Having had a good browse on this forum, it seems common for people to know precisely how many days (even minutes) since they last had a smoke. I've seen one peron who knows that it is 204 days!
This tells me that these people are still way off of being free of this otherwise why would they be counting?
if you are a counter, perhaps you could try to explain why you do it? i think it would be interesting.
Cheers
Personally speaking I have an app on my phone that counts it for me down to the minute.
I think the big reason for people knowing how long they have stopped smoking is that it's an achievement. Why shouldn't we celebrate every day that we go? And I don't think it's so much that people do count the days but when they think about it they have a point of reference that they can look to that will tell them how many days they have been smoke free. If you keep browsing you will notice a lot of people who will suddenly have realised how far along their quit they are or how it's been a while since they posted. For us newbies in our early days it is great to have people who know how long they have been quit because it gives us the encouragement we need. I'll be honest in saying that if this was a forum full of nothing but newbie quitters then I doubt many of us would make it so I say well done to those who 'count' and long may you all 'count'inue...
It's a good way to remind yourself how far you've come especially early on....I surprise myself with it now because when I type it on the odd occasions that I do, it looks like a long long time! Also I have to work it out now too, so it is becoming a way of life and not all about the numbers, but hey, it's still early for me, not quite ten weeks yet 
Could someone count my days please?..lol
I gave up on 12th August am.. I am new to this forum, been reading for a while but decided to register!
I have passed my 32nd birthday without smoking (15th Aug).. and also a stone roses concert, oh yeah not to forrget the usual weekend drinks..hats off to me I think..lol!
Forum is great guys, gives me a little extra encouragment
Cheers, Marty
Could someone count my days please?..lol
I gave up on 12th August am.. I am new to this forum, been reading for a while but decided to register!
I have passed my 32nd birthday without smoking (15th Aug).. and also a stone roses concert, oh yeah not to forrget the usual weekend drinks..hats off to me I think..lol!
Forum is great guys, gives me a little extra encouragment
Cheers, Marty
I quit on 13th Aug @ 10.45pm and am currently on day 17 so you will be on day 19 today.
Specially for you Marty "a little extra encouragment" well done.
I think when we first quit we have a need to achieve certain goals. It also helps to have that well done message from forum members.
Remember at the start how great it felt to say I've gone a whole day without a fag. Then day 2, 3 etc until you hit that unbelievable first week point. Then after a time you start counting the weeks which in turn becomes the months.
My app was a peice of paper on the wall where I used to tick the days off every morning. After a time I started forgetting as the days became less important and then even the weeks were not so important. Now I refer to my quit in months if anyone asks how I am doing. At one time I used to post when I hit certain points, like today I have completed 7 months but have not posted about it. That is easy to remember because I quit on the 30th. and only mention it now as a part of this reply.
Now I don't bother so much about the time which is very much in line with not thinking about smoking. If I do think about smoking it does'nt bother me much as I know I will not be having one.
Reading these posts I agree that counting is a good thing and a helpful tool.
I just want to get to 2!
Cheers
I have an app on my phone that does it for me
And I like to no how many days iv quit for nowt do with not being over ciggs..
But are we ever over it? Something I want to find out in time.
101 days for me
It's like putting a pound coin in a jar everyday. The frustration when it looks empty for the first few days turns into elation when you look and realise how much you have. It's the same for counting the days smoke free.
Wish I did that now pound a day I would be 101 quids better off
counting days is a brill way to help you with your quit 
then when it turns into first weeks then months you start to think omg im doing it im really doing it
and before you know it your up in the penthouse enjoying the view and breathing in the fresh clean air
psssssssst and after a while up there you stop counting
and even better you stop thinking of yourself as a smoker :eek:
obviously you still have to be on your guard as you will still get the odd idea of smoking from that sleeping smoking monster inside
thats why you should always be vigilent against the thoughts of
one wont hurt
because im not a smoker anymore
sadly alot of people do start again because of that one wont hurt idea that you can have one and not become addicted again
hence why joining the
Not One Puff Ever club is the key
keep saying NOPE
and you will stay free and keep the power
Specially for you Marty "a little extra encouragment" well done.
I think when we first quit we have a need to achieve certain goals. It also helps to have that well done message from forum members.
Remember at the start how great it felt to say I've gone a whole day without a fag. Then day 2, 3 etc until you hit that unbelievable first week point. Then after a time you start counting the weeks which in turn becomes the months.
My app was a peice of paper on the wall where I used to tick the days off every morning. After a time I started forgetting as the days became less important and then even the weeks were not so important. Now I refer to my quit in months if anyone asks how I am doing. At one time I used to post when I hit certain points, like today I have completed 7 months but have not posted about it. That is easy to remember because I quit on the 30th. and only mention it now as a part of this reply.
Now I don't bother so much about the time which is very much in line with not thinking about smoking. If I do think about smoking it does'nt bother me much as I know I will not be having one.
Thanks!! - I hope I reach those months...
Feeling the "want" this morning! but keeping the head down in work..
As others have said, counting days is a really good motivator, especially in the beginning. In fact, if you look at the structure of this forum, the sections pretty much reflect the typical milestones that people want to hit.
I do however, see your point, and have made the same reflection before. If people get hung up counting days, hours, minutes, then you might wonder if they're hanging on to some romantic notion about smoking and how long they've been "going without".
I also find it a bit weird when people say "I'm on day 73", for example.
Alex.
I also find it a bit weird when people say "I'm on day 73", for example.
Alex.
I'm on Day 70, does that count??
I also find it a bit weird when people say "I'm on day 73", for example.
Alex.
Interesting...
I know someone who is 639 days quit.
Interesting...
I know someone who is 639 days quit.
Yeah, and I know somebody who is 638 days quit.
Counting the days is a good motivator early on, or it was for me. Helped to keep aiming for the next milestone, & kept the temptation at bay knowing all those days ticked off would be 'wasted' if i slipped up.
Eventally it goes from counting the days to months, & ultimately becomes a distant memory.
Guilty as charged
I do count, not as much as I did, so it's becoming less and less obsessive with time! However, I keep my quit date very close to my beating heart - 5th July 2012, but not sure of the exact time, I think it was 4.30pm, as the Hynotherapy session was booked at 5.00pm!! Now, although I do remember every next monthly milestone, I do have to refer to my app to be precise or pedantic as some may say!
Why do I count? Because genuinely, I thought I couldn't even do a day without smoking unless it was forced upon me... Like a long haul flight to Australia!!! And the further I get with my quit, the further away the goal post gets!! It's a challenge to myself and if I manage to reach it, it also means I can then reward myself with the money I've saved during that period!!
It truly is a great feeling to think that something that once seemed the impossible really is possible and everyday without a smoke is another day of detoxification for me and slowly, becoming a way of life, my real target!
I've got an app on my phone that keeps count for me and to be honest it's the amount saved that interests me
I am making a point of putting the money away and have got £1080.82 at the moment. Other half keeps telling me to go and buy myself something nice but to be honest I am just enjoying watching it mount up. I am on day 347 of my quit and do think of myself as a non-smoker now
.
I think you start off by counting days and weeks, because at one stage in your life you could not imagine ever going one day without a cig. As you progress, you begin to replace it with "how things have changed".
I have been out on the guiness today, and usually when dearly beloved goes outside for a cig, I go out as well to watch the world go by, enforcing old behaviour. Today, I was delighted to find that I could not be asked to leave my bar stool and conversation. So he went out, I stayed in chatting, as non-smokers do.
Another first. Thank you Carol, there are lots of firsts to do, you're right.
(I wish the delivery of Chinese would hurry up though).
