Pippa

HeyDF - late again! Season changes are a big trigger - the addiction tried to fool you that you can't enjoy summer smoke free - but trust me - summer is even better smoke free- you don't have to interrupt fun times for a smoke ! It is normal to occasionally think about smoking this far down your quit ... The trick is to recognise the thought and let go ! Stay strong and treasure that beautiful quit xx

Hi Toni- so sorry you were having a hard time and hope you are feeling better. Quitting is tough at first but it does get better and take comfort - although some of us still had bad days along the way - a bad day doesn't make a bad quit ! Hang tough - you can do this - and remember we are here for support xx

1. I struggled quite a bit months 3 and 4, initially I was excited but by then I was over it ! 2. Not really sure - all of the months had good bits - but probably 6 and 12 months were major milestones for me- I had always planned to celebrate these months so that made it special 3. No foods gave me smoking thoughts but I lived on licorice as my crutch early in my quit 4. I experienced craves and was short tempered early on ( as hubby can attest) but no real anxiety - although my tantrums may have made others anxious ! 5. Still losing them - but I quit and entered menopause at the same time - plus did I mention that I also established licorice as a food group ?? So it is not surprising I put on some pounds :-) 6. I have always been a terrible sleeper - so I can't blame quitting for that- although this board became a great distraction for my insomnia .... And it actually meant people were online at the same time as me for a change ! 7. I'm still vigilant but I made a commitment to myself from day 1 that I would never go though this again ... So I guess month 1 8. I basically lived on the quit board early in my quit - reading, playing games, posting pictures of cats ! When I wasn't online I visits my other home - the gym ...... Distraction, distraction, distraction :-) 9. No depression thankfully 10. Staying active here makes me accountable ... How could I possibly let people down by smoking - plus I like to think I can help others along the way 11. I didn't have smoking dreams 12. I love travelling - so being smoke free makes that easy, plus not having to go outside in the heat / cold, also my health has improved ... The benefits are too many to list :-)

Boxing with my trainer and some intervals on the cross trainer at lunchtime ... Backing up with a game of basketball tonight ... Although I expect I will try to hide on the bench as long as possible ...gotta love having subs for a change ! :-)

"Played " with the new cross trainer they are trialling abt the gym ... Evil but fun - and then super heavy weights session with my trainer .... Feeling it now !

thought this was kind of funny in a sick, oh my god why is this happening to me way !!

I am sure you will do great a- exercising is so much easier now :-). Hope you find a running pal - unfortunately I think I am a little too far away :-)

Congrats Cher ... You always were an inspiration :-)

6 months is a fantastic achievement ... I'm so happy for you :-). Now what are you planning to do to celebrate ??

-8

Small group trying and then some intervals on the cross trainer ... Not sure I will be able to feel my legs tonight ... But it must be doing me some good .... Right ??? :-)

Yay you - what you doing to celebrate ?? :-)

Awesome job - make sur syou celebrate big time :-)

Hey Mike - do what you need to do ... And remember we are all here if / when you need it ! Stay strong !

Hi Marie - from memory I think people were commenting that you were obsessing about the cigs and as a result you were not able to let go of the smoking thoughts ?? I think it is natural for us to think about smoking early on ... I mean we were addicted for so long. But what was important for me was to recognise the thought, acknowledge that it was happening and then move on ! Don't get me wrong - moving on wasn't always easy ... Sometimes I crawled, other times I cried and more than often there was a lot of yelling at hubby, but what I did everytime was reaffirm that I did not smoke, think back to why I quit in the first place and most importantly know that my will to quit was stronger than a short term crave !! I also used this board - not just SOS but random, often babbling posts - anything but smoke! Others will be able to express this more eloquentlu than me! But I know you can do this ... You just have to believe and commit xx

Congrats on an awesome 6 months - make sure you celebrate :-)

-12 Hola señor B

-12

Awesome news ... And just think - if you can keep your quit through struggles with insomnia you can stay smoke free through anything :-)

-10 - afternoon all :-)

Awesome job Amanda - make sure you celebrate such a wonderful achievement :-)

-7 evening all :-)

Friday evening here - watching footy ( Aussie rules so pretty sure I am the only one doing that !) with a glass of wine. The rest of the weekend is a bit of wait and see ...farmers market, hike, gym - only thing I am pretty sure about is that there will be some wine ! :-)