1 Year - 9 Months Smoke Free! 

By ltaylor1  on December 26 2009

It's Boxing Day 2009 and I'm sitting here reflecting on the this year and creating new goals for the year 2010. It hit me suddenly that I haven't smoked in what feels like years. I had to find my journal this morning to see my ticker to see just how long it has been.

Title says 1 Year and 3 Months - but I miss calculated - It's 1 Year and 9 months since I quit.

March 25th, 2010 is my 2nd year anniversary!

WOW!. I never in a million years though I could do this, but here I am feeling SO GREAT!. Let me share some much needed info with those who are quitting now ( I needed to know this when I was quitting ).

1) QUIT COLD TURKEY - I tried for years, patches, gums, pills. I tried it all over and over. Go to http://www.whyquit.com and make yourself read that whole website. UNDERSTAND why nicotine and the chemicals do to you what will happen to your body - scientifically - when you quit. I read the site in 1 day, cried my eyes out, researched and found a better understanding as to WHAT was happening to my body with each puff, the psychological addiction etc. I quit cold turkey the next day and it was EASIER and much FASTER then any other method. UNDERSTANDING and having the right mindset helps big time.

2) WITHDRAWAL - I used to smoke a pack a day forever. Quitting cold turkey was easier - honestly. You will have withdrawal for the first 3 days. but  nothing that you cannot get through. Have you had children? Well, it's certainly no where near this painful to quit. Have you had the flu? Have you had a bad hangover? If you have, you survived and for many it's either comparable, or not as bad as these common events. SAVE YOUR LIFE TODAY YOU CAN DO IT.

3) PLAN AHEAD - Create a plan for your first few weeks for the expected withdrawal. When you feel anxious, decide now that you will have a hot bath , close your eyes and meditate or think that this feeling is progress. It's one step closer to extended life. Plan an action for every expected feeling, emotion and stumbling block.

4) NO MORE THINKING - I stopped naturally thinking of smoking just a few short weeks after quitting. Each day and week that passes you and deal with a regular day without smokes, you enjoy the GREAT FEELING more and more and you never think about it again. YOU WILL TRUST ME. I thought it was impossible and let this fear stop me from wanting try again to quit. LOOK AT ME NOW!! I NEVER think of smoking and haven't for a very long time. I forgot I even smoked now!

This was my success plan. Nothing else worked. Let me point form this for you .

1) OPEN A JOURNAL HERE AND WRITE DOWN WHY YOU WANT TO QUIT. BE GRAPHIC ABOUT YOUR REASONS.

2) READ WHYQUIT.COM inside and out. UNDERSTAND WHAT SMOKING DOES TO YOU. UNDERSTAND THE CHEMICAL REACTIONS IN YOUR BODY AND HOW IT CONTROLS YOU LIFE AND AFFECTS WHO YOU ARE TODAY.

3) QUIT COLD TURKEY - 3 DAYS IS ALL IT TAKES TO GET RID OF THE NICO IN YOUR BODY. JUST GET IT OVER AND DONE WITH. IT'S FASTER AND NOT AS PAINFUL AS YOU THINK

4) WITHDRAWAL - EXPECT IT - KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT AND EMBRASE IT. THINK OF EACH UNCOMFORTABLE FEELING AS PROGRESS TOWARD A NEW LIFE. YOU MUST GO THROUGH IT TO BE SMOKE FREE - JUST SAY 'BRING IT ON"!

5) PLAN AHEAD - CREATE AN ACTION LIST FOR YOUR MOMENTS OF WITHDRAWAL AND SENARIOS. YOU'LL FEEL BETTER AND GET THROUGH YOUR FEARS EASIER WITH EASE.

6) THE UTLIMATE VISION - CONSTANTLY KEEP THE IMAGE OF YOU AS SMOKE FREE IN YOUR MIND, PICTURE YOUR LIFE SMOKE FREE CONSTANTLY - DO NOT LOSE YOUR VISION - DO NOT LET ANYTHING CLOUD IT.

YOU CAN DO THIS!!!!! GO THROUGH THE MOTIONS AND LET IT ALL HAPPEN. YOU WILL SURVIVE IT.

YOU WON'T IF YOU KEEP SMOKING!! WHICH WILL IT BE?