One Month Today!

[historyteach]

Yep, I have one month smoke free today.

To be exact, it is now One month, 9 hours, 29 minutes and 7 seconds smoke free. That's 1215 cigarettes not smoked, saving $334.35. Life saved: 4 days, 5 hours, 15 minutes.

I'm amazed and so very proud of myself! LOL! And I've very, very grateful for all of you who've helped me along the way. I wouldn't have made it during those tough days without you. So, thank you all!!!

Shalom!

[KelKel]

You brought tears to my eye's... so grateful for your lungs.

[historyteach]

(((Kellie)))

Thank you my friend....

Ya know, it's so very cool to say, "I don't smoke."
And even better to feel it as truth!

I am feeling so much better. I'm not coughing like I was -- constantly coughing! Yuck! I just don't know how I did it for so long! 36 years of destroying my health.
Oh, and my voice is getting better. A good thing, since I've joined chorus at the Temple, lol!

Thanks again!
Shalom!

[CAPTAINZING2000]

Grats

my little friend

[daddysgirl29]

Way to go, HT!! That's incredible!!

[roa]

That's GGGRRREEEAAATTT!

You're an inspiration!

Roa

[historyteach]

Thanks, Capt;
Thanks to you too, daddy'sgirl!! Are you a quitter too?
I know Chris is...How's it going? (after your long sleep in... lol!)

It is really cool! LOL! My sister took me to dinner last night -- after we hit the gym, lol! Blew that workout, huh?
The other day, when my family gathered for the holiday, my oldest brother, (there are 7 of us), called for everyone's attention. He told everyone to give me a big applause for quitting. LOL! Embarrased? yes; feeling good? YES!!!

I'm getting there. Next week, I do my first step down with the patch. And I'll be going to FL for a bit over a week. Then, back to work... grrrrrr

But, I'll be back as a quitter! The smoking counselor said everything will be different as a result. I will have learned new coping skills and have them incorporated into my behavioral pattern. That should help me deal with the jack*sses at work! (And no, it's NOT the kiddies!) This quitter is a winner! They will be dealing with a new woman. Watch out, world! LOL!

Thanks again for your support. It means the world!

Shalom!

[historyteach]

Oooppppssss!
Sorry I missed you Roa!
But, sure glad you've come on board!

Thanks...appreciate it much!
But, I owe it to others who went before me, and got me through. Heck, I feel like Bikewench is my sponsor, LOL! (THanks, Bike! )

Shalom!

[CAPTAINZING2000]

Kind of glad we have this thread. With everyone's support on here, even if it means chewin on nails We can all do this.

Was tough drinkin my pot of coffee today

[historyteach]

Chris;
Another thing the smoke counselor (lonny) said is that we should change alot of the little things associated with out cigarettes.
For example, if you drink coffee, switch to tea.
And if you can't switch to tea in the morning, ( ) then drink your coffee in a different seat. Switch your furniture around in the house. Drive a different way to work and back. ANYTHING associated with cigarettes, we should try to change something about it.
All of these things trigger us for a cigarette. If we lessen the number of triggers, we lessen the chances of slipping. Works for me!

Love that smilie! LOL!

Shalom!

[CAPTAINZING2000]

I drink tea already

anything about choking the living $hit out of people that annoy me

[ASH]

HT, THAT IS JUST FANTASTIC, WAY TO GO!!!!

HERE'S TO YOU FOR A HAPPY, HEALTHY NEW YEAR :HONYnewye

[historyteach]

Ash,
Thank you!!!
Chris,
WALK AWAY!!!

Shalom!

[frankie_b]

YOWZA teach. Fantastic. Happy first month smobriety. :HONYSpark
Frankie

[sugarssweetpea]

Awesome

[historyteach]

Thank you, thank you, thank you...

One month, 23 hours, 25 minutes and 44 seconds. 1239 cigarettes not smoked, saving $340.73. Life saved: 4 days, 7 hours, 15 minutes.

Shalom!

[mooselips]

Good going Teach,
Here I am right behind you by a month....

[historyteach]

Moose,
You're not behind me. You're walking this path right with me.
Remember, we are only smoke free one day at a time!

Shalom!
One month, three days, 16 hours, 4 minutes and 41 seconds. 1346 cigarettes not smoked, saving $370.36. Life saved: 4 days, 16 hours, 10 minutes.

[sisterofD]

Way to go Teach!!!!! 370 bucks, you need to do something really nice for your self!!!!!

hugs,
sisofD

[CAPTAINZING2000]

#STPM25#STPM26


Hmmm trying to find a coin that fits the occasion

[velvet]

Hey teach...from one teach to another...maybe you could point me to the "tobacco free road"? I guess while I'm at SR learning to deal with my ad daughter, I may as well kill two birds with one stone, heh? I've been smoking and can't stop. I do go out of my house, so I don't make anyone else breath my smoke...but it's that routine that I find so hard to break. You know...first thing in a.m. Telephone rings...and before I even answer...gotta find a cig. Give me some input. Thanks.

[historyteach]

SisofD,
I bought myself a new chaise lounge!
Good thing I actually stayed quit, cuz, I bought it on "credit" from the savings I would have, lol!

Chris,
Thanks! I LIKE it!

Shalom!

[historyteach]

Velvet;
I'm glad you want to make this change. It's the best thing you can do for yourself!

Please call the American Cancer Society. THey will send you workbooks to help you plan your quit, and for the first month or so of your quit. They also sent me this gumby like stick to manipulate when your having a need to do something with your hands! It helped me alot in the beginning! They will also give free telephone counseling.

Now, decide if you want to use any physical help. I am using zyban and the patch. I suppliment with the gum when I get a strong urge -- normally when I get into the car. If you choose to use zyban, then you have to start it a few weeks prior to your quit. So call your doctor because you need a prescription if you do. I also recommend getting the patch or the gum online. I got my first patches cheaper than at the stores.

See if your state is sponsoring a smoke cessation clinic. In RI, we get free counseling, free patches and free gum. It is paid for by the tobacco settlement money. Unfortunately, I've heard from some people that their states have spent that money on other things! (Shame on them!) So, call your state representative's office or the department of health to find out if they do have a clinic or not. If so, go. Studies show that people who get counseling with a group or individually, have a higher success rate.

Supply yourself with hard candies. Hot balls and cinnamon sticks have been shown to be very effective in cutting urges. As a side effect, the cinnamon sticks also supress appitite. You may want to get tooth picks or straws; some people find them helpful. I did not. I wanted to break the association with smoking that a straw would give me.

Make plans for urges. If we have a plan upfront, there's a better chance that we'll stay smoke free when an urge hits. What will you do when you are in the car? Talking on the phone? With other smokers? After dinner? Figure all your contingencies. How about when there are emotional urges that tug at our smoking behavior? Some people make a chart prior to their quit, to see what their physical and emotional states are when they light up. That will help you identify why your smoking. As such, you can fill the actual need you are experiencing, rather than have a smoke to cover up that need or emotion.

Set a date and get rid of all of your smoking instruments. Ashtrays, lighters, whatever. They say not to just put them away. That sends a subconscious message that you will pull them out again. The goal is to quit; not to put it off for a while.

Fill your tool box with activities to replace smoking during an urge. Deep breathing - in the nostrils, out the mouth. Another one I just learned of is this: Put your toungue on the back of your teeth, where your gums meet the teeth. Then, rapidly breath in and out the nose for a minute or so. You'll get a burst of energy and the urge will have passed. Meditation. Prayer -- the Serenity Prayer is a great one for quitting, being the courage to change what we can, and all. Power walking. Ways to keep busy. Remember that an urge lasts only a few minutes. Distract yourself for those few minutes, and know that it will pass. I use a "one day at a time" approach. To quit, "for good" is too much for me. I know I can not smoke for today! I also have a personal mantra that helps me -- nais gadol haya po, meaning, A great miracle is happening here! Can you find a saying that will help you?

Remember the four Ds. Drink lots of water. Distract yourself/Do something. Delay, knowing it will pass. Deep breathing. These will all get you past a craving.

Finally, research shows that successful quitters find a positive addiction with which to replace the negative one. My smoke cessation counselor says it's best if it is something that would be negatively effected if we return to smoking. I have joined the gym, and LOVE it!

Tell people that you are quitting. Get a smoke cessation buddy if possible. Someone you can call to help you through an urge if needed. Remember if you slip, it's not the end of the world. You are at a crossroad, and you can determine which direction you will turn. Recognize that you'll have some hard times, but, you CAN make this change for yourself. And remember too to reward yourself for each milestone.

Hope this helps. Do make that call to the American Cancer Society. Also, go to the website - www.trytostop.org . And the Cancer Society's web site too. Download the meter to help you keep track of your quit. It's free and you can get it at www.silkquit.org .

I probably gave you more than you wanted, lol! But, I hope you'll do this for yourself. I've already stopped coughing and I'm smelling things better than I've done so in ages!

Finally, come here and post often. We're here for you, so post before you puff!

Shalom!

[historyteach]

Oh, yea, Velvet;
Read the stickys on the top of this forum, and also the other posts.
Wishing you well on your quit.

Sorry to hear about your AD. My son is a heroin addict. The last time I quit, I didn't smoke for 3 1/2 months. Then, I woke one night to find him out cold; a suicide attempt. I was married at the time; my ex is a smoker. I picked up. It's been years since I've had to nerve to try to quit again.

Obviously, picking up did nothing to help me, or my son. But, it shows how easy it is for us to fall back on what is known; on what has given us comfort for so long. Smoking is the longest relationship I've ever had, as my doc pointed out. Now, I'm trying really hard to learn other skills to deal with stressful situations. The day may come -- no, it eventually will come -- when I face a loss. Smoking won't change that loss. So, learning these things, and having a plan will help me avoid returning to smoking.

Oh, yea, I'm now one month, three days, 21 hours, 34 minutes and 49 seconds smoke free. That's 1355 cigarettes not smoked, saving $372.88. Life saved: 4 days, 16 hours, 55 minutes.

Shalom!