I quit Smoking

[ebair]

I quit in the mid '80s (for over 20 years!) and back slid a couple years ago during a stressful time but quit again last Christmas. Feel better and better. I'm truly a nicoholic, just one cig or a cigar and its all over, and I have to go through it (quitting) again.
Give it time and go for walks to start, drink water to flush it out, walking helps with the weight gain, and the blood pressure (mine's down 16 points since Dec)
And remember, after the first week, it's all in your head

[greywolf]

My family has grown tobacco since the 1700's. I used to smoke cigarres (inhaled them) until one day I decided to quit. I knew how hard it was to quit from seeing others struggling with it and I thought I was going to have a hard time as well. I can honestly say I could not have done it with out God's help. I pryed and quit, never got around to throwing away my tobacco stash until several weeks after quitting. I feel I was very fortunate, I know it doesn't go as easy for many others.

I can say it's not just nicotine addition your fighting, the tobacco company adds all kinds of additive compounds into the tobacco, that's why those quitting patches rarely work!

You have to solidly make up your mind that you quit, not are going to quit, but as of right now quit. After you go two weeks or so not smoking, you beat the habit, though you will not always be free of the lingering desire, but that deminishes as well. Don't do any of the stuff you've always associated with smoking, like going to bars and you'll have to change friends, quit hanging around smokers and associate with non-smokers. Going to a Spirit-filled church will help tremendously and ask the Pastor and people to pray for you and ask them to help you. You're up against something stronger than you and it's alright to ask for help!

[digger bear]

I quit cold turkey in 1973- from 2 packs a day. Same year as my AS!

Live hour to hour for a while - by now, most of the desire will be in your head.

Hang tough buddy, there are a lot of people supporting you and cumulatively we are a lot stronger than that habit.

[Jim & Susan]

Just wanted to say thanks to everybody for all of the well-wishes.

Still nicotene free, haven't fallen back yet! There have been some rough spots, but have been able to get past them. Gotta run!

JIm

[bredlo]

Originally Posted by Jim & Susan

Thanks, guys. I just wanted to let you know, I've never smoked around the kids. I've always gone outside...

For added encouragement, you could also multiply each time you've stepped out for a smoke (8 minute increments?) by the number of cigarettes you've had. You'll probably come up with hundreds of hours over the course of a few years.... that's quality time with your family you'll no longer have to give up.

(Of course, depending on the kids, they may have had something to do with you smoking in the first place.)

[vajeep]

Originally Posted by Jim & Susan

Just wanted to say thanks to everybody for all of the well-wishes.

Still nicotene free, haven't fallen back yet! There have been some rough spots, but have been able to get past them. Gotta run!

JIm

Keep it up Jim!!!

[ts8501]

After 27 years on the cancer sticks, my quit date was and is April 3, 2006 at 6:30 am. As a smoker, it was hard to envision being a non-smoker. Now I canot imagine myself as a smoker. It was much easier (not easy, just easier) than I thought it would be. I FEEL SO MUCH BETTER! To all that have not tried, give it a shot. The aids that are available have come a long way. I now will have more years to fully enjoy the AS!

[mrmossyone]

I quit eight years ago. I would have 4 or 5 "sinus" infections a year, which really stank and then my my doctor told me that I was getting atypical smokers viruses and that I should stop. I threw my last pack away in the trash can right outside of the doctor's office and I haven't had another one. I do occasionally have a cigar but I didn't start that until a few years after I quit, I actually haven't had a cigar in about 3 or 4 months now. Good luck to any who are quitting.

[Jim & Susan]

One week and counting. I think I've got this thing licked. Things you notice after you quit:

--Your friends that smoke smell weird.
--So does your car (or work truck, pick up, etc).
--Food tastes much better.
--You eat a lot more of it.

Jim

[streamer23]

You are through the tough part.Stay focused.Good luck.

[digger bear]

One small bit of advice from one who has lived it – don’t think you are bigger than an addiction. In a month or so you might say “well, one wont hurt” or think you are under soooo much pressure for whatever reason, you deserve one. Just a treat, I have proved I can quit anytime I want.

It’s a sucker bet – don’t take it.

Hang tough and don’t waver for ANY reason. Best of luck.

[Jim & Susan]

Thanks Digger! I'm actually having one of those moments right now. I've allowed myself to be placed in the position of "referee" between my daughter, her college roommate and their landlord. Do kids ever grow up?

In the last couple of hours I've hit the ice cream pretty hard and it ain't workin'! Good thing I don't have any smokes laying around right now.....

Jim

[clancy_boy]

There is a very good movie called "The Insider" with Russell Crowe and Al Pacino. It's about Dr. Jeffrey Wigand who blew the whistle on a big tobacco co. about all the addictive additives they put into tobacco.
Not sure if that was already mentioned...

[RichardT]

I am still smoke free.


Jim I quit the night you bought your camper from me IIRC. I hope you stick with it, it is great being a non smoker.

RichardT

PS what happened to all my Karma points?

[Jim & Susan]

Tomorrow will be two weeks. Still no mo' smokes.

They changed the way Karma is "counted", if that's the right word for it. Now you simply get one Karma point each time somebody leaves you karma, instead of that weighted system used before. Look at your User CP and you will still see your karma and the comments other folks left for you.

Jim

[Fyrzowt]

Richard and Jim,
Politically correct Karma (Thanks) to you both on your efforts!
Dave

[Mikethefixit]

Hi All
I have gone back and read all 22 + pages. I just want to say to all those who posted. "I've Quit" My Hat is OFF TO ALL OF YOU. This is one of the hardiest addictions to over throw I think of everything you can get addicted too. Expect Aluminunisim. There is NO CURE for the addiction to AIRSTREAMS.
Keep on Breathin We are so Lucky
Best of Luck to ALL
Roger
PS. I QUIT 9 YEARS AGO

[Jim & Susan]

If I'm counting correctly, it's 2 weeks, 4 days and about 2 hours since my last smoke. Still "faithfull", if that's the correct term. Like every smoker, I quit a 100 times before. I think I'm one of those people that was (am?) truly addicted to nicotine. I would quit and it would work for a few days, but I always came back. I even chewed on an old pipe for several years, rather than smoke cigarettes. I read somewhere recently that it takes 21 days to make or break a habit. That would mean that I'm getting close, eh? I still have really bad cravings from time to time, but they do indeed pass.

Rumor has it that one of our presidential candidates is as addicted as I. Tough call. I would think that a man who wants to lead the free world could kick cigarettes. It's not like he spent 6 years in a prisoner of war camp or something.

Just my non-political 2 kopecks.

Jim

[Lothlorian]

Any time you need a cig butt get rid of that need by working out.

Brian

[mrmossyone]

or eating grapes