Quiting smoking

BiggTim
BiggTim Posts: 53 Member
edited December 18 in Motivation and Support
I quit smoking a little over a year ago and I feel great. It was a long hard battle. I quit 4 different times but this time its for good. Is anyone out there still struggling to quit and would like to share their story of the struggle? Also have you seen these new commercials with people missing legs and all kinds of stuff from smoking cigarettes? I personally haven't met anyone that has had these types of issues from smoking cigarettes so I wonder how common this is.....
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Replies

  • mikhar
    mikhar Posts: 8 Member
    Hi Tim
    I'm Mikehar and yes i quit last year too. For me forty something was long enough.. I figure that going into retirement it was one unnecessary cost I didn't need. Anyways, like you I feel great but unfortunately i gained probably 60 lbs. hence MFP
    Anyways I hope I am on the right track now. 104 days to go....mike
  • AprilRenewed
    AprilRenewed Posts: 691 Member
    It's not from smoking, it's from diseases that one is more prone to contracting due to the smoking. Like diabetes, in particular.

    I quit, but I wasn't really a smoker. It was easy for me, though I did use Chantix for the first 2 weeks. That helped put the cravings right out of my mind. After 2 weeks, the crazy dreams from the Chantix were keeping me from getting any sleep, so I quit the pills but still had no cravings. I've never really been addicted to smoking. Not chemically. For me, it was more of a social/emotional thing. I ENJOYED it. Especially with my wine.

    My husband is having a harder time, though. He quit and then went back to cigars instead. Problem is, he inhales the cigars. Yuck. He says he's going to pick a date to quit those too. I hope so, but I can't ask him about it. When he's ready, he'll quit.

    That's what it boils down to, I think. No one will quit until they really want to.
  • BiggTim
    BiggTim Posts: 53 Member
    Opps spelled quitting wrong but you know what I meant...lol :blushing:
  • ChristiH4000
    ChristiH4000 Posts: 531 Member
    I quit with my bf at the beginning of the year, but I'm finding it hard not to sneak a smoke when I'm out drinking. I know he smokes occasionally, and I'm worried about the slippery slope for both of us. I don't ever want to go back to spending so much of my hard-earned money killing myself.
  • BiggTim
    BiggTim Posts: 53 Member
    It's not from smoking, it's from diseases that one is more prone to contracting due to the smoking. Like diabetes, in particular.

    I quit, but I wasn't really a smoker. It was easy for me, though I did use Chantix for the first 2 weeks. That helped put the cravings right out of my mind. After 2 weeks, the crazy dreams from the Chantix were keeping me from getting any sleep, so I quit the pills but still had no cravings. I've never really been addicted to smoking. Not chemically. For me, it was more of a social/emotional thing. I ENJOYED it. Especially with my wine.

    My husband is having a harder time, though. He quit and then went back to cigars instead. Problem is, he inhales the cigars. Yuck. He says he's going to pick a date to quit those too. I hope so, but I can't ask him about it. When he's ready, he'll quit.

    That's what it boils down to, I think. No one will quit until they really want to.



    Ahhhhh thank you for clearing up the commercials for me. My wife nagged me until I quit. lol I was mad at her for it then but glad she did it now.
  • BiggTim
    BiggTim Posts: 53 Member
    Hi Tim
    I'm Mikehar and yes i quit last year too. For me forty something was long enough.. I figure that going into retirement it was one unnecessary cost I didn't need. Anyways, like you I feel great but unfortunately i gained probably 60 lbs. hence MFP
    Anyways I hope I am on the right track now. 104 days to go....mike

    I also gained weight that I am trying to lose right now from quitting. Good luck to you my friend.
  • BiggTim
    BiggTim Posts: 53 Member
    I quit with my bf at the beginning of the year, but I'm finding it hard not to sneak a smoke when I'm out drinking. I know he smokes occasionally, and I'm worried about the slippery slope for both of us. I don't ever want to go back to spending so much of my hard-earned money killing myself.

    That was difficult for me also because drinking and smoking go hand and hand. The only thing that worked for me was the patch. Once I got that I quit for good.
  • smiles4deb
    smiles4deb Posts: 65
    I quit 108 days ago. :smile: The most struggle I've had is driving. I ALWAYS smoked when I was driving. If someone else was driving it didn't bother me that much. Weird, I know... I haven't seen the commercials with the missing limbs and such but I have seen the commercials where they have the hole in their throat and the stuff you should and should not do when you have that. I have met people like that because of smoking, so that scared me. I smoked on and off for 28 years.
  • lisanume
    lisanume Posts: 127 Member
    I quit 4 days ago and I am ready to stab someone in the throat!!!! :devil:

    I would give my left arm to have a smoke right now........but ...... I WONT DO IT!! :explode:

    this is the hardest thing I have ever done, and I have beat the crap outta cancer TWICE!!
  • connie3408
    connie3408 Posts: 18
    Quit two weeks ago ....using Zyban....and have lost 4 lbs...I've really tried to increase exercise to keep busy !!
  • pastryari
    pastryari Posts: 8,646 Member
    Good job & props to you for quitting!!!

    I wish I had the will power to quit. I know I will someday. I've gotten into running & will be doing my first 5K in July so I'm hoping that I become addicted & decide to quit so I can better my running. :)

    Edited to add: Become addicted to RUNNING. Lol we already know I'm addicted to the cigarettes.
  • BiggTim
    BiggTim Posts: 53 Member
    I quit 4 days ago and I am ready to stab someone in the throat!!!! :devil:

    I would give my left arm to have a smoke right now........but ...... I WONT DO IT!! :explode:

    this is the hardest thing I have ever done, and I have beat the crap outta cancer TWICE!!

    I know what you are going through. That's why the only way I could quit was with the patch. Are you going cold turkey?
  • carriecarrot
    carriecarrot Posts: 70 Member
    I quit again yesterday for the 2910390th time. Usually I quit successfully for a month and then a friend comes over and has a pack of cigarettes and even offers me one and I start smoking again. I also tend to go get a pack after really distressing news OR really great news which happens a lot to me because I am a college student. My semesters always have ups and downs.
  • JoeSzup
    JoeSzup Posts: 51 Member
    I don't smoke, and never have, but I wanted to say "Good for you!". I'm willing to bet that the little girl in your profile picture is worth the struggle to quit. I can say however, that I am addicted to Diet Pepsi, and it is one bad habit I am trying to change. One piece of advice I can give, is that you need to change the "habit" of smoking, rather than just quitting. Every habit has triggers. Identify those triggers and the road to quitting will be easier.

    http://zenhabits.net/the-habit-change-cheatsheet-29-ways-to-successfully-ingrain-a-behavior/
  • urbancyclist
    urbancyclist Posts: 16
    I quit for 112 days last summer then started again. This time I'm on day 4, but it has to be permanent. I have a dozen ulcers, which are caused by smoking, but have damn near zero chance of healing whilst smoking.
  • BiggTim
    BiggTim Posts: 53 Member
    Good job & props to you for quitting!!!

    I wish I had the will power to quit. I know I will someday. I've gotten into running & will be doing my first 5K in July so I'm hoping that I become addicted & decide to quit so I can better my running. :)

    Edited to add: Become addicted to RUNNING. Lol we already know I'm addicted to the cigarettes.

    You can do it!! I never thought I would be able to quit but once I did and stuck to it I was glad for it. You will have much better stamina when your running once you decide to let it go. Good luck to you!!!!
  • Babygirl928
    Babygirl928 Posts: 378 Member
    I am a smoker and I am DYING to quit but even my doc said to wait til i drop 50 lbs. last time I tried i gained 25lbs in 2 weeks. not good for one with high blood pressure. Would love any tips on what helped anyone that has quit :smile:
  • blynn2708
    blynn2708 Posts: 262 Member
    I quit 4 days ago and I am ready to stab someone in the throat!!!! :devil:

    I would give my left arm to have a smoke right now........but ...... I WONT DO IT!! :explode:

    this is the hardest thing I have ever done, and I have beat the crap outta cancer TWICE!!

    Take vitamin C and a drink of water when you get that craving! I quit 4 yrs ago, laser therapy. Never really had a craving, more habitual things...I had to change my route to work b/c you light up at certain landmarks, had to change my radio station even! The vitamin C will help, about 10 a day, also flushes all the bad stuff out:bigsmile: also I lost 10 lbs when I quit! Good luck!
  • bethgames
    bethgames Posts: 534 Member
    I quit cold turkey 9 years ago. I smoked for 20 years. It was tough, but a promise is a promise. I told the husband if he built me a new kitchen I would quit. The day the last piece of trim was nailed up, I quit! Gained ALOT of weight. One day he says to me, 'Honey, you know, if you need a cigarette every now and then, I would understand' I think he was calling me fat! LOL Anyway, here I am now finally ready to kick my 'other' bad habit, food. That's my story.
  • tig_ol_bitties
    tig_ol_bitties Posts: 561 Member
    Today is my 8th "Day 1" of not smoking! I have tried 7 times before, but they say fall seven times, stand up eight, right?! I just went and used the treadmill and walked for 10 minutes at work while I would have usually taken a smoke break. I plan to do it on my afternoon ten as well to keep from going outside to the smoke pit. I also bought a new car this weekend and refuse to smoke in it, so that's helping!
  • cjhart81
    cjhart81 Posts: 200 Member
    i quit 9 months ago...

    I felt so much better for it and i started jogging and was so proud of myself for this new healthy lifestyle I had chosen for myself..

    AND THEN>........

    and about a month ago decided it was ok to have one if i was out drinking with friends.. WHY I have no idea.. it hadnt bothered me up until then.. i have since had one every few days... I am moving house in 2 days so have decided that from then THATS it!!
  • leomom72
    leomom72 Posts: 1,797 Member
    im trying to quit for the 20th time in my life..longest i have gone ( aside from stopping with my pregnancies ) is 4 days..this time it has been almost 24 hours, and i am using some spare e-cigs my hubby had..they work for a bit, but you have to keep on them every 30 minutes or so, and it still blows because i need a real one, but im gunna try my hardest this time..good luck to us all:drinker:
  • rcm1973
    rcm1973 Posts: 40 Member
    I hope I can offer some encouragement...

    After 14 years of smoking a pack a day, I quit cold turkey on June 30, 2003. That's almost NINE years ago, if you're counting!! ;)

    I was HOOKED and for a long time after I continued to miss smoking (mostly the social aspect). I used a free website called QuitNet.com. Great moral support.

    If I can be of any help to anyone, don't hesitate!!

    You CAN overcome this!!
  • shan_0517
    shan_0517 Posts: 88 Member
    Congrats on quitting! I have cut down to smoking only when I'm drinking. So about oince a week. I would love to quit for good.
  • Sonnie124
    Sonnie124 Posts: 96 Member
    Oh my God! The commercials make me look at my husband (still smoking) and shake my head! I quit January 9, 2011 and can't stand it now!
    :grumble:
  • hphm420
    hphm420 Posts: 34 Member
    I quit 115 days ago. I feel great!! It is most difficult when I'm drinking!!!!

    I found that quitnet.com is very helpful. It keeps a log of how many cigs you haven't smoked and how many days you've added to you life.

    My states:
    Smoke free: 115 days
    Cigarettes not smoked: 1385
    Money saved: $278.40
    Lifetime saved: 10 days

    :-)
  • hummus40
    hummus40 Posts: 72
    i am having a horrid time quitting. have been using the patches since Dec 2011 and am still craving (and stuff going on with stress is at an all time high)...i manage to go a few days then BAMB i am craving one....bottom line is i am averaging 3 a week. Not to mention i am running in the Flying Pig Marathon in May (which is less than two weeks away)...i keep trying to remember why i decided to quit but i must say that it is the hardest thing i have ever tried to do...

    that having been said...i gonna keep on keepin ON :)
  • HikeRunLift
    HikeRunLift Posts: 70
    Hey there. Congrats on quitting such a terrible bad habit and addiction.
    I myself quit too. My last smoke was Dec 24th, 2010 at 11:49pm. After 22 years of smoking and several attempts, I finally quit. It was hard but after a few weeks it became very easy to stay smoke free.

    I think the new anti smoking commercials are AWESOME!!! Anything so shocking that helps influence people to quit I'm all for it.
  • BiggTim
    BiggTim Posts: 53 Member
    I quit for 112 days last summer then started again. This time I'm on day 4, but it has to be permanent. I have a dozen ulcers, which are caused by smoking, but have damn near zero chance of healing whilst smoking.

    I'm sorry to hear that. Good luck on your journey. You can do it this time.
  • Sonnie124
    Sonnie124 Posts: 96 Member
    You can do it! That is my favorite saying "stab someone with a fork" I beat cancer too and when I was done fighting that and wanted reconstructive surgery I had to quit. I haven't looked back and it has been over a year! Good Luck!
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