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1. starlyn

   

   4 posts
   Registered:
   03 May 2018
   23 Nov 2020

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   Well, Its been a long long time since i visited this site. My quit was over 8 yrs ago.  I'm still smoke free and loving it. Although in the beginning I struggled a lot  at first and wondered if  I was ever going to be able to keep my quit.  It took me a while but I never looked back !  I have no desire to ever start again.  I recently spoke with another member (from back in around the same time) and this made me think again about this site.  I just wanted to have a peek at my dashboard to see where i was at....OMG, I think it said i saved over 26,000 dollars.  WOW.  That's a kicker!  Anyways, just thought I'd drop in and see if there are any long haulers that come and visit every now and then ? 
2. jenna lee, quit coach

   

   265 posts
   Registered:
   28 Jun 2018
   24 Nov 2020 in reply to starlyn

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   starlyn,
   
   Wow, 8 years...incredible. You have an amazing attitude about staying smoke-free and we are glad to hear about all of the money you have saved by not smoking over the years. You are an inspiration and hope new quitters can see that it is possible from you.
   
   Thanks for posting,
   
   Jenna Lee
3. treepeo1

   

   255 posts
   Registered:
   06 Feb 2020
   24 Nov 2020

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   Hi starlyn,
   
   It is wonderful that you have been a non-smoker for 8 years now.  Besides all of the other benefits, look how much money you saved!  That's incredible.
   
   I'm not the long hauler that you are, but I am coming up on 4 years, which I can hardly believe.  I have never left this site for a few reasons.  One is that I know I can never be complacent about my quit.  Even though I am happy being a non-smoker, I still get the odd craving, and I have to keep on my toes to stamp it out.  But in addition, I want to be here to help other people beat this addiction.  I have a great deal of respect for the people in this community.  I appreciate their honesty and sincere desire to quit smoking, and it is important to me to provide them with all of the support that I can.
   
   Thank you for checking in again.  Positive stories like yours show everyone that it IS possible to quit.  Where there's a will, there's a way.  You just have to find a path that's right for you.
4. wandam

   

   241 posts
   Registered:
   05 Feb 2019
   30 Nov 2020

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   Hi starlyn, 
   
   First, huge congratulations on celebrating 8 years of being smoke free! Second, thanks for coming back on here & sharing your success! I’m not a Long Hauler like you & treepeo1, but I sure do want to be &  follow in your guy’s footsteps! 

   Last modified on 30 Nov 2020 17:34 by wandam
5. starlyn

   

   4 posts
   Registered:
   03 May 2018
   11 Dec 2020 in reply to jenna lee, quit coach

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   Thank you !  :) 
6. starlyn

   

   4 posts
   Registered:
   03 May 2018
   11 Dec 2020 in reply to treepeo1

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   Hi Treepeo1
   
   Hey, 4 years is awesome. You are right, one can never be complacent about their quit.  I still get some triggers every now and then but I quickly remember how painful it was to quit and how, in the early days, I desperately wished to be at a point where my thinking about my quit, didn't consume me so much.  I am grateful to be where i am today and will always be respectful of the work I did to get where I am at today :) 
7. starlyn

   

   4 posts
   Registered:
   03 May 2018
   11 Dec 2020 in reply to wandam

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   Hi Wandam, 
   
   Thank you.  Wishing you the best in your quit.  One of the mantras that worked for me was the one that goes something along these lines : " If I smoke one, I'll be right back to where I started. Where I started was desperately wishing I could be where I am today."   I remember wishing so badly to be in a place where I wasn't thinking of my quit 24/7. Looking back now, I am so grateful to be where I am today and not fighting this battle daily.  It certainly gets easier in time.  
8. efreeman75

   

   296 posts
   Registered:
   02 Apr 2018
   12 Dec 2020

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   Hi Starlyn - a huge congrats and thanks for stopping by.
   
   Coming up on 3 years myself, and I continue to be motivated by the thrill of beating the terrible addiction that smoking was.  And the mantras, whatever they may be, definitely help.  They are brutally honest but oh so effective.  To anyone starting on the journey, I suggest you find your mantra, dig deep, hang on, and enjoy the freedom that quitting smoking offers. 
   
9. happy2quit

   

   4 posts
   Registered:
   14 Jul 2020
   05 Feb 2021

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   I am inspired to hear your stories and it gives me hope: 
   First and foremost I want to state that - I am happy that I quit last June 1 cold turkey on a whim- a few days later I decided I needed to quit smoking weed as well because after smoking a joint I would get an overwhelming craving to smoke a cigarette.
   
   Some of the side effects I have and continue to experience are : Weight gain- not only because I started to eat more- because I have discovered that smoking stimulates your colon and digestion. Also, due to COVID I am not exercising as much as before ( I am used to playing 4-6 hours of hockey per week).
   Dizziness/Brain fog/Headaches - apparently smoking elevates dopamine and they level off after smoking. There have been studies to show that people started to produce higher levels of dopamine after 3 months- which is good to know. Doesn't mean you are cured- however doing things that you like will help with that. Hard to concentrate at times. Here is another fun fact - smoking elevates your blood sugar levels quicker than orange juice.
   Anxiety and Depression- Not all the time- but will sneak up on you and hit you out of nowhere and for no reason.
   Insomnia - sometimes just can't sleep for no reason.
   **Weird Dreams-**Now this is ironic- one you fall asleep you may have crazy dreams!!
   Tingling in hands and feet- Apparently this is the blood finding it's way back to my extremities because of increased blood flow.
   Red blotches on face and Dermatitis- No idea why this happened
   Saying all that I have also been lucky- I have not gotten "smokers" flu, I am not coughing up tar or disgusting coloured phlegm, I really haven't had many breathing problems- just a few here and there, I don't have cravings
   Despite all the ups and downs that I have experienced I have no desire to go back to smoking- I have bet on myself and intend to win!  
10. wandam

    

    241 posts
    Registered:
    05 Feb 2019
    07 Feb 2021

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    Hi happy2quit,
    
    Huge congratulations on your quit! Yes it sucks to go through the many issues that arise when we quit but so worth it in kicking our smoking addiction! I can relate to the lack of stimulation in the colon/digestive tract, insomnia bouts! Sounds like you are rising above the difficulties like many of us! Keep up the great work 👍
11. become non smoker

    

    1 posts
    Registered:
    09 May 2021
    09 May 2021

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    I popped in today to see my quit meter and the numbers are astounding.  My quit date was September 17, 2012.  I am about 8.5 years in and have not looked back.
    
    This website was instrumental in helping me quit.  The struggle is real and tough on you mentally and physically.  It's worth it, breaking the chains of addiction and earning your freedom.
    
    I see a few members still posting from when I was a regular here and felt compelled to post on this post as it was started by Starlyn who helped me through some very dark days!  Thank you Star and I'm so happy to read that you have maintained your freedom as well.
    
    For anyone out there just starting out, good for you!  Don't ever give up on yourself.  Each failed attempt us just a step in the right direction.  It can be done, you can be free.
    
    I wrote down a list of everything I hated about my addiction. This list was very helpful throughout the first few years of my quit.  It's so easy to say...oh just one won't hurt.  But it will.  It will out you right back to where you began and that's not where you want to be. You want to be free and you will be free. It can be done, I am proof!
    
    All the best to you healthy non smokers out there.  Keep up the good fight.
    
    BNS
    

    Last modified on 09 May 2021 12:12 by become non smoker
12. sarah, quit coach

    

    231 posts
    Registered:
    28 Nov 2017
    10 May 2021 in reply to become non smoker

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    SO great to hear from you BNS - thank you for sharing your quit journey, and for encouraging others to do the same. Congratulations on being smoke-free for so many years! You are an inspiration to this community, and we really appreciate you sharing some of your experiences and strategies with us. 
    
    All the best,
    
    Sarah