Shuie's(SHUIE2) One Year Milestone

"I've learned so many things about myself..."

I quit smoking on April 29, 2001. As I read through my old posts, I noticed that for me, the first 6 months of my quit were very difficult. It's different for everyone, but if you're still struggling with your quit, I hope you'll try to stay with it for at least 6 months. I know it's hard, but you CAN do it. It does get easier with every passing month. At one year, I don't think about smoking very much and I really don't want to smoke.

Here are some of my words over the last year:

11 days: I can't believe I've made it this far! Yesterday I spent 20 minutes looking for a cigarette in old purses and all the coat pockets in the closet. When will this stop? I feel like I have to have ONE CIGARETTE!

2 months: Well don't look at my butt, cuz I gained 6 pounds and that's where it is. AAARRRRGGGG!

3 months: ...the craving from hell that would not go away no matter what I tried! I even held a cigarette and lighter in my hand Friday night. I didn't light up because I didn't want to go outside to smoke and I didn't want to smell all yucky.

3 1/2 months: I spend Wednesday in the emergency room with really the worst pain of my entire life...I guess you can probably imagine how badly I want to smoke right now. I hate to sound whiny, but I'm really scared that the pain will come back.

5 months: My son was admitted to the hospital and they don't know what's wrong with him. I can't believe all the things that have happened to me since I quit smoking. It just doesn't seem fair and sometimes I'm so sick of everything!!!! I'm not writing this so you will tell me not to smoke, I don't need anyone to tell me that it would be a stupid thing to do. I'm just having a very hard time telling myself that quitting MATTERS! Yes, I know, smoking won't make any of this go away, is bad for my health, makes me stink, blah, blah, blah. But I have to say, I just don't care anymore!

5 1/2 months: I just can't believe I bought cigarettes and smoked them. It seems like it was a dream and didn't really happen, but I know it did. I feel like a failure in just about every aspect of my life...

Almost 7 months: I DID IT!!!! I made it through Thanksgiving at the in-laws!!...I didn't smoke and those nasty feelings just went away. I'm so proud of myself. I just know social events are going to be easier for me from now on. It took me a long time to get to this point, but I did it!! :o)

9 months: This morning I went for my regular speed-walk and guess what? I RAN!!! I ran for 10 minutes straight. I know it's going to keep getting better and better. Now I know that my addiction will never go away, and that I can never turn my back on it, but I can go WHOLE days without even noticing or thinking about cigarettes.

10 months: My husband just put in his retirement paperwork. He's getting out of the military. So! Now I get to face my first "major life change" as an X-smoker... I ran 3 miles this morning. The scale says I'm only 3 pounds heavier than my "before quitting" weight. Life is good. Just need to remember to breathe and take care of ME first.

11 months: "QUITTING IS SO GREAT!!!! SMOKING SUCKS!! BREATHING RULES!!"

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It's been a wild but fantastic year. I've grown sooo much! I've learned so many things about myself in addition to learning how to live a healthier, smokefree lifestyle.

Christine, thank-you for leading the way and always "leaving the light on" for us.

To everyone who's touched my life through this forum: Thank-you and God bless you.

XOXO,
Shuie(SHUIE2)
Eleven months, four weeks, 14 hours, 38 minutes and 28 seconds. 9068 cigarettes not smoked, saving $1,269.72. Life saved: 4 weeks, 3 days, 11 hours, 40 minutes.