Turkey's Triumphs: Page 12

Yesterday I looked at the date - 21/08/09. Mmmm, that date means something... I thought on it a while. Am I missing an anniversary? And then it hit me - 3 years not smoking!

It is unbelievable to me that this date could have snuck up on me. This is because 3 years ago when I quit cold turkey, I clung to why quit and all the gallant quitters on line. I counted my days and all that those days meant. It was huge to me even as a lurker. I visited often over the first year. Thank you each and every one of you.

For the newbies and those considering to take the plunge and quit I wish to convey that it gets better and easier. Eventually it will be a distant memory and the only time you think about smoking is when you feel sorry for the people that do. I wish you well. You can do it too.

Jo

Just wanted to drop a quick line to say thank you to whomever is the mastermind behind the WhyQuit website. I quit smoking in Jan of 2007 because of the information that I read on the site. I have since tried giving out the web address to anyone who will listen to me and pray daily that people who need help will find you!

Thanks again!

Sara Fritz

I'm back to celebrate another successful year of not smoking. That's two years now, as of this last Mothers Day. For 45 years I carried that monkey, and now thanks to WhyQuit, I am free!

I almost didn't visit again this year, as not smoking is now where I'm at, and I rarely think about the fact that I did for so long. But I got a call the other day from my son Eric. He is 41, and has smoked most of his adult life. I thought he had quit, even before I did (we are 2000 miles apart), but apparently it lasted only 6 months. I told him about this site, and said that if he sincerely wants to be free, that he had to learn about how addiction works, and how it can be beat!

I hope he does come here, and gets his freedom back. If I could not do much for him in his growing up, I might at least be able to send him here so he can have a better chance for a healthy future.

Son, if you are reading this, know that I love you, and that you can beat this thing!

Thanks to all of the contributors to this site, and a specials thanks to Joel. See you all again next year!

Tom Morford

Well, at 9:30 A.M. this morning it will be one year since I QUIT! I just can't believe it. It is an unbelievable feat for me. I smoked 2 packs a day for 40 years! Now, I'm clean and free!

I can remember the days of lurking at WhyQuit and seeing people with a one year anniversary and thinking I could not do it. But, several months of pain later and now it's me who is CELEBRATING ONE YEAR! I really get dazed thinking about it. I just cannot believe it. I have to pinch myself. I did it cold turkey. It is totally amazing to me.

Well, this anniversary is grander than my birthday; then again, maybe this is being born again. Take care and never take another puff!

Patti

Well, when I was thinking of what to say today, I came up with lots of stuff lol. It is hard to put it all into a few short sentences but I will try.

I am sooooooooooooooooooooooooo proud of myself! 365 days smoke free. I really can't remember how hard it was the first week but I do know I cried on day 4 and was a witch :). This year has been difficult but not because I quit smoking. I am so glad I didn't smoke as that would have been another thing that made me feel awful. So, at 10:15 today (my time) on July 28th, 2007 I quit smoking. I love me, I am strong, if I can do that I can do anything.

For all the newbies that are starting this journey, the things I would say are READ READ READ and come to this site every day, all day if you need too. Use the support given and listen. Tell the smoking devil on your shoulder to take off, tell him you are not listening and you dont need him :) Everyone can quit smoking, everyone. There is no reason you can't. The testimony is on this site, dig those heels in, You are much stronger than you think!!!. You don't need luck. Do it.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank all of you, even though I didn't participate much I was surely reading. It was great to listen to all the stories, the ones that were so uplifting and understood the ones where people were struggling. Everyone pretty much managed to beat Nicotine and that gave me hope everyday. So, I am now beginning my second year as a non smoker. It also marks the time when I have to get a grip and make new things happen in my life. I am strong enough to quit smoking, I am strong enough to do anything!!! HURRAH FOR ME LOL...

Sue

Today I celebrate one year free of nicotine! I have thought about what I would post on this milestone many times over the last year and now that it is here all those profound thoughts have left me with somewhat of a loss for words. Why? Why is there nothing profound for me to say? Well, first off, I am not a writer; I am a talker, just ask anyone who knows me. I won't shut up! I think the other main reason is the overall sense of comfort I have reached. I just don't think about smoking like I used to and when I do it is usually a fleeting memory that makes me chuckle.

So instead of writing a beautiful post like I see so often on these boards I will just bullet point my thoughts:

1. I think my son's memory of Mommy as a smoker is fading. He saw a pack of someone else's cigarettes and asked me what they were (and they were my old brand.) I just tossed them aside and said they were icky, nasty sticks. I will have the talk with him soon.
2. My schedule is not dictated by where I am, what I am doing, or how long I will be tied up. I don't have to get out of bed early, go out in the heat, cold or rain to get a fix.
3. I don't stink; therefore I don't have to worry about hiding that stink. I can walk into my son's summer camp and not worry someone will smell the tobacco on me or ride an elevator feeling embarrassed I smell.
4. I don't have the phlegm thing going on anymore.
5. I have not had a horrible chest cold in a while.
6. I can hang out with friends, have a cocktail, play cards, sit on the portch, eat, drink coffee and still have fun without smoking. In fact now I can walk for 3 miles on the treadmill, mow the entire yard and do many things that I thought might kill me before for lack of oxygen.
7. I have met peole than never knew me as a smoker and don't believe me when I tell them I was. I have old time friends that tell me they can't picture me with a smoke anymore.

I could seriously write a list longer than my outstretched arms but the point is this, life is so much better now. Comfort crept up on me. It wasn't fast, it wasn't slow, it had it's own pace. I can't even say when it happened but it did. It will for everyone who sticks with the program. Never take another puff. I won't get complacent because I can't; I won't risk losing this awesome feeling of being an ex-smoker. I will deal with any life event that comes my way as a non-smoker!

Once again, thank you to John, Joel, all managers and members who give us all support. Without the education I don't know if I would have stuck with it.

C'mon celebrate with me! After all, everyday without nicotine is a milestone for each one of us!

Jean - Gold today and gold tomorrow so long as I follow the one rule....NTAP!

I can't believe it. It has been a year since I decided once and for all to NTAP. I felt like I was hanging on by my finger tips sometimes, but I made it! I've said this before and I'll say it again - if I can do it, ANYONE CAN! It is really very simple - NTAP!

Thank everyone here for all your words of wisdom - I don't know if I could have educated myself well enough to get through the last year of "firsts".

And to all the really newbies out there - IT GETS EASIER. I won't lie - it took me longer than a lot of people here to find comfort, but I did find it.

Celebrate every day and remember - NTAP.

xddcq20

Free and Healing for One Year, One Day, 21 Hours and 54 Minutes, while extending my life expectancy 25 Days and 13 Hours, by avoiding the use of 7358 nicotine delivery devices that would have cost me $2,110.46.

It's been a year today. I remember just a few days over a year ago today I decided to quit. It had been on my mind for so long. My hubby said jokingly on fathers day it would make a great present but I knew he meant it. My sons grandfather who was like a 2nd dad had inoperable cancer and not much time left. My oldest said Mom Giddy's (grandfather) last wish from me is to quit smoking and I am asking the same of you.

We all know there's many reasons to quit but none take away the cravings or withdrawl. I started with the gum and then thought this is stupid, I wanted away from nicotine. I was in a chat and asked if anyone had a suggestion. One person gave me this site. I read for days especially the 72 hours. I was waiting to join. I was so proud the moment I joined. Today its been 1 year since my body went totally smoke free.

Please anyone who is reading this thinking about quitting, you can do it and this group WILL help. I always knew they were here for me if things got rough. Between all the info here and knowing that you have all these people who know how you feel, understand what your body is already saying before you lay down that last smoke. I wish I could tell that person how grateful I am for giving me this group address. I've shared it with anyone who mentioned they were even considering quitting. Thanks to all of you for making the last year easier and the rest of my life better.

Saundra

I have been quit for 11 Months, 4 Weeks, 1 Day, 8 hours, 47 minutes and 59 seconds (365 days). I have saved $2,630.63 by not smoking 14,614 cigarettes. I have saved 1 Month, 2 Weeks, 5 Days, 17 hours and 50 minutes of my life. My Quit Date: 6/20/2007 12:00 AM

I just wanted to thank all of you for the materials available on your website. I just celebrated my 1 year non-smoking on June 1st. Looking forward to the upcoming years smoke-free.

Derrick

One year and 97 days ago I would never have thought I'd be writing this testimony.

I told my husband I had a special present for him for our 20th anniversary. "But our anniversary is months away, why don't you wait until then." I told him, "I can't. I have to tell you now. We're going to have another baby." I didn't think I could still get pregnant and I didn't think I was ever going to stop smoking. Well, I did BOTH! I had quit with my previous pregnancies (three older sons who were 17, 15 and 12), but I started right back up again with ferocity. After each quit, I increased my nicotine intake more and more. At 2 to 2 1/2 packs-a-day, I saw not much hope for an end.

But this pregnancy scared me. Now I was much older and this baby was counting on me to not just quit during my pregnancy like the brothers, but for the rest of my life. I went and bought the gum, like I had before. I knew the misery of it but thought this was the "professional" and "responsible" way to quit. So, like many quits before, after the gum chewing time table came to an end and the misery and pain lived on, I searched the net for an image of a black lung. I thought if I put the picture of the black lung on my desktop to stare at when I got the urge, it would help. That's when I came across this site. What a God send! I chewed (sugarless) gum and read, and read, and read. Everytime I had a craving I clicked and read some more until it passed.

I had finally learned WHY everytime I picked it back up again in my post-partum periods. I was still in post acute withdrawal, in addition, I was fatigued (one of my biggest triggers) and riddled with anxiety AND I did not approach my quit with a quitter's mind. I approached my previous quits with a "suspended sentence" on smoking.

All this helped me enormously to fight the battle that came, once again, after delivery of my baby. It was difficult to feel all those cravings hit me all over again, but this time, like a suit of armor, I had WhyQuit.com.

For our twentieth anniversary, I gave my husband another son... and a nicotine-free wife.

Teresa