Lust4Life2016

Happy Independence Day USA! The only thing I’m smoking today is a pork butt.

@Gus great post and insight. Those CDC commercials (that one plus the lady with the trach, and the man with the heart surgery scar) have been around for quite awhile. They have recently started airing again. I remember seeing them early in my quit. Oddly enough- I have friends that work at CDC- even worked on the anti-smoking campaigns. There is a shift in the messaging. If you see the newer anti-smoking ads (the ones for menthol cigs) - the focus is being mad at Big Tobacco. The sleazy marketing Big T used to lure certain demographics. That shift (continuing to expose the lies) will hopefully resonate vs the bad things happen to smokers approach. How many smokers read the warning labels on their packs while opening it, taking out a cigarette and lighting it? Or just plain avoid looking at the label-or don’t look because their talking, watching TV etc. I read the labels. Didn’t stop me. What if the labels listed the annual profits to Big T and/or the annual cost to one person to treat smoking related illness(es). Learning about addiction (Allen Carr)& the corruption of Big T really guided me in my quit… …And the online support! L4L

Idolize

Yep to N.O.P.E. 4-ever!!!

@jillar Time to paarrr-taayyyy!!!! Congratulations to one of our sage conductors on The Quit Train!!!! What a long way you’ve traveled from the early days, huh? Wow!!! Thank you for your unwavering support and encouragement to all. Take time to celebrate YOU and enjoy your continued freedom! Buttkicker kicking butts since 2016 and still going strong!! Woo- hoo!!! L4L

Welcome StellaBlue! Glad you officially joined! I’m sorry you’re having some struggles while on vacation. What were some of the things that helped you quit before? Here, we have a mantra with several variations. NOPE - Not One Puff Ever. NOPT- not one puff today. NTAP- never take another puff. One thing that helped me- in addition to a forum like this- was telling myself every morning upon waking… “I will not smoke today.” That night when my head hit the pillow- I felt proud. Wake up the next morning, remember how proud I felt, tell myself again: “I will not smoke today- and again will reevaluate in the morning.” Craves still haunt me on very rare occasion. Never having to quit again is great motivation for keeping the quit! Please visit and post here often. It really does help! -L4L

Vaseline

Sitting here minding my own business. Going through some crap. Daily. Old TV shows (in USA) give me comfort. Shows so old they are not in color. Apparently, cigarettes offered actors acting in black & white false comfort too..: Craves will sneak up & try to drown you when they think you’re too tired to swim. We are tired but strong enough to exclaim: NOPE!!

So glad you found jumped back on the train…and posted SOS! I read the book. Twice. I understand your frustrations. Have you listened to any of his excerpts on YouTube? They are quite hypnotic and really helped me when cravings started to surge. Know that you are stronger than the addiction. It is an evil, lying, money grabbing, health stealing jerk that has no business in your life! You can do this. -L4L

Hullabaloo

4

Happy Anniversary c9jane29. I remember when your quit was in its infancy. Look at it now! Great job and congratulations!

Bare it all

NOPE!

Welcome aboard the train! How are you doing? Any major cravings? There is an SOS board here if you’re drowning in waves of craves. Post in the SOS thread and help will arrive!

Woo-hoo Stewbum! Look at those numbers!!! We’ll be toasting your 1yr pretty soon on the Lido Deck!!!

It is no secret here that I was a secret smoker. I had Febreze stashed in my car. Mints, gum, breath strips & sprays spilled out of every pocket of my purse and clothing. My hands aged prematurely from the constant hand washing. You get the picture. When asked for a ride from coworkers, family or friends that didn’t know my dirty secret addiction— extreme panic. I’d make up some excuse why I needed to go alone. Or I’d douse every fiber in my car with Febreze, Lysol, dryer sheets…I’d get the microfiber cloth from my console and wipe everything down- no ashes to be seen! What a stressful nightmare to be asked to give someone a ride!!! What!?!?! Today I worked in the office. A coworker asked for a ride home. I said “Sure!” and continued on with my work. No laps around the block airing out my car, or flooding it with Febreze. Oh sweet smoke-free freedom how I love thee!!! Seven years and counting feels & smells great!! NOPE! L4L

Their

Otter

Chiming in to say after 7 years and change in my quit…I refer to those “urges” as “nostalgia”. For me, now in my 50s, I sometimes crave the lifestyle of being in my younger years. Those years included smoking. I hear certain songs…I remember not only cigarettes but cloves. Ack!!! Back then I was naive but smart enough to know better than to smoke but did it anyway. So, I was a closeted smoker. For years… so I thought. I fooled no one - other than myself. Nostalgia is OK. Making it present day reality is not. NOPE! L4L

Ulna

Rafts

Freedom!!!!!! I smell good! I can breathe! No more lies. $$$ have y’all seen the recent prices???

Eliza

Cents