only twelve and a half hours so far.

[sadinred]

My lungs hurt - well, when I inhale anyway.

I want to not smoke.

just checking in.

How's everyone doing?

[MinneapolisMatt]

1. Hi sadinred!

I just quit smoking too. I'm 29, and have been smoking since college, and this is the first time I ever even tried to quit. I've been thinking about it for about a year now, but kept putting it off because, well, I loved to smoke LOL.

So anyway, when I woke up on Saturday, I just decided to stop. It's now Wednesday, and it's been surprisingly easy. (I was totally envisioning the heroin-withdrawal scenes from Trainspotting.) It's ALL MENTAL for me. Fortunately, I've just been laughing hysterically whenever I get a craving because of the absurdity of it all. And the benefits are already apparent - food tastes better, I can smell the air around me much clearer, etc.

I'm not going to lie, there have been moments where I really wanted to have one, but dammit, who is in charge around here? Me or the cigarettes? :)

Hang in there. I'm only on day 5, but I hardly even think about smoking now. Sure cravings and weak-moments come and go, but my will power is much stronger now.

-Matt

[sadinred]

3. I'm really happy for you that it's been so easy.

You're so right; the cravings are absolutely laugh worthy. It's incredible to think what a bunch of dead leaves in paper can make us do! It's insane.

I've been smoking for 23 years minus the few months here and there that I managed to white knuckle my way through short and painful quits. I love to smoke too. Crazy. I might as well say I love to slowly kill myself. Really sick this tobacco crap.

Keep going. You're doing great.

I'll keep the laughter in mind!

[Theres-a]

2. Hello!

I'm having a good day,I'm home with some mild bug,scratchy throat,achy,slight fever.Been in bed most of the day.It boggles my mind when I think how many times I've been really sick,yet smoked anyway.I'm very grateful to not be smoking.It's day 9.Glad you're here,red!

[sadinred]

4. Hey there-s a! Your first cold/flu not made worse by smoking!

I know when I'm sick I smoke more than usual because I feel crappy and I'm bored (if at home all day). I can't tell you how many colds have turned into infections for me because of smoking. Good for you! You really are taking good care of yourself.

Today hasn't been easy, but it is almost over. Tomorrow is day two.

(By the way, I moved to Fl from Ct two years ago! I was in Fairfield County. Ct isn't my home per se but it is where I was before moving here. Hi fellow Connecticutian!)

[Theres-a]

8. I've lived in CT since '98

I spent the first 31 years in Detroit,and I love it here,it's home now.I live in the Northeast,it's pretty quiet and mostly friendly.

[murielm99]

5. Hello. I am on day 4.

The cravings hit in clusters, but I am not going to give in to them.

Glad to see some other quitters here today.

[sadinred]

6. Those cravings can nag. It dawned on me as I read your

post that meditation says to "not cling", to let the thought, image, whatever go. Maybe with the cravings it's the same. Today, day two for me, I'm going to try to not give the cravings and urges any of my attention. I'm going to NOT cling to them.

It's my attention that makes them big. If I can just starve them of attention they will become smaller and weaker and my quit will become bigger and stronger.

(Now I'm reminding myself of Jack Handy from SNL.)

I'm wishing all fellow quitters out there a happy day, a peaceful day.

:hi:

[Theres-a]

7. I love this article,read if you have time

http://www.shambhalasun.com/Archives/Features/1998/Mar98/ThichNhatHanh.htm

[sadinred]

9. cow releasing. I like that.

I have many cows. I have "My Cow" Disease.

I've been reading much on Buddhism for a few months, and I started a Buddhist meditation class recently. These are two of the catalysts behind this attempt at quiting smoking.

After reading the article though, I wonder; is smoking my cow or is not smoking my cow??? I think both are. And wouldn't I be more like that pebble if I just did what came naturally? Smoke or not smoke, but without struggle? Preoccupation! Let go.

Thanks for the link!

[MinneapolisMatt]

10. How's it going, sadinred?

Just checking in!

Matt :)

[sadinred]

11. Hi there.

I'm smoking but it is temporary and minimal. I will be back soon posting again asking for help to guide me through!!!!! Thanks for asking!

[insane_cratic_gal]

12. I quit last year

I feel ya.. try getting some coffee stirs or straws and when you at the pc.. cut them down to cig size.. I found that little bit of psychological fix helped me out a lot.

[Bonhomme Richard]

13. It's been just over 2 months for me......................

after smoking Kools for 36 years. I did cold turkey and it had to be my decision so I didn't let anyone know I was quitting. Even carried a pack in my pocket for 3 weeks ( that removed one stress factor, that I was out of smokes). The whole thing has become a mind game but seems to be working so far. I set little goals like waiting to see what changes occur to my voice by the next band practice. Short two or three day goals seems to do the trick.
LOL, actually I told a friend that my New Years resolution this years was to start smoking. He laughed and said there was kind of a weird logic to it. The way I figure it that will buy me a few more weeks (like I said, mind games) without a smoke and maybe ease the pressure a bit. Also I have yet to live up to a New Years resolution. Whatever works.

[sadinred]

14. hey just checking in here.

I am still smoking but I am so constantly aware of it that the Fun Is Gone. Cigarettes have become a chore whether I am smoking or not. I limit it to about 6 a day, but I want to move to 0 a day!

How are you doing Bonhomme?

[murielm99]

16. I am getting better at this.

After 44 days quit, it is not easy, but easier.

The way to quit, sadinred, is to just quit. Whether you go cold turkey or use NRT, you have to stop altogether.

Cutting down is great. But it is not quitting.

[Bonhomme Richard]

15. Still not smoking but it's getting worse every day.

I thought after a few months it would get easier not harder.

[murielm99]

17. Tell yourself that you will not smoke for the day.

Just do it a day at a time.

If that does not work, quit for 15 minutes. When that 15 minutes is up, then quit for another 15 minutes. After taking small steps, it becomes easier.