Still winning

Aw, that's a lovely thing to read at the beginning of my week. Humble thanks for being involved with your euphoric moment :) xx

Every quit journey is so personal to the person taking it. However I believe a number of us had to find a new way to be as part of the process, for you this sadly involves managing anxiety but you will be stronger placed to do this with your new found strength. xx

Agree with Pippa, "the moment" you know is a wonderful memory :) Excited for your breakthrough from connecting to someone. x

Wonderful news! It's totally eye opening to see the way it's going isn't it. Soon most days and events will be exactly like that - a thought somewhere afterwards with hey, I never thought of smoking once :) Love it!! x

That's a nice thought, to pass it down I mean. I guess you like to plan things as this is very organised :) I just want to say if this motivates you then fine, but if not...maybe do a few nice things for yourself. if that's some nice jewellery, then great. If it's new clothes, then that's all good too. What I am saying is treat yourself with things that matter to you now as well. It really does help to see visually the results of the money you haven't spent on smoking. Along with education on what you're dealing with addiction wise and having a support group it is a valid part of a quit. That said I have visions of a very suave and sophisticated guy now and no way would smoking fit with this image! x

Got reminded again last night, walked past a smoker and just felt that utmost wave of sympathy that they had to smoke and a gratitude that I'm free of that now. Never again. NOPE. x

I think jewellery on a guy is ok. A signet ring would look good in my opinion. I think it's all down to your personal style though and if it goes with the rest of "your look" then all good. The only time it's wrong is when a look doesn't match up. So like trackee's (jogging bottoms, pants, geez no idea other than english lol) and a signet ring would look a bit crazy, but dress nice and I think it would compliment the look. But then I am like this and notice this in others. That said don't be surprised if some women say no. I've not known any of my friends over there say anything bad about a stylish ring on a guy, only when they try and bling it up which is ALL kinds of wrong lol. Do it! Make it a treat for saving the money not smoking :) That would be a great treat cause if you were ever tempted you could look and see something visual to remind you nope! x

I saw a vape shop in a seaside town here in England last weekend, first I've ever seen. In Felixstowe if anyone english wondered. Lucky for them they were shut as whilst I support them as a quit aid for a timely period, I like you, believe they are trying to create their own sick market! makes my stomach turn what they suggest to our children. However, someone else's kids...I'd probably make the parents aware...if it were my kids, they would probably be sorry for opening a store near me! Tough choices Colleen. x

That these guys and I get to do more fun stuff, with more money and no smoke breaks!!

Hi Carlos, Of course I agree with your fabulous decision :) Good choice to give up now, get it done and live a much freer life! And welcome. xx

So sorry I missed this chicky! I gonna fess up, I think you even inspire me. It's a powerful person who faces mental and emotional hardships and keeps their mind strong enough to keep these worlds apart from smoking. For sure smoking brings us nothing good Jess but still, you are one amazing lady. Congrats on 7 months free of that awful addiction!! Love your over the pond friend. Much love to you. xx

Holiday ;) And I'm here again. Rather be with Mr bakon, must be warm with all them ladies wearing their bikinis out :huh:

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Brilliant rain, congrats on 6 and some true freedom by the sounds of it. xx

Good work ladies! Pippa, crawling home is out then ;) Yesterday had a rest as back was a bit sore so just did a 20 minute walk and some yoga stretches. Today a 1 hour toning class. I haven't seen a step in years...it wasn't my finest moment lol. Tough class consdering they called it toning, hiit stuff is easier!

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Is this in response to my other comment? What I meant by that was nothing to fear but perhaps I could have explained better. For me, I had wobbles and I define them as times when even though my quit was secure I would have strong desires to smoke. To be clear I knew I wouldn't and couldn't but it happened when I went on holiday, when I went christmas shopping (?), when I had an operation and after big emotional arguments. It felt like an internal debate, except I knew I could win the fight. I personally think if you let these feelings run you start to wander in romancing the smoke territory, again from my experience. Then there's others who are just toughies! They kinda strut their Nope, look left - nope that down, look right, nope, none for you...golden again, keep marching etc. None is right or wrong it just took me a little by surprise is all and others felt the same too. Some didn't though so all good x

This seems like sound and well thought out logic to me. I agree with it all. I particularly like your associations in a hard and easy quit can have the same end result, very true! All I would add is a wobble doesn't indicate impending doom, it simply means you're facing a strong trigger you had yet to face. x

Oh do it, I'd love to see a picture! Need to work out what kg are in my stones and pounds speak :) You sound happy, I'm really pleased for you! I'm doing good too. You kinda motivated me to give myself a kick. Finally gone under my quit weight at quitting today (had already lost slowly what I had gained). So now just a stone or so to go, will stop when I look toned so not sure what weight that is.

I shall grace you with my presence. You are a lucky guy :) I fear you may be on your holidays though. Do thank Mrs Bakon for tagging me and calling it vacation haha, always gonna be holidays!

No she's started martial arts classes and was pretending it was an escrima stick...(long stick thing ninja's whack each other with). The kid thing is powerful for me. Of course it is us who controls our quit and our choice, but I do think a lot about the cruddy examples I have set and it makes me hold tighter to my quit, or did when I wobbled. It's also what prompted me to start quitting, it still took a while. Just thought maybe it would help someone else but if not, that's ok too, it already helped me :)

Hey whatever works to get us through each point is all good! Get some fruit juice (like orange, apple etc) and take a sip every couple of hours. The nicotine coming out of your bloodstream will send your blood sugar out of whack for a few days. It makes you headachy, shaky and tired...fruit juice combats a lot of that by introducing natural sugar as a replacement. Patches start to address the habit side first but withdrawal comes in somewhere and it's now for you. That's all good though, it means you are getting more freedom in your body by the hour. 72 hours to get through and it's gone, I always thought that was a great statistic. Distraction is your friend right now. Gum, eating, click your fingers, yell NOPE out loud or in your head in public ;) Remember nicotine released artificial endorphins for us and the way to get them naturally is exercise or movement of any sort really. I found the most effective way of dealing with bad triggers was to try and flip my mindset. I wasn't in withdrawal I was heading towards freedom. I did struggle with some triggers until I learnt the way to beat them was to face them down and then create new and better habits to replace them with. But you do what feels right for you. A few nights I went to bed and basically hid, too afraid of being a dumbass and smoking and I had never smoked in bed so felt safe there...that's a win too. Post up often too. I got little gems of wisdom in some answers that in some ways saved my quit more times than I care to admit :) You're doing so great!! x

You ok chick?

I have no idea of anyway to help you and so desperately don't want to say the wrong thing. But I want you to know I do support you and wish you well. I hope tomorrow brings you some peace. x

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