Day 1 almost done!

[hnolan]

I just turned 43 and have smoked since I was 16. I didn't really care who knew I smoked until I started teaching 12 years ago. At that time, I would leave every day at lunchtime and suck down at least 3 cigs to get me through the rest of the day. I'd spray perfume all over myself and chew gum, stupidly thinking that no one would smell the smoke! 

I have tried to quit so many times! I even made it a full 5 months once! I went to work that summer at a place where I'd taken summer employment before. Most of the employees there are smokers. I thought I was strong enough to keep my quit. Within the first week, I was smoking 1/2 to a pack a day again like I'd never quit.  I guess I learned that you can never ever let your guard down! Anyway, that was 2 years ago and although I've quit a few times since then, I've only stuck with it a couple of weeks or so at a time. I am determined that this quit will be the one that sticks!  So far, so good!

[djmurray]

I have the same background you do -- only I smoked from age 13 to age 66.  I know that this is my forever quit even though I'm just at 75 days, because for the first time I don't feel deprived by not smoking.  I am loving the freedom of not being ruled by the next smoke.  There have been great surprises (I don't have to dress for standing outside to smoke anymore, and that was a great thing over this very cold and snowy winter, I have much more time than I realized I would, I obviously smell better -- I could go on and on).  The point is the only way to quit forever is to be a happy quitter, and we become happy quitters when we realize we are giving up NOTHING and have everything to gain.  Here's something that might be helpful as you come to the end of Day 1 -- and by the way YAY YOU!!

  

   

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, 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, 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!

  

[Minx]

Congratulations on a healthy, fresh breathing day as a nonsmoker!  That is a fabulous accomplishment and I hope it has been inspiring for you as well.

Keep it up!

[JonesCarpeDiem]

Onward and Upward!

[Thomas3.20.2010]

EXers soon learn that they can't hang around smokers. Second hand smoke causes cravings and social pressure does the rest! Folks who take their quits seriously stay away from smoking and smokers. That's hard but true! You have to decide to make new friends and sort out your smoking friends from those who will respect your quit and those who won't! 

Read about Nicotine Addiction and Recovery for 2 reasons, Education helps a lot! I knew about smoking and said, Why do I have to learn about Nicotine Addiction? Come to find out I knew nothing about how it works! Reason #2, you are literally retraining your brain as you read. You are looking at sickerettes with a whole new perspective!

Quitsmokingonline.com

Whyquit.com

The Easy Way by Allen Carr

and of course, here!

It will help you get through the weeks and months ahead!

[linda258]

The one year mark was the magic number for me.   We are addicted... just one puff puts us back to square one.   If you want to be a lifetime quitter .. and we all do.. it means you can't play with just one smoke. 

[sparky26]

Congratulations on day one. 

[Sootie]

I totally "get" the problem of smoking and teaching....it is just such a No No! And the kids will just tell you straight out if they smell it-----AND they always smell it.  Pretty sad when a six year old is smarter than us....right?

But you are at the right spot now so stay in touch with the community as MUCH as you can. This was my lifeline for the first year of my quit

Stay Strong

[Junior7]

I was doing some tutoring a few years ago--and one of my students out of the blue launched into telling me the perils of smoking.  Of course they know!  Congrats on day one!  

[al_44]

Congrast on day one! This will be your final quit if you choose. This site makes all the difference as does Carr's book. I was on here for hours and hours when I fist quit and the support and understanding always helped me pass through a craving. Cheering you on!!!