After 3 Months & Some Tips

I have to say that getting past 3 months seems to be a BIG step. I went out to the pub a couple of weeks ago and I didn't even think about smoking. Well, that's not true entirely, I did think about it a bit when this guy sat next to me at the bar and stunk to high heaven after he had just gone outside for a smoke. Uggghhh it smells.

I think that is the one thing that most smokers do not notice while they are smoking. How much they smell. Many people who quit and finally do smell it on other people are amazed and somewhat embarrassed (especially women). I found myself shuffling a little further down the bar without trying to be obvious about it. Every 10 minutes or so, he was back outside feeding the nicodemon. It was very interesting to watch. Meanwhile, I sat inside, comfortable and drinking my beer. What a colossal waste of time going outside to feed an addiction all night long. Pretty damn glad I don't have to worry about that any longer.

Back to my original thought though: After 3 months, something seemed to really click in my head because I found myself not even thinking about smoking, in an environment where I used to smoke like crazy. It was very cool to actually, finally, consider myself a non-smoker. I think that was the first time I really had. Some speak of the 'terrible three's' - 3 days, 3 weeks, 3 months - as stumbling times when people stop smoking. There does seem to be a pattern there. I felt a bit more pressure leading up to the third month and the nicodemon was trying hard to get me to smoke again. I knew in the back of my mind though that I wouldn't smoke again. I, as Allen Carr has said so well and has been posted on this Blog before, made the decision to never have another cigarette again and am sticking to that. Not one more puff ever. After the 3 months it seemed to get much easier. It really feels as though the nicodemon is dead. I think I killed him...HA!

But...this goes along with the advice I'll supply today. Never, ever let your guard down. When you've made the decision to stop smoking, you must always be cognitive of that decision and remember that there is no such thing as ONE CIGARETTE. You cannot have just one. You cannot have just one puff. I've heard so many stories from people who have stopped smoking for years and years and then feel as though they are strong enough and have enough willpower to have just one cigarette out one night. Then BOOM...they are right back to smoking full time again. It takes no time at all. I read a story recently of a woman who stopped smoking for 16 years. She was out with friends one night, a friend lit up a cigarette and this woman said 'Let me have a puff" and BOOM, back to more than a pack a day in a very short period, after having not smoked for 16 years.

So if you have already stopped smoking, don't throw that achievement away for a stupid puff or just "one" cigarette. It will always be more than that and you know it. Once you start again, you are again a smoker. You don't want to be a smoker. That's why you stopped in the first place. Remind yourself of this every day if you have to.

My current stats:

I have been smoke free for 3 Months, 2 Weeks, 4 Days, 12 hours and 15 minutes (110 days). I have saved $1,989.18 by not smoking 5,525 cigarettes.

Now, a little off topic, but the forum as mentioned in previous posts here is up and going and we've had several members join in the last week or so. Come on by and join in on the conversation. I am there as much as possible and would be more than happy to talk with you and discuss anything. The link to the forum is the first link on the right hand side of the Blog here. Come on by and join in. We would love to have you!