HI Missnyorker and welcome to our group. First of all, congratulations on your decision to quit. The first few days are definitely the worst.

Quitting is tough but it is so worth it. The best advice I can give you is: drink lots of water, get out and take a walk if you can, take a bubble bath, listen to some music or anything that will take your mind off of smoking for right now. And, if all that doesn't work ... scream really loud!!! Just kidding - but it might help.

Stick around this board. We do daily roll call and take a no smoking pledge daily. These help keep many of us on track.

And, if you have any questions, ask away. There are some pretty smart people here :)

Welcome MissNyorker- you picked the right place to be. We have all gone through or are going thru the same thing- getting off a terrible addiction. I smoked for 38 years and with this support group to help me, I have been free since 8-8-08- you can be too!!!

Feeling tired, achey, hungry, crappy and moody is very normal the first week or two. I slept and ate alot then. Whatever helps you to just get thru it cause I promise you it will get better. Your body goes through a major detox period, length of time is different for everyone, but you will survive it. It helped me alot in the beginning to read up on old posts here- in fact if you look at 'My Goups' and click on "old Posts' there are some very good ones there. Just keep plenty of distractions handy, you'll do fine. And congrats on a smart and healthy decision.

Deb, thank you soooo much. I will be here everyday. I am on DS everyday anyway.

The walking and water sounds like a great idea. I will try anything and everything to make this successful for me.

I AM A NON SMOKER!!!!!!!!! :)

There you go. Yes, you are are. And it feels great.

This board is very much like a family. We have some fun and jokes and laugh. But, we also provide lots of support and encouragement to each other.

Welcome - I think you're gonna like it here.

Thank you Forerica!!! Congrats to you on your quitting 8/8/88 - GREAT DAY :) I am very glad to be here. I know I came to the right place. I came by last night and read some posts, some new, some old, it made me feel much better.

Today was a rough day but I am sure it will get better. Knowing I am not alone helps me so much.

I AM A NON SMOKER!!!!

Deep breaths helped me a lot....Breathe IN, pause....Breathe OUT, pause....do about 6 to 10 and the crave will have passed also licorice and fruit. I ate TONS of fruit. Also do Rollcall and Pledge, these are hugely motivational.
Welcome to the family.

Hi Hun,

Good for you, you clever, nice-smelling person you! You've made such a great decision by quitting.

I quit using patches and I'm 20 weeks and 4 days out from my last smoke. I also spent the first few days in tears, but I got over it and now I feel fantastic.

I gained about 2kg in the first month after stopping (Thats perfectly normal BTW) and then went on diet. I am now 4kg lighter than I was when I quit smoking (6kg lighter than when I went on diet) and have every intention of trying to lose another 5kg. I am exercising regularly because I can breathe now. Realise, though, that if you do gain weight that is better for you than smoking.

My advice is use your patches, get a hold of Alan Carr's book [Can someone provide the link please? :-)] and realise that you're lengthening your life, saving money, smelling, looking and feeling better and that you've quit nothing, but gained your freedom. You really have! You're free from having to smoke every hour or so - Isn't that a wonderful thought?

I just know you can do this. You're already a winner just for starting. And we'll be here for you every step of the way.


Cath

Thank you Cath, the weight gain is normal from what I hear but you are so right, now that I am a non smoker, I can exercise more and lose the weight. There is no downside to quitting smoking, only GOOD stuff coming my way.

Congrats to you for being smoke free for 20 weeks and 4 days!!!! WOOO HOOO :)

Congrats on your quit, and welcome to the group!! We are sooo happy to have you here... It has been almost 3 months for me, and i can promise you , it does get easier, just hang in there... drink lots of water, and come here often...best of luck to you

Hi and welcome

You've made the best decision you'll ever make in your life by quitting,
soon you'll be breathing better and smelling everything so much more and feeling healthier. There are wonderful people here who will help you get through the hard moments. Just stay close and you will have a new life like I do, thanks to all my friends on DS. hugs Terry

Oh my gosh- you have already gone so many days on your own! so smile!! This is the best- I mean the very best place you could come to!! People here are real and quickly become real friends- they feel your hurts and celebrate your joys!!! I've been smoking 46 years, have stumbled, gotten up, gone again- and now I am a roll to the finish- I COULD NOT BE WHERE I AM FINALLY AT WITHOUT THIS GROUP!
One thing I have had to get through my very thick head is the WAY I think about ciggs. Slowly it has sunk in that I am not losing anything- I am gaining a gift- life!
You can do this!! hugs

Hello there and welcome. IT is really tough the first week or so, so be kind to yourself. Give yourself daily rewards and try and rest as much as possible
I used the patch and found it good as it gave me more time to deal with my psychological addiction to smoking. At least with the patch you are getting some nicotine and i found it relatively easy to wean off them.
Go and do some reading on whyquit.com because knowledge is power when you are dealing with this addiction. And make no mistake this is a powerful addiction.
Download a quit meter that will keep you motivated as it will track your quit and show you how much money you have saved and how much life you have gained.
One last thing. remember the 5 D,s when you crave. Delay,distract,deep breathe, drink water and DS (this site) by the time you have done all or some of those the craving will have passed
Hugs Deb
PS your profile is private so we cant ask to be your friend

Hi missnyorker

Welcome to this site and I hope you find the support you need. This is such a wonderful support group...Congrats on your decision to be a non smoker......
Drinks lots of water and remember NOPE...not one puff ever.....

happy february

Congrats on of the best decisions you'll ever make!