Community Forum

I want to prepare stay healthy

My elderly parents have an apartment in a senior's residence and it is a non-smoking property. I visit them every second day from 8am to 12noon to help them do errands and shopping. I don't want to go to the edge of the property to smoke anymore while I'm at my parents.

Tomorrow, will be the first day doing this. I think this is something positive to do and will significantly reduce how much I smoke every 2nd day. And it will save me about $150 per month, money I need.

My weakness here is that I am desperately addicted to smoking and I'm convinced I'll fail at not smoking while at my parents'.

It helps to talk to my girlfriend who loves me whether I succeed or fail at things. When I feel weak, I ask for her help and usually she is able to comfort me and give me the strength to stick to whatever my plan is. I'm not good at asking for help or receiving support. I come from an abusive family where I wasn't allowed to have needs or be supported.

I want to keep building a healthy relationship with my girlfriend so that her support is a good replacement for smoking.

had laser therapy for smoking on Nov 24 and stayed smoke-free until Feb 15. That day, I felt like I had fully become a non-smoker and thought it wouldn’t hurt to have just one to get through a rough day. Turns out, that was a mistake—I ended up relapsing.

When I quit, I told everyone, including my 12-year-old daughter, that I was a non-smoker. She had no idea I had started again, and I felt terrible about it. The thought of breaking her trust really hit me. But I pulled myself together, and now I'm on my third day of quitting again, feeling proud of myself.
What I’ve realized through this journey is that the urge to smoke is just a thought. If you can train your mind to distract itself, quitting isn’t as hard as it seems. Whenever a craving hits, I drink water, do some box breathing, chew gum, or take a short walk. Within 2-3 minutes, the urge fades, and over time, these thoughts become less frequent.

I’m excited to be part of this community and learn from others on this journey

Finished day 12, now working on day 13, I use 2 mg of nic gum occasionally, usually after eating. After a meal is a trigger for me. Especially after dinner.
Has anyone had dreams about cigarettes, I had one the other night, there were a dozen cigarettes in a row on the ground. I stamped all into a mess. Guess this is a good sign. I am still struggling sometimes during the day. Usually I drink lots of water. Today I was out and not able to. And tonight I have to go out to a dinner, I am going to take my bottle of water with me. Enough for today. Diane

I spend time at my parent's apartment in a senior's residence and it is a non-smoking property so when I want to smoke I go out of the property, Oftentimes, when I come back and use the elevator I run into a man who carries an oxygen bottle on his walker and has tubing from it going up to his nose.

I feel afraid that I'll never be able to cut down to being a light smoker and end up not being able to breathe on my own like the man I run into.

Hi everyone! I just wanted to share a little positivity for anyone who might be feeling the weight of quitting smoking. Whether you're a few days in or a few months, this journey isn't easy, but it's totally worth it. I’ve been on the path to quit, and I want to remind you all that every small victory matters. You’re not just fighting the nicotine; you’re building a new, stronger version of yourself.

Here are a few things that have been helping me stay positive:

* One day at a time: It's easy to get overwhelmed thinking about the long road ahead, but focusing on the present moment and taking it one day (or hour) at a time helps. Don’t pressure yourself to be perfect; just take things as they come.

* Celebrate the small wins: Got through an hour without a cigarette? Celebrate it! Stayed smoke-free for the whole day? Celebrate it! Those little victories are the foundation for bigger ones.

* Positive mindset: Instead of thinking about what I’m giving up, I’ve shifted my focus to what I’m gaining. More energy, better health, money saved, better sleep… the list goes on. Every time I feel a craving, I remind myself of these benefits.

* Support matters: Don’t go through this alone! Whether it’s family, friends, online communities, or even a support group, leaning on others makes a huge difference. Sharing our progress and struggles keeps us motivated.

*Self-compassion: We’re all going to have moments where we slip up, and that’s okay. What matters is getting back up and moving forward. You’re doing great, and this is a process, not a race.

Keep pushing forward, even when it’s tough. Every moment you stay smoke-free is a step closer to being the healthiest, happiest version of yourself. You’ve got this, and you're not alone in this journey.

Stay strong, everyone! You’re all doing amazing!

I started as a teenager and then quite for 20 years, and started again a year ago

Ive been smoking 20 years and trying to not drink coffee and sugar as well as smoking cigs.

I puffd the very last time feb4th.2025. I have auto-immune issues and my symptoms improved amazingly.

Hi. I’m now on day 10, my mind keeps telling me to go get a cigarette. I haven’t written here before. And not sure what to say. I know that I don’t want to smoke. I now have a coach and have this really helpful. And yet when we aren’t talking I feel scared that I might slip. I thought this would be a good place to talk. My name is Diane, instead of just using my email as my name.

i started smoking when i was in rodeo without my parents watching or realising.. i started when i was 8 quit till i was 10 figured that my parents where cool so i figure i should do it to, and then quit till i was 15 at the point i was dealing with my mom and her divorce and started to drink well i smoked to the point where i started to vape, my girlfriend at the time really kicked that off and then when she had left i had turned to an even bigger drinking with four months going to the bar and smoking as much as i could through the day (2 packs-3) went to the bar every night i could. and now i'm realising its not helping me and its not saving me from who i am and what has happen. yet again her family bashing me/ for shaming me for something i didn't do.... doesn't help.

I've been working on reducing my coffee drinking from 3,4, or 5 cups a day to 2. Coffee is a trigger for me for smoking. I know coffee is good for you, but I put lots of honey and cream in my coffee - that's the only way I can drink it - so much sugar and cream is not good for me.

This is a small step and anything that reduces my smoking is a big step. The green tea is working out great as a replacement for coffee and green tea is not a trigger for me to smoke. Maybe by practicing moderation with coffee drinking I'll feel more in control and smoke less.

Being ADHD and smoking cigarettes which really helped me to focus, I am now finding out I have to quit. I am not wanting to quit, I HAVE to quit. I am not sure, but I think it is maybe harder to quit (It's difficult either way) when you have to quit as opposed to wanting to quit. Either way I am just starting this journey. I am going to stay positive and see it through to the end, which will be when I have not had a cigarette for at least a month.

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Hi. Tomorrow is my Quit Day for vaping. I’m nervous because I’ve tried so many times and only ever gotten to about 2 weeks… I can’t seem to manage the moodiness and agitation… I know the cravings go away fairly quickly so I can distract myself from that… but the grumpy feeling is the worst!! Does anyone know what to do for that?? Any ideas would be amazing!