Turkey's Triumphs: Page 45
Lessons from cold turkey quitters who've remained nicotine-free for at least 1 year
Victory@WhyQuit.com
I just wanted to thank everyone in [Turkeyville] who has supported me! As of 2 minutes ago I am exactly one year nicotine free! I will never take another puff and am so proud to say that I am an official gold turkey member.
Taylor
Today marks my 7th Anniversary of being smoke free. I am so grateful to [Turkeyville] for getting me through the most challenging time of my life. 50 years of smoking 1 1/2 packs a day. Never thought I could do this. For all those just attempting their quit, I say, “Persevere!” It is the most rewarding and most cleansing thing you can do for your body. Happy New Year, hoping this will be Your year.
Marilyn
It’s hard to believe that it has already been 7 years...
(I’ve been waiting for this one)
“Nobody likes a quitter.” Well, I do!
Quitting addiction is something to be proud of.
For those that are on day one... we have all been there.
Day 1 is where the journey begins.
NTAP... Just one day at a time.
Scott Baley
7X GOLD as of 12.31.2020
I am so grateful to you and Joel for your videos and inspiring messages that made me a successful non smoker.....
I continue to aspire to our motto.....NTAP.....never take another puff.....
Best wishes to all in 2021
Bud Laramore
Over a year without smoking. About 10,000 cigarettes not smoked. Don’t relapse, I made that mistake a few years ago, I promise that you’ll regret it. I love being nicotine free. NTAP.
Brian
Six years ago today with a horrible cough and a New Years Eve party swirling all around me, I decided I had to quit smoking. I skipped the party, went to bed early and woke up with a strong resolve to stay nicotine free. With the help of Whyquit.com and the support of loved ones, (especially my daughter, Mom and girlfriend) I did it! That turned out to be the best decision I have ever made. I feel amazing and have saved thousands of dollars! It wasn’t easy but nothing worth having is! One day at a time! NTAP! ODAAT! 
Kim
1 year 1 month I listened to Joel for 2 years!! OMG but I got here . THANK GOD. I recommend his videos to anyone struggling to quit. It does not have to take that long to quit but that’s my story. Truthfully I first started trying over 20 years ago but using useless methods cold turkey was it!! Merry Xmas all!!
Jeannie
Today marks 1 year since I quit smoking! It did get easier day by day! I feel so free now and it is even better than I could ever imagined! Never take another puff 💚
Delia
After a 35-year smoking habit I successfully quit 11 years ago. Wanted to share my story to help others.
Background:
- Tried five times to quit about once-a-year. Four were cold-turkey attempts; the longest lasted 10 days. The fifth was a gradual reduction plan over one week, which was pure H.
- Made the decision to quit before really researching how.
- Three factors fueled the decision: 1) Came down with the flu, 2) a clogged A/C filter was spewing dust throughout the home, and 3) ate food that had been contaminated with microwaved plastic. So, that night had absolutely no interest in smoking. Decided then and there I was done.
Things that helped along the way:
- Wrote down a) the reasons I wanted to quit, b) a list of daily mantras, and c) a journal of my thoughts.
- Studied everything I could get my hands on: Joel Spitzer's videos, The American Cancer Society's web site, Allen Carr's book reviews, and CDC surveys.
Key takeaways:
- Nicotine only stays in the body for three days. After that what seem like physical "urges" are simply "thought cues."
- Thought cues don't last long and are easily overcome with either a daily mantra or a calm conversation with yourself like sitting down with a friend and telling them you disagree with their point-of-view.
Love looking back at my journal and seeing entries like: "Don't know why I keep making journal entries anymore; I don't even think about smoking anymore."
Jim Geeting
One year ago today I quit nicotine forever! Can’t believe I made it and now that I know the secret of keeping nicotine on the outside - I know I will maintain my freedom status. Thanks for this group and all the amazing encouragement. Feels like just yesterday I was immersing myself in comments and the literature / videos on this site. Great work everyone! NTAP. ODAAT!
Amy
One year and 11 days Smoke Free
NTAP!
Thank You for everyone who gave me the example those here and those who have passed. Former 35 year chain smoker...if I can quit anyone can. Seriously.
Kaarisa
3 years and I am grateful of the support from this group and Joel’s video and wisdom
xx
StKilda Jan
One year ago today, my husband and I made a life changing decision to quit smoking together after 25+ years of doing so together. It has been a wild ride but it stuck and we are STILL alive and happily married! I am super grateful for [Turkeyville] and all the support provided through the year! You all rock!!!
Jo Ann
Today I'm celebrating my 1 year Quit anniversary! It feels great to be able to say that. The best advice I can give anyone is, if you are struggling, speak up. Ask this group for help. Don't reach for the nicotine.
If I had taken that advice I would have been 1 yr and 8 1/2 months quit but I didn't reach out for help and blew a 8 1/2 month quit 1 year ago. Had to start my quit all over. It was much harder.
The last 3 months have been really hard too as I lost my son to cancer on April 25th, but even that is no excuse to use nicotine folks, and I'm pleased to say I haven't . I'm grieving but I know that smoking won't help ease my pain, it will only increase the progression of my lung disease and make it harder to breathe, and it wont bring back my son.
I'm so thankful for this group and I'm so proud of all of you for keeping your commitment with me not to smoke with me today and to never take another puff, NTAP.
Lori
I just wanted to reach out and say thanks for helping me quit the right way and for good. It has been a little over 15 years since I stumbled on to your website with a patch on my arm desperate to quit. My last smoke has still been the butt I picked up from the gutter and put in my mouth 15 years ago the morning after I took the patch off.
I’m thankful for your efforts and the truths on your website. I can say I have no cravings and zero temptation to start again, in fact the mere smell of it is repulsive to me.
Thanks again, your making a difference.
Steve Hassel
Today is my One Year No Smoking Anniversary!!! I’m thrilled I did it COLD TURKEY!! Something I never thought I could do. Thanks to this group and my family’s support.
Veronique
Last week was my one year mark being nicotine free.
After 25 years with numerous stop/starts over the latter years seeing others progress through this group certainly was a major contributing factor in my success.
I haven't had a craving in a long long time now. I know in my heart I'm 'over it'.
So thanks to all those in this group who've helped me once again return to normality. I no longer fear eating out in restaurants because of knowing that when I do my mind will be repeatedly wondering when I can break away to fill my lungs with poison.
I no longer fear getting too close to my son because I know my breath and clothes will reek. I enjoy going out, exercise is fun, and I know in my heart I'm doing my best to always be around as long as I can for my family when they need me.
Thanks all. Be strong and NTAP.
David Brown
I quit on 31May2017 after 44 years of daily smoking. Until I 'quit different', I never understood the nature of my chemical dependency on nicotine. I will try to explain.
First. Withdrawal is TEMPORARY.
That means it ENDS!
You will not feel cravings FOREVER!
Peak withdrawal is in 72 hours or less. Then it slowly, steadily get better daily just a little bit.
Each individual craving lasts 3 minutes or less. It seems longer because its uncomfortable. Its distracting. Once it starts it consumes your thoughts. Time distortion is real because we lose track of time. Nicotine abuses our brain chemicals to enslave us. It manipulates dopamine to cause a feeling of discomfort, distraction and dread.
Craves do not hurt and they have brief lives. Craves irritate, distract and are uncomfortable but they're not pain. If you have ever had a bad burn or a deep cut with stitches, or had blunt force trauma or surgery... that's pain. Cravings are like hunger pangs or I imagine like a toddler who is cutting in his first teeth.
Put a stopwatch and ALL YOUR ATTENTION on the next craving. Pay attention. It won't bite. Really feel it without any added anxiety, fear or loathing. You will feel it, feel it build a little, then it will fade away and DIE! Even when you were a smoker, every craving you ever felt (or will ever feel) will fade away and die on its own whether you smoke or not.
So now you DON'T SMOKE and you feel cravings DIE without fear, dread or anxiety. Craves are uncomfortable, irritating and distracting and they still die on their own every time. Because that's what they have always done. After that first 72 hours each day brings cravings less frequently, each one is weaker in its intensity and those craves are not lasting as long until they fade away and DIE! (Can you tell my favorite part is feeling it DIE?)
Do battle against craves. Nicotine is making a power play when you get into a situation when you feel a hard craving. Winner takes all. Each time you are in a crave situation like this, speak to it in your mind. Say to yourself clearly and firmly, "I do not smoke... after I eat... or while I drive... or walking the dog. I don't use nicotine ever! I am a non smoker now and I am never going to have any more."
Each craving that you consciously confront is one more puzzle piece you put under your own control. Nicotine is losing more control with each play it makes. By being smarter than nicotine you win each time nicotine challenges you with a crave.
I think of it as I used to have alarm clocks. Twenty time-to-smoke alarm clocks. When I face down a crave and take control I have shut off that alarm clock. After day fourteen I was down to 1 or 2 craves per WEEK.
After day twenty-four I noticed one day I was down to one craving per MONTH ! My smoking had withered and faded to 3 minutes per Month. My last hard craving was at about 3-1/2 months. I am over 2 years and not even one more crave. This is what you are working for. You can have your freedom but you must take it from nicotine. You must seize your freedom and hold onto it.
The final stage of quitting is the same for all of us. Remember that once you are FREE you never get immunity from stupidity! Addiction does not give Free passes, Immunity, Mulligan's or Second chances. There is no such thing as "just one" puff. I'm being deadly serious here.
We are always one puff away from two packs per day. There is no such thing as "just one" and your inner Junkie will never be satisfied.
And that Junkie just took control away from you. But being free means I have the choice. I choose to not smoke and I am glad to. I only get to stay free so long as I make the Right choice. If I make only one mistake ever, I will go back to smoking as much... or even more ...than I smoked when I quit.
If you do not learn from your own experiences, you're dumb.
If you do learn from your own experiences, you're smart.
If you learn from other people's experiences, you're wise.
Be wise.
Never Take Another Puff.
I will not smoke with you today.
Have a good one.
It's great to be free.
Tark414
25th May was 5 years quit for me 😊. After many years of smoking this seemed like an unachievable dream. I have also faced the toughest 5 years of my life when there were many excuses to just smoke again but I realised that the difficult times were still there as a smoker or non smoker and I just needed new ways to cope.
If you're starting your quit journey then keep going, the freedom really is amazing and smoking doesn't cross my mind now. ODAAT worked for me...1 hour turns into 1 day then 1 week, 1 month, 1 year, 5 years. Good luck fellow turkeys.
Julia
Today it's been 1 year since I quit smoking!! I am going to go out and breath all day to celebrate!!
Lynda
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