Our New Year's Quit Smoking Advice: Page 4
Successful quitters sharing New Year's quitting tips.
KatieDidIt1999 Dec 22, 2006 #76
You will find once you reclaim your freedom from nicotine that you won't want to miss an opportunity to talk about it! I'm 48 years old and smoked for 33 years. I reclaimed my freedom on 1/3/2006. I gained 13 pounds and lost 27 . I can breath, I can exercise, and I have money in my pocket. Most of all, I have my self respect back. The education, humor, and support you find here will help you be smart in your quit. I am forever thankful for this website and my favorite posting.....
Patience
Kat
Kentucky
Closing in on a big celebration after 11+ months free
VICKIGOLD2006 Dec 23, 2006#77
HAPPY NEW YEAR! If you are reading this message, it probably means that you are sick and tired of smoking, chewing, dipping, whatever form you are using to get that nicotine into your system. I have been where you are right this minute!! It's scary I know that. I never thought I could quit, not sure I really wanted to quit, but was not happy being a smoker any more. I didn't know how to quit, because all my past attempts failed. I thought just maybe I could quit smoking...but with a nicotine product (ie patch, gum etc) what a joke!! I had tried everything but quitting cold turkey, thought it would be too hard.
I came to Why Quit and Freedom because I was desperate. I needed to know how to quit and stay quit. Well, friends I'm happy to say that after smoking 40 years, I HAVE quit now for almost 5 months. I did it here, with the education that is provided to us all, freely and at no cost what so ever. I did it here, with the support and encouragement of other members of this website and I did it by Never Taking Another Puff, just one day at a time (sometimes, one minute at a time). It is so very, very do-able. When I read Joel's Library in the first 72 hours of my quit, I cried and cried, for I knew that this was it...finally, I found that I would be able to quit, why I smoked and got myself educated on the Law of Addiction. You can too...what have you got to lose? Don't plan it, just do it and do it NOW...all the best!!
VICKI - Free and Healing for Four Months, Nineteen Days, 20 Hours and 30 Minutes, while extending my life expectancy 9 Days and 20 Hours, by avoiding the use of 2837 nicotine delivery devices that would have cost me $642.08. Arizona
headbo (gold) Dec 23, 2006 #78
Hi there, I'm glad your taking the time to come visit. Let me introduce myself, my name is Kelly.
I am Kim's sister and if you haven't read Kim's story, read it now and you will notice that the above line is the opening sentence of her story. Reading her story says it all. http://whyquit.com/whyquit/A_kim.html
Believe me when I say that quitting smoking really is a matter of life or death.
Kelly
smoke free for over 4 years
broken heart for over 2 years
Sharry Dec 26, 2006 #80
I have my Freedom now - and it is priceless. I will be on my guard forever - nothing will take that Freedom away. I promise myself.
For 30 years I have used nicotine either delivered through cigarettes or gum. I used to kid myself that Nicotine Gum costituted a "quit".
Since reading and understand my addiction on this amazing site I have been nicotine free for 3 weeks - YES!!!!
It's so simple - I simply do not smoke - that simple
Come on over - get quit and stay quit - YOU CAN DO IT.
Sharry - free from nicotine 3 weeks
Alicante, Spain.
GoldenDivamom1972 Dec 27, 2006 #81
Once upon a time, there was a young woman by the name of Amy. She was raised in a loving home by one never-smoker and one ex-smoker, surrounded by good, caring friends and family, the majority of them non-smokers.
Alas, our Amy had a bit of a rebellious streak. Sometime in the summer of 1990, she decided to try a cigarette. Jaws dropped, ladies fainted, and young Amy was pleased, for now she had broken out of her eternal nerddom--or so she thought.
Fast forward to January 2005. After two kids, one marriage, one long-term relationship, a brief college career, and a long string of miserable factory jobs, she was still smoking. "It's hopeless!" she cried out. "I was just meant to be a smoker! I mean, if I didn't enjoy it, I wouldn't do it, would I?"
She had been "trying" to quit since at least 1998, using various pharmaceutical methods that were SUPPOSED to make quitting so much EASIER. Every attempt had spelled out failure, simply because she just didn't get it. On January 3rd, 2005, it finally clicked. "This is IT. I'm DONE." she declared as she put out that final cigarette.
There were moments of struggle as the nicotine left her body. At first, it seemed like the whole world was a trigger. But this time she had education on her side. Thanks in part to the readings here and at Why Quit, she knew that this too would pass, that she would come through, and those triggers would eventually fade away to nothing.
Okay, you all guessed it. I'm Amy, and this is my story of finding freedom after nearly 15 years of active addiction. I'm proud to say that I have passed all my regular triggers (and a few oddball ones) with flying colors. I've said it before, but it bears repeating--quitting is as easy or as hard as you choose to make it. Not only will you survive withdrawal, you will THRIVE. No matter what else I do in this life, I am proudest of my freedom from nicotine. I consider that my crowning achievement.
Amy
Kalamazoo, MI
1 Year, 11 Months of SWEET freedom!
libby111605 Dec 28, 2006 #82
I quit mainly for health reasons - after 37 years of smoking I knew it was way past time to stop doing damage to my body. I do feel better - sleep better - think better - work better - and for the first time in many years I can breathe deeply - all the way to the bottom of my lungs. But on the way to here I discovered an unexpected bonus -I have become more "aware".
I live in the moment more often - I experience a range of emotions "naturally". I just feel "more me" - the person I was supposed to be -the one who got hijacked by nicotine 37 years ago. The path back to the real me was "simple" (not always easy but always simple) - just NTAP (never take another puff) one day at a time.
Libby - liberated on Nov. 16th, 2005
free for 1 year, 1 month, 10 days
ZZRSteve GOLD Dec 28, 2006 #83
I've always said "If an old knuckleheaded addict like me can quit, anyone can." (Me)
Remember:
Quitting smoking is simple. Did I say easy? No! I said simple.
All you have to do is to NTAP. 100% of those people who
NTAP never, ever, relapse.... guaranteed!
Read this: The 1st 72 Hours
and this: Advice 4 Newbies
Educate yourself here and at WhyQuit.com
Educating yourself about our addiction is key.
Welcome to Freedom From Tobacco.
Welcome to your new nicotine free life.
You can do it. I know because I did it.
Steve 2Years, 7 months.
I have been quit for 2 Years, 7 Months, 2 Weeks, 22 hours, 27 minutes and 51 seconds (958 days). I have saved $4,794.66 by not smoking 38,357 cigarettes. I have saved 4 Months, 1 Week, 3 Days, 4 hours and 25 minutes of my life.
Chipits GOLD.ffn Dec 28, 2006 #84
Hear ye! Hear ye!
I was kinda hoping that your nagging little bell-ringing inner pest of a voice in your head that you repress, perhaps especially around New Year's, is once again reminding you that "some day" you will have to 'cut down' or maybe even ~~shudder~~quit smoking. Maybe you can silence that voice with a little truth .,(please click here)> "Not today, I have an excuse " you say??? I believed my excuses were valid too until I read there, and I am sure more than a few were uttered by Bryan Lee Curtis - age 34 , but sadly, Bryan isn't able to be here to tell you in person. His story is powerful. His message will live on.
Well, that is all I have to say to you today! The choice is always yours.....so are the consequences, good or bad. The truth of this addiction, the motivation, and support in quitting are available to you right now, free of charge, here at whyquit.com and Freedom from Tobacco ....Why waffle and wait, before it's too late! Hoping you make a wise choice! I know I did...we all did here ...and we sincerely want you to know and experience what we know and feel.
PRICELESS FREEDOM
What a beautiful way to ring in the New Year!
We ring in every day nicotine-free!
And so could you!
What a blessing!
What sweet music to our souls!
Is your bell ringing for freedom?
Wendy ----Free and Healing for 173 days
Randy ----Free and Healing for 41 days
Beautiful British Columbia, Canada
osabrava Dec 28, 2006 #85
I'm very happy to be posting this message to the New Year's 2007 page, and very glad that you clicked on this link. I have a very important message for you. YOU CAN QUIT SMOKING!
It doesn't cost anything, you don't have to go to any meetings and you don't have to take anything.
Unfortunately, it took me 27 years of a-pack-a-day smoking and the death of both my parents from smoking-related diseases to discover this fact.
Whether you have been smoking (or taking nicotine in any other form) for less or more time than I have doesn't matter at all. Just like every other goal, quitting smoking is reached one day at a time. If you can quit for an hour, you can quit for the rest of your life. The trick is to take it little by little. One day at a time, or one hour, even one minute at a time. Your healing begins as soon as you stop nicotine. My healing is a beautiful gift I give myself every day I stay smoke free.
Don't let your addiction (yes, addiction!) convince you to spend another year abusing your health and risking your life. That next cigarette (or dip, or pipe, or chew) could be the start of a process that ends in your sickness and death, as it has for hundreds of thousands of Americans in just the past year.
You DONT have to be one of them. Use the amazing resource that is this site to get educated about nicotine addiction. Use this information to fuel a quit that you'll be able to maintain for the rest of your life, by following one simple (maybe not easy! but simple) rule, Never Take Another Puff!*
(*Or dip, or pipe, or chew!)
Bernadette, 45, quit 26 months by the time you read this!
starbirder.ffn Dec 14, 2007 #86
"Live Free or Die" State of New Hampshire Motto & Flag - USA
My State's Motto has a special meaning to me, since after 40+ years of nicotine addiction
I was faced with a simple choice: LIVE FREE of Nicotine OR TAKE A CHANCE and DIE FROM a SMOKING RELATED
DISEASE
Well I choose to LIVE
No super hero here, I did not use any magic potions, pills, patches, gums or sprays!!!!
I found the FREE help I needed at WhyQuit.com
So if this petit Grandma can stop smoking COLD TURKEY - SO CAN YOU!!!!
COME, LET US HELP
Star- Free & Healing for almost 5 months
Inky15880 Dec 14, 2007 #87
Do not make your resolution to quit smoking, do not make your resolution to give up smoking. Make your resolution to give yourself this precious gift of freedom from nicotine. Education is the the key.
Ingrid,
Free since 22/06/07. No nicotine for 5 months, 3 weeks, 1 day, 6 hours, 30 minutes and 43 seconds. That's 5258 stinkers not smoked, saving € 557,49. Reclaiming 2 weeks, 4 days, 6 hours, 10 minutes.
RReese0 Dec 14, 2007 #88
Education, Commitment and Knowledge is the key to fulfilling the resolution to be nicotine free in 2008. You can find hundreds of articles, videos and other nicotine addict's experiences on Freedom at WhyQuit.com. Try it, you just might find the right combination for a real quit.
Roger - Free for 35 days
Ft. Myers, FL.
AQuitter.ffn Dec 15, 2007 #89
If you're reading this, it means it's time to quit smoking. Why else would you be here, at this site, reading posts from people who have chosen to live their lives free of nicotine?
I've been free for 18 days after 27 years of addiction. Is it easy? Not always, but it's definitely doable. What do you have to lose? If you quit and realize you prefer to posion your body daily, smoking is always an option. It's still your choice. But I'll wager once you get a taste of freedom, and learn how to deal effectively with your addiction, you won't want to turn back to that lifestyle that brought you here in the first place.
Greg - Rhode Island
johnnynonic Dec 16, 2007 #90
After 32 YEARS of addiction I'm living free!
You CAN DO IT too!!
(link to my old New Years message)
Join us, just Never Take Another Puff!
Nicotine free for over 2 Years, 8 Months, that's 993 days. Saved over $4,336.67. Chose to live without 17,883 nicotine feedings. Spent over 2 Months, 1 Day, of my life doing much better things.
John
Michigan, USA
You CAN do this :-)
Kris000 Dec 16, 2007 #91
Freedom from nicotine is incredible. So incredibly free! i've gained more hours to my day and definately more money in my pocket. i can climb stairs & hills without huffing and puffing. i haven't had one cold (!) since i quit. i don't miss out on good conversation any more (because i don't have to run out for a smoke on the back porch in the rain). and i feel back in control. i had no idea how much nicotine was in control until i stopped. education is the key.....i read here for days and days before setting a quit date. and then i kept reading....thru the balmy, wacky first weeks of withdrawal, and then thru the days and weeks and months that have followed. i taped affirmations up all over my apartment....i congratulated myself at the end of each day as a former smoker. it was hard. and i did it. i did with with the support of everyone at Freedom.....those who came before me and those who are coming along behind me. there's a lot of power here....and all you have to remember is NTAP.
kris at 7months26days
RobinS614 Dec 16, 2007 #92
We live in a cynical world. A world where simple good intent is often see through suspicious eyes. A world of "instant everything". A world where we are conditioned to believe that (a) if someone tells you that something's good for you, that you must suspect their motives, (b) if someone offers you something good for free, then please - there must be a catch somewhere, (c) that nicotine cessation is some mystical impossibly high mountain to climb, (d) that quitting nicotine successfully must involve the use of pharmacological (NRT) support or some new age therapy that involves people sticking needles into your body or hypnotizing you off into la-la land.
But the truth - as they say - is out there. Where is that? Right here - at Why Quit and at these Freedom message boards. No wheels inside wheels. No hidden agendas. No incomprehensible gibberish. Just the pure, unadulterated truth about this insidiuous addiction delivered in a language and format that will have you - like many thousands of others - shaking your head in amazement.
The premise is ridiculously simple. We'll (Why Quit / Freedom) teach you everything there is to know about nicotine addiction. We'll teach you about quitting cold turkey. We'll show you the best way to maximize your chances to stay quit. And along the way, we'll inspire, motivate and support your quit through continuous education, reinforcement and rock solid support from your Freedom quit brothers and sisters. And for all this, we ask not for your money. Nor your time. All we ask is that you use all these awesome resources in order to stay true and committed to your own quit. How's that for an all round great deal?
Quitting nicotine cold turkey is possible. It is do-able. It is simple. The many thousands of Members at these Freedom boards is all the proof that this pudding will ever require. Whether a member of Freedom or not, know that all of WhyQuit.Com , each of Freedom's 22 Message Boards , all of Joel's Library and Joel's Videos , and the ability to ask questions at are available to you to aid and assist your recovery.
Good health back in your body. Money back in your pocket. A revitalized "can do" spirit back into your soul. The loss of your smoker pariah status. Self esteem and self respect off the charts. A substantially improved quantity and quality of life. Still thinking? C'mon, it's a no brainer. Isn't it high time that you made the cyber acquaintance of Joel Spitzer and John Polito? Nicotine addiction stories always end badly. You now have the power to positively affect how your story will end.
Robin - I saw the light 1 year and 6 months ago.
dennyb2 Dec 16, 2007 #93
The Future is NOW!!
The New Year is fast approaching and of course you are once again thinking this WILL be the year. You are going to quit smoking!
It does not matter that you have had this same thought year after year for how long now? This year you have mustered the strength of will to finally quit!! Stronger or Smarter?
Actually, my guess is that unless you do something different, you will probably fail again. After all the odds are heavily stacked against you. Only one in twenty of you will succeed if you quit cold turkey and the chance of success using nicotine replacements or miracle drugs is even worse. Please make a note to yourself that 93% of all sucessful quitters have done so by going cold turkey and that there are millions of us.
Just in case you might be interested I just happen to know of a method with an astonishing success rate of approximately 40% on the first try!!!
Educated Cold Turkey abrupt cessation of nicotine ingestion. That is right I said Educated Cold Turkey and you will find everything you need to know at WhyQuit.com.
Give it a try. It will not cost you a thing! You just might find yourself nicotine Free in a very short period of time and if you do I am certain you will like it.
It's Worth The Effort
Denny B - Albany NY - After 38 years - Free and Healing for One Year, Eight Months, Twenty One Days, 630 days, 76 Days and 15 Hours of my time has not been wasted (based on 5 minutes per cigarette), 22078 nicotine death sticks not choked down and $5,665.18 not donated to the manufacturers of this poison.
Attitude is everything, keep it positive, move forward and live life to its fullest. NTAP!
CAquitter07 Dec 17, 2007 #94
In just a little over two weeks, I will have been nicotine-free for ONE YEAR! Over these past 11+ months, smokers I know have said, "Oh, I wish I could quit! How did you do it?" I always say the same thing: "The way to quit smoking is to simply quit smoking." In other words, don't put any more cigarettes in your mouth and light them.
It's actually a pretty simple strategy. As long as you NEVER TAKE ANOTHER PUFF (NTAP), you will remain nicotine-free!! Is simple the same as easy? No. Some moments are more challenging than others but that's where the support from this site comes in. There are recovering nicotine addicts from all over the world on this board 24 hours a day, seven days a week and help and support are always only moments away if you need it! Other times, simply reading others' messages can be enough to curb a craving or get you through a rough patch.
I am 43 years old and smoked since age 13. This is not my first quit but it is by far my longest and I honestly believe that it is my last! I simply do not identify as a smoker any longer! Imagine yourself saying that next year? Wouldn't that be great?
If I can do it, you can do it! It's hard to believe that at this time last year, I was dreading January 1 because I promised my husband that we'd quit on that day! Well, I honored that promise (okay it took me until January 2nd) and now here I am almost a year later already, eagerly waiting to celebrate my first year of freedom!
Remember, NTAP your way into the New Year and into a brand new life! Use the education and support available here and you WILL succeed and be writing your own New Year's Message in 2009!!
HAVE A HEALTHY AND HAPPY 2008!!
Heidi
11+ months
California
RJW118 Dec 18, 2007 #95
Question: What is so high you cannot go over it, so wide you cannot go around it, so low you cannot go under it?
Answer: a door
If you are reading these messages, you are either an active addict who wants to stop, or a non active addict who is seeking assistance in maintaining your quit.
My advise: Read this site for the education it will provide concerning our addiction. Heed the advise freely given at freedom.com and Succeed in never taking another puff.
I know it may seem simple, it is. The only thing necessary to join the thousands of non smokers here is to never take another puff.
Understand the Law of Addiction, there is no way over it, around it or under it. Make the acknowledgement of addiction and commitment to yourself, you can't stay clean for another person. Follow the advise, it works. All of the articles and tapes by Joel and others here are from experience.
Regards and Best Wishes for your Quit
Randy, from Texas
Free At Last, after 32+years of feeding the addiction 40+times a day
offington Dec 19, 2007 #96
I was a smoker for 32 years until late July 2007. I never thought I could quit, but I did. How was that possible?
From my own experience I know that education is the key. I made sure I was in the right state of readiness before I smoked my last cigarette - I didn't feel any regret as I stubbed it out it was just 'Ok, now I'm gonna get on with being an ex-smoker'. That was after, I think, 11 days of reading and cleansing myself of all the brainwashing, ridding myself of all the illusions I had been enthralled by for 32 years:
a)That smoking relaxed me
b)That it helped me to concentrate
and worst of all...
c)That I enjoyed it
All these 'reasons' were lies and, once I had understood that and once I had understood the Law of Addiction and knew to 'Never Take Another Puff', my quit was under way.
Because I knew I was not giving anything up, the withdrawal symptoms were much milder than any I had experienced before.
It felt a bit like cutting off a 'lifeline' and I was a bit 'wobbly'for a few days, but reading on this site and re-inforcing my education kept me strong.
The simple truth was that I needed to smoke - I wasn't choosing to do so, I was a slave to nicotine, an addict.
Now at last I am free and can choose whether to smoke or not and, of course, I choose not to.
There is masses of educational material on this site which will open your eyes, there are hundreds of ex-smokers on this board who are willing to lend their support. You too can do it!
The more educated you are about nicotine addiction, the greater are your chances of quitting and, you will stay nicotine free as long as you remember to never take another puff!!
Sean - completely free of nicotine for Four months, two weeks, six days, 55 minutes and 8 seconds. 4291 cigarettes not smoked, saving £221.77. Life saved: 2 weeks, 21 hours, 35 minutes.
IsisVision Dec 19, 2007 #97
Is 2008 the year you make the best decision of your life?
Most smokers want to quit! In all honesty who really wants to be a slave to a 'friend' like nicotine? My Cigarette, My Friend? This can be the year that you do quit and stay quit!
WhyQuit.com
Everything you need for a successful quit is right here! Please read as much as you can, education is the key to unlock the door that is chemical addiction!
Katy South Australia - Through education I have been Free and Healing for Six Months, Six Days, 4 Hours and 3 Minutes, while extending my life expectancy 23 Days and 15 Hours, by avoiding the use of 6810 nicotine delivery devices that would have cost me $2,594.33.
ScottA0 Dec 24, 2007 #98
I often ask myself why did I wait so long to quit this deadly addiction? I had the desire to quit for the past 20 or so years, so that's not the reason. I knew I was a slave to nicotine not even able to utter the lie" I smoke because I enjoy it. So that's not the reason. The reason is quit simple it just took a long time for me to find it. That reason is knowledge and as far as nicotine addiction is concerned knowledge is power. I found this website and was educated beyond any of the junkie lies that I had been telling myself. I found out that quitting nicotine in any form is not a sentance it is a freedom, a freedom that I had all along but was too ignorant to pursue. If your reading this you too are ready to unlock your freedom from nicotine. It really is so doable. I am not stronger than nicotine, but I am way smarter.
Scott 9 months + free from nicotine and loving every minute.
John (Gold) Dec 30, 2007 #99
Welcome to Freedom!
We're glad you found us! This is the Internet's only quitting site where nicotine has no voice - none, zero. By that I mean each new member admitted to the group must be nicotine free, and in order to retain group posting privileges they must remain 100% nicotine free, as any relapse at all, even one puff, permanently forfeits group posting privileges. But why?
Well, drug addiction is about living a lie. It's about the brain's priorities teacher, our dopamine pathways, having been taken hostage by an external chemical. It's about those captive pathways innocently doing their designed function, in falsely teaching us that smoking or chewing nicotine is one of the most important activities in life, akin to accomplishment, eating, drinking water, nurturing, bonding and reproduction.
Why can't you starve yourself to death? What part of your brain rewards you with "aaah" sensations when you think about food and even a bigger "aaah" when you eat, and then punishes you with urges and craves when you go too long without eating? The natural insecticide nicotine so resembles the acetylcholine molecule in shape that, by chance, once inside your brain it fits acetylcholine receptor locks that have now forced you to see nicotine as being as important as food.
Those nicotine captive pathways long ago totally buried nearly all remaining memory of the real you. They've trained you to believe that smoking nicotine defines who you are, gives you your edge, helps you cope and survive and that life without it will be horrible.
Until we are out from under nicotine's immediate influence, our rational, thinking brain has little choice but to invent excuses for complying with the endless stream of urges flowing from our inner limbic brain. We each lived the lies for years. We figure that there needs to be at least one place on planet earth where nicotine has no voice, where the lies actually stop. You've found it. Welcome to Freedom!
Here you'll learn how nicotine dependency makes life more stressful not less, how it's hard work being an actively feeding addict. The lessons are varied and many, including overcoming billions spent by the tobacco industry in brainwashing you to believe that you smoke for flavor and taste. Taste? You'll soon awaken to the realization that there are zero taste buds inside human lungs.
Your greatest recovery weapon of all is your intelligence, your now addicted mind. Although knowledge is a powerful quitting tool, the lies grow so vast and consuming that it is rather rare when the enslaved mind both stumbles upon a meaningful opportunity to learn about nicotine dependency recovery, and is receptive to doing so. Usually more lies get in the way.
We do hope you'll visit us often as knowledge truly is power. One more thing about Freedom. Please note that this forum is run like a real recovery support group, which means that the number of new members admitted to the group each day is limited by our group's ability to support them.
Each January we receive far more applications for membership than we can possibly support. If at capacity and your application isn't accepted don't get discouraged as Freedom's windows are wide open and you have complete access to all posts that members see. If you have questions, don't hesitate to submit them.
While here, be sure and explore WhyQuit.com, spending quality reading and viewing time inside Joel's Library Breathe deep, hug hard, live long,
John (Gold x8)
Knowledge is a Quitting Method
