Deanne, I remember you from before.  I'm sorry I haven't been around as much lately.  I'm so proud of you for coming back again--you sound very resolved to make this forever quit.  I know you can do it!!!  Even still having these sneaky thoughts (which I know will go away again at some point, as long as I don't give in), it is much easier with each day I put between myself and the nicodemon.  Keep on keeping on, you are doing great!!  Just tag me in a post if you need to chat--I still get email notifications!

J

Hey how are you doing? I remember you from a while back. Yeah i remember once i had a long quit for 2 years and had cravings at the 2 year mark and caved in. I have since had 2 5 month quits and many 2-3 week quits.

Currently at almost 3 weeks quit, cravings have lessened but can come on out of know where, i just want to be rid of this terrible addiction this time. Last that i had quit for 2 years it was in the spring so im keeping my fingers crossed that it will happen again. 

Overdoz quit 04-17-20

Hey Overdoz, yes I remember you!  From Chicago right??  (I’m north of the city).  Cravings have lessened now but I was really surprised at how strong they were after so long without one.  I’m glad you are still quitting and are motivated to do so...wish this weather would cooperate though so we could spend more time outside!  You’re coming up on a month, that’s definitely something to celebrate.  Hope this one is your forever quit, if you need my support just tag me in one of these posts, I still get email notifications!

jules

This is one of my favorite times of the year, it was nice and warm sunday, but this is not bad either. At least there is no snow and ice and salt. Hopefully this is the forever quit, im hoping so. I know what you mean about those cravings, last year when i had 5 months quit, i had these intense cravings that i could not get rid of for the life of me and i started smoking again, only to have tried so many, many times to quit again. Hopefully they will reopen some businesses soon so we can go hang out somewhere.. have a good evening.

Hi Julie, great to hear you are still going strong!  I am comfortably craving free for the most part, I'll get a small one maybe once a month but fortunately that is the worst of it.  Most of the time I forget that I used to smoke and the smoke actually bothers me now.  I did develop allergies since quitting though. Strange. 

How long have you been quit now? Yeah lot of rain again this year, then hot weather around the corner and typical chicago shootings,  kinda of dont look forward to summers in Chicago anymore, got my eyes set on the west coast to get away from this violent city, or maybe spend some days in Indiana. 

Suburbs are better than city, especially this mayor we have i dont think knows what to do. 

Hit 18 months on the 7th, hard to believe!  Definitely easier in the burbs, and I used to love the city in the summer (lived in wrigleyville for 5 years before moving up here)...but now I’m just kinda over Illinois as a whole.  Taxes, the whole state is bankrupt, the weather stinks...wish we could move!  Mayor has definitely been up against a lot since she took office...the cps strike in the fall and now this...I guess time will tell how well she did/didn’t do.  Sad and scary that Cook County is now the nation’s hot spot! 

Cook County is the hot spot now? I am with you about being over Illinois, my brother lives in Arizona way more affordable than here, people seem more laid back and less stress, but its also a vacation destination, close enough to California and Vegas. Congratulations on 18 months, did you have any significant cravings past the year mark?

Overdoz quit 04-17-2020

Definitely one of them, though I think likely because of the amount of tests IL is doing as a whole...makes sense our numbers would go way up, you know?

i was doing pretty well with cravings until the pandemic hit, then they came back and really surprised me!   Maybe 3 weeks total of pretty intense cravings, but I think all due to boredom and the fact that I had always used cigarettes to cope in the past.  Now I have maybe a little twinge here and there but nothing horrible.  Did have to go back to the basics with those strong cravings though...deep breaths, ice water and distraction!

how are you feeling?  Congrats on hitting the one month mark!

yeah i believe you with the cravings. The newness of the quit at about 5 weeks wears off a little, but i managed to go for a run/walk before for about an hour, half running half walking. 

Stress is definitely a strong trigger, back home now. Wish the gym was open, we have had so much taken away from us last 2 months, i was just on the bus, its getting more crowded now, i hope there isn't a second wave of infections, till there is a vaccine or something i didnt like feeling crowded in a bus. 

Have a good day, thanks for the congrats.

Overdoz quit 04-17-2020