Ladybug

I remember that....I was stunned to smell my body lotion and my shampoo. SoberJulie was the one who told me she was "sniffing herself" and it made me laugh, but I understood because I felt the same way. Just in awe...wondering if I always smelled that yummy! The same day I decided that my dogs needed a bath lol

I thought the same :-)

I am happy to see you Soozie...but not happy that you relapsed. Thank you for being so honest, it helps me to stay focused. This is my first quit and there is no way I am ever going through all this again...that's a one time only deal :-) Reading about your relapse and Amy's will keep me grounded and "on guard"....Thank you! 31 years ago I married a smoker, we both smoked ...we were the perfect match in so many ways. Not just partners, friends and lovers, we were although quit buddies. We never smoked in the house, so going outside for smoke breaks was like a ritual. We were sitting outside in the summer time and freezing together in the wintertime. Partners in crime :-) Out of the blue I decided to quit. First he looked stunned, then he looked puzzled. I was thinking about it as well "would it change our relationship"? I can't remember, it was either in week 2 or 3 that we sat down and we talked about our feelings and our expectations. I thanked him for his support and made him my most important quit buddy, I did tell him that I needed his support. He is proud of me and he wants me to stay quit...even though he still smokes. He is my biggest supporter! I am not sure if it helps you in any form our way. But have you talked to your husband about your smoking habit? Have you told him about your struggles? If not...do it!

S.N.O.T. (Smoking is not an option today)

I got glasses a year ago...oh well the age thing, guess with 50 you just have to have it sighhh. I ordered two pairs..totally different. Love the rimless glasses! 2 pairs was smart...this way I have only one pair helping me to find my glasses :-)

Hell week is over :-) Congratulations!

thank you for your long reply....it is so eye-opening. Now I have to relearn this whole addiction thing, knowing that I can be cured is such a relief. Yes, I will pay it forward some day :-)

You know what's really bad...if you write your shopping list and you write Bakon instead of Bacon that's when you know you have a problem lol

Jonny5 you worry me sometimes.... You learn until the day you die....I learned that a long time ago...always keep the attitude of a student! There is a thin line between confidence and arrogance...it's called humility! I don't do things half hearted. My quit was an accident..it wasn't planned but I do it either 100% or I don't. I researched addiction...because that's what I am right? I am an addict! So I researched it...because I didn't know anything about it.......how can I call myself an addict if I don't know what it really means. Just throwing words around without knowing what they mean...not my style! There is no "one fits all" solution. There is no one true answer to all the questions..you can't cure addiction or help an addict...they need to help themselves. If you are an addict yourself...never get too confident.....you need to keep our guard up! Regardless if you quit 1 months, 1 year or 10 years....you are an addict..don't get too confident! Please don't take this wrong, but we never know 100%...at least I don't!

too funny

I know :-)

Philly style is great..but we can have the Sushi right?

Oh Crap....now you made my cry!

Oh Amy....I like honest people! It's not easy to confess a slip! I am not worried about you..not at all! I read your posts and your blog....you are determinded. You want to be a non-smoker and so you will be. This one is for you Amy http://www.quittrain.com/topic/879-please-dont-quit-you-quit/ You are not a loser! You are a winner! I will celebrate 1 year smoke free in 8 1/2 months and you will be just a few weeks behind me :-)..that's the way I look at it! Ask my husband...I am always right :-) he only says that because I am a good cook lol

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bumped for Amy!

TPAM is a Buckeye Fan (lucky guess?)

Hi Laura....nice to meet you! Welcome! You will meet some amazing people here and you will learn more about them. Stay close to the board, get to know us and let us know you. You will read inspiring stories...you will find all the information you need. We all have something in common...we all are ex-smokers and understand you! A good friend send this to me when I quit. I called it my Quit A-B-C....it might help you as well! My smoking A-B-C’s and D’s A friend sent this to me in the early stage of my quit and it became my guide! I don't know who wrote it and I don't know if it has been posted here before.....I apologize if it is a double post...but it helped me a lot and I thought I share! The A's: •Avoid situations you know you cannot handle •Alter your response - change the flavor of your coffee, sit in a different room, meet your friends in a neutral (nonsmoking environment) •Accept that some days will be tougher, and that by sticking it out you will get stronger. The B's: •Believe in yourself....you can do this. •Behave! You don't have to be a total brat....it's not going to kill you. The C's: •Cope with it and write down how you feel. •Calm down. There is no reason to panic you don't need cigarettes. The D's •Delay your next craving for as long as possible by: •Distracting yourself - keeping busy is extremely important. Go for a walk, or pull out your guitar. •Drinking lots of water or some herbal teas, keep it in your mouth for a while, enjoy the sensation. Chewing gum can help too. •Deep breathing. An easy way to relax. You might have done this 200-300 times per day when inhaling smoke. Emergency Coping Plan: AVOID the situation. Identify the situations when you normally smoke or chew, or feel cravings. For most, high-risk situations include work breaks, finishing meals, having coffee or being in a bar. Plan how you will avoid these situations for a few weeks. Plan for alternate activities. LEAVE the situation. If you find yourself in one of these high risk situations, leave if you can. And, leave before you get a craving. DISTRACT yourself from the craving. If you find yourself in a situation you can't leave and you get a craving, distract yourself from the craving by: Thinking about something else, like your Benefits of Quitting (or how much money you’re saving every week, how your body is healing itself). Doing something else to distract yourself like drinking water or deep breathing exercises. Thinking about an upcoming event in your life, such as a vacation. DELAY acting on the craving If you can't keep your mind off it, then make a deal with yourself that you will wait 5 minutes before you give into the craving. The craving will usually pass in a couple of minutes anyway. If you delay, the craving will go away. Use SELF TALK A craving may be accompanied by negative thoughts about your ability to resist it. Use positive self talk statements to combat your negative thoughts. Talk loud if you have to

Our Jen (Ava) will be smoke free for 1 year on 4/29 So guys...let's start a countdown for her. 7 days to go I get the marching band for the music!

My parents had superpowers ...they said they could have me flying into the middle of next week! I believed them....I never questioned their powers!

sometimes it's just plain willpower and you just have to bite the bullet. "I am doing this no matter how I feel...so shut up Smokey" :-)