FunkyMonkey

Not the best night last - but I'm still here. I don't think I am using the NRT correctly so I am going to save it for "emergency craves" and stick the rest out CT. I'm pretty sure I was CT without knowing it. Anyway - not insomnia so much as frequently waking (I could fall back asleep quickly) and waking up every hour or 2 to use the bathroom. And I was hot - had 2 fans blowing on me. Oh yeah and I woke up starving. The brain fog seems a little better.

24 Hours!! I'm currently eating my way through a bowl of pretzels. I bought all kinds of candy but I'm craving salty - so be it. It's really hot here so I've been walking around the yard rather than the neighborhood. It's all good - I'm glad I faced that potential trigger (smoked out in the back yard for years) and got over it. No giant cigarette monster jumped out from behind the apple tree & made me smoke The truth is I had more anxiety the past 2 weeks (and anytime I contemplated quitting) than I've had in the past 24 hours. It's not a piece of cake (mmmm cake), wait what was I saying.... don't I have a spice cake recipe somewhere??? *wanders off*

NOPE

I'm still on the train. The weather is foggy - lol. I'm in a good space but struggling with trying to write a coherent sentence - lots I want to say that will have to wait until later. Good Lord I had no idea how many times I thought: "I'll smoke when I'm done with that or I'll smoke first and then do that". The crazy thing is I didn't smoke every time I said that to myself but man my junky brain is persistent: "pick me - over here - yoo-hoo - pick me".

3 hours - walked around the backyard blowing bubbles (instead of smoke) Don't worry - I won't update every hour. I have been watching the videos all week and I want to focus on the positive. If I'm not back this evening - I will be bright and early tomorrow morning trying to work through the morning funkiness. I do you have some frozen breakfast bowls that I can shove in my mouth first off to address the "H" part of H.A.L.T

I'm going to use this thread as a journal of sorts. Just went through the 2 hour zoinkies. All of you know that fidgety, irritated, distractedness that hits at the 2 hour mark when you were in a meeting, on a flight or some other place that was no-smoking. Blech - did 10 table push-ups (thanks @DenaliBlues) strangled my fidget stretch caterpillar doohickey, ate a granola bar. I have tools and I'm not afraid to use them! I picked today as my quit day because I was the only one at the office this morning and remote working from Noon today until 8:30am next Wednesday. I can remote work next Wednesday & Thursday (my office days) if I need to. I am very fortunate with that flexibility - I know not everyone has it. I picked an afternoon quit time because I want to have 16 or so hours under my belt before I get up tomorrow. I also picked a Thursday in case day 2-4 are royally sucky, I can stay in bed or basically do whatever I want (that doesn't involve sticking anything in mouth and lighting it on fire). We do have plans on Saturday but my husband will still go and enjoy himself if I back out with a case of the "drama queens" (thanks @El Bandito I love that phrase). Oh look at that I just used a 1/2 hour posting this reply. I went out this week and bought party favor bags and filled them with little treats and gadgets for myself as rewards. I figure I deserve to be nice to myself finally!

NOPE

Never mind - it's working! I can see my ticker but it seems stuck. Did I do something wrong?

I have just opened my 1 hour present to myself - a magnetic memory game. I got the idea from someone on here who played a memory game on their phone but I wanted something that would keep my hands busy and I could travel with (without relying on cell reception or batteries being charged). Yay Me

Well here I am. I boarded at 1:08 PM (PDT)Watch out I can be a nervous traveler And excuse the mess and excess baggage.

Iceberg Lettuce

Portland Oregon is my favorite city

To Me - From Me LORI LISTEN! STOP - DO NOT - I repeat DO NOT SMOKE!!!! You are one cigarette away from a major cardio event and you know what that looks like from sitting by the bedside of someone you love dearly, who was in ICU for a week. Look at the photo if you need a reminder. Your body NEEDS clean air - pay attention to that crave! You will not give any more money to people who supply you with products that kill you. NOPE - never again The only thing smoking does for you is kill you. You want to feel good, look good & smell good. When you smoke - you are none of these. None. Craves get better - they will not last that long and they will not kill you - use your emergency bags - if the bags are empty go to the G-damn store and buy whatever it takes to get through this - just DONT smoke! Adjust your NRT if you cut back or stopped too soon NOPE for this crave, NOPE for this hour, NOPE for today, just NOPE Call the EAP or schedule a TelaDoc if you need more help. Just DO NOT SMOKE! You are strong, even when you feel weak. Smoking does not help you, at all, ever. The withdrawal will get better - I promise. Do a rosary - as many times as needed. Eat, sleep, soak your feet, paint your nails, play a game, clean out the junk drawer, take a walk, take another walk, the possibilities are endless. YOU ARE STRONGER THAN YOU KNOW. YOU ARE STRONGER THAN THIS CRAVE.

Here we go: New York is my favorite US city I grew up in St Louis, MO I prefer dogs to cats

Gus - like you, I can be plagued by anxiety and a big part of my past fails were anxiety/panic attacks. I cannot use the patch because of the irregular heart beats. I am a "hope for the best plan for the worst" girl so the gum is mental safety net for me to work through the habit/lifestyle part of the quit. I don't plan on using it for the full 12 weeks. I have no doubts it will prolong the withdrawal. Thank you for being so honest here and throughout the site with your quit.

Linda you will be about 10 days ahead of me - Lead the way! We can do this!

egg salad

Just wanted to say that you are inspiring those coming behind you!

Not quitting is not an option for me. At my annual physical last week, the doctor detected PVC's (irregular heartbeat). He did an EKG and he said it appeared that at some point I had (in his words) a very small heart attack or something else that caused some minor damage to my heart. I am waiting to hear from the hospital for an echocardiogram appointment. And for the first time ever, my cholesterol is high and I'm now taking a statin. He said both were caused by smoking. Want to know how I handled the news???? - When I left, I hid behind my car in the parking lot and smoked. That is the junky brain in a nut shell. It's crazy & I'm done. I'm choosing NRT because failure is not an option. Clean the lungs and all the other 1000's of toxins while coming to grip with the inner nicotine junky.

Hello Everyone! I have been reading here for about a week. I have been smoking for 36 years and I am planning my forever quit ( and yes my funky junkie brain is panicking) . I have NRT (gum) on the way, to arrive later this week. Like many here (and everywhere) I have attempted to quit in the past both cold turkey and using lozenges. It goes without saying that it didn't stick. This time I need it to stick - it will stick! I currently smoke between 12-15 cigarettes a day (any is too many!!!!) so I am hoping someone who has been successful using NRT (gum or lozenge) can share their strategy or answer the following questions: Is is one piece per cigarette (ie if I smoked 12 cigarettes, plan on chewing 12 pieces of gum)? Did you start out with the 4mg or 2mg? If you started with the 4mg - when did you step down to the 2mg? At what point did you start to alternate/substitute regular gum or candy? I want to be sure I have enough NRT on hand and if I don't need it all, I will donate it to the local foodbank or shelter. I completely understand that I am putting off/prolonging the nicotine withdrawal. One day at a time, one thing at a time, one NOPE at a time. I am currently listening to this (everyday) and it is already helping with smoking less. I have also purchased my one week reward (new brushed cotton pants from LL Bean) that I will not wear until I have one week under my belt. I have my one month reward in my amazon cart as well . I have my snack list planned out - whatever it takes - I can lose weight another day. All Cigarettes and lighters are remaining outside (not allowed in my pocket or purse). No coffee or other beverages, reading, or relaxing allowed when smoking - smoking is smoking only. I even have a new watchband and fingernail polish for day one so when I see my hands - they will look different. Thank you to each & everyone of you for the advice, encouragement & honesty you show those that come here for help!!