Hi all,
So proud of everyone who's fighting the good fight to stay quit.
I'm approaching five months (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) and it feels great. I wanted to share where I am, for anyone who's struggling to make the transition from quitting to maintaining.
My body feels much much better than when I was smoking...but I've stopped having the better-every-day feelings. They faded along with the daily cravings. My weight has stabilized, my sleep is back to normal, my brain is behaving like my brain, not an addled nicotine-craving machine.
I'm so glad to be free of cigarettes, to smell good and be clean, to not have to sneak off to smoke, to never be embarassed or worried about the impression I'd make at a job interview or meeting someone new. It's fantastic. The chains are off.
I still crave a tiny bit. Every few days I'll have a day where the thought of cigarettes pops up several times. It passes in a few moments, and I never really consider smoking.
I come here to rejuvenate my quit. Maintaining a quit is so much easier than quitting, but there are challenges. The out-of-the-blue desire to smoke a nasty cancer stick is disappointing whenever it pops up. My nicodemon is still here, telling me a bad morning or long drive would be so much easier to get through with smokes. Lies, all lies, and I know it. Quitting made me strong enough to maintain.
I'm getting married in October, the day after my six-month anniversary. I can't tell you how glad I am I won't be stinking up my wedding dress. A bride that smells bad ain't sexy.
Anyway, if any of you newbies are feeling despondent that the quitting goes on forever, I'll tell you, it doesn't. Eventually, you too will be maintaining you quit. Don't give up. If you need help, ask. Imagine yourself smoke free, forever, then get there.
Good luck to all.
Quitter
[B]My Milage:[/B]
[B]My Quit Date: [/B] 3/3/2006
[B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 143
[B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 2,869
[B]Amount Saved:[/B] $307.45
[B]Life Gained:[/B]
[B]Days:[/B] 9 [B]Hrs:[/B] 11 [B]Mins:[/B] 36 [B]Seconds:[/B] 28
