Oh man is this hard!

Hi all!

I recognize this response may be a bit late, but better late than never I think.

i am a former smoker and can relate to the difficulty of quitting. I tried for several years to quit and had several stretches of cessation. I even had one that lasted for 7 years and one night I gave in to a whim to try "just one". Big mistake! So I struggled for a few more years to regain the smoking abstinence and finally achieved it once and for all when I decided to pair stopping smoking with an exercise program. I quit cold turkey, and from day one I was resolved to quit for good, and after I started feeling better I realized that I had NEVER felt better, physically and psychologically, and it became apparent that this time I would sever that thought that lay in the back of my mind "once a smoker always a smoker". I didn't want to sabotage that feeling of well being I had for the first time since I started as a teen. Once that idea was replaced by wellness, I had no problems. That was several years ago, and I wouldn't go back to it for anything.

I think I remember seeing somewhere that hurdles to cessation of smoking are conquered in "three's", and each time you surpass a hurdle at a "three point" you improve your chances of completing the next trial of "three's". They are:

The first three hours
The first three days
The first three weeks
The first three months

Once those had been achieved then I knew i had kicked the habit for good. I'm happy to report I've no cravings, and a little abashed to admit I've become "one of those" who complain about smokers who pollute the air in public spaces.

On a side note, I will admit since I've stopped the exercise program, I've compensated with food, and that is something I'm still working on. Maybe I'll see you over there in the Food section.

All the best,

Ron