Finally some freedom and peace of mind

[backtoreality]

I'm heading backtoreality (hence my screen name) after being a smoker for 27 years out of 57. 

I quit for nine of them and felt the best I've ever felt but relapsed and it started another chapter of smoking for over a decade.   My mother lost her life at age 41 (I was 15) to smoking, but that never slowed me down and I considered myself a confirmed smoker who would/could never even consider quitting again.  Then my younger sister (another forever smoker) quit a year ago.

 

  I was so impressed and amazed that it inspired me to start harboring a tiny flicker of hope that I could quit, too, maybe?

 

I decided to be free from cigarettes  two weeks ago  (1/11/18) but then spent the first week and a half  mooching smokes off  people, buying whole packs, smoking one to four of them, then soaking them in the sink and tossing them away.  I tried not to beat myself up over it and just kept educating myself and strengthening my resolve.

 

Thanks to Allen Carr's book, The Easy Way to Stop Smoking, I have new hope and a whole other way of seeing this addiction for what it really is. 

 

This is Day 4 and it's been emotional and strange quitting.  Lots of feelings bombing into my psyche, insomnia for a couple of days running and alternating states of frustrated "arrrgh's" and proudly amazed  "ahhh's."  What a rollercoaster!  It's been a Godsend, having this forum, and I've been educating myself with YouTube videos, the reddit stop smoking forums and lots of books.  I put a quit smoking app on my phone and look at my early progress dozens of times a day.

 

I've also cut way back on sugar and caffeine, chugging water instead (which seems to lessen the cravings)  Prior to quitting, I drank sweet tea and cola all day, every day, so the concept of hydrating my body with actual water never crossed my mind.  Here's to healthy changes!

 

 I will never take another puff of a cigarette.  No matter what.  My final cigarette was smushed out at 10:30 a.m. on January 18th, 2018.

 

[Boo]

19 minutes ago, backtoreality said:

 I will never take another puff of a cigarette.  No matter what.  My final cigarette was smushed out at 10:30 a.m. on January 18th, 2018.

 

Always great to see someone say yes to freedom and no to slavery.  Welcome to the Quit Train backtoreality and congratulations on taking your life back.

[Reciprocity]

Yes you can do this BTR!! I watched my father die of smoking related disease as well as a sister and continued to smoke in spite of all that. I just got to some point in my own life where I knew "it was just time". Let this be YOUR time Hang around here and let us support you while you educate yourself even more about this horrible addiction. I think you'll be pleased with what a great tool it is to have a support group like this to help you find your freedom 

[Nancy]

So glad you have joined us!  Sounds like you are doing everything just right!

[Doreensfree]

Welcome aboard this fabulous train...

Its a fascinating journey...plenty of ups and down ..curves in the track...but...will gtake you all the way to freedom...

You have the read...the book...you have watched some videos...you have your weapons....

You can do it....commit to NOPE !!!...never take another puff...

Come and pledge with us...the days turn to weeks,months, years....

Looking forward to getting to know you better ....

[PeaceTrain]

Welcome to this wonderful train, BTR!  Your 5th day is coming to a close soon!  This is a great accomplishment.  You can definitely do this BTR.  We are all doing it here and some of us, like me, never really thought we could.  It's a myth that you can't quit smoking or that it's too difficult.  It's definitely doable as you can see.  Keep your outlook as positive as you can- if you find yourself feeling sorry for yourself, deprived, depressed, angry, whatever, acknowledge that feeling, attribute it to the addiction, and move on.  Think instead about the positive aspects of your quit and don't fall into that hole.  We're here when you need a boost or a hand-up out of the hole, should you start to fall in.

 KTQ!!! (Keep that quit!)

[Martian5]

Welcome BTR it is good to have you along on this train.  There are many people here that will be more than happy to help you along the way -- especially when the going might get a little tough, there is always a hand there.  I have been only doing this for the last 2 1/2 weeks and this sight and the people here have been fantastic.  Read, research and post -- it really does help.

[Joel Spitzer]

3 hours ago, backtoreality said:

I'm heading backtoreality (hence my screen name) after being a smoker for 27 years out of 57. 

I quit for nine of them and felt the best I've ever felt but relapsed and it started another chapter of smoking for over a decade.   My mother lost her life at age 41 (I was 15) to smoking, but that never slowed me down and I considered myself a confirmed smoker who would/could never even consider quitting again.  Then my younger sister (another forever smoker) quit a year ago.

 

  I was so impressed and amazed that it inspired me to start harboring a tiny flicker of hope that I could quit, too, maybe?

 

I decided to be free from cigarettes  two weeks ago  (1/11/18) but then spent the first week and a half  mooching smokes off  people, buying whole packs, smoking one to four of them, then soaking them in the sink and tossing them away.  I tried not to beat myself up over it and just kept educating myself and strengthening my resolve.

 

Thanks to Allen Carr's book, The Easy Way to Stop Smoking, I have new hope and a whole other way of seeing this addiction for what it really is. 

 

This is Day 4 and it's been emotional and strange quitting.  Lots of feelings bombing into my psyche, insomnia for a couple of days running and alternating states of frustrated "arrrgh's" and proudly amazed  "ahhh's."  What a rollercoaster!  It's been a Godsend, having this forum, and I've been educating myself with YouTube videos, the reddit stop smoking forums and lots of books.  I put a quit smoking app on my phone and look at my early progress dozens of times a day.

 

I've also cut way back on sugar and caffeine, chugging water instead (which seems to lessen the cravings)  Prior to quitting, I drank sweet tea and cola all day, every day, so the concept of hydrating my body with actual water never crossed my mind.  Here's to healthy changes!

 

 I will never take another puff of a cigarette.  No matter what.  My final cigarette was smushed out at 10:30 a.m. on January 18th, 2018.

 

 

Here are a number resource pages addressing issues you raised here:

 

"I quit for nine of them and felt the best I've ever felt but relapsed and it started another chapter of smoking for over a decade."

http://whyquit.com/joels-videos/lost-long-term-quits/

http://whyquit.com/joels-videos/ive-relapsed-and-i-hate-it/

http://whyquit.com/joels-videos/the-lucky-ones-get-hooked/

http://whyquit.com/joels-videos/can-taking-a-break-from-smoking-help-you-get-rid-of-nicotine-tolerance/

 

"I considered myself a confirmed smoker who would/could never even consider quitting again."

http://whyquit.com/joels-videos/i-cant-quit-because-i-am-addicted/

http://whyquit.com/joels-videos/i-cant-quit-because/

http://whyquit.com/joels-videos/breaking-free-from-nicotines-grip-is-more-doable-than-most-people-think/

 

 

"My mother lost her life at age 41"

http://whyquit.com/joels-videos/premature-deaths-caused-by-smoking/

http://whyquit.com/joels-videos/treat-quitting-smoking-as-if-you-are-fighting-for-your-life/

 

"Then my younger sister (another forever smoker) quit a year ago."

http://whyquit.com/joels-videos/showing-others-that-there-is-life-without-smoking/

 

"I decided to be free from cigarettes  two weeks ago  (1/11/18) but then spent the first week and a half  mooching smokes off  people, buying whole packs, smoking one to four of them, then soaking them in the sink and tossing them away."

http://whyquit.com/joels-videos/i-am-doing-okay-im-not-buying-cigarettes/

 

"I tried not to beat myself up over it and just kept educating myself and strengthening my resolve."

http://whyquit.com/joels-videos/dont-beat-yourself-up-for-smoking/

http://whyquit.com/joels-videos/dont-be-so-hard-on-yourself-youre-only-human/

 

"This is Day 4 and it's been emotional and strange quitting. "

http://whyquit.com/joels-videos/understanding-the-emotional-loss-experienced-when-quitting-smoking/

 

"insomnia for a couple of days"

http://whyquit.com/joels-videos/going-back-to-normal-after-quitting/

 

"What a rollercoaster!"

http://whyquit.com/joels-videos/the-real-cigarette-induced-roller-coaster-ride/

 

"I've also cut way back on sugar and caffeine"

http://whyquit.com/joels-videos/blood-sugar-issues-when-quitting-smoking/

http://whyquit.com/joels-videos/why-i-recommend-cranberry-juice-when-first-quitting-smoking/

http://whyquit.com/joels-videos/disorientation-that-may-occur-when-first-quitting-smoking/

 

http://whyquit.com/joels-videos/possible-changes-in-caffeine-tolerance/

 

" I will never take another puff of a cigarette."

http://whyquit.com/joels-videos/never-take-another-puff/

Edited January 23, 2018 by Joel Spitzer

[Nancy]

2 hours ago, Joel Spitzer said:

 

Here are a number resource pages addressing issues you raised here:

 

"I quit for nine of them and felt the best I've ever felt but relapsed and it started another chapter of smoking for over a decade."

http://whyquit.com/joels-videos/lost-long-term-quits/

http://whyquit.com/joels-videos/ive-relapsed-and-i-hate-it/

http://whyquit.com/joels-videos/the-lucky-ones-get-hooked/

http://whyquit.com/joels-videos/can-taking-a-break-from-smoking-help-you-get-rid-of-nicotine-tolerance/

 

"I considered myself a confirmed smoker who would/could never even consider quitting again."

http://whyquit.com/joels-videos/i-cant-quit-because-i-am-addicted/

http://whyquit.com/joels-videos/i-cant-quit-because/

http://whyquit.com/joels-videos/breaking-free-from-nicotines-grip-is-more-doable-than-most-people-think/

 

 

"My mother lost her life at age 41"

http://whyquit.com/joels-videos/premature-deaths-caused-by-smoking/

http://whyquit.com/joels-videos/treat-quitting-smoking-as-if-you-are-fighting-for-your-life/

 

"Then my younger sister (another forever smoker) quit a year ago."

http://whyquit.com/joels-videos/showing-others-that-there-is-life-without-smoking/

 

"I decided to be free from cigarettes  two weeks ago  (1/11/18) but then spent the first week and a half  mooching smokes off  people, buying whole packs, smoking one to four of them, then soaking them in the sink and tossing them away."

http://whyquit.com/joels-videos/i-am-doing-okay-im-not-buying-cigarettes/

 

"I tried not to beat myself up over it and just kept educating myself and strengthening my resolve."

http://whyquit.com/joels-videos/dont-beat-yourself-up-for-smoking/

http://whyquit.com/joels-videos/dont-be-so-hard-on-yourself-youre-only-human/

 

"This is Day 4 and it's been emotional and strange quitting. "

http://whyquit.com/joels-videos/understanding-the-emotional-loss-experienced-when-quitting-smoking/

 

"insomnia for a couple of days"

http://whyquit.com/joels-videos/going-back-to-normal-after-quitting/

 

"What a rollercoaster!"

http://whyquit.com/joels-videos/the-real-cigarette-induced-roller-coaster-ride/

 

"I've also cut way back on sugar and caffeine"

http://whyquit.com/joels-videos/blood-sugar-issues-when-quitting-smoking/

http://whyquit.com/joels-videos/why-i-recommend-cranberry-juice-when-first-quitting-smoking/

http://whyquit.com/joels-videos/disorientation-that-may-occur-when-first-quitting-smoking/

 

http://whyquit.com/joels-videos/possible-changes-in-caffeine-tolerance/

 

" I will never take another puff of a cigarette."

http://whyquit.com/joels-videos/never-take-another-puff/

Sorry, Joel, I just think that is a whole lot of assignments without a lot of empathy for a new quitter.  I would have run screaming from the site!  BTR,  just take it one moment at a time, and remember Not One Puff Ever!!  You absolutely can do this...and there are a lot of  quitters here to help you!

[JB 883]

Nancy, i love you.

 

Now about the subject at hand, am I the only one who , upon reading the title of this thread, thought, "Ahh, so someone finally got divorced".

 

But yes, quitting smoking feels pretty good too.

 

[Joel Spitzer]

9 hours ago, Nancy said:

Sorry, Joel, I just think that is a whole lot of assignments without a lot of empathy for a new quitter.  I would have run screaming from the site!  BTR,  just take it one moment at a time, and remember Not One Puff Ever!!  You absolutely can do this...and there are a lot of  quitters here to help you!

 

Hello Nancy:

 

Somehow I think it would be a bit of a strange reaction to run from a site where six people came in and were offering support and encouragement because one other person came in and offered information specific to the person's past smoking and quitting history.

 

For time and expediency my standard procedure for posting is to try to see what different issues people bring up and highlight resource materials addressing those issues. It is for the purpose of giving the individual poster insights to be able to learn from their own past experience and also to highlight materials that may be Important to their current quit. 

 

The person may choose to skip the material but that is their choice. If I were not to post it at all that would be my choice and I feel that would be robbing them of the opportunity to benefit from materials that I have.

 

I think I kind of discussed this in my first post here at Quittrain where I introduced myself. Here is a link to that post: https://www.quittrain.com/topic/9520-greetings-from-joel-spitzer/

 

Anyway, it is how I plan to operate while I am here at Quittrain. 

 

 

[Joel Spitzer]

Hello again Nancy. I actually shot a video a three days ago that kind of touches on the issue you have raised here--of how some people literally ignore efforts that I do to help them to quit. It wasn't regarding Quittrain but more so some other recent outreach I have been doing on YouTube. I didn't post that video here because it didn't seem relevant to me for this board at the time, but in lieu of this conversation it does seem more applicable now.

 

Here is that video from January 20:

 

 

One of the reasons that I started doing my extended outreach was because of the resource index I completed in December. It made it relatively quick and easy for me to direct people to specific resource materials that in the past I would have had to go to two or three different sources to compile detailed responses. That would have tied me to my computer for more hours than there were in a day. Even now with the new index I spend many hours a day trying to help people around the Internet. If you go to my YouTube channel and look over comment sections you will see the kind of daily interactions I am providing to help people to quit. Also, if you search YouTube videos for people who are quitting smoking you will see that I also am trying to help people on their own channels. 

 

As the video above explains, I am not sure how long I will be able to keep up this outreach, and where I feel my best utilization of time will be, but again for now, this is how I feel I can be of the most help for people wanting to quit smoking and stay off. 

[Doreensfree]

I think it's a shame so many of the Old Timers  don't post here often ,or not at all...

There has been so many sat on this Train and have reached thier freedom...

This has always been a small site compared to others ,that's what has made it different...it's been a friendly happy and supportive community...

Face to face interaration is just as important ...

 

[JB 883]

5 hours ago, Joel Spitzer said:

Hello again Nancy. I actually shot a video a three days ago that kind of touches on the issue you have raised here--of how some people literally ignore efforts that I do to help them to quit. It wasn't regarding Quittrain but more so some other recent outreach I have been doing on YouTube. I didn't post that video here because it didn't seem relevant to me for this board at the time, but in lieu of this conversation it does seem more applicable now.

 

The problem is that when there are tons of videos and links posted everywhere, it becomes Spam.

The OP came in and made a comment about how great it was to not be smoking anymore. They didn't ask for 20 links to videos.

 

So also than - not only here but on comment sections of youtube there are tons of links spammed? I wonder how long the creators of those videos are going to want to put up with that mess?

 

Joel I am sure you have helped many and that is great but most people likely do not want non-stop videos shoved down their throats. it would be like if someone mentioned wanting to join a church/find religion or whatever and then suddenly every morning Jehovah Witness came beating down the door and littering the grounds with pamphlets.

[backtoreality]

Ah, Joel and Nancy, thank you both so much for looking out for me!  Joel, your videos are not scaring me; quite the opposite. 

 

I want to have as much information in my think-bank as I can and I really like the way you present the topics.  And Nancy (that's my sister's name, too!) thank you for stepping up on my behalf to make sure the information wasn't too much/overwhelming.

 

If I could give you physical hugs right now, both of you, I would (and they wouldn't be stinky!) but virtual hugs will have to do.  You don't have to give your time and effort and care to this cause, but you do.  You pay it forward.

 

I'm getting all teary sitting at work and reading this.  Tears of joy!  Again, a hundred thousand thanks!

[Boo]

7 hours ago, Joel Spitzer said:

The person may choose to skip the material but that is their choice. If I were not to post it at all that would be my choice and I feel that would be robbing them of the opportunity to benefit from materials that I have.

 

Choice...it all comes down to choices.  Relevant information to quitting is made available here and each quitter has the choice to either digest that information or skip over it.  For some the amount of information may seem overwhelming.  For others, they may dive into it and learn as much as possible about their new endeavor.  Quitters differ.  Choices vary.

 

Me personally, I was a consumer of information during the initial phase of my quit.  I watched the videos, read the articles, and even got very interested in neuroscience for a while.  That's what worked for me, but is by no means a prerequisite for a successful quit.  I made the choice for myself to take in as much information as possible.

 

Take what you need and leave the rest.

[Joel Spitzer]

15 minutes ago, backtoreality said:

Ah, Joel and Nancy, thank you both so much for looking out for me!  Joel, your videos are not scaring me; quite the opposite. 

 

I want to have as much information in my think-bank as I can and I really like the way you present the topics.  And Nancy (that's my sister's name, too!) thank you for stepping up on my behalf to make sure the information wasn't too much/overwhelming.

 

If I could give you physical hugs right now, both of you, I would (and they wouldn't be stinky!) but virtual hugs will have to do.  You don't have to give your time and effort and care to this cause, but you do.  You pay it forward.

 

I'm getting all teary sitting at work and reading this.  Tears of joy!  Again, a hundred thousand thanks!

 

Hello backtoreality:

 

I actually was not thinking that my resources were scaring you. I actually put a lot of effort into making the process of quitting less scary and intimidating for people. I suspect there will be a little push back to this but I have several pages addressing this specific issue. 

 

My fear related resources are all assembled on this one page: http://whyquit.com/joels-videos/fears-regarding-smoking-and-quitting/

 

I suspect there will be a few people here who may not want to check out that page for it will indeed refer to lots of related resource pages, but I feel it can be helpful for those who want such information at their disposal to help to reinforce their resolve to never take another puff.

 

Joel 

 

 

 

[Joel Spitzer]

1 minute ago, Boo said:

 

Choice...it all comes down to choices.  Relevant information to quitting is made available here and each quitter has the choice to either digest that information or skip over it.  For some the amount of information may seem overwhelming.  For others, they may dive into it and learn as much as possible about their new endeavor.  Quitters differ.  Choices vary.

 

Me personally, I was a consumer of information during the initial phase of my quit.  I watched the videos, read the articles, and even got very interested in neuroscience for a while.  That's what worked for me, but is by no means a prerequisite for a successful quit.  I made the choice for myself to take in as much information as possible.

 

Take what you need and leave the rest.

Thanks Boo:

 

I get messages every day from people who are celebrating months, or years and sometimes even decades of their quits thanking me for the resources I have put out online over the years. I am amazed at how many of them come from people who say that they have watched every video and/or read every article I had ever put out. Actually I have people tell me that they have watched my videos multiple times. I actually find it hard to fathom why people would do that considering the length of time this would take but for some people it seems to have been important to them.

 

Again, I feel the more I can give them the more they can pick and choose of how much or how little they want to utilize.

 

Thanks for your feedback here Boo. Actually, right before you and backtoreality posted I sent a message to the board's management to see if they feel that my participation is a problem for the board. As I said in the video above, I am kind of in an experimental phase here as to how much or how little to do outreach on the Internet. 

 

By the way, I also want to make it clear to all reading here that most people don't need to read or listen to all of the materials that I have in order to quit. In actuality, quitting is really a pretty simple process. All that a person really needs to know to pull off a successful quit is that to quit and stay off is as simple as making and sticking to a personal commitment to never take another puff.

 

Joel

 

Related resources:

http://whyquit.com/joels-videos/quitting-smoking-is-a-simple-process/

http://whyquit.com/joels-videos/a-100-guaranteed-way-to-successfully-quit-smoking/ (I believe that this one contains my shortest and most succinct video on the topic of what people need to do to quit smoking)

[Tyme2B]

22 hours ago, Nancy said:

Sorry, Joel, I just think that is a whole lot of assignments without a lot of empathy for a new quitter.  I would have run screaming from the site!  BTR,  just take it one moment at a time, and remember Not One Puff Ever!!  You absolutely can do this...and there are a lot of  quitters here to help you!

I’m already running screaming from the site Nancy! Thank you! Sorry Joel....just too much. I’m holding my Quit but checking in less & less. ?

Edited January 24, 2018 by Tyme2B

[Nancy]

1 hour ago, Tyme2B said:

I’m already running screaming from the site Nancy! Thank you! Sorry Joel....just too much. I’m holding my Quit but checking in less & less. ?

Stick with us Tyme!  We are here for you....

[Tink]

welcome back to reality

[Doreensfree]

Tyme....stay with us....just do a daily NOPE.....if this is all you want from here...

So good to hear your still quit...this is all that matters !!!!!

[Reciprocity]

Hey T2B

 

Glad you checked in. You do what ever you need to do to keep your quit. We are here for you if/when you need us. Let us know how you're doing though please. You know how we worry about all our family of quitters. We want everyone to succeed as much as we want our own quits to succeed.

[Tyme2B]

21 hours ago, Jetblack said:

 

 

Joel I am sure you have helped many and that is great but most people likely do not want non-stop videos shoved down their throats. it would be like if someone mentioned wanting to join a church/find religion or whatever and then suddenly every morning Jehovah Witness came beating down the door and littering the grounds with pamphlets.

I’m sure your intentions are good Joel but suddenly this fantastic site has become a totally different place with your constant posting of information threads & apparent lack of empathy. I know the ex smokers here & they are all supportive, informative & are empathetic but will give a deserved “boot in the butt” as needed. They suggest a particular video too as needed. But recently the vast number of video threads you suggest every time someone posts are like Advertising & Spam and makes one want to avoid them & the site as we don’t wish to be the next target. I so wish our old Quit Train was back....it was extremely helpful & I miss it.

But I’m out here reading....I’m still here Doreen & yes I’ll check in Recip ?  Thanks Nancy & JB. 

Has there been a transfer of Ownership of the QT site? Just askin....

And YES....I have a choice not to smoke and I have a choice to ignore advertising 

Edited January 24, 2018 by Tyme2B

[sgt.barney]

2 hours ago, Tyme2B said:

I’m sure your intentions are good Joel but suddenly this fantastic site has become a totally different place with your constant posting of information threads & apparent lack of empathy. I know the ex smokers here & they are all supportive, informative & are empathetic but will give a deserved “boot in the butt” as needed. They suggest a particular video too as needed. But recently the vast number of video threads you suggest every time someone posts are like Advertising & Spam and makes one want to avoid them & the site as we don’t wish to be the next target. I so wish our old Quit Train was back....it was extremely helpful & I miss it.

But I’m out here reading....I’m still here Doreen & yes I’ll check in Recip ?  Thanks Nancy & JB. 

Has there been a transfer of Ownership of the QT site? Just askin....

And YES....I have a choice not to smoke and I have a choice to ignore advertising 

 

 

Empathy is overrated. 

Boots in Butts are underrated. 

 

That being said ... The Sarge wants to punch a Dude in the face who plays like An Expert in a field in which he has no actual, real-world, life experience. 

 

Joel has never smoked. 

Joel has never been addicted to Nicotine

Joel has never had to quit. 

 

Nothing personal, Joel. 

Sarge would feel same about anyone doing same. 

 

'Nuff said. 

Sarge will say no more on the subject. 

 

 

EZPZ

 

Edited January 24, 2018 by sgt.barney