Quiting smoking

Ex smoker for 15 years here. I smoked for 10 years. When I was 21, my G-ma died of throat cancer (non-smoker that was married to a smoker) and I quit overnight. Dec 23 1997 I was a smoker, Dec 24 1997 I was a non smoker. Overnight. The hardest battle for any addiction is the mental aspect

For anyone trying to quit....you will gain weight. Nicotine is a CNS stimulant that does speed up the metabolism to a degree. The hardest battle is the psychological addiction. We spent so many years training our minds that we picked something up and put it in our mouth, so the need to feed takes over. Find some low sugar candies, quality snacks, gum, etc to battle that aspect.

You can do it!

I was a dedicated, defensive, fully committed smoker for about 10 years, smoking close to 2 packs a day by the end (age 29!). Accompanied by gallons and gallons of booze, also pretty much daily. I had told everybody I would quit by age 30 so that they would leave me alone and stop nagging me. Then my 30th birthday approached and I realized to my horror that THE TIME WAS NIGH, but I was at the point by then that I would rather be alone than socialize if being alone meant I could smoke in peace. It was a really miserable place, and I knew it, but although I was willing to do many things to fix myself, I was not willing to quit smoking because I thought it was the only thing keeping me even somewhat happy. My birthday grew ever closer and people intensified their "I guess you'll HAVE to quit smoking, NOW," comments, which threw me into a panic, and then I recalled a book, Allen Carr's "Easy Way to Quit Smoking", that an ex-smoker friend had given me months ago. I really scorned this book, for a few reasons, 1, it had a ridiculously cheezy cover, 2, books can't create permanent lifestyle change (I knew this to be fact; I'd tried previous books before), and 3, I didn't want to quit, I just wanted people to stop bothering me. So I devised a genius plan: I would read the book, make a token attempt to quit, fail, and then tell everyone that I had legitimately tried and that it just didn't work for me. Problems solved! Imagine my surprise, a week later, to douse my final cigarette CRYING with gratitude that I never had to smoke one again. Today, 7 months later, I have never had a craving, even though I continue to drink alcohol (much less, but still a lot) and continue to hang out in crazy bars and Tokyo backwaters where cigarette smoke is everywhere. All I feel is gratitude that I'm free. Not painful at all.

Edit: Others have mentioned weight gain, which scared me before I quit. I *did* gain weight -- but only 5 pounds. This is an incredibly insignificant amount and I lost it within my first 2 or 3 weeks on MFP. So don't be scared! You can do it!

I smoked for 30 years and gave up twice duiring tht time once for 4 years and stupidly started again. So I think it is something that never quite goes away...so never give into the idea that `I will only smoke when I go out` or `just at the weekend`.

I gave up again 3 years ago with the help of electronic ciggies. i still use my e-cig when I have a drink or when I go out as they are legal to smoke in a bar here (UK)

Probably not ideal, but its like a chocaholic changing milk chock for dark choc and only having a cube as a treat.

But well done to all who have quit :-)

I quit smoking about a month and half ago. I haven't looked back. I've stayed busy with dieting and exercising. I was ready to quit though It was causing a lot of issues with my health and sleep and prevented me from drinking the coffee that I love. Before that I'd been a smoker for several years and have also tried quitting multiple times. I think now I understand the triggers and try to resort to other things when i'm in a smoking situation.

Applaud!!!!!

I quit a month ago and I AM NOT GOING BACK!!!

I can breathe better and not to mention that I don't smell like foul cigarette smoke anymore.

I never realized how much it effected my nose as well. It seems I can smell things alot better!

My husband and I quit two months ago. We've been saving the money that we would have spent on tobacco each week for a short trip to Paris in July. It's because I want to look good for that trip that I ended up on here (well that, and a friend who told me to check out mfp). I probably won't lose as much as I'd like before July but I'm so happy to be getting myself in shape AND not smoking.

WTG Tim! I quit on October 17th last year, so it's been a little over 6 months. I didn't think I would ever quit for good. The first time I quit was when I just turned 30 (I'm now 64). Since the first time, I have quit AT LEAST 100 times. The longest before now was a few months. Something is different this time. I know I won't be smoking again. Before, I always had this "thing" in the back of my head that I would be able to smoke again... there was always anticipation for when I could do it again. This time I didn't have that feeling. The first 2 weeks were pure hell, but each week after that has gotten easier. Now, when I get the urge, which is seldom, I just wait it out for about 5 minutes and it goes away. The first few months I had a list I had prepared before hand. It was a long list of 5-10 minute activities I could do when I got the urge to smoke. The list had every choice I could imagine. Anything from play a game of solitaire on the PC to walk around the block. I had tried every method before that. Pills, patches, supplements, acupuncture, hypnosis... all wasted money. The only way to quit for good is cold turkey. Some people succeed with the crutches, but most fall down when they get rid of the crutch. I smoked so long, if I am prone to cancer of any kind or lung disease (COPD), I will probably still get it eventually. But, so far, I have been lucky not to have already died of any smoke related disease.

To anyone considering quitting: Do it! After the first 2 weeks you will feel fantastic! You will be energized and happy. Below is a list of short term through long term benefits quitting has.

Edit: Also, if you quit, you don't have to worry about offending anyone with your odor. I spent lots of money on breath mints and fabric spray and constantly had to worry about after smoking in the car and I had to go into a store or appointment that I would smell of nicotine (which I surely did). It's a big relief just not to have to worry about that stuff any more. And, you don't have to go outside in the cold an rain to smoke... there's a bunch of other immediate benefits.

Smoking cessation timeline – the health benefits over time

In 20 minutes, your blood pressure and pulse rate decrease, and the body temperature of your hands and feet increase.
Carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke reduces the blood’s ability to carry oxygen. At 8 hours, the carbon monoxide level in your blood decreases to normal. With the decrease in carbon monoxide, your blood oxygen level increases to normal.
At 24 hours, your risk of having a heart attack decreases.
At 48 hours, nerve endings start to regrow and the ability to smell and taste is enhanced.
Between 2 weeks and 3 months, your circulation improves, walking becomes easier and you don’t cough or wheeze as often. Phlegm production decreases. Within several months, you have significant improvement in lung function.
In 1 to 9 months, coughs, sinus congestion, fatigue and shortness of breath decrease as you continue to see significant improvement in lung function. Cilia, tiny hair-like structures that move mucus out of the lungs, regain normal function.
In 1 year, risk of coronary heart disease and heart attack is reduced to half that of a smoker.
Between 5 and 15 years after quitting, your risk of having a stroke returns to that of a non-smoker.
In 10 years, your risk of lung cancer drops. Additionally, your risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney and pancreas decrease. Even after a decade of not smoking however, your risk of lung cancer remains higher than in people who have never smoked. Your risk of ulcer also decreases.
In 15 years, your risk of coronary heart disease and heart attack in similar to that of people who have never smoked. The risk of death returns to nearly the level of a non-smoker.

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!!!!

OMG yes! I noticed a HUGE difference, and I'm able to put sooooo much more into my workouts and burn more calories! It's great!

I quit smoking about a year and a half ago and am so glad I did. I won’t lie, it was hard, and I had tried many times, but I made it eventually.
Since quilting my life is gotten so much better. Quitting smoking was just the first step in a series of good choices. I now exercise regularly, eat better, and live a much better happier life.

I would tell anyone that is thinking about quitting smoking it is well worth it but it is up to you and you have to be ready. No matter what method you choose, if you’re not ready to quit in your own mind, you’ll find some reason to have “just one”. Even though there are physical withdraws, I found the “mind games” were the worst part of it. If you’re committed and dedicated though you can make it past them and they eventually fade away.
Bottom line is if you’re ready, make up your mind and start today.

<New Here>

I smoked for just over 20 years and have been cigarette free for 3.5 years, by using an electronic cigarette...

I decided to try it one day and haven't needed a regular cig since. My mom smokes for over 55 years and was able to quit cold turkey with them too. We started off with a stronger nicotine liquid and have gradually decreased it. I still use the ecig, but no more nasty chemicals or smell that I had with regular cigarettes

I quit the day after my 30th birthday, October 11 is my anniversary. It will be 4yrs this year. Glad I did it, but every GREAT once in a while, I will get a craving. Especially during super stressful situations at work. Ironically, I am a nurse and am supposed to be the example to my patients. My husband still smokes. I "tease" him regularly about his smell after smoking. If I have had a patient with end-stage COPD or some other nasty smoker complication- I embellish a bit. But, I also know how hard it is to quit. Tried soooo many times before. So it has to be on his time. As far as the missing limb commercials, I haven't seen them, and have yet to see any patients who have lost limbs soley because of smoking, though I'm sure it is possible. I have diabetic patients with amputations and am sure that some of those people had their problems exacerbated by the smoking habit.

Congrats to all of us for quitting!! We get to breathe better and live a little longer. God willing. :flowerforyou:

I quit smoking almost 20 years ago when my mother was diagnosed with lung cancer. Watching her waste away in a hospital bed was very difficult and I made the decision that I didn't want to put my family through that for something that is more or less self inflicted.

For all of you struggling with quitting all I can say is keep it up, even if you put on a few pounds (I sure did! - food is so good when your mouth doesn't taste like an ashtray) the health benefits are significant. Moreover, you won't be exposing your children to second hand smoke.

I'm on my journey now, it's my third attempt, but this time I have been using Paul Mckenna CDs.

It's a gradual process, where it reaches your subconscious. I have been listening to the CDs every night before I go to sleep, for nearly three weeks now and in that time I have gone from 30+ per day to just 3 - 5.

I don't have a ciggie first thing in the morning like I used to. I hardly smoke at work, if at all. I don't smoke before or after the gym/zumba/yoga classes. I've been to a wedding and smoked two ciggies, and to the pub with partner/other friends and only smoked the once. The problem I am having is when I'm relaxing and doing nothing, that's when I smoke the most - if I can get over that obstacle, I'm a winner

Curiously, it's had an effect on my alcohol and caffeine intake. I haven't had a cup of coffee for a week, and when I drink, I can make a single small glass of wine last for hours, I don't crave alcohol anymore. Weird huh?

Hopefully another few weeks of the CD will get me to non-smoking. I've had a slight relapse this week, twisted my ankle and ended up with a nasty cold/fever, so I've smoked a bit more, but never over 10 cigs. I'm not going to beat myself up over it though, I'm just going to start again - I did today.

I'm going to let the CDs take on their subliminal effects gradually, and not try to force it, go with the flow naturally and with PATIENCE.