Day 51.

[nsd_user663_61235]

My name is Mike, and I am a nicotine addict.

I have stopped nicotine for 1 month, 23 days, 13 hours, 29 minutes and 28 seconds (51 days).

I've not smoked 619 death sticks, and saved $170.52.

I've saved 2 days, 3 hours and 33 minutes of my life.

Well what can I say? The counter does not lie. :eek:

However to say that I did not have a struggle getting here would be a lie. Admittedly it has been mostly been a breeze, my mind is set on this quit and I refuse to go back to smoking. But day 49 was really a struggle for me. I was really stressed out and the nicdemon almost got to me.

It went as far as me walking to the gas station and buying a pack of my normal Marlboro Reds Shorts and walking back to my house and I couldn't wait to inhale that first puff of smoke. It was only until I walked into my house, "packed" my smokes, and removed one from the pack and put it to my lips that my voice of reason spoke up and asked me "What do you think you're doing? You have came so far."

So I put it back in its home (the pack) and sat down at my computer and I had a 20 minute internal struggle and arguement with myself. It was then I decided that I was -not- going to smoke.

My dad came over and he stopped smoking 5 years ago and has been in my corner the entire step of the way and I told him that I had a "moment of weakness" and bought a pack. Whew. His face DROPPED and asked me in an accusing tone "And you smoked some of them, didn't you?" ... He was thrilled when I opened up the pack and showed him that all of them was in their respective places.

Why did I not smoke? It's simple. It would not have solved anything. My stress would not have gone away and my problems would have still been there. I would have only been adding more problems to my plate. I would be planting more seeds to get cancer in my system. My lips, my mouth, my throat, my chest and the list goes on. It wouldn't have solved anything so why do it? So, I didn't.

These last few days I have been back on track and been running strong. So take off $ 5.50 from the $170.52 ... I bought a pack ... But I did not smoke ... I gave the pack to my dad and he crushed them and threw them away and then patted me on the back.

I know this is not my typical "go happy" post.. But this is reality ... Quitting is easy .. Remaining quit is hard ... and it is a journey ... I am just proud to be part of the Freedom Fighters and even though I may stumble, I will get back up and remain on the path.

- Mike.

[nsd_user663_52101]

Great post Mike and one so many of us can relate to.

Your post was real and truthful,quitting is no walk in the park and we all have to fight that inner voice.....constantly!!

But it was full of hope too you knew that smoking that fag wouldn't help and would lead you straight back into the hole you clawed your way out of.

I'm sure it will help many of us....well done.

[nsd_user663_61320]

Welcome Mike and great post.

You are so right: staying quit is the tough bit but every 'win' like that under your belt makes it easier.

[nsd_user663_2681]

Hi mike,

You have hit the nail on the head quitting is easy, staying quit is hard.... I am having a particularly bad time tonight so know how you felt when you went to the garage to get those smokes... Well done for not giving in, it takes real determination, good on you x

[nsd_user663_61233]

MIKE!!! So glad to hear from you. You are 2 hours in front of me. Fantastic that you resisted the fatal urge. Well Done!!!

We are going to march into the penthouse arm in arm pal.

Yey, grinding the stinking weed into the ground...