Oh Kiwi, Nearly forgot CONGRATULATIONS!! :) [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]2/13/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 465 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 13,950 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] �3,487.50 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 74 [B]Hrs:[/B] 17 [B]Mins:[/B] 45 [B]Seconds:[/B] 47

Well said Kiwi, The realisation that not only will you never smoke again but also do not have any desire to anymore is a fine moment indeed! :) [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]2/13/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 465 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 13,950 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] �3,487.50 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 74 [B]Hrs:[/B] 17 [B]Mins:[/B] 45 [B]Seconds:[/B] 37

Way to go Kiwi! You are my inspiration :) Be proud of yourself and please check in so we can follow your progress.... we all need to know that it's possible to maintain our quit [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]5/8/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 16 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 272 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $67.20 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 1 [B]Hrs:[/B] 11 [B]Mins:[/B] 7 [B]Seconds:[/B] 49

Kiwi, Great post! The courage to start a quit again and again is something that most do not have. I remember your last quit and I've watched this one progress as well. You keep taking one day at a time. If you remember, I struggled for what seemed like forever! All those Posts!!!!! It really does get better and I know exactly what you meam by people saying that no helping much. Just know that it does. For each quitter the "when" is different. It will just kind of sneak up on you won't even realize it. Keep taking one day at a time and it will happen for you as well. Congratulations on 8 awesome months quit! Lady [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]7/1/2005 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 692 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 13,840 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $2,422.00 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 62 [B]Hrs:[/B] 11 [B]Mins:[/B] 56 [B]Seconds:[/B] 54

[color=Purple]Truly inspirational kiwi. I just posted about how hard it is to see people giving up amazing quits, people who simply disappear from the site after being so gung ho and feeling.. can't really describe how I feel - Except I cannot allow myself to become discouraged, yet it's still so hard to see this happen. Thank you for your insightful words ! Your inspiration has lifted my spirits :) Jean [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]4/4/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 50 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,250 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $512.50 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 5 [B]Hrs:[/B] 15 [B]Mins:[/B] 35 [B]Seconds:[/B] 49

nice one Kiwi Thanks for sharing that heartfelt message..the encouragement is always appreciated and i'm with unhooked...if i get a singing voice out of this, it is an added bonus can't wait to see you at a year!!!!!! -aloha [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]3/22/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 63 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 2,520 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $428.40 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 8 [B]Hrs:[/B] 18 [B]Mins:[/B] 50 [B]Seconds:[/B] 27

ditto [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]1/8/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 135 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 2,025 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $567.00 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 12 [B]Hrs:[/B] 13 [B]Mins:[/B] 56 [B]Seconds:[/B] 13

Great post! Thanks for the inspiration. It is good to hear from someone like you, and know that it will be worth it. Happy for you. Awesome job. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]4/30/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 23 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 460 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $264.50 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 2 [B]Hrs:[/B] 9 [B]Mins:[/B] 19 [B]Seconds:[/B] 10

What a great message, Keith. I appreciate it very much & I'm sure some other newbies will, too. The best part is, I'll be able to sing after 8 months? That's awesome, I never could sing! [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]5/13/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 10 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 200 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $110.00 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 1 [B]Hrs:[/B] 2 [B]Mins:[/B] 7 [B]Seconds:[/B] 9

Eight months ? it seemed so unachievable. but here I am. I know I dont post much on on the SSC anymore, but I regularly check in and read. There are so many new members, names I don't recognise, but I read your posts. I feel empathy for you, I feel sorrow for you, and I feel your pain and frustration. I have been there, the memory of the struggle still very fresh in my mind. I remember posting questions like "when will I be quit? " Wishing and hoping that the cravings would go away. feeling as though I had fought hard but I was nearing exhaustion. The struggle was huge. I just wanted it to be over. As I read your posts I recognise these same feelings. this same frustration. Everyone keeps saying it will get better. although meant with the best of intentions this is of very little comfort, after you have just snapped at the kids, yelled at your better half and strangled the cat. "it will get better" just does not cut it when you are climbing the walls with frustration and walking down the street behind a smoker just so you can get a whiff of cigarette smoke. I know only too well that feeling of helplessness, but guess what ???? They were telling the truth !!! it does get better. One day you will have your epiphany, what a wonderul feeling it is too. That day you realise you have won. is it worth it ?? umm lets see... I have more money, dont know where it is though. I feel physically alive. I can taste food. I can run around and play with my kids. I can go on long bush walks. I dont smell anymore. (wife has other ideas about this one) I dont feel like a social leper I dont feel embarassed buying cigarettes I dont have to plan any activities around a cigarette break. I can sing like never before. To be honest I wish now I had never smoked in the first place because life is so much better without cigarettes. is there a down side ...yes a few months of discomfort while I kicked the habit. I guess I am writing this in the hope that those of you struggling like I did so often, can grasp onto something that I have said, that perhaps this may help you through your next crave. It is not easy, but nothing worthwhile ever is !! Be strong. It will pass and you can win. For me the biggest benefit of quitting smoking is.....wait for it... I have gained control of my life ! After so many failed attempts to quit and I'm talking a lot, after trying every remedy available and failing every time, I had resigned myself to the fact that I was going to become yet another sorry smoking satistic. The cigarette company was going to kill me and I was going to pay them for the priviledge of doing so. It does not have to be. It can be done. I urge you all to be strong, to never lose sight of your goal, to reach out and ask for help when you need it but most of all to take back your own life. kia kaha e hoa KiwiKeith [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]9/29/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 236 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 5,900 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $2,737.60 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 35 [B]Hrs:[/B] 7 [B]Mins:[/B] 14 [B]Seconds:[/B] 27