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1. efreeman75

   

   296 posts
   Registered:
   02 Apr 2018
   25 May 2022

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   Congratulations Fisher Guy.  You're really racking up those months now, and enjoying all the various events and seasons as a non-smoker.
   
   You got this!!!
   
2. Fisher Guy

   

   64 posts
   Registered:
   01 Dec 2021
   26 Jun 2022

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   Hi everybody. . Just  got back from our fishing camp. Well the 7thmonth of not smoking has come and  gone. Feeling happy that days go by and I don't even think about smoking, But to be honest there are day it still hits me. That is when NOPE comes in and I think about something else. I am seeing a lot of new members on line, and am proud you have chosen  to join  us in our smoke free journey. I will talk to everyone  in the near future so keep up the  good work and stay strong.
3. dublinguy

   

   349 posts
   Registered:
   09 Dec 2021
   27 Jun 2022

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   Great to hear from you Fisherguy and even greater to hear how well you are doing. Hope the fishing camp was good, you deserve a treat after your 7 months hard work. And now you are an inspiration to the new members starting off on their journies.
4. Fisher Guy

   

   64 posts
   Registered:
   01 Dec 2021
   24 Jul 2022

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   Hi to all my  . The 8th months has come and gone. My buddy who smoked also asked if I still  get urges, and the answer was yes. They arn;t as bad as they used to be but some are intense. .Nope works for me. He has been smoke free for 7 years and he still wants to taste a cigar every now and then.  Hope you all have a great summer and see you at 9 months.
5. optimist

   

   57 posts
   Registered:
   11 Jul 2019
   24 Jul 2022 in reply to Fisher Guy

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   Well so good to hear from you Fisher Guy because I was on the point of saying something myself.  First, congratulations on your 8 successful months.  I'm in my 1st month and these urges of which you speak are the bain of my existence.  Unlike you, I can't say I've been successful 100% of the time.  The difficulty I'm having with NOPE is that it demands perfection.  The only workable "good enough" is absolute perfection.  That's unfortunately just the nature of addiction.  Essentially it means that no matter how sh***y I feel or how powerful the urge, I cannot give in, not even once.
   
   Now I've come far enough that I feel "damned if I do and damned if I don't".  Not smoking is uncomfortable to awful, while smoking causes me to feel guilt and anger at myself, not to mention fear of the harm I'm doing.  Trying to get beyond my feelings, I review my reasons for quitting - and I certainly have some compelling reasons - and practice the D's.  I've even sought counsel.  On and on it goes.  Is there some big secret to success that I'm missing?
   
   Thank you all for listening.
6. optimist

   

   57 posts
   Registered:
   11 Jul 2019
   24 Jul 2022 in reply to optimist

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   My response to myself for my previous rant is "Suck it up, Buttercup".
   
   And Fisher Guy, kudos to you for 8 weeks and counting.  Awesome.
7. dublinguy

   

   349 posts
   Registered:
   09 Dec 2021
   25 Jul 2022

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   That's wonderful news Fisherguy.
8. jb63

   

   111 posts
   Registered:
   28 Feb 2022
   26 Jul 2022

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   Congrats on 8 months Fisher guy. That’s something to celebrate. Enjoy your summer
9. efram, quit coach

   

   235 posts
   Registered:
   29 Nov 2017
   26 Jul 2022

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   Hi optimist,
   
   Re: perfection, yes, sure, that's the end goal, but it's also good to recognize progress along the way. Looking at quitting as a learning process, imperfections (slips) can be looked at as opportunities for learning and growth. I forget where I heard the phrase "progress, not perfection," but it makes sense to me, and hopefully thinking of the quitting process this way can help take some of the pressure off. 
   
   About success: think of how far you've come already, compared to a month ago -- that's a lot of cigarettes you haven't smoked, and a lot of success that you can continue to build on, one day at a time. 
   
    
10. optimist

    

    57 posts
    Registered:
    11 Jul 2019
    28 Jul 2022

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    Hi efram,
    
    Thank you for sharing your perspective.  Progress vs. perfection seems like a much more balanced and helpful approach.  So that's the approach I've adopted.  Seems to be working.  And so on I go.....
11. efram, quit coach

    

    235 posts
    Registered:
    29 Nov 2017
    28 Jul 2022 in reply to optimist

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    Hi optimist,
    
    You're welcome! I'm glad that the approach seems to be working ... makes me feel, er, optimistic! 
12. wandam

    

    241 posts
    Registered:
    05 Feb 2019
    13 Aug 2022 in reply to Fisher Guy

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    Hi Fisher Guy,
    
    Huge congratulations to you on celebrating 8 months of being smoke free, way to go! Keep rocking your quit Fisher Guy!
13. Fisher Guy

    

    64 posts
    Registered:
    01 Dec 2021
    23 Aug 2022

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    Hit II everybody. I know it is summer, and all of us are on holidays , So I  miss reading how things are going with us .OK so now it is 9 months since my last cigarette .just  can;t  get over how time fly's. Yes there was some bad days , but more good days now. Keep saying NOPE and give yourself a reward every now and then .
14. dublinguy

    

    349 posts
    Registered:
    09 Dec 2021
    24 Aug 2022 in reply to Fisher Guy

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    9 months!!! that's incredible. Well done Fisherguy. You made it and you're making it stick. I cant share the same stats... while Im living in that smoking house its just too hard. But Ill be moving soon and will get back on the horse then again and be back here posting like I used to everyday.
    No other news really. Nothing is going on.
15. jb63

    

    111 posts
    Registered:
    28 Feb 2022
    24 Aug 2022

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    Fisherguy
    9 months. That is amazing. Sure is something to be proud of. I don’t know how many times I have used your NOPE saying. It really does help. Enjoy the rest of your summer
16. Fisher Guy

    

    64 posts
    Registered:
    01 Dec 2021
    23 Sep 2022

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    Hi everybody. Just a note to say 10 months smoke free as of today. Feeling good with fewer and fewer urges to smoke. Most days I don't even think about it. Nice to see all our new friends on here joining us in their journey to be smoke free.   Keep up the good work, It is worth it, Use NOPE and read all the other comments on here. They do help Have a good fall, enjoy the colours.
17. sarah, quit coach

    

    222 posts
    Registered:
    28 Nov 2017
    23 Sep 2022

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    Congrats and Happy 10th month anniversary, Fisher Guy!  The time you've spent quit has really helped those cravings become fewer & far between.
    You are an inspiration to our community, and we so enjoy hearing about your journey.
    Thank you so much for the update, and wishing you all the best
    Sarah
18. jb63

    

    111 posts
    Registered:
    28 Feb 2022
    23 Sep 2022

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    Congrats Fisher Guy. 10 months is amazing. It is crazy how long you can go now without thinking of having a cigarette. It proves it does get easier.Pretty  soon you will be celebrating one year 
19. Fisher Guy

    

    64 posts
    Registered:
    01 Dec 2021
    25 Oct 2022

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    HI everybody!.  Well 11 months is in the books. Can;; t  tell you how good it feels to be this far along in my quit. Have to thank my wife for her encouragement and for not using the frying pan when I got bitchy. . this helpline is a god send. Use it all the time. Keep using NOPE . Now on to the big one.
20. jb63

    

    111 posts
    Registered:
    28 Feb 2022
    25 Oct 2022

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    Wow Fisher guy. 11 months is great. You should be very proud of yourself. What are you going to do to celebrate next month ?  You’re NOPE saying has been keeping me going. 
21. dublinguy

    

    349 posts
    Registered:
    09 Dec 2021
    01 Nov 2022

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    So proud of you Fisherguy… ur leading the way for all of us and showing us how its done. You should plan a little holiday somewhere special for you and your wife to celebrate getting to 12 months when it comes. Well done.
22. mike o

    

    20 posts
    Registered:
    10 Jun 2022
    02 Nov 2022

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    Good work Fisher Guy!👍
23. Fisher Guy

    

    64 posts
    Registered:
    01 Dec 2021
    24 Nov 2022

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    Hi Everybody. Today marks my first year aniversiary  of being smoke free. The last 12 months have had all the emotions you could have. Yes there were times  I wanted to say The  hell with it and grab a smoke, but boy am I glad for Nope and all the help of our community here not to. Now I am a OLD FOGEY . Please go to My Journey and read In memory of Carols journey. What a inspirational story. You will see where old fogey comes from. To all of you just starting or others well into your quit, donI ;t give up. It will be worth it.  I did gain 15 lbs. so my next job is to lose it. Dublinguy said I should do a nice trip as a reward. Well my wife and all the children and grandchildren are going to the carribiean for the Christmas holidays.. Stay strong everybody and have a great holiday season.
24. freedomchild

    

    80 posts
    Registered:
    18 Jan 2022
    24 Nov 2022

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    WOW!! Congratulations that totally awesome. Happy Holidays....NOPE NOT ONE PUFF EVER!!
25. jb63

    

    111 posts
    Registered:
    28 Feb 2022
    24 Nov 2022

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    Congratulations Fisher Guy That is amazing. It must be a great feeling to be able to say One year smoke free. That is great your whole family is going on vacation. Enjoy every minute of it.
    Congrats again Old Fogey 
26. Fisher Guy

    

    64 posts
    Registered:
    01 Dec 2021
    25 Nov 2022

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    Thanks guys. Appreciate your good wishes.
27. dublinguy

    

    349 posts
    Registered:
    09 Dec 2021
    01 Mar 2023

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    Well done fisherguy. You really committed to your quit and stuck with it and look at you now. 
    Hope the holidays in the Carribbean was nice. Sounds wonderful. And no leg twitching on the plane gasping to smoke. Freedom.
    
    I remember sharing your journey with u last time I quit and it really helped. Im back again now and determinded to get to where you are. Pity I couldnt make things stick the last time but when I moved into that smoking house temptation was too much and I fell. Now in a totally different place. Partner hates the smoking, I have a bad cough, spending way too much on them and they just have to go. End of. NOPE!
28. ststephen

    

    24 posts
    Registered:
    23 Feb 2023
    01 Mar 2023

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    Can't wait to be there with you fisherguy
29. Fisher Guy

    

    64 posts
    Registered:
    01 Dec 2021
    02 Mar 2023

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    Thanks Dublinguy and ststephen for all the good wishes. Glad to see you back Dublinguy, Hope all is well and we can keep going this time. Missed your writing . I feel that you ststephen  will be just fine. you got this. 
    
30. dublinguy

    

    349 posts
    Registered:
    09 Dec 2021
    26 Jun 2023

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    Hey Fisherguy... Im so proud of u for really sticking with it. Uve done it. Im back again... but finding it difficult to push the boat out and really go for it cos a lot has been going on in this last year. Great news... Im now engaged and my partner hates smoking so thats incentive to quit. And we are thinking of moving to Spain to live after we get married in 2 years time. So plenty time to save up the cash if I manage to quit for good. I will get there.