Community Forum

Tonight's Reflection: Progress Is happening Even When You Don't See it

As the day comes to a close, take a moment to recognize something important: healing and change are often happening beneath the surface. You may not notice it from one day to the next, but every craving you work through, every cigarette you don't smoke, and every healthy choice you make is helping your body and mind move toward a smoke-free life. 
 

Some days feel easier than others. Some days are filled with confidence, while others are filled with doubt. That's normal. What matters most is not how you felt today, but that you kept going. Even if today wasn't perfect, there is value in every effort you made. Every challenge you face is teaching you new ways to cope, adapt, and grow stronger. 
 

Before you go to bed tonight, think of one thing you're proud of from today. It doesn't have to be a big achievement. Maybe you delayed a craving, drank more water, went for a walk, or simply stayed committed to your goal. Small victories matter because they add up over time. Rest well tonight, and remember: tomorrow is another opportunity to continue building the healthy, smoke-free future you deserve. 
 

I’ve noticed my real friends … friend lol.. is protecting my quit. She doesn’t smoke when I’m around. She rushes to clean ashtrays outside when I drive up. I never said anything. Just something I noticed. Yesterday I told her to give me a smoke. I thought she might cry. lol. I told her I was just testing her and that I noticed and appreciated her looking out for me. I wonder what I would have done if she would have given me one. I’m not over it - it would be so easy to just abandon the quit and .. lol. Now I’m testing you. I’ll never smoke again. I can’t believe I’ve gone 5 months!I never want to go through the first few months again. Never. Never ever.

Hi all,
I meant to post at 7 years and 7 months, when someone (thank you!) pointed out that I had hit that mark. But I forgot, sigh. Milestones are important when you quit smoking. For every day, week, month and year we have quit, we know that it's an achievement that we never thought we would achieve. Quitting is probably one of the most challenging things we will do in our lifetimes. I myself said I would never ever quit. I smoked for 42 years. Then one day, I said yep, I'm gonna do it. Two weeks later I began my journey. At the beginning I was always in tears and fighting with myself to not go to the store to buy cigarettes. Then I would post something on here, morning, noon or in the wee hours of the morning. It helped. Tremendously. I will be forever grateful for every single person on this site. Without them, I don't think I would have been able to succeed. For all of you at the beginning or middle of your quit, don't give up. It does get easier, and in your own timeline you will not even think about cigarettes. Be patient and kind to yourself. Good luck everyone! And thank you again for this site, I am so very glad I found it!

Hi all!

So tonight I was watching a documentary & the people in it were smoking like crazy.

I watched with partial "ooh a nice smoke" thoughts but also "ah listen to them coughing" & "wow that is an expensive habit" seeing them light up more & more.

I used to watch shows, see people smoking & that would trigger me to pause & go out to smoke myself.

Today at work I walked by my old smoking buddy & the stench was powerful to say the least.

Do I want to smoke? Sure! Do I "really" want to smoke? nope. Not worth the expense, smell, cost or health.

Keep on NOPE!! Going for 10 months soon!

Worried About Weight Gain After Quitting?

One concern that often comes up when people think about quitting smoking is the fear of gaining weight. For some, this concern can even become a reason to delay quitting. If you've had these thoughts, you're not alone. Some people notice changes in their appetite, eating habits, or weight after they stop smoking. 

The good news is that quitting smoking is one of the best thing you can do for your overall health, regardless of what happens on the scale. While some people may experience a small amount of weight gain during the adjustment period, others maintain their weight or find that they develop healthier habits as they focus on their well-being. More importantly, the benefits of quitting: better lung health, improved circulation, increased energy, and reduced health risks, far outweigh a few extra pounds. 

Sometimes it's not the absence of cigarettes that leads to weight changes, but the search for something to replace them. Reaching for snacks during cravings is common, especially in the beginning. That's why it can be helpful to have alternatives ready, such as drinking water, chewing gum, taking a short walk, stretching, or keeping healthy snacks nearby. These small strategies can help you mange cravings while supporting your health goals. 

Remember, your quit journey doesn't have to be perfect. If Weight is a concern for you, try to focus first on becoming smoke-free. Once you're feeling more stable in your quit, you can always work on other health goals. Quitting smoking is not giving something up, it's gaining health, freedom, energy, and years of life. 

Today's Reminder: Don't let the fear of possible weight gain stop you from achieving the incredible benefits of becoming smoke-free. Your health is worth the effort, and you can take one step at a time. 

Hi everyone! My strange thought of the day is that I am hyper obsessed with the day by day progress right now. I look at the tracker every single day and can't figure out how this obsession developed. The tracker says 17 days for me. Sometimes it feels like years have gone by, but it is just 17 days and counting. For the seasoned vets out there - does this obsession start to fade? I guess the bright side is now instead of thinking about smoking all the time, I am thinking about the tracker - Ha! I suppose the big ball of gray matter just needs something to latch on to?

Well I’ve made it 2 months and 27 days so I’m getting very close to 3 months. I lasted six and a half months before Christmas so in the last year I have not smoked more than I have smoked which is amazing to me.

BUT for some reason I am very nervous about making it to three months which is strange because I’m not craving at all. I actually sat with an old smoking friend yesterday (outside) and I was not at all triggered. It’s just anxiety I guess. I want to give this up forever this time.

I don’t know why three months is such a big deal in my head. I have heard that three months is the time studies say you’ve broken all the habits so maybe that’s it.

Anyway, I thought I’d share about it here in case anyone else has experienced milestone anxiety. 😁

Thanks!

Almost hitting 8 months now.. can you believe it? My spray has finally run out so Im gonna see if I can do without that anymore. Slowly vaping less and less so I'm definitely on the right track here. I do get tempted at times but I just remember that I would cough my lungs out if I smoked now and would not enjoy it at all. But the memory of enjoying smoking still lingers... getting weaker but its still there. My colleague at work who smoked is now using a vape... maybe my good success has encouraged him to quit.

Everything else going well. The battery in our car died so had to fork out for that.. so money is tight yet again. The sooner my partner starts working in August the better. We will definitely go on holiday next year. Work is fine.. ticking along. The project that I spent my time worrying about seems to be working fine.

So nothing much to report on here.. just that I'm still here... still protecting my quit and still going strong.

You Don't Need Perfect Confidence to Quit: "Ready or Not, Your Quit Journey Can Begin, cause the perfect time doesn't exit"

One of the most common things people say before quitting smoking is: "I'm not ready yet." They tell themselves they need less stress, more confidence, better timing, or stronger motivation before they can begin. While those feelings are understandable, the truth is that many successful quit journeys begin long before a person feels completely ready. 

The idea of being "ready" can sometimes become a trap. We imagine that one day we'll wake up feeling confident, motivated, and certain that quitting will be easy. But for many people, that day never arrives. Instead, they continue smoking while waiting for the perfect moment. The reality is that courage often comes after taking action, not before it. 

Think about other important changes in life. Starting a new job, moving to a new city, returning to school, or beginning a fitness journey can all feel intimidating. Most people don't feel 100% prepared when they begin. They learn as they go. Quitting smoking is no different. You don't need to have every answer before you start. 

In fact, uncertainty is a normal part of the process. You may wonder how you'll handle stress, social situations, boredom, or cravings. Those questions are valid. But you don't have to solve every future challenge today. You only need to focus on the next step in front of you. Every smoke-free hour , every craving resisted, and every healthy choice made helps build confidence over time. 

Another important thing to remember is that motivation naturally changes. Some days you'll feel determined and energized. Other days you may feel frustrated or discouraged. If your quit depends entirely on motivation, it can feel unstable. That's why building habits and routines is so important. Drinking water, taking a walk, using support tools, reaching out to others, and preparing for triggers can carry you forward even when motivation low. 

Many people who have successfully quit will tell you they were scared before they started. They worried they would fail. They questioned whether they were strong enough. Yet they took the first step anyway. What made the difference wasn't the absence of fear, it was their willingness to keep going despite it. 

So if you've been waiting to feel completely ready, consider this your reminder: you may already be ready enough. Ready doesn't mean confident. Ready doesn't mean fearless. Ready simply means being willing to try.