Wow! I'm REALLY Having a "Throw The Towel In" Day!

Somebody help me understand what I'm feeling....PUH-LEASE!I am like totally ready to throw in the towel regarding my quit!I really don't know where this is coming...this is the strongest junkie-thinking brain I've had I think since I quit!I pledge not to smoke today...and I haven't broken a pledge yet! Please don't redirect me to www.whyquit.com, etc. I've been reading my little heart out today!I just need someone to help me understand how/why these intense REALLY intense feelings/urges are kickin' the sh*t outta me...7 weeks+ into my quit!

Tough Day_9232

Don't know whether it is the weather kinda being gloomy or that I don't have a million things that I need to do. But the mind keeps telling me that a smoke sure would be great. No Fears I haven't had one and don't intend to have one. It has been 6 weeks 1 day 1 hour and 40 min. since my last cigarette. This is 2 days shy of when I lost my quit last time and I'm sure that plays into the mind game for me. I have every intention of beating this crave because I know it is only temporary. And I don't want to be a smoker again. I never want to go through the withdrawal again. So, I keep telling myself this will pass as does everything in life. I will win. Just needed to vent. It always helps to see things in writing to help remind one's self why they are doing what they are doing.

The quit is spreading!

Hello Nosmos. Bratty Girl and I are still smoke-free. We're at about 2.5 months and both of us are at the "no turning back" point. It has gotten easier than I ever imagined it would be in 25 years of smoking. We even threw a party this weekend and neither of us were tempted.Now the best news: My father (60 years old,quit smoking now, 45 year smoker) and my mother (58 and about a 35 year smoker) have both quit!! My mom had wanted to for a long time, but couldn't do it with my dad smoking. His doc told him his CO levels were too high and his smoking days were OVER. They saw that we were able to do it, and have taken the plunge. Smoke free for them since this past Saturday night.Neither one of them is into the web and message boards, but I have been printing and spouting a lot of the wisdom from here and Joel's site,Herbal cigarettes, plus a lot of Eric's posts. That guy has it NAILED.Thought you all would like to know that some folks don't even need to log on here to be helped!

Struggling recovering addict tendency to blame and sabotage-

I just thought I'd post what I posted in another thread. I thought it might be interesting to discuss how recovering from an addiction is difficult not only from a mental and physiological perspective of withdrawals but also from the perspective that personal unresolved issues are bound to emerge since there is nowhere to run anymore without the addiction. Not only have my nerves been jaded as my body is performing huge adjustments but also I am becoming aware of things that smoking allowed me to avoid looking at in the past. This is heavy duty stuff to deal with and it would be easy to fall into another pattern of avoiding and start blaming others unconsciously when I am feeling bad.I don't like it that people get upset and leave,quit smoking now,even if I didn't like them I still wanted them to stay. But I could never stay quit without dealing with issues I have been able to avoid by smoking. Since I was a young little thing I always ran away from the sort of conflict that is inevitable in any form of interaction, particularly conflict from intimate relationships. Where did I run to? I often ran into the ready comfort of addictions embrace. Although it strangled and suffocated me it was a pattern that held me in a suspended state where I didn't grow from the lessons in life that I avoided. I have nowhere to run to now but I must face the things about me now that I have nowhere to hide. Getting angry and blaming are just other ways of avoiding. If I keep doing this and don't grow up in these regards it's possible I will smoke again. So if I get angry at the board because someone was "mean", I can then run away and not face my issues at that particular time but I am setting myself up to possibly pick up the addiction again. Firstly I have just dumped my support and secondly I have yet again missed out on an opportunity to grow.I don't think it's fair to put guilt on some members for others who have left. Ultimately it is their choice and no-one seems to be talking about what may be going on in their psyche,quit smoking, which I think is more relevant to giving up an addiction. It has at least been relevant in mine.I am interested in what others think and whether they experienced some similar realisations.

To all recent quitters and upcoming ones! -)

Hi guys! Due to limited time I wanted to start this post quickly and say a few things.First, Congrats on making a wonderful choice, It is so awesome seeing sooooo many new people making the move to stop smoking!!!!!! Second,it's a rough road for a bit, a little bouncy and rocky, but it will smooth out. Third, Craves WILL GET BETTER!!!!! Please Please trust in this and don't cave in to the crave!!!!!. It may not seem like it but honest to God...... You{ and the triggers} will mellow out and you will not be on the "jitters" forever. Give it time,quit smoking now, and make yourself push to stay smoke free,stop smoking now, it is so worth it!!! The rewards you get from no more icky lungs, stinky hair and clothes{ that you will now smell due to not smoking and it is horrid!} is priceless. So many of us know this, and have worked sooooooo hard to get to where were are, YOU TOO can get it!!! Post here often{ it helps keep you accountable }, read read read, and know there is always someone around to help you out! Do whatever YOU have to do to stay quit,, juice, straws,ice chips, candies,veggies, all work great to help the craves. Best of luck to you all for a successful quit!What a great gift to give yourselves for the NEW YEAR!!

THANK U THANK U THANK U!!!!

THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR THE FANTASTIC WELCOME TO THIS MARVELOUS BOARD!!!!!!! AND MANY THANKS TO THOSE OF YOU WHO SURFED BY TO VISIT THE FRONT PORCH!!!! THANKS ALSO TO ERIC AND JOANN FOR PROVIDING ME WITH ALLEN CARRS EASYWAY BOOK!! I DOWNLOADED THAT BABY,quit smoking, ADDED IT TO MY FAVES AND READ IT FROM COVER TO COVER!! ABSOLUTELY ASTOUNDING !! WHAT HE SAID ABOUT "CRAVINGS" REALLY HIT HOME WITH ME! I KEPT PUTTING OFF WHAT I KNEW WOULD BE MY "STICKYQUIT" (gotta love that!!) BECAUSE I DREADED THE NIC WITHDRAWAL!!UNTIL MR. CARR SO SIMPLY POINTED OUT? HOW BAD CAN THEY BE?EVEN THE MOST DEDICATED SMOKER GOES 8 TO 10 HOURS ONCE A DAY AND SLEEPS RIGHT THROUGH A WHOLE SERIES OF 'EM???SO,stop smoking, I SMOKED MY LAST CIGARETTE EVER LAST NIGHT AT 9PM ANDTHEN TOOK A SHOWER, SHAMPOOED MY HAIR, BRUSHED MY TEETH, ETC. TODAY I'LL FEBREZE EVERYTHING I CAN REACH THAT ISN'T NAILED DOWN!! CAME DOWNSTAIRS THIS MORNING IN QUITEA CELEBRATORY MOOD, ALA MR ALLEN!! HAD 2 CUPS OF JAVA INSTEAD OF MY USUAL 4...ATE A FEW CRACKERS...WHEN I REALIZED I WAS ROAMING THE HOUSE, I CAME UP HERE...READ ALL YOUR WONDERFUL REPLIES....PLEASE EXCUSE THE CAPS BY THE WAY....UNCLE ARTHUR (ARTHRITIS)MUST HAVE GOTTEN EXCITED WHEN HE SAW THE NICODEMON (nicotene) BEING RELOCATED SO LCOSE TO THE EXIT DOOR AND MOVED IN .....WHEN IT FLARES UP IT'S EASIER TO TYPE IN ALL CAPS....DON'T ANYONE THINK I'M SHOUTING....I'M NOT HONEST!! HAHAHAHA!! MY FIRST PLAN WAS TO LEASH UP SUGAR (my pooch)AND GO FOR MY REGULAR 2 MILE LOOP AROUND CANDLEWOOD, BUT IT'S POURING DOWN RAIN....SO OUR LITTLE QUIT VILLAGE IS PLAN B...NOW I'M GONNA GET DRESSED, SAY PRAYERS AND TRY TO EAT A BIT MORE!! LOOKING FOR ERICS PDF POST YESTERDAY? I FOUND I THINK IT WAS BONNIE? POSTED 1001 WAYS TO BEAT A CRAVE?I LOVE THE JIGSAW PUZZLES SITE WHERE YOU CAN WORK THEM ONLINE!!!!!!!!! WHO KNEW???????? I'M REALLY GONNA TRY TO KEEP THESE SHORTER! SORRY GUYS!!LOVE AND LUCK TO EVERY ONE OF US!!!!!!AND CONGRATS TO ALL THE "HEROES" WHO HAVE MADE ITTO WHERE THE REST OF US ARE HEADED!!!!!!!!!N.O.P.E. ( Not One Puff Ever.....) LOVE that!!Dusty

Time Line of Better Health from being a NON-smoker

8 Hours - Carbon monoxide levels in the blood become normal and the bloods ability to carry oxygen also returns to normal.24 Hours - Chance of heart attack begins to decrease.2 Weeks-3 Months - Blood Circulation and lung function improve.1-9 Month - Lungs can start to clean themselves again. You may notice that you are coughing less and aren't short of breath.1 Year - Risk of heart attack is now half the risk of smokers.5 Years - Risk of stroke is reduced to the same risk of a person who has never smoked.10 Years - Risk of lung cancer is reduced. There is les risk of cancers of the mouth,smoking cessation, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney,quit smoking now, cervix, and pancreas.15 Years - Risks of coronary heart disease and stroke are now the same as a life long non smoker.Found this on mytimetoquit.com and thought it was intereesting and figured I would share it with the rest of you...Enjoy!

Think I am starting early

I seriously over did it with the junk food this week. I feel really weighed down and have really low energy. I don't think I can eat another brownie,stop smoking, chocolate covered anything,Herbal cigarettes, nothing like that! I am starting tomorrow! Salads and healthy stuff for me. I don't eat lots of processed stuff, so when I do... I feel it...ughhhhhhhh. Anyone w/ me? It's fine if you want to wait...I am sure many of you still have celebrating and dinners to do - but not me... no more plans. Join me when you are ready!! Hope you all had a wonderful Holiday!

Running out of positve.....

energy. Seriously I am having a really tough time. This feeling in my body is so strange and foreign to me that it is starting to wear me down. And even stranger, as I feel myself losing some steam.. I know deep down I will not give in and smoke... I do not want to smoke.... My body may be missing it, and is having trouble working without it, but not matter how crappy I feel... I am not even in a battle with myself about it.. I will not smoke today.. PERIOD... So this is not an SOS, I just needed to take a break from supper and let out some steam.I feel so tired I can barely move, my nerves are on edge (with 2 kids under 4 not a great quality), everything tastes like crap! Everything,Herbal cigarettes, even treats I allowed myself today. My head feels like it is not connected.. My one leg has a feeling of a charlie horse in it.. I am using the patch, so I can only imagine what I might feel like without it... I almost wonder if I have a disfunctional one.. I am having waves of craves that last about 5 mins and they are all physical. I even have shaky fingers at times... I am almost wondering if I might be getting the flu.... and the quit is not even related... Who knows??? All I know is I am very tired and even the thought of smoking is exhausting... That cycle---- smoking wanting to quit, quitting wanting to smoke... etc.. over and over... I am SICK and tired of it.. So I am KEEPING MY QUIT no matter what......Thanks for letting me vent... I am going to ask hubby to watch the kids for a minute.. I have a relaxation CD upstairs somewhere, I bought a few months ago to assist with a quit I never started... I am so tense right now I feel like I could explode... Sorry to be selfish here!! Just needed to share with someone! Oh did I mention my DH response when he took one look at me after work " You look awful... You look sick... Maybe this really was not the best time to quit!" My response was in sign language... for I could not find the words,quit smoking now, but I could find the finger!!!

Smoking Humor

Smoking Humor Making the quit a bit more enjoyable! The biggest shock when you ,quit smokingquit smoking is finding out what fast food really tastes like. Remember, smoking doesn’t kill people. People who are trying to quit smoking kill people. One poll says 73% of Americans favor raising the cigarette tax. It's only fair. Since smokers aren't around as long as the rest of us, they should pay more while they're here. I quit smoking once for six days. And then they untied me. Trying to quit smoking can drive you nuts -- especially when you try to light your nicotine gum. Marlboro has a line of outdoor gear for smokers. They recommend you buy it a size larger so paramedics don’t have to cut it off of you. The Marlboro clothing is very functional. The denim jacket has electric heart paddles sewed right into the lining,quit smoking now, and there’s a backpack that can hold a portable respirator. I stopped smoking and extended my life expectancy. My wife is furious. Now be honest. If you ran RJR-Nabisco, wouldn't you be tempted to slip a little nicotine into your crackers? Nothing like a good saltine to relax you. And a half hour later you want another one. After a good meal, you'd lean back and suck on a nice cracker.

Remember we smoke-smoked for a Reason

It is a drug! It got us high, it was/is a stimulant! Even after Detox our brains remember this. How many of us still drink coffee each day to wake up. Even when the alcoholic stops drinking the program to do so is still there, you just have to use that same brain to say NO. If it were easy none of us would be here but .....It does get betterOne day you will barely think about itYou have to do it for yourselfAnd one puff will set you right back.Love is what we all really need so I am sending it to all of you.StephGotta Run Ten months, five days, 14 hours, 8 minutes and 8 seconds. 6191 cigarettes not smoked,stop smoking, saving $959.73. Life saved: 3 weeks, 11 hours,smoking cessation, 55 minutes.

Smoking buddies.

I have continued going outside with my "smoking buddy" at work since I quit. She is a very light smoker and I quite honestly expected her to quit WAY before I did as she has been talking about it for quite some time now. I am trying to be honest with her about my experience without being pushy. And I dont talk "quit" while she is smoking.I also called my phone smoking friends immediately when I quit.The last time I quit (10 years ago) I remember I tended to avoid my smoking friends and avoid telling them that I quit so I made a point to do exactly the opposite this time and face it head on.So now when they call or go outside to smoke it's not a big deal like it would have been had I hid from it.Anybody else?

Resentment_26701

I have known this guy for a year, and I have been a smoker for two. About a month ago, we started dating. He is an adament nonsmoker, and has said repeatedly that he would never date someone who smokes. A few days ago, he gave me an ultimatum: the relationship or the cigarettes... so I told him I'd try to quit. The thing is, I feel forced into this, and I'm getting frustrated. I'm not sure I'm emotionally ready to quit yet...There's another part to this as well: he has no clue how strong this addiction is. He thinks I'm psyching myself out,Herbal cigarettes, and that it should be a piece of cake. I tried to quit back in January and made it less than 48 hours. He basically thinks that it is only a physical addiction, and doesn't understand that the mental part can be just as strong if not stronger. From his perspective, it is just a matter of me having enough willpower. He thinks once I get past the first 72 hours, I will never crave a cigarette again. I've tried to explain this to him to no avail. Last night, when I told him I was scared to quit, he got angry with me,stop smoking now, and told me to just "get over it." If it was that simple, I would have quit a long time ago... I'm just feeling resentful right now, and I need to vent.

Quitting smoking improves artery health- study

An article I read today in local paper I thought I should share. Smokers who are thinking about kicking the habit can take this to heart - stopping will improve the health of your arteries, a new study shows.While those who stopped smoking did gain an average of 10 lbs., it didn't seem to have a negative impact on their hearts and levels of "good"cholesterol improved, the study found.The study followed 1,504 smokers for one year and they were given one of six methods to help them kick the habit - nicotine lozenge,stop smoking now, nicotine patch, sustained-release bupropion,smoking cessation, nicotine patch plus nicotine lozenge, sustained-release bupropion plus nicotine lozenge, or a placebo. All the participants also received individual counselling sessions. The study found 36% quit smoking.The study said artery health "improved significantly."On its website, Health Canada says smoking is a major risk factor that contributes to cardiovascular disease, which is a major cause of death in Canada. Smoking makes the heart work harder because it decreases the amount of oxygen in the blood, which means the heart has to beat faster to get more oxygen through the body.The study, by researchers at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, appears in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology and was presented at the ACC's annual conference on Monday.While it's been previously reported quitting smoking can improve heart health, this is the largest clinical trial to show it also helps arteries.The study continues for another two years and researchers will look at whether the participants' health will continue to improve.

Simply Could NOT Resist

as I was reading thru something this was offered to me as a gift( from the universe) as I see itso read the quote below, think about it ,stop smoking now, REALLY think about it "There is no use trying," said Alice, "I cannot believe impossible things.""I dare say you haven't had much practice," said the Queen."When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a day."Why,quit smoking now, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast."Lewis Carroll, from Alice in Wonderlandnow just for a moment listen really listenThis IS DoAble, than Manageable and Suddenly Magical ( I swear) Dare to Dream the Impossibel its easier after the DoAble

OMG! Is The Brain Retraining Finally Starting to WORK-!

Hiya Quitters,quit smoking now,Even though I felt like emotional crap today (i.e., volatile and melancholy),quit smoking, for the first time since quitting I actually felt the emotions themselves, rather than feeling an "I need to smoke" feeling -- then having to go through the "halt sequence" to identify whatever it was I was actually feeling (and then find out that yes, it was a "bad" emotion which I always used to respond to immediately by lighting up).Those emotional Triggers that have been plaguing me for the last month and a half or so, the ones that made me so battle weary from these inexplicable "I need to smoke" feelings which I had to decipher through them to discover what exactly it is I'm feeling which made me "want" to smoke, and then repeatedly tell myself "No, Lena, you do NOT smoke anymore when you're sad [or whichever emotion it is]" and "Smoking won't make it go away so just deal with it."But today I just felt the raw emotions, no smoking Triggers. Unfortunately the emotions were pretty raw -- I was back to crying several times in a day like the Emotional Rollercoaster of the beginning phase of my quit (i.e., Day 9 to around 3rd month).Hey Old Phartes, I need you to tell me -- is this progress, as in I did enough emotional identity chasing and brain training and that's what I needed to do to beat those inexplicable emotional Triggers? Is this normal for someone who's at the 6 months quit point?Thanks,~Lena

ok my last bandwagon for today and this has nothing to do w

I admit I have been surprised that no one mentioned Martin Luther King today even the media other than NPR hasnt really said much ( maybe TV has) I am talking radio. Any way 40 yrs ago he was murdered. And so I spent some time tonight reflecting on the speeches of the man and listened to several on utube. Was so deeply touched and once again mesmerized by so many of his words. The hope ,quit smoking now, the possibility. And than I listed to his last speech, His I have been to the mountaintop I have seen the promised land speech given the day before his death and I sat in silence as those words reeled around me. He knew, as so many of us know when finality is in our lives. marriage ending, , a job about to be lost and our own death.. If you have never heard one of his speeches , do yourself a favor and listen to one. If you are old enough to remember the man , you might find the same level of awe listening to him speak again as I have this evening. and as I do not believe in accidents, it was doubly interesting to me to open up one of my daily reads after having listened to the speech and read the below.In honor and memory of Doctor King and his lesson of peace and compassion I share.April 5Visualize someone to whom you feel very close, particularly someone who is suffering and in pain. As you breathe in, imagine you take in all their suffering and pain with compassion, and as you breathe out, send your warmth,Herbal cigarettes, healing, love, joy, and happiness streaming out to them.Now, gradually widen the circle of your compassion to embrace first other people to whom you also feel very close, then to those about whom you feel indifferent, then to those whom you dislike or have difficulty with, then even to those whom you feel are actively monstrous and cruel. Allow your compassion to become universal, and to enfold in its embrace all sentient beings, and all beings, in fact, without any exception.

Quit....it's a priority for the rest of your life.

It was a little early in the afternoon, to be going home, so I drop in at the local watering hole when I saw an old friends car in the parking lot. He sat there alone at the bar with his customary glass of wine. I ordered my usual beer and sat on a stool beside him. After the usual cheerful jabs at each other as a greeting, I reached in my shirt pocket and pulled out my pack of smokes. I grabbed one between my teeth and tossed the pack on the bar. Then I said to my friend, "I wish I could quit those",smoking cessation, and pointed at the pack. My friend replied, "I wish I could quit this", and pointed at his glass of wine. He wasn't in good shape. The wine and the hardships it created in his life had taken it's toll over the years.I thought about cigarettes taking a toll on my health all the way home. Thirty six years is a lot of smoke. By the time I reached home had determined to quit. Even though I just purchased a couple of new packs before I left for home, I destroyed them all. My wife did not believe me for a second and thought I'd be running out the door first thing when I woke to buy cigarettes.I didn't buy anymore cigarettes. I didn't bum any cigarettes. I hung on for nearly a week. Unable to do much of anything besides focusing on resisting the cravings for nicotine. Then I found this BB and became one of the first members (Did Fred retire?). Helping each other through this message board was of immense help in my quit. I never allowed myself to even think of having just one. There were two dreams I had about being tempted to smoke but I didn't even in my dreams. I had already smoked my last cigarette. There were no more for me.I didn't change my lifestyle purposely although it changed a great deal after quitting. I still would have a drink with my friends who smoked but it wouldn't tempt me. My focus was always on ridding myself of this dirty stupid addiction no matter what it took. Some of my friends chided me. Some of my friends praised me. A very good friendship was ruined because he hated that I quit and his wife was always on his back about quitting. Since then he suffered a heart attack and they found cancer. Apparently, treatment was effective and he survived cancer free. Then he turned to smoking Tiparillos. Don't ask me why.My friend with the glass of wine went in the hospital a little over a year later, for some minor surgery. He never regained consciousness. His body just gave up fighting the abuse.I kept fighting the cravings and wonRichard - Free and Healing for Ten Years, Five Months, Four Days, 15 Hours and 3 Minutes,stop smoking, while extending my life expectancy 476 Days and 1 Hour, by avoiding the use of 137111 nicotine delivery devices that would have cost me $36,224.35.

Paying It Forward

I remember a little over 2 years, 3 months ago, I made the decision that I was going to finally quit smoking. I was on my 2nd day and I found this website called WhyQuit.com and was going to really try and give this quitting thing a solid attempt. I was excited, but I was also scared. When it came to quitting, all I knew was failure. I was full of questions about being able to quit and probably more full of doubts about doing it. So I started reading people's posts at the Freedom board and started seeing something that I haven't seen before trying to quit. I started seeing hope. I started to see that I wasn't alone about my fears and doubts about quitting. I started to see that I wasn't alone,quit smoking now, period about quitting. I read about people who had been quit a month. Who were talking about how much better they already felt. I thought to myself, " Wow, 1 month. That would be great if I could do that." I read about people who were quit for mutliple months and people quit for around 6 months and thought, " That would be great if I could quit for 6 months. I would love that!! That would be something!!" What made me stop and ponder though was reading about these people who had been quit for a year and longer. Reading these people's posts. They all had one thing in common. This confidence about quitting. This knowledge that they seemed to have and a comfort that I knew absolutely nothing about. The responses they gave to the newbies. You could see there was no hesitation in their words and they all said the same thing, " Just hang in there. It will get better!!" These people had me in awe. Being quit for a year or longer? Even though they sounded completely happy, I just couldn't seem to wrap my head around this. It seemed to big for me to grasp. It felt a little too overwhelming. A little too intimidating, but what did I have to lose by trying? So I joined WhyQuit. In my early days, I was glued to the computer(hhmmm,stop smoking, much like I am today, LOL) . I spent hours and hours, day in and day out reading about this thing called nicotine addiction. I learned what to expect and what not to expect about quitting. Out of all the information that I learned there. There was one piece of information that was repeated often and probably the most important thing to remember. That was to Never Take Another Puff. Huh, how simple is that? How for some reason, this never ever occured to me when I tried to quit before. As a matter of fact I never thought of myself as really a nicotine addict. I just thought it was a really bad habit, that I couldn't seem to break. It was the lack of this simple piece of information that made all my pasts quits fail. So everyday I would just not take a puff. I had days that were good days and I had days that were bad days. I had days where I felt depressed and days that were amazing. There was even a stretch in my quit where for a lack of a better word, it just felt surreal. Everytime I had doubts or questions or was going through a difficult stretch, I would post about it. Every single time, these seasoned quitters would answer my posts and give me an insight that I just didn't see before. They just always seemed to have the answers to every question I ever had and once again they all said the same thing. "Hang in there, because it will get better, I promise!" Sometimes I embraced this cliche' and honestly, sometimes I just didn't want to hear it, but no matter how I felt, I just kept the faith that they were telling me the truth about this thing called comfort. As time went on. This comfort thing did start to happen. I actually did start to feel more calm. My perspective really did start to change. I was actually doing this and not only that, I was loving it!! They were right. These oldies weren't lying to me. I was actually starting to feel this elusive thing called comfort. Fast forward to today. Today I can honestly say that I love not smoking!! I have a calmness about me that I never had when I smoked. There is not a single thing I miss about smoking! I don't, for one second, take this wonderful gift of freedom for granted! At the same time, I'm not sure if I have ever been more confident about anything in my whole life, than being a happy nonsmoker. I'm still amazed at the transformation from then to now. Going from uncertain and scared to completely confident and free. It really feels amazing. I don't make it over to WhyQuit much these days, but I have alot of people there to thank for helping me quit. Not just Joel, but countless oldbies, who allways held their hand out to me to pick me up when I needed it. To inspire me when I felt uninspired. To tell me that they knew how I felt, because at one time they were there too. To give me a 3rd person unbiased look at how I was feeling. To give the tough love when I needed it. I owe alot to these people. I think the best way to pay this debt is to try and pay it forward and I think that they would agree. There was another thing that those seasoned quitters always told me that, today I think is very very important to tell the new quitters here and I cannot stress this part enough. Seasoned quitters are NO different than you. They DON'T have anything that you don't have. Seasoned quitters are NOT the exception to the rule. They are NOT the "few lucky ones" who were at the right place, at the right time and the stars aligned and gave them this magical power to quit. They ARE only people who has followed one simple rule a little longer than the newer quitter. That is simply to Never Take Another Puff. As long as you practice this one rule. It will get better. It will get to be fantastic! You will find that comfort that seasoned quitters keep telling you about. You will find an inner calmness that you haven't felt since before you started smoking and you will be living life as you again. On your terms, not addiction's. Keep the faith! You might be starting to feel that comfort already! Before you know it. It is going to be you comforting the newbies. It is going to be you telling them to hang in there, because it is only going to get better and that they will find their comfort and you're going to be able to say this with the utmost conviction and confidence, because you will know that it really is true!! When I see the newer quitter's doubts start to diminish and their confidence start to grow. That's what makes me smile. I love it!! It is awsome to see this tranformation. To see the people who were once full of questions, are now full of answers. This is the great gift of paying it forward!!Have a good day,Eric

Newbies- The biggest little secret

It seems like we're getting a lot of noobz lately (which is a good thing, because that means less people are smoking!) And I'm still kinda new myself,Herbal cigarettes, as I approach the TWO MONTH mark.So I think it's time to share a little secret about quitting with the n00bz that are scared and aren't sure they can make it...Once you've got 72 hours under your belt, your body no longer NEEDS nicotine. From that time forward, it's purely a mental battle. With that in mind, you need to remember one tiny little secret that will help you a LOT:When you get a craving, you just have to say to yourself "I don't need this anymore... I did at one time,smoking cessation, but that's gone now."Focus on that message, think about it, and you'll see that it does help. You really don't NEED that cigarette. You may WANT it, yes, but you don't NEED it. Hey, you've gone this long without one, haven't you?Trust me... this coming from the crack-baby of smoking.

One Month!!

I've made it to one month!! I can't believe it's already been this long. I remember how hopeless I felt at day TWO, now I'm at day 28. Getting easier to fight off the cravings. Experienced a bunch of old triggers this past week, but managed to beat them off, taking some deep breaths,quit smoking, handwashing some dishes,stop smoking now, even walking onto the balcony to get some fresh air (and by fresh I mean non-smokey FRESH!).I know there's a few others here who've recently posted their one month achievements. You go guys! We can beat this thing!

My Cigarette, My Friend_2080

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------My Cigarette, My Friend --------------------------------------------------------------------------------How do you feel about a friend who has to go everywhere with you? Not only does he tag along all the time,quit smoking now, but since he is so offensive and vulgar, you become unwelcome when with him. He has a peculiar odor that sticks to you wherever you go. Others think both of you stink.He controls you totally. When he says jump, you jump. Sometimes in the middle of a blizzard or storm, he wants you to come to the store and pick him up. You would give your spouse hell if he or she did that to you all the time, but you can't argue with your friend. Sometimes, when you are out at a movie or play he says he wants you to go stand in the lobby with him and miss important scenes. Since he calls all the shots in your life, you go.Your friend doesn't like your choice of clothing either. Instead of politely telling you that you have lousy taste, he burns little holes in these items so you will want to throw them out. Sometimes, he tires of the furniture and gets rid of it too. Occasionally,stop smoking now, he gets really nasty and decides the whole house must go. He gets pretty expensive to support. Not only is his knack of property destruction costly, but you must pay to keep him with you. In fact, he will cost you thousands of dollars over your lifetime. And you can count on one thing, he will never pay you a penny in return.Often at picnics you watch others playing vigorous activities and having lots of fun doing them. But your friend won't let you. He doesn't believe in physical activity. In his opinion, you are too old to have that kind of fun. So he kind of sits on your chest and makes it difficult for you to breathe. Now you don't want to go off and play with other people when you can't breathe, do you?Your friend does not believe in being healthy. He is really repulsed by the thought of you living a long and productive life. So every chance he gets he makes you sick. He helps you catch colds and flu. Not just by running out in the middle of the lousy weather to pick him up at the store. He is more creative than that. He carries thousands of poisons with him which he constantly blows in your face. When you inhale some of them, they wipe out cilia in your lungs which would have helped you prevent these diseases.But colds and flu are just his form of child's play. He especially likes diseases that slowly cripple you - like emphysema. He considers this disease great. Once he gets you to have this, you will give up all your other friends, family, career goals, activities - everything. You will just sit home and caress him, telling him what a great friend he is while you desperately gasp for air.But eventually your friend tires of you. He decides he no longer wishes to have your company. Instead of letting you go your separate ways, he decides to kill you. He has a wonderful arsenal of weapons behind him. In fact, he has been plotting your death since the day you met him. He picked all the top killers in society and did everything in his power to ensure you would get one of them. He overworked your heart and lungs. He clogged up the arteries to your heart, brain, and every other part of your body. In case you were too strong to succumb to this, he constantly exposed you to cancer causing agents. He knew he would get you sooner or later.Well, this is the story of your "friend," your cigarette. No real friend would do all this to you. Cigarettes are the worst possible enemies you ever had. They are expensive, addictive, socially unacceptable, and deadly. Consider all this and - NEVER TAKE ANOTHER PUFF!

Life goes on without the smoke

I quit on Tuesday morning and I'm doing o.k. That is 72 hours right? Yesterday was bad but today I feel much much better. One thing I realized today is that non-smokers are o.k. They still have fun. They still can have coffee. They still can go outside. Meaning I'm really not giving anything up by quitting. I'm gaining lung function. I'm gaining health. I'm gaining time with the people I love. Oh saving some money too. I remember always thinking how do people go through their day to day life as non-smokers. I always thought that was strange. And I wondered how they did it. LOL really. I thought they were so different. What did they do with their hands all day? After 20 years of smoking I just couldn't think what it would feel like (well except for the few times I quit and that was for babies and I ate a lot.) The funny thing is I remember hating smokers when I was a kid. My whole family smoked and I hated it so much. It wasn't until I moved in with my Dad who became a non-smoker that I changed. I met a knew friends and she smoked. So I tried it. I didn't even know how to inhale. But I practiced. And I hid it all the way back then. I never once thought smoking was cool ever. But I remember once I inhaled I became addicted. It was so easy to become addicted. Now that friend who gave me my first cigarette doesn't smoke. She feels bad all the time that I still do (well she doesn't know yet I quit). Anyway,stop smoking now, I remember thinking how she gave up something. Didn't she miss the enjoyment? What did she do with all her free time and hands? How could she have coffee without a cigarette? Now I know how. She just did it like I am. I am still drinking my morning coffee but instead of being excited when it's done so I can go out and have my cigarette,stop smoking, I'm excited just to have the coffee. Instead of going out on my deck to smoke I go out on my deck to look at the flowers. I bring my coffee out there and spend about 10 minutes (same time I'd be out there to smoke). I can do this. I really can and so can you. I'm so glad I found this board. You guys are really helpful. Just reading what you write inspires me each day. I truly don't want to be a smoker anymore. Michelle

Lung Pain-

So I'm almost at 4 weeks,smoking cessation, and for the past 2 days I've had my regular upper chest pain (which is apparently nothing as I've gotten an EKG in the time I've had it...it was attributed to my anxiety issues). But I've gotten a few very brief, very sharp pains on the side of my rib cage under my left arm which I'm told may be lung pain. I didn't have this pain while I was smoking. OK, pretty embarassing, but I get gas right after that LOL. I have a doc's appointment next month,stop smoking, but I'm just wondering if anyone else had any lung pain after quitting? Is this anywhere near normal? I feel fine otherwise.

NASCAR

OK ok,, since i'm not driving this season i will toss in on this....I noticed a Stewart fan a day or two ago.i was at Homested the day Nextel took over the cup from Winston. And i was there year before last when Sprint Joined Nextel.Having hundreds and hundreds of pictures. We have recipes directly from Mr.s Stewart, Tony's mom,stop smoking now, she is a crock potter ya know, and he has a line of chili.. We have had lunch with Jimmy Johnson, at Homestead durin his rookie season.I am a Jef gordon fan from back when he raced Sprints.i will drive Sprints one day...here is a photo of Biffle in his Golf cart, i was drivin Jr's cart at the time,Herbal cigarettes,, then follows a picture of me in jr's cart... Please don't tell jeff gordon...NASCAR!!!! never heard of it.

My Cigarette My Friend_20712

Seems like its Been Awhile, since this noble oh so true article has been posted.I offer it in particular to lurkers and newbies alike. My Cigarette, My Friend?"by Joel Spitzer How do you feel about a friend who has to go everywhere with you? Not only does he tag along all the time, but since he is so offensive and vulgar, you become unwelcome when with him. He has a peculiar odor that sticks to you wherever you go. Others think both of you stink. He controls you totally. When he says jump, you jump. Sometimes in the middle of a blizzard or storm, he wants you to come to the store and pick him up. You would give your spouse hell if he or she did that to you all the time,Herbal cigarettes, but you can't argue with your friend. Sometimes, when you are out at a movie or play he says he wants you to go stand in the lobby with him and miss important scenes. Since he calls all the shots in your life, you go. Your friend doesn't like your choice of clothing either. Instead of politely telling you that you have lousy taste, he burns little holes in these items so you will want to throw them out. Sometimes, he tires of the furniture and gets rid of it too. Occasionally, he gets really nasty and decides the whole house must go. He gets pretty expensive to support. Not only is his knack of property destruction costly, but you must pay to keep him with you. In fact, he will cost you thousands of dollars over your lifetime. And you can count on one thing, he will never pay you a penny in return. Often at picnics you watch others playing vigorous activities and having lots of fun doing them. But your friend won't let you. He doesn't believe in physical activity. In his opinion, you are too old to have that kind of fun. So he kind of sits on your chest and makes it difficult for you to breathe. Now you don't want to go off and play with other people when you can't breathe, do you? Your friend does not believe in being healthy. He is really repulsed by the thought of you living a long and productive life. So every chance he gets he makes you sick. He helps you catch colds and flu. Not just by running out in the middle of the lousy weather to pick him up at the store. He is more creative than that. He carries thousands of poisons with him which he constantly blows in your face. When you inhale some of them, they wipe out cilia in your lungs which would have helped you prevent these diseases. But colds and flu are just his form of child's play. He especially likes diseases that slowly cripple you―like emphysema. He considers this disease great. Once he gets you to have this, you will give up all your other friends, family, career goals,stop smoking now, activities―everything. You will just sit home and caress him, telling him what a great friend he is while you desperately gasp for air. But eventually your friend tires of you. He decides he no longer wishes to have your company. Instead of letting you go your separate ways, he decides to kill you. He has a wonderful arsenal of weapons behind him. In fact, he has been plotting your death since the day you met him. He picked all the top killers in society and did everything in his power to ensure you would get one of them. He overworked your heart and lungs. He clogged up the arteries to your heart, brain, and every other part of your body. In case you were too strong to succumb to this, he constantly exposed you to cancer causing agents. He knew he would get you sooner or later. Well, this is the story of your "friend," your cigarette. No real friend would do all this to you. Cigarettes are the worst possible enemies you ever had. They are expensive, addictive, socially unacceptable, and deadly. Consider all this and NEVER TAKE ANOTHER PUFF!

Looney

TODAY...WAS...AWFUL. I was messing up at work because I couldn't concentrate. And I was eating...and eating...and eating. Grrr... I'm frustrated because its been easier the last few days. I guess I got tricked! It's amazing that you can feel like you're kickin serious booty one day and the next it feels like the first day all over again! I posted yesterday about some of my frustrations about quitting, but I have not had a crave like this since day 1. I wanted to rip my friggin hair out,smoking cessation, and my boss (who smokes,quit smoking, and knows I have quit) keeps asking me whats wrong. HELLO??? IM ANGRY! lol! Meanwhile, someone who has never smoked and thinks nicotine has no effect on your brain keeps asking what my problem is. All I wanted to say at that point was, "Other than you?" !!!!! I'm chewing on my gum and I want one SO BAD, but I won't. That's why this isn't an SOS I refuse to give in. The cravings just make me angrier at the drug. I can't believe this pull over me. Its amazing how the mind works. You can want something and NOT want something at the same time. That's lunacy! Its so asinine that it's ass-a-ten! I wish I could take out the part of my brain that still wants to smoke and just set it on the counter until I feel prepared for it to come back. Ahh, I need that. Thanks for letting me rant!

My whole family quit today!!!

You will all have to forgive me as it has been over 18 hrs since my last cig, and I am finding myself to be in a rather thick fog. Anyway I am searching for help for not only myself but my entire family. All six of us adults have decided to quit cold turkey. Both of my brothers,quit smoking, My mom, my sister-in-law, Myself and my fiance. I suppose I should explain how we all came to this decision. Its quite simple actually my mom has been diagnosed with emfazema ( sorry yesterday I could have spelled it right but I am drawing a compleate blank today) And yesterday she had to go to the E.R because she was having problems breathing. The doctor told her that if she didnt quit smoking she was going to be put on oxygen soon. So while she was in the hospital we all decided that the only way she was going to be able to quit was if we all quit too. And we knew it would help to motivate her if she could get all of her children to quit. So we made her a deal you quit we quit. My mom has been smoking for over 35 yrs ( 1-2ppd or packs per day), my oldest brother over 25 yrs (2-3 ppd ), my other brother 22yrs(2-4 ppd), my sister-in-law 2 yrs(1 ppd), my fiance 7 yrs(1-2 ppd), and I have been smoking for a little over 4 years(1-1.5 ppd). And not ONE of us has had a single drag today!!! However my younger brother and fiance have succumbed to the temptation of chew (GROSS). But the rest of us are still going strong. Strangely enough my oldest brother (smoking for over 25 years) seems to be doing the best. And even though I have only been smoking for 4 years I am finding myself in a thick depressing fog. I really dont feel like myself at all. I am thinking about joining the ranks of my younger brother and fiance and buying some of that new no spit chew. And on top of everything I am scared to death of gaining weight, as I am getting married oct. 25th. So not only am I quitting smoking but I am also planning a wedding and trying to lose a few pounds so as to fit my dress!!!!!!! Any advice, tips,smoking cessation, trics etc... you all could give would be greatly appreciated. Thanks muchDaisy

need some willpower!

Ok,quit smoking now, so when I joined this group, I was going to try to quit that very day. It didn't work, so I'm going to try again. I just wanted to put it somewhere that I will not go buy another carton, another pack, nothing. I will not go into my "smoking room" to do anything but feed the fish I have in there. When I joined this site, I threw away the ashtray in my car and vowed never to smoke in her again, and was able to keep that rule unbroken. A week not smoking in the car isn't too bad, and I used to need to smoke in a vehicle. I chainsmoked in that poor car.Last one was at 6pm, about 5 hours ago,stop smoking now, and I'm not leaving the house for anything! There are no cigarettes in the house right now. I filled up my car with gas yesterday, so there's NO need to stop at the gas station tomorrow. Ok willpower, it's time to rock and roll..

I had my first intense crave last night. . .

Fridays are the HARDEST!! After a full stress filled work week I used to love that feeling of getting in the car to go home for the weekend. A beautiful sunny day,quit smoking now, got out early for Memorial Day Weekend, popped my nicorette gum and I was fine. Fridays in my house is date night. Hubby and me sit together and have a few beers, recap our whole week (since we run in different directions all week long), cook a nice dinner and relax. So, while I survived the first two smokeless weekends,stop smoking now, last night, all of a sudden I learned what a true crave was! I suddenly didn't like the taste of my beer without it being accompanied by a cigarette, I welled up with tears, and I had such an sudden intense feeling of sadness and depression. I knew I wasn't going to cave, knew I wasn't going to smoke, but I was damn mad that I couldn't! I think the thing that's bothering me is when you diet and look at a potato chip and know you can't have it, you know that someday when you loose the weight, that you can then enjoy those chips again in moderation. All I keep saying in my head now is that this is a forever thing. That for the rest of my LIFE I can't have another cigarette. There's no cheating at this "diet", there's no room for slipups, its a forever and ever thing and I can never have another one, not ever! I just can't seem to get past that yet. I know I will, I know that it will get easier and I know that in time I won't think of it that way, but here in these beginning days that thought is planted in my head - no more, not ever. And then I remembered what I read here daily. . . in about 3 minutes that intense feeling subsided, the tears weren't trying to burst through my eyes anymore, I took another sip of beer which was now more pleasurable, held tight to my straw, and I was once again fine. Really threw me for a loop though since it was the first really strong craving I've had that really threatened all the work I've done. So I guess the moral of this story - while it was really hard for that moment, hang tight and work through it, it does pass and if you stay strong you'll have no regrets or guilt that you messed up. As a matter of fact you'll find some relief in it afterwards knowing that you didn't cave!

I Screwed up

I'm not gonna beat around the bush guys, I screwed up and smoked.I don't know if there's a standard 'divorce talk,' but if there is, I just had it. I know it's not an acceptable excuse, but we just spent a few hours outside acting like we hate each other,stop smoking, and I started smokin' with her.I lost a quit and a wife, all at the same time. Time will tell what else. The kids are already asking stupid questions, and I am ill prepared to answer them at this moment.Crappy day. Crappy day. I got tears running down my face here, and I feel like a jerk for so many reasons right now.The divorce I saw coming, but not the quit. I'm so so so so so so so so so so angry and sad for losing the quit. Weeping like a little bitch. Even making all the bitch noises that go with it.I'll be back in a few days, I promise.I swear it, I will be back soon. I swear,Herbal cigarettes, I swear, I swear, I friggin swear, I'm gonna fix this and come back.

Just Quit - Wierd Things Happening

Hi,Been smoking for the last 26 years and my last smoke was Monday at 9:00pm. I've never tried to quit before because I was too scared to fail. Well, for the hell of it I decided to smoke my last one and I was done. I am going through Day 2 and have noticed a few things.I've got terrible heart burn (and these really acidic silent belches)DizzinessTightness in chestSweats (periodically)Hot FlashesOne thing that I did notice is how doable this is. I mean, I feel its really doable. Like, all I have to do is make it throught the detox and the worst will be done (aside from handling a few non-nic cravings).So far there isn't this huge monster screaming at me to go smoke. In fact, its a little friend on my shoulder, and in a uber soft voice, gently saying, "Hey friend, lets go have a quick smoke". Damn bastard! Throwing it in during conversations or when he knows I may bite. But I'm smarter, crafter, more prepared. So,stop smoking, do I need to go out and get Chantix or something? So far, I feel I can handle this and hope I don't need to extend the addiction. To be honest, I'm also trying to stay in bed and lay low as long as possible. I figure I really want the nicotine addiction over (and I heard 3 days) and have been lying low. Seems like I'm rambling.OMG - I'm actually doing this! I can tell you,smoking cessation, I'm going to make it. I'm two days and looking forward to going through my first weekend without one.

I'm quit. I'm done. Bye-bye...

I came to this bb to get help with my quit. I got the help and I have stopped smoking. That part is finished and done.I have stayed on this bb trying to pay it forward in my own style; however, if it doesn't match that of others,smoking cessation, to numerous to mention who believe they know ALL and I mean ALL,quit smoking now, things become a bit heated. However, Jeff, our Christian spokesperson, says it best:Jeff said:So what is your problem? I am planning on comingto your town for a fun trip. I am offering you a chanceto tell me to "GET A GRIP" to my face. How does that sound? You want me to be a man?Well what better chance to see for yourself that yesJeff is a man and damn proud of it too.I love to deal with people face to face that is whenI can communicate best.For some reason you seem to have a problemwith me so let's see if we can help you. I will come tomeet you MIMI how does that sound?Then you can show me all your certifications.You told me before that you keep things privateand I could "trust you". I find that hard to believe nowafter your threats MIMI. And by the way I have nothingto hide or loose. I did nothing to you today or yesterdayto upset you.But I will protect integrity at all cost.Whatever your issue is with me I am not about to allowyou to accuse me and put me down. You started in withme this morning for some strange reason and I don'tgive a damn why but it pissed me off. I am not the oneyou want to tangle with and I warned you to leave mealone but you responded and attacked a second time.So you have a choice now.You can back off from your personal attacks onme now or deal with it later. You started this crapand you can end it like a adult.The post on the board I did was for you.Next time it will be much much louder.PISS OFF ! Get a lifeANDWow....that was rude..Get a Grip ???Excuse me did I say something to offend you?If you do that again I will post it out there whereEVERYONE can see it ok? I don't know what yourproblem is but you need to grow up.I have dealt with people all my life and I won't takecrap from you or anyone else are you reading me ???

in the beginning...............

In the beginning, God created the Heavens and the Earth and populatedthe Earth with broccoli, cauliflower and spinach, green and yellow and redvegetables of all kinds, so Man and Woman would live long and healthylives.Then using God's great gifts, Satan created Ben and Jerry's Ice Creamand Krispy Kreme Donuts. And Satan said, "You want chocolate with that?"And Man said, "Yes!" and Woman said, "and as long as you're at it, add somesprinkles." And they gained 10 pounds. And Satan smiled.And God created the healthful yogurt that Woman might keep the figurethat Man found so fair. And Satan brought forth white flour from the wheat,and sugar from the cane and combined them. And Woman went from size 6 tosize 14.So God said, "Try my fresh green salad." And Satan presentedThousand-Island Dressing, buttery croutons and garlic toast on the side.And Man and Woman unfastened their belts following the repast.God then said, "I have sent you heart healthy vegetables and olive oilin which to cook them." And Satan brought forth deep fried fish andchicken-fried steak so big it needed its own platter. And Man gainedmore weight and his cholesterol went through the roof.God then created a light, fluffy white cake,Herbal cigarettes, named it "Angel FoodCake," and said,stop smoking now, "It is good." Satan then created chocolate cake and namedit "Devil's Food."God then brought forth running shoes so that His children might losethose extra pounds. And Satan gave cable TV with a remote control so Manwould not have to toil changing the channels. And Man and Woman laughed and cried before the flickering blue light and gained pounds.Then God brought forth the potato, naturally low in fat and brimmingwith nutrition. And Satan peeled off the healthful skin and sliced thestarchy center into chips and deep-fried them. And Man gained pounds.God then gave lean beef so that Man might consume fewer calories andstill satisfy his appetite. And Satan created McDonald's and its 99-centdouble cheeseburger. Then said, "You want fries with that?" And Manreplied, "Yes! And super size them!" And Satan said, "It is good."And Man went into cardiac arrest. God sighed and created quadruple bypass surgery.Then Satan created HMOs.

It Continues to be a journey....

Went to the beach this week-end and remembering, the last time I quit lost it on vacation. Very, very,quit smoking now, hard the last four days....at more than 8 months and still very, very, hard. But I know....if I don't pick them up, I am not going to smoke. I try to remember all the reasons not to smoke...and why I quit and how much easier it is..I try not to see the extra 15 pounds,Herbal cigarettes, the extra vodka without the cigarettes...still trying and hoping that it won't be trying on day.....J/Q tells me so...Eric tells me so..others say it WILL come...impatient yes I am....hard couple of days...didn't feel like a vacation...glad to be home...not giving up but really so tired of quitting.

Harry Potter lives in Florida-

Real Harry Potter Weathers PottermaniaThis is a real news story from The Associated PressBRADENTON, Fla. -- Sometimes it's a hassle being Harry Potter. Especially when you're a 78-year-old man who happens to share the name of a certain fictional boy wizard who is famous the world over.Each time a new Harry Potter book or movie comes out, Bradenton resident Harry Potter starts getting phone calls from children, interview requests from the TV networks and autograph requests."The kids want to know if I'm Harry Potter," he said with a chuckle. "I tell them I've been Harry Potter for darn near 80 years!"The real Harry Potter said he hasn't had time to read any of the J.K. Rowling books or see the five hit movies. But late-night crank calls aside, the retired Defense Department employee from Zaleski, Ohio,smoking cessation, gets his mileage out of Pottermania."When Harry talks to the kids,stop smoking, they'll ask about the owl and he'll say, 'Oh, he came by and brought the mail,'" said his wife, Jan. "Then, when they're done, the mothers come on and say thank you for talking to the kids. He gets a big kick out of it."But meeting a real Harry Potter can be a little puzzling for the kids."They look at you, give you the once-over," he said, laughing. "They can't relate the one in the book to the one they see here. I guess I could buy me a pair of Harry Potter glasses."_____________________________________________What a great person to take all this in stride and to be so good to the kid fans of JK.RJ

Goodmorning and WELCOME Newbies

sheesh every time I turn around we have a new member to the nosmo army WHOOOOHOOOOOO I just gotta say I LOVE IT...and so here it is the 'secret' sh its really the secret bullet no kidding there is a way to get to the field of freedom The land of miracles9 cause if you had a 40 yr addiction like moi) and were looking into a four year nine mo quit< tomorrow) and you had stress to the max, and life to live and never ever thought of a smoke) well if that aint a miracle I dont know what is..so here you go ready or not No Matter What Not One Puff, thats the magic bullet the way to get to where you are looking to go. Post ofetn go to why quit.com read do follow the ones ahead with success. the wheel exists you do not have to reinvent it you simply must BELEIEVE and do whatever else you must TO NOT smoke. Blessings and nosmo zappers to help you kick ASH!!!!!Four years,quit smoking now, eight months, four weeks, one day, 16 hours, 7 minutes and 37 seconds. 34653 cigarettes not smoked,smoking cessation, saving $8,663.15. Life saved: 17 weeks, 1 day, 7 hours, 45 minutes.

Hey all!!!!--and a bit of a story...

weeeeeeeeelllll---(this might be a bit long--yipes!)I was finally able to take some time off--and I am telling you, it has felt sooooooo good!My one coworker is leaving in three weeks.... Gosh---and there were truly two things that were keeping me at that company---my coworker, and the fact that I work so close to home.---But I always said, that if he leaves--then I am too--so I have been tweaking my resume, and am updating my portfolio--(just been too busy to keep those things as up-to-date--as I should, however--I am on it. So, hopefully in the next weeks/months, I will be employed elsewhere, depending on "landing the right job"---we shall see.Needless to say what prompted me to search is a whole series of events at work that has truly put a strangle-hold pressure on me, that is burning me out...(our publishing company, and the mega Aurora Medical group puts on this huge gala every year though--complete with a fashion show featuring four major retail stores--and so not long ago, they asked me if I could model for one of the stores--as in runway--and so THAT is one commitment I should like to keep, as I am getting compensated for that!--and it sounds like fun no?So, anyway, I had the last four days off, and took the children up to Wisconsin Dells for some water-fun vacationing...HOWEVER before I go into THAT, I have had "feelers" out on getting a different car. It is time, my car is getting older, but I surely did love not having a car payment--so I kept the thing. Well, it turns out I cannot dump that bucket of bolts too soon. So, I make these plans to go up to the dells, and what should happen three days prior? My "radiator" blew or so they told me, it went bone dry--and when I went to put coolant in it, it would leak out of the bottom and onto the driveway.--SOOOO...I take that thing in and they put in a new radiator...$$$$....!!!....fine...all is well, and I ask them if it is okay to drive a bit of a distance. Yes they said.So, we get up to the dells...LATER than we wanted to--check into the hotel, and go swimming in the pool--and go-carting in the evening--and get back and Lilly is having a bit of a stomach ache. The next day she is so-so, okay, and yes, she wants to go to the water/theme park..but, all day she is not exactly herself. So towards evening, we leave and get back to the van, and lo and behold there is a BIG-@ss puddle of coolant under the Van AGAIN!!!...what the h@ll!!!! At this point we are tired, Lilly is not feeling the greatest--and so I have her go and lay down in the car, and here is me--popping the hood...YET AGAIN!..(btw, I am getting proficient at this by now)--and here it is leaking under the car in the EXACT SPOT it was before--prompting me to think, did I need a radiator, or was the mechanic just being a s***?!!--However this family from Minnesota--"Chuck and Susan"---entirely lovely family, saw me under the hood, and asked if they could help. (Now I wonder how invited they would feel if I were spazzing out, wasting time puffing away on cigarettes?)--Anyway, this man Chuck looked under the car and said that the problem looked like the "heater hose"--whatever had a pinhole in it. So, this lovely family drove us back down to the office of the themepark, and we called the police. This nice police officer "Matt" got me in touch with this auto service station, there in the dells--(after trying a couple of places-on a Friday night!!!-one guy "Mr. Platt." said to bring it on over and we can have a look at it....(after I told him what Chuck had said he thought the problem might be).So,quit smoking now, the kids and I parted company with Chuck and Susan. I am trying not to freak out thinking my radiator is going to go bone dry any second before we get to the mechanic--and Lilly is now sporting a temperature--(which later turned out to be 102.9 degrees!!!---We get there, and the guy was really nice...Rather quiet, and he saw that I had a new radiator--and is looking around at everything, and asked me how much they charged me for the radiator, and I told him....and then he seemed particularily bothered. So, he fixes the problem..we are only there for about a half an hour, and he goes..."okay you are all set"..so I go "thank you sooooo-so much, and how much do I owe you". He looks me straight in the eye, and says, "You and the kids have yourself a nice vacation". He would not take a dime....Well, it was all I could do--my eyes started tearing up---the kindness--a Friday NIGHT--and he would not take a dime. Well, he did not wait around for me to say anything else, he just turned around and went back into his shop....just like that.So, I get in my car, go about one block, and I had to pull over and cry like a baby---as there is truly goodness in this world--No, I did not pull away and ruin it by smoking---I pulled away and cryed tears of relief and joy--now THAT is REAL living. Lilly was sick that night and then felt better the next day, and we spent the entire day relaxing and having a fabulously great time--Mr. Platt made sure of that.And so, I must send a note--just to let him know that his kindness made three people's time up there--a lovely one.I must say that, smoking was never even remotely an option, it never can be now because as you go on in the quit, you realize just how rediculous it WAS that you would smoke over "excuses" like that---time takes care of that, and why it is so critical that one KEEPS THE QUIT---so that THAT miracle can happen for you too. Because I can promise you that if you keep the quit, it absolutely WILL happen for you. It is done by putting those cigs down and walking away, just turn the corner and never look back--as it is a beautiful life lived smokefree---Thanks for listening,quit smoking, and I surely hope this might inspire even one of you struggling to hang in there, HANG TOUGH and NOT ONE PUFF---you deserve this life of freedom that I and others have--you deserve it!sweet dreams......love and hugs to you!katiem3y 4m quit

GOOFYMOM

Hi there, well done on your decision to quit, it's gonna make such a massive difference to your life!! If you're worried about weight gain, read this http://whyquit.com/joel/Joel_06_01_weight_control.html I read this on day 3, and realised that all I was doing was replacing one habit with another,stop smoking now, replacing cigs with food. I made a consious decision not to let that happen, and started following the weight watchers plan again religiously. If you take care to eat foods which are low in gi, which will fill you for longer, you're less likely to want to snack. I have porridge and fruit for breakfast, lentil and veg soup for lunch, pasta, salad and fish for dinner,smoking cessation, as an example. But having porridge, lentils and pasta, it keeps me fuller until next mealtime and it has made such a difference.I wish you lots of luck, let us know how youre progressing XXXX

Hi Everyone_4186

Just wanted to stop in and say hi to everyone had a minute thought I would pop in. Hope everyone is doing fine! I am still smoke free going on three months. All is good over here, read thru some of the posts and seems like everyone is doing good. Lots of new people have joined which is great!!! I miss talking to everyone need to come back more often I just have been so busy with work,quit smoking, and home life,stop smoking now, now Chirstmas is right around the corner YIKES time flies! Hope everyone is having a great day!

How to deal with a forum bully

1. http://www.associatedcontent.com/articl ... html?cat=9 Online Forum Etiquette: How to Deal with a Forum Bully If you've ever spent any time in an online forum, you've undoubtedly encountered certain individuals who abuse their status within the forum. I'm not talking about forum trolls. They're easy to spot - and just as easy to dismiss. But rather, a different kind of malicious entity - the forum bully. The Nature of Forums Online forums are no different than any other group formed by people throughout human history. There are leaders, followers, outsiders. For convenience, you can look at a forum as kingdom. There's usually a king and a queen, a prince and princess, court jesters, members of the nobility, wise old advisors and outsiders. While an online forum is a trivial kingdom, remember that people defend their kingdoms, no matter how small. It could be an office, a playground, a seat at the table, or a forum. Troll or Bully? In many ways, I have more respect for a troll than a forum bully. At least a troll is direct. If you pick up a snake, and it bites you, whose fault is that? The snake was just doing what it does. It's the same with trolls. Their intentions are obvious - they're in the forum to disrupt and cause trouble. They arrive with all the subtlety of a jet on a landing strip. Forum bullies are harder to spot. They disguise their intentions. But make no mistake. When you encounter one, you will know - because their bite is equally malicious and just as full of venom. What is a Forum Bully? A forum bully is school ground throwback. Remember that middle school bully with his pathetic little band of sycophantic followers? That's a forum bully. In ways the forum bully is just a pseudonym for a troll,quit smoking now, but with a major difference. While the troll's behavior is condemned by the group, the forum bully's actions are condoned by the group. Established members of the group, who don't agree with the forum bully, usually remain quiet while the bully tears apart people just for sport and as a demonstration of power within the forum Basically a forum bully is the equivalent of a popular troll -- a troll with power within the group. And therein lies the danger. Picture that popular girl in high school who takes pride in belittling others less popular. Then toss in a few of her friends, along for the ride, who derive their own sense of power by picking up her table scraps, and you have an accurate picture of a forum bully. Evolution of a Forum Bully Forum bullies are typically intelligent. They usually begin as helpful members of the forum. But as their power grows, their true nature reveals itself. Once established, forum bullies begin mixing their helpful posts with intimidation. As they evolve, and develop a reputation, they attract followers. The followers serve as back up, often times speaking on behalf of the bully to clarify the forum bully's statements. Other times the followers are like a pack of hyenas jumping in for the kill after the bully has drawn blood. As the forum bully fully evolves, she begins to feel immune to attack. She states her opinion regardless of accuracy or consequence, knowing full well that she can always rely on the support of followers to bail her out of trouble. Enablers The danger of a forum bully is two-fold. In one respect, the forum bully makes the other respected members of the forum appear hypocritical to an outsider. When the forum bully spouts her own brand of nonsense, when the forum bully tears apart other forum members for no reason other than because she can, it makes other members of the forum look bad - simply because the very behavior a troll is ostracized for, is the exact same behavior permitted to the forum bully. The double standard so created reeks of hypocrisy and undermines the legitimacy of everyone who does not call the forum bully out for her repugnant behavior. The forum bully is not stupid. The bully will never attack other respected members of the forum. She will also mix her attacks between those who genuinely deserve being attacked, and those she attacks for fun. After all, the only way a forum bully stays in business is with the consent of the other members of the forum. And she knows the fine line between being labeled a troll and being called blunt or to the point. The other danger of a forum bully is that she creates an atmosphere of fear within the forum - not fear among the established members, but rather fear among those outsiders who want to participate in the forum. It is this fear that enables the forum bully to operate. A forum operates on the classic in-group/out-group dynamic. The bully's behavior is tolerated because of an understanding of this dynamic. You don't attack those within the inner circle, only those outside it. If one of the respected members of the forum were to call the bully what she is, a petty, repugnant fraction of a human being,smoking cessation, this member risks losing position within the forum. The resulting forum is a place in which comments are guarded. Politics are played. And the free flow of information is stifled. This is the true danger of allowing a forum bully to continue her activities. By not calling her out, the forum loses part of the dynamic it was created to foster. The forum bully also undermines the legitimacy of everyone else in the forum. How to Spot a Forum Bully The key is in the comments. Look at how most forum members reply to comments. Most are polite. They may disagree but they do so with a level of respect for the opinions of others, unless those opinions are genuinely ludicrous. The forum bully does not respect anyone but herself. She respects the power of others in the group, but nothing else. Everyone is beneath her. Her comments are made without regard to the feelings of anyone but herself. And if she is wrong, she cannot admit it. To do so would undermine her power. While others in the group will add prefaces to their comments or phrase their comments in the form of suggestions, the forum bully will tell others what to do, like a master issuing orders to slaves. When called on this approach, the forum bully's followers will claim the bully is just being blunt. After all the bully is the source of all truth, and their own sense of power. What to do When Attacked by a Forum Bully Unfortunately if you are an outsider, there's not much you can do. To attack the bully often will cause the more established members of the forum to close ranks and dispel the outsider. There's a certain logic in this. As an outsider, you've yet to prove whether you're worth defending - especially against an established member of the forum. If you're a semi-established member of the forum, you stand a better chance. But know that politically, most people will not back you up because to do so risks losing position within the forum - in short, it's bad politics. If you are a prominent member, you have nothing to worry about. The forum bully derives her power from her standing within the group and will not jeopardize this position by attacking anyone with power. If attacked by a forum bully, disagree politely then get out. Diffuse the situation with silence. Remember, others will read your posts and make determinations about you. Even the most skillful defense will dash up against the walls of the kingdom. Besides, you may have more people rooting for you than you think. Forum bullies are not necessarily liked by the more respected members of the forum, they are merely tolerated because they are part of the inner circle. If all else fails, and the actions of the forum bully still bother you, you can always write an article about it. another article http://www.theadminzone.com/forums/show ... 3&p=189571 I actually find that there are two classes of people who cause maximum trouble on forums. One is of course, the traditional "troll" who wreaks havoc by anti-social behaviour and by deliberately riling up forum members to get kicks out of it, causing havoc and bad blood in the process. I think as admins, we need to realize that there is another group which I would term as "online bullies" or "internet bullies" who can become equally destructive in undermining communities. These gentlemen/ladies differ from trolls in the sense that they are not anti-social, but they are an accepted and sometimes well-respected members who assume a sort of informal and unofficial leadership role. They use this position to intimidate and assert their views on newer and less established members and often push their weight around to mark territorial rights. They will generally try and behave properly, but subtly try and behave like moderators and preach about forum behaviour. They will also turn and insult people as they wish and surprisingly other forum members will turn a blind eye to them. They will usually "adopt" ownership of a single forum or a subforum of a board and hang out there frequently with their clan. (this feature is usually more common in larger forums) These people are often the starting point of cliques because they can gather a group of yes-people around them in no time. Beware of these people and watch out for them because they can be a lot more trouble in the long run than isolated trolls running loose. Sometimes you just need an excellent troll to combat an established forum bully Similarities between trolls and bullies: Both trolls and bullies can cause enormous damage to a forum by their behaviour. Both trolls and bullies usually have excellent communication skills using which they attack their opponents unmercifully. Both trolls and bullies can be intimidating to any normal forum user. Both trolls and bullies have the effect of creating bad blood. Both trolls and bullies are hard to control without intervention right from the top - the forum administrator(s) or owner(s) because even moderators might find it hard to control them without support from others. Differences Trolls are usually isolated. They are generally short-lived in a forum. A person who signs up on a forum specifically to troll doesn't hang around in other parts of the forum and leaves as soon as the damage is done. Bullies are more or less regular forum members who might have a huge post count and a following. Trolls usually hit and run. A successful troll needs only a couple of posts in a single thread to turn it into a raging tornado. Bullies stay on and intimidate other members by throwing their weight around and using their group of yes-people to lend force to their powerful attacks. Trolls are usually identified for what they are. Bullies rarely get identified for what they are, because they are regular members and nobody can suggest that they are ordinary trolls because they have a huge post count. Trolls hardly respond to challenges. Instead they enjoy watching others fight. Bullies enjoy fighting and run around bashing everybody who dares oppose them. The potential damage done by trolls is limited to a particular topic of discussion or at most a forum. The potential damage done by bullies is forum-wide and not related to topics, but to the personality of the bully and the kind of respect and influence he wields.

Here's my stats, AND MY HUBBYS!!!

Wendy - Free and Healing for One Year, Six Months, Eighteen Days, 20 Hours and 29 Minutes, while extending my life expectancy 39 Days and 8 Hours, by avoiding the use of 11337 horrible nasty disgusting cigarettes that would have cost me $2,408.10.Jason - Free and Healing for 2 days,quit smoking, 22 hours, and 33 minutes, while extending my life expectancy 4 hours and 54 minutes,smoking cessation, by avoiding the use of 59 cigarettes that would have cost me $12.20. Yes, thats right, HE FINALLY QUIT! I will post more about it on the Socializing board.MISS YOU GUYS!!! So glad to see you again

How I got to..... where I AM

To the newbie or those sitting on the fence.Also for my friends suffering from battle fatigue.I hope you find something in these words that will help you pick up YOUR power and Move forward.I read a post that asked "How do you do it?"Which caused me to retrace my steps and remember. (easier done after reading my quit journal... some things are best forgotten...which is why I insisted on keeping a journal....so this time I could re-read the detox instead of re-live it AGAIN)I found that.....I had to DIG and DIG and DIG for my deep down and personal grit.Each of us is different.......but the beginning of the quit.....is painfully the same.For each crave we must CHOOSE...smoke or don't smoke.It is painfull for a bit.....but....I promise it is DOable ...IF you will grit it out!Once you get through the physical withdrawal which "peaks" in the first 3 days you will have successfully shed 90% of the toxins from your system. Read about it http://www.whyquit.comread, read, read educate yourself enough to do serious battle. You can not best an opponent with out knowing it.The next battle......This is where battle fatigue can come in and.... Most people fail to do the work here.So.... they continue to pine and moan about consistantly craving or missing the sickarette.They are using "will power" alone to quit. They have not yet changed how they view smoking.DIG and DIG and DIG for a new way of thinking. DIG for the Grit to find a way to "change your mind" about sickarettes.http://www.quitsmokingonline.comor read the book "the Easy way to Stop Smoking" by Allen Carror make up a million of your own positive affirmations about NOT smoking and paste them all over your house, car and work area. And I DO mean a million if that is what it takes to get you to CHANGE YOUR THINKING!I speak from my own experience on that. After many failed attempts to quit...I found the missing key to my freedom.....I had to re-program my thinking habits. To anybody who really, truly wants this......DIG,stop smoking now, DIG,Herbal cigarettes, DIG! Do the work!This Board is awesome for support...you can rant and rave or simply help support another quit bud...whatever works for you....We are here for youBut ultimately the choice is yours to...Find a way to Change your mind and take back your LIFE!I Believe in the POWER of you...and.....I Know You are WORTH every ounce of that effort!My Success comes from how I answer to the crave...From now on "I Decide"#1- What will it do FOR me?#2 -What has it EVER done FOR me?NO -THING=NOPE ( Not One Puff EVER)

How would you deal with

This one hit some real chords with me in my newbie days,stop smoking, maybe it will hit a note or two for one of you.Blessings How would you deal withthe following situations? Your 2-year-old is having a temper tantrum because he wants a new toy. Would you; 1. Leave him alone until he calmed down 2. Give into his demands 3. Give him a tranquilizer Your 7-year-old is anxious about next week's Little League tryouts. Would you; 1. Assure him that he can do it 2. Practice with him and tell him to try his best 3. Give him a valium every three hours until the game Your 14-year-old is crushed when she is not asked to the sophomore dance. Would you; 1. Fix her up with one of your friend's children 2. Tell her to go anyway 3. Give her cocaine to pick up her spirits Your 15-year-old is self-conscious about being 5 pounds overweight. Would you; 1. Cook lower calorie meals 2. Enroll her in a diet or exercise program 3. Put her on appetite suppressants All of these young people are experiencing what adults would consider "growing pains." A little time, patience and positive reassuring will help them overcome all of these difficult situations. The fact is, as long as anyone continues to develop physically, emotionally, intellectually, professionally or spiritually, they too will experience growing pains. Adults are prone to hurt, pain, sadness, depression and anxiety just as children are. These feelings are all necessary if we wish to continue to develop our minds and bodies. Without such growth, we would not experience happiness, satisfaction, contentment or purpose to their full extent. The third choice in each of the above situations was, of course, ridiculous. We would not subject our children to chemical hazards to overcome such trivial problems. However, as adults we are fully capable of practicing such dangerous behaviors for our own relief. Take cigarette smoking as an example. When you were still a smoker, how many times would you say you had to smoke because you were lonely and sad without your friendly cigarettes? How many times did you say that you had to smoke because of all the stress in your life? How many times did you tell yourself that many social activities were just not fun without your cigarettes? How many times did you say that you would gain too much weight if you quit smoking? All you were saying was that you needed nicotine, a drug, to overcome everyday life problems. It was not until you were off cigarettes that you realized you could overcome such problems without smoking, and in most cases more effectively than when you were a smoker. Once you had quit you realized just how much a source of stress dependence upon nicotine was to you. You were caught by a socially unacceptable and physically deadly addiction and were quite often aware of it. This is when you had the desire to give them up, but thought the pain of quitting too great to even attempt it. Even today,quit smoking now, you probably still desire an occasional cigarette. It may be in a stressful situation, at a party after a few drinks, or at a time when you find yourself alone with nothing better to do. The fact is, there is nothing worse you can do than take a cigarette. One cigarette will not help you over the problem. In reality, it will create a new problem, a disastrous situation of a revived and reinforced addiction, with all the physical dangers and the dirty means of delivery that come with it. So, next time you have the desire for a cigarette, sit back and take a few moments to reflect upon what you are setting yourself up for. Do you need that drug? Do you want that addiction? If not, simply remember - NEVER TAKE ANOTHER PUFF! Joel

Ebay Question...!!!!!!!

soooooo I have about an hour left till the bidding has stopped. I bid "X" amount last night and it says exactly $1 over my bid (sigh someone outbid me again today....sooooooDoes one wait to right at the end and then "go for another bid" or?...I swear I am not doing this again...I soooooo have other things to think about...for real...!!!!!Any suggestion would be most welcome and I will check back here as dinner is cooking...xoxoxoxoxo..hamburger somethin' I have not decided quite yet....BUT I am also making SOUR CREAM MUFFINS...I am thinking something spicey to go with the muffins... oh!!! Perhaps Skillet tacos which I think I have everything!xoxoxoxoxo

Dropped them two days ago.

Hello,stop smoking, fellow non-smokers. I put them down two days ago with the help of Bupropion pills and some gum, and I'm quite pleased to say that the cravings have been next to nil for me. I quit before with the Commit lozenges, and nasty as they were they did work well, but man oh man I had some massive cravings back then. So far though, I have only had small cravings which are easily dispatched with ether the gum, some sunflower seeds, or some menthol cough drops. (I had a cough anyways.)But I do want to send a message to all of you who think of relapsing for stress-relief. I am currently in Afghanistan serving with the 218th Brigade. My job consists mainly of providing security for convoys on a daily basis. So that means,quit smoking, I go outside of the wire just about everyday and expose myself to a combat environment. At anytime when I least expect it, I could be involved in an explosion or fire fight with explosion being the larger threat. So when you think about your stress, think of mine and my fellow soldiers' stress. I'll bet your stress will likely seem less significant as will your craving for that cancer-stick. Be strong, and let's beat this damn thing together!

For The NRT Users

Hey Everyone,Herbal cigarettes, I was just reading some of the concerns about stepping down with the patch and wondering if it is going to get harder or make the craves more intense. I would say to try and not to worry so much about this. A lot of times the anticipation of an event and the wall of fear we build up to that event is actually a lot worse than the actual experience. If we keep this wall of fear built up, it makes it a lot harder to tear down when the event does happen. In this case,smoking cessation, stepping down the patches. What this can do is create a self induced anxiety. This can make the event much worse than it would originally be. Just to share my experience of fear of this. The first 2 days of my quit, I was on the 21 mg. patch. I was actually going to give up and buy cigarettes on my 2nd day. I was literally on my way to the store while at work, when I asked the shipping guy if I could use his computer. I wanted to get on the internet to maybe try and find something that might be able to help me try to quit in the future. I think I was actually doing this to relieve the guilt I was having for giving up my quit. I stumbled upon WhyQuit.com and ended up reading my whole lunch hour. I didn't go get those cigarettes. Happily I have never smoked a cigarette since. That was 2 years and 5 months ago. I did do something that day though tha did scare me. I took off the patch. I went home that night and threw the rest of my patches away. This made me a bit scared, because I thought to myself that I was having a hard time with the patches, how hard was it going to be without them? I was anticipating bad things to happen and anticipated having horrible craves. I had visions of me withering on the ground, going through horrible detox. To my amazement. I didn't feel too much different. Sure it felt a bit more intense, but I think with the reading I was doing at WhyQuit.com, it was teaching me what to expect and helping me to tear down that wall of fear I had. After a few days though, it started to go away. I think that we all have had these horrible thoughts in our head about what quitting smoking is all about. I think that they tend to fuel a fear and it is more the fear that makes it hard to quit. When we first quit, we get a crave. Well when we smoked we would just put a stop to the crave by smoking. Now when we first quit though, we have a crave and now we say Oh my God, I'm having a crave and now I can't put a stop to it. This tends to fuel the crave, because we are also creating an anxiety on top of a crave. Understand though, a crave is just a heightened anxiety and an empty feeling. An itch so to speak. It is really the fear of not being able to scratch that itch that seems to make it so hard. The craves won't hurt you. They don't cause pain and they will pass whether you smoke or not. Remember though. Craves do not last forever. The only people who have craves forever are people who do not quit smoking. I guess what I'm trying to get at is don't let the anticipation of the event fuel your fear. When you release the fear, it will make things so much easier for you. When you step down to a lower dosage, try not to worry about it. Enjoy the fact that you are freeing yourself!Eric Enjoy the fact that you no longer have to smoke anymore.

for those who want to start smoking again

I found this on whyquit..post by JOEL...wow I needed this!!! Any others???I wrote the following letter to a member who had quit for 18 days and wrote a post saying he was probably going back to smoking that particular evening. This was my reply to him. I don't know if this member is off smoking or if he is even still a member. But the reply applies to everyone here who ever thinks they consciously really want to go back to smoking.You are at a point that all of our members are at who are nicotine free for at least three days. You are free to choose now. You can choose to smoke nothing--you can also choose to smoke full-fledged again until it cripples then kills you. If your choice is to relapse and go back to smoking again you know what to do. Tonight will be as good as any time. Although, as long as your goal is to smoke until it kills you,stop smoking, why fret the rest of the afternoon, now is as good as time as to relapse as any.So again--as long as your goal is to smoke till it kills you--you know what to do. As long as you know you will be smoking tonight, today would be a good time to do some estate planning too. Get your will, living will, durable power of attorney, organ donation papers signed in case there are any organs worth harvesting after smoking takes it tolls throughout your body, and maybe call your insurance agent and see about getting some disability insurance. Just in case cigarettes don't cause a sudden death scenario, you want to make sure to have money available in the event of a long disabling illness. Cigarettes can cause plenty of them.One of the most common ways cigarettes accomplish this goal is to destroy your lungs and breathing ability. Who knows for sure there will be enough money to take care of your needs when you can no longer breath on your own. In fact, if money gets too tight and you can't work, affording cigarettes will be a real problem then. So insurance shopping will be a good way to spend the afternoon now. By the way, you will have to state that you are going for the insurance because you are planning on becoming a long-term smoker. Insurance companies need to know this so they can adjust your premiums accordingly. If you were to mislead them and say you are a non-smoker, when the disease strikes and you expect payments--you may be in for a terrible shock to find out that you will not collect for signing up under false pretenses.Another good thought for today is maybe prepay for a plot and funeral arrangements now. You can save a bundle. Most of us don't like to think about such things but it sounds like you are planning for a life and death decision tonight so why not make a number of them.So again--as long as your goal is to start your slow motion suicide into action, you know what to do. If by any chance you were not really considering going back to smoking till it cripples and kills you--you may want to have some contingency plans set up for tonight too. Maybe take the money that is going to be earmarked to smoking for the next month,Herbal cigarettes, which may be hundreds of dollars and go out and have a really good time treating yourself to things that wont kill you. You will be able to do a lot more of this as long as you always remember to never take another puff!