Well, here I am, at Day 76, so amazed that I have made it this far without even taking one puff from a cigarette. Man, it's been close, in my head only. I've even been around smokers and I have NO DESIRE to smoke. Amazing!! I tell everyone who will listen to me all about whyquit.com and Freedom and how they've both changed my life.

About three weeks ago I swung by a small convenience store to pick up a Sunday paper. I hadn't been near one since I stopped feeding my nicotine addiction, concerned that being so close to cigarettes again might be more than I could handle. When I was at the counter paying the clerk, I saw the rows and rows of cigarettes behind him and I felt absolutely no connection to any of them. It was so bizarre!! I was actually a non-smoker who could not "relate" to any of those cigarettes. I walked away from there in awe that that was even possible. I have since been around one smoking friend who has come back into my life and her smoking does not in any way tempt me. Actually, watching her smoke and feed her nicotine habit only reminds me of how far I've come and how grateful I am to be exactly where I am: 100% nicotine free. I do not miss the task master nicotine running my entire day/week/month/life.

Day 76 has brought me less mental obsessing over cigarettes. I can go days without hardly thinking of them and then just as many days incessantly obsessed about them to the point that I am so sick of it, I don't want to even think about them for one more second. I'm so grateful to whyquit.com and Freedom for reminding me why I don't want to ever give in to mental obsession or a physical crave (rare but still there). Knowledge is power and I have gained so much of both thanks to whyquit.com. I also enjoy the privilege of being able to post on Freedom and I do not want to risk losing that. Twice that thought was enough to shut down other thoughts of using nicotine again. I consider other Freedomites my true peers and I don't want to lose out on staying connected to all of you.

I spent the first 74 days babying myself through withdrawal and the unknowingness of a non-smoking lifestyle to the point of gaining 15 pounds. Day 75 brought clarity of mind and a more disciplined attitude and a new diet (Atkins) so I am now working toward weight LOSS. I don't regret any of it because it brought me to where I am and that's a great place: nicotine free!!!

To any newbies out there, hang in there because everything you are going through is so worth it. As each week rolls by you will be amazed at the significant changes in your life, yourself, your health, your mental faculties, the list goes on and on. It is so worth it and I do not regret any of it. Keep reading on whyquit.com and Freedom and post on Freedom as much as you need to. You will find exactly what you need when you need it. I have NO doubts about that!!

'Til next time!

Cathy