Two-and-a-Half Days In

[Mike from AB]

Wow, what a difference a year makes! Now going on 387 days without any nicotine whatsoever. I feel bad to say that it's been a few months since my last visit to KTC, and I even missed my 1-year posting in the November 2012 quit group - Doh!

What brought everything back to mind was travelling up to South Bend last weekend to go to the Notre Dame football home opener. I did the same trip a year ago except that I was dipping the fake chew in order to get me through the drive to and back! A year ago I was only in my third week of quitting, so I was trying to avoid anything that would make me think of dip. Fast-forward a year... the other day I drove up with a close friend who still dips. Being around it all day didn't bother me in the least. I don't need to run from nicotine any more because I know I can beat it.

I hope that all of you who have just begun your quit will still be here a year from now so that you can all enjoy the feeling that comes with kicking the habit. Life, in general, hasn't really changed that much since I quit, but it's such a great feeling to know that I'm free from being a slave to that shit! Definitely wasn't easy, but man was it worth it!

Congrats on 387 days!  thanks for stopping back in to share your story.

[indycolts727]

Wow, what a difference a year makes! Now going on 387 days without any nicotine whatsoever. I feel bad to say that it's been a few months since my last visit to KTC, and I even missed my 1-year posting in the November 2012 quit group - Doh!

What brought everything back to mind was travelling up to South Bend last weekend to go to the Notre Dame football home opener. I did the same trip a year ago except that I was dipping the fake chew in order to get me through the drive to and back! A year ago I was only in my third week of quitting, so I was trying to avoid anything that would make me think of dip. Fast-forward a year... the other day I drove up with a close friend who still dips. Being around it all day didn't bother me in the least. I don't need to run from nicotine any more because I know I can beat it.

I hope that all of you who have just begun your quit will still be here a year from now so that you can all enjoy the feeling that comes with kicking the habit. Life, in general, hasn't really changed that much since I quit, but it's such a great feeling to know that I'm free from being a slave to that shit! Definitely wasn't easy, but man was it worth it!

[indycolts727]

100-days ago, right around this same time of day, I dumped a can-and-a-half of chew down the sink. A couple of days later I posted roll for the first time! Made it this far in large part due to this site and all the other quitters.

[indycolts727]

Had my first dip dream last night. I dreamed that I stopped at a gas station and, even though I knew I was on day 98 of quitting, I just went ahead and bought two cans of chew. After I walked outside I saw two chicks who somehow knew that I had quit, so I tossed one of the cans in the trash while the other can remained hidden. After they left I got in the truck and pulled out the can. I sat there with a feeling of guilt thinking that I was throwing my quit away like a dumbass, but then I realized it was a dream and I woke up! How bizarre!

On a side note: I did stop at that gas station today (the one in my dream) but only bought gas - no dip.

[indycolts727]

As I close in on the 1-month mark since quitting here are....

Things I Can Do Now Without a Chew (But, In the Past, Would ALWAYS Require A Chew)
- or -
Triggers I've Faced and Overcome

Playing guitar... check!
Playing Madden... check!
Racing in online racing league... check!
Getting work on on computer... check!
Driving anywhere... check!
Watching college football... check!
Going out to eat... check!
Brewing beer... check!
Drinking beer... check!
Dealing with work stress... check!
Dealing with home stress... check!
Laying in bed after sex... check!
Taking a shower... check!
Reading the paper... check!
Mowing lawn... check!
... many more things, of course, but these are the big ones

Never thought most of these would be enjoyable without a chew, but I've managed. It's actually nice to not be knocking over half-full dip bottles or seeing little flecks of dried chew all over the car seats.

~ Indy

[indycolts727]

Went to dentist yesterday and he's thrilled that I quit - he's been on me for a few years to drop the habit. Checked over my lip/gums and he said everything was looking great and the healing was going on inside of my mouth. He said it was the best he's ever seen the inside of my mouth look. I did tell him about this site - he'd never heard of it before. He said that he's got LOTS of patients who chew, so I suggested he tell them all about this site.

After almost two weeks I'm still feeling cravings and moments where it feels like withdrawls. Last night we went and saw a concert - Lita Ford / Poison / Def Leppard, which ROCKED, by the way. It's an outdoor ampitheater and I was surrounded my lots of smokers and some dippers. Didn't bother me at all (well, it was kind of repulsive.) I probably would have skipped that concert when I was dipping, or I'd have been Jonesing hard by the end because I hated to dip in public, especially around friends.

So far I've done just about everything without a dip that, in the past, used to require a dip. There's still one big one that used to trigger an automatic dip afterwards - hopefully I'll be able to pass that one tonight since Aunt Flo seems to have left for another month. :P

[kstampfly]

Have stayed quit for eight days now! Completely out of the withdraw fog (man, what a bitch!) and surprised to find that I'm actually sleeping much better and going to bed earlier. Haven't killed any one yet, but I'm definitely still a bit on-edge in certain situations. Feels great to have that crap out of my system. My kids are just getting to the age where they were noticing the spit cans and asking me what it was. Hopefully, now they'll just forget about it since they wont be seeing it again.

indy

Keep kicking ass Indy. The days will get better as time goes on without nicotine. You already know what it feels like to be a victim of the can, now you finally have your freedom back. Stay strong, Stay quit!!!!

[indycolts727]

Have stayed quit for eight days now! Completely out of the withdraw fog (man, what a bitch!) and surprised to find that I'm actually sleeping much better and going to bed earlier. Haven't killed any one yet, but I'm definitely still a bit on-edge in certain situations. Feels great to have that crap out of my system. My kids are just getting to the age where they were noticing the spit cans and asking me what it was. Hopefully, now they'll just forget about it since they wont be seeing it again.

indy

[Bean]

I've heard that the nic is out of your system after 3 or 4 days. And that is where the real fun begins! It is easy to get ahead of yourself and get overwhelmed by thoughts of "quitting forever." Don't do it! Just focus on today...one day at a time.

Just like your marathon training. It would be impossible to run 26.2 (or 13.1) miles all at once. That's why you don't do that. You break it down and take it one step at a time. And you just keep going. And if you're like me (one of the slowest runners in the history of running) you'll still take just over 4 hours and get passed by a fat lady in the last hundred yards. But I did it...a full marathon, which was inconceivable a year before.

The point is YOU CAN DO THIS!!! But don't get ahead of yourself. Just focus on staying quit right now...today...just today. Take it one day at a time and you can do it.

[indycolts727]

Thanks for all the replies... The support definitely helps. This whole quitting thing has been coming all year. In May I ran the Indianapolis Mini-marathon, which was the first time I'd ever run beyond 3-miles in one stretch (outside of time spent trainning, of course.) A month ago I said good-bye to the couch and got back into my old cardio/weight-lifting routine. Last week I cut sugar out of my diet (trying to drop 20-lbs)... And those withdraws are just as bad as nicotine. And then this week, bye-bye to that nasty shit.

Just got back from gym awhile ago and I feel as if my head is clearing up. Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day than this was. Was able to get more done, but still felt foggy and had some craves.

[30isEnuff]

Hi indycolts727,
Welcome to "getting your life back"! You'll never regret quitting but you'll always regret dipping!
Just want to say, just so you REALLY know...YOU can QUIT. I promise this to you today and I quit with YOU today.
You've dipped a long, long time. You've probably been scared shitless about the whole quitting thing...that is normal and fear is a good thing. Turn the fear into anger and energy directed at Your Quit. This will help you not cave. Once you realize how many people (maybe some of your family) it has killed at a young age, you'll grow to hate tobacco altogether.
Alot of great vets of quit have gone before us and are making your quit and my quit that much easier. Because they sacrificed before us and have shared with us the tools that help make quitting a reality. The tools are free and the friendships and support are free. Quit everyday, one day at a time, even if at times it seems like one second at a time. It gets easier.
The slow motion thing....that was one of my worst fears...it passes, I promise and it gets alot better. Your blood will get oxygen (for a change) and you'll discover yourself thinking more rapidly, etc...
REad everything you can on this site...read introductions, HOV speeches. Do whatever it takes to NOT put the POISON in your mouth. YOU can, I can, WE can!

[mepmey5]

Welcome Indy and congrats on your quit. Staying busy is definantely the answer to keeping the cravings a little less noticable. Exercise is an awesome stress reliever. I run or me and my wife do Rushfit dvds at home and it takes almost all the craving and stress away for a while. Keep up the great work and were all quit together. Matt

[kana]

Hey, All,

(If any of this is garbled it's because my head it still a bit foggy!)

I've been lurking around on here for almost a week just getting mentally prepared to do this. I had been dripping for about 15-years, and even tried to quite a few times. The past few times I tried to quit were spur of the moment, going at it alone, no mini goals to accomplish, and no real idea of what I would go through over the days and months following that last dip. Reading this web site over the weekend before I quit really seems to have motivated me. I didn't realize that getting past the 3-day fog is just the begining of months of recovery. It helps to finally see what to expect, what milestones to shoot for, and to understand what is going on physiologically and mentally.

I threw away a brand new, full can of chew on Sunday night ($4.00 right down the garbage disposal.) Yesterday (day 2) I felt like I was on slow-motion all day, but today is somewhat better. I've kept myself busy at work and at the gym, so the withdrawals are passing without too much misery (my family is thankful for that!) Instead of avoiding triggers, like I have in the past, I've been going at them head-on with sugar-free gum in my mouth instead of Kodiak. So far so good.

I'll start posting on that roll-call immediately. I Just wanted to first check in and write an intro and a thanks to the people who put this together and contribute. Very well-done and motivational.

- Indy

nice job indy as you have made a great choice. Fight through these days as the symptoms and fog will pass and things will be much brighter in your future.

use the site here properly and you will not only receive but give the support needed to stay quit

I quit today with you, do the same with me.

Quitting is the best decision you'll ever make, and it is a decision. Each day you have a choice, either to dip, or not dip, nothing is forcing you to dip, NO EXCUSE is good enough to go back to dipping. Everyday you'll drag your sorry addicted ass back here and post roll (just like myself and SirDerek there). Posting roll, first thing in the morning, is you making the decision to be quit today, one day at a time.

Welcome indy, one day at a time... keeping busy is the secret.. quit with you

[Bruce]

Hey, All,

(If any of this is garbled it's because my head it still a bit foggy!)

I've been lurking around on here for almost a week just getting mentally prepared to do this. I had been dripping for about 15-years, and even tried to quite a few times. The past few times I tried to quit were spur of the moment, going at it alone, no mini goals to accomplish, and no real idea of what I would go through over the days and months following that last dip. Reading this web site over the weekend before I quit really seems to have motivated me. I didn't realize that getting past the 3-day fog is just the begining of months of recovery. It helps to finally see what to expect, what milestones to shoot for, and to understand what is going on physiologically and mentally.

I threw away a brand new, full can of chew on Sunday night ($4.00 right down the garbage disposal.) Yesterday (day 2) I felt like I was on slow-motion all day, but today is somewhat better. I've kept myself busy at work and at the gym, so the withdrawals are passing without too much misery (my family is thankful for that!) Instead of avoiding triggers, like I have in the past, I've been going at them head-on with sugar-free gum in my mouth instead of Kodiak. So far so good.

I'll start posting on that roll-call immediately. I Just wanted to first check in and write an intro and a thanks to the people who put this together and contribute. Very well-done and motivational.

- Indy

nice job indy as you have made a great choice. Fight through these days as the symptoms and fog will pass and things will be much brighter in your future.

use the site here properly and you will not only receive but give the support needed to stay quit

I quit today with you, do the same with me.

Quitting is the best decision you'll ever make, and it is a decision. Each day you have a choice, either to dip, or not dip, nothing is forcing you to dip, NO EXCUSE is good enough to go back to dipping. Everyday you'll drag your sorry addicted ass back here and post roll (just like myself and SirDerek there). Posting roll, first thing in the morning, is you making the decision to be quit today, one day at a time.

[SirDerek]

Hey, All,

(If any of this is garbled it's because my head it still a bit foggy!)

I've been lurking around on here for almost a week just getting mentally prepared to do this. I had been dripping for about 15-years, and even tried to quite a few times. The past few times I tried to quit were spur of the moment, going at it alone, no mini goals to accomplish, and no real idea of what I would go through over the days and months following that last dip. Reading this web site over the weekend before I quit really seems to have motivated me. I didn't realize that getting past the 3-day fog is just the begining of months of recovery. It helps to finally see what to expect, what milestones to shoot for, and to understand what is going on physiologically and mentally.

I threw away a brand new, full can of chew on Sunday night ($4.00 right down the garbage disposal.) Yesterday (day 2) I felt like I was on slow-motion all day, but today is somewhat better. I've kept myself busy at work and at the gym, so the withdrawals are passing without too much misery (my family is thankful for that!) Instead of avoiding triggers, like I have in the past, I've been going at them head-on with sugar-free gum in my mouth instead of Kodiak. So far so good.

I'll start posting on that roll-call immediately. I Just wanted to first check in and write an intro and a thanks to the people who put this together and contribute. Very well-done and motivational.

- Indy

nice job indy as you have made a great choice. Fight through these days as the symptoms and fog will pass and things will be much brighter in your future.

use the site here properly and you will not only receive but give the support needed to stay quit

I quit today with you, do the same with me.