I've been avoiding this issue

[The Jay Walker]

Hi

well lets see, I have been a smoker for 25 years, 2 packs a day.

Both my parents died young from cancer, I tried to quit back when I had 30 days sober, bad scene.

then I tried again a couple years ago, lasted a couple weeks on the patch.


thing is I know I need to quit, but I just need a little shove in the right direction.

[Ann]

Jay

I was born with a cigarette in my mouth.

I smoked a pack a day for over 30 years and quit for 7 months. Stupidly I picked up again and have never had the courage to quit again. But I have seriously cut back, probably because my husband quit the same time I did and stayed off them, and I don't ever smoke any where near him.

You'd think it would be easier for me to give up when I don't smoke that many, but believe me it has been very very hard to just stop it all together.

If I can do it, you can do it Jay. We can just hang on to each others coat tails and ride out the storm.

Hugs
Ann

[Jon]

I'll watch.

For now.

[margo]

Originally posted by The Jay Walker
Thing is I know I need to quit, but I just need a little shove in the right direction.

Ditto, Jay. I also know I need to quit - the effects seem to make themselves known more and more each day. I'm also on 2+ packs a day, and I'm smoking more now than I ever have in the past. I just don't know how to BE a nonsmoker, as dumb as that may sound.

I'm really grateful that Jon added this forum (thank you, Jon!) and I think this is the beginning of us helping each other on a whole new level.

[Justme57]

I really need to quit too, I have smoked 1 pack a day for 40 years

HUGX
Lee

[zoomer]

A little late in posting because i just found this forum. I know i need to quit too and have several times. I go from a half a pack to a whole depending on how nervose I am. The past couple of weeks i'v been smoking up a storm while sitting on the computer and drinking coffee. Anyway, everytime i smoke a cig, it makes me gag,but I still smoke. I'm ashamed because I should smoke outside away from my kids, but it's too dam cold out there! I know sometimes my kids smell like cig smoke and it's makes me feel real bad. To justify it I say "well at least I'm not drinking"!

[EmotionalMeg]

Hey guys,
Don't beat yourself up for the years you have smoked, cuz (do I HAVE to remind you?) we can't change it. If we play the self-pity game on ourselves ie: "I have smoked for so long, it's too hard to quit", "I'm not strong enough", then we certainly won't win!
Within each moment is another opportunity to do something really great; why not make it all about YOU.

I KNOW how hard it is, but THIS time I'm riding the wave all the way to shore! See ya on the beach

Meg

[Justme57]

Oh! Meg , can I hold onto your floaties ?

I find it truly hard , but I will try

HUGX
Lee

[leelives]

Originally Posted by Justme57

Oh! Meg , can I hold onto your floaties ?

I find it truly hard , but I will try

HUGX
Lee

[aasharon90]

Hi, Im Sharon here in Houston. Smoking wasn't my problem but could have been. It just didn't work for me. I tried hard tho, but instead I turn GREEN. lol Drinking was my drug of choice. Anyway....Just like other addictions there are steps we can take one day at a time to helps us quit. I found a wonderful program of recovery and fellowship in AA to help me stay sober. You can too in a program for smokers. Im finding good support here in SR and sharing my experiences, strengths and hopes with others. Hope this helps a bit. Good luck. An AA friend, Sharon

[CAPTAINZING2000]

My mother is still alive from her 50 years of smoking non filters. She takes oxygen everywhere she goes. What more of a reminder does a person need than this?

I still managed to pick up a cigarette this past summer until the end of Dec. job worries etc.

I wouldn't have tried to stop smoking and drinking the same time either. After my desire to drink has finally left, I had time to focus on my other bad habits.

I don't have much in the way of will power myself. I do however, rest on what the signs say. Feb. 9th is the next date to stop smoking. Give that date a try

[historyteach]

Lee;
Gotta give ya credit, man. You dug this thread up from 2003! Three years ago! LOL!
All of it remains true though.
I didn't know how to be a non smoker until I did it.
The anticipation is really worse than the quit!

aasharon;
Thanks for your support; much appreciated.

Capt;
You bring up two important points that the smoke cessation counselor speaks of; giving up more than one substance and will power.

The studies show that chances are much higher for success when we quit all substances at the same time. Granted, we'll go crazy! LOL! But, that's what the studies say. And it makes sense when you look at it. It's developing a healthier lifestyle.

Which leads to the next point about will power. Lonnie says that will power alone won't cut it. We have to start new behaviors to replace the smoking behaviors. It's best when we replace those negative behaviors with something that would be effected if we return to smoking. That means, like, running, aerobic exercise, going to the gym, or things like singing; taking up an instrument like sax or flute that depends upon breath control. Any thing that would be negatively effected does give us the reason to pause prior to a relapse and determine if we really want to give up these new behaviors. And it takes about six weeks for these new behaviors to become ingrained into your new lifestyle. I know that will power didn't cut it for me when I quit for 3 1/2 months years ago. I hadn't replaced those behaviors, and when stress hit, I returned to them for comfort. Sad, but true.

Anyway, wishing everyone success in their quit. Each day we don't smoke is a miracle.
I am now Two months, one week, two days, 2 hours, 37 minutes and 44 seconds smoke free. That's 2804 cigarettes not smoked, saving $771.20. Life saved: 1 week, 2 days, 17 hours, 40 minutes.

Shalom!

[CAPTAINZING2000]

LOL

YOU WOULDN'T HAVE LIKED ME MUCH ON HERE IF, IT WAS ALL MY BAD HABITS AT ONCE


I can't recall the character actor that just died. He was in the movie Ghost. The cigarette machine got broke and all the cigarette packs came out. He was saying he'd give anything for a smoke. I can relate to that. cigarettes, ciagrs, pipes even a little pinch between my cheek and gum in the past.

The test this summer out sailing and not having a cigar while enjoying the wind!!!!