Bobbi has Eight Months!

Congrats Bobbi! 8 months is tremendous. I didn't know you were caring for your parents-- that makes this quit even more remarkable. Deb [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]11/6/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 21 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 504 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $147.42 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 2 [B]Hrs:[/B] 1 [B]Mins:[/B] 7 [B]Seconds:[/B] 53

Weird phase-- any advice?

Oh my God, you are all too marvelous for words! Each and every one of you made a big difference. Thank you! I'm going to respond properly tomorrow if I can. I'm honestly too tired right now and need some sleep (that's my current reward). But! I haven't smoke, and won't. Write more as soon as I can...... Night and sweet dreams to you all. deb [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]11/6/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 22 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 528 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $154.44 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 2 [B]Hrs:[/B] 3 [B]Mins:[/B] 23 [B]Seconds:[/B] 24

Weird phase-- any advice?

I want my banners and cake each and every morning damn it. LOL That was hilarious, Stan. My sentiments exactly. I have more time to write now-- 6am and everyone else is still asleep. I got so much out of what everyone wrote, and I'm hoping others going through this phase did too. When I'm given advice (especially from such an astute group of people), I take it. So here is what I have learned from all of you smarty-pants from No Smokum U: 1. Reward, reward, reward. I did get myself a little reward this past weekend, but I did it under stressful circumstances and in a rush. So, I need to be more thoughtful about that and truly make it a REAL reward, not another thing to get over with and check off of my to do list. So, in that new light (and thank you Alohakeia-- I was wondering where you have been!, danielle, OnMoreTry, Kelly, Judy, Sue, and Bear). I haven't thought of what that will be yet, but today is hump day and time to figure it out. I vow to post it and do it. 2. Sometimes family members and friends are not there. I liked your idea Kelly-- I was doing that for awhile until I started petering out. And ask for what I need. But I think most important were the messages I got from Lolly, Pen, Anna, and genevieve. I need to remember why I did this in the first place and that was for me. My cough is gone, I do not stink, I'm not embarrassed because I HAVE to sneak off and have a cigarette..... all of those natural rewards of quitting. 3. You guys are the best huggers in the universe. :) I think that helped more than anything else. It's weird, cyberhugs feel just about as good as real time hugs. Thanks for those. Okay, so you're all moving to California. Okay? I promise to hang banners and make cake for us every morning. And toot horns, etc. And no one will say anything crappy and thoughtless to us, nor walk out on us when we are doing such a good thing for ourselves. Okay-- get moving. You have a a lot of packing to do. :) Bobbi-- please do put me on your buddy list. I haven't figured out the buddy list thing yet. How do you use it? I would love to IM anybody if we catch each other on site. Need to get to work-- I've got banners to pay for :) Have the best day today everyone. Enjoy the fresh air, and my reward post is coming. and hugs back at you deborah [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]11/6/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 22 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 528 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $154.44 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 2 [B]Hrs:[/B] 4 [B]Mins:[/B] 18 [B]Seconds:[/B] 59

Start of a New Week

Gin, a week is such a huge milestone! Hurray for you! John and Sue are right-- make sure you keep reaching out and don't worry if you think you are bothering anyone. You're not. Keep it up partner! Yahoo! Deborah [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]11/6/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 23 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 552 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $161.46 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 2 [B]Hrs:[/B] 6 [B]Mins:[/B] 42 [B]Seconds:[/B] 20

November quitters-- any thoughts?

Hi to everyone who is in the trenches along with me and has quit in November. It's time to think of a great name for ourselves! Everyone's invited to come up with something-- maybe we could all have a vote on it after we've looked at everyone's ideas? I'm not in charge of anything (that's for sure), but wanted to get the ball rolling. And congratulations to all of you on your quits! Deb [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]11/6/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 23 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 552 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $161.46 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 2 [B]Hrs:[/B] 6 [B]Mins:[/B] 43 [B]Seconds:[/B] 5

November quitters-- any thoughts?

I [i]LOVE[/i] that! It may be too soon to ask-- my fellows may still be in a quitting fog. But that is good! I was thinking something similar, but I like yours better (I was thinking of November NOPErs). I hope more people post ideas, and thanks Grin. deb [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]11/6/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 23 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 552 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $161.46 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 2 [B]Hrs:[/B] 7 [B]Mins:[/B] 37 [B]Seconds:[/B] 45

I just called to say

How fun! I'm glad you are doing something for yourself, after giving so much to others. Have a blast! Deb [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]11/6/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 23 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 552 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $161.46 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 2 [B]Hrs:[/B] 7 [B]Mins:[/B] 37 [B]Seconds:[/B] 59

interesting facts

Thanks Anna, Here's more benefits not mentioned yet (that I have experienced). I no longer feel like I need to step back from people when they lean in to tell me something. I no longer feel ashamed of myself. That perhaps is as big as the health benefits. I've rejoined life because I don't have to figure out an escape plan anymore to run off and smoke. I feel, and therefore look, beautiful. My skin glows, I'm smiling all of the time, and my cough is gone (isn't that cough attractive?). Another benefit-- I've found oxygen rather addicting. I didn't know I could feel this good not smoking. I guess I forgot because I've been smoking for so long. Yes, I still crave because it is still early on for me, but the craves are less painful to me now, than 10 minutes of my life when I was smoking (hope that makes sense). There are so many other benefits. I hope others keep posting their benefits here. deb [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]11/6/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 24 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 576 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $168.48 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 2 [B]Hrs:[/B] 8 [B]Mins:[/B] 6 [B]Seconds:[/B] 16

another year and a close one

My birthday was today, and I woke up kind of sick with a little bit of something. I went out into the living room and sat down, and that's when the strongest craving I've had since my first week hit completely out of the blue. It really caught me off guard. I hadn't been thinking about smoking at all. So here were my thoughts..... 'Wow, I really want to smoke bad.' 'I could if I really wanted to.' 'My mom has some.' 'I could just have one puff-- who would know, and what difference would it make, and who cares anyway, and it's my birthday, and it's not like I'd smoke a whole cigarette.' 'but I hate my mom's cigarettes.' 'if I'm going to ruin my quit, I'm going to do it with a cigarette that I actually like.' 'If I go to the store and get a cigarette that I actually like, then I'll have a whole pack-- if I have a whole pack, I'll smoke it....... then I'll be smoking again..... not an option.' So that was that. I didn't smoke, and was fairly miserable with cravings today. And pretty out of it as well. Then, after dinner this evening, I went into the bedroom to change into my jammies.... and low and behold, I had forgotten completely to put my patch on (I'm on step 2). So I was having nicotine withdrawals. That helped a lot mentally to figure that out, because the cravings came (it seemed) out of left field. Whoopsie. I almost smoked today-- if I weren't so damn lazy, I probably would be writing about how I toddled off to the store for the 'cool' cigarettes. Happy to say that I got through this "first" (birthday), without lighting up.... but it was a close one. By the way, I just turned 44. The age meter has had me at 44 since I started. I'm throwing that meter into the bonfire :mad: I realized tonight that by quitting, I've hopefully bought myself some more birthdays. May we all have many more to come. Deb [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]11/6/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 25 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 600 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $175.50 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 2 [B]Hrs:[/B] 10 [B]Mins:[/B] 26 [B]Seconds:[/B] 1

OK i didnt wanna blow my own horn - but no-one else is gonna do it for me

I'm really glad you are tooting Jacqui! Congratulations on one month. Could you have imagined this? It is another miracle that inspires yet another miracle. Keep up the quit girl, Cheers Deb [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]11/6/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 25 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 600 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $175.50 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 2 [B]Hrs:[/B] 10 [B]Mins:[/B] 27 [B]Seconds:[/B] 40