MLMR

Hi Sally, sending you congratulations on this beautiful event you created for yourself five years ago. Must have been some journey (it was a joy to read through your blog!). Thanks so much for everything that you do on the quittrain. Always so spot-on and with tender care. Pretty remarkable. Ive shared some doubts with you in these two months ... and somehow you were able to help me find my Chi back, through rollercoaster quitting, by trusting the proces. Thanks. Take good care and spoil yourself in ways the Gods would be jealous of!!

Thanks @Baseball Coach for bringing this up. I trained myself in recognizing them, in the beginning of my quit. I am now at a point where it really annoys me to take time to examine triggers (most of the time they are just that.. not even craves). This reminds me how important it is to see them every time for what they are: patterns. Changing seasons, for instance. Brings up different thoughts/moods etc. Tempting time to lay back and dwell in self pity, because of aaaaallllll the triggers 'that are still here'. While its got probably everything to do with unconciously remembering what I did as a smoker at this time of the year.

Grrrrrr Nope!! ?

Thanks all! Glad these first two months are over, now I'm heading towards 1 quarter of that Lido deck. And I'll be going out for dinner tonight, so don't worry about that treat. Gotta get back to work quick, but will carry this tingling proud feeling with me today. Oh and this gif is a bit like me, after two months: colourful and happy. And a bit more voluptuous than I'm used to. And that's ok because first things first etc. Ahum. Yes.

Nope

6 days already? Seems like you just got here and suddenly it's almost a week already Keep it up!

Im not one for signs and angel callings, but I must admit that this Google search result on 2144 is pretty prophetic.

Nope Oh and for map day:

Yihaaa, 4 months! Well done. What's it like up there? I imagine the view is pretty awesome. Way to go and keep going strong!

That's the best news the doc could give. You must be so relieved, Lilly! I have something for you. It's a message from someone you know very well. 'I have been dabbling with quitting since the nineties. My quits varied in length ie 10 minutes, 10 hours and now and again weeks. I threw the towel in on every quit I had because I just wasn't willing to endure a bit of discomfort. It was much easier to go and buy a packet of cigarettes than it was to feel "out of sorts." I would provoke arguments at home so I could blame the other person for driving me back to smoking. I would get a flat tyre and be dancing at the roadside because nobody would expect me to keep my quit under such trying circumstances. I wanted to be a non smoker but at the same time I just couldn't let go. If you find yourself in the same position then join the forum and ask for help. Reaching out to people who have already quit could be the missing piece of the jigsaw for you like it was for me. I did it a couple of days ago and am so grateful to everyone who took the time to encourage and share their hints, tips and recipes for success. I found out today that when I smoked a cigarette I kind of did it on auto pilot. I would think of a cigarette, light it, smoke it and put it out. Today I really concentrated on each cigarette and realised they don't taste great at all and I didn't enjoy any of them. The realisation that I actually was just an addict getting their fix was a bit of a revelation. I always disputed that theory and was adamant I loved smoking but now I know I was blinded by my addiction. Read this site as much as you can because it really is a treasure chest of information. Set a quit date and stock up on plenty of quit food. You will get so caught up in the excitement of quitting here you will be desperate to start your own quit. As they say here you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.' You wrote this a while ago. I wonder, what will be your next step? I would like to give you faith and courage, but I can't. Yet, I am convinced you have it in you, as we all do!

BAMMM! @Jet Black thanks for this hopefull, no-nonsense and honest post. ? I love to read these stories. All different approaches, various attitudes towards quitting/methods/life in general. But with one obvious thing in common: proof that quitting smoking is doable AND desirable! Thanks again

Nope

Yes, we were having a conversation yesterday and I told her I was still educating myself as much as possible, checking out this lecture and that etc., she was the one to suggest Id post it here because of the educational value. You were right, she loved it ('Nerdy and good' )

Great video. Definitely didn't pick up everything but I will be watching again. As far as I get it: There's different types of nicotine receptors, all binding to nicotine but all different properties and all giving off different signals. Some for learning, some for fight or flight response, another one that allows your heart rate to come up. They are widespread through the brain and are affecting many behaviours. Gives me a clue as to why I unconciously perceived it as a wonderdrug. Watch, to understand how the different nicotine receptors are hijacked by smoking. Oh and... tar is not just an unfortunate byproduct of cigarettes, it's actually a feature of the drug delivery device: it carries nicotine to the lungs, so it can reach the brain rapidly. Very important aspect of this addiction. Yuck.

Dear Linda, I am so sorry to hear this. Glad you take the oldies home early. They probably won't understand anyway but that doesn't matter. But for you I whish you can be with whatever emotion you have, without having to deal with them in ways that are too demanding right now. Promiss to post whenever you want. That goes for the SOS section as well. Take care!

Nope

Well done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What a brilliant amount of time, two years. Congrats! Thanks for commenting now and then on my writings. It is of such value, to be supported by people who've been there and have a solid and trustworthy approach. I whish you many smokefree years to come!

Good to know your still here! And... moan all you want. I had sleep issues as well. It lasted for about 2,5 weeks (but starting after the first week, where I actually slept like a beast). I really hope you'll find something that works for you, to help you through this period. Take care!

Hi GM, welcome and thanks for introducing yourself. It would be great to read your progres here! My tip: find something new to do, to learn. It helps to get your mind off smoking and will benefit you in rewiring your addict brain. Take extra good care of yourself these coming days

..about quitting? What was not as bad as you anticipated? What went surprisingly well?

Comitting is one thing, accepting and embracing everything that comes with it is a second. For me that's the hard part. If I 'just' commit, I become hardened and solely do it to prove myself that I'm not a ... loser. I don't want to do it like that anymore. After eight weeks (!!!) I find that's its less and less about not smoking, but merely to do things differently. And I love that because I know what I learn now, is for life

Nope

Thanks for letting us know. Sounds like you had an ok first day. Gardening is so nice! Is the weather in France also still exeptionally good for this time of the year? I hope you sleep tight tonight and get your well deserved rest.

How are you doing, @Pumpkin?