February 19th, 2016

[Nana4669]

This is the day that I have set to quit smoking yet again. I have tried so many times over the years without success past 3 months. I am going to try it a different way and became a member here. I am going to take advantage of all the tools available here and hope to make this quit my last quit.

[CommunityAdmin]

Welcome! And congrats on joining to work towards your forever QUIT.

Mark
EX Community Manager

[Eric_L.]

Bookend your days here.  This place can change your life.  Lots of good people.

[Nana4669]

Thank you! I am going to make this my home page :}

[YoungAtHeart]

Welcome to our community!

The most important thing you can do right now is to educate yourself on what nicotine does to your body and mind. To that end, I highly recommend Allen Carr's “The Easy Way to Stop Smoking.” This is an easy and entertaining read. Here is a link to a free PDF version of it:

http://media.wix.com/ugd/74fa87_2010cc5496521431188f905b7234a829.pdf

As well, read the sections on this site, and read the blogs, responses and pages of folks you think might be helpful. You might visit whyquit.com and quitsmokingonline.com for the good information contained there. You should also do the tracking and separation exercises suggested on this site

After you have completed the recommended reading, it will be time to make an informed choice of the quit aid, if any, you will use. If you go that route, I personally recommend the aids that don't let the addict control the dose such as the available prescription drugs or the patch. But – any method that you think will work well for you will be best for you.

The idea is to change up your routines so the smoking associations are reduced.  Drink your coffee with your OTHER hand. If you always had that first smoke with your coffee, try putting your tennies on right out of bed, going for a quick walk, then taking your shower and THEN your coffee! Rearrange the furniture in the areas you used to smoke so the view is different.

You need to distract yourself through any craves.  You can take a bite out of a lemon (yup - rind and all), put your head in the freezer and take a deep breath of cold air, do a few jumping jacks, go for a brisk walk or march in place, play a computer game.  Don't let that smoking thought rattle around in your brain unchallenged. Sometimes you need to quit a minute or an hour at a time.  You will need to be disciplined in the early days to distract yourself when a crave hits.  Don't let that smoking thought rattle around your head alone.  Get busy!  Here is a link to a list of things to do instead of smoke if you need some fresh ideas:

https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/blogs/Youngatheart.7.4.12-blog/2013/02/25/100-things-to-do-instea...

The conversation in your head in response to the "I want a cigarette" thought needs to be, "Well, since I have decided not to do that anymore, what shall I do instead for the three minutes this crave will last?"  Then DO it.  You will need to put some effort into this in the early days, but it gets easier and easier to do.

Stay close to us here and ask questions when you have them and for support when you need it. We will be with you every step of the way!

Nancy

[Dotgirl_1-28-16]

Welcome!!! There are alot of suggestions to help you prepare to have a successful quit. The support that is offered by the members of EX community is amazing....welcome! You can do this!!!

[Jennifer-Quit]

Read and educate yourself about this addiction.  Spend a lot of time here - and ask for help if and when you need it.  Best wishes to you!

[Nana4669]

Thanks everyone!

[tjanddj]

Welcome. glad you have joined us! Do let us know how you are doing, the good, the bad the ugly! Lots of support here for you. You can do this!

[Christine13]

Welcome, very happy you are hear!

[JACKIE1-25-15]

You have come to the right place.  If you do the work, Study read blog you will have success.

[MarilynH]

Welcome, be sure to do the recommended reading above me because it will help strengthen your resolve to quit smoking and remain quit, stay strong and stay close to this site because we're all here for you. 

[lois2]

welcome you are in the right place. NANA

[Strudel]

Welcome to the site! The support here is great! I really liked the Carr book that Nancy gave you - please check it out! You can do this! 

[johio]

Welcome NANA...I smoked for over 50 years and this worked for me....Follow the program and stay active on this site.....Keep an open mind and stay positive

You can do this and the rewards will far exceed your expectations