Stories and experiences by: MickeyJ

Having quit in January 2012, I was going well until October 2013 when away for a weekend conference, that little voice got into my head and assured me that just having a couple of smokes over the weekend would be okay. We;; it wasn't OK. I was immediately addicted once again, and was probably smoking more than before I'd quit. On 21st February 2105, I decided once again to quit and have now been...

1 year and 10 months of being a non-smoker. Then a work conference in Bris-Vegas. Too cocky, I thought I could play up with smoking and come home without any repurcussions. But what happened in Vegas didn't stay in Vegas. What followed was 4 weeks of smoking 20 a day and feeling every bit as addicted as I was 2 years ago. The hiding around corners, being ashamed of stinking like an ashtray around...

Hello Quitters! Just checking in for some reason, after 464 days smoke free. Saved $5,336 so far. I hardly ever think about smoking now, although every now and then the thought pops into my head. It's easy to put aside those thoughts now. When I first started on this journey cold turkey, it was super hard. I wanted a smoke every 10 seconds for the first few weeks. Then it got easier, then it got ...

Today is 331 days since I quit smoking. It is the hardest thing I have ever done but also the best. I guess the saying is true that the hardest things are often the most rewarding. At this point, I think about smoking a couple of times a week. In my first week of quitting it was literally every 20 seconds. That's progress! Good luck to everyone who is on this journey!

Hi All, 253 days cold turkey quit today. Great to see some of my quit buddies still poping in here and doing well. I still think about having a smoke every now and then - had a dream 2 nights ago that I caved in. Tonight the kids are especially naughty. The triggers are still there for me. Today I walked past a spot at Manuka Oval where I had a smoke back in January, and that gave me a craving! ...

Hi everyone .. just wanting to double check something. I've been seeing a few posts here lately about e-cigs. I heard on the radio last week that they are actually illegal to sell in Australia. Any comments on that?

183 days smoke free for me today. For those in the early days of this quit journey, keep strong and keep your guard up against the little voice of addiction. While I could be calling this the 6 month mark, I prefer to refer to it as the half year mark, because that's more appropriate for the stage I am at. I am not at the end of the journey - still have goals to aim for and challenges to overcome...

Congratulations Gerry on your 150 days. A ton and a half! 5 months! You're awesome!!

Hello Gerry and fellow quitters. I do indeed have some news. Today is my 150th day as a non-smoker and that is exactly 5 months. Gerry, I believe you will have some news tomorrow? Today I had a meeting with a guy who has been quit for 7 years. He was a minimum pack a day smoker. He never thinks about smoking these days. There is hope for us all! I really am thrilled that I have not had a single...

Here's my top 5 list of dumbest reasons to smoke .. 5. I had a stressful day at work! (Millions of people had a stressful day at work and didn't need to smoke. What makes you so special?) 4. Smoking helps me relax! (Buy a hammock and some reggae tunes!) 3. I can't drink without having a smoke. (But you can smoke without having a drink?) 2. My husband smokes in the house! (Your husband pee...

I read an article today which I think accurately sums up the difference between those who succeed and those who fail in any situation, including this quit journey. People who succeed at any difficult task resolve in themselves that they will not fail. Others give themselves "PERMISSION TO FAIL". This permission is granted through statements or beliefs such as "I'll give it my best try", or I'll d...

Day 128. Quitting smoking has been the BEST decision I ever made. The pain has been totally worth it. Having smoked for the past 26 years I can't remember feeling so good as I do now. I can breathe deeper, I have more stamina. Feeling healthier inspired me to take up a gym membership and now I work out 3 days a week. As a result, I am stronger, firmer, more confident already. People are starting ...

Today is my 112th day as a non smoker and today I started a new phase in my quit journey and in my life generally. Quitting the smokes has had the effect of waking much earlier than I used to. So I am putting that extra time to good use and going to the gym before work. Today was my first day, getting up at 5:30am, 1 hour drive to the gym has me working out by 6:30am for an hour. Then shower and ...

Today is 100 days since I quit smoking. No slip ups, no nicotene replacement. Just cold turkey. Every day, even today requires willpower, resilience, determination, stubborness, distraction, all the same things required on day 1. Just not as often. I know all those things will be needed everyday probably for the rest of my life. I am the kind of person, like many here, who knows that if I slip up...

80 days today without filthy fags ruling my thoughts, myy body and my life. I've spent $1,250 on other stuff that makes me feel good that otherwise I would have set fire too and thrown the butt into an ashtray. Really, it's such a stupid thing to do ... you may as well roll up a $20 note everyday and set fire to it. There have been hard, difficult, frustrating days, but I am so proud of myself f...

I reached day 60 today. Good times! Not a single slip up along the way.

End of day 56 and yet again, a very strong thought about how great a smoke would be! Unbelievable. Does this "little voice" ever give up? Does it think I'm nuts? I am not that stupid to give in to some random thought after being so strong for 56 days. Not going to happen! So bring it on "little voice" ... give it your best shot, cause after another 3 days, you're history.

End of day 54 ... or 5 days into the 50's and I think what I've read from others here might be true. Every day the last 5 days there has been a moment of really wanting to enjoy a cigarette. I wouldn't call them maddenning cravings, just strong feelings that last a couple of minutes, maybe once per day. If I wasn't so aware these thoughts might be difficult to overcome, but knowing what they are,...

Day 49 - that's seven weeks! and like the original 49ers, i have struck gold with my new somke-free life. almost $700 saved so far. I am aware though, thanks to the posts on this site that entering the next 10 days or so could throw up some challenges. Thanks to the great people here, I am going forward with eyes wide open. It's great ... like having a reconnaissance team scouting ahead for me! Y...

Hope everyone here is safe and sound and dry. The amount of water going through our rivers is amazing. If you are caught in a flood, I guess you might need some coping mechanisms to deal with the stress. A ciggy won't stop the rain!!

Funny, I come to this site maybe every day or two now. Was 5 times a day in the beginning. Each time I visit now I realise I have nothing to report on. But I guess that is something in itself. So here it is. Nothing to report. Yay! Oh ... day 43!

Here is an embarrassing ... very personal ... confession. Vanity is helping me stay on track. In fact, I may be turning a little "metro". A couple of weeks ago, on impulse, I bought some moisturiser ... Nivea for Men. Also, I bought the little, more expensive moisturiser especially for under the eyes. I had been noticing for some time (as a smoker) wrinkles and bags developing under and around my...

YES WE CAN! What an awful weekend for me. I virtually locked myself away for most of it so as not to give in to the temptation. I was so on edge and cranky, and thinking a smoke would make me my old happy self again. Got through it, learned some more about me and ever onward. Thanks all for your words of encouragement. I feel like if I buckle I'll not only let myself and family down, but all you ...

It's amazing how difficult giving up the cigarettes is. How easy it would be just to give up and have a smoke. Today the temptation seriously got to me and I almost turned a stressful situation into an excuse to get in the car, drive to the shop, buy a pack of smokes , light one up and inhale it into my lungs. And if I had done that, I would have blamed someone I love rather than myself. You can ...

Ok, so I've saved about $430 in the last 31 days. Today I bought a pan for $380. Just one pan - and it was on special ... Usually $500+. It's Le Crouset - the world's best cookware. What the heck - its money I was spending on filthy cigarettes. I LOVE being a non smoker!

30 days today! Woohoo! I got a lift to work this morning with a chain smoker - he had 3 in the car in the space of 40 minutes. It was disgusting. I will NEVER go back! Sure every now and then a thought comes into my head that says "you'd like a smoke" but it's not real. I will NEVER GO BACK!! I WILL NEVER GO BACK

25 days without a smoke today $346.70 saved (well ... spent on fun stuff) Happy kids (they were holding anti smoking protest rallies at the Woolies smoke counter for the 3 weeks before I gave up) Seriously embarrasing. Happy wife - I promised her I would give up by our wedding day. We got married 14 years ago. Happy workplace - I can't believe how much I was stinking the office out - seriousl...

Day 16. Particularly stressful day at work. Driving home my hand actually reached across to where I used to keep my pack of cigarettes, not once, but twice. Just split second moments of forgetfulness. For those 2 split seconds I really did feel like a cigarette. But 2 split seconds is nothing in the context of the next 50 years. So I drove on, with temptation happily excised from my mind.

I visited this site this morning and noticed how much money I've saved already by not smoking. After just 15 days, over $200 stays in MY pocket. I am going to be so much better dressed from here on out. New designer sunglasses to start with. $400 bucks a month freed up to spend on whatever I want. In just 10 months, I'll have 4 grand. I was thinking about this throughout the day, and it really he...

Yesterday was day 11 and I was faced with another challenge. My first long drive alone since quitting. 3 hours each way, with a high power meeting in the middle. The voice in my head took advantage of the situation and returned with renewed vigour. "Just one will be OK" You really feel like one - just pull into the next petrol station and get a small pack!. I fought the creature off by recalling ...

Just spent 3 hours with my daughter on a bike ride. Wow ... it felt good not thinking about the next opportunity to have a smoke, or planning ways to sneak a smoke in. Just 100% quality time with my little girl. Now that is motivation enough to stay quit.

In the first 2 days when the cravings were worst, getting home from work I found it easiest to just go to bed early. Also, playing electronic games such as tetris or strategy games helps distract the mind and occupy the fingers.

I'm at day 4 and very proud of myself. The first 48 hours were very difficult, with "the voice" suggesting I light up about every 5 seconds. The voice got trickier throughout the first 2 days, telling me one won't hurt, nobody will know, just one will be OK then quit again. It took a lot of will power to overcome this hideous little creature in my head. At day 4 the voice is only speaking 3 or 4 ...