Quitting Smoking...Marigold's Update

I just read 'Going AWOL' from SMSPear1, and thought I would update you on my progress.I haven't had a cig for 5 weeks.I feel GREAT !!I smell nice, My teeth are sparkling, I'm sleeping better......and I'm rich...oh soooo rich !!!
I have been putting my cigarette money in a tin on a daily basis.The aim was to spend the money on plants. Well, at the beginning of my quit attempt, I started to dig a new flower bed for my 'cigarette plants'. Well let me tell you this bed has got bigger and bigger, and is going to be filled with more plants than I ever thought possible when I decided to try and quit.I've only just started spending the money.This is what I have bought so far:
Pyrethrum X 4
Scutellaria 'China Blue'
Hibiscus 'Bluebird'
Hibiscus 'Woodbridge'
Clematis Montana 'Warwickshire Rose'
Clematis Montana 'Broughton Star'
Delphinium Galahad X 2
Delphinium 'Black Knight'
Lobelia Cardinalis 'Red Compliment'
Osteospermum 'Sunny Alex'
I haven't even spent a quarter of my cigarette money yet.....I'm hitting the Nursery Sales on Thursday.

I am proud of myself and my family are too. My DD and SIL are so impressed that they have set a quit date.
I know it's early days, but I'm winning......you can do it too.This forum and the wonderful people here are rooting for you. They helped me so much.Now I can help other people.
Thank you everyone for helping me.
Marigold.

Well done Marigold, soon everything will be better food and drink will taste much better too, once again well done and keep up the good work.

Ps dont trip over your money bags lol.

Marigold, I'm proud of you too. I've been fortunate enough to have never started smoking, but I know from watching friends and relatives that it is not easy to quit. Take one day at time and you will get there. Take care, Linda

oh Marigold, you've given me great hope!! My quit date is Thursday and it's getting scary thinking about it. I'll keep your garden in the front of my mind when I get weak:)
Congrats and make pictures!!!!!

Marigold, that is absolutely terrific! Give yourself a big pat on the back for reaching this important and hard-won milestone!!!!

Our hats are off to you; enjoy those new plants and savor your success :) Please continue to update us, it's heartening to hear the progress you're making!

clapping my hands-thats so wonderful and soon sharon will have a post like this one!!!!
flowers are much better to buy than smokie smokes!!!
congrats
dori

Removed by member request

Congrats...the garden sounds great! Dee

Way to Marigold,

But one caution, the first 6 to 8 weeks are the easiest for quitting. For me it has been the 3 month mark. At 3 months I have given in to the addiction, though once I went 11 months with hardly a cig. And yes i felt better, could smell and taste things etc..

Get on the patch (or any other such devise) and stay away from smokers at all costs because most will become your enabler

Tobacco is one harsh mistress that does not like to be ignored for long and she will come back to haunt you. As an addictive subtance there is none stronger and the addiction is life long (There are few exsmokers that do not want a smoke occassionally or dream about smoking). Nonsmokers do not understand the addiction and how strong it is and what it is like to try and get that monkey off your back. So they tend to be harsh if you start again thinking that several weeks is enough to kick the habit-it's not. It is one of the hardest things you will do and success is not gauranteed until you have been free of cigs for at least 3 years (though I have had at least 4 friends take it back up after 7 years quit).

I hope you have a support group to help you because the mistress will be back and they can help you day no to her.
Good luck on your journey away from addiction

Marigold,
I am proud of you also. You will also be able to breath better. I quit 3 years ago and I am so happy I did and you will be too. Keep digging and socking that money away for the new plants. :)

Good for you! It is the toughest addiction to quit. I quit over 10 years ago, and to this day, cigarette smoke smells good to me. But, I don't have the desire to smoke. The habit is gone and it's nice to be able to breath easy. Several years ago, at a particularly stressful time in my life, I went out and bought a pack of cigarettes. Went home and lit one up. It was the most disgusting thing I'd ever tasted! lol! Funny how the smoke can smell good to you, but the actual thing can taste so awful! I guess that just reaffirmed my commitment to not smoking! Anyway, it's hard, but you can do it! Keep it up! And if you do fall off the wagon, just get right back on!

Congratulations! Keep up the good work and find out where the local chapter of weight watchers int'l. meets >BG. Be sure and note Doris J's last remark. A lot of people quit for and extended period then "fall off the wagon" and assume that all is in vain. NOT SO. Just pick up and move on its not the same as starting all over. Better yet stay on the wagon and hold tight!

Congratulations. I'm so happy for you.You're an inspiration to all the smokers out there.

Marigold, congratulaations.....hang in there.....
I quit in May and was able to stay non smoking for 7 weeks, my husband quit with me, but he started back up after three weeks, I tried to be strong, but those 4 weeks were the hardest and I finally gave in and started back up. We are both still talking about quitting again, and I'm hoping we can do it in a month or so. It was one of the hardest things to do, those first 4-5 weeks were so hard, we swore we wouldnt go back to smoking so we wouldnt have to go thru the withdrawals agains.

Keep it up Marigold, We are all rooting for you.

Congrats Marigold;
My Husband and I quit three years ago and don't regret it. I myself tried several times,for years I used the patch---failed, did laser---failed was hypnotised----failed, the gum---smoked while I chewed. You have to be in your mind ready, to quit because if you're not nothing works, and you spend double the money on methods of quiting. I'd be rich today if I had all the money I spent on gimmicks plus cigs. So keep up the GOOD WORK and stay off the Butts. One more thing I was scared to quit because it was like losing YOUR BEST FRIEND.........FP

It's me again CONGRATS to EVERYONE whoes KICKED the habit or in the process of.
FP

Marigold,

Keep up the good work! You have more willpower than I do at this point!

Sharon

Congrats Marigold! I quit smoking 1 1/2 yrs ago and every now and then I want one, but no big deal. Eventually you will think about it less and less. I bought myself a ring I wear so I always have it with me, wherever I go as a reminder of what I have done. It is my "quit smoking" ring and anytime I want a cigarette, I just look at my ring.
Can you post a picture of your flowerbed?

Weebus

Hi Sharon ......Please keep trying.....I'm rooting for you as is everyone here. I haven't had an easy week.My doctor changed me to the next level nicotine patch and it was like week 1 all over again.I know I would enjoy a cig but I really, really want to be a non smoker and be free of it. I don't want to go through this again.I've felt quite down this past couple of days....the first time since quit day on 24th July.Anyway this certainly isn't helping you is it? Sorry.On the positive side , I went to a plant sale on Thursday and bought another 27 plants for my cig garden.Take care..... oh something that I read this week which has helped me cope is that when you get the withdrawals it is 'Your body is crying for it's poison' !! Don't let it win !!
Marigold.

Right folks.... I hope you don't mind me bringing this up again.It's 8 months since I quit smoking....and I want to be quite honest with you people who would like to quit....I have put on 50 pounds in weight.I am very uncomfortable, and have hardly any clothes that fit me.In 3 weeks I am going to Ireland for a holiday and need to buy new clothes. My DD has just confessed to me that she had a few cigs last week (she quit just after me) and to be honest, I feel like I would really enjoy a cig.The urge doesn't go away.....it's just controlled.I would appreciate any words of wisdom that anyone can offer.

Marigold.

Been 18 years since I quit! and I still remember how good my pillow cases would smell! They sell them acorss the street from where I work. $3.17 a pack! OY! I can;t believe it. Heard the craving for one only lasts 11 seconds. I thought I could never drive a car or talk on the phone again. Soon, you will be on the other side.....a reformed smoker. We are the worst! We need more! I quit "just for today" with the help of a 12 program. I never want to smoke again. Give yourself a pat on the back.~` I need spell check!

This message was edited Saturday, Mar 23rd 5:55 PM

go to "photos" forum. see eye-eye

Marigold, I quit 12 years ago "without a patch" after smoking 36 years. and you can do it too. I found taking deep breaths " inhale through the nose & exhale through the mouth" helped me when I thought I "had " to have a smoke.
Good Luck...

Join weight watchers.It'll cost less than smoking and you'll eventually look great and feel even better! Besides,in my experience, 9 months is when you can expect the cravings to go away permanently.I quit 15 years ago after smoking for 30 years and it is the SINGLE best thing I ever did for myself!

21 years smoking - 15 months free of them.. I too have been putting my smoke money away.. I am at 1800.00 now. Think about what you can do in a year or more with all that money.. It helps to keep it in the house where you can look at it and hold it instead of the cig's. It's like day dreaming about winning a lottery.
I still get the occasional urge but they are short and weak. I did avoid all the people I know that smoked the first few weeks. And I recommend all new quiters do the same. It really makes the first week more bearable. There is no point in torturing yourself.

It won't be long with the warm weather coming that you will be able to loose some of your weight. Walk as much as you have time for everyday. Put some headphones on if you don't enjoy walking. Fifty pounds is nothing compared to quitting smoking!!!!!!! Congratulations to you!!! You have done wonderful!!! vic

CONGRATULATIONS! !I'm fairly new to this community of DG but feel that I have so much in common with so many people here. My DH and I quit smoking 17 months ago and like everyone else it's was difficult but SO WORTH IT. My advice would be to walk walk walk as much and as often as you can and don't eat junk food. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK

I read this and wish I could go out and buy some discipline in a jar. I have been smoking for 40 years and am scared to death of quitting....although I want to! I am so afraid of gaining more weight...of which I already have some to lose but know that I am going to have to quit at some point.

I am definitely rooting for you.

Been thinking of buying the patch on my next trip to Costco.

Kat

Marigold, we're all pulling for you. You can do it, look what you've already done! and yes, warm weather is almost here, and you will find you're doing lots of activities. Hang in there, you can do it. Weight will come off easier than trying to quit again. Just look at your cig garden, and know how far you've already come.
{{{{{{{Marigold}}}}}}}