I'm done, I quit.

alienbabyjen

Congratulations! I quit 4/15/14 for the 2nd time. It was the last time. Just do yourself a favor and stay away from other smokers if it triggers you. I've had to really re-evaluate who I spend my time with because of it and frankly, it was the best decision I could've ever made. Not only have I made some really nice new friends, but they also do a lot of the same things I do (exercising, healthy eating, etc.) and it really does help to be surrounded by like-minded people for weight loss and not smoking!

Veil5577

I've been on and off the smoking wagon for a while now. I use Nicorette gum, which, unfortunately, is as expensive as smoking. I'm trying to wean off of that to regular gum. But I do notice now that if I smoke I feel like crap physically. I feel much better without it.

tiggsnanny

Good decision :happy: you have spurred me on now, i'm going to have another go tomorrow. I have smoked for about 40 years, I gave up for 16 months then started again, and i've started to stop many times since.

I have COPD, atrial fibrillation and i've had a stroke, so, I really should quit. I will try my hardest

Great_Mazinga

Brilliant! Love your resolve. The money jar is great idea. I've done something similar with weight, where I have to glasses full of glass beads. As I lose weight I transfer a bead per pound into the other jar. It's inspiring to watch the one glass empy as it fills the other.

MizTerry

Congrats! I'm a former 32 year smoker.

I found other things to take my money away. :bigsmile:

Quirky_but_nice

I quit 25 years ago after 20 years of addiction. I used to smoke roll - ups with no filter.
The thing that tipped the balance for me was the gradual de-socialising of my habit. I found myself smoking in the garden when everyone else was inside having a good time.
A good friend helped me through the tough times (I went cold turkey) by phoning me out of the blue and congratulating me on another smoke free day. He also gave me a mantra I found useful "just for today, I CHOOSE not to smoke"
Never looked back after the first 2 weeks. They were hard, I kid you not, but as do-able as a diet.

The difference it made in my life was worth all of it. I could taste things again! I hadn't realised my taste had changed, I thought the food had!
It also helped me in a relationship as he told me later if I'd been a smoker he would only have remained a friend. Now he's my life partner.

Elsie_Brownraisin

Also quit cold turkey - wasn't ready to, but was surprised to find myself pregnant.

I mostly wanted to murder everyone and had a cough (bringing up horrible bits of ick) for a while, but I'm so glad I did it. The savings are almost as good as not having cheese grater lungs.

mygnsac

Good for you! Your wallet, and more importantly, your body will thank you. It took heart disease, and all sorts of other nastiness, for my dad to quit his 30+ year habit cold turkey back in the 90s. You are wise to get a jump on it now. Sending you oodles of good luck wishes!!

missiontofitness

Excellent decision.

I quit in April, 2003, after smoking for more than a decade. I had the help of a drug called "Zyban." I also assuaged my withdrawal irritation by playing violent video games. Both helped a lot.

You can do it.

Thank you so much! I'm considering a pill in case I do struggle with quitting cold turkey, but I think I have enough friends and motivation to stay accountable. I will definitely look in to that pill in case I need it!

missiontofitness

Good decision :happy: you have spurred me on now, i'm going to have another go tomorrow. I have smoked for about 40 years, I gave up for 16 months then started again, and i've started to stop many times since.

I have COPD, atrial fibrillation and i've had a stroke, so, I really should quit. I will try my hardest

We can do it! I also have a heart arrhythmia, and I know this is a great decision for me for my health as well. We just have to keep at it and believe!

missiontofitness

Brilliant! Love your resolve. The money jar is great idea. I've done something similar with weight, where I have to glasses full of glass beads. As I lose weight I transfer a bead per pound into the other jar. It's inspiring to watch the one glass empy as it fills the other.

The beads sound like an amazing idea..and a lot easier than going to the ATM multiple times per week! Lol.

missiontofitness

I just wanted to say thanks to everyone for your kind words, advice, tips, and stories!
I did cave and buy another pack because I had a mini-freak out on Friday about it being so close to my quit time. I'm actually glad I did, and I'll explain below. I managed to cut my smoking in half my last 72 hours, just by willpower, and reminding myself not to take longer routes home to smoke more, keeping myself occupied, and really keeping my mindset on the goal of getting through the first 24 hours on Monday, then 48 by Tuesday, ect.

I went out with friends last night and woke up with a mini hangover. I still made myself smoke, to make myself associate it all day with my hangover, haha. It actually worked. Did not feel good to do it, made my hangover a bit worse, and really drove home how crappy smoking makes me feel. I'm starting now, and I feel really confident that I can get through the first 24 hours tomorrow without it. I'm rewarding myself by giving my car a full gutting (and giving it a car wash too!), washing everything, vaccuuming my floors, and getting myself a nice air freshener. If I make it through Tuesday, I'm buying myself a bouquet of flowers to make my room pretty. And if I make it through Wednesday, I'm treating myself to a sushi dinner. If I make it through the first 72 hours, the subsequent days will only get easier.

Once again, thank you so much everyone! All of your posts made me smile, and I love that there's such a supportive group of people on here always willing to offer help and guidance. You all are amazing.

Cathalain

I quit smoking in May of 2005 - cold turkey. It wasn't the easiest thing to do, I'll admit that. But it was definitely the most rewarding.

The first 72 hours are the worst. I got through it by drinking lots and lots and lots of ice water (not just cold - ICY), and sucking on peppermint candies (sometimes I'd dissolve the mint IN the water - interesting taste). I did NOT worry about my weight at this time - I figured I had enough to deal with at that moment. Once that 72 hours passed, I reminded myself that if I slipped, I'd have to go through that all over again - no, thanks!

I also used a site called QuitNet (forum similar to this one). A couple of the people that I knew there died from smoking-related illnesses. It was sobering, to say the least.

I've been smoke-free now for nearly ten years - after a 20 year, 1 pack a day habit - and it's the very best thing I ever did for myself.

Congrats on your decision. You will never regret it. Ever.

ETA: It might interest those to know what my motivation was for quitting. Throwing up blood is a GREAT motivator. I woke up one morning, lit up (even before I got out of bed, ugh), went to the bathroom, and started having a coughing fit the likes of which I'd NEVER had before. I leaned over the sink, and coughed up blood... and HUGE chunks of... something. Maybe lung, I don't know.

I quit THAT DAY.

iron_jj

Great decision!! I quit cold turkey in 2011 after smoking almost 10 years.. ew!! Never looked back. Secret tip; chewing gum saved my life in those first few weeks. Good luck! Life is much better without that crap!!

socalkay

I'm here losing 20 lbs so I can get on the lung transplant list. I didn't quit in time.

Does that help?

Oh, and Skittles got me through quitting. Now I'm trying to quit Skittles.

missiontofitness

Figured I'd update again; I've made it 72 hours without one! Much easier to quit this time, because I actually wanted to, and wasn't quitting because someone convinced me to. The times I do get an urge, it's very easy to ignore it. Surprisingly, no detoxing symptoms (headaches, nausea, ect) from the lack of nicotine in my system either. I'm feeling pretty good about the first $10 I've saved as well.

Alatariel75

Figured I'd update again; I've made it 72 hours without one! Much easier to quit this time, because I actually wanted to, and wasn't quitting because someone convinced me to. The times I do get an urge, it's very easy to ignore it. Surprisingly, no detoxing symptoms (headaches, nausea, ect) from the lack of nicotine in my system either. I'm feeling pretty good about the first $10 I've saved as well.

Well done!! You're kicking *kitten*

socalkay

WAY TO GO!!

If you find the cravings start getting harder to ignore, consider the patch. I forgot to mention that I did use the patch and I think it helps (the Skittles were for oral cravings). Every few weeks, you step down to a lower dose.

Alluminati

This is awesome and hang in there. Take comfort that every day will get easier and better :flowerforyou:

MagnumBurrito

It takes 3 days for nicotine to get out of the system. After that, it's all a mind game. Whenever activities come up where you used to smoke, just tell yourself it won't make you happy. After awhile, the urges will subside.