazing and every step carries value to the quit. Acknowledge the thought and correct it with a new one and this too will pass. x

nope

For me it has multiple support functions. Day 1 I didn't nope, I thought it a bit silly to be honest, like why would I bother? But then someone said I should and I had to be honest, I hadn't done it not only for feeling silly but also because I wasn't sure I wouldn't smoke. Day 2 onwards it became a promise to myself and everyone else who had typed it that I gave my word. Some people start a quit only for themselves, mine was a group effort, I was quitting for kids/me/partner and then added some non smoking buddies. It kept me accountable and some days I "might" have smoked if I hadn't given my word I think. Some days I'd nope in advance of midnight for the next day for the same reason. Then it became habit. Now I still do it when I log on to remind myself. I'm actually thinking of incorporating it into a tattoo on a very small scale at a later stage. That accountability saved my life I think because some days, I wasn't strong enough alone. x