LOL!!!!  Still not smoking!!!  The baby just took her diaper off and peed on the living room floor, so it's touch and go right now.  Just kidding--I'm just grateful she didn't poop.  Hey--pee in the living room floor is an everyday occurrence.  It's certainly nothing to smoke over.  ; )

Time for my confession: I have not smoked since 7:20 or so this morning, such is my love and devotion to you, Cat. I did, however, spend about $12 at the corner store on gum, sunflower seeds and Junior Mints to distract me from my usual routine. Thus far I'm not feeling the cost savings. 

I'm here for ya, girlie.

As far as peeing on the floor goes, at least it was the little girl, as opposed to the big guy. Puddle sizes make all the difference.

Oh MY God, Babe!!!  Awesome!!!  Way to go!!!  I am soooo proud of you!!!  Keep me posted--and if you need some Nicorette, I've got a whole box.  Let me know.  XXOO

Geez--this is turning out to be a wonderful day.  : )

I could never get the hang of Nicorette. One time when I tried to quit I chewed it like I would chewing gum (not having read the directions, of course) and gave myself a case of nicotine poisoning that had me wretching for hours.

I have a feeling as the days go on we're going to have to put each other on speed dial. Sort of like the AA sponsors who have to take the sobbing phone calls in the middle of the night. We can be the snivel twins :o)

CB, Look what you've started! How Cool! Maybe this will be so contagious that all the smokers on TBC blogs will give up their habit. I'd like nothing more than for the tabacco companies to go broke. Well I'd also like to know where the Government is going to get the tax monies that they can no longer get from ex smokers. Tax the living heck out of alcohol and just maybe the DUI's would go down. Just A Thought! Keep up the good work you two...

Thanks, proam. I may get TMJ from all of the gum chewing, but there are worse things out there. You hang in there, too. Three months is an awesome amount of time to be smoke-free.

Go Bako!  Go Bako!  Go Bako!

No one will ever quit unless they take the first step. 

Bako

RE:  the Nicorette thing, I used to cut the pieces in two.  Chewing the smaller size pieces saved my jaw muscles a lot of work so my jaws didn't get so worn out.  And I didn't get sick from an overdose of nicotine.

PLUS the box of gum lasted twice as long!!!

This is a good thing, since they want an arm and a leg for that stuff. I had to quit without it; couldn't afford it!

Talk about ODing on Nicorette--everytime I started a new piece yesterday I got the hiccups.  I don't care--it's better than smoking.  ANYTHING is better than smoking.  : )

 You're right about calling each other, Bakoblue, and I think I'll be seeing you guys tonight after all.  Sponsors are an excellent idea--I know all you guys have felt like sponsors to me.  Now we just need to tell Rose to hide her cigarettes very well....  ; )

I'll just sit your butt on the other side of the room and make you go to bathroom with me. It'll be like we're in high school again :o)

Hey, Cat, if you spend ALL of your time on Facebook playing all of the farming games, YoVille and Hatchlings, you won't have any time to worry about smoking. I don't know how you have that much time to play Hatchlings, though! Every night I get on to cheat because I don't have enough time to find the eggs myself, and every night I see that you have collected a ton more eggs. I'm not sure if I'll ever be able to catch up to you, unless you actually try quitting.  Oy....girl, you're crazy!

Good for you that you've quit smoking, Cat. I heard that stuff is really bad for you. I honestly can't say much, though, 'cause I've never touched a cigarette in my life. Now, about that Bakoblue girl....how's she doing? :)

Bakoblue is doing O.K. thus far. We'll see how the workday goes :o)

Bako

Congratulations on making it through your first day.

After the third day, it's down hill the rest of the way - for sure !

--virgil

29 years ago, I got hypnotized and stopped a 3 pack a day habit. The therapist told me that it took 72 hours to get the nicotine out of my system. After that it was just a mental habit. Good luck

Go Bako!  Go Bako!  Go Bako!!!!  You're doing it, Babe!  You're doing it!  Virgil is right--it gets easier and easier.  It really does.  If you can just hang in there today, you're on your way.  Just think about today, like Nancy said, and let tomorrow take care of itself.  : )

Think about this:  my lungs already feel better.  They don't feel tight anymore.  I can take deeper breaths now, and my lungs feel lighter-- more like balloon filled with air and less like water balloons.  Really!  Already!  You're in for a treat over the next few days.  You deserve it, your body deserves it, and your lungs deserve it.  It's time.  Now is the time.

LOVE HUGS KISSES  and remember--do what you gotta do, whatever you gotta do--take a walk, suck on the lozenge, chew gum like a maniac, snack all day, slap people--it's all better than smoking.  ANYTHING is better than smoking.  : )

I tried hypnotism.  I came to the conclusion that I can't be hypnotized.  

I was hypnotized once to quit (lest anyone be under the impression that this is my first go-around on this ride). It was the easiest quit ever. No crankiness, no nervousness...my husband could smoke in front of me without me wanting to smoke.

Of course, I didn't bother going to the "follow-up" sessions, which I was told repeatedly were an integral part of the program. So I really can't blame the method for my failure.

I recommend hypnotism to anyone. At the end of the sessions I was relaxed, mellow and at peace...like spending a whole day at the spa. If I could afford it, I'd go every week --- after finding someone I trusted, that is. My hypnotist was in Sacramento, so that's not really an option.

The trick about hypnotism, at least for me, was the idea planted in my head that I was a "non-smoker", not someone who quit. It is quite a difference. I did the follow up and it has obviously worked. Now if I could just convince myself I'm a "non-ice cream lover".

Exactly, pikebishop. I've heard tales of people who were hypnotized into thinking the taste was awful or something like that. I didn't think that would be good for me, so I went with the gentler, more supportive approach.

I hear you on the ice cream, too. But I'm sure if I didn't love that, there would just be another love to take its place. Such is the beauty of sugar. And chocolate.

Me too Audrey!  The only thing that works for me is the patches......................when I use them!  

I've tried the gum, yuk. cessation classes at San Joaquin Hospt., worked for awhile. Hypnosis, walked outside and had a ciggy!!! cold turkey.........friends and family were begging me to smoke!!!!!

I do find when I stop to "think" why I want a ciggy it is usually not the nicotine so much as it is "habit". Kind of like Pavlov's dog!!!   

Witters

Is there a correlation between the thickness of a skull and the ability to be hypnotized?  Tee hee

Probably!!!!  Ya think?!!!!!

ha ha ha ha!!!!!

When I had an MRI, I told them they wouldn't find anything except cement!!! I was right........maybe you were/are left!!  ouch! sorry couldn't resist!!!

So happy to log on and find that our non smokers are still non smokers. Sounds like you've got it beat CB. You are very fortunate indeed, if it continues to stay just that easy. I'd imagine it will be as your third day is behind you.

The Kaiser instructor had us write a list of the reasons we were there to quit. Cost, health, family begging us to, etc. Then reasons why we hadn't quit. Even with the list of excuses, the list was very lopsided. Many more reason to quit. Breathing better already has to really help.

Good Luck Girls with your day. Save the money your not spending on smokes for something special. Just for you!

I think I could go overseas for a couple of weeks on what we currently spend on smokes. Or I could get another pet. Given the money-sucking nature of critters, that amount just might cover one more.

What about you, Cat? What are you planning to spend your money on? I think you should do some thing nice for yourself at the 7 day mark. It doesn't have to be huge, just a little something to commorate the date.

One positive visual aid that might help the quitters stay quit:

Buy  a big wide mouthed jar at Walmart.  The kind that are used as canisters.   They cost about $3.

Every day drop the money you saved by not smoking into the jar. 

When the jar is full, treat yourself to a luxury.  (not a cigarette!) 

Audry, witter, I wasn't going to say anything, but if the shoe fits.....

One time when I quit I used a calendar and kept a running total each day of the money I didn't spend on smoking. Boy did that dollar amount grow in a hurry.

Audrey, you're pretty good with a pair of knitting needles, correct? I need someone to teach me how to do more than make scarves. Not that scarves aren't cool, it's just that there are only so many things one can do with a knitted rectangle...

I'm so so at knitting.  But, I'm terrific at crocheting. 

Want to crochet an afghan, a purse, doll clothes, lace, dish rags, an apron, lace curtains, a sweater, a rug.  Well I'm your gal.  I'll supply the pattern, needle and yarn/thread/rags.

I may just take you up on that Audrey. Something to keep the hands busy and all.

I asked my husband how we're going to celebrate my one-week anniversary (these things don't occur to him without my help.)  He, ever the circumspect diplomat (read: husband) asked ME how I would like to celebrate.  I told him I want to go out to dinner.  I figure one week of smoking costs about $70-80, which would about cover dinner out (minus the truckloads of snacks and candy I've been buying.)  So we're going out to dinner Tuesday night.  No cooking for me, and an excellent dinner at my favorite restaurant on a WEEKNIGHT!  Haha! 

After that I think I'm going to blow wads of money on beauty products.  I AM A NEW WOMAN, and I'm going to continue with this new reinvention of myself.  I'm going to make a hairdressing appointment, and buy a bunch of spa-treatment type products like facial masks and moisturizers, and with all the time I'm saving by not sitting around smoking, I think I'll even paint my toenails and get back into aerobics. 

What are you going to do with the money, Bakoblue?  And what are you doing with the money, Proam?

Crocheting has saved my sanity more than once.  I'm not kidding.

Whenever you're (or anyone else for that matter) ready to learn, let me know. E-mail me and we can set up a time.

I helped the lady next door with a baby sweater andbonnet last year.  I made one too so that I could answer her questions as we went along.   At the end of it we had two beautiful baby sets, one in yellow and one in pink.  ;-)

Cat...may I suggest Mama Tosca's for dinner, or Cafe' Med? Both GREAT places, and romantic, too. I can supply the babysitting!

I have never been to either of those restaurants, ghost!  Can you believe it?  I think on Tuesday, though, we'll bring the kids and go someplace festive like Chili's.  They have a molten lava chocolate cake that I've been thinking about for a couple of weeks now, piled high with vanilla ice cream.  I want someplace noisy (which I normally HATE) and wild and colorful and...well, festive!  Paaaaaarty!

You know, you deserve to treat YOURSELF too!  You don't smoke either!

I haven't gotten that far, Cat. Frankly I didn't really "plan" on quitting --- it just sort of happened. I just wanted to see if i could abstain so that I could be there for you in case you wanted to come out with us. 

Since the spouse and I have been talking at length for some time about quitting (and how we should), I thought it would be cool to see how long I could go. Turns out I can go a bit longer than I thought :o)

So, looks like I've quit. Kinda funny, in its own way, since that wasn't really the plan. It's probably made it easier than if I sat around thinking "well, tomorrow's the day" sort of thing --- far less dramatic. Oh well, it's working for now, so I'm not going to worry about how it came to be. You're still responsible, regardless ;-)

And thus ends this session of "true confessions".

CB, For some darn reason it doesn't seem we have any extra money. Seriously though, I think some of the money is being spent on buying fruit. We've been eating a lot of fruit since quitting.

Nope, I don't smoke. I'm just broke! And hubby works late hours, so going out is not usually possible. All the restaurants in Tehachapi roll up their kitchens at 9pm.

Bakoblue--I LOVE that you quit because of me, but the important thing is that you quit.  YOU quit!  It's funny that you didn't plan it because I didn't plan to quit either--it just happened.  Now if we could just get other people to do unplanned, awesome things, think how cool it would be! 

Robin--I've found Facebook to be most advantageous when I have time on my hands.  Time on my hands is a dangerous thing right now.   As for the Hatchlings, I had to let about half of them go because they became too much.  I do have a nagging conscience about feeding them, though, so I will never be far from Facebook for very long.  ; ) 

BTW--I saw this and thought of you, Bakoblue.  Also, I wanna give a shout out to my sister and a dear friend who are also winning their wars today.  Today is the day that matters. 

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

Well, I'm officially sucking on my first lozenge right now. I've stood it without assistance for as long as I can. After work it's straight to the drugstore to stock up on gum, sunflower seeds and whatever else I think I'll need (maybe more lozenges as well). Like I said, I didn't really plan this, so now I've got to my non-smoking act together for the weekend.

Facebook's a good place to burn some finger-time, but I may have to pull out the knitting needles (or crochet hook) as well so I have something to take out in the backyard with me. I don't smoke in the house or the car, so those aren't triggers, and as much as I'd like to alter my routine, the dog still has to pee, and I still prefer he do that outside. So I think I need a plan for that, too.

If I really start freaking out I'll give you a call, girlie :o)

Great pull, Cat.

Good decisions ladies!!

The first week was hard for me~ all two times I quit ;-)

~ but after that it is mind over matter.

It's been 27 years for me,I smoked a pack and a half a day. If I can quit ,anybody can.