1/1/04 - QUIT SMOKING CHALLENGE

[the man in blue]

CMF,

That is exactly what is happening today....I bought my last pack to smoke today and I'm trying to savor each one. Tomorrow is going to be overwhelming....but I'll stay strong! We have to stay focused and determined....!!!!


Bren,

Are you ready to go? Smoking up your last cigs? I'm glad you are here for me to "lean" on when I want to get a smoke....

Tommy,

Thanks for your support. We need that from a non-smoker (congrats again on quitting). This will be a ride for me!!

[cmf]

Hi The Man in Blue,

Well, I'm using the nicoderm patches and I highly recommend them. I quit for 6 months last year and then a rather severe string of events sent me back to smoking.

If you are using the patches, when you get past phase 1, don't waste the money on buying the step 2/3 patches, if money is an issue for you. They're just smaller. What I do is continue to buy the step1 patches and cut them in half. I do the step 1 for 3 weeks or so and then I use 1/2 patches for 3-4 weeks and then I'm ok to go without patches. It worked great when I quit this time last year.

I'm starting on induction on Monday. Needed to get a weeks worth of not smoking under my belt before kicking the carbs. Going to be quite a turn around year for me if I accomplish my goals.

Hoping for a nice, quiet, thinner, smoke-free 2004.

[Elleth Faewen]

While you're preparing for quitting, don't forget to go through any old purses, coat pockets, and anywhere else you may have a pack that you might stumble across. It's easier to toss them now than in a weak moment in the future.

Congrats to everyone!

[Bren]

I am starting my Dear John letter to my cigs now. I did the same thing when I started this WOE. Writing it down makes it easier to see and say good bye?

Getting a bit jittery here,,,,but strongly committed!!!! It is like saying good bye to an old friend.

I know we can do this with the support here. Ten months ago I never thought I could ever lose weight, but with the support and people here I found out how wrong I was.

I have smoked a pack already today...........sheesh!

[Tommy]

Good luck everyone

Just remember you do NOT have to have it! No matter how you feel today, you can live without having it!

First couple of days I tried to sleep as much as possible to past the time faster, when I was awake I tried to keep as busy as I could. Another suggestion might be going somewhere you cant smoke like the movies, LOR is like 3 hours long....

Good luck again

[Bren]

I have to bail on you guys today. We have had a tragic and sudden death in the family. I am postponing till we get through this.

[the man in blue]

I'm sorry Bren. We are here when you can do it. Well I woke up today and I wanted to go outside first thing and have my smoke. Didn't! All I can think about is smoking though....it's driving me nuts... I've only been awake for 30 minutes so far...

[jerzeegirl]

I made it through new years eve smoke free!!!!! ( I sat at home all night) it was the only way I was going to be successful!!!!! Though I did end up cheating but that is a whole entire other topic. Anyway I just wanted to say that I am sticking to this. Reading the info Tommy posted kinda helps make it a tiny bit easier.
~kate

[Tommy]

Hi All:

Bren.... I am so sorry.... I wish there was something I could say to help. Were all here for you.

jerzeegirl, I should have came over to jersey to see ya.... I spent New Years eve being a bore too. No food, no drinks, no smokes.... I even left early and was home an in bed by 11:30.... It was just no fun not being able to get drunk, stuff my face, and smoke.... LOL

But I think I chose right.

How bout everyone else, did ya's make it through day 1 smoke free?

[the man in blue]

I MADE IT THROUGH MY FIRST DAY SMOKE FREE.....YEA.... VERY ROUGH!!!!

[Tommy]

I MADE IT THROUGH MY FIRST DAY SMOKE FREE.....YEA.... VERY ROUGH!!!!

That is fantastic, I was really hoping to hear that Blue.... I am thrilled for you. Now if your gonna cheat you have to consider the fact that you just went thru all that trouble for nothing then...

Day 2 was the hardest for me when I quit last month. I even binged ( but atleast I enjoyed it, ohhhhh pizza.... ) But I paid the price of getting sick and retaining water for the next week. Not something that made me happy putting 5 lbs back on...

But the good news is by day 3 all the withdraw symptoms were gone. Also its now been a little over a month since I quit and I can happily say that not only havent I gained any weight but continued to lose all month.

[jerzeegirl]

Bren hope you are doing OK.

Just wanted to let everyone know that I am still SMOKE FREE :laughing
I am paying with 4.5lbs because I cheated and stuffed my face with bake Mac and Cheese new years eve, but still my lungs are on the road to recovery. I can already feel a bit of a difference my hands don't shake like they use to and I really think it had to do with smoking. I have decided that if I make to Valentines Day (and I will) my personal reward for quitting is to get my teeth bleached at brite smile, added bonus now when I walk into a room people smell my perfume not smoke!!!!!!!!!!!!!
~Kate

[Tommy]

Heyya Jersey:

Congrats... I stuffed my face too when i first quit, dont worry about the weight will come back off easy enough... And i had the same thoughts about getting my teeth done. In fact the first week i quit I went and bought that 2 week crest white strip stuff... Sad that i need to clean my teeth up in order to go to my dentist to get them professionally cleaned... LOL

[amibella]

i've been trying to quit for the past couple of weeks. i haven't had a cigarette for 2 days now. hopefully i can keep this up. it's a dirty habit that just doesn't fit me.

[Tommy]

Congrats amibella and welcome.... How bout everyone else, Blue did ya make it thru day 2?