Kevin's Watch

it has now been a week since I quit smoking, I know this is the wrong forum but, I couldn't wait to tell someone!!!!!

thefirst wrote:it has now been a week since I quit smoking, I know this is the wrong forum but, I couldn't wait to tell someone!!!!!

Well congratulations!

thefirst wrote:it has now been a week since I quit smoking, I know this is the wrong forum but, I couldn't wait to tell someone!!!!!

Where did you're avatar go?

Good luck on the quitting smoking.

Congrats. Quitting's hell, but it's worth it.

good luck! After a lifetime smoking, I'm coming up on my one year anniversary of quitting, on Jan 2nd.

Still addicted to the nicotine gum though

Getting any strange dreams yet?

Totally worth it, and congratulations.

I've found that the whole process becomes much easier if you exercise regularly. I don't know if it's the endorphin release or just the fact that you're using your lungs, but I quit cold turkey and didn't have a single craving.

congrats.

I'm on the opposite path un fortunatly. I quit over eight years ago (the day my first son was born) and the last few months at work, I've been bumming smokes like crazy. I haven't bought a pack yet; but it's only a matter of time

What the exercise has helped me do is utterly convince myself that cigarettes are disgusting. Every once in a while I'll think, "hmmmmm, I could go for a smoke", then I go smell someone who smokes and the moment passes.

The other thing to keep in mind, and something that I've definitely noticed, is that smoking kills your stamina and endurance. There's a tremendous difference in my performance of certain intensive cardiovascular activities now that my lungs are working more efficiently.

Congrats, thefirst! My 6 yr non-smoking aniv is around this time of year. What kept me free was keeping a dirty (but empty) ashtry around to remind me of the dirty habit for awhile and I also picked up jogging, the same exercise idea Cail mentions. Keep up the good and healthy work!

Stonemaybe wrote: Still addicted to the nicotine gum though

Actually, that's how I got started smoking. I had to work up with the gum.

Y'gotta have goals, y'see.

Even if you have a few lapses, don't get discouraged. I have been "smoke-free" since March, but sadly, I have had a few moments of weakness. Recognize them as what they are; your physical brain overpowering your inner mind. Once you recognize this, it will enable you to rewire some of your more smoke-inclined habits, which is really 90% of it.


Good luck!
-B

Congratulations!

I smoked for 12 years and have been smoke free now for about 6 months. I used Chantix and it worked pretty good. As was said before, I also upped my exercise routine and that has helped immensely. I still get the occasional craving, but they pass just as quickly as they come anymore. Hang in there. The first month or so was the worst for me. Once you get through that, it gets easier.

Good luck man.

On a side note, my main source of strength came from my daughters (although I never, ever smoked around either of them). My 6 year old learned in school that smoking kills and made sure I was also aware of this. I promised her I would quit by summer and I did. Whenever I wanted a smoke, I just thought about letting them down and it made me stronger.

Thanks everybody, still hanging in there, and I've tried several of your suggestions, many of them helpful. My 7 year old daughter has been a big help. She's practically turned into a cheerleader; she skips through the room ever so often chanting "my momma doesn't smoke", and the idea of letting her down is what gets me through most of my cravings. It helps that a friend of mine quit with me. And thankfully, I've never had any difficulty with maintaining my stamina, I smoked for over ten years but never very heavily, and I've always been very active. I turn 30 in a matter of weeks and I think it's appropriate that I do something positive to celebrate the landmark. And thanks again, for all the positives.

other tips....

gather up all your smoking paraphenalia (no matter HOW precious!) and THROW IT AWAY - and NOT where you can retrieve it!

make plans how you will cope with the 'must-have' smoke times, and think of other - enjoyable! - things to do instead. (my music player has proved invaluable ) (kiwi fruits too )

Champix! (I haven't tried it but it looks like a miracle drug)

I had no choice in quitting smoking - I gave up the night I started smoking cigars. Thanks to Montressor who bought me a pack for my 25th birthday, I became violently ill and swore never to touch another smoke again.

Loremaster wrote:I had no choice in quitting smoking - I gave up the night I started smoking cigars. Thanks to Montressor who bought me a pack for my 25th birthday, I became violently ill and swore never to touch another smoke again.

True, my one good deed done for life.

And here's an image to show just how classy smoking can really be:

The first ten-or fifteen YEARS are the hardest...after that it SHOULD be smooth sailing.

drew wrote:The first ten-or fifteen YEARS are the hardest...after that it SHOULD be smooth sailing.

The moral of the story is start smoking at one then immediately give up, and when you turn 15 you'll be fine!

Smoking at one....damn near!

My parents were both heavy smokers (they both quite a couple of years ago) but while me, my sister, and my nephew were growing up, they always smoked in the house...at the dinner table...in the car...whatever.
And it tooks it's toll. THe three of us all ended up with lung problems.
I remember at ten years old having to be taken to the Hospital to get Oxygen and Ventalin masks...I was there for hours, on many mask treatments, and by the time I got home, I couldn't brethe again, cause my mom was smoking the whole was home.

The worst part is, I started smoking two years later!!!

WTF???