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2 weeks no cigs..am on patch..recovering from minor heart attack

I wanted to share today about how things are going in the weight room. I have a lot riding on it because I'm trying to replace smoking with healthy alternative activities and I'm limited in what I can do financially and physically.

I'm still going low and slow. I'm now using 4 of the machines in the weight room. I go at 5 repetitions at 0 resistance on two of the machines and 5 minutes on the bike, 10 reps on the leg machine. In the past, I've had to give up weight training because I kept getting injured.

I have been getting some soreness and pain, but I don't want to quit because often after a night's sleep the pain is much less and my instincts are telling me it's okay to keep going if I'm very, very careful.

Already, it's easier getting up the stairs to my house because my legs are getting stronger. It's amazing how quickly you get positive results from weight training, especially if you are a senior like me.

I'm very happy with things and I definitely am less interested in smoking. That's the goal. I hope I continue to succeed and keep crowding out the smoking.

Hi All,

It is an amazing journey I have reached in 4 years of my quit.

Cheer everyone up and KEEP NOPE

Stand firm to say no to Nicodemon

I just wanted to share a little something for anyone who’s feeling discouraged after a setback.

Quitting isn’t a straight line — it’s a process, and sometimes that includes a stumble. Maybe you had a cigarette after weeks of staying smoke-free. Maybe you had a stressful day and reached for something you thought you were done with. Guess what? That doesn’t undo all the progress you’ve made.

You haven’t failed — you’re learning. Every time we slip, we learn something new about what triggers us and what we need to do differently next time. And every time we bounce back, we get stronger.
We are building more awareness, more resilience, and gaining more tools to stay smoke-free long term.

So if you're in that space right now ,pick yourself back up. Drink some water, take a walk, talk to someone who gets it. You are NOT alone, and you are NOT starting over from zero. You're just continuing your journey, stronger than yesterday!

"You are your best friend"

This beautiful quote reminds you to treat yourself with the same kindness, patience, encouragement, and loyalty that you would offer to a true friend. Instead of being harsh or critical when you struggle, it means standing by yourself, lifting yourself up, and believing in your own strength.

When you decide to quit smoking, "You are your best friend" becomes a powerful truth to hold onto. Quitting is a journey full of challenges, victories, and moments of doubt. And during those times, the voice you hear most is your own. Will it be the voice that says, "You can do this. I'm proud of you," or the voice that says, "You can't"?

Being your own best friend means choosing to encourage yourself, especially when it's hard. It means celebrating every small victory, forgiving every slip-up, and never giving up on yourself.

Just like a loyal friend would remind you how far you've come, you must remind yourself that each craving resisted, each smoke-free day earned, is a huge accomplishment. A true friend would tell you, "You're strong, you're capable, and you deserve a healthy, happy life," you must tell yourself the same, again and again.

When you are your own best friend, you build an inner strength that no craving, no bad day, and no temptation can break. You realize that you don’t have to be perfect . You just have to be kind to yourself and keep moving forward.

So today, and every day, be the best friend you need: Cheer yourself on. Pick yourself up. Believe in yourself. You are worth every step of this beautiful journey to freedom.

Lately, I've been noticing how restorative it is to have a long, hot shower when my Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is bad like when it leads to panic attacks. I can be feeling awful, take a shower and be almost cured. It's amazing how fast and easy it works.

I researched this on the internet and it said that showering dilates your blood vessels. When I smoke after a shower it ruins the restorative effect of the shower almost completely. I think this is because smoking constricts your blood vessels.

Whatever is going on, it's amazing as long as I don't smoke after a shower. One more reason not to smoke and it's a good one.

good day to the quitters be well. freedom is within reach

Lately, I've been smoking less and I think it's because I'm finding other things to do and because I spend the mornings with my mom at her apartment in a senior's residence, a non-smoking property. I still manage to smoke, but I have to walk to the end of the property to smoke.

Also helping is following a concept I learned about from the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Society email to me called Pacing. It's all about not exceeding your available energy. When you're feeling sick, you rest. And you take rest breaks whenever you feel wiped out which is almost all the time for me. Pacing is working for me. I'll keep doing it along with playing pool every day and going to the weight room every day for a small workout.

I have been cutting back dramatically and am gearing up to quit. I have been smoking for over 40 years and have to do this. Good luck, everyone!

So far so good, though I was very tempted last night, thanks to a stressful situation that was beyond my control.

Hubby and I are staying at a hotel for work training and I *almost* bummed a smoke from someone last night. Luckily, my hubby coached me through and reminded me that, while I cannot control the situation, I have complete control of my reaction. We took a brief walk and eventually the craving lessened.

I am learning to handle things as a nonsmoker - still figuring out how to deal with stress in more healthy ways, but I am confident I will find the new and improved me!

last night I was smoking. I was so sad and told myself "oh come one, I relapsed this soon? now I have to start over" and I was ashamed of myself. But when I woke up and realized it was a dream, I was so happy :D

This Earth Day, Let’s Breathe Easier – Together 🌎

We often talk about the personal benefits of quitting smoking—better health, more energy, saving money. But today, on Earth Day, I want to shine a light on another powerful reason to quit: our planet.

Cigarette butts are the most littered item on Earth. They’re toxic, non-biodegradable, and pollute our water, soil, and ecosystems. Every cigarette not smoked is one less pollutant entering the environment. It's easy to overlook, but when someone quits, the impact goes far beyond their lungs—it's a win for the air we breathe, the oceans and surrounding lakes we love, and the future we’re building.

To those of you who’ve quit: you’re already part of this positive change. And to anyone still in the process,keep going. Every craving you get through, every cigarette you skip, matters. Not just to your body, but to the Earth we all share.

This Earth Day, let’s keep showing up—for ourselves and for the world around us.

Started smoking at 13. I’m approaching 45. We hid smoking from our kids. They have never seen us smoke. Recently our eldest caught me in the act and it was a nightmare. I’ve quit many times. Once for a year but I told myself I could have a few while on vacation. Nope. Just leads me back. Hosting Easter dinner today made me feel a little stressed and want to smoke. It’s 24 days. I feel good and this is my first time with quit now. When I was a smoker, I was always ashamed of it. The smell, the fact that it’s restricted so much now in many areas. I don’t miss having to have the next cigarette. I’m using the nicotine patch. My child is happy that I stopped and knows that I have had a couple slips here and there but so far, 24 days no slips :) Feeling confident and hopeful for a smoke free future.

It's been a nice Easter weekend for me because lots of relatives came to visit my mom. Most of them don't smoke. I was shocked to realized how little I smoke when I'm not alone. Living alone makes me a chainsmoker.

I'm still going to the weight room, taking it super slow. I'm doing 6 reps at 0 resistence on three machines. And I took the great advice from people on the forum to keep playing pool. Today, I played a couple games of pool with my nephew. It was fun.

I'm inspired by how little I'm smoking when I have good company to find more companionship when my relatives are not around. I have no idea how to do this, but. it's worth working on it.

Can’t believe it’s already 4 months!!