Hi Juliannsc,

You will get a ton of support here, its a great community.  I quit last November after years of trying and this time I made it.  Its definitely been a fight but the rewards are absolutely worth it. A couple thoughts as you start this journey:

1.  I used to fear that I would never enjoy certain experiences again without smoking.  100% FALSE.  There isn't a single experience that lost ANY enjoyment from quitting.  Well, that isn't entirely true, I no longer stand around in the freezing cold or rain for no other reason than to smoke a butt. That whole experience is ruined.  :)
2.  I felt like quitting was a personal journey.  Its not. I am an introvert by nature but forcing myself to join quitting communities and *actively* quit rather than *defensively* quit made all the difference in the world.  When you hit any milestone regardless if its 1 week or 3 months go find some person just starting that leg and encourage them.  Remind them that it gets easier and they can do it.  If you take the offensive in your quit you feel less victimized and stronger.

Good luck and you absolutely can succeed.  I probably tried and failed a dozen times over the years so stick with it and we will all be celebrating your 1 year this time next year. 

Thank you for your supportive words Asad! 

Juliann

Hi Brenda, thank you for your welcome! 

Juliann

Wow 15 days! Congrats!  Thanks for the details on how you've managed so far Myrtel.  -juliann

Hi Steve, I appreciate your support!  

Juliann

Hi Leigh! Thank you.  I look forward to my 260th day! If I can just get through today! 

I quit yesterday. 29 hours in. It's mostly been wonderful. We can do this!

you are doing awesome, keep up the good work, hopefully it gets a bit easier as the weeks add up ! sounds like you are doing everything right and have a great attitude!   

I am on day 18 so we quit around the same time

Welcome October ex smokers,

One of the best things about our forum is all the tips from former smokers we can use to beat this wicked addiction.

Here's a wonderful list ModJenn put together that should come in handy.

Quit Toolbox

• Drink ice water through a straw. Repeat. Drink ice water through a straw. Repeat...
• Knowledge is power. Read everything you can get your hands on about this addiction. The more you understand about your own addiction to nicotine, the better equipped you become to get through the cessation process.
• Post on the Forum until your fingers are sore. Post, post, post. 
• Closely related: Go to the NOPE pledge daily and hold yourself accountable.
• When you come across posts that inspire and/or strengthen you ~ copy and paste them into a Word document. In this way, you can reread them when you feel wibbly wobbly and are climbing the walls.
• Distract, distract, distract. (Shhhh.....I would do jumping jacks and by the time I got to about 10-12 I was distracted -- that's for sure. Try puzzles, reading a book, anything that shifts the focus of your thoughts.) More generally, stop whatever you are doing, move, and do something else. The craving will pass.
• Remind yourself this is a journey and the more time you put between now and that last cigarette, the stronger your quit muscles become and the more you have in your quit toolbox. Take it one minute and hour at at time, if necessary, and the days will keep adding up.
• Every day you go to bed smoke-free is a good day. Be kind to yourself along the way.
• What you are experiencing is normal - "this too shall pass".
• Take a shower. Brush your teeth. Put on lotion.
• Read your quit reasons.
• Create a list of all the benefits you are experiencing now that you no longer smoke. Practice gratitude at least once a day for these benefits and life changes.
• Cinnamon flavored sugar-free gum (even cinnamon sticks).
• Chai tea (I had to avoid coffee for a while but can drink it now without a problem).
• Eat healthy snacks, such as carrots or frozen grapes (Some honesty here: I didn't always do so well with this one due to this pesky sweet tooth I developed once I could taste my food again. The good news is that as my quit felt more secure my eating wasn't as erratic.). 
• Protect your quit at all costs by avoiding situations that are high-risk for you, especially in the early part of the quit (e.g., other smokers, alcohol, etc.).
• Make a plan for handling cravings when around temptation. Do not enter potentially difficult situations without a plan.
• Remind yourself that it's going to be okay - time is your friend as you relearn every aspect of daily life.
• Keep a journal to record your journey and it's easier to see how far you have come (It gave me perspective at times when I needed to remember that I may not be where I want to be but I'm most certainly not where I used to be.).
• Reward yourself for the small accomplishments and the larger milestones (this doesn't' have to involve spending money).
• Exercise - go for walks, join a gym, just keep moving.
• Accept and tell yourself (that self-talk we have to turn from negative to positive) that the craving is actually a sign of healing and they will occur less frequently and with less intensity as the smoke-free days add up.
• Deep breathing -- take 4-5 deep breaths -- fill up your diaphragm and and make your tummy stick out.
• As ModLisa says: "When in doubt go to sleep". 
• As ModMic says: "SOME DAYS, IT IS ENOUGH THAT YOU JUST DON'T SMOKE. Some days are crappy from beginning to end, and you can kick, scream, cry, punch something, bite someone's head off...if you did not smoke, you win and a little more healing happened".
• Visualize a craving like a wave washing over you. The tide does leave. 
• Tell yourself four things: (1) Smoking is no longer an option regardless of what life throws your way; (2) I am worthy of freedom from this addiction; (3) I can. I will. End of story; and (4) I am stronger than this challenge and this challenge is making me stronger.