This is hard. It’s gone on way too long.

I’m finished having this thing control me. I’m tired of it dictating much of my life. Where I eat. Where I go. When I go. Taking my money and blowing it up in smoke.

Today I quit smoking after 30 years.

I got on the train this morning and noticed that my blouse was on inside out. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

But I’m okay. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Just wanted to share this with my new friends here on MB. If I can do this, then ANYTHING is possible. So once again, don’t tell me it can’t be done. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Good for you!!!!! Rock on.

Way to go!! I gave up smoking 9 years ago and have been forever grateful for that decision. It also takes years off your face! So treat yourself to a good facial! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Way to go PM!!!

One day at a time

I quit for 15 years and the day I went to the divorce attorney for the first time, I bummed one from a friend. She didn't want to give it to me - I told her that if she didn't I was going to go to the store and buy a pack. I thought I could just have ONE. WRONG. I'm still smoking <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

I want to give it up again but I'm not in the right mind space to do it just yet. I quit cold turkey with hypnosis when I did quit before.

Having that ONE was a huge mistake <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> What they say is true, you're a puff away from a pack a day.

I hope to get to a point soon where I am in the right frame of mind to do it again. For good this time.

Congratulations to you <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Maybe this will inspire me a bit.

JinGA

I, too, quit smoking on August the 1st 1999. I cannot have just one, I'm addicted. I know it, and have survived the last couple of years on sheer will and determination.

All of my family smoke, as well as a few friends, so it is always around. My WH also smokes now. He didn't smoke much before, but I've noticed that he has more of a problem these days with going without. His father was a smoker and died from metastatic disease stemming from lung cancer.

Good for your princessmeggy! What sort of support do you have? What types of activities do you have that will keep you busy? Also, find small distractions that will carry you through the couple of minutes of craving that you will experience throughout the day; like a phrase that you repeat or a yoyo, or something that will hook your mind on another task.

*thud*

PM,

Your title startled me since I've posted a new thread on the Recovery forum wondering how those of us married for 30 years have made it.

Glad you put the OT on it.

And......

.....Glad you at least had a blouse on. How the heck did you button it inside out? <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

I tried to smoke baby's breath dead weeds when I was about 10 and threw up so bad it cured me of ever wanting to try the real thing.

Thanks for the hearty laugh.

Ace

PM,

Good for you.

I to am a reformed smoker. I ahd quit for 17 years the first time. First A started back up. Smoked for 5 yeears and quit last July.

Now only smoke if I drink and am out woth friends.

Still

still, I don't know how you do it. I smoke just one, and I know that I am back at one pack a day in no time. I couldn't have just one. This is how PWC started out, just having one with a drink, now he smokes throughout the day, not one pack a day, but still, enough to cause great damage to his lungs. Having a child, I've become more aware of the damage I do to myself. Now, I need to work on my diet and exercise, and lack of program for that.

I feel miserable and my lungs ache the next day even if it's just one.

I do have to be careful though because it's a habit I don't want to start daily again. And I realise I take my chances with one every once in a while.

Still

Who Me, Thanks!.


Melody, that’s good news! Just turned 50, I’ll take the reduction any way I can. But hey, 50 is the new 40, right? My H’s telling me all the things he’s going to do for me cause he’s soooo happy about this.



Maybe2late: Lol, more like 1 minute at a time right now.

Jinga: Thank you. I understand where you’re coming from. I think that will be the real test for me, when I get stressed about something. We’ll see. You can do it too! You’ve done it once before…

SL: I’m doing the Nicoderm CQ patch. So far it’s working pretty good (as far as the physical cravings). It’s the mental stuff that’s hard. I just keep telling myself, “I don’t smoke.” “I can do this.” “Stop it!!!” LOL

Pep: Yeah. What was funny was the girl sitting next to me had on the exact same blouse and that’s what made me notice, otherwise I’d probably been inside-out all day!

Ace: Thank YOU for the laugh. Yuck! Baby’s breath dead weeds. Apparently my sweet H had hung my blouse up for me in the closet and being in the shape I was and in the darkness, I just grabbed it and threw it on. I KNOW I looked in the mirror at least three times before I left home.

Still: That’ll be another test, when I’m out with friends. Hopefully, I’ll get to the point where it won’t bother me to be around it. What I won’t be though is a reformed smoker fanatic. I always hated being around people who were like that. I’ll just sit there in my pain and envy and endure. LOL

i quit in januaray 2005. just threw them out and never had another one. am so thankful too. they were awful. i hated smoking. i feel great now. like a million bucks.

i had tried in the past and failed. this time was different. and i love it because the ex tries to quit smoking all the time AND CAN'T DO IT! HAHAHA he tells the kids all the time "papa is going to stop smoking now" and can't do it. at one time he was smoking and doing chew (the chew was supposed to help him stop smoking).. yuck, ow can have that disgusting mouth!

it must tick my ex off that i quit for almost 3 years now and he still can't.....

mlhb

I don't think quitting is a matter of CAN'T; it's a matter of WON'T. Excuses abound, I don't want to gain weight, I don't smoke that much anyway, I'm young, I'm old, I'm weak. If you are making excuses, it's because you don't really WANT it.

princessmeggy has the proper line of thinking, saying things like "I'm not a smoker". This reminds you what you are doing, and that having even on ciggy is the act of SMOKING, which makes you a smoker. If you liken it to infidelity, having one meeting with OP makes you wayward, no matter how short or insignificant, but if you stay away forever and show that you are not wayward, then you earn the 'F'. One email, TM, VM FROM you to OP makes you wayward, because you are making excuses for contact...

Thank you SL... for figuring out a way to make this ON TOPIC. Excellent analogy!

Okay PM, but bear in mind that nobody likes a quitter! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> I'm totally kidding, good for you!

Mrs. W

Mrs. W.

Condolences on your family member's passing. I missed you while you were gone and I'm glad you're back.

PM,

How's Day 2 going for the princess? Or is it Day 3?

I use my H's A as a deterrent to help me quit things I am addicted to.

I play a mind game.....like, let's say....regarding food....now that I'm trying to maintain the weight I've lost:

When I have a choice to sample 6 different kinds of pastries that Starbucks has donated at work, I'll think....

"My choice to eat that is like WH chosing to continue to call OW because of his addiction to her and their fantasy." <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" />

.......then I take the lid of the container and wiff the aroma towards me a few times....then I shut the lid and snap it down tight. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

Maybe you could think the same thing if your chokin' smokin' craving gets to be too much for your patch to handle. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

Just a thought, thanks for the thread. Check in with your updates and we'll all cheer you on....maybe others will follow suit.


Ace

PM, I was a light smoker. Regardless, I can never never never take another drag. Not one.

Last night I saw a TV show. In the midst of a crisis, a character enjoys that mythological creature: the occasional cigarette.

Later I slept and dreamed it. In the dream I bummed one, then chain smoked as disappointment washed over me. What a terrible feeling.

What a relief to wake up. It's been two years for me. I still love the smell of cigarette smoke but I will never touch one.

GC

How's it going, PM?

Ace

Good luck PM. I grew up in a small apartment in London. Every morning I would go into the kitchen and mum and dad would be already puffing away with their morning tea. Put me right off.

In England a pack of 20 is about US$11. Another great reason for quitting. That facial you've promised yourself is probably less than the weekly cost of your ciggies!

Remember, you are now going through withdrawal. NC (no ciggies) is the only way!