Hello all.

My name is Stew.

I lost an 8 month quit in 2017.

My life had some serious complications and decided one wouldn't hurt and will calm down the stress. Yes it did its job but the one led back to the full blown addiction even worse than ever. Since then always looking how to get back, but the nicodemon had all the appropriate excuses. Stress, life complications, wife that smokes, better date, next birthday, fathers day, new years day. how to accomplish my job and design without nicotine... the list goes on forever. The only decision the nicodemon can't seem to totally control is the immediate decision to do battle.

The battle is not easy and can be overwhelming but the outcome is always going to be better than the ultimate end as a smoker.

Its crazy that we all as smokers will risk knowing you will take your last breath and die the horrible deaths that are always the end of a smokers life. Yes you may just die in your sleep but most likely will shrivel up and slowly become debilitated. All life's pleasures stripped from you, no energy to get out and enjoy life pleasures, but you can still enjoy the pleasure of smoking! Its remarkable how as a smoker we will consciously make this trade off.

Hopefully I have started back to my quit in time to still have a decent future, I most definitely have some real serious struggles in front of me that the quit is almost overshadowed by but these issues ( which are heart related) only solidify the reason for the quit and the beautiful battle with nicoman.

This heart problem is not new, 2021 massive heart attack requiring 3 stents, only took a couple months to continue smoking and to a new life level. Amazing like flipping off life and family to continue to smoke,  

Luckily the quit decision is in time, I still build my cars and run my 46 year business that my son will take over in a couple years. I still have the energy to work at my cabin building a new addition and stay very active, but definitely see my abilities slowing and changes coming quickly. 

The attached photo will depict my battle,  

                                                                                                                     Ride the Edge and Never Back Down 

                                                                                                                            Cheers !!

Welcome and a big congrats on your quit! 

Saw you on the Saturday NOPE thread, way to go, you are not alone here, bunch of helpful quitter's riding the train. 

 

Never Back Down ...... agreed! 

Hello and welcome Stewbum.

So glad you have found us .

If you stick with this great bunch of Quitters we will get you to Freedom.

Sorry to hear you have had a bad experience with your health ..So it is important to stay smoke free .

My advice us read all you can here specially the green pinned ones on the Main Smoking Discussion Board..its a great place to start .

Looking forward to getting to know you better as we travel along the tracks ..!!

 

Welcome aboard the train my friend, it's about time! 🤗 You have a great group of 2023 quitters along with the rest of us with you so you're in good company to get your forever quit 

Thanks Jillar.

Remember the harpoon   >>>------------------------> if I get outta line.

Is there anyway to see information from the QSMB site? There are a few that were here some years back as I was anonymously sneaking through the site. Of course you caught me a few times!! Nice to see Johnny5 and cbdave iam sure there are quite a few more just working the program and not looking around too much yet. I remember one that was always posting with us back then, he was from Florida, his cover shot was him playing the guitar in his band? He also had a heart issue. 

 

Thank you for your support, its worth so much to me, 

Your friend Stew.

Cheers.

50 minutes ago, overcome said:

Welcome and a big congrats on your quit! 

Saw you on the Saturday NOPE thread, way to go, you are not alone here, bunch of helpful quitter's riding the train. 

 

Never Back Down ...... agreed! 

Thank you and love the name and your personal pilot...

Would this be bassman.,

Im from QSMB !

Edited July 29, 20233 yr by Doreensfree

48 minutes ago, Doreensfree said:

Hello and welcome Stewbum.

So glad you have found us .

If you stick with this great bunch of Quitters we will get you to Freedom.

Sorry to hear you have had a bad experience with your health ..So it is important to stay smoke free .

My advice us read all you can here specially the green pinned ones on the Main Smoking Discussion Board..its a great place to start .

Looking forward to getting to know you better as we travel along the tracks ..!!

 

Doreen, Thank you ....

1 minute ago, Doreensfree said:

Would this be bassnan.,

Im from QSMB !

Yes !!!

Doreen.

Yes Bassman. 

Bassman has called in here  but not for a while ..as far as i know ,hes still Quit !

15 minutes ago, Stewbum said:

Thanks Jillar.

Remember the harpoon   >>>------------------------> if I get outta line.

Is there anyway to see information from the QSMB site? There are a few that were here some years back as I was anonymously sneaking through the site. Of course you caught me a few times!! Nice to see Johnny5 and cbdave iam sure there are quite a few more just working the program and not looking around too much yet. I remember one that was always posting with us back then, he was from Florida, his cover shot was him playing the guitar in his band? He also had a heart issue. 

 

Thank you for your support, its worth so much to me, 

Your friend Stew.

Cheers.

 

Nice to see you around, Stew, and good job at getting back to your quit. 

 

QSMB shut down somewhat unexpectedly and without any real communication from the owners back in early 2018 I believe.  You can, however, go to the  Internet Archive Digital Library.....link below...

 

https://archive.org/

 

....and type in www.quitsmokingmessageboard.com in the search box (make sure "search archived websites" is selected) and it will give you links to certain times the site was archived over the years.  Not all the links work but you can find some old content from QSMB this way.  You can also look up older versions of other websites on that site if you are interested.

 

Again, welcome aboard, Stew.  Stick around.  You can make this your quit for good.

Edited July 29, 20233 yr by johnny5

Thanks Johnny.

I will try it and look around.

Glad you have decided to make the leap and quit again! I think we all went through the "never a good time to quit" thought process. It's crazy how many excuses we made not to quit on this particular day or that other day in fact. Then one day it just comes over us and we make the commitment to give quitting a go because we're just sick and tired of the slavery to nicotine. It's never easy and there's lots of challenges along the way but strength in commitment will see you through. Never give up and never give in to those crazy voices in your head that will be trying to convince you to 'have just one'. As you no doubt know it's always just NOPE! A simple rule to follow - not easy but simple.

@Stewbum - this book was a big help to me in case you have not read it, some get a lot form it some not so much: 

 

https://www.amazon.com/Allen-Carrs-Smoking-Without-Willpower/dp/178404542X/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?crid=3MCD1TKQ5RLY3&keywords=the+easy+way+to+stop+smoking+by+allen+carr&qid=1690661587&sprefix=The+easy%2Caps%2C198&sr=8-2-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1

Edited July 29, 20233 yr by overcome

Thanks for the insight Reciprocity.

Those voices are definitely powerful at this juncture...

But luckily the bottle of nitro in my pocket and on my nightstand also carry some powerful thoughts, the power and knowledge of the ultimate price... this only provides moments of clarity between the urges but does seem to help me move to the next craving. 

Just sit read post and ask father time to move me to the next moment.... 

7 minutes ago, overcome said:

@Stewbum - this book was a big help to me in case you have not read it, some get a lot form it some not so much: 

 

https://www.amazon.com/Allen-Carrs-Smoking-Without-Willpower/dp/178404542X/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?crid=3MCD1TKQ5RLY3&keywords=the+easy+way+to+stop+smoking+by+allen+carr&qid=1690661587&sprefix=The+easy%2Caps%2C198&sr=8-2-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1

Thanks overcome. Just used the link and it will be here Monday. I did use information from the book in the last quit but never owned it. Now I do.

Hey, Stew. Welcome aboard! It's been great to see you chiming in on the NOPE thread, and I was hoping you'd share a bit more of your story, so thanks. It's wonderful to meet you! I, too, lost a long (several years) quit, after which the addiction roared back more fiercely than ever before. And I can totally relate to your experience of putting smoking first, about family, health, and common sense. Addiction is so crazy.

 

But here we are, on our way to freedom! Congrats on your five days. As you know, there will be some bumps along the way but lean into the support here and we'll help you through them. I really truly thought that life would suck forever without smoking. But it doesn't! All kinds of good things await!

 

 

Edited July 31, 20233 yr by DenaliBlues

Thank you for the Blues. HA HA !!

Yes this is pretty bumpy as we speak, the energy levels right now are almost non existent!  Luckily, I am not a pessimist but lean more toward a realist.

I am happy that this has begun and excited to start taking care of the damage control ..

 

Thank you and Cheers!

Stew.

Welcome to the Quittrain Stewbum!  Glad to have you join us.  This is a great group of caring and helpful people who will help you through your quit.  We have quitters here ranging from just a couple short months, like myself, to people who have quit over a decade ago.  This is my 2nd and final time quitting.  First time I was quit for 6 years but, unfortunately went back.  Now, I take it one day at a time and am doing well.  So stick around and Good luck to you!!😃

Thank you Sandi.

Welcome aboard Stewbum, congratulations on your decision to take your life back again. Remember, you are stronger than the addiction. You have just joined the best support group there is for quitting smoking. We are all here to support you every step of the way. Don't be afraid to ask for help or for advice. We got you.

Welcome, Stew! Stay close, we gotchu. Congrats on changing your life for the better 😊

Hi Stewbum! I also lost a great quit and am  determined to keep this one. That nicodemon is such a manipulative sneak!  Let's hold on tight to our freedom.

Hello Robin. 

Yes that freakin nicodeman is definitly sneaky.

@Stewbum-Howdy! I think I remember you from years ago at QSMB. I quit in 2016.  Glad you found your way back to a forum.  You know the drill! I’m really happy for you and your quit. 
Yep to NOPE! 
 

Lust4Life