c9jane29

Happy Birthday, MQ...thanks for all you do.

Congrats Kate!! 7 months is awesome!! Keep climbing that rope...you'll be on the lido deck before you know it. Remember your reward for this fantastic occasion! You have earned it! I hope you had a great day!!

Congratulations Kdad!! 2 YEARS already! Amazing! I hope you reward yourself today and take time to reflect on how wonderful this achievement really is...feel it's power. That's freedom, my friend! We're all so proud of you!

This is true. It's not marked as the drug it is because it's legal and sold in low doses. When I was first quitting, the thing that really got me was learning about how nicotine had changed my brain; nicotine receptors, how it's an antagonist. This is exactly what it does. Looks like you're writing your first commercial

They did tell us those thing in school. We even had a teacher that brought in a fake lung with cotton filling and would let us pump this foot pump to suck smoke inside so we could see it turn yellow. But, I lived with smokers. Everyone in my family smoked, all the people I was around as a kid smoked so it didn't matter what anyone said. I started stealing cigarettes as soon as I could get away with it, my dad bought me a pack when I was 14. It starts at home...my kids are young and I'm already talking to them about it. They see my mom and my sister smoking and they need to hear it from me. I make them change clothes/wash hands as soon as we get home from my mom's house. They ask why and we talk about it on terms they understand. I hope I can give them the power I never had to make better decisions.

Every. Single. Thing. I loved the quitting process, learning about my addiction, how to recover from it, how to over come it...how to live again. I finally love me! My life completely changed; my husband too... quitting will always be the best thing I've ever done.

Potts!! I'm so happy for you!!! Please do something to celebrate today! Take some time to smile and really feel good...you earned it! We remember your struggles, hold them close to remember to never go back, only forward from here! Big congratulations!

"Always vigilant" another motto for the addict...I still have dumb ass thoughts. Not for smoking, but other vices in my life. I'm lucky to be able to laugh at myself. Good for you to recognize it for what it is...a passing thought, a smoky memory. Not a command, not a "craving", just a reminder of a life you once lived but have moved on from. I hope you reward yourself for this big step in your recovery!

I googled plank challenge...I could only hold 20-30 seconds at a time when I started, but I heard a quote that said "Hang on 10 seconds longer after you want to quit" (I love a good motto) so that's what I started doing! I found songs that were right around that 3 min mark so I wasn't watching the clock. That helped mins fly by. After I could hold the standard planks with no shaking, I added in the side arm planks...those were the real challenge!! I tried to do the 100 squat challenge too but...well, no butt I like that you care as a cashier...I think as a smokers we make up the idea that we are anti-social, but in truth, we just smelled bad and were constantly in withdrawal if we weren't smoking. I never tried to be nice to people. Now, I want to be nice. I homeschool so I can go days at a time and only see my kids, but I make sure to tell them every day how awesome they are. I can see it rubbing off on them. My little one, he's 4, told an older lady at the store (she had short curly hair) "I like your hair, it goes Voomp! Voomp!" She giggled and laughed...they were best friends but the time we left. Those are the habits I want them to pick up from me. Lets us know how those planks get on!!

You can do anything you set your mind to, Kate!! I started setting weird personal goals too. I got into doing planks. I would do three 3 minutes planks a day. I try to compliment someone every day. I also want to try to start running outside...but I'm not good at running so... we'll see how that goes. Quitting smoking changed my life. It is the single best thing I have ever done. I'm so happy you're feeling it too! Get out there girl, do something new!! (Sadly wishing my black bean spinach salad was raspberry everything brownies )

I've been sending prayers since I got up, Linda!! Keep your bubble wrap handy for the ride home! Sending all my love!

I put my quit date wrong...again. It's in May...ALL of May is my quit day

Layla, first I want to say good for you to take care of yourself the way you do. Mental health is very important; reaching out is the best first step. Is 3 your magic number? You could try to make a new ritual...like with frozen peaches or marichino cherries. Line them up on a pretty plate so you can see them, and if you are sensory seeking, you could make a noise before you eat each one (clap, snap, clink your fork) to mimick the sound of the lighter. I hate to suggest food, but it gives ex-smokers that serotonin dump, blood sugar boost and hand to mouth feel that we're "missing" in our early quit. I would go with a chocolate but since it's bedtime...

More like "It's 6 weeks tomorrow!!! Wooo!!!hoooo!!!!" Make sure to reward yourself, Midmale! You deserve it! I have no experience with Champix either, but maybe make a post on the main board for Champix specific questions; you'll probably get better responses/more views there. As reci said, brain fog is normal...it's one of those things you have to push thru. Just make sure to follow the instructions on taking yourself off Champix so there are no unwanted side effects. + = These are the secrets to build a solid quit. You quit putting cigarettes in your mouth and you feel the strength in taking your power back from addiction! Congratulations, Midmale!! Today is a reason to celebrate!!

We are all to be free from smoking if we want to be. You have to be prepared for these moments..."cravings" are not commands; they are smoking memories created by the changes nicotine receptors have made in your brain. Educating yourself on nicotine addiction and the changes it has made in your brain and body is one of the best defenses against these cravings. Clean out your ashtrays, have chocolate/gum/suckers and water where you would normally have cigarettes this will give you that blood sugar drop that nicotine gave you in that moment (carrot sticks of you're not a candy person) to redirect those smoking thoughts...get yourself a mantra to say out loud; mine was "Nope. You're a non-smoker now, find something else to do." The only way you will ever stop smoking is to quit putting cigarettes in your mouth...it's really that easy (or as hard) as you want it to be. It's a wonderful thing to quit smoking!! You are taking you life back from the slavery of the first cigarette you ever smoked...all the others have been are maintenance cigarettes for that first bad choice. You can change that today! How exciting!! Get a game plan...there is abundant resources here and whyquit.com to help you along the way. You CAN do it, you ARE worth it!! No cigarette is worth you. Just tell those smoking thoughts that you are back in charge, you are not a slave to them anymore...Welcome to the train, friend

Nope...my neighbor has a basset hound that talks to me all day tho. His name is Duke and that's what he says tooo "Duuuuuuuuuke! Duuuuuuuuuke!" I can get him to sing harmony with me too; it's quite embarrassing when she catches me singing with her dog

I think you need to find the joy in your quit!! It's the best damn thing you'll ever do for yourself... selfishly, it's all your own. It's your precious. My quit is covered in glitter, it smells like a rose and taste like a peach! I loved it from the moment it was born...it was my baby, I taught it how to act in public, how not to cry after every meal, or every car ride...and after awhile those nicotine receptors knew I was back in charge. Not them. You are in charge of your quit, my friend. Your quit is directly related to what you put into it...give yourself some rewards. Chocolate is my favorite do something that is completely out of your comfort zone...learn to paint or start a small indoor garden, these things give you a distraction, but you also learn about yourself... because a good quit will reveal the real you; who knows what the real Linda likes?! It's fun to find out!! Find you joy, Linda!! It's so much fun to quit!!

2 years already!!! How fing fantastic!! I hope you celebrated...even just a personal one! Sexy shoes, some chocolate, a walk in the park, anything because you are worth it and you deserve it, my friend! You have come a long way. We're all glad to have watched you grow and blossom to the beautiful smoke free you (the real you) that we know today. As Saz would say, you are so loved.

23,801 reasons to celebrate today!! Step out of the shadows, step out of the grave Break into the wild and don't be afraid Run into wide open spaces, grace is waiting for you Dance like the weight has been lifted!!

Hooray for you Helen!! You are taking your life back! Your quit is directly linked to your attitude...it can be as easy or as hard as you want it to be. An educated quit is by far the best...as you learn about nicotine addiction and how smoking has changed the chemical makeup of your brain, it's easier to understand cravings and how to avoid the pitfalls of quitting: Hungry:Make sure you keep you blood sugar up, Angry:keep track of you emotions, Lonely: talk to us if you need, Tired: sleep it off. Read everything you can, here and whyquit.com are great resources. Congrats on the best decision you will ever make...when you make it to the other side; you won't even recognize the person you are now. It's a life changing adventure.

This is one of the best things I've heard in a while!! My heart just grew X2

I couldn't sit through anything...a movie, a school function, dinner. Always just waiting for that break away moment to go feed my addiction. I'm so glad I don't do that crap anymore. So many pages to fill with moments I'm not missing out on...I love it! Breathe in that good air for all of us BKP...it looks beautiful!

@Sazerac... don't do it ... ....saz...it's been a long time.... I don't know how I'm gonna act... AwwYEeeAaaa!