Job done!

[mmaya]

I haven't posted in a very long time, I am sure there are still people around from my old days.

I kicked, cried and relapsed so many times, more than I can count really.

Finally, after many attempts, I stopped smoking in 2015 just before my 40th birthday. It was tough, but with champix and this forum I did it.

After that, had one relapse and I thought I was doomed again but bravely enough, I reset my count and stopped again.

I did not count the days anymore, I think I'm around 3 years smoke free... I don't even know anymore to be honest.

I know that I no longer think about cigarettes or smoke, it's no longer part of my life.

I've gone through painful times, happy times, stress and happiness and fags no longer come to my thoughts.

If I can do it, you can too, stay strong 😘

[Rice333]

I stopped for nearly 2 years, started again year ago .I've stopped today I'm determined to stop ..been ok today ..updates to come .

[mmaya 3 Years Smoke Free in reply to Rice333]

Well done on re-stopping 😊

You will hopefully resume your non smoking routine without any trouble, that's what happened to me the last time I relapsed, almost as if something finally clicked, I didn't even count the days anymore. I was abt 2 years off when I relapsed and it wasn't hard to get back in the horse.

I should be celebrating 6 years in September if I didn't have a one month relapse.

Stay strong, I would never go back to the smoking days, you will do it too. No matter how many times you fall, just get up and get moving again 😊

[CocoaXChange Valued Contributor]

Good to hear Mmaya. I stopped around the same time. Time does fly.

Best wishes to all.

[mmaya 3 Years Smoke Free in reply to CocoaXChange]

I remember you 😊 good to see you're still going!!!! I think there was a good batch of us around that time hahaha

[AnnMarie74]

This made my day today mmaya. Not sure if you remember me. I was tagging along by incy back then and managed to get to the penthouse. I remember your struggle well. You were much full and helped me loads. Thanks. Really is the best news, 👏 well done. Mine is a long tale of success and minor occasional relapse .... not smoking now for a while but on patches for a bit toooo long. Scared to take them off ☹️

[mmaya 3 Years Smoke Free in reply to AnnMarie74]

Of course I remember you!!!!!! And incy!!! That was a long time ago back on the other forum, I kept relapsing over and over, one day I made it, if I made it... You will too ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Ann-Marie, since those days, I've finished my Masters, quit my job (was killing me), got separated (thank God, there's an end to suffering), stopped smoking and I am much calmer and happy now.

You met me in the worst time of my life, and helped me a lot, I will never forget you two.

I would love to know of incy... Maybe she's around...

Xx

[mmaya 3 Years Smoke Free in reply to mmaya]

AnnMarie74 destiny is something weird, I went looking and Incy_Wincy was here abt a month ago, what are the odds?! Seriously!!!!As you seem to be both on the same journey, I thought I'd ping you 😊 I am not happy to see you've relapsed, but I am very happy to reconnect!!!

I am now almost 6 years smoke free minus one month (oops) half way through, if you remember my struggles, think.... If I can succeed.... You can too!!!

Xxx

[RoisinO1 Administrator 3 Years Smoke Free in reply to AnnMarie74]

Hey AnnMarie74 , really great to hear from you and that you are plodding along nicely. Not sure if you remember me but I recall yourself in my early days when I stopped back in September 2015, you were great support to me those early days and it stood me as heading towards 6 years smoke free. I don't be on here as much as I used to be but was lucky enough to pop in when Incy_Wincy was around last month. Do you remember Hercu , unfortunately we haven't heard from him in a long time

[AnnMarie74]

Destiny , I know mmaya. I logged on out of nowhere really and Incy had been on days before. I keep coming back to see if she’s back and that’s how I saw you yesterday. Hoping we could help each other again really. I do remember your struggles 😀and so it helps and is lovely to see you in a great place.

[mmaya 3 Years Smoke Free in reply to AnnMarie74]

Go on and stop them patches already, they're no good for you 😁 I believe in you, can you believe in yourself too????Xxx

[RoisinO1 Administrator 3 Years Smoke Free]

Hey mmaya , missed this post the other day when I was on, delighted to read you are doing well and 3 years smoke free now, congratulations and well done, you are a fighter and never gave up!

[mmaya 3 Years Smoke Free in reply to RoisinO1]

Happy days!!! Thanks a mill

[Nozmo Valued Contributor]

Hello mmaya !

Remember me? (this reminds me of the end of the Wizard of Oz when Dorothy wakes up)

I'm really glad to hear you have kicked it at last; I know how much you struggled at times and it's great to see that it all paid off. I've been off them completely for five years now and I don't miss them at all.

Actually, that's not true - I could have smoked a box of twenty Marlboro Red during the European Championships final last week. I should probably say that in almost every other circumstance I don't miss them.

I very rarely check in these days but I'm glad I did and saw that you had posted. It's strange that we should get nostalgic for the old days when we were driven up the wall with cravings, but the forum was great in those days and I miss that. I'm sure it still is.

Anyway, enough of me blethering. I'm really pleased for you and I wish you all of the best for the future.

PS - you should take up the piano again if you haven't already.

PPS - hello to RoisinO1 I hope you're feeling a lot better than when we last talked. I like the new profile image!

[RoisinO1 Administrator 3 Years Smoke Free in reply to Nozmo]

Hey Nozmo , great to hear from you! I'm grand, thanks and recovering well. I decided when in hospital to give up drinking and 9 months a pioneer now (don't miss it one bit and feel so much better physically and mentally). Lost a few pounds and walk 5km every day and currently training to do my first ever mini marathon in September So, as the saying goes "I'm a new woman!"

Hope you and the family are keeping well? Ireland is currently in a heatwave and expected to reach 27 degrees tomorrow and Sunday just in time for my first dining experience (outdoor) since August last year!!

[Nozmo Valued Contributor in reply to RoisinO1]

That's good to hear Roisin, really glad you're recovering well...and getting in good shape by the sounds of it! Well done you with booking the mini marathon. It sounds daunting but you'll be fine if you keep putting in the miles. I've lapsed on the running recently but still cycle to work and back so no need of that bra at the minute

Yeah, forecast the same temperature over here for tomorrow and I'm looking forward to it. We have the highest COVID rates in the UK at the minute so I won't be joining the revellers down the seafront bars but I'll have a good long walk along the quieter clifftops and enjoy the weather. I must be mellowing in my old age.

All the family are doing fine - thanks for asking.

Enjoy the al fresco meal out on Sunday!

[RoisinO1 Administrator 3 Years Smoke Free in reply to Nozmo]

Glad you and the family are keeping well Nozmo 😀 Going for early bird meal with all of us fully vaccinated but still will be cautious as delta variant is rampant nationwide here too....enjoy your walk and rest of your weekend 🌞🌡

[Nozmo Valued Contributor in reply to RoisinO1]

Hope the meal was worth the wait Roisin...and you enjoyed catching up with everyone!

[mmaya 3 Years Smoke Free in reply to Nozmo]

How could I ever forget you?! Nozmo

So happy that you are doing good, we must do some sort of get together once we can travel 😊

All good here, i think nothing triggers me to smoke anymore, I've gone through death, separation, new job, sickness in the family.... You name it... Cigarette doesn't even come to my head.

This is a great place to be, I hope it remains this way.

Counting from the beginning, I am actually almost 10 years of failing to quit, at some stage, it was deemed to be successful, I sure envy people that just stop, it was not my case!!!

Seeing your post warmed my heart, you are definately part of my online family, it is great to hear from you!

You should support Portugal instead, they never win, you're garanteed to have a good game with no stress 😂

[mmaya 3 Years Smoke Free in reply to Nozmo]

Nozmo yes back to piano and swimming. Also walking 10k per day, it's amazing the spear time you end up with when you get separated from a bully lol

[Nozmo Valued Contributor in reply to mmaya]

That's all excellent news @mmaya, really glad to hear how well things are going. It's lovely to see that you're so upbeat.

You may have spent 10 years failing to quit but you have done it now, and turned your life around, so it just goes to show how much of a part that persistence plays for a lot of us. I failed umpteen times too but it's all a learning process. We got there eventually!

Glad to see you have taken up the piano again. We still need to form that band

[comeandgo 4 Years Smoke Free]

hi .mmaya.

hi veejay here from India.

like you i also struggled to quit this demon habit.

i like you failed number of times.

finally this year on 1st of July , i have completed 5 yrs of not smoking cigarettes.

keep the habit of with your will power.

all the best.

veejay.

[mmaya 3 Years Smoke Free in reply to comeandgo]

The key is to understand and accept that we cannot allow ourselves to have that "just one"Well done you!!!

[comeandgo 4 Years Smoke Free in reply to mmaya]

very true.