I quit smoking two years ago today

[Skittles]

Ex-smoker check in - tell me your progress! And you DUers who want to quit smoking - you have plenty of support here in the DU!

I smoked for 30 years and this is my first attempt at quitting. How did I do it? Well, moving in with Tombo, a rabid non-smoker, helped. But still, I waited until I was good and ready. I have to admit one of my main incentives was laziness - I simply got tired of having to plan, for every event/situation, where/when I could smoke a cig.

I wore the patch for a couple of weeks and it seems to have done the trick. Although the only benefit I have noticed is I have saved a lot of money, that alone is worth it. Plus I got rid of that nagging feeling that every time I lit up I was supporting repuglicans.

[Nevernose]

1. I quit 46 minutes ago and counting

Seriously, I seem to "quit" three times a day. Do y'all have any idea how many "last cigarettes" I've had in the last week alone?

Am I just inherently weak? I quit drinking, and quit taking drugs, and although those were hard habits to kick, I've never looked back. What is it about my precious, precious Camels, with their smooth Turkish blend...see? There I go again.

:-(

[liberalmuse]

9. I quit over 5 years ago...

It was one of the smarter things I've ever done. I loved smoking, too, but the not being able to breath part sucked. I could smoke up to 3 packs a day at times and felt like a human smoke filter.

Congratulations! I remember after 2 years, it was easy from there. I'll never smoke again. I even lost the weight I gained after quitting--it just dropped off after I hit the 2-year mark.

[Hubert Flottz]

2. You hang in there gal!

I'm proud of you! You pick up one fat Camel and I'LL KICK YOUR ASS!

[Skittles]

6. lol, I did like Camel Lights

mmmmmmmmm good. Especially with liquor! Well, I passed the liquor test when I went to the DU gathering in Austin. I drank a few and was able to handle the urges to light up, even with Will Pitt right there smoking like a chimney. :)

[Hubert Flottz]

7. Get you some Skoal long cut if you feel like you might break......

over! Really all jokes aside I'm proud of ya! I know how hard it is to quit!

[madrchsod]

8. that`s one test to pass alright

when i smoked i always smoked alot more when i drank or smoked pot-go figure-but now i can drink and not crave a cig anymore..i quit 20 yrs ago. since you`re over two years you should be alright! and don`t smokers smell funny and their clothes..ick!

[GOPisEvil]

3. Woohoo! Happy Smoke-Free Anniversary!

:party::toast:

[Skittles]

5. HOWDY DAVID

OMG, I go on-call today and I am dreading it. There were still hundreds of jobs in the error queue yesterday. People don't like change and HIPAA is a major one! :O

[GOPisEvil]

10. I feel for you!

Big things like this also tend to bring out the stupid in people! :D

[meegbear]

4. January 1, 1992

2 pack a day habit.

I do smoke cigars now, but that's only when I'm drinking and I average 2 a week.

Congrats and keep it up!!!

[underpants]

11. IF YOU START AGAIN I'LL KICK YOUR ASS!

:hi:

[oxymoron]

12. Congratulations! Been trying like crazy to quit myself....

Really would like to get rid of them once and for all. I've tried the patch, the gum, the medication, etc. Damn, that's a great accomplishment for you. You are an inspiration!

[SilasSoule]

13. Congrats Skittles!!

:hi:

April 16, 2002 was my quit date so I am about 6 months behind you.

Gained 40 lbs since then.

[radwriter0555]

18. Yeah, I've put on about 20 pounds that I'm fighting like hell to get back

off, but I'd rather be a little overwieght than cancer ridden.

A huge motivator was a dear, dear friend dying at the age of 52 from throat cancer, from his marlboro habit. It was such a long, painful death, and he was a gorgeous, handsome, vital man... he was such a major hottie, and had everything going for him; fortune and fame, family. But all his money couldn't cure his cancer.

I don't want to die like that.

[Bunny]

14. Way to go!

:toast: I quit almost five years ago.

[arwalden]

15. Many Happy Returns Of The Day

One year and four months and two weeks (+/- a day or two) for me.

Back when you were in your first few days of quitting, did you EVER imagine that you would be able to one day say "today is my ____ year anniversary" ??

I didn't. I felt certain that I would start again. It was so difficult. But once I had gotten beyond the first week, the rest was cake.

After that initial withdrawal stage (the PHYSICAL withdrawal)... the remaining urges are purely psychological. That's not to imply that the psychological urges to light-up aren't strong... sometimes they are. BUT by my simply KNOWING that it's a psychological urge, it made it easier to fight and to overcome.

Congrats, Skittles!

Love, Allen

P.S. Besides the financial benefits... my clothes don't stink. My house doesn't smell like smoke. The windows in my car stay cleaner longer. My MONITOR doesn't have a sticky yellow haze on it.

MY DEAR SWEET SHIH-TZU DOESN'T GO AROUND SNEEZING ALL DAY LONG. THE EYE-JAM GOO AND THE REDDISH TEAR-STAINS AROUND HER EYES HAVE TOTALLY DISAPPEARED!!! (It just breaks my heart to realize now how uncomfortable I was making her back then.)

[Skittles]

33. I did lose the extra pounds

but have regained them I think because I had to take steroids for a severe sinus condition. I'll work on losing them again.

[BiggJawn]

16. You go, Girl! Still smoke-free here, too!

Since 17 March, 2003...How much weight have you gained? I've put on 15 pounds (I ride my bike like crazy, or else I guess it'd be at least 30#)and it's not coming off easily...

[radwriter0555]

17. AMEN to all that. Those were my reasons and motivations for quitting

a year and a half ago, FINALLY, FOREVER, as well.

I couldn't STAND the thought I was making some republican fat fukc MORE wealthy with my addiction.

$5 a day adds UP! YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAY!

Smoke Free FOREVER!

The patch was crucial in getting off the hook as well. It really worked for me.

[mac56]

19. Rock on!

Proud of you.

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

20. That's awesome Skittles!

:)

[catmandu57]

22. Started in september 1969

seventh grade at the bus stop to jr. high. We had just moved again, and one more time the new kid had to fit in so when I was handed the cigarette, it was smoke or be an outsider.
April 21 1993, I finally kicked that monkey in the nutsack, so it was ten years in April, and I'm so damn glad.
There were many times I suffered from that addiction, being broke and smoking are'nt good bedfellows, I picked butts up off the street, out of ashtrays, begged, borrowed, and even stole without a bit of conscience to calm that monkey.
Now, it's gone and good fucking riddance, congrats Sue, two years is pretty well kicking it, keep it up.

[dwckabal]

21. CONGRATULATONS! n/t

[MissMillie]

23. Quit 5 1/2 years ago

Best thing I ever did (with the exception of having my son).

No one ever died from quitting smoking.

[Seneca]

24. keep it up!

Because if you smoke again, I WILL KICK YOUR ASS! :D

[bleedingheart]

25. hmmmm...this might explain something....

CONGRATULATIONS! that is quite an accomplishment...many people including my brother still struggle with the habit...

[newyawker99]

26. Happy anniversary Skittles!!

:toast: :thumbsup:

[denverbill]

27. Congrats Skittles. I'm nearly at 6 months! n/t

[Crewleader]

28. Congratulations You Kick Ass Kinda Of Girl

I'm very proud of you Skittles!!! :toast:

30 years is a long time...I was 24 years...and you just said it...you made up your mind and you do quit only when you know you want to and you will be surprise how fast your body will heal.

You Go Girl!!!

Now you will be a smoke-free kinda of girl
who can really kick some ass!!!:7

[Johnyawl]

29. 17 years

I quit 2 weeks before my youngest son was born, so it's easy to remember how long it's been.

Next year I'll be an ex-smoker, for as long as I was a smoker.

[northzax]

30. quitter.

Oh sure, having Bush in office makes you want to live longer. Not only are you a quitter, you're probably a Republican as well.




Sorry, under current federal regulations, smokers are required to taunt those currently choosing not to smoke.

[caledesi]

31. 7 1/2 years ago. It was about my 10th try over a period of 25 years.

I finally did it and it's the one thing that I am most proudest of in my life.

[Skittles]

32. THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WONDERFUL REPLIES

we will work on those DUers who want/need to quit smoking. WILL PITT AND RAVEN COME TO MIND > > > > >