posted June 07, 2005 12:39 AM              

I'm sick of these damn cancer sticks.

I really need to stop. I have been smoking since I was 15.

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posted June 07, 2005 08:49 AM            

(Hopefully this is helpful in some way)

The first time I was in the Navy, which isn't an obvious place to quit as there are many smokers. However, while in the navy I had plenty of time to get things in order, and I had almost zero stress on my life. I spent a LOT of time thinking about and working on myself, and as a result I was able to just power through not smoking. I stopped smoking when I felt a little sick, so that my withdrawal could coincide with getting over whatever it was that I had. Being in such a confident place in my life I was just always able to affirm to myself that, "I am not a smoker." It was awesome, and my energy expanded greatly as a result. After a few months of being away from it I was able to smoke the occasion cigarette here and there with absolutely no compulsion to start up again. Unfortunately, I allowed the stress of transitioning out of the Navy to cause me to start up again.

posted June 07, 2005 10:24 AM              

Wow, quitting smoking...it really is extremely difficult, how long have you been smoking?
I quit one year ago, after been smoking since I was 13, and that was after MANY failed attempts.
For like 3 4 years I was on and off cigs.
Every time saying to myself "this time I WILL do it" yeah right =)
Even if I used a patch and didn't smoke for months it was so easy to get back to that old habit, like in one evening, after having just _1_, it was all it took to get back at it =(
My best advice to you, the one that worked for me, you should really make up your mind and decide if you really want to quit, for yourself, and the reasons why you wanna quit.
Cause I believe that if you really want to quit because you HATE the cig and REALLY want it out of yor life forever, then it's not that difficult. Then, if someone is smoking in front of you, you know that you will NOT allow yourself to have one cig just because they are smoking etc...
Also, patches and gum is helpful the first time after quitting, but I think it's a bad solution cause it's nicotine in them, and that's what you're suppose to quit being addicted to.
It never worked for me, what I did, after being so angry and tired of the cig ruling my life and giving me so many negative things, such as restlessness, nervousness, I bought one pack of cigs and smoked as much as I could one evening, and while I was smoking them, I tried to feel and think about what it was that this was giving me, and if it was really worth it compared to the "freedom" you get when you are a non smoker. And yes, ofcourse, when you are a smoker, the cig taste good and that is the only reason why it's so difficult to quit, but being able to analyse and recognise that feeling and deal with it, resist it, every time it comes sneaking up on you, no matter how powerful it feels, and make u think, ok, I will just have one, and u have lost again,
it's difficult, but for me it was a learning process. That's why it had to take me so many attemps, so that you learn about what made you fail the last time you quit.
And therefore, I feel now that I can never smoke 1 cig ever again, cause I know the alternative, it really was hell smoking/quitting smoking, and I decided to NEVER go back to that routine, cause that would mean going back to all the negative issues associated with it, and I just have had enough=) If I see someone smoke now, it doesn't bother me at all and I believe the reason is cause I have convinced myself somehow, that it just is IMPOSSIBLE for me to ever go back there, no matter what.
So if you're gonna quit now, you should really make a promise to yourself that you really will do all you can to succeed, and never doubt your choice. It just is a matter of telling yourself you will never smoke again =)
I don't think you should rely so much on transits when quitting smoking, but make sure that you don't have any stressful things in ure life at this moment and in the nearest future. Working out can help you think about other things and make you relax in the most difficult period maybe, or eating anything you want as a substitute can be helpful. Don't think about weight =)
Drink a lot of water to help getting the nicotine out of ure body, and if you have friends that smoke, you really must avoid seeing them for quite awhile hehe =)
That is just my own personal experience with that nightmare cig.

Good luck =)

posted June 08, 2005 10:46 PM            

I told myself today "I am not a smoker." I only lied twice.

Great tip!