I'm gonna be a sweetheart and quit on valentine's day!

[mauijewel]

Aloha this is jewel on Maui. I just found this place to come to for support and I am so grateful. I have been having a rough time staying quit and need a community of exes to encourage me. I have been smoking for around 40 years and it's not getting better without some fierce will power and gental support. I really love to breathe and want to keep it up for as long as possible. I have been seriously thinking about a life style change and how it can make me a much happier person! I have begun some small changes and now is what seems to be the biggest challange to quit smoking cigarettes! It seems that I can white knuckel it for 2 days then oops I give in. I am tired of this yoyo and so many other things like the smell the cough the expense and fear of death or worse suffering. I'm tired of feeling like an outcast and a weak person too. I am just sick and tired of smoking.

Im looking forward to a heathier me this year and all of the good things that will come from not smoking.  I have a beautiful family I want to be around for! I am blessed with 2 kids 4 grandkids and a greatgrand son! all non smokers.Thanks guys fior being there to support each other! so its 02/14/2016 my beginning to a healthier happy me. message me let's chat about being an ex! 

[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.

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

[mtc]

Welcome  and you can do this, I have seventy one days and could not have done it without this community, care, support, nonjudemental, folks who truely  support you!! You can do this and will if you want it bad enough. I smoked for thrity five years and am fiftey three. I could not breath, its made tired, I have a nineteen year old daughter and I want live long enough and healthy to see her future.\

You have what it takes to quit Happy valentines day to you you are your best gift!!!

[JonesCarpeDiem]

Welcome/ my page is a good intro yo quitting and what to expect.

[YoungAtHeart]

P.S.  And, you will SMELL like a sweetheart  tomorrow, too!

🙂

[JACKIE1-25-15]

Also check out www.whyquit.com.  There is a lot of additional beneficial information to read and study.  Look for Freedom From Nicotine My Journey Home and Nicotine Addiction 101.  

http://whyquit.com/whyquit/LinksAAddiction.html

http://whyquit.com/ffn/

Both were extremely helpful for me.  Stay close to the site and learn, ask questions. Read the blogs and most of all enjoy your commitment to quit smoking.

If you should need something to do here is a link that will help

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

[dpop]

Welcome! This community is an excellent support!

[NewMe]

Good advice given here. During those early days, when you are feeling like you're about to jump out of your skin- that's when you should do as much of the reading of the materials listed above as you possibly can. Educating yourself on the nature of the addiction can actually empower you to withstand the early symptoms of withdrawal, and reinforce a commitment to quit. Next, please come here as often as you feel the need, and don't be shy about asking questions, or asking for help. You will often be amazed at how quickly you might get numerous helpful responses after posting a blog asking for help. There's a bunch of great people here, all of whom have toughed out whatever early withdrawal had to dish out, and they are ready and willing to ease the way for you with whatever help, support, advice, or coping skills they might have to share with you. You have come to the right place. Become an Ex. Welcome.

[Kimshine]

Welcome to the community! There is lots of good advice and reading above for you. Please read the Allen Carr book. Although it doesn't do the quitting for you, it can help to change your thoughts and beliefs about smoking.

Stay close to the community and ask for help instead of smoking. Make a committment to never ever light another cigarette no matter how uncomfortable you get or how much you feel like you need to. You can do this and we will be here to help you!!

[Mrs.Brock]

You can do this! I got my mother to quit smoking after smoking for around the same time that you smoked. Now she is dealing with quitting smoking again, since we picked it back up after having a family crisis. Not, that that is any excuse. We are all walking down a very crazy road right now, but there are a lot of "helping hands" on the path. Visit this site everyday if you feel the urge to smoke. It has helped me tremendously! Peace and Namaste-Mrs. Brock

[lois2]

Welcome to the site jewel , i somked for over 47 years. i quit so many times and went back a lot. i was on that merry go round.  hang in there.

[Dotgirl_1-28-16]

Welcome!!! You can do this! It helped me to follow the steps on this site and prepare myself for a successful quit...the more we know, the more we NO!! N.O.P.E.

[TerrieQuit]

Welcome to EX! You have come to the right place to quit! There is some very good educational material suggested above! Please read and read and read about nicotine addiction! Commit to your quit and stay close to this site! If you have questions please ask! You can do this! I am glad you are here!

Happy Valentine's Day! 

I Won't Quit on my Quit!