Welcome everyone!

I wanted to share my story of when I finally became free from my smoking addiction. I had been a smoker since high school and was truly the epitome of addicted. I was a two pack a day smoker - faithfully with a terrible smokers cough. (There I can finally admit it since it left right away when I quit). I was MARRIED to my cigarettes!

Money became very tight and I knew the first thing to go was my smoking. I was into that '3rd' pack a day and it was nuts to do this. To me, I was as ready as I could be with all my failures in my past with gums and patches. Since my budget was the reason for quitting this time (beside sick of feeling awful and coughing) Patches were out of the question. Besides, in the past I was always back to smoking once I was done with the patches.


Sooo, one day I was watching Dr. Phil and he started talking about The American Lung Association Quit smoking program. This was my sign and program. AND it was FREEEEE......

I made the vow to myself that day to follow it to the letter. You start the program 3 weeks before quitting smoking too. However, I decided to go cold turkey this time since they supported this choice too. Part of the program was there message boards, but thanks to Dr. Phil over 10,000 people joined that day and it was nuts. A hand full of women found each other and we started our own.

Still the worse day was the second day when the nicotine withdraw was at its peak. (out of your system in 72 hours, but some withdrawal for the next weeks. WORTH it!) I sat in a chair and just started crying and crying... I knew what to do was to call one of my support people. I did this and it was my brother. He quit a couple years before me and he was soooo supportive!

Well, I got through it. !! the difference this time?? A Plan, follow through, ask for help, and post on a supportive message board with others going through the same thing (You have it here in this forum)....

Today Feb. 2011 No slips, and loving being a non-smoker. Wouldn't trade any of the tough spots for this at all. Totally Worth it.

Use this forum to post BEFORE you quit and we are here to support and understand. No preaching.. I KNOW what it is like!

You can do it ! You have what it takes here...........

Merna