4 Days without a cigarette...an update (BurtWorm, how are you doing?)

[Maddy McCall]

The second day was the worst--physical withdrawals. Now I think the physical cravings are over--it's the mental ones that plague me.

I am eating sunflower seeds, chewing Big Red, and have actually lost a couple of pounds.

Anyway, for everyone who has encouraged me to do this, I am sticking with it, and it isn't as bad as I had thought it would be. I am not using patches or medication...I cold-turkeyed.

BurtWorm, how are you doing??? Others who are quitting, please report in.

[Maple]

1. If you have made it 4 days

you're over anything physical.

Now stop thinking of yourself as a smoker who quit...and forget the topic of smoking altogether, and get on with your life.

You have been reborn.

[Maddy McCall]

2. Thanks, Maple :-)

I still find myself thinking about smoking when I am dealing with stress.

But, tonight, I am about to pop the top on some muscadine wine and have a couple of glasses. I am usually a beer drinker, so I decided to avoid beer and drink a little wine tonight.

I guess I am classified "nonsmoker" now, but it is hard to forget a vice, an addiction, that I used for over 20 years. I am trying really hard to, though! :-)

[Maple]

8. There will always be stress

But you are a non-smoker now....so the last thing you'd do is smoke.

Blech!

;-)

[kayleybeth]

3. You're doing the right thing

I admire you. I could never go cold turkey. I am going to have to quit one way or another though. Smokes are almost $40/carton now.

[Maddy McCall]

4. I quit for my son...the price increase on Oct. 1 was an added incentive!

You can go cold turkey...really you can. When you decide to do it, and you are sure that you want to quit, you can do it.

[kayleybeth]

13. I should clarify...

I could never go cold turkey without turning into an absolute bitch, LOL!

[Maddy McCall]

17. LOL! Well, no one has thrown a pack of cigs at me YET and said.

"Just SMOKE!" LOL!

My mom has been excellent...she came to check on me on Day 2, which was complete and utter hell, and I was an absolute bitch, but she brought me ice cream to soothe my withdrawals--it worked!

[jrthin]

5. Jchild, you're doing well.

Take it a day at a time into 14days, and honestly, it gets better and easier.

[scarlet_owl]

6. Way to go!

It will get easier. I quit cold turkey two years ago in December. I just stopped buying them and it worked. You will probably always have cravings, but it does get a lot better. Congratulations!

[Loyal]

7. Awesome

Good on you! :)

[Cheswick2.0]

9. yay for you, good job, congratulations!!!!!

way to go!

[roguevalley]

10. Don't give up. Get something to hold in your hand.

My dad quit smoking the hard way. He had strokes and
during his recovery, he forgot he smoked. Smoking
caused the strokes. He's the most committed anti-smoker
I have ever met. He would tell you to hang on. Its
totally worth it being free.

Hugs.

[tnlefty]

11. Good for you! The times that I quit I was pregnant or nursing and I'm not

doing that again!!! I stopped for 1 - 1/2 yrs. each time with 3 kids and I don't smoke around them or their Dad, but I will still go (sneak) outside even if it's just 1 or 2 a day. I know it's absolutely ridiculous and I really have no excuse for continuing!

[ForrestGump]

12. This is for you!

And this is the only kind of butt you'll touch from now on:

Congratulations, jchild!!! You're 'over the hump' now - the worst has already been.

:D

[TacticalPeek]

14. It will be one of the best things you can do with your life.

When in doubt . . . brreeeeeeathe deep.

:)

[Rowdyboy]

15. You rock, Jill

I simply couldn't do it without LOTS of help ("cold turkey" was only a sandwich option for me). Buts its the best thing I've ever done and, 10 years later, I'm so glad I did. I wake up without coughing, get bronchitis less, have more money, food tastes better, and I'm healthier. If I'm only gonna give up one vice, cigarettes were the obvious choice.

:toast: :beer: :toast:

[5X]

16. congrats, on day 18 myself

have pledged to send saved money to kucinich campaign.

[Maddy McCall]

19. Fantastic!

That is great! I don't know what I will do with the money...I am keeping a running total--may double up on student loan payments. The thought of being debt free---ahhhhh!

[Maddy McCall]

18. Thanks everyone! I am curious about BurtWorm....

He quit on Oct. 2nd...haven't heard from him.

Anyway, thanks everyone for the supportive messages. If anyone else is quitting and If I can be of any help, please PM me.

[mitchum]

20. Good for you!

That is fantastic news