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1. footprints

   

   2 posts
   Registered:
   01 Feb 2019
   01 Feb 2019

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   I am so disgusted with myself lately. It has been bitter cold and I can't seem to stop layering myself up (even in the middle of the night) to go outside in this bitter cold to have a cigarette. I have been having a lot of muscle and joint pain, I always do when the weather gets cold and yet I continue to aggravate my condition by going outside to have a smoke. Oh how I loath myself. 
   Well I woke up this morning at 6 am and did my usually three pairs of pajama pants a tight sweater, a hoodie, my winter coat and to top it all off a wrap around cape to go over my winter jacket  .... I realized how ridiculous I was being, and after all that I don't even enjoy my cigarettes any more. Just a chore to me now. 
   I have since found my way to this sight and registered. I have set a quite date.
   I am going to spend the next month preparing to quit. I think the one thing I lacked in my past attempts is preparation
2. Val H

   

   164 posts
   Registered:
   29 Nov 2017
   01 Feb 2019

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   Hi footprints. Welcome to the forum and congratulations on setting a quit date.  I am just starting out on my quit journey again but I just wanted to say, hate the addiction that forces us to do stupid things, like freezing our buns off, and not yourself. See your preparation and quit as an act of kindness toward yourself to free yourself from this terrible addiction. You are worth it.
   Best of luck.
   quitfriend
3. mari_m

   

   92 posts
   Registered:
   03 Jan 2019
   01 Feb 2019 in reply to footprints

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   Congrats footprints for setting your quitdate and joining this helpline. Being prepared is so important. And learn all you can about this addiction ... there is so much info on this site and the quit coaches are very helpful. I rely on them and these posts all the time. I smoked for more years than i want to admit, tried quitting several times, once for 18 months, but never could stay quit. This time i am determined this is my last time! I really didnt want to quit but know that i needed to. I didnt have joint/muscle pain but have poor circulation, so found the winters unbearably cold. Since quitting 67 days ago, my body temp is much better, and I now go for long walks and enjoy it. There are so many good things that are happening as a nonsmoker, it makes the tough times easier to take, and so worth it. Dont be too hard on yourself. I think we have all been there, but can crawl out of that dark place by helping each other. Its nice not to feel alone in this challenging journey. So glad you are here! Keep us posted. -m
4. atp

   

   501 posts
   Registered:
   31 Dec 2018
   01 Feb 2019 in reply to footprints

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   Footprints,
   
   The last 6 months of my smoking often I would only smoke half a cigarette. Kind of a few quick deep inhales to get my nicotine fix and then I'd toss the smoke. I had butts and ashtrays all over the garage, porch and backyard. I finally realized I was sick of smoking, that plus my 19 year old son picked up the smoking habit so I figured it was time to quit, and my son quit with me. 
   
   I spent hours reading up on quitting smoking and preparing myself mentally for my quit date. I had all the milestones in my head (48-72 hours for nicotine to be out of my system, etc). With prior quits I never did that preparation. So maybe it was a combination of desire and preparation, but here I am one month into my quit and feeling so much better for it. 
   
   Take this month to prepare for your quit. Read all you can about quitting, get a quit kit ready, decide what if any aids you want (gum, mist, etc). And it also helps to start to change your smoking routine now. Stop smoking in the car, or wait one hour after waking up to have that first smoke. The hardest part of quitting for me actually was the routine part - I still check my coat pockets for my smokes before heading out.....
5. treepeo

   

   832 posts
   Registered:
   29 Nov 2017
   01 Feb 2019

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   Hi footprints,
   
   Welcome to the community!  You have come to the right site for advice and support.
   
   I think preparation is really important in the quitting process.  The more prepared you are, the more likely you are to quit.  Atp gave some great pointers on how you can get ready for your quit.
   
   And don't worry about the stuff you have done as a smoker, like going out in the freezing cold.  We have all done that, and more.  We're all addicts trying to get over this addiction and develop a healthier lifestyle.  Quitting takes preparation, work and commitment.  It's not easy, especially in the beginning.  But trust me, footprints, in the end, all of the trials and tribulations are worth it.  Being a non-smoker rocks!
   
   
6. jenna lee, quit coach

   

   265 posts
   Registered:
   28 Jun 2018
   01 Feb 2019 in reply to treepeo

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   Footprints,
   
   'chore'; what a powerful way of putting it. Just think, if and/or when you have any struggles during your quit, you can look back on this behaviour of layering up and use that to motivate you to keep going, rather than feeling bad about having done it.
   
   Setting a quit date and taking your time to prepare yield great success rates. You should be so proud of making these next steps. 
   
   Excited for you,
   
   Jenna Lee

   Last modified on 01 Feb 2019 22:05 by jenna lee, quit coach