Ok. Story Time : The Perils of Pining for a Puff". As I 'fessed up in another forum, I caved and slipped yesterday. Bought a pack of cigs pulled out one and threw the rest out (never intended to have more than one, just a few puffs).
Background - I've had it pretty easy over the past week, minimal cravings and they went fast. I think the uneasy feeling started Sunday night but I pushed it away. Came back strong Monday morning. I actually tried to combat it by viewing posts here. Wanted to post myself, but ran out of time as I was late for an appt. Being late I also didn't have a chance to grab some alternatives (straw, sucking candy, gummy worms, etc...).
I argued back and forth in the car with myself, sang some of the ship's music out loud, told myself it was one week don't blow it. Anyway, halfway thru my chiropractor appt, I felt a sudden calm and thought I was ok. Boom, on my way out it overtook me and I guess I knew a puff or two would quiet the voice and then I'd go on my merry way back to quitting.
Well it worked, in a way. It hurt my throat, made my hair smell terrible (noticed it so much more, now) and I just thought, "I am so past doing this. I can't go back to it." Then I started coughing for the first time in a week! Anyway, I did not change my quit meter since I feel it was a slip not a regression. However I've been trying to hold off showing it till I get a few more good days in. I'm back on track and more determined than ever.
Lessons Learned :
1- This habit is nastier than I realized and being away from it just a week drove that home. Everyone : relish not smelling stinky anymore and being able to breathe freer.
2- For some people Hell Week & Heck Week might be reversed.
3- I have to start meeting these bad cravings, when the "nicodemon" seems to be taking over my brain, head on and learn to get past them. If I sneak a smoke everytime I have one of them, I'll never get beyond them and succeed in the long term.
4- Like a good scout, we must be prepared for when the cravings hit!
Anyway, if I must walk the plank ... It will NOT be with a cigarette anywhere in sight!!!
Sorry the story turned into a novel! But thanks for "listening" and I hope you all benefit from my mistake.
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Quit Meter
$120,542.18
Amount Saved
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Quit Meter
Days: 6544
Hours: 10
Minutes: 50
Seconds: 42
Life Gained
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Quit Meter
45790
Smoke Free Days
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Quit Meter
412,110
Cigarettes Not Smoked
