Reserved for Kathy_B (aka~kathybchickenquitter)

Quit smoking 11/02/2001

Donna (aka~Deets)(& her daughter)

Quit smoking 11/11/2001

 

Reserved for Rich & Theda

(Both Quit Smoking 11/13/2001)

Hang in there everyone and keep your quits close to you
Your quit is a very precious item.
Guard it with all your might.

My First Year Ramble
Dedicated to: Rick I would never have imagined a year ago when I attempted this I'd be sitting here today a year later smoke free..Yes people believe in yourself and anything is possible..anyone attempting to quit the key is for your mind to be made up this is what you really want and anything is possible..Use and do what works for you only you know what that will be..Try anything and everything but don't smoke..Remember that Demon is ever lurking and is out to get you at the drop of a hat..Remember don't give in he'll leave you alone..I am also not a whiner or griper I am a QUITTER!! now what I have learned to accept:

1. I have learned to accept that even though many said I couldn't do it..I did
2. I have learned to accept my triggers and avoided them when possible
3. I have learned to accept I was the only one who knew how I felt unless I told someone
4. I have learned to accept I wasn't wonder woman I needed my Dr's help and got it don't be afraid to admit you need help cause that was one of the best things I could have done..
5.I have learned to accept and appreciate that my hubby was really there for me even when I thought not at times..
6. I have learned to accept that nothing is easy so why should this be..
7. I have learned to accept and deal with life issues in a whole new light believe me in the last year I have had some doozies..
8. I have learned to accept and appreciate that I wasn't addicted to nicotine it was all out of habit and I had the power all along to put a stop to it and just never saw it.
9. I have learned to accept and appreciate there were many many others out there that were in the same boat as me I was not alone.
10.I have learned to accept that the nicotine kept my metabolism high and when I stopped nicotine my metabolism went to zero.
11. I have learned to accept exercise helped a lot I also learned wish I'd thought of it sooner than when I did..
12. I have learned to accept dieting is a whole new idea cause with age and metabolism falling off it can get discouraging and Dan pleading with me wait a year I can see why..thank you Dan..love ya.....
13. I have learned to accept and appreciate what a quit buddy is and how no matter what they are there for you and you for them..
14. I have learned to accept the things I could not change.. before I just smoked them away......
15.I have learned to accept and appreciate the power of posting on a message board.......
16. I have learned to accept and appreciate that the many friends I have made sharing my quit woes with are really good true friends they have been there to.
17. I have learned to accept and appreciate that getting sick now is a whole new ball game nothing lingers anymore..........
18. I have learned to accept nicotine is a real legal drug.....
19. I have learned to accept and appreciate I no longer have to live in a closet. So many never saw me smoke...
20. I have learned to accept this terrible addiction has taken more loved ones than I realized..
21. I have learned to accept and appreciate what it feels like to be free of demon it is awesome!!
22. I have learned to accept that it's ok to give up and cry....
23. I have learned to accept and appreciate that four packs of Big Red gum is 20 sticks and only a dollar a far cry from a 20 pk of cigs that were 3.80 when I quit...
24. I have learned to accept and appreciate you value more simpler things being smoke free......
25. I have learned to accept and appreciate it is much more fun to walk in a resturant and say..non smoking please and feel like I'm walking on air......
26. I have learned to accept and appreciate that it is no longer a quest that I know where lighters are found this out during a power outage..I laughed at myself..
27. I have learned to accept and appreciate that my youngest grandson will never smell smoke on me I quit before he was born and my other two grandsons will never see me doing it again.....
28. I have learned to accept and appreciate that I can pick up on scents a lot quicker now.....
29. I have learned to accept and appreciate that even though I had this addiction my body for the most part seems to have been forgiving ......
30. I have learned to accept who ever said you only gained 3-5 lbs quiting meant that was in the first few days..more realistic is 15-20..It will come off..
31.I have learned to accept and appreciate that there are many ANGELS among me.....
32. I have learned to accept and appreciate I am no longer tied to an addiction that can kill......
33. I have learned to accept that there are many I know who can not appreciate what I have been thru.....
34. I have learned to accept that the addiction was not a good example for anyone so how could I be a role model smoking.....
35. I have learned to accept and appreciate I don't spend near as much on perfume to cover the smell up.....
36. I have learned to accept and appreciate I don't have to clean as much since I quit or if I clean it smells nicer longer.....
37. I have learned to accept and appreciate I can exercise and not get winded..
38. I have learned to accept and appreciate I can do anything I put my mind to..
39. I have learned to accept and appreciate I no longer want to smoke it's just not cool.....
40. I have learned to accept and appreciate when I finally told my mother I quit she said..Well you had to figure out it was your life..
41. I have learned to accept not many in my family stayed interested in or kept up with my quit.....
42. I have learned to accept I still have friends who smoke but appreciate them for not doing it around me......
43. I have learned to accept and appreciate I no longer have to stand outside in weather to get a fix......
44. I have learned to accept and appreciate I'm no longer an outsider and have to search for smoking areas I still see them and delight when no one is there....
45. I have learned to accept and appreciate that some things do taste better not smoking.....
46. I have learned to accept and appreciate no one is making money off of me...
47. I have learned to accept and appreciate hard work pays off because I have been quit a year we qualify for non smoking rates on insurance....
48. I have learned to accept and appreciate since quitting I find we have more cash flow to do other things.....
49. I have learned to accept and appreciate that I have had to learn to think of me first a lot more in the last year and that has been instrumental in my quest to quit.
50. I have learned to accept and appreciate myself as a non smoker. and as Donald says we ain't going back that way.. thanks cajun buddy....

I'm sure there's many other things I have learned but those are what comes to mind.. I'd like to thank my husband Rick for being there and understanding.. I'd like to thank my two quit buddies Bubba and Stephen for if you two had not been there in the beginning who knows..you two have saved my butt countless times and we have been thru a lot together.. JudyT and Dawna have been there thru the beginning of my quit also and have never given hope and I hope my Ramble inspires you........ I'd like to thank Sue and Carol, who for the many fence times in the beginning I really think that spared me more than you realize.. the beginning was the toughest and I had many to surround me and tell me it would get better.. I remember hating to hear that cause I was hurting.. but to all of you out there hurting.. Remember this.. It is well worth all the blood, sweat and tears that you shed to end this addiction.. there are many of you friends I did not list and please do not think you were not helpful or I didn't appreciate you cause I did.. We are like one big happy family with one goal in mind......We want to be SMOKE FREE! and to anyone I have come in contact with that is quitting remember I believe in you.. you will do it and YOU ROCK! Always remember........there are Angels Among Us....I do believe with all my heart there are Angels among us.....I believe there are Angels among us, sent down to us from somewhere up above, they come to us in our darkest hour.. to show us how to live, to teach us how to give and guide us with a light of love.. and then one of my favorite sayings.. Every time a bell rings an Angel gets his wings...

Mags:)

Mag's 2 year ramble Today I have successfully remained smoke free for 2 Years This is not an easy task but it takes perseverance and the strong desire to not want to fall victim to the demon again or become enslaved again in any way shape or form. It has not come without it's woes, although I can honestly say that year "2" has been a lot easier than year "1"..I have programmed myself to deal with life's ups and downs without thinking of or wanting to light a cigarette. I still have my last pack in the freezer, I have only actually checked to make sure it was there (a few times)..I still have folks close to me (they do not live with me) who do smoke and I can pick that smell up in a heartbeat. It does tend to have a nauseating smell to it. Since my 8 month achievement I have been exercising. This has done me a world of good, but please remember until you are really settled in your quit do not attempt dieting but snacking healthy is a plus. Water is a big plus LOTS OF IT!!! Chewing gum is also a big help. I now find myself chewing gum after I eat. It refreshes your mouth wonderfully. I also have had medical woes. Several times I have screamed what good has it done me to quit I wouldn't be dealing with these problems had I just kept on smoking. Hubby has been really quick to point out that these woes will not kill me like smoking will. It is very unnerving at times even this far into my quit for something tragic to go on. I can say that most of them have not daunted me but a few have tempted and I take a deep breath and go on. Nope not gonna and remove myself if possible from the situation. This quitting business has had me rethink most of my life and how I want to enjoy it. How nice it is to go outside and run to keep up with Michael and not get winded ,......He has never seen me smoke nor smelled it on me in his life time. He has been a big part of why I stay smoke  free. I am doing it for me but it does affect others who come in contact with me. One thing that has remained high on my list of things that has helped me is message boards believe me folks they do work. I know participation on said boards is low but I also know a lot of folks lurk and if you'll post someone will answer it or at least email you if they have your email address. I do tend to lurk but only cause I can't sit at this computer with all that goes on. So I can leave the computer on it's just in a lurk mode..

So to all my "Angels" who have cheered me on you know who you are I thank you from the bottom of my heart for believing in me and helping to give me the will to forge on. I try to relay that to those struggling, but you have to believe that you really want this for it to work that is the one simple key that can give you major success in anything you choose to do. As I look foward into my 3rd year I do wonder what it holds but I also know I will have lots of help should I have a problem. Even if you are just starting just never give up!! If you fall, pick yourself back up and do it again and keep doing it til it works, and as ((JudyT)) says, hang on to your quit! You are so worth it.. I do remember vividly coming here and being really timid about posting, and someone named John Miller got me going now where is he????????? I believe there are Angels among us, sent down to us from somewhere up above, They come to us in our darkest hour, to show us how to live, to teach us how to give and guide us with a light of love..

Myrica

(Quit Smoking 11/25/2001)

Myrica's Ramble"

WOW! I did it! And this is definitely the best thing I've ever done for myself!

One year ago today - I had been getting ready for the final quit for months on end! I had actually failed in my quit the previous year, and was very very disappointed in myself, because that compromised a big project my partner and I had - to become pregnant once again. Well, that was put off, but I was very determined to achieve my goal last November. And I did it!!

All I can say about my quit - is that it's all in a mindset! The months of "mental preparation" certainly did pay off, because, when I got to my quit date, I was so convinced that I would kick the habit, that it wasn't half as difficult as the numerous quits I had failed at before! Right away, I knew that this was the good one - the final quit!

So now, one year later, we are expecting a baby girl who is due to come into our smoke free home next March! My 5 year old son is really eager to become a big brother and is very very grateful that his mom is now a non-smoker! My partner is also very proud of me (especially after having seen me fail so many times before!) I must admit that he had to endure my foul mood for a few months at first, but that passed, and things quickly got back to normal!

So now, let me flash my stats:
I quit smoking 1Y 4h 11m 46s ago. I have NOT smoked 9129 cigarettes, for a savings of $2,300.60. And best of all, I ADDED 1M 16h 45m to my life.

The $2,300.60 - I invested in my first ever brand new "car of the year" (a 2002 Mazda Protégé - for those of you who may be curious)

Amitié,
Myrica

Reserved for Cathy

(Quit Smoking 12/15/2001)

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