I'm going to quit!!

[tf883]

Hi. I'm TF883. I've been smoking cigarettes for about 15 years. Lately, (for about three weeks) I've been thinking a lot about my smoking habits and how it's affecting my health, my life, and the lives of people I love and care for. I decided today that I not only need to quit but I want to quit. I'm very please that there are so many people who are willing to help me fight through this. I truly hope that I stay strong and succeed with quitting smoking. I would like to congratulate all the ex smokers and whom ever is choosing to quit smoking. It's not easy, we all just have to take it one day at a time.

[Chuck-2-20-2011]

 Congratulations on your decision to quit! You'll get lots of links for information shortly, I'm sure.There's lot's of help here if you desire it. There's always a fear of quitting when we first think about it. I was terrified when I really thought that I was going to quit. 

 Stay close to the site and learn all that you can! Since you've reached the point of "wanting" to quit rather than thinking about quitting than you've already come far!

I wish you success!

ONWARD TO FREEDOM!!

[Eric_L.]

You can do it!   Bookend your days here.  

Also, look on google for a free .pdf of Allen Carr's Easy Guide to Quit Smoking.  It really helped me with the thinking part of quitting.

You can do this.

[tf883]

Thank you so much Chuck and eric thanks for the advice, will check it out. I appreciate the positive feedback.

[TerrieQuit]

There is also a movie on u-tube "The Only Way To Quit Smoking!" I watched it quite a few times and it really helped also. Welcome to the site. Some one should be along shortly to give you links to reading material. You have made a great decision!

Terrie  52  DOF

[YoungAtHeart]

Welcome to our community!

Congratulations on your decision to quit!

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

[lois2]

WELCOME TO EX . TAKE THE ADVICE YOU GET. YOU CAN DO THIS.

[JonesCarpeDiem]

There is a beginning and a middle to get to the end. 🙂

https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/blogs/jonescarp.aka.dale.Jan_2007-blog/2011/06/26/what-to-expect-...