Welcome to Become An EX
November 2009
I am happy with this site.
I am happy with the people on this site.
I am happy I have a computer so I can reach out to the happy people on this site.
I am happy to be on Day 20 of my Quit.
I am happy to be able to save $5 each day.
I am happy each time I breathe deeply.
I am happy that I am able to be happy.
And now, happily, I am done.
I hope this makes you happy.
Yes, you can just sign me....
Happy
Hi May -
I'm happy you just wrote a blog
I'm happy to have gone through 13 1/2 days not smoking
I'm happy I can talk to someone about being happy
I'm happy my family is happy I'm quitting
I'm happy I'm off work for a few more days (vacation)
I'm happy my house and clothes smell so good
I'm happy my husband hasn't smoked for thirty years
I'm happy I found this website - lots of good friends - like you!!
I'm happy to feel so happy
Debi 243 days ago
I'm happy that you wrote this blog, May!
Dawn 243 days ago
Hello Happy,
I'm so happy that u are happy and that u made me happy too. Happy 20th!
debbie
Debbiem 243 days ago
Well, here it is Sunday evening. Here in Montgomery, winter has come and gone and left Spring in its wake. I hope everyone has made it through the holidays without lighting up. I have, but it took three pieces of nicotine gum to do it. I am a little nervous about the upcoming hoopla associated with Christmas but plan to take things one day at a time. I know this site is helping me succeed. Thanks to all of those who write their thoughts, plans, fears and triumphs. It is so uplifting to know I am not alone. Have a great smoke-free, kick-nic, rockin' Monday everyone.
May
Love ya May. When I feel real bad you are always so dang happy! I absolutely love it! I want to be like you. Here's to the holidays, hopefully I will stay smoke free like you. No I will stay smoke free and be where you are some day. Take care and enjoy! Monday, Monday.....
Succeeding This Time! 244 days ago
Keep up the good work May! (Just do what ya do, what ya just gotta do)
Quit day is still Dec 17 for me, though when I read your inspiring blogs, I want to quit earlier,( I am going to buy some gum, i have the patch and lozenges on hand, if it saved your butt, pun intended, it could save mine too) I am letting the possibility of that maybe quitting earlier, kind of sink in today, feeling it out a little. We have an impending death coming in our family, soon, ( a week maybe two?) no way to know when. Not necessarily smoking related cancer, but cancer, and quite sudden. Everybody is sad and stressed out, some are a total wreck, but I am doing pretty well and still super ready to put this addiction behind me for SOOO many reasons. Don't want to pass my quit date, but don't know what sort of stress the immediate future will bring either. Ah well....It'll be OK..one way or another....
Nitchimom 244 days ago
Hi May, thank you again for saying just what I need to hear. I'm trying so hard to do this with a positive outlook - it is not my nature, I guess I'm one of those whinning and complaining kind of people. You on the other hand are strong and upbeat, not focusing on the negatives but reminding us all of the positives. Your attitude has helped me to know I can do this and still be happy and get though the day. I need to borrow some of your great attitude and I know I will get through - thanks for being such an inspiration, I look forward to reading your thoughts - I always feel better, like I've just had a talk with a friend who understands and is here to help.
Thank you - Thank you!!
Debi 244 days ago
Get excited, your first christmas smoke free! What a wonderful gift to you and your family, one you will never forget! I cant wait. I am so pumped that i wont be running outside freezing my ass of out in the snow, even before kids do presents, stinking like crap, and kiling myself. I have alot more money for presents!!!! I have so much energy to shop, decorate, play with my family, and im just a nice happy elf..........i even have my tree up already..i never get it done this early. Tomorrow if it quits raining, i might get some lights put up out on the deck. I remeber all the christmas days i wish i would quit smoking, now my wish is granted all by myself..........i see in my magic ball............no more poison for me...wait i see you too!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Keep your quit with all your strength..........be positive, i use pure attitdue every day and its working out great........keep up the your great quit time and have fun, protect your quit like no other
jeannie 243 days ago
Sorry i spelled like bad, thats what i get for typing in the dark and not reading it before i send it, any ways...............................................ROCK ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
jeannie 243 days ago
Only had one major craving yesterday, right after Thanksgiving dinner, after two (three?) glasses of wine and great food (I can say that because I didn't cook all of it). Man, I could have smoked one three-feet long! Mercifully, it passed during dish time and therefore I STILL do not have to reset the Q-meter. What a blessing. Now, on to the Alabama Auburn game (Roll Tide) and the challenges that will bring. I guess the one day at a time philosophy is right. There will ALWAYS be something to tempt me out of my quit. I just have to reach for the EX community before I reach for a smoke (to borrow from ctm's great pledge). It's that simple.
May
You are doing so well in your quit, May! I'm really proud of you! Keep up the good work!
now a glass of wine sounds delightful, even without a smoke! :-)
Dawn 246 days ago
Good for you! I don't think I will be able to drink for a while. That is my hugest trigger! I am so glad it went well for you and you had a good time! Another day down and another blessed day to live today, breathing better, smelling better, tasting better. God Bless!
Succeeding This Time! 246 days ago
Hi May,
Good job getting through turkey day. I am watching the "Iron Bowl" on CBS. WOW what a game! I love a good football game! You can enjoy a good game just as much without the smoking. Stay strong!
breakinthechains 246 days ago
Right before I start the all-out assault on Thanksgiving prep, I'd like to pause and give thanks for this site because it has been a Godsend to me. I know it's not the same as it used to be, and the homepage is pretty stagnant, but it's a life line and a means of support that I don't get anywhere else. My family is supportive but none of them have ever smoked. Most of my friends still smoke. The thing I love about EX is that it's former smokers helping former smokers (and wannabes) through a really tough battle. The things I read here are SO true for me. I feel like I'm reading my own words sometimes and that makes everything so much easier somehow.
To all of you who have encouraged me over the past two weeks, I say thanks. Thanks so much, Happy Quit and Happy Thanksgiving.
May
You have a very Happy Thanksgiving too. It will be great holiday to be smoke free! It is my first Thanksgiving without a cigarette in my hand as I cook the traditional turkey dinner. It is truly something ot be thankful for. You are doing such a great job! Love, Nancyhttp:/
![http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l162/tamara1974/Thanksgiving/NormitasArt1736.gif"](http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l162/tamara1974/Thanksgiving/NormitasArt1736.gif"){kind=link}
Nancy M Pearson 248 days ago
Happy Thanksgiving to you May - Thanks for your comments and support, I really attribute all the posts, comments and messages as being the biggest single help for me - I've tried to do this so many times before - but coming here just reading everyone elses stories and sharing their thoughts and difficult times helps me to know that I can be strong too, That all of us make a decision not to smoke each time we overcome a strong craving. It's very inspiring for me.
again - Thank You!!
Debi 248 days ago
I have this picture in my head of your kitchen under assault ! Thanks for taking the time to post, I am also thankful for the support of this Blog. YOU are an inspiration May, Happy Happy Thanksgiving to you too.
Nitchimom 247 days ago
Winter came to Montgomery, Alabama today. I look forward to it. I love a fire in the fireplace, the kids coming home for the holidays and hearing my favorite Christmas songs like, "Oh, Holy Night" and "Merry Christmas Darling." I love it when it snows here. That only happens about once every five years or so and the whole town shuts down and we have an unplanned Southern holiday. I love football games under a blanket and high school basketball games in noisy gyms that smell of popcorn and old socks. I love taking my dog for a walk with the wind in my face and I love bundling up and standing around a campfire with friends. I love those cold, wet Saturdays when the only thing to do is watch old movies. I love the winter olympics. I love a good Christmas party and counting down the new year. I love a good down comforter and my favorite leather jacket. I love a cup of hot chocolate with whipped cream on top and a good bowl of chili. I love groundhog day. I love it when fountains freeze. I love not smoking - oh wait a minute - I can do that all year long!
May
awwwwwwwwwww may...............
i miss all that stuff..........and yes, there are moments when i even miss smoking, then i think a minute about ALL of the good stuff that comes with being and EX and I LOVE IT!!!
great blog. Thanks for the smile!
Dawn 251 days ago
hahahaha....................... I HAVE a down comforter. just hafta turn the A/C to 70 to use it!
Dawn 251 days ago
Thanks for the inspirational words! I'm not there yet - on day one and counting.
Joanne 250 days ago
I'm not a fan of cold weather at all and I live on the coast of NC to prove it. I need to be in Florida but oh well...we are where we are. And you are at 2 wks! Congratulations!
I had to laugh at your perpetual quitter comment. I am too!!!! I used to tell my friends that I had to go ahead and quit my alloted times because I heard u had to quit so many times before u quit for good and I wanted to go ahead and get them all over with. I'm hoping this is my last quit and that it's really permanent this time. I do think all those quits did teach me a thing or too....the main one being that none of the reasons I used to restart smoking were good enough excuses. It wasn't that I couldn't quit, I just wouldn't quit!
Here's to being a perpetual non smoker!
Debbiem 250 days ago
Hello Y'all,
Had a great evening up at the lake with my friends, playing cards, etc. The three smokers with us smoked outside and therefore, I never even had to smell the smoke. Had a great time and didn't even have to break out the nicotine gum. I think mainly I didn't smoke because I didn't want to have to re-set my quit meter and I didn't want to have to report a relapse to the EX community, which proves how valuable this site it to me. Have a great time getting those Thanksgiving plans together.
May
Not having to reset my counter was a powerful motivator in my own quit, May. It's amazing how much little things mean. Good for you for maintaining your quit around smoking friends. You are stronger than you thought, eh?
Sheryl 253 days ago
Good for you. I don't want to re-set my date either. I really don't. My goal right now is to make it until Thanksgiving. I know I should only think about today, but I have a Thanksgiving is a goal.
MissyStamp 253 days ago
Way to Go May! I know how hard it is to report the relapse...twice....I am still not back so please keep going to give me hope...Thanks
heather_anne_00 252 days ago
Awesome, Maynell! Good for you remembering your quit meter. It is really sad to have to reset it...and it gets easier and easier to reset it each time, which is very bad. Congratulations! You're rockin'!
Brenda M 252 days ago
Hello Friends,
I am "leaving the nest" of my humble abode tonight and going up to the lake to play cards with three girlfriends, two of whom smoke. I have already made it clear that no one gets to smoke inside, which is a little presumptuous of me since it's not my cabin, but there you have it. Sometimes you gotta be a little edgy when you're trying to maintain a good quit. I will allow myself a glass of wine or a beer and I'm taking two pieces of gum just in case, but I'm really trying to go cold turkey this time.
It all comes down to this for me: My friends are very dear to my heart. It would be harder to give them up than cigarettes. Truly, it would. So I will try to coexist with them and they will try to respect my decision not to light up, which will be difficult tonight since it'll be COLD outside! I love them, but tough tamales.
I'll let anyone know who cares how tonight turns out and if we run into any problems. It should be more interesting than the bridge.
I also want to thank those of you who have allowed me to be your friend as I couldn't imagine quitting without this good support. Dawn, Heather, Crystal, Nancy P, KiKi - everyone, thanks so much. Day 8 is here and Day 80 is out there waiting for me.
May
Dear May:
I am on day seventeen. Most of my friends are smokers. We hang out at a private club where smoking is allowed. I havn't been to the Club for over three weeks. My husband has a man cave (garage) that we hang out in every once and awhile. The other night we were out there and my friend went to light up.....I was like could you please go outside. He did no problem. The problem was that a non-smoking friend said geez Missy all the cigarettes you have smoked in front of people......I didn't have an answer. I do now: This is my house and my garage and that's the new rule. I'm glad you requested that nobody smoke tonight in your presence. I'm sure it was not an easy request. I'm just hoping there will come a time I can be around my smoking friends again.
Stay strong and you will be healthy!
Have a great non-smoking day.
Melissa
MissyStamp 254 days ago
You can do it May!!!!!!!! Stay Strong!!!! Stan
stan 254 days ago
Make a plan b. You know they will probably end up smoking inside so you should probably prepare for that just in case. Bring more gum and maybe a clothespin for your nose! That'll be a laugh I'm sure. Just tell them you want to get stronger before you can be around them smoking. They should at least leave the room. Maybe they could stand under the ventahood at the stove. BE Strong! Good Luck!
Trica 254 days ago
May You can do this! I will keep you in my prayers tonight. Stay strong! I will be here for you no matter what happens!
Nancy M Pearson 254 days ago
I've been reading blog posts this afternoon and find it amazing that no matter the age of the addiction, the result is still the same. Whether you are a 20-something college student or a 60-something retiree, if you're hooked, you're hooked. Whether you've been puffing away for six months or 45 years, it's still a heck of a hard thing to stop once those receptors are activated. My problem has never been quitting. It's staying quit. Honey, I can quit with the best of them, but the truth is, I can start back in the wink of an eye, before I even realize it sometimes. I figure I've been smoking off and on since the age of about 16. That's 36 years ago. I have quit for years at a time and for months at a time. If I really strain my brain I would guess I've spent at least 18 years sucking on cigarettes. I hate them yet I have turned to them over and over throughout my life. They are like a cellophane-wrapped boogie man under my bed. I am afraid to find out how terrible it is - this addiction of mine - so I just don't look. Well, I didn't used to anyway. I've been thinking I have to face it head on if I'm ever going to finally beat it. Drag it out and look at it. Yuck. Yuck. Yuck. Just writing this makes me feel better. I hope it makes my addiction feel like crap. I'm done now, thanks for reading (if you are.)
Hi Maynell - I know exactly what you mean. I work with a lot of twenty-somethings. A few of them have asked how my quit is going and are thinking about trying Chantix also. It seems that (because they have only been smoking for a few years) that they should be able to quit relatively easily. I keep having to remind myself that they are no less addicted than I am after 36 years of "professional" smoking. As far as staying quit, I think that you might be more educated this time.. you have more support than in the past. At least that is how I feel. I had a couple of rough days in the past two weeks and I just had to keep telling myself that smoking would not solve any problems - that there is no such thing as one puff, etc.
Susan 257 days ago
Hi Maynell, thank you for your comment yesterday. I felt better reading comments from others who seem to know and understand this battle going on in my head. I still have two stupid cigarettes in my pack - I will smoke them tonight, - how silly of me I'm sure. I will begin this struggle tomorrow. I'm so determined to succeed this time. thanks again for your support
Debi 257 days ago
Great Blog, May!
I have found it really helpful to read other's blogs for exactly the reason that you are commenting on.........sometimes it just helps to know that others have faced this giant and overcome!
FYI - one of Dawn's quirks: detests when we insist on reinventing the wheel, i say START with the one you have and improve it! listen to other's experiences and learn what you can from them, then take that lesson and make it your own.
God bless you in your quit!
Dawn 256 days ago
I'm the first to admit I don't know much about computers. I've been working on them for 30 years and still think of them as fancy typewriters. So, I'm trying really hard to paste a quit meter in my homepage but just can't seem to figure it out. This new site may think it has improved but I don't think it has, or maybe it's just my brain off nicotine again. Anyway, if anyone knows the trick to getting a quit meter on a Mac I would appreciate the help. Thanks so much.
May
I don't know about a MAC but I had a quit meter on my old page and I can't get it to work on this page. I paste the code just like before, but it won't create a clock it shows the code as if it is text. I agree that I don't like the new pages. I think the old ones worked much better.
Dawn 258 days ago
I've now entered my fourth day of quit following a terrific tumble from the smoke-free wagon after one year and one week without cigarettes. I'm feeling okay about things. I went with the patch the first day but have been cold turkey since without too much problem. I see myself as a non-smoker now. I think that is the biggest change I have made in myself since quitting last year. When I see smokers I don't see myself anymore. When I see someone smoking in a car with kids I just cringe. When I see people out in front of office buildings smoking in the rain I just laugh. Smoking is a lot of trouble and it makes people look silly. I am hoping I can continue my quit forever. I like the mantra, N.O.P.E. (Not One Puff Ever) because it's the right message for me. I can't take one puff ever. I've demonstrated this too many times and lost my quit too many times because of that one puff that lead to a thousand more. I hope someone gets some help from reading this. If not, I know it has helped me just by voicing my feelings.
May
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sedwards 243 days ago