Well, the day has finally come! I'm ready to quit. So here I sit, almost two hours without a cigarette, wondering whether this is worth posting on the boards. Well, to tell you the truth, I'll be proud of myself if I can actually do this, and... I could use the accountability and the encouragement.

So wish me luck, guys, I'll need the support.

Sara

Well, done, Sara! I'm sure you can find plenty to do here on the mbs to keep your mind - and hands - off those cigarettes!

Good luck!

LabRat

Great decision, Sara, and very courageous. We'll be here to support you and help you go through the first few difficult weeks. After that it should get easier (but we'll still be here).

Kaethel

Good decision, Sara! And I'm sure it won't be easy, but I'm also sure that you can do it. Feel free to vent or whatever, anytime you need to... We're here for ya

PJ

Very good idea! Good luck, it's a great step towards better health!



~Liz

Go Sara! Go Sara! Go! Go! Go Sara, Sara, Sara! Go Sara! Yippeee!!!!!

James

Good to stop now, Sara.

I've been married to a smoker for 13 years and that means we've spent over $32,000 on his cigarettes. Nice down payment on a house that would be. Would also pay off our credit card debt. I don't even want to consider the interest that would earn if it was in a savings plan those 13 years.

GOOD to STOP NOW!

TEEEEEEEJ

Good luck! I know you can do it! Any time you need someone to act totally foolish/silly to distract you from cravings, tell me to go drink some caffine...

Good luck, Sara! You'll need lots of willpower, but just think of the benefits to your health, as well as the fact that your clothes and hair and all of you will smell much nicer. You'll never have Larry Hagman sit in front of you with a miniature fan telling you that kissing a smoker is like kissing a dirty ol' ashtray. (Yeah, yeah, I've just aged myself here )

And, as TJ says, think of how much money you'll be saving! I don't know how many you smoked per day, but I'm sure you could work out how long it would take you to save enough for another air ticket to visit some FoLC friends, or the Lois and Clark DVDs coming out this year!


Wendy

Good luck!!!


JD

Good luck, Sara! Great decision!!

You know where to find us if you need some distraction...

Julie

Just wanted to take quick second, before I have to rush off again, to thank *each* and *every* one of you for responding. I think I found an new Stop Smoking Program! Seriously, just knowing how much support I've gotten already just in my first day, is more than helpful. Kept thinking at work "Can't have a cigarette... can't go into irc later smelling like an ashtray. They'll know."

So thanks, Lab, Kae, Pam, Liz, James, TEEEJ, Jenni, Wendy, Jen and Julie!!!!

Sara <--- Just about how I'm feeling right now. :p

Hang in there, Sara!! You'll be fine.

Kaethel

Yay, Sara! You can do it - we're all rooting for you.

Yvonne

So glad to hear this, Sara! I know you can do it. And I know how you can distract yourself... write some fanfic!

Good luck!

Darn. I can't remember what comedian it was who talked about quitting smoking by taking deep breaths (thus getting a little nicotine taste in the mouth, courtesy of smoker's lungs ) and munching carrot sticks. And I can't give Google enough to find it -- if it's even online.

Did find out that both of those things are really recommended, though.

Good luck, and good for you!

Look what a great thing you are doing for yourself!

Go Sara!

go sara! you can do it!! and if you can do it maybe i could do it........

Sara,

The only "safer" cigarette is your last one.
-Duane Alan Hahn

Ankit,

Rough first day, but I didn't hurt anyone.

I'm *really* bowled over by the amount of replies I've gotten and I really can't thank you all enough. I've read all the posts *several* times. Makes me want one just that much less.

So thanks Yvonne, Molly, Emily, Rivka, Jen, and Ankit!!! As well as everyone else too!!

Sara

Keeping the violence under control - that's a positive first step, Sara! And even nicer to get a new Sara fic.

LabRat (not that I'm hinting or anything...)

Yay, non-violence! Keep that up... Hang in there, Sara, I know you can do it. Y'know, in my experience, nothing will distract you better than a good flame war... want to argue politics with anyone? Whatever your views are, I guarantee you can find someone to disagree with them Just, um, do it in e-mail, k? Otherwise the other admins will kill me

PJ

Yay, Sara! As Labby and Pam said, non-violence is good. <g>

Hang in there, you're doing well!!!

{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{Sara}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

Julie

Keep up the good work, Sara!

We are all so proud of you!!!!!

--Wanda

*waves pom poms*

Go Sara! Go Sara! Go Sara!

$32,000.00 SARA

TEEEEEJ

I think we need to do a count for you, Sara. So, assuming you still haven't had a cigarette, this is Day Three, right? Congratulations on making it this far!

And hang on in there - let us know when you need a little extra encouragement, all right?

Any other smokers out there ready to stop along with Sara? Mutual encouragement and all that...


Wendy

Thanks, Wendy!!! And thanks for the continued support, everyone!!!

For easier time-tracking purposes , I started at 12:00:01 am on March 1st. <g> So... It's been officially 3 days and almost two hours.

Today was a hard day and I almost didn't make it. Hope tomorrow's better.

You guys really are a *great* help!!!

Sara

My first reaction when I saw this thread's title was, "Good for you, Sara!!"

I can't be around so often anymore, but my thoughts are with you.

And, yay, you're making it happen!! Let's celebrate!!

See ya,
AnnaBtG.

Keep up the good work, Sara!!! You're doing so well!

- Laura

I'd calculate the day, but you didn't specify time zone and I'm too lazy to figure it out.

Mountain Standard Time... which makes it... SIX days as of right now. I'll be honset... I did have one or two. So I cheated. But I'm really encouraged by the fact that I didn't enjoy the experience, which is good. And, I'm telling myself that it's far better than having smoked two or three packs.

I'm hanging in there. Finding it difficult at times to function without my stress reliever, but I'm dealing.

Thanks again, everyone, for your support. I really wouldn't have made it even a day without your support!

Sara

Six days is almost a week, yes? Awesome.

And yeah, I'd definitely agree that one or two is far better than one or two packs.

I recommend checking your savings (pun not intended). You might want to consider doing a cash jar for your designated cig money. Watch how fast it grows! Like a Chia Pet with dollar bills.

Keep going!!!

TEEEEEEEJ

I think most people fail at giving up an addiction, Sara, because they pay too much attention to the little steps backwards that are inevitable and let them overcome them.

So, much waving of pompoms and hearty ra ras all round for your positive and sensible approach to those. They will happen - but turning them into positives and letting them help you move forward as you are doing is a huge help towards your goal!

Well done, you!

Keep it up!

LabRat

Absolutely! Keep it up, Sara! How many days now? And TJ's right: start putting your saved money in a jar somewhere and whenever you're tempted to buy a packet count how much you've saved so far.

Hang in there!! We're rooting for you.


Wendy

Almost 10 whole days. And... if I didn't need the money for other things, I'd be saving it. )

Ten days Sara, congrats!!!!

Keep the good work, you can do it!

Carolyn

Tricia

Good for you! Keep it up!

~Liz

Updates Sara?? got a lot of money saved up yet??

If so, feel free to send chocolate to various encouragers of your new determination <AHEM!>

TEEEEEEEEJ

Well...

I haven't been avoiding this post, really, I've just not been sure what to say.

I didn't make it. I may have picked a bad time to do it, set myself up for failure, with all the stress and problems I've been having this semester. Or maybe that's just an excuse. But, as with any addiction, it may be an excuse, but a vaild one. I think.

I don't want to be a smoker for the rest of my life. Hopefully, not even the rest of this year. Unfortunately, now's just not the right time for me to do it.

I do want everyone to know that I really do appreciate every single response this thread has gotten. I'm very touched that so many of you care! You can't imagine how it helped me when I was going through the first few very tough weeks.

I want to apologize, I'm not sure why... I guess I feel I let you guys down, though I really only let myself down. But I'm okay with that for now. I have other things I need to get back on track, so I'm concentrating on those. I do hope that when the time comes again, you'll all be here and willing to give me the same support.

Sorry, and thanks again!

Sara

Too bad you didn't make it, Sara But it's the first step!

Concentrate on whatever's your priority now, and be sure we'll still be here when you want to try again

See ya,
AnnaBtG.

Hey, but now you know, you've done it once right? So you can do it again, and you can maybe aim for more days than you achieved this time, and so on....

I'm positive all of us are very proud of you,

~Ankit

Absolutely, Sara! We're very proud of you for trying, and for lasting out as long as you did. And when you're ready to try again we'll still be here, cheerleading.

Maybe there are other FoLCs who want to quit too? You could do it together.


Wendy

I think you were very brave to set yourself up for a public challenge as difficult as this one, Sara, while knowing there was the possibility of failure.

And even braver to admit it didn't work out this time.

So well done!

And don't beat yourself up too much. If this was easy, everyone would be doing it in a week. It's not easy and maybe you didn't succeed as much as you hoped this time, but you made a good start. Next time, you'll do better.

My father tried several times to give up smoking over the years when we were kids and failed many times, but he got there eventually.

You will too.

LabRat

People who know me well have a hard time believing that I used to smoke, but I did - over 4 packs a day! (cough, cough)

I tried innumerable times to quit, and finally, in a fit of desperation quit as a birthday gift for my non-smoking fiance. We've been married more than 20 years now, so that seemed to work for me.

You'll find something that works for you, too. Keep trying in the future. Eventually, it will click for you.

Irene

Ugh, I totally understand. I smoke when I get stressed out, but I told myself this week I'd stop doing it because it's obviously not the healthiest thing in the world. Wouldn't you know all the drama and stress of this campus gathered and combusted this week. It's driving me crazy not being able to jump out on the balcony and light up. If everything doesn't quiet down soon, it's back to the balcony.

JD

Sorry it didn't work out this time, Sara. Congrats for trying. You know, Mark Twain once (reportedly) said, "Quitting smoking is easy. I've done it hundreds of times!" No shame in not having it work out. Better luck next time, when you're ready.

Paul

We'll be here to support you when you're ready to try again. Keep your spirits up and you'll succeed eventually.

The average smoker quits many times -- because it is very very HARD to do! Don't worry, Sara, you'll get there. *hug*

Meanwhile, don't apologize. Deal with what you need to first, so that next time can be more successful.

Good luck!