Stories & experiences

Welcome :)
Well, mostly, feel sick of being a slave to a little tube of tobacco, and what it cost you. I don't think they recommend mixing lozenges and gum with the patch. That is just way too much nicotine, and will only help hold you dependent for longer. Just my thoughts, but plain gum, or mints, will really do the same thing. They are really just a placebo, because it takes minutes for the nicotine to hit you, unlike the seconds it took for smoke. You can munch on celery, as much as you want, and not gain weight. Good for you, gives you something to hold, and chew, and burns more calories than is in it. Win Win :) If you let yourself really see, just how stupid smoking is, and make that smoke something you don't want, instead of something you can't have, it can be fairly easy. I was a stupid smoker for 45+ years, cut down over a couple weeks, and then went cold turkey. Sure, a few miserable weeks of withdrawal, but I did not make that cravings, or wanting. By the 4th week, I KNEW I was free, and would never go back. That was near 3 years ago now, and you CAN do it too.. We just have to change the way we think, and let go of the illusion that there ever was anything good about being a smoker. It CAN be as easy as you make it. I hear, that Allen Carr's book, The Easy Way To Quit Smoking, can be a real help, and it's free to download. Think positive, and go for it. You will be glad you did :)

Thank you so much. Feeling so down.

Hi, ask yourself why you are feeling down. You want to quit and you are starting the first day....be happy about it. Feel good that you are making this fantastic change to your life. Nothing to feel down about...feel proud and elated that you are on your way to better health, more money and higher self esteem than you have had in the past. Listen to Reds advice....he is very wise and right. X

Hubby looked at me and asked "What are you smiling about?". " I quit smoking" i answered quit proud of myself. Now we are both over a year quit and couldn't be happier about our decision. After the first three or four days of getting the nicotine out of the system, the rest was easy for both of us. If I had any cravings, I was not aware of it. I spend much time on another quit site so of course I thought about smoking, but never wanted one. I think it only reinforced my belief that i could do it after thinking for decades that i couldn't. In all honesty , I had given up hope of being a non smoker and started looking for other ways to benefit my health and enjoy a few more years. You may want to read my first post. Another post gives the link to the Allen Carr book that is highly recommended reading for anyone at any stage of the quit. It is absolutely free........what are you waiting for?

Knowledge really is power. It really can be easy to quit. It is up to you....simply make up your mind.

You're doing great Pisces but do be careful with or even reconsider the use of other aids in addition to the patch. In total it would probably be more than your 10 a day. Seems like the wrong direction to me. If you had been a two pack a day i might see the sense in it while you cut back nicotine intake drastically. I quit cold turkey, but to each their own, but in the end you have to get off of nicotine. A craving is a craving , just thoughts, whether caused by nicotine or the absence of smoking which leaves a void.... who can tell the difference? A question i can't answer because i didn't have the psychological cravings.

The ticket to freedom is believing in yourself.

I won't get the lozenges....it se e MS touch. Thanks for the advice.
I'm being down. Can't stop crying. I guess thinkng about why you started and why you haven't stopped is stirring up a lot of stuff for me. I'm feeling like a low life. Weak and pathetic. Guess I feel sorry for myself.no cigarette though. Almost got through a day.

Seems too much

Hey Pisces, it isn’t too much....if you find it hard to think of a day without smoking....try an hour ata time. If you can do one hour...you can do another hour. Break it down to what you can manage. You are scared of the change in your life without the ciggies and I get that. But you know what...I smoked for 48 years and the only change in my life since quitting over a year ago is...how damn good life is now. Most of the smoking thing is habit...like any bad habit...you need to change how you feel about it. Learn to hate the smokes for all that they have taken from you...the more you truly hate them...the less you will want them, sounds simple......it works. Every time I wanted a smoke I asked myself why??
What will it do for me...once you have smoked a cigarette has anything in life improved for you, did you really get enjoyment from having it...the true answer is NO. They give you nothing and take everything. Embrace your quit, be happy to be quitting and reward yourself as often as you can for doing a good job at quitting. Come on...if we can...you can x

Have you read the Allan Carr book that I posted a link to? click on my Name right here and find the story by the title. If anyone can help you, he can. Please please read it. You are not a loser because you became a smoker and the book will explain why we smoked , how it sucked us in to its trap and kept us there pacified for all these years. We are victims, not losers.
Allan Carr understands your fear, the fear of even reading his book because.......you might quit smoking! But Fear is a player on Nicotine's side. Be on our team, the winner team. We know how to tackle the problems and bring this addiction/habit to defeat. Read his book.

You are not a loser. You have already made a great decision to quit smoking , another to set the quit date and the balls to follow through. You may stumble and fall but you get up and keep playing for the team. Keep taking shots on goal and you will score. The crowd roars with excitement with your success. We want you on our team because we know you can do it!

Read the play book.

Thank you all for your help and support t. I CAN QUIT!
Today is Day 2 so I am pleased with myself to have got this far.

whoo hoo, now you've got the right idea. You really can do this. Believe it.

Hi Pisces, Awesome job...day two......so if you can do two days you can do three. Don’t look too far ahead, one day at a time....you only ever have to get through today. Tell yourself that every morning before you get out of bed. When you post on here next it will be three days and you will start to feel really good about yourself and so you should. Stay strong and focused and reward yourself often....cause you can with all that money you now have x

Hi Robyn.
Thanks for your support again. Checking the $ saved is a great idea as you feel a tangible outcome. I'm glad you are there for me