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Made it 12 hours. 7:30 am, smoked a cigarette. I want to sort out what's the trigger, nicotine withdrawal, or the psychological habit. Put on a nicotine patch. 7:45 am, car needed gas. As I walked toward the mini mart to prepay for gasoline, I tossed the remaining cigarettes I had into the trash receptacle that was just outside the entry door. 1:00 pm, lunch time. Fought the urge to go and buy cigarettes. That's habit speaking, I reminded myself, not nicotine withdrawal, because I wasn't in withdrawal. 5::30 pm. Off work. Normally would have headed to my car, lighting up on the way. Urge to light up; thought about stopping and getting cigarettes. Identified it as habit, not withdrawal. 6:00 pm. Passed the drug store I used to buy cigarettes at. Debated at the left turn lane red light: do I stop and buy cigarettes, or keep going? It was habit grating on my nerves, not withdrawal. 6:10 pm. Safely at home. Walked the dog, then fed her. Feeling at loose ends. While she eats her dinner, I used to go out on the patio and smoke a cigarette. Instead, I sat at my computer desk, doing nothing, missing smoking. 6:30 pm. Made a humongous salad. Filling, but not satisfying. Made pancakes. Craving something sweet. Poured maple syrup on them. 6:55 pm. Wanted the smoke I used to have after dinner. 7:00 pm. Watched three episodes of Criminal Minds, cravings creeping into my mind about every 30 minutes. Told myself that this is habit, the mind creating tension because of the change. 9:57 pm. I made it through 12 hours. Actually 14 1/2 hours. Tomorrow is another day. I'm taking this a few hours at a time. When I have the psychological urge to smoke replaced with stronger thoughts and healthier habits, then I'll address the nicotine addiction. I actually think that the psychological habit/urge may be more of a problem than the nicotine desire for me. Not sure, yet. Got up the courage to put up a ticker. And may I never have to replace it with a differently dated one. But trusting myself to keep the commitment....not 100%. I've been here too many times before. I'm better armed with everyone's advice, participation in a preparation to quit program with my health insurance company, and this forum. Thanks to everyone who posted the thread where I reported my father's death. I really appreciate your advice and thoughts for strength. One hour at a time. The next eight won't be difficult. I'll be asleep. Only time I don't have to talk myself out of acting on a craving.

I know its been awhile, I recently moved to North Carolina and celebrated my 12 month anniversary smoke free with my mom. I want to thank you guys so much for the support that helped my quit so much easier.?????

Congratulations! You have made the best decision ever. I'll share a few things I learned during my quit as I also used the patch. That was 11 years ago. I'm not sure if this is your first quit but it doesn't really matter. What matters is where you are now. You understand that you are going through a behavior change as well as a physiological change in your body. You will need something to help you with the "oral" fix. There are many good suggestions. One that seems very successful if cutting up straws to the same size as cigarettes and putting one in your mouth. You can go through the whole reach for the smokes, put it in your mouth and suck routine that you are used to . Some quick tips- That drug store that you used to buy your smokes at. Don't avoid it, confront it. I used to go to Walmart once a week and look the large wall of cigarette cartons. I'd stare them right down and say aloud "You CAN'T have me! I win, you lose!". It worked. The patch- you will come to a point where you need to get rid of the patch or you will just be getting the nicotine from there. When that time comes buy some small square band aids. I used to put the band aid on the same part of my body where the patch had been. I basically "fooled" myself into thinking I was still getting nicotine. This worked amazingly well and the final withdrawal was almost painless. Just remember- Smoking is not the answer, it never was. Once you quit smoking, you need to deal with whatever it was that was really bothering you. You must develop different copying mechanisms but you will and you will succeed. Just tell your self that you have no choice. I wish you the best!

Nope!

Kate, you can do this. Don't over think it. Everyday you go without a cigarette, you will begin to feel so much better about yourself. Hang tough and stay close.

G’day you really are proforming a death defying feat...... C

Nope. Smoking is never an option.

Nope!

You have got some great help tip from Andi above. There really are two parts to the quitting thing, at least in my mind. The physical addiction to Nicotine and the psychological part of smoking (that's the habit part you refer to Kate). If you are using NRT products then you are cutting down o the nicotine intake gradually, which is of benefit to many quitters but, you still have to deal with the psychological part which to me was the most difficult and longest adjustment but .... it's very doable if you put some thought into distracting yourself in order to use up all the spare time you will suddenly have. In the early days, do anything to use that time up. Change up your daily routine in small ways just so you have a NEW routine.Replace morning coffee with juice. Have a morning shower or if you did that before, take it at a slightly different time. Just small changes will help. If you went out for a smoke at a certain time, go for a short walk now even if it;s just around the house once or twice - be creative. Just always remember; quitting smoking won't harm you in any way. Sure, it can be challenging and uncomfortable for a bit but that is just temporary. It does get better for everyone who continues to say NOPE each day! Every person here who has been quit for awhile will tell you the same thing. They just love the new lifestyle they have now as a non-smoker. No longer the slave to their nicotine addiction. Having to service it whenever it demands. And that doesn't mean just smoking but all the preparation work. Making sure you have smokes and lighters and somewhere to go to smoke and on,. and, on and on it goes. Embrace your new freedom! It may such right now but it won;t for long By the way, congrats to both of you new quitters for getting through the early hours of your quits! Not easy in those early days but so worthwhile in the long run!

Nope

Congratulations! Looks like we have the same quit date.

Nope

NOPE

NOPE

Hello Quit Train members, I’ve been lurking here for some time now. I have been doing a lot of reading, trying to get myself educated and motivated. This is not my first time to quit smoking but I want it to be my last. It feels so good to get this off of my chest. You see, I have been a closet smoker for quite a while. Nobody knows I went back to smoking after the last time I quit. I didn’t have the heart to tell my family or friends. To be honest, I’m kind of surprised that nobody has figured it out by now but I guess I must be pretty good at hiding it. I’m happy to be here and look forward to the camaraderie and support. This seems like a great community! Best wishes to all of us who are putting this horrible addiction to rest. NOPE! Mona

G’day NOPE starts my day C

Kate, Please commit to yourself and your quit. It is the only way. Fake it until you make it, kiddo.

Hi Kate, congrats on a day quit already, that's great Love the clues @Andi has given. I'm a huge supporter of the air cigarette as it helped me immensely my first few months quit. The bandaid trick is a great idea too and one I hadn't heard before but if it works as good as the air cig does I will definitely be passing that clue along to others

NOPE!

NOPE!!!

Nope

You've got a ways to go if you plan to challenge us for the "Pain in the Butt" trophy!

Nope

Welcome aboard the train lilac, and congrats on taking back your life!

Welcome aboard Lilac, good to have you along on this journey. Looks like you have been reading some already and I have seen that you have started the daily NOPE pledge -- both of these will help you greatly. Keep doing the NOPE everyday and ask for support whenever and take some time to do some of the fun stuff, can help you get thru some of the tough times and laughter is always good for the soul!!!!

NOPE.....

NOPE! Happy Friday, everybody!

NOPE!!!!!!!!!!!

Nope!

Lilac, so glad to formally meet you. I also was a closet smoker and so ashamed of my habit. As I hid at home and smoked, my life became so dark and unhappy. I felt so doomed to be so chained to such a miserable habit. I was always attempting to quit or looking for ways to quit. I accidentally came across this forum and it has changed my life. I am happily heading into my 5th month smoke free, with no intentions of looking back. It feels amazing to get control of your life again. I still spend a lot of time reading about my addiction and reading other posts of peoples emotions during their journey. We are here for you Lilac. You can do this!

And something else you will find helpful is staying active posting here. Even if you are just asking a question or bitching and moaning about some quit symptom you are dealing with (and trust me .... we all do that in the early days), other people you don't even know will be reading it and the information in your post just may help them in some way you don't even realize. Just like you did, there are always people lurking out there and reading posts we put up. By helping others in this way you actually end up strengthening your own quit at the same time. It;s a win-win

Thank you for the encouraging words everyone. I know that it may not seem like it now, but it will most certainly be worth it!

Welcome, Lilac....education on your addiction and support are the keys to a sticky quit! You will find both here on the Quit Train...buckle in (it will get bumpy!) and enjoy the ride!

Nope!

Hi Lilac As others said already, education about this addiction really is key in staying quit long term because you need to truly believe and feel in your heart that smoking does nothing good for you. Reading as much as you can not only from posts here but the Joel videos and all the green pinned posts at the top of the quit smoking discussion page will help educate you. It really is the best thing you can do for yourself and your loved ones. Stick around. You might like this place

Welcome, Lilac. Congratulations on quitting smoking. I've made several attempts at quitting before as well, prior to quitting for good. I can tell you that finally putting those nasty cancer sticks behind you for good is a great and empowering thing to do and is definitely worth whatever early struggles you may have. Stick around this site. There is a lot of camaraderie and support here. We've all been where you are at now and yes, quitting is very doable. Read, reach out if you need support, and pledge in the daily NOPE thread. All of these things help greatly.

No no nopers.

NOPE....

Nope! No matter how tough you think quitting might be; keep going and you will win in the end!

NOPE

Well done Kate ...freeing yourself from this killer addiction is the. Most rewarding thiing you can ever do..... The rewards are endless... One day at a a time ...... You can do it ...you just need to believe in yourself ...

Way to go Kate. Just take one day at a time.

I made it 24 hours. Not going to say "Not One Puff Ever;" I've relapsed too many times. But having done this yesterday, I believe that I can do this for another day, today.

That is only because us overs are "Anal" about how our paper hangs.

Welcome aboard Lilac... Well done for taking your life back...keep reading and Learning.... We have a NOPE thread too....it's a great way to start your day.... It's a promise to yourself ...not to smoke in just 24 hrs....you'll be surprised what a powerful tool this is .... Stay close ....post often ....I found staying close to the board really helped .... Join in the fun ..quitting is not all doom and gloom... Looking forward to getting to know you better ...

NOPE - I don't smoke anymore.

NOPE !!!!!!!!!!!

Not going to smoke tomorrow either! NOPE

Nope!