How's the quitting going raitch?

Eh. I haven't been as good. I'm trying to wean myself back down to 3 dips or so a day from 5 or 6 again.

(Sorry....i didn't see this til this morning.)

It gets frustrating Raitch. But dont let it get you down. I tried to quit lot of times before it took. The first step is deciding that you want to. You've done that and the is a HUGE step. Hang in there and you will get it.

There's 'wanting to' and then there's 'wanting to'. Intellectually, i want to....habitually, i don't want to. Just a tough thing.

That may well be one of the best quotes I have ever heard and with your permission I will use it again!

It sounds overly simplistic, but I could not say it any better myself.

That is applicable to a lot of things.

I'll put it this way: if i KNEW there would be no health consequences from it, i'd never quit.

I could easily say the same thing about red meat, BBQ, chocolate mousse......
and snuff.

One of my trainers used to say, "There's a big difference between wish and want. Wishing is thinking it would be nice if... Want is being willing to work out the if."

Also, there are levels of 'want'. Intellectually i 'want' to quit because i know it would be good for my overall health. Emotionally, chemically, habitually, etc. i 'want' a dip, many times throughout the day.

::Big thumbs up::

It felt like I "quit" 100 times before it finally stuck. Like Bankbb said, you've decided to quit - that can be almost as hard as actually quitting. Remember that you're not starting over - just dust your pants off and get back on the horse; you'll get there!

Keep it up, Raitch. Our addictions don't really compare too well... I started smoking cigarettes when I was 16. Smoked 1-2 packs a day since I moved out of my parents' house at 18. I'm 28, now, and on DAY 2 of being nicotine-free. I've stayed away from my two main triggers: caffeine and alcohol. The only real withdrawal symptoms I've had are occasional headaches and thinking about murder an awful lot. ..Um, but yeah, my point is YOU CAN DO IT.

I don't plan on giving up the occasional cigar, but I'm waiting until passing the mythical "3-day hump" to enjoy one with a glass of good whiskey this weekend on the porch.

Have you tried exercising when you get a bad craving? Bike rides help me a lot. So does punching things. As long as it's THINGS, not PEOPLE.

I'm not doing well.....i'm back to 4-5 dips a day currently. Just have to see how it goes.....

I'm also smoking 1-2 cigarettes a day. (I smoked before i ever dipped, and .....this is just me.....i could never smoke again WAY easier than never dipping again.)

It takes 21 days to make a habit. That's a known psychological fact. Worked for me with getting in the habit of walking every day not just on nice days when I wasn't busy with other stuff. I found a calendar that I could put big Xs on hung right in my face on the bathroom mirror was a great reminder and motivator. Granted, exercising is not the same as breaking an addiction, so I'm just sharing ideas for tracking and, more importantly, encouraging yourself to keep with it.

Also, i've chewed tobacco (just mention it cuz many people seem to think chewing and dipping are synonymous, and they aren't. In my experience, chewing isn't nearly as addictive--nor as enjoyable--as dipping.)

TR thanks.....i just have to see where it goes. As i said earlier, for me, there's 'wanting' to and then there's 'wanting' to.

Anytime you need reinforcement, you've got a bunch of people here waiting with attaboys and ideas and kick-starts. We're your own private little support group.

Keep in mind quitting takes practice...just keep practicing and don't beat yourself up when you cave. Just work yourself up to another practice session.

Thanks. Yeah, i think that needs to be the plan.

Geeze Raitch, I can remember being in college and having in a dip, a chew, drinking a beer and smoking a cigar. If I'd had another hand I would have needed another drug.
You will beat it, just keep plugging away at it.

I once tried smoking a cigarette whilst having a dip......the cigarette taste ruined the dip for me.....was impossible for me to taste the dip properly.

How about some icky tobacco trivia? My grandfather used to feed his mules chewing tobacco (back when you had to 'cut a plug') to get rid of worms.

On the plus side, you can probably eat all the sushi and undercooked pork that you want.