I lost a 5-year quit!

JuliaL · 12-08-2008, 12:38 PM

You don't know how hard it is for me to post this, but I need to do it. Accountability is very important. I quit smoking almost 5 years ago on January 1, 2004. I was at the point where I really never thought about cigarettes. I didn't want to smoke and was so happy to be free of the addiction.

I was so confident in my quit that I decided I could smoke a couple of cigarettes while having a couple of drinks with my sister-in-law one evening. And the next day I didn't want to smoke more, so that just reinforced my thinking that I could handle just smoking a couple in a social situation. So the next time I was with her, I did it again. Then again, but this time I bought my own pack because I didn't want to be a cigarette bum. I threw the pack away the next day, but the weekend after that I bought another pack. This time I didn't throw them away.

Now I had convinced myself I could handle smoking on the weekends. But the weekends turned into Thursday through Tuesday. And before I knew it I was smoking again every day.

Now here I am on day one of a new quit. I hope that I never have to go through this again, and I just wanted to share with those of you who may have quit and are thinking that just one won't hurt. It will.

Ilpirata · 12-08-2008, 02:19 PM

Sorry Julia! You can get it back though. You've done it before!
(hang in there)

BarbDe · 12-08-2008, 02:22 PM

Hang in there Julia. You'll get it back!

JuliaL · 12-08-2008, 02:41 PM

Thanks for the support! Today has been kind of rough, though not nearly as bad as the first time I quit. I'm hanging in there - now I just have to get past that dangerous period when I go to the gym for my workout and pass the store that sells my favorite brand. Yes, I was smoking on my way to the gym!

The hardest part of quitting is getting through all the activities you used to do while smoking. When I quit last time I actually had to drive a different route to work for a while so I wouldn't associate it with smoking as much. Maybe I'll do the same with my drive to the Y.

jezzie · 12-08-2008, 02:45 PM

Reminds me of an old Quitnet expression
"It's easier to keep the Quit I have than to start a new one".

Sorry you have to go through Hell Week again.
One of my former employees slipped back after seven years.
It's not easy.

On a positive note ... you know you can do it. And so do I.

... 10 years, 16 days, and almost 14 hours ...
.

JuliaL · 12-09-2008, 04:42 AM

Thanks, Jezzie - and to everyone else who responded. Jezzie - I've been posting and reading on Quitnet, and it does help a lot. I made it through yesterday and I'm feeling a little stronger today. I won't smoke - no matter what!

One of the most helpful things I read on Quitnet was "You will have cravings whether you smoke or you don't smoke. If you smoke you'll have them every 30 minutes. If you don't smoke the cravings will get fewer and farther between." I need to remember that one. A craving is just a feeling. It won't kill you, but smoking will.

Ilpirata · 12-09-2008, 09:46 AM

Quote:

One of the most helpful things I read on Quitnet was "You will have cravings whether you smoke or you don't smoke. If you smoke you'll have them every 30 minutes. If you don't smoke the cravings will get fewer and farther between." I need to remember that one. A craving is just a feeling. It won't kill you, but smoking will.

I like that! ALOT.

Zer · 12-09-2008, 09:51 AM

Brave of you, to publish your admission that you dabbled with moderation and are once again sure that moderate smoking is not possible. Some of us cannot "do" a moderate amount of a substance that takes over. As they say in AA, first the man takes a drink, then the drink takes the man. So it is with me and carbs.

I wish you strength as you confront your own demon and curb the urge to smoke!

slush · 12-09-2008, 03:21 PM

Hi Julia... you are human and had a minor setback. You caught yourself and now you've quit. PLEASE keep staying strong. You are just not a smoker- fight that temptation and in a week or so you'll be over it and free. Any addiction that you don't feed will starve and die. Mentally you may still be tempted for a while, but the physical addictiion will be conquered. We don't always do as we should sometimes... but then we figure it out and do what we need to do. You are too smart, and you value your health to much to give in to that demon of nicotine.

Jean@125 · 12-09-2008, 07:25 PM

Julia,
I hope it is getting easier for you. I quit 20+ years ago and would occasionally slip up especially when under severe stress. And like you I found that working out and smoking didn't go so well together. Take care. Jeanie

BarbDe · 12-09-2008, 07:29 PM

How's it going Julia??

KlingonBabe · 12-09-2008, 07:40 PM

Julia, I'm very impressed that you posted this.

Your experience with cigarettes was my experience with frankenbreads, starch, sugar, and "moderation." One small concession led to a small indulgence, and more and more frequent transgressions. I'm still undoing the damage.

Complete abstinence is the only way for me to handle it. I know you will come to that place again with the cigarettes.

You are an inspiration to many of us around here! It's an honor to be able to offer YOU support and encouragement when you need it!

kathy76 · 12-09-2008, 08:39 PM

Julia- I hope things get easier for you!! You have had great willpower with your weightloss and you have inspired me in mine

Good luck and I know you can do it!

smoky · 12-09-2008, 09:07 PM

Julia hang on to this quit like your life depends on it you can do it good luck 1023 days smoke free today

Margot 65 · 12-15-2008, 11:46 AM

Julia kudos to you for coming clean.. I was in your shoes a year ago. After almost 3 years smoke free, hubby was laid off from his job only 4 days after Christmas. I took up smoking again and within a week I was smoking more furiously than ever before.

I was so ashamed I never told anyone (except my close friends and hubby who also smoked.. funny how happy they were I joined the ranks again..)

I finally got the gumption to quit last August *again*. If anything, it has made me more determined to stay quit than ever before... I will admit it was harder than ever, but mostly because my life was so different with a new baby, new job for hubby... smoking in this new life was all I knew and I had to learn to live it differently.

Please keep us posted on how you are doing... and also know that you are not alone in being human.

JuliaL · 12-15-2008, 02:41 PM

Thanks everyone for your wonderful feedback and support. I have to admit that I still haven't quit totally, but I've cut way back and have set a quit date - this Wednesday. I'm using my son coming home as my motivation. I haven't seen him since May and I know how disappointed he would be if he saw me smoking again.

Klingonbabe - you're so right about total abstinence. I know it's the only way, and I also know I can do it. I am just kicking myself for re-addicting.

Margot - thanks so much for sharing! It helps to know I'm not the only one who has made this stupid mistake. I think it will also make me even more determined to stay quit. I know that just one will be the undoing of a lot of hard work.

ChetRogers · 01-01-2009, 05:08 PM

Hope you kick the habit again. I quit over a year ago and haven't wanted one yet. I wish I could say the same thing about my alcohol consumption. Just saw this post and thought I would ask how is it going now?

BarbDe · 01-01-2009, 05:14 PM

Yes, Julia? How is it going for you??

SugarPop · 01-01-2009, 06:48 PM

Today is Day One for me too......I'm wearing the patch, but I don't think it's making a difference - maybe.

It's a hard thing and you should be very proud that you know your limitations and are quitting again.

I did the same thing as you 3x.........Once I quit for 4 years and then I had every stress imaginable in my life happening at the time and impulsively I grabbed a cigarette from my husband's (now ex) pack on the counter.......It took me years to try again and then when I did I got to almost a year and had had a few drinks at a social event, like you did, and thought I could handle it but I only wanted more.............I quit again and started dating a guy who smoked cigars and we would drink wine together - before too long I would ask for a drag of his cigar while we drank our wine.......soon I was smoking my own cigars!!!!...then just switched to cigarettes.

The thing is that years can go by before you quit again - like it did with me. So bravo to you for nipping it in the bud before years go by.

I have constant pain in my chest, I cough when I wake up and on a recent date the guy kissed me and asked if I had smoked a cigarette earlier (I had a few hrs before).........All this and more are my reasons for quitting again. For a long time I thought it would help me not to eat.....but in reality I was a fat smoker. So here I am - I'm with you and we can do this.

B

Doggygirl · 01-02-2009, 01:33 PM

Hi Julia. I just now saw your original post on this thread and just wanted to say that I understand. And I admire you for getting on top of this situation quickly. The first time I quit smoking which was about 17 years ago give or take, I fell for that "now I can have just one" nonsense. It took me 15 years to suck up the courage to get back on the nicotine free wagon. So you are ahead of the game! It's not easy but you can do it.

That "just one" voice in the head can be a killer, no matter which addiction we want to talk about....

ETA: Oops Sugarpop I somehow missed your post! Good for you on Day 1 again. We're kindred spirits on how long it took us to get back on the wagon!

Best wishes to you!

DG

JuliaL · 01-03-2009, 06:27 AM

Thank you everyone so much for your support. The holidays have been hard, and I admit I haven't been totally cigarette free. I have a new quit date planned. It's very difficult for me to openly admit that I haven't been strong enough to totally give them up yet, but I know how important accountability is in this process.

I just wish so much that I had never had that first puff. I think about how well I was doing and how I never thought about smoking. Now, even though I'm not back to where I was, cigarettes are part of my life again and I really never wanted that to happen. I will do this! It's just going to take me a bit longer than I thought, but I will conquer this addiction once and for all.

Everyone who has recently quit - don't give up! It does get easier, and as long as you don't smoke, no matter what (you can't have "just one puff"

) you will succeed!

TurnNBurn · 01-03-2009, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JuliaL

Thank you everyone so much for your support. The holidays have been hard, and I admit I haven't been totally cigarette free. I have a new quit date planned. It's very difficult for me to openly admit that I haven't been strong enough to totally give them up yet, but I know how important accountability is in this process.

I just wish so much that I had never had that first puff. I think about how well I was doing and how I never thought about smoking. Now, even though I'm not back to where I was, cigarettes are part of my life again and I really never wanted that to happen. I will do this! It's just going to take me a bit longer than I thought, but I will conquer this addiction once and for all.

Everyone who has recently quit - don't give up! It does get easier, and as long as you don't smoke, no matter what (you can't have "just one puff"

) you will succeed!

Hi Julia, a fellow Kentuckian, not far from L-ville or Lueyville as we call it.
I can sympathise, as I quit for a year in 2000 but turned around and picked it up again in 2002. I have been 3 days quit this time; please come on over and join us in the new 09 thread: Stop smoking 2009

We can do this together!

beachbumwannabe · 01-05-2009, 11:21 AM

Julia, I did the exact same thing. Quit when I got pregnant 5 years ago and started back up in Jan of '08. It started out as grabbing a smoke from DH while drinking one night. Realized how much I missed it, thought I could just do it on Friday nights. Then it turned into just on the weekends. Then it turned into just one a day, then I was back up to 1/2 pack or more a day.

It was easier to quit this time around because I was so ANGRY with myself for starting again. I quit in Sept. of '08. I just picked a quit date, stuck to it and never looked back. I did read Allen Carr's Easyway to quit smoking and it helped somewhat.

The lesson I learned is that nicotine is an addiction and I have no control over it. I WILL become addicted again after even just one puff. Thinking I could just become a social smoker was naive - nicotine is a highly addictive drug and I must avoid it at all costs - I can't control it, it controls me.

Brennum · 01-15-2009, 09:49 PM

I did the same thing, I quit for 3 years started back up and smoked for another 10 years before I attemted the quit. I went cold turkey and told no one except the husband. I have been smoke free since Nov 2008.

I was determined that this was the right time for me and it was so much easier than in the past when I tried to quit. My husband was a great support for me which made the quit easier.

I don't tempt myself with anything that might trigger a set back so I don't drink until I know I can handle it and I also quit drinking coffee because I would want to light up. I drink tea now instead.

Good Luck to each and everyone of you, I know you can do it.

12-08-2008, 12:38 PM	#1
JuliaL Way too much time on my hands! Join Date: May 2003 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 18,014 Gallery: JuliaL Stats: 190/143/140 16/6/6, height 5'8", age 49 WOE: Atkins/BFFM Start Date: 4/22/03	I lost a 5-year quit! You don't know how hard it is for me to post this, but I need to do it. Accountability is very important. I quit smoking almost 5 years ago on January 1, 2004. I was at the point where I really never thought about cigarettes. I didn't want to smoke and was so happy to be free of the addiction. I was so confident in my quit that I decided I could smoke a couple of cigarettes while having a couple of drinks with my sister-in-law one evening. And the next day I didn't want to smoke more, so that just reinforced my thinking that I could handle just smoking a couple in a social situation. So the next time I was with her, I did it again. Then again, but this time I bought my own pack because I didn't want to be a cigarette bum. I threw the pack away the next day, but the weekend after that I bought another pack. This time I didn't throw them away. Now I had convinced myself I could handle smoking on the weekends. But the weekends turned into Thursday through Tuesday. And before I knew it I was smoking again every day. Now here I am on day one of a new quit. I hope that I never have to go through this again, and I just wanted to share with those of you who may have quit and are thinking that just one won't hurt. It will. __________________ Check out my story: http://www.quickandsimple.com/diet-w...ht-loss-lawler

12-09-2008, 03:21 PM	#9
slush Senior LCF Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: mississippi,by way of Alberta Posts: 297 Gallery: slush Stats: 152/147/127 5'4" (1964) WOE: low carbs and running Start Date: august 2008	Hi Julia... you are human and had a minor setback. You caught yourself and now you've quit. PLEASE keep staying strong. You are just not a smoker- fight that temptation and in a week or so you'll be over it and free. Any addiction that you don't feed will starve and die. Mentally you may still be tempted for a while, but the physical addictiion will be conquered. We don't always do as we should sometimes... but then we figure it out and do what we need to do. You are too smart, and you value your health to much to give in to that demon of nicotine. __________________ ...the courage to change the things I can.

01-01-2009, 06:48 PM	#19
SugarPop MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 1,079 Gallery: SugarPop Stats: (225) 212/166/125 (5'2") WOE: Atkins/ LowCarb - Restart 6/1/09 Start Date: Quit Smoking 1/1/09	Today is Day One for me too......I'm wearing the patch, but I don't think it's making a difference - maybe. It's a hard thing and you should be very proud that you know your limitations and are quitting again. I did the same thing as you 3x.........Once I quit for 4 years and then I had every stress imaginable in my life happening at the time and impulsively I grabbed a cigarette from my husband's (now ex) pack on the counter.......It took me years to try again and then when I did I got to almost a year and had had a few drinks at a social event, like you did, and thought I could handle it but I only wanted more.............I quit again and started dating a guy who smoked cigars and we would drink wine together - before too long I would ask for a drag of his cigar while we drank our wine.......soon I was smoking my own cigars!!!!...then just switched to cigarettes. The thing is that years can go by before you quit again - like it did with me. So bravo to you for nipping it in the bud before years go by. I have constant pain in my chest, I cough when I wake up and on a recent date the guy kissed me and asked if I had smoked a cigarette earlier (I had a few hrs before).........All this and more are my reasons for quitting again. For a long time I thought it would help me not to eat.....but in reality I was a fat smoker. So here I am - I'm with you and we can do this. B __________________ 225 220 215 200 195 190 185 180 175 165 163 160 155 150 145 140 136 135 130 125 "A ship in a harbor is safe, but that's not what ship's are built for" Goal 1) 175 ~ Goal met 9/15/09 Goal 2) 163 - Overweight NOT Obese Goal 3) 150 Goal 4) 136 - No longer Overweight Goal 5) 125 - Long Term Goal Last edited by SugarPop; 01-01-2009 at 06:49 PM..

01-02-2009, 01:33 PM	#20
Doggygirl Senior LCF Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: IL Posts: 621 Gallery: Doggygirl Stats: 204/147 (yeah!)/145-150 size 18/8/10 WOE: Moderate Carbs & Organic /Big Girl Gym Start Date: 5/22/08	Hi Julia. I just now saw your original post on this thread and just wanted to say that I understand. And I admire you for getting on top of this situation quickly. The first time I quit smoking which was about 17 years ago give or take, I fell for that "now I can have just one" nonsense. It took me 15 years to suck up the courage to get back on the nicotine free wagon. So you are ahead of the game! It's not easy but you can do it. That "just one" voice in the head can be a killer, no matter which addiction we want to talk about.... ETA: Oops Sugarpop I somehow missed your post! Good for you on Day 1 again. We're kindred spirits on how long it took us to get back on the wagon! Best wishes to you! DG __________________ *Maintenance since 11/08* Last edited by Doggygirl; 01-02-2009 at 01:35 PM..

01-03-2009, 06:27 AM	#21
JuliaL Way too much time on my hands! Join Date: May 2003 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 18,014 Gallery: JuliaL Stats: 190/143/140 16/6/6, height 5'8", age 49 WOE: Atkins/BFFM Start Date: 4/22/03	Thank you everyone so much for your support. The holidays have been hard, and I admit I haven't been totally cigarette free. I have a new quit date planned. It's very difficult for me to openly admit that I haven't been strong enough to totally give them up yet, but I know how important accountability is in this process. I just wish so much that I had never had that first puff. I think about how well I was doing and how I never thought about smoking. Now, even though I'm not back to where I was, cigarettes are part of my life again and I really never wanted that to happen. I will do this! It's just going to take me a bit longer than I thought, but I will conquer this addiction once and for all. Everyone who has recently quit - don't give up! It does get easier, and as long as you don't smoke, no matter what (you can't have "just one puff") you will succeed!

12-08-2008, 02:19 PM	#2
Ilpirata Big Yapper!!!! Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Beautiful San Jose, CA Posts: 7,626 Gallery: Ilpirata Stats: 263/193/170 for now... WOE: Low Carb JUDD (Alternate Day Diet) Start Date: September 2007	Sorry Julia! You can get it back though. You've done it before! (hang in there)

12-08-2008, 02:22 PM	#3
BarbDe Blabbermouth!!! Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: SE Florida Posts: 5,320 Gallery: BarbDe Stats: Quit smoking 11/4/07; 16/14/10 WOE: Low carb Start Date: August 2004	Hang in there Julia. You'll get it back!

12-08-2008, 02:41 PM	#4
JuliaL Way too much time on my hands! Join Date: May 2003 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 18,014 Gallery: JuliaL Stats: 190/143/140 16/6/6, height 5'8", age 49 WOE: Atkins/BFFM Start Date: 4/22/03	Thanks for the support! Today has been kind of rough, though not nearly as bad as the first time I quit. I'm hanging in there - now I just have to get past that dangerous period when I go to the gym for my workout and pass the store that sells my favorite brand. Yes, I was smoking on my way to the gym! The hardest part of quitting is getting through all the activities you used to do while smoking. When I quit last time I actually had to drive a different route to work for a while so I wouldn't associate it with smoking as much. Maybe I'll do the same with my drive to the Y.

12-08-2008, 02:45 PM	#5
jezzie Old Wise One Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Hudson River Valley Posts: 39,880 Blog Entries: 78 Gallery: jezzie Stats: choosing to be scale-free; WOE: YOU:on a Diet - Dr. Oz Start Date: 05/22/07 - lightbulb; started YOU at 209.	Reminds me of an old Quitnet expression "It's easier to keep the Quit I have than to start a new one". Sorry you have to go through Hell Week again. One of my former employees slipped back after seven years. It's not easy. On a positive note ... you know you can do it. And so do I. ... 10 years, 16 days, and almost 14 hours ... .

12-09-2008, 04:42 AM	#6
JuliaL Way too much time on my hands! Join Date: May 2003 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 18,014 Gallery: JuliaL Stats: 190/143/140 16/6/6, height 5'8", age 49 WOE: Atkins/BFFM Start Date: 4/22/03	Thanks, Jezzie - and to everyone else who responded. Jezzie - I've been posting and reading on Quitnet, and it does help a lot. I made it through yesterday and I'm feeling a little stronger today. I won't smoke - no matter what! One of the most helpful things I read on Quitnet was "You will have cravings whether you smoke or you don't smoke. If you smoke you'll have them every 30 minutes. If you don't smoke the cravings will get fewer and farther between." I need to remember that one. A craving is just a feeling. It won't kill you, but smoking will.

12-09-2008, 09:51 AM	#8
Zer Guest Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: SoCal (N.San Diego) Posts: 9,146 Blog Entries: 43 Gallery: Zer Stats: 5'10"; 65; 508.7/_320.0_/199 WOE: Atkins: <5%Carb; J-UD/DD(<2798/560cals); 128ozH2O Start Date: Got scale at 432.4(2/8/08); 376.8(2/8/09)	Brave of you, to publish your admission that you dabbled with moderation and are once again sure that moderate smoking is not possible. Some of us cannot "do" a moderate amount of a substance that takes over. As they say in AA, first the man takes a drink, then the drink takes the man. So it is with me and carbs. I wish you strength as you confront your own demon and curb the urge to smoke!

12-09-2008, 07:25 PM	#10
Jean@125 Guest Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: MD Posts: 1,998 Gallery: Jean@125 Stats: 166/150.8/ ? 5'2 WOE: hanging on for dear life	Julia, I hope it is getting easier for you. I quit 20+ years ago and would occasionally slip up especially when under severe stress. And like you I found that working out and smoking didn't go so well together. Take care. Jeanie

12-09-2008, 07:29 PM	#11
BarbDe Blabbermouth!!! Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: SE Florida Posts: 5,320 Gallery: BarbDe Stats: Quit smoking 11/4/07; 16/14/10 WOE: Low carb Start Date: August 2004	How's it going Julia??

12-09-2008, 07:40 PM	#12
KlingonBabe MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Wandering around the Delta Quadrant Posts: 2,331 Gallery: KlingonBabe Stats: Miserable/Sane/FABULOUS	Julia, I'm very impressed that you posted this. Your experience with cigarettes was my experience with frankenbreads, starch, sugar, and "moderation." One small concession led to a small indulgence, and more and more frequent transgressions. I'm still undoing the damage. Complete abstinence is the only way for me to handle it. I know you will come to that place again with the cigarettes. You are an inspiration to many of us around here! It's an honor to be able to offer YOU support and encouragement when you need it!

12-09-2008, 08:39 PM	#13
kathy76 MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: NE Indiana Posts: 2,372 Blog Entries: 12 Gallery: kathy76 Stats: (313)282/162.4/155-150 WOE: atkins 5'8 Start Date: 9/19/05	Julia- I hope things get easier for you!! You have had great willpower with your weightloss and you have inspired me in mine Good luck and I know you can do it!

12-09-2008, 09:07 PM	#14
smoky Senior LCF Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Sask. Canada Posts: 853 Gallery: smoky Stats: Start weight (272/206/170) WOE: Eat Fat, Get Thin Start Date: May 2006	Julia hang on to this quit like your life depends on it you can do it good luck 1023 days smoke free today

12-15-2008, 11:46 AM	#15
Margot 65 Very Gabby LCF Member!!! Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 4,144 Gallery: Margot 65	Julia kudos to you for coming clean.. I was in your shoes a year ago. After almost 3 years smoke free, hubby was laid off from his job only 4 days after Christmas. I took up smoking again and within a week I was smoking more furiously than ever before. I was so ashamed I never told anyone (except my close friends and hubby who also smoked.. funny how happy they were I joined the ranks again..) I finally got the gumption to quit last August again. If anything, it has made me more determined to stay quit than ever before... I will admit it was harder than ever, but mostly because my life was so different with a new baby, new job for hubby... smoking in this new life was all I knew and I had to learn to live it differently. Please keep us posted on how you are doing... and also know that you are not alone in being human.

12-15-2008, 02:41 PM	#16
JuliaL Way too much time on my hands! Join Date: May 2003 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 18,014 Gallery: JuliaL Stats: 190/143/140 16/6/6, height 5'8", age 49 WOE: Atkins/BFFM Start Date: 4/22/03	Thanks everyone for your wonderful feedback and support. I have to admit that I still haven't quit totally, but I've cut way back and have set a quit date - this Wednesday. I'm using my son coming home as my motivation. I haven't seen him since May and I know how disappointed he would be if he saw me smoking again. Klingonbabe - you're so right about total abstinence. I know it's the only way, and I also know I can do it. I am just kicking myself for re-addicting. Margot - thanks so much for sharing! It helps to know I'm not the only one who has made this stupid mistake. I think it will also make me even more determined to stay quit. I know that just one will be the undoing of a lot of hard work.

01-01-2009, 05:08 PM	#17
ChetRogers Very Gabby LCF Member!!! Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Oregun Posts: 3,964 Gallery: ChetRogers Stats: FAT/FAT/thin WOE: None ..Just eating better Start Date: 06/18/07	Hope you kick the habit again. I quit over a year ago and haven't wanted one yet. I wish I could say the same thing about my alcohol consumption. Just saw this post and thought I would ask how is it going now?

01-01-2009, 05:14 PM	#18
BarbDe Blabbermouth!!! Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: SE Florida Posts: 5,320 Gallery: BarbDe Stats: Quit smoking 11/4/07; 16/14/10 WOE: Low carb Start Date: August 2004	Yes, Julia? How is it going for you??

01-05-2009, 11:21 AM	#23
beachbumwannabe Junior LCF Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 26 Gallery: beachbumwannabe Stats: 177/170/135 WOE: Low carb Start Date: 11/20/08	Julia, I did the exact same thing. Quit when I got pregnant 5 years ago and started back up in Jan of '08. It started out as grabbing a smoke from DH while drinking one night. Realized how much I missed it, thought I could just do it on Friday nights. Then it turned into just on the weekends. Then it turned into just one a day, then I was back up to 1/2 pack or more a day. It was easier to quit this time around because I was so ANGRY with myself for starting again. I quit in Sept. of '08. I just picked a quit date, stuck to it and never looked back. I did read Allen Carr's Easyway to quit smoking and it helped somewhat. The lesson I learned is that nicotine is an addiction and I have no control over it. I WILL become addicted again after even just one puff. Thinking I could just become a social smoker was naive - nicotine is a highly addictive drug and I must avoid it at all costs - I can't control it, it controls me.

01-15-2009, 09:49 PM	#24
Brennum Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Las Vegas, Nevada Posts: 149 Gallery: Brennum Stats: 240/240/150 WOE: Atkins Start Date: January 2009	I did the same thing, I quit for 3 years started back up and smoked for another 10 years before I attemted the quit. I went cold turkey and told no one except the husband. I have been smoke free since Nov 2008. I was determined that this was the right time for me and it was so much easier than in the past when I tried to quit. My husband was a great support for me which made the quit easier. I don't tempt myself with anything that might trigger a set back so I don't drink until I know I can handle it and I also quit drinking coffee because I would want to light up. I drink tea now instead. Good Luck to each and everyone of you, I know you can do it.

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