Hi, I'm Marcus, 38, smoker for 20yrs and now I've started my new life transformation journey, I realise the next step is to get rid of the smokes.. Just started on MFP and in my first 1.5 wks have managed to lose 2lbs (very happy bunny) and have fallen back in love with exercising and actually enjoying the fact that I have pretty good lung capacity, but know it could be much better if I didn't smoke.. My lung age test was that of a 30yr old, but I know that could change any time..

I attempt to quit almost annually and the longest period I've lasted is about 11days - this year I did the same, but the minute I was bored (moved to a new area) I picked them up again. I realise that now I am exercising I can fill the void I had for a while..

So my quit date is 2nd December 2011 (the 11th anniversary of my father passing) and if anyone has any advice, great tips - anything - please do pass them on them. I will spend time to read through all the comments in the group as well.

To those that have quit - congrats, to those like me wanting to - we can and wil!!..

Hi Sandra;

My name is Lucia. I live on Long Island, NY,

I smoked since I was 13, I am now 60. It was both easy and hard for me to quit. I will explain. Two years ago in March I had pneumonia, for the third time. It was not getting better, so I went back to my doctor. He calmly said, go to the ER. I did and the next thing I knew was that I had had a pulmonary embolism. They told my son my chances of living were 30%. I had been on a respirator for 3 weeks in ICU. Obviously, I was unable, nor did I have the desire to smoke. I wont bore you with the rest of my story, but one thing the doctors said was if you smoke, you will die. When I came home I ha no desire to smoke at all. A few months ago a good friend was diagnosed with cancer. He has 3 to 6 months. Well, I tried to smoke but the pain in my lungs was incredible, so I could'nt . Honestly I miss it. Also between laying in bed when I came home, having to retire and quitting I gained 50 POUNDS. THIS WAS DEVASTING as I never had a weight problem.

That is m story. I had been a special ed teacher for 30 years, I do miss it and honestly my income has dropped 60% and it is difficult. I live alone and rarely see my friends. I have 2 sons which I rarely see and due to extreme circumstances I do not see my grand kids. My sons are my only family, so I do need support and friends. MY Mom passed 6 months prior to my illness and it was tough without her. She was an only child as was I. Thefore, lack of family. Holidays are extremely hard.

I apologize if I have depressed anyone. My intention was, do not smoke. Appreciate your family.

I hope you will friend me. TY for letting me share.

Lucia

Hi, My name is Crystal. I have been quit for 90 days. I had smoked since I was 13 and I am now 29. I had talked about quitting so many times. I hated that I got winded going up steps, or walking far. I knew I was too young to feel that bad. In Jan. 2011, my dad was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. We knew it was coming eventually, The man chained smoked for year. But the reality was hard. I quit right after we found out. Lasted 30 days, ran out of patches and tried to go cold turkey. My husband was still smoking and I eventually smoked on of his. This time I quit 8/21/11. I bought enough patches to last the first 2 months and my husband quit with me this time. Two days after I quit, we found out the cancer had spread to his brain. A month after I quit, he died. Luckily, he went very peacefully and didn't suffer. He had just been put on hospice. I stayed quit through the entire ordeal.
When I first quit, I started using MFP so I wouldn't GAIN weight during my quit. I was going to wait a while before I started to try dieting. I didn't want to take on to much at one time, afraid I would fail at everything. Well, after I quit smoking I had a lot of energy. A LOT OF ENERGY!!! I know some of it at the beginning was probably nervous energy, but hey, I used it. With in a few weeks, I started walking with a friend and doing the 20 min cardio video of Turbo Jam. I no longer cough when I wake up, I can smell and taste food. I can do an hour long workout and only pause for breath a few times (it was every couple of mins in the beginning). I traded enough good habits to counteract the withdraw effects from nicotine. It was easy, except for the grieving. The few times I was upset and thought about smoking, I would tell myself "A cigarette is not going to solve your problem, it is the cause of your problem." I used a lot of self talk, a motivational college with quotes wrote on my bathroom mirror, and the quit hotline. Website is quitcoach.net I think. It helped alot!! I went there everyday in the beginning, now I go back once in a while to check on my day count. Also, I got a brita water bottle and I carrying it everywhere. I think this helped since drinking from a water bottle is a similar motion to smoking and it gave me something to hold in my hand. Drinking water is a MUCH healthier habit!

I love reading about everyone's success stories! Keep up the awesomeness!

well done Crystal, I'm on day 6 with no smoking so early days but feel better already, started doing more exercise and drinking water now, have probably put on weight but was expecting that, will see on Tue morning.....

Hello All! I'm Kelly. I've been smoke free since Thursday, Feb. 3, 2011. I started in 1995 or around that time. Quitting wasn't easy and there were moments, but I'm so glad I decided to stop. So many things are better now. My health, the taste of food, my hair is healthier, everything smells wonderful and my mood is way better because I'm not living for the next smoke. Oh and a smoke free kiss is soooo much better than a smoker's kiss (I had to throw that in there).

For those of you just starting, please stay strong and know that you can do it.

Hi Im Shani and I quit 10/30/11. This is my 6th time quitting. I gone months and months in the past but always fall back of the wagon. It never gets easier. Ive tried every product on the market and decided to just do the gum this time. Good luck everyone!

Oh ya. Ive smoked for 17 years total.Started when I was 13 and I'm 31 now.

I guess I should formally introduce myself.

Hi, I'm Liz and I'm 26 years old. I started smoking when I was 10, and the last couple years I have been trying to quit. I would make it a few weeks to a few months and something would happen and I'd turn right back to cigarettes to help me out (like that would really help me).

My quit date is November 17th, I'm currently on day 6 and going strong using the patch. I feel more determined and motivated this time than any other time - and I already have a plan for the money I save by quitting (which I think helps me stay on track when I get the urge to smoke).

Hello all! My name is Kelee, and I am so ready to quit smoking. I have an 8 month old, and want to set the best example for my baby girl. My husband and I have both commited to a quit date of Jan. 1, 2012. I just hope we dont kill each other!

Hi my name is Pam, I started smoking when I was 14 to "fit in" and be part of the crowd. I have tried to quit several times with very little to no sucess, it took seeing my favorite sister getting sick and dying of lung cancer to get me to attemp to quit again.....I take it day by day. Smoke free since Oct.....

Hi Im jenn. I quit smoking a year and a half ago. I have had a few ruff patches that were hard to get through but in the end I am still cig free. I have a lot of tricks to get through the cravings so if anyone wants some tips feel free to ask me. And good luck to you all you can do it, never give up on yourself, its just like every other challenge; take it one day (or maybe one minute) at a time. The cravings will go away, eventually no matter what it may seem like.