So excited!

JeniferEverx3

I am so happy I found this group! I was looking for a quit-smoking support group and here it is! I started smoking Newports when I was 12 years old. However, it wasn't a habit or an addiction until I was around 14 years old. I am now 27. That's 13-15 years as a smoker already! I am happy to say that as of today I have not touched a cigarette in a month and 4 days. I quit (sort of) cold turkey. I use a Blu electronic cigarette every so often because I still occasionally crave nicotine, I enjoy smoking, my boyfriend smokes, and I have a fixation with having something in my hand. It has helped tremendously. Now you can imagine in 15 years how many times I've tried to quit. Once when I was 16 or 17 I quit for 3 months. What is the difference between then and now other than my age? Well then, I didn't really want to quit. I quit because my boyfriend -at-the-time wanted me to. Every time I tried to quit it was more because other people wanted me to or told me to. Other people in my life and anti-smoking commercials made me feel guilty. As I got older I realized no matter how much I enjoy it I do not want to risk my health anymore. 1 month and 4 days ago I came down with a respiratory infection. Normally, when I was sick, I would still have bad nicotine cravings. I would still bundle up and go outside and attempt to smoke. This time, somehow, I just FORGOT. I forgot I was a smoker. I forgot cigarettes existed. It completely slipped my mind for over a week. I was too busy resting in bed watching The Golden Girls, sleeping, or stuffing my body full of fluids, nutrients, vitamins and medicines. When I started to feel better I suddenly realized that I had forgotten about smoking! So I decided, why not take this as an opportunity to really really quit? I gave my remaining cigarettes to my boyfriend, and I bought a disposable electronic cigarette just in case I was tempted in the future. Whenever I started to think about smoking, I would use all my willpower to distract myself from those thoughts. I would do something else or think about something else. Distract myself with television, music, a snack, the internet, or my boyfriend. I found that if I could manage to deter my mind from the idea of smoking for 5-10 minutes, I would forget all about it. Quitting took its toll on me of course, I still have congestion in my sinuses and ears. I had lots of nasal drippage which made me nauseous for an entire week. I had mood swings - and I still have a boyfriend somehow . It's been tough, but it's also been easy. I mean really easy. Easier than any other time I've ever quit in my life. And I realized it's because this time, I have no desire to smoke a cigarette. Sure I enjoyed the feeling of it in my hand, the way it felt to inhale and exhale, the taste of a fresh Newport, and even now I still enjoy the smell when my boyfriend lights one up. But I also enjoy singing, and I want to keep my voice. I enjoy breathing, and I want to be able to breathe easily, and not be short of breath after just walking up the stairs. I enjoy being alive, and I want to stay alive. I have been working on changing my eating habits for the last year or two, but after I quit smoking, I took it up a notch. I am dieting. I have completely cut out soda. I started working out again with my mom and plan on sticking to it. I want to be happy, healthy and fit by next summer! That is my story

neacail

Thank you for sharing! And, congratulations.

strawberrytoast

Brilliant! Glad you shared your story, your so young to have smoked so long so im sure your body will repair itself in no time!
I was the same, quit when i got ill. It must be hard when your boyfriend smokes but you sound like you got in in the bag. Stick with it. Keep coming back on here and downlaod an app so you can watch your progress.

JeniferEverx3

Thank you! It was my pleasure!