d2e8b8

Nope!

Totally agree. We have to get up and try again and it might be the one. My own path is a string of failures with just the 1 success at the end. And also, Jill, you're awesome.

Nope!

As a new quitter, I wanted to tell everyone that could quit too, that they didn't need to be tied to the habit. If I could do it, they certainly could. Now, I'll only talk to someone if they ask me for input. Over the last couple of years, I've talked to a few people who asked me and my success rate is 0. Only 1 person has quit a few times going a few months last time but think he's smoking again now.

I learned that I could be proud of the aches and pains in my body from running because ... they're only possible due to no longer being out of breath or wheezing/dying while trying to run.

Nope!

@Ankush, sorry to hear. But also glad that you're back at it. A lot of folks require more than 1 attempt. Do use the SOS in future - folks will jump in to support you. You really need to get past the minute or 2 of intense craving and that's where the support helps you. Don't let cigs be the boss of you.

Nope!

Well done, Michelle. Every time you overcome a craving, you're getting stronger and it's getting weaker. You just need to kill those triggers one by one. Your quit date and ticker seem to be different - which one is correct?

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I used to play a game and would visualize hitting the triggers with a large hammer (Thor) whenever I got cravings. At times, would scream out 'DIE TRIGGER DIE' ... sometimes startling folks nearby.

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Hey, I can add my 10,000 to the pile. Wow, all of that would have been inside of me ....

I relapsed a few times to get to the successful one. The good thing is you're here again (great advice as always @jillar). You can do it - I found being close to the board and sharing experiences that folks here have also experienced helped me.

I used to think of it as a new experience - like going on a spaceship. If spaceship doesn't excite you then you can substitute 'vacation to an exotic destination'. The idea is you're experiencing something new and unique (without spending a cent) going where you haven't gone before. Enjoy the brain fog while you can - it'll soon be gone.

Nope!

Nope!

Move the thread out of SOS?

Thanks, Ankush and babs609. Feeling brave and will try and ramp up to 5k in small increments. May have to run at night as it's too hot during the day.

Oh wow, that was Nov. Haven't really been able to run since then. Going to try a ginger 2k tonight and see how it goes. Fingers crossed. I think as an addict, I need the addiction of running to replace the nicotine addiction.

Worried about going to the loo. How do you make morning stuff happen without a cigarette. I thought I'd miss my 'me time with my cig' but there are other much better ways to find me time.

Hey hesteralumni23, Smoking masks underlying issues that surface when we quit. A lot of us have had to face it and eventually we do learn to do without the crutch. Hope things work out for you. You have the right idea and I think you'll succeed. Smoking was the hardest thing for me to quit and it took me many attempts. You will likely do it in less.

Nope!

Nope! Happy Jul 4th to our neighbors!

hesteralumni23, I'd suggest reading up on triggers. There are daily triggers like coffee, lunch, going to school/ work, etc that occur daily and cause smoke cravings - if you've been successfully quit for 90 days means you have overcome 99% of the daily and infrequent triggers. What's left are the life-event triggers - you know, bad news about job, family or something that evokes some memory or strong emotions. These are so occasional that when they do hit you, you're unprepared and I suspect this may be happening in your case. If you had a routine that you used to overcome the daily trigger, I'd recommend using that routine as a means to get past the initial cravings. Find a way to invoke it. One other thing - just make a promise to yourself to post an SOS before going out to buy a pack. It has saved many quits and folks here will support you through the crave. Most people require multiple attempts to get to the final successful quit - please keep at it. You're smarter than me for having started this journey at such an early age and I'm sure you'll find a way past the 90-day crave.