Newbie

[Nicole Diver]

I'm late too! Congrats and welcome

[Doreensfree]

Congrats 11 days is great ....

It's true ...when we smoked we didn't know how bad we stank.... Yuk....

[I can do this]

Well, I did not have a real cig but I did have a few hits off the e-cig. Is that considered a relapse? It kept me from turning towards the real thing, which I am happy about. Mad I have to start the nic withdrawals all over again. But glad I didn't cave to a real one. Feeling very confident I'm done with those. I was watching people last night and it just seemed so gross and stinky.

[Nicole Diver]

Well that is a tough question. I don't know if there is 100% right answer.

But the important thing is that it doesn't happen again. Don't let *anything* get in the way of you being happy and healthy. Smoking takes all the away. Don't let this get in your way to freedom! This uncomfortable feeling is sooo temporary. If it lasted forever, not a one of us would stay quit. Remember that when it gets tough to keep your eyes on the prize. We are here for you!

[Sunnyside]

I don't think using a e-cig is classed as a relapse and well done for withstanding a cigarette.

 

What I did want to say is although you did the right thing, if it got to that stage. For your own benefit if you have been nicotine free, though cold turkey, putting any nicotine into your system is just going to prolong the withdrawals and make it harder for you.

 

You have to learn to deal with situation, go through triggers, to learn to do without smoking or nicotine in anyway.

[I can do this]

Another week down. 20 days cig free. 7 days e-cig free. Craving hit hard after work yesterday. Worked through it. Home this morning, cleaning the house. . . This was another time I had a lot so having some craves this morning. Other than these times, I'm doing really well. Don't really even think about.

 

Going out with friends tonight. 2 of the ladies going smoke but they will need to be outside in the freezing cold. I think I can do it. Not even bringing the e-cig with me.

[Ramona]

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.

[Doreensfree]

Another week down. 20 days cig free. 7 days e-cig free. Craving hit hard after work yesterday. Worked through it. Home this morning, cleaning the house. . . This was another time I had a lot so having some craves this morning. Other than these times, I'm doing really well. Don't really even think about.

Going out with friends tonight. 2 of the ladies going smoke but they will need to be outside in the freezing cold. I think I can do it. Not even bringing the e-cig with me.

Great to see you again...

It is a roller coaster of emotions...just be on your guard...that little crave monkey will try anything...

Your right through...no standing outside in the cold for you...brrr.

Those poor smokers...freezing their butts off...

[El Bandito]

Well done so far! and Welcome.

 

Quitting cigarettes is the aim. 

 

The ecig? Lots of different views.

 

Me I would say this - you have quit smoking. How? By saying to yourself "I have no need or desire to do this anymore". Keeping the ecig in reserve reinforces the idea that quitting is tough, that quitting involves giving something up. You quit smoking lady. Putting an ecig is no problem.

 

Throw it away and rejoice!

 

YOU did it..

 

YOU are awesome.

 

Honour to meet you.

[buMbLeB]

Going out with friends tonight. 2 of the ladies going smoke but they will need to be outside in the freezing cold. I think I can do it. Not even bringing the e-cig with me.

 

Nope, you know you can do it. I mean it. If you only "think" you can, then maybe you think you can't, and then maybe you won't. Like I said, this is a big deal. You KNOW you can do this. If you don't know, don't go. If you go and think you might cave, bail.

 

I am not the boss of you. I'm just telling you how it is, as I see it. Really great to see you're still on the train!

[I can do this]

Last night was tough. I had the devil on one shoulder and an angel on the other. The devil was talking LOUD, saying things like "you could probably just have one, you've done so well you deserve just one,", etc. etc. etc. I was 100% romanticizing the smoke. Even when my friend came back inside and was sooooo stinky.

 

Thankfully the angel won out and I didn't cave!! Didn't have the e-cig so that wasn't even an option. I'm so happy with myself today and feel like that was a big battle and I won! I think I've got this!

[Sunnyside]

That certainly was a big battle won, well done you! Quitting is easy when we get easy days it the hard times that show if someone is really serious about quitting. Honestly, not meaning to sound horrible, but some of the lame excuses I have heard are pathetic.

 

You have showed you mean this, good for you.

[Nancy]

Last night was tough. I had the devil on one shoulder and an angel on the other. The devil was talking LOUD, saying things like "you could probably just have one, you've done so well you deserve just one,", etc. etc. etc. I was 100% romanticizing the smoke. Even when my friend came back inside and was sooooo stinky.

 

Thankfully the angel won out and I didn't cave!! Didn't have the e-cig so that wasn't even an option. I'm so happy with myself today and feel like that was a big battle and I won! I think I've got this!

So happy for you!!  You do have this!!

[buMbLeB]

 I'm so happy with myself today and feel like that was a big battle and I won! I think I've got this!

 

Damn straight! You don't get outta hell without kicking the devil's ass. Way to go.

[joe]

Last night was tough. I had the devil on one shoulder and an angel on the other.

Thankfully the angel won out and I didn't cave!! Didn't have the e-cig so that wasn't even an option. I'm so happy with myself today and feel like that was a big battle and I won! I think I've got this!

I'm glad to hear you are facing down your craves and beating them... In the end, all that matters is that you stay quit.

 

I would like to point out, that your own advice is the best there is...

 

By not having the E-cig, it wasn't even an option..

 

You know,... If you really think about it, you need to remove that temptation permanatly.... By having it at home, it's easier to give n when the crave hits you there... By using the e-cig, you are keeping nicotine in your system, so you are constantly withdrawing from it... If you are using no nicotine "juice" you are still keeping the sucking crap into your lungs habit alive...

 

Now my advice is... Ditch the e-cig all together... You have a handle on this quit thing, that e-cig will only bring you don.

 

Your doing great!.. Keep rocking the quit!

[I can do this]

Sunday will be 4 weeks since my last smoke. Today is 2 weeks since I've used the e-cig.

 

I was thinking this morning that this has been one of the hardest things I've done, esp the mental part. Still having craves that I know are not physical, sometimes really strong ones, but they seem to be getting less frequent. I'm proud of myself and I think that looking back on those first few weeks of hell will keep me quit.

 

My last 2 quits were easy peasy. This one was the exact opposite.

[Doreensfree]

That nicotine devil...when I thought ..yes...I've got this....he would creep up and whisper in my ear...

I would shout out aloud...naff off....

Your getting a nice quit going....fight him ...and yes be very proud...

What your achieving is flippin amazing....

Don't forget your treats...award yourself...with all that lovely money your saving...

[Ramona]

This may prove to be the "hardest thing you've ever done." 

 

Just imagine how much confidence you will accrue over time!  I have found this to be true.  I stick up for myself more.  I confront my emotions.  No more sweeping it under the rug.  I stand straighter/taller. 

 

Onward.  Many battles to fight - - and you will win them all if you want it.

[I can do this]

Finding Saturday mornings to be very difficult. This is my usual housekeeping time. My usual routine: clean the bathroom, smoke, fold a load of laundry, smoke, load the dishwasher, smoke, etc etc etc. It was hard last Saturday and its just as hard this Saturday. I'll get through it but I want to be PAST it. I'm over smoking. . . Now I just want these ritualistic cravings to be gone!!!! It's annoying!

[IndigoChilde]

Advice given to me was develop a slogan to quit smoking. Mine is "Quit like you mean it." And saying several times a day "I used to smoke." It's helped me out a lot in cutting back on my smoking.

[Petra]

Y'all are doing great!!!

 

I was the same about house work for sure.  I always looked forward to those little breaks in between chores.  I started coming to the Board instead.  For a while, that was taking up more time then it should have, but going to the forum was a great distraction.  

[Ramona]

I used this board as my morning coffee companion - - morning coffee was my most ingrained ritual.

Have your computer open - - do a chore, post a random thought. 

The ritual is not YOU.

[I can do this]

Today is my one month anniversary! How do I want to celebrate? A smoke and a beer! Aaaaggggghhhhhhh!

 

Having a celebratory beer, no smoke. Not even e-cig. Even though it sounds good.

 

I now know I'm stronger than the cravings but I just wish they would go away already!!

[Tink]

Today is my one month anniversary! How do I want to celebrate? A smoke and a beer! Aaaaggggghhhhhhh!

Having a celebratory beer, no smoke. Not even e-cig. Even though it sounds good.

I now know I'm stronger than the cravings but I just wish they would go away already!!

Congratulations on your 1 month, what an awesome Achievement!

 

You have to take "want" off the table and and Out of your head, or it starts a mad battle and craves

 

Even if this is what you think or feel "fake it til you make it" tell yourself the complete opposite, remember the first few days, you don't "want" to go back there!

 

Keep rocking that quit, you can do it :)

[buMbLeB]

1 MONTH IS HUUUUUUGGGEEE!!!/11

 

:)

 

Seriously, big congratulations, that 1st month is a monster. I agree with what was said above about taking that one cigarette off the table, but I disagree a little about how that's done. I think it's quite healthy to admit it to yourself - you DO want just one cigarette - of course you do, you're a nicotine addict and you just quit a month ago and your brain is painfully rewiring itself and unlearning all those powerful dopamine triggers. But you can't have one, you can only have none or all. And when you remember that really, that's the only choice open to you, it's pretty easy to close that door again with a smile and a little sigh.