Ramona

Sarge is a pain in the mudda fluckin arse. Ignore him. Kick ass.

Keep us updated after you speak with them. I predict they will be understanding.

Keep slogging through the BS. I won't say there's "freedom on the other side" because there isn't an other side. However, there will come a time when you'll exist for extremely long periods of time without the urges. That will be most remarkable. I promise that you'll love it. You will internally know that you're a stronger person! Priceless. I'm nearly 15 months nicotine/smoke free and I just experienced a major craving. Got through it...just like I got through all the other bastard cravings. It wasn't easy. Not at all. Full-on panic mode. Some might think, "15 months and she sounds like a newbie!!!" I don't care. It's a repeated VOW to never smoke. It requires repeated effort. I smoked for over 15 years - why would I expect to be liberated already? Keep on kickin' arse.

How come being is the hardest thing to be?

I AM wonderful! Welcome.

That's really cute. I need to talk to my fish more.

The only authorities on this subject (i.e. quitting smokes) are the folks who've done-done-it. Well done. And bad-ass on you for coding an early quit meter. Skillz.

Laura - seems to me you've got yourself a life and death situation here. Not One Puff Ever. Let the steam off somewhere/somehow else. Cigarettes & nicotine are OFF THE TABLE. Otherwise, STOP TORTURING YOURSELF and try to embrace being a smoker. The in-between world must be torturous. You don't quit for your husband. It's nice he wants you to stop. It's nice he took you on a vacation. But the motivation to stop this addiction must come from your own heart and mind. This is only for you. Not even for your daughter. Inside your heart....you say, "this is it...it's over...it's no longer part of my life." And that's that. Whatever it takes, say no. (If that's what you really want)

I understand how you feel about that "favorite cigarette." My morning coffee is now depleted of its former charm. I still think about the beautiful combo with extreme nostalgia!! Gotta laugh about it...that one cigarette is not worth the other tugs on the chain. I'm with the BumbleBee. Never underestimate this challenge. There are 2 schools of thought here: 1) It's "easy peasy" and only as hard as you let it be. 2) It's hard as f@#$k and you just have to sludge through. It's BOTH. Sometimes you'll be cruisin along happy as a clam - - - other times you'll be flip-flappin' out. That's just how it is. Not one puff. And the e-cigg...well, that stuff was NOT good for me. But we all make our own definitions of what freedom means. Welcome and god speed.

I have to respectfully disagree with Nancy on the "does not hurt" take. Sometimes quitting CAN hurt if we punch some walls once in awhile or inflict other minor damage to our bodies. However- a few minor injuries are a small price to pay. A few minor injuries to pull us free from a chain that tugs every twenty minutes? Not too shabby.

I agree. On my one year date I was waiting for someone on this forum to NOTICE and start a thread (for some reason I couldn't figure out how to put my date on the calendar). But you guys are busy with your own lives and ya'll don't have time to hold my weight or worry about my milestones. I realized I had invested too much faith in this forum. But more to the point: in this pursuit I have craved (and continue to crave) too much outside validation. Through my own resources and inner strength I have made it this far. I'm immensely grateful for the people who contribute here but it comes down to ME and how I wish to relate to my reality.

Thanks Peeps. So much growin' up to do. 1 year...2 days. :wacko:

Feel like poop with lots of crying today. But thanks for the congrats.

...

:D :lol: :D

Day 5 done.

Solid milestone, congrats!

Yes indeed. People think it's "dramatic" to use terms like "relapse" or "addict" when it comes to "just cigarettes." Just another ploy by this addiction to keep us hooked.

Gargle with salt water!!! I have a sore throat as well. I'm grateful it won't turn into bronchitis or pneumonia (as sore throats sometimes did when I was a smoker). And congrats on the belt! I want to take some sort of martial arts myself...haven't begun research yet. Keep on kickin' arse

Major congrats on 2 weeks!!! Well done. I hope it STAYS breezy for you!!! No need to defend THAT - I think we'd all pick that option if it was available to us. For me, I smoked 15 ciggs a day for nearly 16 years and (even at 1 year quit) I simply haven't learned how to be a "model non-smoker" yet. I know I will get better and better as time goes on! How about "all of the above" RunFree?!?!?!?!? My poor, poor loved ones. :wub: :unsure:

Day 2 done. When I saw the schedule I was like: "wow, that's going to be soooo easy." Then, as I got tired on my 10th sit up, I realized - I haven't specifically worked abs in a long, long time. I think it was 15 years ago when I was a senior in high school! Feels good.

Lie: My family is telling me to smoke again!! Nobody supports me any way, so what's the point? Truth: This quit is FOR ME and ME ALONE. Only I understand my struggle and only I can overcome. Nobody owes me anything - I got myself into this mess and it's my job to get myself out.

Sappy iz good. Syrup for pork n pancakes.

There's a very shy Boxer who spends his time @ my local fish store. Back in the day he would come over to me, sniff my hands (smoky) and back away. Yesterday he came over, sniffed my hands, and started licking the remnants of my breakfast sandwich & donut. These stupid little things are really the greatest things.

Quitters ARE smokin' hot! I agree with Joe there. We've got a swagger...a stature...it's pretty sweet. Pork - you're kickin' arse here. Standing strong in the face of potential temptation. Be proud for staying "quitter's fit" by reading the boards and educating yourself. Major congrats on 13 days of awesomeness. <3