Practice makes perfect..........

[nsd_user663_13779]

or is it 4th time’s a charm? In any event here I am again at day 3.

I went back through some old post to figure out when I started to quit smoking for the 1st time on this forum and it was back in July of 2010. Since then I have quit smoking 3 times with this being the 4th.

Quit 1 - 60 Days

Quit 2 - 8 Days

Quit 3 - 70 days

Quit 4 - to be determined?

And to think I should be celebrating 2+ years smoke free if I only stuck with it. I would have saved myself the last 14,600 cigarettes. (Wow that’s a big number)

Oh well better late than never I guess. One thing I learned is that I can’t get to confident in the quit, It seems around that 60 to 70 day mark I get a little too comfortable with the quit and lose sight of everything good that I have accomplished only to wreck it again. I really don’t care to smoke anymore and will try my hardest to see this time through.

Anyway, it’s nice to see a lot of the people on here that were quitting along with me on previous attempts have gone to the penthouse and beyond. It gives me hope and encouragement that this thing really can be beaten and hopefully I can also join them.

[nsd_user663_48218]

At least you know that you need to be vigilant as you go further on in your quit. My last serious quit I got to about 3 months and fell so I will be vigilant for a while yet. Keep at it and we will soon be in the penthouse.

[nsd_user663_51617]

Hi Sparky, its strange how after that long it is still with us. There cant be any physical dependancy after that long i'm assuming so it is all psychologhical. I wonder what it is that draws people back in. Is it a dormant memory of one particular time when you smoked that you were happy and relaxed and at that moment whewn this memory comes back you arent particularly happy?

i dont get why people who have clearly made a decision to quit becaause of health, money etc are sucked back in? what is happening.....aaaarggghhhh!

Its a proper melon twister this eh?

I wish you luck my friend.

[nsd_user663_4625]

Hey Sparky,

Good to see you back If it helps any I have been trying and trying and trying lol. 4 calender months for me on the 10th so feel this is THE one.

We will all be willing you on without a doubt

Gaynor x

[nsd_user663_51671]

Although I'm new on here it's not my first quit. Like others I'm stumped at what happens around that 3 month mark. I can remember clearly feeling great about not smoking then bang an overwhelming urge and I'm back saying 'I'll just have this one', 'I'll stop when I finish this packet' etc ad nauseum.

It feels different this time, taking it a day at a time, so I'm not going to get caught up in worrying about what might or might not be in the future.

Good luck with your quit, it's so simple "Don't pick up the first fag" but boy it can be hard to do!

All the best

Neil

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Well if it helps have a read of this thread. I think it may shed some light on the reason why we tend to feel it at 3 days, 3 weeks 3 months etc.

Hope it helps

[nsd_user663_13779]

vigilant I shall be markmcclean. I keep looking for a short cut through the woods and to the penthouse but keep getting stuck in the mud.

themagic32 - my melon twister is always stress, it has a way of finding me

Gaynor - I'm thrilled for you. Congratulations for deciding to quit and going 4 months is no small feat. All the best

Karri - Thanks for the hugs and wishes. I look forward to catching up with you soon

Neil - You hit the nail right on the head. That 3 month mark has tripped me up a few times now. I look forward to the day at a time approach rather than the hour at a time I'm currently dealing with.

johnj - I need to go back and re-read the article as I approach my next "3". With any luck I will soon finish my time machine and will be able to skip past those nasty 3's and into something a little forgiving. Anyway thank you for sharing the article with me.

Thanks for taking the time to post everyone. I'm not exactly sure how far along everyone is in the quitting process but I wish you all nothing but the best

[nsd_user663_13779]

Frank I have had pieces of gum where the flavour has lasted longer than my quits :rolleyes:

Karri - Thanks for the laugh I have never heard it put quite like that but I know exactly how you feel

Sorry to hear you fell off the wagon but most of us have at some point. I keep brushing myself off and getting back on the wagon only to look up and see that there are no horses to pull it.

Sooner or latter we will get a quit that sticks like all of those that have quit before us.

[nsd_user663_4121]

staying quit is soooo hard.

It's only hard for a while, Karri, otherwise it would be almost impossible to maintain a quit. The thing is, that there are not two sides, craving the smokes and then being completely free of them..... there is that in-between period of lessening of craves, continuous reminding of your reasons, continuous learning and mental re-programming. I think folks quit and get tired of the process, they just want that feeling of being free, and to many of us it just doesn't come that quickly. The road can be long and windy BUT the thing to remember is that each crave down that road is milder with the right attitude, and the quit gets easier and easier. Each crave will last less, you go through healing stages, maybe some depression, or other issues, and you address each one at a time, always looking forward to the time you don't have to worry about smoking again. And that time will come that's for sure.

Welcome back Frank, and keep at it, Karri.