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1. optimist

   

   57 posts
   Registered:
   11 Jul 2019
   20 Jun 2022

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   One week smoke-free!  Worth the effort because cigarettes are so destructive.
2. dublinguy

   

   379 posts
   Registered:
   09 Dec 2021
   20 Jun 2022

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   Good for you Optimist. One week is worth celebrating cos it is a tough one when the cravings and urges keep coming your way to try get you to give in. Keep up the effort now for week 2. You can do it and keep us posted as you go. We are here to support you on your journey.
3. optimist

   

   57 posts
   Registered:
   11 Jul 2019
   20 Jun 2022 in reply to dublinguy

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   Thanks dublinguy.  I really need and appreciate your support.  This is a whole new beginning for me, and sometimes I feel so alone with it.
4. jb63

   

   118 posts
   Registered:
   28 Feb 2022
   20 Jun 2022

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   Congrats on one week.   Keep up the great work.  
5. optimist

   

   57 posts
   Registered:
   11 Jul 2019
   21 Jun 2022

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   Thanks jb63.
6. mike o

   

   20 posts
   Registered:
   10 Jun 2022
   21 Jun 2022

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   Nice work optimist- how you feeling with it now, how’s it all going!😁
7. treepeo1

   

   255 posts
   Registered:
   06 Feb 2020
   21 Jun 2022 in reply to optimist

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   Hi optimist,
   
   WooHoo, you have one week under your belt!  Good for you!
   
   You are definitely not alone.  We are all here for you.  And we get it.  Quitting is hard.  It is a physical, mental and emotional addiction. 
   
   You smoked when you were happy, sad, bored, killing time.  Now you have to figure out how to handle all of that without smoking.  It is a daunting task, but not an impossible one.  There are some tricks of the trade that might help you.
   
   Drink lots of water to help get the toxins out of your body.  Do things to distract yourself.  Make a list of all the reasons why you want to quit and read it often.  And focus on all of the benefits of quitting.
   
   You are doing a great job.  Keep it up.  And remember NOPE (Not One Puff Ever).  If you never take that first puff, you will remain a non-smoker forever.  
8. optimist

   

   57 posts
   Registered:
   11 Jul 2019
   22 Jun 2022 in reply to mike o

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   Hi mike:  Good to meet you and hope your quit is going well.  I'm doing fine so far, perhaps wanting to eat more than usual and really can't afford to gain much weight so all in all a lot of restraint is going on!  However, even after only 10 days of not smoking, I feel better.
9. optimist

   

   57 posts
   Registered:
   11 Jul 2019
   22 Jun 2022 in reply to treepeo1

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   Thanks for the welcome and support treepeo1 - much appreciated.  You offered several pieces of good advice.  I've never been much of a water-drinker, however I'm trying to increase my intake.  NOPE is a phrase to live by.  What really keeps me going though is remembering my reasons for quitting.  I believe that's what will make the difference for me in the long run.
   Pleased to meet you, and wish you all the best.
10. wandam

    

    241 posts
    Registered:
    05 Feb 2019
    23 Jun 2022 in reply to optimist

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    Congratulations optimist on being over 1 week smoke free! Quitting is hard work and you are doing it! Keep up the great job! We are all rooting for you.
11. optimist

    

    57 posts
    Registered:
    11 Jul 2019
    24 Jun 2022 in reply to wandam

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    Thank you wandam.  Unfortunately I have to report a small slip yesterday; however I have since reviewed my reasons for quitting and am back on track and persevering in my quit.
    Have you been quit for some time?  What worked best for you?
12. wandam

    

    241 posts
    Registered:
    05 Feb 2019
    29 Jun 2022 in reply to optimist

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    Hi optimist, 
    
    Glad you were able to bounce back from your little slip & remain on your smoke free journey. I myself had two little slips where each time I smoked a quarter of a cigarette in my 8 month, thank goodness I was able to get back on track with my quit, I’m now at 20 months. Quitting is hard work for sure. Some of the things that helped me was reminding myself of the stink, cost and lack of freedom that came with smoking. It is so freeing to no longer be a slave to those nasty old smokes. I’m so grateful for being smoke free. There are still times when I see others smoking and think I’m missing out but then I quickly remember, no they are, not me. I’m free & they are still a slave to their addiction, like I once was in the past. Quitting takes a lot of work but so worth it. Just keep thinking of all the benefits you will reap and just keep going one day at a time! You got this optimist! Wishing you all the best with your smoke free journey! Take care
    

    Last modified on 29 Jun 2022 14:00 by wandam
13. mike o

    

    20 posts
    Registered:
    10 Jun 2022
    01 Jul 2022

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    Hi Optimist- don’t be too hard on yourself giving up and do forgive your self a slip- most cravings after 10-14 days are only mental not physical keep quoting that and it will help you. Do embrace NOPE as your motto.
    
    Weight gain is temporal 0-3 months then lost over 3-12 months usually half to one stones .
    
    Think of it as a bad haircut- 6-12 weeks it’s grown out and forgotten.
    
    best of luck with your quitting attempt optimist remain optimistic 😀👍
14. optimist

    

    57 posts
    Registered:
    11 Jul 2019
    02 Jul 2022 in reply to wandam

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    Thank you Wandam for telling the truth that quitting smoking is hard work and a lot of work.  Whether or not it'll be worth it for me remains to be seen.  In any case, I've made my choice.  Oh and I re-started my quit yesterday :)
15. optimist

    

    57 posts
    Registered:
    11 Jul 2019
    02 Jul 2022 in reply to mike o

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    Hi mike o.  Good advice and well said.  Thank you.  Let's all remain optimistic on our journey.
16. optimist

    

    57 posts
    Registered:
    11 Jul 2019
    02 Jul 2022

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    This is hard work, a lot of work, and I would add over a long period of time.
17. treepeo1

    

    255 posts
    Registered:
    06 Feb 2020
    04 Jul 2022 in reply to optimist

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    Hi optimist,
    
    Yes, quitting is hard work, but it is well worth it.
    
    You know, every time I get together with my friends or family members, I am so grateful that I no longer smoke.  It was just so embarrassing to have to leave them at the table to go outside to smoke.  How many conversations did I miss?  How bad did I stink of smoke when I got back?  It is absolutely wonderful to go about my business without worrying about things like that any more.  And you know what?  Most people these days don't smoke.  So if you are a smoker, you stick out like a sore thumb.
    
    The next time you are out, look around.  You will see what I mean.  The other day I was on a large patio, and no one left it to go have a smoke on the sidewalk.  And no one passed by on the street with a cigarette either.  And my friend and I were there for about two hours.  It's really nice to be part of the majority, instead of skulking around looking for a place to light up where no one will give you dirty looks.  There is such freedom in being a non-smoker.
18. optimist

    

    57 posts
    Registered:
    11 Jul 2019
    05 Jul 2022 in reply to treepeo1

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    Hi treepeo1,
    
    Shortly before I quit smoking, I was having a cigarette in an outdoor smoking area.  One of the other smokers asked me a question, alluding to the dangers and destructiveness of cigarettes.  I snapped at that individual, not so much because of their question but because I was already feeling guilty and angry at myself for smoking.
    
    You're right that not many people smoke these days.  I've had my fill of sticking out like a sore thumb.  Much better not to have to worry about such things.