NADA

Perplexing

I beg to differ. Not smoking over 500 cigarettes is a big deal. I'm sure your lungs have really benefited from that.

40,893 not smoked. I sure hope the CEO of RJ Reynolds doesn't have to cancel his vacation on the Riviera as a result of this.

Glad to see your smoke-free life is so comfy. Congrats on your big day!

Are you beginning to feel like you're fused to your couch? Do you consider making it through an entire streaming Netflix series an actual accomplishment? You may not be able to go to the gym or participate in an exercise class, but there is another alternative. Hiking. There are so many benefits to a good hike. You can choose anything from easy to strenuous. Flat to steep. And not only are you getting physical exercise, you're also able to take a mental hiatus from the incessant pandemic news. There are several apps that help you choose a local trail. They'll even warn you if you start wandering off track. They'll tell you how far you've gone, your pace, and your elevation gain. Some of the more popular free ones are AllTrails, TrailLink, and Cairn. Get up, get out, and put those smoke-free lungs to good use.

Win, win, win. Thanks for pointing out some of the amazing benefits to quitting and congratulations on six weeks of freedom Amie.

Welcome pixiedust. Remember, your commitment needs to be rock solid. You are already mentioning your concern about withdrawal symptoms and anxiety. Don't let those become an excuse to ditch your quit. Many here have had similar or worse preconditions but have managed to successfully quit despite them. Keep telling yourself you WILL do this and there's nothing that will stop you.

Welcome Morgan. I hope this is the last time you go through this cycle of self abuse. I'm curious about the situation with your husband (since I was, and still am, married to a non-smoker). Does your husband realize how important your quit is to you? Does he smoke inside? Does he leave his cigarettes out in the open? Does he know how lethal secondhand smoke is? I don't think it's unfair to ask him to make some adjustments to help ensure your quit has a more level playing field. I wish you well....you can do it.

You mentioned that you're a doctor. Yet you seem to be unable to grasp the basic precepts of addiction and what it takes to quit smoking. Couple that with the fact that you attend a party in the middle of a pandemic and I have some serious doubts that things are on the up and up here. The first step to a successful quit is to get real with yourself. The rest just takes commitment and time.

2 weeks is a HUGE reason to celebrate. Good job Mona!

Glad to hear it was a false alarm. Can I please have my prayer back?

I think a lot of people who have long term quits don't like to tell newbies just how long they may experience cravings. They're afraid it may discourage people from even trying. Well I want to tell you that it's worth any amount of time required to get to the point where freedom, calmness, and health rule the day. Be proud of the amazing 2 month accomplishment you've already achieved and continue your commitment to overcome any hurdle moving forward. You're doing great Kate. There is a light at the end of the tunnel.

AK. Time to look at the title of your post. Daily counter, my journey. Here's how a daily counter should work: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5..... Here's how a daily counter should not work: 1, 1, 1, 1, 1..... Day one is hell. Why keep putting yourself through that? Time to string those days together.

Perhaps this is the problem. You think you know everything about your addiction and how to quit, but you're missing the main points. Smoking is not a reward. It does not relieve stress. Just having one or two does not equal freedom. You need to conquer EVERY craving that comes your way until the cravings fade away. Stop thinking there's a magic bullet that will completely erase your urges. The only thing that will result in victory is you and your unwavering commitment to see this through.

I now love the thing I secretly used to dread when I was a smoker. Going on date night with my wife. More often than not we’d do dinner and a movie. I would always flag down the waiter to bring our check the moment I took my last bite so I could dash out and smoke a cigarette. And the movie would be even more torturous. I could never focus on the last hour because the cravings were so strong. Now I love our night out. I’m totally present in the moment. And I see more than ever how fortunate I am to have such a wonderful and loving person in my life.

Congratulations. One week is a major milestone.

I'm here.

Just keep going one day at a time dullyboi. Eventually you'll realize that it was worth a little short term pain to achieve long term gain.

npe

Went on a great hike on Saturday. Over 11 miles and 2000 ft+ elevation gain. Didn't see another soul except this beauty.

Hey Dully I took up hiking and backpacking. I've done a few trips to the Sierra Nevada and crossed mountain ranges of 12,000+ ft elevation. So amazing. NEVER could have done that when I was a smoker. This one was Rae Lakes last summer. Added on an additional trail to total 60 miles. The possibilities are limitless when you quit smoking.

Great job Guttie! I have that app too. I found it very motivational. Haven't looked at it in ages, but I remember how much I looked forward to seeing another day be added. Keep up the great work!

Although you may find that your anxiety increases for a short while, you'll eventually see a dramatic decrease in daily anxiety. No more worrying when you'll get your next fix or that you're having trouble breathing, etc. Keep rolling over those bumps....you're doing great.

Got all dolled up for March roll call