OOOOOGGGGHHHHGGHHHGHGHHH I have it bad this morning. I am very negative and aggressive and just plain grumpy and grumbling and nasty. UGH. And to top it all off I feel dizzy and headachy and just plain miserable. That is where the choice is. I can notice that I am miserable, that I am all over on the unbalanced side and I have not chosen to switch on to the more balanced side. I know all you out there that have all those days and months and years yeah yeah ... This is the beginning of some stage or other and I know that you are all there to support me and I still fell really miserable, lonely and very isolated. Lucky for you all this is written, over the web and not face to face because I really can be very cantankerous. I could actually in my warped mind blame you or your posts or the computer screen, none of this is rational. Oh well here it all is, this is whats up with me. I know that this started yesterday after a lovely brunch. A brunch that I was abl to taste and feel in my mouth. AND Last night after getting home my mouth started to bleed. AND I know I am going to the dentist tomorrow and I am being proactive and yes this is another sign of my body healing itself and I know that right now I am impatient and just plain miserable. I am not sure of what to do. I will not write any more of this here. I will get up out and walk the dog. I promise that I will not be mean to her. She so loves to smell everything. I will be inspired by her a happy hound. I won't smoke. I will not bend to the temptation I will be more than this and absolutely stay in my commitment to quit. and be quit and not smoke and N.O.P.E. thats for me. This to shall pass and I hope that when I check in this afternoon my mood will have shifted or to be more clear that I will have actually taken responsibility and shifted my mood. Thats the bottom line because my mood does not shift, I choose to shift my mood. Ciao [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 2/17/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 17 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 348 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $127.5 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 2 [B]Hrs:[/B] 20 [B]Mins:[/B] 11 [B]Seconds:[/B] 31

Hey Redrosie, thanks for the cute little smiley, very sweet. AND it feels great to say I have given myself two weeks of smoke free living. Cheryl, Thank You for the info, thouhgts, sharing your experience. Yes to cut the thought process as soon as I notice is very helpful. I totally get, and identify with, the whole thing about knowing and telling myself that I am quit. Absolutely not allowing my mind to baffle me with bull s**t and for me to firmly stick to my path of quitting. There was a post in the last few hours from Kiwi that I so identify with and his resolve around giving himself a whole year of quit. Great post Kiwi THANKS Hummybird, Thanks for the congratulations and it might sound likeI am doing great and there are some moments when I am a mess. Not that that has anything to do with quitting smoking. LOL I like your slogan Not cravin',never cavin" Thanks galFriday. Cool that we have the same quit date, and Happy 14 days to you! :p ;p :p ;p [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 2/17/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 15 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 308 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $112.5 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 2 [B]Hrs:[/B] 12 [B]Mins:[/B] 16 [B]Seconds:[/B] 15

14 DAYS well actually I am in my 15th I thought that I would balloon up Like I have done the last few times. AND No. My rewards for weeks was to go and get new larger clothes and No. I am actually going to go out to get smaller clothes. Before I started the quit, (the actual not smoking) I started swimming, I swim for 5 hours per week. Accordingto the Rissa weight loss chart thats a whooping 2500 calories per week of extra activity, take off the 250 calories per day I used to deal with the smoke and I am still 750 calories more than I as doing before the quit. I also know that my breathing has improved. Especially in the pool. I am also more able to handle the chlorine or bromines that are used in the pool water, for the first couple of weeks of swimming the water burnt and really hurt. Now it hurts way less. What a miracle that the body can actually heal. I am so grateful for that. I really hope that I am able to continue the heal and that in my ignorance and foolish addiction I did nothing that can not be repaired with my body. I keep going back in my mind to what Kiwi said earlier today about committing to the whole year. This was for me a very inspirational and great piece and I am so glad that I stumbled upon it. [quote] I will share a little secret with you.... When i stopped smoking i decided i was not going to smoke for 1 year, even if it killed me. I prepared to put my whole life on hold for a year for this quit. I prepared to be miserable & was even ready to accept all the destructiveness i was going to cause amongst family, friends & work collegues. Guess what... 1 year on & i'm obviously still alive, i'm still in the samejob, there are still a few people left who talk to me plus i can't believe some of the things i've accomplished this 'smokefree' year. I'm a quiet, unsociable, shy guy with no willpower who quit 'cold turkey', what does that say ! the point is..... how ready are you ??? seriously - do you really want to stop smoking ? [/quote] Thanks Kiwi I am also so grateful for my choice this time I am doing this, quitting, cold turkey. I had so very many reactions to the NRT's and I am much more able at this time to sort out what is a foolish choice in food or some other consumable and what

Try this out [url=http://www.stopsmokingcenter.net/support/viewmessages.aspx?forum=12&topic=27418]To the celebration thread[/url] ;p [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 2/17/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 16 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 320 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $120 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 2 [B]Hrs:[/B] 14 [B]Mins:[/B] 38 [B]Seconds:[/B] 1

OHHHHH MYYYYYYY GGGGGG-----DDDDDD! I was wondering when it would happen. The crave that makes you want to puke. That actually heaves your gut, well it happened and I was out walking the dog, one of the only times that I would be smoking before Feb 17th. I had to go to the market and get fresh fruit and veg for dinner and I was telling myself the whole way yeah you can by the pack, you can smoke one of take a puff and my mind went on and on and on All kinds of junkie craving b.s. AND I went to the market, got the fruit and veg. Looked longingly at the smokes and I did not buy!!!!! Yeah. AND my gut is still churning, still lusting after the drama of what would be if I smoked and I have plenty of other drama's that I can be in that serve me a whole lot better. Yeah for me for staying quit, acknowledging that the crave was there, standing up to the crave, and stepping through to the other side without smoking. Thank You (my guardian Angel) for [font=Stencil][font=Stencil][b]NOPE NOT ONE PUFF EVER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YEAH[/b][/font][/color] :p :p :p :p :p :p :p [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 2/17/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 10 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 215 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $75 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 1 [B]Hrs:[/B] 18 [B]Mins:[/B] 6 [B]Seconds:[/B] 58

Putting all of the messages together into one thread and then I can see where and what I am up to in one shot. I am doing well. Busy at work. Knowing that I am working better not thinking about when the next puff/smoke will be. What a relief!!! Phillip [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 2/17/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 10 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 211 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $75 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 1 [B]Hrs:[/B] 17 [B]Mins:[/B] 20 [B]Seconds:[/B] 35

Part Two From the Second thread Posted By Discussion Topic: Thanks to all of YOU, for all of your strenght Printer-friendly Version send this discussion to a friend Riverdale Man 2/23/2006 7:13 PM Reply to this Discussion Posts: 47 Joined: 2/14/2006 265229 I have had to be at work now for a couple of days and the coping has been tough. I will occasionally crave, however there are more unsettling aspects to this. My mouth is incredialbly sore and raw. I am not sleeping great and that has me on edge. I get very light headed and know that I need to take a break breath and just let go. My stomach has been upset and there are a whole litany of other nasty bits mostly to do with my aging body. The most amazing thing though is that I come to this site and read and read and read. There is so much here to inspire, scare and simply create motivation. Thanks to all of you for all that you share. The stories, the personality and strength of each person who posts here provides another moment where I can get away from the desire to cave. It is in your strength that I find my strength so THANKS! Getting on to a week. Soon, Soon, Soon. and each day really does get a little better. Playful N.O.P.E. is N.O.P.E. is N.O.P.E.!!!!!! hooray! Blessings to you all! Phillip My Milage: My Quit Date: 2/17/2006 Smoke-Free Days: 6 Cigarettes Not Smoked: 136 Amount Saved: $45 Life Gained: Days: 1 Hrs: 2 Mins: 37 Seconds: 41 ladybugg 2/23/2006 8:02 PM Reply to this Discussion Posts: 2122 Joined: 1/1/2005 265235 Congrats on getting through your first week, Riverdaleman! I have to agree with you on this site! It was my rock for quite some time. It's not the experienced quitters that make the site, it's not the 'newbies', and it's not the moderators. It's the combo of having someone going through it with you, someone who went through it before you, and someone quiding you through it. The sharing of sorrows along with the hope for the future! So keep strong, keep close, and keep smoke-free! We CAN do this! ~lbugg~ My Milage: My Quit Date: 3/17/2005 Smoke-Free Days: 343 Cigarettes Not Smoked: 18,223 Amount Saved: $2263.8 Life Gained: Days: 33 Hrs: 11 Mins: 47 Seconds: 36 Lady 2/23/2006 8:27 PM Reply to this

Riverdale Man 2/17/2006 11:47 PM Reply to this Discussion Posts: 46 Joined: 2/14/2006 263502 Hello. New to this. This is a great sight and very inspiring! Today is my start date. I have smoked from age 13 and I am now 49. I have tried quiting several times. This time seems to be more organized, more focused. I sure hope that I will be able to find support here. Thanks for reading. Riverdale Man My Milage: My Quit Date: 2/17/2006 Smoke-Free Days: 0 Cigarettes Not Smoked: 0 Amount Saved: $0 Life Gained: Days: 0 Hrs: 0 Mins: 0 Seconds: 0 Cuddles 2/18/2006 12:32 AM Reply to this Discussion Posts: 1087 Joined: 10/3/2005 263509 Riverdale Man. You have come to the right place. There is a ton of support and advice here. Post as often as you want to or need to. Some one will be there to help. Congratulations on the decision to quit smoking Cuddles Knight Ash Kickin Joker My Milage: My Quit Date: 2/11/2006 Smoke-Free Days: 7 Cigarettes Not Smoked: 140 Amount Saved: $25.2 Life Gained: Days: 0 Hrs: 17 Mins: 20 Seconds: 41 crazysexytanya 2/18/2006 12:34 AM Reply to this Discussion Posts: 33 Joined: 1/5/2006 263511 Welcome Riverdale Man, and congratulations on taking that first step. I know you can do this. Stick close to this sight and we will help you through it. My Milage: My Quit Date: 12/29/2005 Smoke-Free Days: 51 Cigarettes Not Smoked: 1,173 Amount Saved: $255 Life Gained: Days: 4 Hrs: 11 Mins: 56 Seconds: 1 oinkoink2u 2/18/2006 3:22 AM Reply to this Discussion Posts: 181 Joined: 2/6/2006 263517 Hi there, this is the place to be. It helped me a lot the first few days and still does. Good luck. My Milage: My Quit Date: 2/6/2006 Smoke-Free Days: 12 Cigarettes Not Smoked: 146 Amount Saved: �30 Life Gained: Days: 2 Hrs: 5 Mins: 12 Seconds: 39 Melanie, Support Specialist 2/18/2006 4:51 AM Reply to this Discussion Posts: 1019 Joined: 12/15/2004 263524 Riverdale, Welcome to the site and congratulations on becoming an ex-smoker! It is great to hear that you are ready to quit! The question is are you prepared? Please take advantage of our free Online Treatment Program in your glove compartment as you log into our site. This program will f

So I am having a lot of cravings. Cravings I didn't have last week and I think I have not been on point this week. Sometime in the weekend I got off. I stopped celebrating what I am doing and started working at what I am doing. I need to slip back over to the celebration of myself and my celebration of my quit. Celebrating that I am taking a bold step into my own life and what all of that means. So what does it mean. It means I will be able to walk the dog without being out of breath. It means I will be able to hustle for the street car and not be wheezing when I get to it. It means I will be able to mix with people and be in their close company and not be smelling so rankly of cigarette. I will be able to dance, swim, bike and play with the best, my nephews included, and not feel like I am going to keel over. I know that I "feel better" when I am not smoking and that when I am not smoking I have have a lot of ill side effects. This is the point at which I have caved so many other times in whatever so called quits I have had in the past. What I have learned is that these are simply body effects and that I will get through them. My mouth has cleared up this week and feels way better than it did last week. So my gut is a little off this week it will be better next week. Another item that I know I need to concentrate on is giving myself the experience of quit, no smoke. I have not had this experience beyond a couple of weeks. I have smoked from childhood and have never had the experience of what being a non smoking adult is like. I am looking forward to this experience in this journey the most. I know I can provide myself this experience and that when the cravings come I simply need to go at my own pace and be in the moment one second at a time. I know that my integrity, honesty and fortitude will not be compromised and that I will simply turn from the cigarette, go in the opposite direction and do something radically different and amazingly loving and caring for myself and not have the smoke. So yes I am celebrating. Celebrating that I have not had a cigarette, celebrating that I am in charge, celebrating that I am doing something radically different and celebrating how much I can actually change the direction and purpose of my life. Hooray! [

Back from work, a little late. This post will be short. Those craves, the moodiness, a lot of the ugly stuff this week and this week is almost over. I most certainly don't feel all chirpy and chipper. And I am sure that will come back (this too shall pass). There is a part of me that just wants to sleep, I can get through that way. What ever it takes I am giving myself the experience of being quit. I most certainly swam and I know that I have more endurance, more breath and more comfort breathing. This is all good. Spring and warm weather is just around the corner, my bike! Still swimming like an otter! N.O.P.E. Thanks Phillip [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 2/17/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 12 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 259 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $90 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 2 [B]Hrs:[/B] 2 [B]Mins:[/B] 43 [B]Seconds:[/B] 35