intoxicated yoda

don't give in. you quit for a reason. smoking will not make you feel any differently. it may seem better for a bit while you get your fix but after that you'll just feel worse. and it's not stupid. you feel how you feel.

...still here

Fantastic quit @Sunnysidesuch a great start.

It's been a minute since I've journaled my progress. Quitting smoking is still intact. Everything else that went to shit stayed that way until today. Turns out tomorrow is actually 20 days away as I managed to make it through 1 day without giving into the sugar monster. There was a hell of a price to pay for that long of a stint eating like shit. In 20 days I regained 11 lbs., the bloating came back with an unbridled vengeance and joint pain in my left shoulder is unceasing. Funny how you can find something that works really well for you and then abandon it for a momentary pleasure that ultimately leaves you feeling sick, unfulfilled and in pain. That is what addictions do to us. A friend of mine suggested I go to the doctor and see if they have a pill I could take to resolve the bloating and the joint pain. I can't bring myself to do that when I know a single lifestyle change will resolve both issues plus a lot of others without having to go through the carousel of drugs to find the magic 1 or 20. I've seen to many people go down that route and I'm just not ready for it yet. Tomorrow will be day 2 of being back on the diet with the exception of allowing myself decaf coffee for a while. If history repeats I just need to stay true to it for 2 or 3 weeks and then I'll be able to do some light exercise again which will make things easier. What's that saying you guys use here, if you give in you'll be right back where you were which was desperately wishing you were where you are...or something like that? I'm sure I mangled that but I truly understand the meaning of it now. Fortunately I learned the lesson with food instead of smokes. As far as the tragedies mentioned in my previous post, my dad passed away on the 5th. Rest in peace, Pops. You earned it.

thanks everybody. the support is much appreciated

9. target practice

you can do this Marie. It won't be easy but it will only be as hard as you make it. I struggled with a lot of issues but when it comes right down to it, it's just mind over matter...if you don't mind it don't matter.

Congratulations @Kris10 months is a great quit. You are doing fantastic.

@Marie71Don't worry to much about if it did or didn't work for someone else. The question to ask is is it helping you? If it is then stick with it and I'm all for you using it to get you over the hump. If it isn't helping you then you probably don't need it. Only you can make that determination and everyone here will try support you by whatever means we have. good luck and stay quit.

congrats @Dianei hear the lido deck is nice this time of year. 1 year is a great accomplishment. mad respect

You can't hide money, I'll tell you what!!

Happy Easter @Sal. Congrats on your 100+ day quit. Sorry to hear Mrs. Sal relapsed but you have my respect for staying strong. Passing the 100 day mark does give one a great sense of accomplishment.

good call @HappyPassengeri wish I would have quit and stayed quit at 23. my dumbass waited untiI was 56 to quit. My mantra was and is that 5 years from now I will be so glad I quit. When you get to be my age you'll be able to look back and say you quit that dumbshit 30 years ago. LOL

great quit @Sunshine so glad to have you aboard the train.

Everyday I'm just one bad decision away from smoking again. I don't think you're looking for motivation. I think you are looking for absolution. I only say that because if I was in your shoes that's what I'd be looking for. So I will tell you that you do not need absolution from anyone. What you do need to resolve in your own mind is whether you fell off the train or jumped off the train. I can already tell you that if I relapse it won't be accidental. And that's ok. Life is full of twists and turns, successes and failures, ups and downs. It's the next step that counts. I hope it's to take your seat on the train again. If so, welcome back and stay vigilant.

First thing I'd tell them is to understand the real reason that they smoke. Once they resolve that in their own mind the choice to quit will become obvious.

I beg to differ. 2 months is enormously huge. don't sell it short, but stay vigilant.

@Marie71while you are in this contemplation phase if you aren't ready to to quit try switching brands. a different smell and a different visual of the pack help loosen the grip it's got on you. It did help me quite a bit in my transition.

missed this one. Congrats DenaliBlues. 2 months is a great start and you seem to be handling things very well. stay strong.

@Marie71pretty sure it was pulled of the market due to cancer risk but i really don't think it will make the process any easier. there is no magic pill. quitting is going to suck for a while but you will find the strength to quit if you really want to. it's really about mindset. chantix is a psychotropic drug that had some pretty harsh side effects. changing your thoughts and perceptions is free with zero side effects. it really is just that simple, it's just not that easy.

nicely done Katgirl. i'm sure Batman, Robin and even the Joker are proud of that quit!!

@nicotine_free I know I failed a bunch of times for 8 or 9 months before I actually quit. sometimes the relapsing is just a part of the process i think. glad you are back on the train. before you know it we'll be welcoming you to the lido deck.

Honestly, cutting back isn't a bad thing but if you don't make a pretty strong negative association with smoking every time you do have one I don't see it as a successful plan. I know leading up to my quit I would always ask myself why was I smoking this cigarette and it tasted terrible and I hated smoking, etc. etc. Trying to create a negative association. Just my 2 cents and don't be afraid of failing. it's just part of the process.

solid foundation to a awesome quit. nice job Judi

good to step back and take it on your own for a bit. glad you are still maintaining that quit. kudos