Hello.

[my-changing-world-247]

I just joined the group.. I have decided that I can't keep living like this.. I have the worst habits so my first bad habit to break is smoking! I'm pretty sure it will be hard but aren't all things that are worth it? My quit date is close to the end of this month! I'm kinda excited and I'm going to think about ways to keep my mind busy once my quit day is here! 

Have a great day!

[Storm.3.1.14]

  WELCOME to EX! You’re here because, like us, you want to be rid of cigarettes. We can help you with that, yes.

  There is plenty of useful information and activities right here in the EX program, and there’s plenty more information at other websites that many of our most successful quitters will mention to you. Explore every resource made available to you, and use the ones that work best for you.

  Please, do all the exercises here, in the time required, especially those that ask you to PRACTICE quitting BEFORE you actually quit. You’ll be asked to skip that "after-lunch smoke", for example, in order to figure out how you feel about that and what you’ll do instead to make it better. Then, you’ll skip a "bored smoke" and a "stressed smoke" and other smokes to PRACTICE being without them, and to PRACTICE doing something in place of them. The last thing you want to do is quit without having any skills under your belt.

  Finally, you don’t have to do this alone. We're your support group, so communicate with us, be sure to leave comments of support for other people (it‘s a two-way street around here), report your progress, and let us help you. 

  By the way, to answer your question, writing a blog is how you speak to the ENTIRE community, openly. It's how you ask questions and report your progress. Think of the message board as a Post-It note. Use it to leave little semi-private messages on OTHER people's bulletin boards. (Do not write on your own message board or no one will see it unless they stumble across it.)

[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

[SkyGirl]

Hi, and welcome to EX!  

One of the most important things to know about successfully quitting is that the way you THINK about quitting is absolutely key.  

If you begin your Quit by thinking that you are "giving up" something; that you are "doing without"; that you are "sacrificing"...you will need to educate yourself about nicotine addiction in order that flip that kind of thinking around.  

Around to what?  Into realizing that smoking is not just a nasty habit. Into realizing that nicotine is a drug addiction and that when you quit smoking, you are finding your FREEDOM from that addiction.  Freedom from a life governed by nicotine.  You will no longer have to arrange your schedule according to when and where you will smoke your next cigarette.  Freedom from worrying about if you have enough cigarettes and where you can get another pack.  Freedom from smelling like smoke, from hiding your smoking from people that you know would look down on you about it, from spending money on cigarettes that you know should be spent on other things.  Freedom from missing important time with people because you have excused yourself to go find a place to smoke.  The list goes on.

One of the best ways to get started in flipping this thinking around is to read a book that is highly recommended here on EX.  It's called "The Easy Way to Stop Smoking" by Allen Carr.  It's kind of a misnomer, because most people don't find quitting "easy", but it is an easy short read and it will definitely get you thinking about how you see your smoking and your ability to quit.  Do a search on EX for the link, or just google it.  It's a quick download.

You CAN quit, MCW.  Your nicotine addiction is no stronger nor harder to beat than any of our addictions were/are.  If we can quit, YOU can quit.  But like Storm said above, the proper preparation is absolutely essential.  Successful quitting is far more than just deciding to set your cigarettes aside.

It's great that you have set a Quit date a little while in the future.  This will give you plenty of time to prepare.  In addition to doing the reading that is recommended here to you, and the Delaying exercises, take the time to do the Tracking exercises here on EX, also. You may think you already know your smoking triggers, but you will be sure to understand yourself and your triggers better after doing the Tracking.

Please come to EX often, blog a lot about ANYTHING and start making connections (both with other new quitters and with experienced quitters).  We are here to help you through every step of the way!  Congratulations on making a great choice for your life!

Sky

[Mike.n.Atlanta]

Welcome to Ex. I see you've gotten the required reading & support so I'll just say stick around & give it a chance. It is so worth the freedom.

Keep on keepin on,

M n @

[annb]

Welcome to EX! You are making your best decision ever!!! And this is the best place to get advice, education, inspiration and support! I know, I smoked for 43 years and EX has helped me quit!!! Stay close! Use this time to Educate and Prepare yourself for the quitting journey. Have fun doing all the homework and be sure and ask questions so we can all continue to learn with you! :). You CAN really do this!

[prjimm01]

welcome my new friend!  Listen to these people - they have been there!

Get your ATTITUDE on and come on in to the Ex community.  By attitude I meaan posstive NOPE, you don't do that anymore.

[Giulia]

Greetings.  Quitting is a skill like any other.  Study, practice, understanding, patience, hard work, perseverance - they are what create Quit Masters.  If you want it, it can be yours - this freedom.  Glad you're here.  Stick around.

[Minx]

Newbie here too about to celebrate 2 weeks of freedom - no advice other than to do what everyone else is saying - read, practice, blog, check in frequently, take the support that is so beautifully given here.  It's gotten me to 2 weeks and I feel stronger than any other quit!

You can do this and LOVE it!  Welcome to an exciting new journey 🙂

[lois2]

WELCOME come join us, take it one day at a time,

[robo3]

My quit is March 11,2015  Tomorrow!  I'll be watching for you.