I am officially 14 hours smoke-free!

[Katherine Brengle]

I know, that isn't that long, but I've been awake for most of it, and that is pretty good. I had to go out and do errands today, and resisted the urge to buy a pack while I was out--driving and being in cars in general is a huge trigger for me (as I am sure it is for a lot of others). I also had a doctor appointment, which I loathe, and usually the first thing I would do after being stressed out and irritated like that is reach for a cigarette, and I didn't. I am really proud of that.

The initial nic buzz from the patch seems to have worn off, which is good--I got a little light-headed about 20 mins after putting it on this morning and I was worried that I would feel like that all day, but nope.

Anyway, I'm just excited and felt like sharing.

In other news, Donald Rumsfeld finished the President's daily briefing with... just kidding.

[devilgrrl]

1. Keep up the good work

:smoke:

:silly:

[BikeWriter]

2. Congratulations! Your lungs thank you, too!

[Cadfael]

3. A tip about the patch

When I quit I used the patch too..and sometimes the darned thing seemed to wear off before the 24 hours was up. I just removed it and put on a new one if the craving was just getting to be too much.

Keep up the good work!

Smoke free for 6 years and counting here!

[Katherine Brengle]

10. Thanks for the advice--question--

Did you keep it on while you were sleeping? I was thinking that that might be silly, because I never got up during the night to smoke or anything like that--but then I thought, maybe you would wake up in the night if you weren't wearing it? Like, your body would be craving a cigarette even though you weren't awake?

[Cadfael]

14. Yeah, keep it on while you're sleeping

Don't know how heavy a smoker you are, I was a 3 pack a day person myself....I kept it on while I was sleeping and it seemed to cut down on that immediate craving for a cigarette with my coffee first thing in the morning.

[LostinVA]

4. Yay! It sucks, doesn't it?

[SteppingRazor]

5. Great! Now I have to smoke twice as much to compensate n/t

[Katherine Brengle]

8. LOL Please don't--we need to keep all us Dems alive as long as

possible right now, lol.

[SeattleGirl]

6. Congratulations!

Yes, it's "only" 14 hours, but that's still great!

[snooper2]

7. So, need a smoke?

Just kidding, :) good luck!

[Road Scholar]

9. I knew I had won on the third day. Hang in there!!

:toast: nt

[Katherine Brengle]

11. 3rd day--that's what everyone says--

Last time I tried, I caved on the third day. I am going to go through with the whole 8-week patch thing, I think, just to be on the safe side, but I will be feeling pretty good when I make it a couple more days. Especially through the weekend.

[Road Scholar]

13. Here's how I quit:: I figured out what I was doing wrong. I let myself

think about it all the time. Just think about something else. Anything but how much you want to smoke. Anything. Weather. NCAA Playoffs.Anything else.
I had quit a thousand time, and each time I tortured myself by wishing I had a ciggarette to smoke.When I figured it out, I quit. Had a slight headache on the third day, but that's how I quit.

[bigwillq]

12. Good for you!

Keep it up. :hi: :hug:

[Random_Australian]

15. An update please? Still goin strong, I hope! n/t

[Robeson]

16. Good for you!....

...I hope you are keeping it up!...:thumbsup:

[billyskank]

17. Good work!

Just keep concentrating on the moment - not having ciggie RIGHT NOW - and avoid thinking things like "no more cigarettes...ever," because such thoughts won't help you. You can't affect the future, you can only choose what to do right now. Good luck!

:hi:

[RoyGBiv]

18. No, that's a LONG time ...

I'm going through this too at the moment.

After two hours, I want to hit people. The problem I've always faced is that I am far too aware that if I wait that long and then give in, I get this amazing rush from the nicotine. It's worse the heroin.

Anyway, props to you, and here's some good vibes coming your way. Throw some at me if you can. My current plan is to be entirely smoke and nicotine free by March 21st.

[Redstone]

19. Good for you. Now go to bed! You can't smoke while sleeping...

and trust me, I know; I've tried.

Redstone

[DanCa]

20. Hang in there Kat

My best possible white light to you. And don't put yourself down for the time period. Take it hour by hour or minute by minute if you have. Get plenty of exercise and fresh water. Congrats and hang in there.
PS If you buy a hand squeeze ball and work on it thru the day it may help with the anxiety - stress that you may encounter throughout the day. Hang in there I am rooting for you.

[Maine-ah]

21. congratulations!

I am offically 7 days (cold turkey) smoke free. It's the first three days that will be the toughest, after that, it gets easier. :toast: