BrandyWyne

Thank you for sharing this Doreen...yes, very powerful stuff and my heart goes out to you and your husband. I want to share your story with my mother. She has emphysema, diagnosed a few years ago. She is in major denial. Still smoking and blaming her awful coughs on "the weather, a chest cold" etc. it is already getting bad and she is on steroid inhalers, etc. but refuses to quit smoking. Reading your story, I kept picturing every detail you described, happening to my mother, and it made me cry. So sad. How to make her understand what will happen? Maybe I can't, but I want her to know what others are going through with this, thank you for sharing the truth and how it has affected your life.

I recently read a study that said people who are 10 lbs overweight, live longer than those at optimal weight or underweight. So I figure quitting smoking AND gaining 10 lbs, we'll live to be 100!! This is my rationalization lol. I have been eating a lot since quitting smoking too. Food tastes better, and I actually have an appetite now instead of suppressing it with cigs! I say yes, go for it an eat whatever you want because even a little extra weight is no biggie compared to diseases from smoking.

Nope!!!

Nope!!

Well I made it through the rest of the week patch free. Had a couple really rough days of withdrawals all over again. Which is my own fault for sticking a step 1 patch back on after 2 weeks nicotine free :/ Onward, with no more nicotine...no excuses! How's everyone else doing? Hope you all have a fabulous weekend!

A bit late in the day...but still NOPE!!

Nope!!!

Nope!!

NOPE

Those last couple replies look like another language, I don't speak car lol...but all I can say that is a sweet car and looks really fun to drive, good choice and have fun Joe!!

Thanks for the advice and insights everyone, it seems like everyone's divided on the NRT issue lol...I agree it's best to get it out of your system right away and get on with it. I just don't understand it myself, I feel so great the first couple weeks nicotine free, I deal with the major "grumpies" the first couple days of withdrawal and move on. Then out of nowhere weeks later I get the thought in my head that I need to smoke...and it's not one of those "cravings" everyone says will pass in a few minutes, I can't distract myself from thinking about it. It's an all day event and debate in my head. Out of desperation I slapped a patch on.. Yes unfortunately it was a step 1 patch, I had a bunch left over from a previous failed quit. Yes I'm still wearing one today. I just know when it comes off, I'm going to have more bad days and I just want a calm easy day without my addiction nagging at me :( The thought of smoking and smelling it from others around me is totally unappealing at this point. I don't miss that at all! Yuck...I just want to be over the addiction. I know that won't happen with a patch on. But I'm so afraid I'll fail if I take it off. Ok patch is coming off and I'm going to bed, I'll sleep on it and start fresh tomorrow, NO PATCH. And where are all you other newbies? Still quit? Hope everyone is doing well! And thank you again everyone for continuing to tell me what I need to hear :)

NOPE!

Nope!!

Hi Doreen! Well I'll be the first to report in...I was away for the holiday weekend here with no internet and didn't post much, but do have something to say for myself... I started my quit cold turkey, 2 weeks nicotine free! I felt super great at first. Then started having some bad thoughts of smoking again :( I was going to spend the holiday weekend with family who smokes and was so scared I couldnt resist smoking, I went a stuck a patch on. Been wearing one all week now. It has kept me from smoking, but now I am probably right back where I started giving myself nicotine supply right through my arm. I feel like a horrible cheater, is this considered a relapse? I feel like a big phony right now and supplying myself with nicotine...I know cold turkey is the way to go but I was desperate to do anything rather than smoke. Ugh. I am a nicotine junkie :(

Nope!!

NOPE!

Nope!!

Nope!

Nope!

Nope!!

Nope!

NOPE

Hi Sazerac, thank you! Exactly Marti, I already am feeling happy not smoking and even days when I don't want one, I will just do something or see something that feels like I should be smoking...so odd when you look at your behaviors and patterns and when/where you always smoked. Yuck I'm so done with it! I love that my sense of smell is coming back. All the spring flowers smell so amazing here and smokers just don't know what they're missing!!! Smoke free life is just so much nicer and less stressful...I don't know how I've always ended up hooked back on the nasty stuff every time (well yes I do, I let the addiction win.) I feel so utterly extremely happy today to say NOPE and will never let another drop of nicotine in me dang it!! I am determined to never be in that position again. Feeling better every day, and this time need to remember to never be complacent and let my guard down with "one puff" a year down the road. I will stick around here with all you wonderful folks, to remind me daily of what i need to do to keep this quit! Thanks all :)

NOPE!

NOPE!