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1. feefee

   

   11 posts
   Registered:
   28 Nov 2019
   28 Nov 2019

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   Hello Everyone - I'm new here and just registered to have my quit day as Sunday. I've tried to quit before but not through this site. Feeling a little anxious that I'm going to fail :(
2. atp

   

   501 posts
   Registered:
   31 Dec 2018
   28 Nov 2019 in reply to feefee

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   feefee,
   
   Quitting smoking can take time and commitment, and some of us may slip or relapse, but none of us fail. 
   
   The best thing you can do is prepare yourself. the MY QUIT PLAN  at the top of this website is a great resource to get you started, you've already made your first post and I guarantee that you will have planty of people willing to offer advice and support. Since you tried to quit before think about what worked, and what didn't. Try to apply what you learned last time to help you this time. 
   
   
   
3. emily, quit coach

   

   255 posts
   Registered:
   28 Nov 2017
   28 Nov 2019

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   Hi feefee, 
   
   Welcome to Smokers' Helpline Online. It's so great to have you. 
   
   Congratulations on setting your quit date! I think you'll find the site to be helpful as you're working on your journey with quitting smoking. There's a lot of helpful information and amazing support. 
   
   Wishing you all the best on Sunday,
   Emily
4. justfortoday

   

   168 posts
   Registered:
   12 Aug 2019
   29 Nov 2019 in reply to feefee

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   Hi and welcome feefee!
   
   You're in the right place. The support I receive here is a huge part of my success.
   
   If you can, try not to focus too much on your past attempts. This one gets to be a brand new quit!
   
   Reach out when you need to and know we've got your back.
5. feefee

   

   11 posts
   Registered:
   28 Nov 2019
   01 Dec 2019 in reply to justfortoday

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   Thank you very much! I have a NRT patch to help with the cravings...no cigarettes since 10pm last night :)
   I've decided to do some work to keep me busy since I'm snowed in today and can't get to the gym :(
6. feefee

   

   11 posts
   Registered:
   28 Nov 2019
   01 Dec 2019 in reply to atp

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   Thank you!! I guess just one hour at a time for now....it's been almost 14 hours. But I am wearing a nicotine patch to help me with the withdrawals. Is that considered cheating?
7. wimporswim

   

   69 posts
   Registered:
   29 Nov 2017
   01 Dec 2019 in reply to feefee

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   Hi feefee,
   
   Heck NO!  The patch & other NRTs are great tools that have helped many of us!  Keep going strong.  It truly is a one hour at a time battle.  So hang in!
8. feefee

   

   11 posts
   Registered:
   28 Nov 2019
   01 Dec 2019 in reply to wimporswim

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   Wimporswim,
   
   Thank you for the encouragement :)
   This day is going slow, but I least I don't stink and no coughing since this morning! Alos, it was too stressful trying to hide it from everyone. I wasn't a heavy smoker, just a closet smoker...but i get very irritated if I am not wearing a patch. Hope day two is better than day one. 
9. feefee

   

   11 posts
   Registered:
   28 Nov 2019
   01 Dec 2019 in reply to emily, quit coach

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   Thank you Emily!!
10. ro1

    

    3 posts
    Registered:
    01 Dec 2019
    01 Dec 2019

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    I must quit to breath 
    
11. ro1

    

    3 posts
    Registered:
    01 Dec 2019
    01 Dec 2019 in reply to feefee

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    You can do this 😊
12. feefee

    

    11 posts
    Registered:
    28 Nov 2019
    01 Dec 2019 in reply to ro1

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    Thank you :)
13. sarita

    

    3 posts
    Registered:
    30 Nov 2019
    02 Dec 2019

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    Congratulations on being brave! I have faith in you! Stay strong 💚
14. feefee

    

    11 posts
    Registered:
    28 Nov 2019
    02 Dec 2019 in reply to sarita

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    Thanks Sarita! Even though I am wearing a patch, the cravings are very strong..cant stop thinking about cigarettes.  What things did you do to quit?
15. justfortoday

    

    168 posts
    Registered:
    12 Aug 2019
    03 Dec 2019 in reply to feefee

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    Hey feefee!
    
    I'm sorry I'm late in responding, but i wanted to reach out to let you know I think you're doing awesome!
    
    Know that you are in good company here. The first few weeks all I could think about was smoking. I would see someone smoking and the envy that they could smoke and I couldn't was intense. I remember thinking, "it really wasn't that bad being a smoker ... why did I even quit?"
    
    The transition from smoker to nonsmoker is a full time job. And for me, respecting each day I didn't smoke helped me to do another day of healing.
    
    Soon you're going to be going about your business and all of a sudden you'll realize you haven't thought about smoking in a few hours! Celebrate these moments because moments become hours and hours become days.
    
    You're in command of your quit, feefee, and you can do this!
16. feefee

    

    11 posts
    Registered:
    28 Nov 2019
    04 Dec 2019 in reply to justfortoday

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    Thank you for the words of encouragement.  Even though I had a patch on on Dec 1 and 2nd, I had huge cravings. But thank God on Wednesday, even still wearing a patch, the cravings and thought of cigarettes subsided. Today is Thursday around 530pm and I am smoke free!!
    I've been super busy at work so that's keeping my mind if smoking.
    The patches have given me some very weird dreams. But they work tremendously! 
    I've been getting to the gym daily which is good. I've always been doing to the gym, but now I find that I can workout just a bit longer and not feel so winded. 
    I've told my close friends so that they know and I've declined to attend a Christmas party this weekend as a lot of them smoke. I am not strong enough yet. I dont want to go through the first two days like I did..not worth it to me.
    
    I'm concerned about gaining weight though. I'm 118 lbs, but I dont want to gain anymore weight. That's my biggest fear.
    Any advice on how to not replace cigarettes with food?
    
    
17. justfortoday

    

    168 posts
    Registered:
    12 Aug 2019
    04 Dec 2019 in reply to feefee

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    Hi feefee
    
    You have such an amazing focus on your quit. To keep yourself away from temptation (declining a Christmas party), and respecting your personal limitations is tremendous. Good on you!
    
    I've heard the patch can cause some crazy dreams and for that reason, I take the patch off before bed. If you never woke in the night to smoke, maybe try it if it's an issue??
    
    It's great you're keeping yourself busy and I'm impressed you're going to the gym ... everyday!
    
    I understand your concern about gaining weight ... it worried me as well. I hate raw veggies and I've never been a big water drinker so I found substitutes that replaced the cigarettes. I make smoothies and freeze them. As well, I'm a big fan of loose leaf tea ... I've turned making tea into a ritual. Another member here swears by cinnamon sticks!
    
    I'm three months smoke free and I've put on about five pounds. And I'm totally good with that. My quit is worth every ounce!
    
    I think putting on a few pounds is to be expected, but it sounds like you have an active lifestyle so it doesn't sound like it's going to be an issue for you.
    
    You're doing a great job, feefee! Keep doing what you're doing cuz you're doing it brilliantly!
18. feefee

    

    11 posts
    Registered:
    28 Nov 2019
    05 Dec 2019 in reply to justfortoday

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    Hi Justfortoday!
    
    Thanks again for the kind words!! Wow, frozen smoothies!  What a great idea!! Is there a recipe online where I can make them? And cinamon sticks? What do you do with those?
    That's fantastic you are 3 months smoke free:)  ... and only 5 pounds gained is amazing!!! Thats great!! You are definitely watching your intake :)
    What is the most significant benefit you've seen or noticed since you quit?
    You're right, your quit is worth every ounce.
     I was in my doctor's office last night waiting for him to see me when I wrote you. He's happy that I quit and told me that the reason people gain weight is because they replace cigarettes with food. He suggested me meditating, going for a walk or doing something other than going to the kitchen. I know everyone puts on weight, I just want it to be minimal especially with christmas around the corner! 
    Anyway, I'll follow your advice about the patch too. I never got up in the night to smoke, so I surely don't need to wear a patch to bed. 
    My twin is super proud, she quit 6 years ago. She did it cold turkey, but she said she did a lot of cooking and trying recipes to help her hands stay busy. LOL
    
    
19. justfortoday

    

    168 posts
    Registered:
    12 Aug 2019
    05 Dec 2019 in reply to feefee

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    Hi feefee!
    
    Your twin should be super proud of you! You should be super proud of you! I'm super proud of you!!
    
    Firstly, in answer to your question about the most significant benefit I've noticed is this … How I see myself is vastly different today than it was when I was smoking. My motivation to quit was a strong desire to become the person I wanted to be. And smoking didn't fit the profile of who she was. In the past I felt weak, less than, and ashamed because I couldn't quit smoking.
    
    Today, that is entirely different. I'm moving leaps and bounds creatively (I'm a textile artist), because I have no fear of failure. I'm not only embracing who I am, I'm taking on other challenges I might not have before … If I can quite smoking, I know I can find the courage to take on anything!
    
    I don't need to tell you about the physical benefits … you've noticed it already at the gym! For me, the emotional and metal benefits are massive.
    
    Oh, and the smoothies! You can make those bad boys with anything you like! I use yogurt as the base and then add whatever fruit I have in the house. I've even added kale to be extra healthy, but sadly that was a swing and miss … cranberries are great and they are a natural detox. The cinnamon sticks? Apparently they're good for the "hand to mouth" habit. If you explore the forum and find the member "kit", she explains it way better than I can.
    
    I love that your twin cooked during her quit. My husband does the majority of the cooking in our home, but when I learned one of the greatest ways to produce dopamine (something nicotine did for years) naturally is learning. Who knew! So, I started to look up countries that I have either travelled to, or intend to travel to. I would then find recipes indigenous to the region and prepare it. I'd purchase the ingredients and be sure whatever I chose to prepare would take hours. I still do this every week. And my husband is a happy man!
    
    I hope you have a great day, feefee! Keep us posted on your progress!
    
    
20. feefee

    

    11 posts
    Registered:
    28 Nov 2019
    06 Dec 2019 in reply to justfortoday

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    Good Morning!!
    
    Thank you for the insight on your progress!! That's fantastic!! I will try the frozen smoothies too!!
    
    Sounds like you have built up a lot of confidence! That's great to hear! Do you stil have cravings after 3 months?
    Quitting smoking is a lifestyle change, kind of like dieting. It doesn't need to be called a diet, just change the eating habits which is what I did two years ago and lost 15 lbs and kept it off :)
    I'm only 5ft 3 and 118 lbs, but I have to incorporate the gym regularly. So now with day number 5 of no cigarettes, I have to stay focused on what goes in my mouth! LOL
    So with being a non-smoker, I have to view as a lifestyle change and I hear that it takes 30 days to create a habit and 30 days to lose one. So, I have to keep busy and change my routine a little bit, but I do sleep well which is good. I am still on a patch to help with my irritability, I do have coworkers at the office I have to consider :)
    But they are supportive and I try to keep my cravings in check which I might add are better, yesterday afternoon was  a little rough for a few hours, but got through it. 
    I will keep busy this weekend by staying out and active and be around people who don't smoke. I only have two girlfriends that smoke. But the one I don't see often, the other, well we're supposed to go xmas shopping on Sunday...I'm still thinking about that. She'll try to tell me why don't i wait until after new year's, blah, blah. But last weekend felt like the right time. Thursday november 28th I decided that it was time and it felt right in my heart. 
    I just need to be strong in my belief that this is right for me and not anyone else :)
    Sorry this message dragged on...maybe I'm just venting, but I got through another day!! YAY
    I need to get through 7 days, and then then day by day, by day is all I can do.
    Have a wonderful weekend and thank you for the words of encouragement!!