Still winning

I feel like I ought to sing a rendition of Elton John's "I'm still standing" and I smile at this. I had so many failures with quits I'm not sure I've fully taken in that I don't smoke. Yet I have, I KNOW and have known for sometime, truth to tell, that I'm done, no more smoking. I'm not sure of the point of this blog?? lol. So me, I start writing with no idea of the end game. I wish I was one of those together people who always had a plan :) It's my magic number coming up next though. I'm approaching 3 months. Now the 3's have not worked in my favour to date. It confuses me. At 3 days I stood shaking and sobbing staring out a packet of cigs, I genuinely laughnow but at the time it was dreadful! I danced through two weeks wondering what the drama was, only to get slapped down like biatch at 3 weeks. Idon't think my kitchen floor has ever been so clean as it was on week 3!! Yikes!! But 3 is my lucky number, it's my elusive winning number in the grand scheme of life - but yeah, I hear it's a right old bad time in quits. Ah whatever, I say bring your worst, I have faced the worst time and time again. If I ever doubt that I only have to walk to the next room in my house and listen to COPD and know, smoking did that. God, what if my girls smoked cause I'd set a precedent that it was ok!! No way, not now not ever. Today is a good day, I can cope. But even at my weakest I won't smoke, I won't let me - you guys won't let me. I commit myself to a year to this board, I do it on my own blog. I will pay it forward, I will accept the journey feels awesome and troubling, I will not smoke. I still believe we all deserve more.

Amazing!! Biggest mental battle I always think. Loving your attitude and honesty with yourself, keep that, you need to just take on step at a time, sometimes that's minute by minute, sometimes hour by hour. But you get past this and you simply tell yourself you can do ANYTHING, anything you like except smoke....that's a whole lotta options. The biggest win is the extra time, especially as you have children too, I really enjoy days out now because there's no hunting for a smoking area!! It will just get more brilliant day by day. Hang on! Did you get soem fruit juice in? A lot of the "craves" are actually blood sugar dips as your nicotine played with your system in a million ways but you take control of it back now. Takes about 3 days to re-adjust. Some people feel a lot more tired in the same time period as well and it's the same problem, those blood sugars are easier to handle when they are under control. xx

I carry this with me too, sometimes I have a little sigh and say out loud "you just don't" it always helps move me forward again. Great bump tracey. x

Massive congrats for the quit, 3 months is fabulous :) Your first quarter is done and dusted, hope you can celebrate :yu: xx

10 months is amazing!! Massive congrats. x

lol, little worried about your eau de goat ;) Thanks for feedback. x

NOPE - none for me, not now or ever. We deserve more than that chained life!

Hey, my morning now, sorry sleeping when you struggled. CRY!! My best advice. I wonder if it somehow takes chemicals out but for sure it releases tension. Posting is also awesome. Get some fruit juice (like cranberry or orange or whichever) and sip that every few hours. It will help with the blood sugar lows which can also cause craves for the first 72 hours. Beautiful thing is by fighting day one, you have less of that journey to travel and the mental back up to know it can be done. It is always a choice my lovely, choose nope and it WILL get easier, if you just wade through these early bits. xx

Hi Mason, Congrats on the best decision of your life. I think we all have previous quits in our head telling us it's hard, that's why posting here and using the support made it different and it can for you too!! When you're stressing post, let us talk you down and pretty soon it will be you calmly talking someone else down. The craves ALWAYS pass and you are always pleased you didn't smoke when they did. Lots of info on the pinned bit of the quit smoking section. Lots of info on whyquit.com. And shhh, but a lot of smoking folks (partners included) watch like a hawk when you quit to see if they could do it too. The reason...not smoking can seem scary...the reality is as a smoker we would rather be quit!! That's the truth, most smokers hate the chains, cost, health... just hold on and the benefits and pride start coming I promise!! xx

Market research quit buddies. One of my more normal endeavors is I make bath salts and oils. To date I have added dried versions along with essential oils, so stuck to lavender or rose scents as that's what I grew. However due to a recent quit freeing up some money (hoorah/victory dance) I have some funds to buy some new essential oils to use. Can't obviously add natural as well but looking for ideas on additional smells to make. What scent do you add to your bath, if you bathe that is? Thank you muchly :)

Fabulous decision!! Absolutely right to be excited, this is the point a whole new life is going to start and I'm excited for you too. There are some bits that are craves but if you're ready you wil bat them back. Keep posting how you're doing so we can support you with what you need. I think a forum was make or break for a lot of ex smokers, so a 2nd brilliant decision by you. Self belief is crucial, believe you can make it through today without smoking, no matter what - and you will. Then we will concentrate on each day/each situation/each crave as it comes for you. We are across all timezones too and 100% behind you!! xx

hey you just worried my daughter as I burst out crying whilst reading lol. Brilliant fabulous amazing news for them I bet!!! xx

rubbish - trash - as in let's take out the rubbish cause it's bin day....thanks for the reminder ;)

Init - slang for isn't it. blimey - oh dear me Pants - male underwear, like the dodgy fitted ones rather than boxers which are just boxers. Pete tong - this has gone wrong.

NOPE here.

Marti here, no smoking here, no need for cross country visits :) Also frequently seen waving my hands in front of my face and glaring at smokers in close proximity, also known to extol the virtues of quitting in a fairly "wow I'm getting a bit boring" way - reformed smoker definately present and accounted for :acute: WTG Petra!!! Pleased the trip went down without a hitch!!

Actually would those sortof things spread inside a sliced in half piece of chicken work, then breadcrumb after. I often put cheese and bacon in mine but it's not low fat :huh: . Just slice like a roll and seal the sides with a cocktail stick after I've breadcrumbed to cook. x

I think at 3 weeks things start to feel a bit calmer. Not always but more often. Before that it's all a bit intense really so well done to your friend and you for holding on so tight!

The lucky yanks get french onion flavour and other cool tastes though, we get some garlic and herb or normal cast off flavours .... i woz mugged off :(

What pasta sauce do you use? Why pasta sauce? I tend to just pick a low calorie sauce (like here they do low cal versions of piri piri or bbq etc and slice and oven cook in the sauce so it holds the flavour without adding loads of calories. I put tin foil over so it doesn't burn or dry out. Food types are different tho, I know this as I went looking for laughing cow flavoured cheese after reading on here and was gutted there wasn't any lol.

nope, we will celebrate smoke free. Lead the way party girl!! x

Massive congrats Colleen. So pleased you have your year and healthier outlook. xx

You are fabulous, 4 is fabulous, I am very late but am delighted you quit every day so it kinda compensates. x

9 months is all kinds of fabulous, congrats. x

7 months is fab. Hope all is well chick. x