I quit smoking and you will too

FoodFitnessTravel

Today is 3 weeks since I smoked my last cigarette. I started almost two years ago, when I was 22. I don't know what I was thinking except "this is not even good, I can quit anytime" and quickly, I started smoking a pack a day. I didn't do it for "social reasons" or because it "looks cool", it doesn't. It's a HUGE turnoff, and I am such a hypocrite because even when I was smoking I wouldn't date a guy that smokes. I just never saw myself as a smoker, maybe because I started later than usual (most of the smokers i know start when they are like 13) or maybe because I was in huge denial. I know I was embarrassed of my habit, I was disgusted by it, I would spend so much money on nice perfumes to try and neutralise cigarette smell, which of course didn't work. I remember looking at the pics of Victoria's secret angels smoking and thinking "damn this is why they have the perfect bodies".

Cigarette do kill cravings, I would always kill my cravings for sweets by just having a smoke, but do you know what else cigarettes kill? Your taste buds. That way, even when you DO eat, you can't taste anything and eating is something that I really enjoy so that wasn't fun.
I did smoke for less than two years, which is not too bad, but I have an incredibly addictive personality, and I thought I couldn't survive without one pack a day, sometimes two. Everyone around me would comment at one point or another on how much I smoked, even the other smokers, and I can't even begin to describe how embarrassed I would feel.

I don't even have to tell you all the bad things you're doing to your health, if you're a smoker. Also, I don't have to tell you that you will feel disgusting and anxious around people 1. because you're afraid you smell bad 2. because you're constantly planning your cigarette break. Nowadays it's harder and harder to smoke in public places, smoking is getting banned almost everywhere, which leaves smokers feeling even more anxious.
You're scared you will get fat? You're on myfitnesspal, you know what to do. Nobody gets fat because they quit smoking, or because of depression, you get fat because you overeat, the end.
I can't even begin to describe how much better, cleaner, less anxious and free I feel. Oh and my workouts got 10 times better!!
If you're a smoker, PLEASE buy Easyway by Allan Carr. Sounds cheesy but I promise it changed my life. Quit cold turkey, too. No substitutes, no cutting down. I promise you, if I could do it, anyone can.

P.S. Even though I was so determined, I must warn you, I felt incredibly strong cravings during the first 2 days, I gave myself a few days off my healthy eating plan and sucked on cherry flavoured hard candy all day. Chew gum, gum helps with mouth fixation. But i promise, THEY DO GO AWAY. I was reading experiences of the people that quit who said cravings never go away, it's a huge lie and don't let it scare you! Do something amazing for yourself!

CurlyCockney

I'm glad you're happy that you did something for yourself, but please don't project. I've never, in my entire life, felt "disgusting and anxious around people". Also, I quit for nine years and went back to it, so you might want to hold off on the lectures for a while ;-)

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FoodFitnessTravel

CurlyCockney wrote: »

I'm glad you're happy that you did something for yourself, but please don't project. I've never, in my entire life, felt "disgusting and anxious around people". Also, I quit for nine years and went back to it, so you might want to hold off on the lectures for a while ;-)

This is why i recommend the book so strongly-it will help you to quit forever! I am trying to encourage people to quit because i strongly believe that if i could do it, anyone can. I couldn't imagine going for half an hour without cigarette. I often take long flights which were a total nightmare back then! Please do read the book, no need for substitutes, gums or patches, it's all in our heads

FoodFitnessTravel

sorry for any grammar mistakes, english is not my first-or second-language

CurlyCockney

I've not only read the book - first in the 80s and again in the 2000s, I went to the Allen Carr Easyway clinic three times last year (you're only supposed to need to go once). They gave me my money back. It's basically NLP, and it doesn't work for everyone.

NextPage

Congratulations on quitting and not letting the first few days of craving scare you off. Your method may not work for everyone but it has worked for many others including, thankfully, you. Anyone who has done something to improve their health warrants a thumbs up. Don't let anyone rain on your parade. Also, as a non-smoker the more quitters there are the less second hand smoke to avoid.

FoodFitnessTravel

oh i am sorry, but if you have quit for 9 years, you're probably capable of doing it again

CurlyCockney

I'm not sure how I'm raining on anyone's parade by objecting to being told that I feel disgusting and anxious when I don't? The reality is, nobody knows better than a smoker how smoking makes them feel. That doesn't mean that every smoker feels the same, and it's projecting to assume that it does. If someone was to say that being fat makes everyone feel disgusting and anxious there would probably be a font-riot on here.

@FoodFitnessTravel thanks, and I know I can try again - I've promised myself that when I get a 2 stone loss I'll have another go :-)

zoeysasha37

Glad you found something that worked for you.
I took a different approach because that type of stuff didn't work for me.
I started smoking at 13. I wanted to quit at 35. I got a vaporizer and cut my nicotine levels weekly until I was weaned to zero.
I never smoked again, never had a craving to smoke again. I haven't smoked in years.

FoodFitnessTravel

sorry i didn't mean to generalise, I just foolishly expressed how I felt assuming everyone feels the same way that I do. But one thing I know for sure, no smoker wants to be a smoker, and no smoker is planning to smoke for the rest of their life. I wish best of luck to @curlycockney!
Good job @thorsmom01 and thank you so much for the kind words @nextpage

MommyL2015

Fantastic. I quit 4 years ago. I didn't use a book, I used a vaporizer and, like thorsmom01, took it to zero. I still have one though, just because i like it.

KeepGoinGirl

Congratulations on quitting!! Your body is going to feel so much better now. I also successfully quit (221 days ago) and I will never start again. I really hope that you stick with it and post later with an update to let us know how you are doing.

Edited to add that I quit cold turkey, that was the best way for me and the way that finally worked. Tried other methods before but they never worked.

faramelee

Well done @FoodFitnessTravel , keep up the good work! I am a huge advocate of Allen Carrs Easyway book, although I appreciate it may not be for everyone. I gave up just over two years ago after smoking for 25 years so I know it's not the easiest thing. I just knew that I couldn't keep putting it off, for so long I used the when 'X' happens I'll stop smoking excuses....it doesn't work that way, you've got to be determined and want it! As you said, it doesn't make you put on weight, it does heighten anxiety, and it does make you smell, sorry, harsh but true. I hope I never smoke again, and have no intentions of doing so, but if I do I sure as hell wouldn't smoke out and about again because it is truly unfair on everyone around.

Well done to all of us quitters! ;-)

Marilyn0924

I am coming up on my 10th year of non-smoking. I was in the pre-vape era , so I just did it the old fashioned way and quit cold turkey. I took up knitting that winter to keep my hands busy. I had 20 afghans, 10 sweaters and countless baby toys to show for it. LOL

LifeInTheBikeLane

Congrats on quitting! I think I smoked for a week before I realized how terrible it made me feel! But, when people tell me how much they love to smoke, I enjoy telling them the same story...

My father began having small strokes in his mid fifties that no one ever knew about. He continued smoking like a train and had multiple strokes over the course of a few short years. At 55 we began to realize there was something wrong with him. He couldn't form complete sentences, remember simple tasks, and was being very strange. It was the day he came to me and complained of blurry vision in one eye and broke down crying uncontrollably (my father is a strong, manly man. None of us had ever seen him cry) that I realized something was horribly wrong. He had a stroke in the front vascular lobe of his brain, it pretty much wiped that part of him clean. The doctors said his smoking for all those years caused the strokes. He is 57 now and has vascular dementia. He can't be by himself, can't drive, can't remember the conversation we were just having.

I applaud you for quitting. I also applaud you for quitting without taking up e-cigs.

samhennings

KeepGoinGirl wrote: »

Congratulations on quitting!! Your body is going to feel so much better now. I also successfully quit (221 days ago) and I will never start again. I really hope that you stick with it and post later with an update to let us know how you are doing.

Edited to add that I quit cold turkey, that was the best way for me and the way that finally worked. Tried other methods before but they never worked.

Well done! How do you feel? Have you noticed any particular difference?

Im 2 weeks not smoking (was going to say "sober" - is there a word for being off the cigarettes?) which is obviously very early to see any changes. Was hoping I might have some to look forward to though!

Ive taken up fitness this year so with luck it will aid my cardio.

_Bropollo_

Congrats! I picked up smoking pipe tobacco cigarillos for some reason a few years back. First it was a stress relief thing after work, but then, much like you, I couldn't calm myself down without them. Luckily, I didn't need any quit aids; when I got into lifting I realized how much the smoking was killing my ability to work out properly, and I was just like "this is stupid". I wanted to get bigger way more than I wanted to smoke. Went from about 3-4 a day down to 1, then after a week, stopped all together. Also: it's freaking expensive! You don't realize until you stop. My poor wallet

Nursie863

That is fantastic that you quit!! I had been a smoker for 10 years. It has taken me roughly 6 to 7 times quitting to actually do it. Been almost 30 days this time and not a craving in sight. It's all a mind game. Seriously. So if you ever do slip up and smoke again, DON'T beat yourself up....it probably will happen, but that doesn't make you a "smoker" again. It's an incredibly addictive habit and one of the hardest to stop. I'm happy that you are so enthusiastic about it....don't lose that!! God bless and best of luck staying quit!

redromad275

I quit 8 years ago using Chantix. I smoked for 20+ and tried many times to quit. Patches, gum and cold turkey didn't work as I lacked the will power. I know some people who have tried it have crazy dreams but that was easy for me to overcome just not having the craving to smoke. Congrats to you for quitting however you did it.

FoodFitnessTravel

well done guys! thanks for the encouragement, i really enjoyed reading all your success stories. I am glad to hear some of you guys quit successfully with e ciggies, i spent a bunch of money on mine (bought three different kinds) and nothing, i would smoke both them and real cigarettes, before going back to regular cigs and possibly smoking more than ever!
I am bad with anything cold turkey, during the initial period i was incredibly frustrated and I would go running so that i could fall asleep and the day would be over so i don't think about cigarettes. Miserable but it's amazing how quickly the cravings go away.
And I agree with @_Bropolio_ my workouts were terrible while i was smoking, i would run out of breath so easily I know it's only been 3 weeks but i can already notice a huge improvement. It takes lungs 3-6 months to recover completely though

igotmywish1508

the vape are popular in our area

stephanieluvspb

I'll be smoke free 2 years in january. Did it cold turkey, it was my birthday and I had a terrible upper respiratory infection so I had no problem not smoking while I was sick, I began to get better and thought, let's see how long I can continue without smoking. Man it was a tough habit to break! I still get a smell of someone in public smoking and I get a craving but I'm holding strong

ninerbuff

Regardless of what steps one takes to quit smoking, it's ALWAYS going to come down to wanting to do it and committing to it.
Personally I smoked (about a half pack) a day when I was 19-39. I made a commitment to my DW that if we got pregnant I would quit cold turkey. We were trying at the time, so I knew in my head I would quit soon. After the confirmation, I quit that day. Never went back. I'll will say I dreamt of smoking for about 2 months, but once it was over, I was fine. And now I encourage more people (especially if they're young smokers) to quit as soon as they can. There really is no true benefit to smoking...........................well unless you own Philip Morris.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

FoodFitnessTravel

congrats! I still have cravings but not physical, i did take a puff of my friends ciggie about a week ago and i must say, it definitely doesn't taste pleasant anymore. It's partly because most of the nicotine leaves the body after only 72 hours, and partly because my taste buds came back to life. I do miss the act of smoking sometimes, but I'll be damned if I start again

thereshegoesagain

I started smoking at the age of 16 and kept doing it for over 30 years. When I chose to quit, I mentioned that I was going to try hypnosis and offered 5 family members to join me for their Christmas presents. That was 9 years ago and I haven't had another puff since, nor has 4 of my relatives. Even with hypnosis, it was still very difficult, but I was given a CD of my session which I listened to every morning before I got out of bed and again every night before I went to sleep. I also found a great website, whyquit.com. it has a fantastic forum for support. I don't know if I would have been successful without it, kind of like my success with MFP.

626Ashley

I quit smoking on 6/6/15 & it was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I smoked from age 14 until just before my 28th birthday so half my life at this point, that's too much.