Dave, you're right at the time where alot of members had anniversary craves at 30, 60, 90 days, some people get them, some don't...it will get better, I promise. Use your strategies to tide you through! But soon you'll be doing the happpy to be quit dance! ;p [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]3/5/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 329 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 8,225 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $3,470.95 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 43 [B]Hrs:[/B] 4 [B]Mins:[/B] 51 [B]Seconds:[/B] 6

OK, well I'm still here, still hangin' in there! Still finding it bloody tough too! But not had one puff. So never mind the delay Lainey, and thanks for the encouragement. I think, maybe, I am just starting to detect a hint of it getting easier.... [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]12/30/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 29 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 725 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] �199.38 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 4 [B]Hrs:[/B] 13 [B]Mins:[/B] 33 [B]Seconds:[/B] 31

I love this post Lainey. You are so right about this being a mental battle in the beginning. I have been through this before and honestly understand where you're coming from. Being prepared is key! As I'm starting over, inspirational posts like this really help! Have a great day, Cheers, Jan [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]1/27/2008 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 1 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 30 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $8.50 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 0 [B]Hrs:[/B] 3 [B]Mins:[/B] 30 [B]Seconds:[/B] 56

Dave, The voices will quit eventually... The great news is that each day the voice slows down and are not as strong. I can remember asking the same question... I have to say, I thought, I would never get to the point that fighting the desire to smoke(mentally) would be easier.... BUT IT IS!!! I still come here to read & I have a copy of Allen Carrs book.. Hang in there you can get past the worst... Think positive... Think you can, and you can!!! [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]8/25/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 155 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 3,100 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $465.00 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 17 [B]Hrs:[/B] 0 [B]Mins:[/B] 19 [B]Seconds:[/B] 17

I just now saw your post Dave! Sorry for the delay! I hope you are doing well, and I wanted to tell you that yes, it will come to you, yes the little devil does lose his power over you, and that exhausting mental battle eases. It all takes time of course, and is probably quicker for some than others, but you will win this battle Dave, as long as you remember to say Not One Puff Ever. You will be calmer, you will have more free time, you will wonder what took you so long to quit! The Freedom is awesome Dave and it doesn't take all that long. Hang in there! :) [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]3/5/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 328 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 8,200 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $3,460.40 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 43 [B]Hrs:[/B] 2 [B]Mins:[/B] 49 [B]Seconds:[/B] 25

Hi Lainey. The bit of your message that I've pasted below is really great encouraging stuff. It is true is it? Promise? You're nearly eleven months now; can you remember how long it took you to get to there? I had a horrible evening yesterday and was really shaken up by it. I posted elsewhere about this and got some great responses. Above all though I have to believe what you've said below is going to come to me too. "You start to wonder, Am I ever going to win this battle? Could those little voices just shut up already? Will I ever have calm silence in my head again? Well it does come, you all of sudden notice that you have forgotten about smoking for a short period of time, then the times get longer and longer and the little devil gets quieter and quieter. Before long, he can only whisper." [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]12/30/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 20 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 500 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] �137.50 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 3 [B]Hrs:[/B] 3 [B]Mins:[/B] 24 [B]Seconds:[/B] 46

Preparation is essential for a successful quit. Get yourself ready for anything :) Josie, Health Educator

You are so right Lainey. If only the little devil was quieter. Why does he have to have the big mouth. I'm hoping my angel will get a little louder soon. The beach sounds really good by the way kristilu. I think I'll be visiting there tonight.

Excellent advice Lainey!! And you are right about the little devil and angel part. We've been joking about that at work today, except we've been saying we've got peoples in our head! LOL!! I am happy to say that I have shut up the junkie devil in my head today. I took Tresa's advice and when he came out to play this afternoon, I hid from him in my happy place. Which right now is on a beach, with a little umbrella drink and a winning lottery ticket in the other hand. Day 3 almost down and whooped!! [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]1/14/2008 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 2 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 50 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $13.75 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 0 [B]Hrs:[/B] 5 [B]Mins:[/B] 9 [B]Seconds:[/B] 12

The reality of quitting smoking is the first few weeks, it really is a mental battle. It's like the TV antics of the man with a litlle devil on one shoulder and a little angel on the other! The little devil is constant, 24 - 7, pestering you "Go ahead, you can have a smoke, this is too hard, you can't do it, one won't hurt...blah, blah, blah." The little angel is on the other shoulder, trying to keep you sane with "You can do this, You are a winner! You are a non smoker now, you don't want to kill yourself, and on and on!" You start to wonder, Am I ever going to win this battle? Could those little voices just shut up already? Will I ever have calm silence in my head again? Well it does come, you all of sudden notice that you have forgotten about smoking for a short period of time, then the times get longer and longer and the little devil gets quieter and quieter. Before long, he can only whisper. The best advice I can give you is to BE PREPARED for anything! Carry hard candy, straws, a motivational post from here, coffee straws, a bottle of water...carry something with you, all the time, so that if a stressful situation comes up you have something to fall back on. The one thing that anyone who has slipped has told us all here, is that smoking did not make the stressful event any better at all. So plan that the stress will come and that you will be prepared to fight it without a cigarette! Write some pump ups to yourself in a journal, and read them every day...ie. I am a non smoker! I can do this! I can beat this addiction! Not One Puff Ever! One little cigarette is NOT going to run my life! I used to tell myself, at every craving, "Smoking is not an option, so I have to do something else" and I did something else! If you can win the mental battle,(of the little devil and the little angel) you are on your way to freedom, even when it seems relentless!It is only a matter of time and you will win! :) [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]3/5/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 317 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 7,925 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $3,344.35 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 41 [B]Hrs:[/B] 15 [B]Mins:[/B] 49 [B]Seconds:[/B] 34