Hopefully this is it!

[Keith]

On 3/7/2026 at 7:24 PM, Reciprocity said:

Don't misunderstand what I'm saying about changing your lifestyle @Keith. What I meant is learning what to do with all that time you spent smoking. You now have to fill those hours each day with something productive rather than just going for a smoke. That requires some degree of change in your daily lifestyle.

 

Also, dealing with seasonal and other smoking triggers you may not expect after being quit for a while. I quit in late January and yet in mid April, the first lawn cutting of the year, I got acraving for a smoke because that was my reward for having finished cutting the grass in years past. I found it interesting how some of these trivial things in our life were wired to having a smoke, at least in our brain. It takes time to get through all that but it's certainly doable, especially after the early quit withdrawal is pretty much over.

 

 

hey, I got you! without a thought I have been dealing with the extra time one saves without going out to burn one.  Now, that burning one could be a few minutes saying to self this taste like shit, why I am I smoking this to seven minutes burning a full one? In other words, I have done this (whatever that may be) instead of stepping out and realizing I just did this without smoking.

 

Seasonal's?  You just gave me something to think about and could turn into story time? My wife would ask me, Why does it take you all afternoon to mow the lawn?  Keith says: Well, we first have to pick up sticks that are not ours from the neighbors (Maybe a half an hour front and back?). Then we mow a bit, take a break, drink a couple of beers, have a couple of smokes, rinse and repeat.  Seems to take all afternoon.  Then, when complete, have a couple more beers probably several more smokes and admire what you just accomplished. Weekly yard mowing done and yup, took all afternoon.

Thank you, I guess I will plow into it and see how it shakes out? One thing is for sure, I won't be smoking and most likely be replacing beer with water.  That will be difficult performing summer yard work? Or, self says get use to it bud, we can do it!

Edited March 13 by Keith

[Keith]

@Reciprocity, hey, I got you! without a thought I have been dealing with the extra time one saves without going out to burn one.  Now, that burning one could be a few minutes saying to self this taste like shit, why I am I smoking this to seven minutes burning a full one? In other words, I have done this (whatever that may be) instead of stepping out and realizing I just did this without smoking.

 

Seasonal's?  You just gave me something to think about and could turn into story time? My wife would ask me, Why does it take you all afternoon to mow the lawn?  Keith says: Well, we first have to pick up sticks that are not ours from the neighbors (Maybe a half an hour front and back?). Then we mow a bit, take a break, drink a couple of beers, have a couple of smokes, rinse and repeat.  Seems to take all afternoon.  Then, when complete, have a couple more beers probably several more smokes and admire what you just accomplished. Weekly yard mowing done and yup, took all afternoon.

Thank you, I guess I will plow into it and see how it shakes out? One thing is for sure, I won't be smoking and most likely be replacing beer with water.  That will be difficult performing summer yard work? Or, self says get use to it bud, we can do it!

 

Gday and that's exactly it, you have it down. You own the morning and the rest of the day too. If we think about all the time smoking instead of doing whatever else it's huge! I've yet to do that yet but warmer weather is on its way and the first thing I am thinking about is exercising at least start walking to start. Oh boy, story behind that too.

 

Doreensfree, I am still drinking coffee which is odd as the smokes go hand in hand so well? I don't know if it's because I am older but some things seem so well controlled than when I was younger? And a bit odd also is I expected to smell and taste better by now at 9 weeks of quit. I can smell the coffee brewing a bit better but so far waiting for that to kick in.

LOL at your gif, that is funny :), thank you!

Edited March 13 by Keith

[SD2026]

5 hours ago, Keith said:

I've yet to do that yet but warmer weather is on its way and the first thing I am thinking about is exercising at least start walking to start.

Even starting with gentle exercise will be a huge help @Keith  

[FinalAttempt]

On 3/8/2026 at 6:10 AM, SD2026 said:

@Reciprocity this is what I've been thinking of recently, I already know Spring/Summer will be a trigger for me but at least I won't be caught off guard and will just try to prepare myself in some way. 

Spring/Summer will definitely be a challenge for me as well.

I recall most of my quit usually started as a New Year resolution, and most of my relapses happed on a golf course. Probably because of the deadly combination of fresh air, golfing with buddies, beers and cigars! 

Golf courses here (Toronto area) will open in about a month, I need to prepare for it. 

[Reciprocity]

@FinalAttempt; you'll still have golf, buddies & beers, you're just ditching the cigars & with the money you're saving from not smoking, your wallet won't be taking such a beating   Don't let your nicotine addiction or your buddies sway you from your ultimate goal! That goal, quitting the smokes for life, needs to be job 1.

 

I mentioned savings because that's an important positive result of quitting and focusing on those positives helps a lot to keep you on track.

Aslo, happy to see you back on the forum. Hadn't seen you for a couple of days and was hoping you weren't bush whacked by the nicodemon! You're at two weeks quit now which is fabulous. Well done!!

[SD2026]

4 hours ago, FinalAttempt said:

Spring/Summer will definitely be a challenge for me as well.

I recall most of my quit usually started as a New Year resolution, and most of my relapses happed on a golf course. Probably because of the deadly combination of fresh air, golfing with buddies, beers and cigars! 

Golf courses here (Toronto area) will open in about a month, I need to prepare for it. 

Preparation is key and it's good you've a month to plan. I'm assuming others at the golf course smoke,  if yes, this is a part I'm working on for myself, being around others who smoke is hard. You'll be further into your quit by then and much stronger. 

 

I'm thinking of ways to stop temptations in Spring/Summer especially in social situations. Once I have some sort of a list I'll share and hopefully it may help you/others too.  I understand what works for one may not work for another but it's worth a try! 

 

Regardless, we will not be smoking in the Spring or Summer 

 

[Doreensfree]

Keep going 

The more you play golf and don’t smoke 

The normal this will become .

You might surprise yourself and actually enjoy it .

Not having to  try and light up when it’s windy, that ash blowing in your eyes 

yes you know the one , when that hot ash blows right back in your eye ball 

Geez I don’t miss that 

Enjoy your golf

[intoxicated yoda]

7 hours ago, FinalAttempt said:

Spring/Summer will definitely be a challenge for me as well.

I recall most of my quit usually started as a New Year resolution, and most of my relapses happed on a golf course. Probably because of the deadly combination of fresh air, golfing with buddies, beers and cigars! 

Golf courses here (Toronto area) will open in about a month, I need to prepare for it. 

Golf was a huge part of my quit.  That first round was tough, ngl.  But I got through it and realized the cigs didn't make it any more or less enjoyable.  After about my 3rd round without cigs I would look forward to playing and even enjoy the smell of someone else's freshly lit cigarette.  In fact, golfing was about the only time I could get any relief from the constant craving attacks I would get so I played a lot.  So focus on the golf and enjoy that and I think you'll find that you don't need the cigs to have fun.  good luck

[FinalAttempt]

21 hours ago, intoxicated yoda said:

... After about my 3rd round without cigs I would look forward to playing and even enjoy the smell of someone else's freshly lit cigarette...

That sounds awesome.  Unfortunately it wasn't the same for me, I still remember those quits after a long winter, playing the first round with golfing buddies who smoke, I couldn't resist the smell of cigarette and ended relapsing when someone offered me 1.

I think maybe I should avoid playing with those who smoke in my first few rounds of golf this spring.

[Reciprocity]

Do what ya have to do to stay quit @FinalAttempt!

That's job 1 for the foreseeable future

 

[intoxicated yoda]

1 hour ago, FinalAttempt said:

That sounds awesome.  Unfortunately it wasn't the same for me, I still remember those quits after a long winter, playing the first round with golfing buddies who smoke, I couldn't resist the smell of cigarette and ended relapsing when someone offered me 1.

I think maybe I should avoid playing with those who smoke in my first few rounds of golf this spring.

If you believe it's going to lead you to a relapse then don't play with the smokers.  I did play alone most of the time and the smokers were always some rando's i'd get paired with, but let me tell you...it was always a source of self pride to have a great day on the course (regardless of how i played).  Reinforcing that knowledge that life and enjoyment doesn't end when you quit smoking was a great motivator for me.  Always remember, you don't need the cigs.  It's the cig CEO's that need you.  Don't let them use you.  Good luck.

[Reciprocity]

4 hours ago, intoxicated yoda said:

 Always remember, you don't need the cigs.  It's the cig CEO's that need you.  Don't let them use you.  Good luck.

That's exactly right! It's the manufacturers of cigarettes that NEED YOU and they are willing to do diabolicle things in order to keep you hooked! Anyone who doubts this or just plain wants to get pis*ed off at Big Tobacco should watch the 3 YouTube videos titled "Tobacco Wars". It's an interesting documentary series about how the tobacco industry grew and what they're willing to do to keep us hooked for life. Clearly they could care less about their customers. It's only about the $$$ - what a surprise!

 

Link to Episode One - for those interested ...

 

[Doreensfree]

Those CEO 

They sit around the table and keep coming up with additional poisons to put in the cigarettes to make sure the poor smoker stays hooked .

What’s in a cigarette?

Cigarettes smoke contains over 5,000 chemicals. Many of these are poisonous and at least 70 cause cancer. Find out more about the chemicals in tobacco smoke, and how some of these lead to Cancer

Its no surprise we struggle when we Quit

Our bodies are so messed up 

Be kind to yourselves Newbies 

Quitting is a journey