JH63

Nope!

I agree with you! I am also retired. I have done many things in my 64 yrs. I knew that I couldn't quit smoking without quitting drinking first. The two kind of went together for me. I'm almost three years sober. It wasn't easy at first, but I was able to do it. I drank every evening for about as long as I smoked, 50 years.

I waited until I was comfortable with being sober, around one year, before I started trying to quit smoking. For me, it has been a much harder process. I feel like I have spent my whole retirement trying to quit all my bad habits. Sometimes I think I was better off working! It doesn't make me sad so much, as it makes me mad. I do understand what you are saying here!

All we can do is keep going and Hope and Pray that we have the strength and commitment to get it done.

Jeff

NOPE!

HI!

    We have the same situation here each winter. Just had 13 inches earlier this week. For the last thirty plus years I have always put back enough cigarettes to get me through a week of being snowed in. We live way out of town and it has happened before. There have always been things that we make sure we have on hand over the winter. Beer and cigarettes were always at the top of my list. I quit drinking about three years ago, so I don't keep that anymore. I've Stopped smoking, so I had my wife get rid of the four packs of Marlboro reds for me. They may still be around, but I have no idea where. I would have to ask her and that would mean failure for me.

   We are at about the same time in our quits. I'm not willing to tempt myself by keeping any cigarettes around.

Please don't go and get cigarettes because you think you might want to start smoking again while you are snowed in. It would be a step in sabotaging your own quit. If you don't have any on hand, that will give you time to think about what your doing. Just maybe enough time to save your quit! Lets keep moving forward and working on our quits! Lets not put any temptations in our way!

You can do this!

Nope! Not Today!

@Judi I'm sorry to hear that you are struggling today!  I had the same experience some time back. I have a friend who has been quit for 12 or 15 years. He is now 66. He told me that even after all this time he still has a craving now and then, but they are rare and very easy to beat.

I agree with @jillar and him. 

At first the cravings and urges are close together and more intense, but with everyday we fight them off, they become further apart and less intense. Something that in time we will be able to handle with just a small amount of effort. We have to work through this hard part to get to the easy part of being an ex-smoker. We cannot be never smokers! But we can be, with some effort and commitment, ex-smokers.  

We are all going through the same thing! Some of us at the same time! I hope you have a better day tomorrow! 

@Dogbelly 

I seem to also sleep much better when I am not smoking! I attribute that to fighting the urges and cravings during the time I'm awake.  For me ,that's real work. That may not be the case with you.

About 10 years ago I had my longest period of not smoking while using Chantix. 17 weeks. It wasn't my sticky quit, but I do believe it helped. I only took it for the first 4 weeks of those 17. As I remember it caused me some stomach problems. I never moved up to the higher dosage. Everyone's experience is different, so you might be able to go all the way with Chantix as prescribed. 

Good Luck! You can do this! That positive attitude you have about quitting will get you further than any pill or NRT can!

 Jeff

 NOPE!

Glad to hear that you are doing so well with your quit!

Congratulations! 

Nope!

Thanks Everyone! You have been a lot of help!

I plan to continue to not smoke or use any other form of tobacco!

Congratulations on an Awesome  Achievement! 

Congratulations on one month Quit! 

We can continue on this journey!

 Jeff

@LindaI am not far ahead of you! I just wanted you to know that if you are using the patches, try taking it off about half an hour before you plan to go to bed and then put one back on as soon as you get up. I have used them before on other quits.

I seem to have to opposite problem. My sleep pattern is messed up, like a newborn. But when I go to sleep I sleep well. I think I sleep well because I'm tired from fighting the urges and cravings that come while I'm awake.

You Can Do This!

 NOPE!

NOPE!

HI! All

         I am still here and not smoking! I had a Great Day yesterday. Just a few cravings in the evening! I even took the time to write a long post here in a blog about relapse. I just as well get it out there and be honest about everything.

         I'm coming up on one month and I need to continue what I've been doing.

         Staying Positive! That's what I am doing right now! I know what I need to work on, and it will go better if I'm Positive!

Have a Great Day!

I am very happy to hear that you are getting along so well with your quit!

You Have Got This!

 Welcome! 5 days is Great!

Those 28 years are in the past. You can't do anything about them except what you are doing now.

By quitting now, you can undo some of the damage you've done to your body and live a longer and happier life.

You are in the right place!

@Linda These troubles your having will pass if you just hang in there long enough for your mind to adjust. Thinking about smoking is normal for any quitter. Those dark holes, or as I call it, brain fog will also pass as your mind adjusts to your new way of thinking.

      I am very early in my quit and having these same problems.

We Can Do This!

@Judi HI!

Glad to see you here! You are doing Great!

I am also in the early part of my quit. I understand what you are saying about being cranky and not being able to get away from your own self. As I understand it, these feelings should get better the longer we stay quit.

We can keep doing this!

 Jeff

 @Dogbelly You are doing Very Well!  You have the right attitude to get this done!

I am also early in this quit. I just wanted to tell you that over time, not smoking, you will be able to breath better. Maybe not like you never smoked, but definitely better. I always feel like I can breath deeper even after just a few days of not smoking.

Good Luck To You!

@Doreensfree I agree with this post by Jillar and your reply to it. I've always felt like continuing to smoke makes your chances of getting away from it, before it kills you, smaller and smaller the longer you keep smoking.

 I've been spinning that wheel, or chamber, every day for about 50 years. Taking the chance that at any point I could lose. For me it seems like I'm losing slowly, day by day, year by year. But at any time smoking could take everything all at once.

  I met an old friend from high school the other day. At 64 he looked so much younger than me and I know he has more energy. The only real difference between us is that he never smoked. The differences between the two of us are disturbing, to say the least. I'm sure he noticed it also!

Jeff

Glad to hear that you are still doing well!

I'm Happy to be here!  I appreciate the advice I get from all of you!

I even like getting called on my own BS from time to time.  It makes me think about what I'm doing and how I'm doing it. 

I was told that I wasn't ready to quit.  That was true!

I was told I needed to sh*t or get off the pot. That was true!

And I have been told other things here that make me think, opens my eyes and mind to the reality of what quitting smoking is really about. What it requires from me!

There are no magic tricks!

I'm partially on the train, with one leg still dragging along the tracks.  If I'm not careful my leg will get caught under the wheels and drag me back off. Maybe killing me!

Well enough about that! I'm working day 15. I've had several days of mental fog. Like being in a dark place! But I know from past experience the fog will lift in time. I just have keep my guard up. Have a Great Day!