Post by slim on Feb 28, 2012 0:20:22 GMT -5
This is weird looking back....i wrote this on various days in the first 2 years after quitting. I never posted it here....so for those who care to read it....maybe it will helps some passer by in the future....
June 25, 2001
After 20 years of smoking, some health scares and a host of other important reasons, I have decided to quit. I have been around the net for support and information, only finding the Q a few days ago. I officially quit at 6:30 pm on June 11th. I feel good about this quit, and I think support (online) is a big part of that success. I was like a man on a mission for day one of the quit, and yesterday, day 13, I almost fell off the wagon. Ups and downs, somehow we have to get thru them and so far I am smoke free one day at a time.
I have chosen not to smoke for 1 Week 6 Days 15 Hours 31 Minutes 3 Seconds. Cigarettes not smoked: 409. Money saved: $62.64. Life saved 2 Days 20 Hrs 13 Mins 58 Secs
July 2, 01
Here I am at 21 days of smoke free living. I would have to say it has been an adventure so far, and a tough one at that! AT this point I am no longer having any nicotine withdrawals, and remember I quit Cold Turkey. The worst part of Staying Quit, is the darn habit! The nicobeast is very sneaky, and can hit you like a rock, anytime, anywhere, and you must be ready for him. I am COMMITTED to not smoking, PERIOD! That makes all the difference in the world. Btw, I do have times where I don`t have to think about a cigarette...... I am looking forward to continued freedom. *s*
21 Days smoke Free!!! :-)
*****************************
September 27. 2001
Day 108
Just had some thoughts as I surpass the 3 month milestone.
Somewhere between 1 and 3 months quit, I reached a place where I thought I had control of the beast, sort of a euphoria. I began thinking that this quitting thing is no biggie and I could lay off the support. WRONG!!!!!!!!!!
At 3 months, or just after, I began to experience incredible cravings to smoke. It was after the 9/11 tragedy, and the beast jumped on my back and stayed there. So far I have won the battles, but the war continues on....
Whatever you do, Keep your resolve, and stay alert to what is happening. Do not let the beast win on any grounds. Smoking is NOT and option....period!!!! Over the next few months, I will be trying to cement my new habits and begin to feel more comfortable with being smoke free.
Best wishes to all
God Bless America
Slim
I quit 06/11/2001 at 18:30:00 PM. Been smoke Free for 3 Months 2 Weeks 2 Days 5 Hours 14 Minutes 38 Seconds. Cigarettes not smoked: 3246. Money saved: $649.31+. Time and Life not wasted: 3 Wks 1 Day 13 Hrs 5 Mins 32 Secs
*****************************
Day 150
November 8, 2001
`Quitting is hard`
After 5 months of smoke free living, I can tell you my resolve has never been greater! If I drifted away from the my support/quitting buddies, I feel like I would cave. The beast still sits on my back at times and a powerful foe he is!!
I will not smoke, it is Not an option!
No Matter What. sh*t Happens and that is not an excuse to smoke. It will not make me feel better, It will not solve my problems, smoking is not an option...period!!
I feel better
I smell better
I am proud of myself
I feel more confident
I like myself more
I don`t miss out
The house and car smell better
I have more time
I have more $
I am part of the `in` crowd
My wife and kids are proud of me
I have met some new friends
I know I am not alone
God Bless America
_Slim
I haven`t smoked for 4 Months 4 Weeks 6 Hours 11 Minutes
Cigarettes not smoked: 4507.
Money saved: $901.55+.
Time and Life not wasted: 2 Wks 1 Day 15 Hrs 38 Mins 43 Secs
*******************************
12/11/01
6 month of smoke free living.....who knew! ;-)
This year at Christmas, I will actually be around to experience the moments, to see the kids faces, to not have to worry about having to run outside or downstairs and smoke. That is such a cool gift to give myself!
KTQ all
_Slim
6 Months 14 Hours 56 Minutes 51 Seconds.
Cigarettes not smoked: 5508.
Money saved: $1,101.74.
2 Wks 5 Days 3 Hrs 3 Mins 25 Secs
**************************************
Day 214
7 months quit
Sometimes I wish I had kept a daily diary of this quit from the prep-time to the quit day up until today. That would be something to read. As it is, I still have CRS, and I have brief flashbacks is all. At this point, I think the CRS is a genetic thing rather than from quitting smoking. ;-) I don`t smoke anymore, and that is a good thing. I still have urges and `smoking thoughts` and probably always will; however, I can push them aside so much easier now. It is a wonderful feeling to have some control over my life, where before I just smoked. As a friend said to me once...You need to find your path!
The process of quitting can be different for each person, but we all must go on this journey to find our way in a smokefree world, no more smoke clouds to hide behind, and the real me is emerging, a better me, and I think I like it. I am not active on this board-community, but that does not mean that I don`t come here and pray for your strength and hope that you can get thru another day without lighting up, and wish that you, yes you, the one reading my profile, that you are able to find your path and travel the journey that leads you to a life without the smokes!
God Bless
_slim
214 days quit
***June 2, 2002
I am still here and kicking it without the nasty smokes. I can`t wait to hit the one year mark and plan to celebrate big time!!
Keep the quit
_slim
356 days
***June 11, 2002***One year quit
This day marks the one year milestone for me and I am so darn proud. Who would have thunk that I could make it this far a year ago when I quit....it was the impossible dream, just to far ahead that I could not see it!! For me it was truly one day at a time. I can honestly say that I renewed my quit daily and worked very hard to get to this day! My resolve and determination was strong, I worked on my attitude constantly, and I prayed alot! But the secret ingredient for me was Online support and quitting buddies!!! Without such help I cannot say for sure I would have made it to one year....so I encourage all of you reading this to accept the support, to be involved, and feel how being with fellow quitters can help you along. Together we can do amazing things.
Best wishes to all.
Slim_62
365 days
**June 11, 2003*** Two years quit
Wow, I remember when a few days seemed like a lifetime when trying to quiet the beast. Quitting was sooooo hard for me and yet I was very determined and resolved to quit whatever the course! My life depended on it! You know something....so does yours....please KTQ...you will be so glad you did!!
Anyways,
it`s very nice to look back on the last 730 days and say that I quit without cheating and did it mostly cold turkey. I have stayed involved with my online quit buddies and that has kept me on the stay quit path. I always kept saying to myself, and online, and outloud, that `smoking was not an option...period` and that I would never want to experience the first weeks of quitting again... no wayyyyyyyyyy!!
So far so good....I feel great about my 2 years quit and hopefully will never look back.
I am an addict and always will be, so I will continue to be conscious of my habit and work towards positive changes for a better life without the nasty stinky smokes!!
I wish for all of you reading this that you to may find the `one thing` that keeps you from losing the battle for your life and freedom....It`s so worth it.... such a great feeling to recapture what I thought I had lost forever.
Here`s to healthy deep breathing
God Bless
slim_62
730 days
Cigarettes not smoked: 21893.
Money saved: $4,378.63.
June 25, 2001
After 20 years of smoking, some health scares and a host of other important reasons, I have decided to quit. I have been around the net for support and information, only finding the Q a few days ago. I officially quit at 6:30 pm on June 11th. I feel good about this quit, and I think support (online) is a big part of that success. I was like a man on a mission for day one of the quit, and yesterday, day 13, I almost fell off the wagon. Ups and downs, somehow we have to get thru them and so far I am smoke free one day at a time.
I have chosen not to smoke for 1 Week 6 Days 15 Hours 31 Minutes 3 Seconds. Cigarettes not smoked: 409. Money saved: $62.64. Life saved 2 Days 20 Hrs 13 Mins 58 Secs
July 2, 01
Here I am at 21 days of smoke free living. I would have to say it has been an adventure so far, and a tough one at that! AT this point I am no longer having any nicotine withdrawals, and remember I quit Cold Turkey. The worst part of Staying Quit, is the darn habit! The nicobeast is very sneaky, and can hit you like a rock, anytime, anywhere, and you must be ready for him. I am COMMITTED to not smoking, PERIOD! That makes all the difference in the world. Btw, I do have times where I don`t have to think about a cigarette...... I am looking forward to continued freedom. *s*
21 Days smoke Free!!! :-)
*****************************
September 27. 2001
Day 108
Just had some thoughts as I surpass the 3 month milestone.
Somewhere between 1 and 3 months quit, I reached a place where I thought I had control of the beast, sort of a euphoria. I began thinking that this quitting thing is no biggie and I could lay off the support. WRONG!!!!!!!!!!
At 3 months, or just after, I began to experience incredible cravings to smoke. It was after the 9/11 tragedy, and the beast jumped on my back and stayed there. So far I have won the battles, but the war continues on....
Whatever you do, Keep your resolve, and stay alert to what is happening. Do not let the beast win on any grounds. Smoking is NOT and option....period!!!! Over the next few months, I will be trying to cement my new habits and begin to feel more comfortable with being smoke free.
Best wishes to all
God Bless America
Slim
I quit 06/11/2001 at 18:30:00 PM. Been smoke Free for 3 Months 2 Weeks 2 Days 5 Hours 14 Minutes 38 Seconds. Cigarettes not smoked: 3246. Money saved: $649.31+. Time and Life not wasted: 3 Wks 1 Day 13 Hrs 5 Mins 32 Secs
*****************************
Day 150
November 8, 2001
`Quitting is hard`
After 5 months of smoke free living, I can tell you my resolve has never been greater! If I drifted away from the my support/quitting buddies, I feel like I would cave. The beast still sits on my back at times and a powerful foe he is!!
I will not smoke, it is Not an option!
No Matter What. sh*t Happens and that is not an excuse to smoke. It will not make me feel better, It will not solve my problems, smoking is not an option...period!!
I feel better
I smell better
I am proud of myself
I feel more confident
I like myself more
I don`t miss out
The house and car smell better
I have more time
I have more $
I am part of the `in` crowd
My wife and kids are proud of me
I have met some new friends
I know I am not alone
God Bless America
_Slim
I haven`t smoked for 4 Months 4 Weeks 6 Hours 11 Minutes
Cigarettes not smoked: 4507.
Money saved: $901.55+.
Time and Life not wasted: 2 Wks 1 Day 15 Hrs 38 Mins 43 Secs
*******************************
12/11/01
6 month of smoke free living.....who knew! ;-)
This year at Christmas, I will actually be around to experience the moments, to see the kids faces, to not have to worry about having to run outside or downstairs and smoke. That is such a cool gift to give myself!
KTQ all
_Slim
6 Months 14 Hours 56 Minutes 51 Seconds.
Cigarettes not smoked: 5508.
Money saved: $1,101.74.
2 Wks 5 Days 3 Hrs 3 Mins 25 Secs
**************************************
Day 214
7 months quit
Sometimes I wish I had kept a daily diary of this quit from the prep-time to the quit day up until today. That would be something to read. As it is, I still have CRS, and I have brief flashbacks is all. At this point, I think the CRS is a genetic thing rather than from quitting smoking. ;-) I don`t smoke anymore, and that is a good thing. I still have urges and `smoking thoughts` and probably always will; however, I can push them aside so much easier now. It is a wonderful feeling to have some control over my life, where before I just smoked. As a friend said to me once...You need to find your path!
The process of quitting can be different for each person, but we all must go on this journey to find our way in a smokefree world, no more smoke clouds to hide behind, and the real me is emerging, a better me, and I think I like it. I am not active on this board-community, but that does not mean that I don`t come here and pray for your strength and hope that you can get thru another day without lighting up, and wish that you, yes you, the one reading my profile, that you are able to find your path and travel the journey that leads you to a life without the smokes!
God Bless
_slim
214 days quit
***June 2, 2002
I am still here and kicking it without the nasty smokes. I can`t wait to hit the one year mark and plan to celebrate big time!!
Keep the quit
_slim
356 days
***June 11, 2002***One year quit
This day marks the one year milestone for me and I am so darn proud. Who would have thunk that I could make it this far a year ago when I quit....it was the impossible dream, just to far ahead that I could not see it!! For me it was truly one day at a time. I can honestly say that I renewed my quit daily and worked very hard to get to this day! My resolve and determination was strong, I worked on my attitude constantly, and I prayed alot! But the secret ingredient for me was Online support and quitting buddies!!! Without such help I cannot say for sure I would have made it to one year....so I encourage all of you reading this to accept the support, to be involved, and feel how being with fellow quitters can help you along. Together we can do amazing things.
Best wishes to all.
Slim_62
365 days
**June 11, 2003*** Two years quit
Wow, I remember when a few days seemed like a lifetime when trying to quiet the beast. Quitting was sooooo hard for me and yet I was very determined and resolved to quit whatever the course! My life depended on it! You know something....so does yours....please KTQ...you will be so glad you did!!
Anyways,
it`s very nice to look back on the last 730 days and say that I quit without cheating and did it mostly cold turkey. I have stayed involved with my online quit buddies and that has kept me on the stay quit path. I always kept saying to myself, and online, and outloud, that `smoking was not an option...period` and that I would never want to experience the first weeks of quitting again... no wayyyyyyyyyy!!
So far so good....I feel great about my 2 years quit and hopefully will never look back.
I am an addict and always will be, so I will continue to be conscious of my habit and work towards positive changes for a better life without the nasty stinky smokes!!
I wish for all of you reading this that you to may find the `one thing` that keeps you from losing the battle for your life and freedom....It`s so worth it.... such a great feeling to recapture what I thought I had lost forever.
Here`s to healthy deep breathing
God Bless
slim_62
730 days
Cigarettes not smoked: 21893.
Money saved: $4,378.63.
