You go, Girl, Here's a big pat on the back, I'm believing with you about the weight gain.

Sometimes getting sick is enough incentive to quit smoking, now only hang out with non-smokeres.

You CAN do this Bonnie!!! I am so proud of you!

I quit smoking 3 years ago (after nearly 20 years), and it's not easy, but it's do-able if you have a plan. I took vacation from work to quit (everyone smokes there) and Patrick quit with me at the same time. Since I had free time, I did a jig saw puzzle when the cravings hit. It kept my mind and my hands busy.

When I went back to work I was pretty sure a jig saw puzzle might be frowed upon, so I had to get a new game plan. I decided to take a swig from my bottled water everytime I wanted a drag. Since no one ever drinks enough, I figured this was a good thing plusit was 0 calories. Yes, I had had to use the facilities every 15 minutes. Eventually that lessened. I am a firm believer that smoking is not just about being addicted to nicotine. It is also the ritual of it, the act of putting it in your mouth, etc. I found KNOWING what I would do (take a drink of water) comforting, and I had my own inner mantra being something like "it's a choice of putting a cigarette or bottled water in your mouth. Nothing more. Piece of cake." This approach may seem simplistic, but really, the problem IS if you think about it: Am I gonna smoke or not?

I also found it was helpful that I was finally at a point where I really wanted to quit. I wasn't quitting because of the price or because someone else wanted me to. I was sick of it, I hated that I did it, and I was embarrassed that I did. (I am NOT implying anyone else should be embarrassed, that was my own thing). Everytime I saw an 80 year old woman smkoing, it looked it ridiculous to me somehow, and I knew I didn't want that to be me.

I am still around smokers all the time, I did NOT become of one those rabid non-smokers who will preach to you that you NEED to quit. If you want to quit- great, if you enjoy smoking- have at it.

If you need something to do instead of smoking, send me a PM. With these recent sleepless nights I'm having I could use a good read...or ramble, either's fine!

You are ALREADY doing it, keep up the good work!

Kristen

Hi Bonnie,

Wish I could give you some magic words, stopping smoking is difficult. It

Hey Dawghouse...

i know kicking the nicotine habit has got to be one of the hardest things to do..I guess I did but i didn't willingly it was the stroke that started me off, they had me cooped up for 3 weeks so my body got thru the withdrawals ...plus i decided that i wanted to live a little longer..not sure what for here in our state.. at $5 a pack you'll notice the savings.. I was at 2 packs/day.. sometimes three if i was out carousing

good luck.. try the patch if you start to crack...

Tom

THANKS for all the encouragement I am going to need it and really do appreciate it. I like the water bottle idea, thanks kristen..

I have tried the patch tom, I am so allergic to it. I even tried it and took and allergy pill to try to counteract the itching.

I found some herbal pills, will check with the Dr. to make sure they are ok to take. John siad if you do this I will buy you a diamond or something special you want.

I really want to do this soo....

Bonnie, get you an old jar with a screw on lid, take all the cigaretts you got left, put them in the jar, everytime you crave a smoke, try and open it with your weak hand. You will soon give up. Make sure the lid is tight, don't cheat. Do that from now until December 31st.

Good for you Bonnie,

I quit the day of my stroke too. Being in the hospital with no one willing to take me away for one more smoke -go me started. The day after I felt terrible and called the nurse to ask what was wrong with me. they laughed and said you just want a cigarette. I was still bewildered by the stroke, and didn't realize what was going on. They gave me the patch.

I quit the patch too about six months later, but still had cravings. It's been ayear and nine months now, and the craving are finially over- I'm sure I will never smoke again. Its a good thing too since the surgeon who did heart bi-pass about a year ago, probably would have passed my case on if I was a smoker. I've had colon surgery since then, and Im sure not smoking helped there too. 25,427 cigarettes not smoked so far, $2,034.16 saved. Download a free program, called "Quit time" to keep track of your progress.

Ggod luck, Bonnie. keep drinking the water, and get the patch if your Dr. says ok.

Bill