New here, just saying hello!

[Roland]

Hi All,

I've just smoked what I hope will be my last cigarette. I've quit many many times before but tend to drop my guard when drinking.

I'll have to be very careful with that over the coming months.  

This is it!

 

[Nicole Diver]

Hi Roland! Welcome.

Every one of us has been where you are. We understand completely.

Please take some time to watch the videos and read the articles, they are immensely helpful.

Being around other ex smokers I have found makes all the difference for me. None of us are alone in this.

At this point in my quit I strongly feel there is not one situation there would prompt me to pick up another cigarette. Quitting is so worth it. Not always puppy dogs and rainbows at first for all of us, but totally manageable.

 

Congrats on a very awesome, very important decision to take your life back.

[Jenny]

Welcome Roland!  Congratulations on your decision to quit smoking.  There is tons of information here to help guide your quit.  Check out the videos by Joel Spitzer and other great threads.  What made this quit successful for me was understanding nicotine addiction.  It also helps to know what to expect as you take this journey.  It's totally doable so if you want this to be your quit it will be. 

[Paul723]

Welcome! Start reading, an educated quit is a strong quit!

[BAT]

Welcome to the QT Roland  :)

[Nancy]

Roland, so glad you are here...you can do this!

[Colleen]

Welcome Roland :)  Congrats on the quit and stay away from alcohol for a bit.  You'll thank yourself for it later.  You can drink as a former smoker, but you need to have the basics down and be prepared for triggers.  

[MarylandQuitter]

Welcome to the forum!  Do you have a plan to quit?  Let us know where we can help.  Really good video about drinking when quitting.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VPYfgszP3g

[...]

Hey Roland and welcome aboard !!!!

 

The journey to a smoke free life can be one of the most rewarding decisions you ever make.  I'm glad to see you here.  Hold on tight and let us know how we can help. 

[Pippa]

Hi Roland - welcome and congrats on a great decision! Read up and stay close - you will find great support here !

[Doreensfree]

Hello and welcome aboard Roland....

Great decision to quit.....read all you can in the newbie stuff......

We have a daily pledge ......it's a promise to yourself you will not smoke for 24hours....

Join in with the board....helping others strengthens your quit too

If alcohol is a danger,maybe leave it alone for a little while....

My best

[Still winning]

Hi Roland, Welcome in.  

 

How are you quitting, ie cold turkey, patch etc. Your blood sugars might dip if you're cutting out nicotine to start and fruit juice sipped will really help that.

 

x

[SueBeDoo]

Hiya Roland, well done on making the best decision of your life, you won't regret it, you can and you will do this and take back your life.

Keep reading and posting, just shout if you need help,

Sue xx

[action]

Hi Roland, welcome and congratulations!

 

You have made a massive steps by deciding to join an online support community - we will help you in any way that we can.

 

There are some great materials here, and I would suggest you read, and watch as much as you can.  The videos in Joels library are really exellent, and I was watching them just the other day - very helpful indeed.

 

Look forward to watching your quit grow :)

[John_Doe]

Hey, Roland! It's a wonderful decision on your side. To my mind two things are very important at the early stages of the quit: education (read as much as you can about all the processes after nicotine leaves your body) and positive attitude (with your quit you don't lose anything, just gaining a lot of wonderful sensations and you health back). Stay positive, stay free and post here if you hit the rough patch. Welcome!

[Roland]

Wow, what a warm welcome, thank you so much everyone!

 

To answer some of your questions: I don't have a plan as such other than just stopping and I'll be going cold turkey.

I've tried it all before, patches, gum, champix etc. I guess they all helped but I've done just as well by just putting them down.

I read Allan Carrs book a while back and since then I haven't used any sort of replacements and there's been times over the years when I've given up for periods ranging from 1day - 3 months. 

Generally if I get through the first week I tend to settle into the mindset of a non smoker until I get in party mode after a few drinks!

The loosening of inhibitions coupled with my optimism that I have it under control (you know....a couple of smokes won't hurt :-\ ) is usually what brings me undone.

Going to practice NOPE this time though and stay away from drinking/smoking environments for at least the first couple of months.

 

I like the idea of putting these words down as I think it will help to affirm my decision to not smoke.

I also very much appreciate the support, I kind of feel already that I'll be letting you guys down as well as myself if I do slip back into the stinky old habit. 

[action]

Hey Roland, it is a great idea to put it all in writing - it really helped in my own quit. I don't know if you saw the 'blog' function, but some folks like to keep a diary going, so they can look back on ot later, and it also helps others, too - maybe you could give that a go?

[sherry]

Hey Roland, welcome to the QT.. best place to quit smoke'n in cyber space,  IMHO..

lots of great folks here to help,

congrats on your new quit!!!

  :welcome:

[Devil Doll]

Welcome to the QT Roland. Congratulations on your decision to quit, you can do this! 

[jimmy]

welcome the qt roland you can do this     stay busy read and post a lot       1 day at a time   

[Evelyn]

Welcome Roland

[Humbled]

Welcome aboard - I was in your shoes not too long ago - I actually got on this site a few days before my planned quit date - needless to say I didn't even make it to my quit date after a few days of reading and browsing this site. The support and warm welcome I recieved was incredible it was a sureal experience. It has only been 2 1/2 weeks but I feel like I have another family already - there are great people on this train. It truly is a one way ticket to a healthier life. The daily NOPE pledge is great daily reminder as well. I plan to keep going hour by hour day by day etc... stay the course you!

[ChRiSpY]

Welcome Roland... congrats on your quit... best decision you will ever make.  It will make you a new man.

 

No more failed attempts... no more moving backwards... on forward... cause backwards sucks.

 

Alcohol is a biotch when you first quit... it has ruined many a quits.  So ... be careful... you don't have to give it up forever... but you might want to stay away for a while.  To be honest...I went out the 2nd night of my quit.  Went to a bar to watch my Notre Dame Fighting Irish lose in the National Championship game.  I wanted to smoke sooooo bad.  I remember wanting to stop at a store on my way home... but I didn't.  and when I woke in the morning... I felt great about not smoking...I really felt like it strengthened my quit.  Everytime I drank and did not smoke it got easier... and now... it is just a fleeting thought every once in a while.

 

Stay strong... get your mind right and let's do this.

 

Keep on keepin on.

[NayNay]

Roland, welcome my friend!  We are all here to support and encourage one another in our quit or our resolve to remain quit.  I am coming up on 3 months smoke free.  I do use an e-cig, but with no nicotine.  I'm glad that you are attempting to quit cold turkey.  I give you loads of credit, because that method never worked for me.  I would cry and go into panic mode.  I did the gum, patches all in the past as well.  The only thing that has worked for me was using an e-cig.  I don't plan on vaping forever, and hope to be rid of the e-cig by years end.  That is my plan anyway.  Although e-cigs are not an approved NRT, it is working for me, but it is important that I had a plan in place as far as cutting down the nicotine level and then going to zero nicotine.  I wish I were strong enough to do cold turkey, but I just know it didn't work for me.  

 

Whenever you need a shoulder to lean on, or an ear to listen, I'm here for ya buddy!  

[JackiMac]

Hi and welcome on board the QT Roland, and congratulations on your decision to quit, read and educate yourself and stay close to the board, post as often as you can, and commit to NOPE all this helps strengthen your quit, we are all here to help and support you as much as you need, everyone here is wonderful and I am quite adamant my quit would not be where it is without these wonderful lovely people.  Looking forward to sharing your journey xx