need encouragement

[princess_n_thep 2]

I know I don't post here much now and I "lurk" a lot now... but tomorrow is my "QUIT SMOKING NOW AND GET READY TO BE HEALTHY" date. I am quitting 3 weeks before surgery and using the patch. Tomorrow I am destroying all cigarette related merchandise and having the "smoke smell" removed (if they can) from my car.

I know I don't have to beg because you all are always so generous with encouragement but please please please lend me some words of encouragement as I quit tomorrow for life.

Thanks.

Jenna

[TrishS 3]

Jenna, You CAN do this!! Im a smoker.. 1 pack a day smoker.. I dont want to quit.. but I will have to before surgery.. It will be hard nothing in life is easy.. but YOU CAN DO IT!!! keep your hands busy all you can... chew gum, suck on a lolli pop.. Keep your hands and mouth busy... DO NOT replace food for your smokes!! easy thing to do... You can do this... i know i keep saying that.. but you can.. Im so going to cheer you on tomorrow.. you WILL be in my thoughts and prayers for this.. cuz i know it is HARD!! Please PM me anytime to talk... Im hear for you!!! Take Care hun!

[coyotegirl 3]

Jenna, I Will keep you in my prayers on this next journey to a better you. I have never been a smoker so I don't know what you will go through but just know that I am thinking of you and if you ever need to talk you know My e-mail. Maybe you can come to your property sometime and we can meet somewhere? Good luck and I KNOW you can do it!!

[claraluz 2]

You can do it! I quit smoking 20 years ago and I'm so glad I did! One thing I did that helped me was to write a list of 100 reasons I wanted to quit smoking. Things like "not having cigarette burns on the carpet, saving money, not supporting the evil tobacco companies who have conspired to make me a drug addict, not having a leathery, wrinkled face when I'm older, not having a smoker's voice when I'm older." There are so many reasons to quit beyond the obvious health benfits. I didn't think of all 100 reasons right away, but within a few days, I had them all. When a craving hit me, I would look at my list.

Best of luck to you. You're doing something really important for yourself.

Nancy

[the best me 6]

Home:

take a walk

check your e-mail

channel surf

clean a toilet

start the laundry

Car:

change the radio staion

make a cell phone call

put in a new tape you can sing along with

chew gum

drive with a pencil in your hand

sugar free lollipops

notice what youv'e been driving past for years

write down phone numbers on signs you see

tell yourself "you'll live without a cigarette, it's not the end of the world" even if you don't feel it.

stop and get gas, pay at the pump-don't go in!

clean out your purse/bag at the stoplight

be proud because you made it through that intersection without firing up when usually, it's your last one before you get there.

enjoy the smell of your Shampoo in your hair.

light a match and savor the smell of the sulfur burning.

sing

[Guest dawn1]

Good luck Jenna, but you really don't need "luck" do you? You have the will and that's all it takes. I'm 42 and had been smoking since I was 16 and quit alittle over 2 1/2 years ago. Just up and did it one day. You can do it!!!!!! Been there done that and you will have good days and bad, but the good out weigh (no pun intended) the bad. You'll actually "taste" things again and sinus problems will be no more. You'll also smell better. . Great job on your decision. My prayers are with you.

[princess_n_thep 2]

Okay, now I am crying again. Thanks everyone. I REALLY appreciate it. And with 3 weeks before surgery I need it sooooo very much. Thank you thank you thank you. All of you are wonderful.

Jenna

P.S. And DH just brought me a dozen roses! And of course, I am crying HARDER NOW!!!

[the best me 6]

Good Luck Princess!

Becky, can you tell I've done this before? I have more...will post 'em later tater.

[Penni60 45]

Hey Princess: When taking Kathy's advice on cleaning a toilet and lighting a match to savor the sulfur smell just make sure you don't do them at the same time if you get my meaning. LOL!!!

YOU CAN DO IT!! I smoked for 5 years then one day woke up and just threw everything away. I had had enough of the smell, burns, cough, feeling awful, etc that goes along with smoking.

YOU CAN DO IT!!! I have faith. I will keep you in my prayers.

[Debbydo 0]

Princess,

Quiting is the hardest (OK maybe 2nd hardest, next to Weight loss) and most precious gift you can give yourself and others who love you.

Good luck on your journey to the new you.

Debby

Bandster in Training

[TrishS 3]

Hey Jenna no pressure but you can do this... then I will try to quit too... remember i smoke 1 to 1 1/2 packs a day... yes a day.. I buy a carton of smokes my the 3's LOL You CAN DO THIS!!!!!!!!!!!! Im soooo proud of you and I wish I had the will power to do it too... one day I will and I will ask for your support... Take Care Hun!!!!!

[Alexandra 55]

Jenna, you can and WILL do this. Cigarettes simply have no place in a healthy life--not in your home, in your car, in your purse, in your nightstand, NOWHERE. Having quit more than 15 years ago, I can tell you that quitting smoking changes your life faster than anything else you can do. It's a gift to yourself and your family and EVERYONE you know will be happy and proud of you.

You don't need luck. You need strength and the determination to succeed. And I know you have both. We'll be here to read your typing which is another GREAT way to keep your fingers busy. :D

[lapbander081004 7]

Penni,

She isn't banded yet...Its after the band she needs to keep them matches away from the bathroom.

Jenna we are all pulling for you. Banded or not you have made a major health move by stopping the smoking. I don't know about your area but here on the radio they have some of the hardest hitting anti smoking ads where the kids talk about how much they smoke a day. And they are actually taking about what they intake from their parents smoking. I know two people since these ads started running that quit based on them alone.

And after your banded you food intake will be less and like Dawn said you'll taste the food and you really need that to help you feel better.

Good luck

[princess_n_thep 2]

The day is here and I hit it hard!!!! I have cleaned the backyard of any "butts" around my smoking chair! Then I took the chair and moved it to a completely different part of the yard. Threw away any and all "tools" to smoke (ashtrays, lighters, etc). I opened the 2 packs that I had and I watered them down and threw them in the trash too! Then I took the trash out. I also took a tylenol at about 6am to get rid of any headaches that were likely to follow from not smoking. (i get the WORST headaches when I have tried to quit before)

First thing I did this morning is try and vary my normal routine. (which was normally go make tea and go outside to my chair for a smoke). So instead, I brushed my teeth, put on my patch and came here for the morning and woweee you all have been good to me! Thanks!

(((((((((HUGS TO EVERYONE)))))))))))

Jenna

[PFernandez 0]

You can do it...stay positive and keep lots of peppermint candy/gum(orbit is the best) on hand , this will help satisfy the urge to some extent. and take some of the edge off... I quit 2 weeks before being banded (2 years now).......good luck....YOU CAN DO IT.