Jazz, the only cheating you could do is if you were having a sly smoke. Anything else is considered fair and square quitting. Lots of different methods out there.
HUGS from Kev
Stick with it, you're doing well!
[B]My Milage:[/B]
[B]My Quit Date: [/B]7/12/2007
[B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 180
[B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 4,500
[B]Amount Saved:[/B] �756.00
[B]Life Gained:[/B]
[B]Days:[/B] 23 [B]Hrs:[/B] 3 [B]Mins:[/B] 11 [B]Seconds:[/B] 53
Jazz, whatever you decide about the patch has to be a personal decision but don't let it jeopardize your quit. Yes, you are a quitter. You are not hoisting a cigarette to your face. Many, many have used an NRT or other aid to help them develop the skills to get rid of this addiction. I stopped about a month in and almost lost it so I went back for a couple more weeks.
How are you doing on the patch? Do you think it is helping with the cravings? Have you tried before without the patch? Think it through a little and then decide. Do what you think is right for you but remember you can always change your mind, no matter what you decide.
Jazz, I am not sure what nicotine alone does to our body. I know it is the chemicals in cigarettes that can do a lot of the damage. Perhaps Josie and some others with some knowledge can chime in here and answer this question.
[B]My Milage:[/B]
[B]My Quit Date: [/B]11/19/2007
[B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 50
[B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 750
[B]Amount Saved:[/B] $168.75
[B]Life Gained:[/B]
[B]Days:[/B] 8 [B]Hrs:[/B] 3 [B]Mins:[/B] 12 [B]Seconds:[/B] 53
It's just really depressing that you feel you've accomplished something by hitting day 7 tomorrow without having a smoke, only to realize you've been kind of "cheating" along the way. The only thing we've really done this week is identify more triggers, change habits, etc., not really quit smoking.
[B]My Milage:[/B]
[B]My Quit Date: [/B]1/3/2008
[B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 5
[B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 100
[B]Amount Saved:[/B] $38.00
[B]Life Gained:[/B]
[B]Days:[/B] 0 [B]Hrs:[/B] 14 [B]Mins:[/B] 21 [B]Seconds:[/B] 27
Jazz,
What you say is true, but I think that it's the tar from smoking that is the real killer. Stay with the patches, then quit at the end of the programme :)
[B]My Milage:[/B]
[B]My Quit Date: [/B]2/13/2006
[B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 694
[B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 20,820
[B]Amount Saved:[/B] �5,205.00
[B]Life Gained:[/B]
[B]Days:[/B] 113 [B]Hrs:[/B] 4 [B]Mins:[/B] 18 [B]Seconds:[/B] 3
So even though I'm not "smoking", I'm still consuming the same amount of nicotine as I was when I was smoking approx 20 cigs a day?!? That's not good.
[B]My Milage:[/B]
[B]My Quit Date: [/B]1/3/2008
[B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 5
[B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 100
[B]Amount Saved:[/B] $38.00
[B]Life Gained:[/B]
[B]Days:[/B] 0 [B]Hrs:[/B] 14 [B]Mins:[/B] 19 [B]Seconds:[/B] 55
jazz,
Your not getting over 3000 chemicals that can continue to hurt you, while you are on the patch. 21mg would be around 21 cigarettes. The patch program is designed to gradually wean you off the nicotine without putting harmful chemicals into your body.
You are still a quitter, in every way! The are many ways to be a quitter, the choice is yours and we will stand by you no matter what!
Josie, Health Educator
I'm having 2nd thoughts about my choice of using the patch to quit. I know I'm not ingesting all the other crud from the cigarettes into my system, but I'm still getting the nicotine from the patch. Do you have any idea how many cigarettes the 21 mg patch would equate to per day? (nicotine wise, not chemicals) Am I still able to consider myself a "quitter" even though I'm still getting the nicotine? Thanks.
[B]My Milage:[/B]
[B]My Quit Date: [/B]1/3/2008
[B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 5
[B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 100
[B]Amount Saved:[/B] $38.00
[B]Life Gained:[/B]
[B]Days:[/B] 0 [B]Hrs:[/B] 14 [B]Mins:[/B] 18 [B]Seconds:[/B] 47
