24 hours

[WilliamPitt]

Smoke-free.

For the first time in 20 years, I have gone a day without smoking.

Day One is done.

Day Two has begun.

P.S. I'm sorry to keep posting about this. It's almost like I have to write it down in order to believe it. Been writing myself little notes of encouragement, here and on FB and on the notepad on my desk. Please indulge the narcissism...I can feel every inch of my skin, but I got through the first 24, and honest to God, the last thing I want is a smoke to celebrate. So I suppose that's progress.

...nnnnnggggggggggggg...

Gonna get this done.

[InvisibleTouch]

1. Congrats to you!

Keep at it! Try to immerse yourself in some other focus.

[WilliamPitt]

2. Trying to write

Struggling.

[InvisibleTouch]

3. Taking a guess, you were probably used to smoking while writing?

If so, maybe try some completely unrelated activity for a while?

[WilliamPitt]

6. I've been smoking and writing

since my freshman year of college. I am three paragraphs into the first article I've written smoke-free since the first Bush administration.

Paragraph four on the way.

[MiddleFingerMom]

4. Post whatever whenever you want...

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...whatever it takes.
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Focusing on something else productive WILL be hard. Go for long walks -- NOT near a convenience store.
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Seriously -- leave your money/cards at home.
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It's hard for many for a while -- but that first day IS the worst, by far.
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Again, you don't want to repeat this last day -- though you will have to eventually if you slip.
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And it will be just as hard.
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Keep up the struggle and keep up the faith in yourself. Many others have that faith in you.
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.

[WilliamPitt]

7. (((HUG)))

:hug:

[bikebloke]

5. Don't pick up a pipe.

When my father "quit", he always started smoking a pipe. After several years of going back and forth, he gave up the charade and went back to ciggies. Then took the stroll down cancer road to join the ancestors.

[lukasahero]

8. Post as much as you want

Whatever works for you is what you should do.

I'll be three years done in January after about 20 yrs too. The first week is the hardest by far.

Stay busy - stay otherwise occupied. Drink OJ and brush your teeth - a lot. (Cigarettes taste foul with either.)

Good luck!

[LNM]

9. 2 3/4 years for me

I never want to go through that hell again. If you can, avoid situations and places where you smoked. I know you're a writer so not writing may not be an option, but maybe write in a different location. I smoked in one area in our house and I avoided that area for about 6 months.

Good Luck, Will.

Oh, and never tell yourself that it's okay to have just one.

[WilliamPitt]

11. I've been in a new place since Sept. 1st

...after seven years in a smoke cave. My wife and I promised each other we'd only smoke outside after we moved here, which is pretty much the only reason I can even think of doing this: outside smoking cut my intake from two packs a day to less than a pack...then I decided to quit this past Saturday, and managed to keep myself to six or seven a day over the weekend...until Tuesday afternoon, when I took the FUCK IT leap, bought the Commit lozenges, and dug in for the Long Squirm that is quitting for real.

If I hadn't gotten out of my old place, if I hadn't kept to my outside-smoking-only pledge...if that weaning process hadn't happened, well...I wouldn't be here, clear so far.

You're right. But I killed my smoking comfort zone three months ago. Thank fucking God.

[Ellipsis]

22. Well all right... congrats big dog.

[LNM]

24. 29 hours now

Keep it up. I used to keep track of the hours, then the days and when you hit 1 week it feels great. Still had cravings but the idea of 1 WHOLE WEEK without smokes was wonderful. When I hit 3 months I mentioned it to my husband. He said "that didn't seem so bad". I nearly shoved his teeth in.

Someone on this board had a link to a site with a ticker for number of days:hours:minutes smoke-free and also the dollar amount you've saved. Maybe they'll show up in this thread.

[WilliamPitt]

25. 29:49:52

:hug:

[Rosie1223]

10. When you feel the need to smoke, give your cat a big belly rub.

(Edited because I'm not sure you still have the cat in question)

Seriously, tho, hang in there! You can do it!

:hi:

[WilliamPitt]

12. Heh

Yeah, bleeding is the answer.

;)

(Cat still here, BTW)

( :) )

[Rosie1223]

14. haha

My comment was "because you can't hold a cig with bloody stumps, can ya" but I wasn't sure you still had that adorable but apparently mutant cat that seriously dislikes belly rubs.

[Tikki]

13. Sir, you need to see yourself on the other side of this.....

There is a compelling reason you are now a nonsmoker. More than just feel it you need to
see yourself with certain movements in certain places without the usual accoutrement.
I did this slyly to myself and became a bit more determined with each victory = total control.
Shoot.. most people start at the new year...you are way ahead now.

2011>

Tikki
nonsmoker for 7 years...

[WilliamPitt]

16. (((HUG)))

:hug:

Still going.

[myrna minx]

15. Congratulations! Hang in there - it really does get better.

I was the kind of person who would smoke while swimming and I'm 10 months smoke free. Your cravings will only last a minute or two and they will pass. Just remember, you will have cravings whether or not you quit smoking, but when you quit, they become less severe and they become more and more infrequent. Be proud that you've come this far. :bounce:

On edit - the first three days are the worst and the reason I didn't relapse was because I didn't want to go through that again. Hang in there.

[madinmaryland]

17. I won't go there, but I will say good luck!

:evilgrin:

[WilliamPitt]

18. I'll be free of this in 24 business hours.

Thought I'd throw your favorite joke back at you.

:)

;)

:hug:

[madinmaryland]

23. "Error: You can't recommend threads from this forum"

:P

BTW, how much is that 24 business hour thingie, about a brazilian??

Keep it going!!

:thumbsup:

[WilliamPitt]

19. Dupe

[WilliamPitt]

20. Another dupe

[WilliamPitt]

21. Yet another dupe

[KatyaR]

26. You just keep right on posting every day--

and we'll keep encouraging you.

Congratulations--you WILL get through this.... :hug:

[Capn Sunshine]

27. Wow , Will, how will we know it's you here in So Cal ?

Without the cigarette, you're just another pretty face. The chicks all want danger boy.

[DoBotherMe]

28. Yay!

It gets better and easier. Then, one day, the urge is gone. I thought I was going to have to check in to Betty Ford the number of times I tried to quit. But the last time stuck. One day at a time! Dana ; )

[Joe Fields]

29. I wish you luck, Will. It is the most insidious of addictions.

I have been smoking since I was eleven, (1967), some 43 years. I've tried everything except acupuncture. I will try that this year.

I have kicked a lot of habits in my life, but can't shake this one. And yet I know I don't want to end up carrying a portable oxygen tank around with me, with hoses up my nose.

Seriously, all the best.