Kate18

NOPE

I've been reading a series of murder mystery novels by Faye Kellerman. Great series, very intriguing. In the beginning, our hero (Peter Decker, Sergeant, LAPD) smoked like a chimney. In the second or third novel--after he marries the perfect love of his life--he quits. But not so fast! Every time it's crunch time and he hits a peak tension moment, someone offers him a cigarette. Does he refuse? No he does not! And now I want to smoke again. What's with this? I hate to say it, but I actually had the thought that I'd just cave in and go and get cigarettes. Crazy. I've been quit more than a year and three months now. It's possible that I'd have acted on my impulse, except for Quittrain and people like Doreen (et al) who stick with the forum and show us what the possibility is, that a person can quit and stay quit for years, no matter the provocation. Sigh. I really want to smoke. I may have to quit reading this series of novels if I'm to be affected so strongly every time Pete craves for and caves to a cigarette.

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HA! Excellent!

Best of luck to you. I used patches, from 21 mg to 7 mg. I didn't quit. I just wasn't over smoking. Then I found my Reason to Quit, and quit without patches. I wonder if there is a placebo effect to the patches. Is it the nicotine? I don't know. All I know is that when I found my Reason, I quit without a qualm, without the edginess that I experienced on the patches. But patches help some folks, so hang in there. If you really want to quit, you will.

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Reading novels from the library on my computer, "e-books." In these tense moments, why do they smoke cigarettes? Ach! Not good role models. I have moments when, as I read this novel, I want a smoke. CRAZY. I'm so over smoking, but I understand the heroine's reaching for a cigarette. I suppose that triggers will never end. I stand steadfast. NOPE

OK, I'm not so new, not looking for anything sexy, no sandwich meat...just more money for more investments. Money is sexy enough for me. More than a year and counting...now it's a breeze. Whew! On the other hand, I don't take it for granted. Just because today I don't feel cravings, doesn't mean I never do. I just never cave in.

When the spirit is willing, the body will follow. You'll do it!

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NOPE. Grateful for the people who are always here, supporting everyone else. Thank you.

The struggle fades after a time. I didn't think I'd ever be able to go a day without thinking about smoking, but I do. That's why I don't post NOPE pledge every morning, because smoking--or not smoking--doesn't enter my mind. I'm hoping you'll encounter your tipping point soon, your reasons to quit become stronger than the pull of addiction. It can be the result of something unexpected, so be on the alert. Have a great, smoke-free weekend!

No, no, no, you don't need a full commitment in order to be on the path to quitting. Yes, we'd all like to have an epiphany and say, "That's it, I'm 100% convinced, I'll never smoke again." Some people have that, whether it's because someone they love died of a smoking-related disease, or they just got sick and tired of spending all that money to enrich tobacco moguls. (When you don't smoke, it's amazing how much money you have to invest in stocks.) This is sometimes a journey to being a nonsmoker, not an instant teleportation to going from smoking to a nonsmoking space. I was a serial quitter for a couple of years, maybe three. The only reason I'm quit today (1 yr and almost 2 months) is because every time I lapsed, I'd tell myself that I'd keep at it, I'd keep looking for reasons that were strong enough to keep me from smoking. I'd stop for a while--days, weeks, even months. When Covid hit, I had my strong enough reason--my kids would be devastated if I died of Covid because my lungs were compromised by smoking. It's easy to say, "well, I'm not 100% into being a nonsmoker, so I won't try at all." Keep quitting front and center in your mind, even as you light the next cigarette. Keep being a nonsmoker as your aim. At some point, if you keep piling on the reasons to quit, you'll reach your tipping point and quit for good. Good luck, my friend

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Welcome and big hugs (if you're into hugs) Tara. You're in the right place if you want to quit smoking or other nicotine products. This is a very supportive group, and we're glad to have you aboard the QuitTrain. There is a lot of information in the top-listed posts, so hope you find them useful. The most important thing is to stay with us, keep posting, tell us what you're going through and let those people who have been there to help you. Good luck, my friend.

Ach! I had a knee injury, crutches, 6 weeks off of my job. Returned to my cashiering job and had repetitive injury to my back, with nasty spasms. Had to restrict my hours, and really hurt my income. But, I didn't smoke. Had to have hernia surgery and another 6 weeks off work. Returned to work and more back spasms because of repetitive action injury. But I didn't smoke. Now on medical leave because of repetitive motion injury, and at risk of losing my job if I can't conquer the spasms. Until now, I didn't crave a cigarette, but today I did. It was a bit scary. Here I am, a year plus a month, quit, and I wanted a cigarette. I'd quit drinking anything alcoholic because I'm on a plant-based-diet kick and no added oil or salt, no alcohol or diet cola. I was walking my dog and saw several cigarettes on the ground. Normally, in recent months, I'd have thought, "yuck, litter bug," Today I longed for a cigarette and destressing. That wasn't going to happen, so I caved and bought 2 cans of beer. Better that than cigarettes. Cigarettes are a rabbit hole you don't want to go down, my friend, no matter what. My quit is still intact. I'm so grateful to be quit, and wish anyone who is on the fence, or thinking or lapsing, to stick with it. Quitting and being nicotine-free is so much better. Quitting is freedom. Think of what you can do with the money you'll save. For me, it is stock investments. Do what it takes. It's worth it, my friend.