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Theory on succeeding or not...


Kaitilina
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Kaitilina
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19 years ago 0 983 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Are we quitting just for today....or are we trying to quit for the rest of our lives. I know it's difficult to think today that I'm quitting smoking for the rest of my life. That's a long time and a huge committement, and may seem overwhelming. But the reality is that our goal is to quit this addiction for life. The way we do this is one minute, one hour, one day, one week, one month, one year, one life time at a time...one person at a time. There are stories on the SSC of people that were quit for 5+ years and had just one cig and started smoking again. Although I'm saddened to hear this, I need to hear these stories...I need to know it's a possibility that this could happen so that when I crave a year or five years from now...I am not caught off guard and I will be prepared. We can never let our guard down and ever have one puff. Nicoteen is too addictive. I can't think today about a life time without smoking..it's too overwhelming for me...but I do know I will make it to tomorrow, and then tomorrow I will make the committment for the next day and so on and so on. If I have to do this the rest of my life...then so be it. My motto is: Taking it one day at a time for the rest of my life. Kaiti [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 11/7/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 36 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 801 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $198 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 3 [B]Hrs:[/B] 5 [B]Mins:[/B] 3 [B]Seconds:[/B] 6
no more cig
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no more cig
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19 years ago 0 598 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
* Thanks for sharing, Kim! Much appreciated! :) That's very similar of the concept of "burning the bridge" which I'm following. Once the bridge was burnt, you have no option to go back. You don't even think about it. Smoking is no longer an option. You may still have moments of discomfort. Many people call them as "cravings of cigs", but I rather call them as "cravings for comfort". Then, you deal with them, one by one, using all means available to you (such as: deep breaths, brisk walk, distractions, delays, candies, mints, icy drinks, NRT aids, etc....). And thay too shall pass! :) Cheers, nmc [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 8/25/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 110 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,108 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $550 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 20 [B]Hrs:[/B] 14 [B]Mins:[/B] 0 [B]Seconds:[/B] 49
Phil
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Phil
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19 years ago 0 3908 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Kim You are so right as usual...... He (or she)who dares...... wins!!! LISTEN TO KIM EVERYONE LISTEN! SHE IS A WINNER!! Phil [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 8/8/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 127 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 2,675 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] �666.75 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 26 [B]Hrs:[/B] 6 [B]Mins:[/B] 58 [B]Seconds:[/B] 21
Danielle, Bilingual Health Educator
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Danielle, Bilingual Health Educator
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19 years ago 0 8760 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Cheermom, Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us. There is some great truth in this post. In the end we are the ones who decide whether or not to light up again. Danielle ______________________ The SSC Support Team
adecodiva
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adecodiva
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19 years ago 0 607 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Sorry about using the word "fail". But I just dont know another word for when someone "slips". How does one slip when they knowingly smoke? It was a choice on their part. Kim [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 6/7/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 189 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 4,735 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $765.45 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 16 [B]Hrs:[/B] 16 [B]Mins:[/B] 38 [B]Seconds:[/B] 32
adecodiva
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adecodiva
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19 years ago 0 607 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Ok one more thought. I've read and read and I'm now realizing something. Ihave a theory on who succeeds and who can't suceed on quitting smoking. Here goes: ok, if a person constantly thinks about smoking, guess what, they will fail at quitting. If they dont finally accept the fact they are non smokers, they will fail, even if it is 20 years down the road. Its a guarantee if you dont let go of that lifestyle of smoking, you will set yourself up for slipping (I hate that word). I cna't see any other explanation. People say they got drunk and smoked. Guess what, I got drunk one night with my smoking neighbor and well, I didnt' even think about smoking. Is it because I let go of that former lifestyle? Is it because I want my quit more than anything and I have moved on and live my life as a non smoker? I welcome it. I love the fact it will never control me again. I could easily go back to that lifestyle if I wanted to, especially since I have a spouse that smokes. Guess what, who cares if he smokes. I want my quit. Kim [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 6/7/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 189 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 4,734 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $765.45 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 16 [B]Hrs:[/B] 16 [B]Mins:[/B] 37 [B]Seconds:[/B] 22
Shevie
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Shevie
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19 years ago 0 2027 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hi, Cheermom. Awesome post. :) I agree that we have choices and most "slips" are just that, a choice to smoke. There are rare occasions where a person will literally lose control and grab a handy cig. Like I said, those are rare. When someone has to make an effort to obtain a cig, or "slips" repeatedly, those are concious choices. I also agree that if you keep smoking, or your lack of it, at the forefront of your thoughts, you will likely smoke. My Mom used to say, "You'll worry it into being.", which meant if you focus your thoughts on something long enough it will happen. This is also a cornerstone of many motivational speakers' topics. It works. And it will work against you. So if you must focus your thoughts on something, why not focus on what you are gaining? Why not focus on your future as a non-smoker? Not the "OMG, I can never smoke again!!! Waaaa!" non-smoker, but the "I'm free from this. I can do what I want when I want. What a wonderful feeling!" non-smoker. It's all about choices. The choice is yours. Make the right one. Keep up the great quits, everyone. Shevie [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 5/23/2005 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 569 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 11,389 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $2162.2 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 106 [B]Hrs:[/B] 3 [B]Mins:[/B] 54 [B]Seconds:[/B] 11
Ros
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Ros
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19 years ago 0 112 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Kim, great post, you are so right! You have to focus on the positives of quitting and not look back or ever allow yourself to feel deprived or that you have given anything up (you haven't!) But Kaitilina is also right.... At the beginning it has to be "head down" and claw your way from one milestone to the next, hour by hour, celebrating days, every 5 days, each week, the first month etc. The newer quitter should not spend too long dwelling on "forever" it is much too daunting - it is enough to focus on not smoking today or making the weekend pledge. But somewhere along the line, and for most it will probably be somewhere around 6 to 12 weeks, you have to start looking up ahead and starting to acknowledge yourself as a non-smoker. You have to make the transition to believing that this is a forever thing and that you are never going back, because at that stage you cannot imagine anything worse! Of course, I'm not meaning to suggest you should get complacent or ever lose sight of the fact that one puff would take you back to square one. I think that those that make the succesful transition to thinking of themselves as permanent non-smokers are the most likely to succeed. Those that always think of the quit as one day at a time and allow themselves to avoid a long term commitment indefinitely are probably most at risk at moments of crisis or weakness. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 12/16/2004 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 727 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 23,291 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] �4362 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 95 [B]Hrs:[/B] 4 [B]Mins:[/B] 19 [B]Seconds:[/B] 24

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    Days: 760 Hours: 7

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Katy
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Katy
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19 years ago 0 763 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Kim.....there is the heart of the matter.....you want to stop WORSE than you want to smoke......so you press on with the quit and you leave longing to smoke behind. That's what it takes congratulations don't ya feel the freedom???? :) Katy [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 1/4/2002 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 1805 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 72,233 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $10288.5 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 235 [B]Hrs:[/B] 13 [B]Mins:[/B] 9 [B]Seconds:[/B] 31

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    $161,805.00

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    Days: 5595 Hours: 4

    Minutes: 52 Seconds: 2

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    924,600

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