4 days clean

[TransitJohn]

chewing about 8-10 pieces of 2mg Nicorrette per day. It's cheaper to buy the fucking smokes than the gum.

[TransitJohn]

1. 5 days

am chewing my 6th piece of 2mg Nicorrette now. No smoking yet.

[yellerpup]

2. Outstanding!

I know it's difficult, but you are doing it! You'll be so happy that you stayed strong. I can't believe it, but I don't miss it at all (after 40 years). There will come a day when it won't even cross your mind any more and I hope that day comes for you early. Way to go, TJ! :applause: :woohoo: :applause:

[Violet_Crumble]

3. Congrats. I'm on day 4 of Champix (you americans call it Chantix)

I set my stop smoking date for this Saturday, but smokes are already tasting like crap and I'm not smoking nearly as much as I was a few days ago, so I'll probably stop sooner than Saturday. I do feel a bit guilty that I'm not getting any side effects like other people say they've had like vivid dreams and nausea. All I've noticed is smokes taste like crap now, which is fine with me :)

[TransitJohn]

4. 17 days clean

n/t

[TransitJohn]

5. 22 days

I'm gonna be a non smoker soon...after 20 years.

[yellerpup]

6. You are already a non-smoker

for 22 days. You've made a great effort and you are succeeding. Good work! :hi:

[Gore1FL]

37. you were a non smoker after you smoked your last cigarette.

There is zero time concerns over it. I have been a non-smoke for over 7 months. I was a non smoker from the point I put out my last cig.

[TransitJohn]

7. 6 weeks today....pretty sure I've made it.

We'll hope I don't backslide during the summer!

[TransitJohn]

8. 7 weeks and one day.

I don't really get any cravings anymore, except when I'm out drinking beer around a bunch of smokers, but they're easy to resist. Good luck to anyone thinking about or trying to quit. I was a pack a day smoker for 20 years, I know it's tough, but it's worth it. I'm still waiting for food to taste better or my smell to get better like everyone says, but I think it's a myth.

[yellerpup]

9. Hang in there, TransitJohn

You're winning! Lots of people say food tastes better but I haven't noticed much difference except that my mouth tastes better all day long and especially in the morning. Your gums will get healthier and you'll keep getting more and more kissable which is better than getting fat (because food tastes so good) anyway. I'm happy for you. :toast:

[TransitJohn]

10. Thanks

:hi:

[yellerpup]

11. You bet!

It's not easy, but you are doing it! Good job! :hi:

[Alameda]

12. I stopped cold turkey Saturday. So far so good.

I really don't have the desire. I woke one morning and my breathing was so bad that was it. I am overwhelmed by the fragrance of everything. It's like multiple explosions. Hopefully weight gain will not be a problem. No munchies so far.

[yellerpup]

13. Excellent news!

You won't miss smoking once the cravings are over. I found it very helpful to think of smoking as something that I used to do, an activity that is no longer an option for me. You'll just keep feeling better and better as your addiction is defeated. Keep up the good work! For me, food cravings were best overcome by 1) exercise and 2) breathing through the moment of craving. The twinges came and went in the beginning and when they struck I just concentrated on my breath until they were gone. I tried lots of different ways to quit before I succeeded. Cold turkey worked. To quote the rune stones: "Once the decision is made, the doing becomes effortless." Congratulations and continued good luck! :hi:

Edit for typo

[Alameda]

14. Thank you....this weekend I actually felt twinges to smoke

......but I didn't! Saturday and Sunday were days I used to sit in my patio and smoke....it's just the twinge now and then. I do find breathing helps....my breath is coming back. I can breath much deeper now than I could last week. I didn't notice how stinky my garments smelled. I will have to take everything for a odor treatment.....

Something they don't talk about is the habits.....I'm really not feeling the nicotine...but I miss the familiar habits. How to light, hold, blow smoke....dispose of ashes....there are so many little habits associated with smoking that have not been addressed.

[yellerpup]

15. That ugly 'stank' holds on for a long time.

Professional cleaning for all the fabrics is a good idea. I had to toss my curtains as well because they were so funky. The rituals of smoking -- all the habits you mention plus time and place issues such as the favorite bar, the buddy who still smokes -- overcoming the urge to seek the comfort from the familiar is possibly the hardest thing to overcome. Try to remember that you are doing yourself a HUGE favor by leaving this dirty habit behind and since you are not smoking then you have already left it behind. The last thing you want to do is go back and pick up that bad habit again and have to carry it until it kills you. A dear friend who quit smoking several years before I did once said, "I know I could smoke again very easily. I'm not so sure I could quit again." Stay strong. Every day, you win! :hug:

[Alameda]

16. Thanks yellerpup....I really appreciate your input.

Fortunately, I don't go to bars, and really don't have any more buddies who smoke. My last smoking pal got sick and can not smoke anymore at all. I think it was to help her I started stopping...sorta. We used to drive around looking for garage sales, listening to music and smoking. She had two heart attacks and the Dr told her NO SMOKING! That means I can not smoke around her, although she begged me for one. I could not give her one, and of course, I did not smoke around her. I didn't even smoke in the car before I went to get her. That was at least 12 hours to have the car air out....but she smelled it on my cloths and almost swooned....Now I can say I stopped and I really really DO NOT WANT to start this damn thing again.

[yellerpup]

17. I love that you came to it by yourself in that last sentence...

"Now I can say I stopped and I really really DO NOT WANT to start this damn thing again." This time, remember that it is you who really wants to breathe and do what you want. Nobody cares more about your success or failure than you do and you for sure DO NOT WANT to keep going through this. Every day has its own challenges, but it does get better over time and you won't even think about smoking before long. Hard to imagine now, I know, but one day you will realize that you haven't thought of your old habit for a long time and you will laugh! You should be very proud of yourself right now.

[Alameda]

18. I don't want to be proud...rather, I am thankful that finally I am

sick and tired of this silly, stupid, disgusting habit. Someone came into my office today with some papers, they stank of nicotine. The person must have been smoking in the car. Probably in the past I would not have noticed it. I'm taking breathing smelling walks now instead of smoke breaks. There are some particularly sweet scented areas around my work. Eucalyptus trees....nice...

And again, thank you for your encouragement!:yourock:

[TransitJohn]

19. 10 weeks

I've had one relapse...2 weeks ago I had a cheap cigarillo while drunk. Otherwise I've stayed clean.

[yellerpup]

20. One while drinking doesn't make you a smoker again.

You are clean. Congratulations on 10 weeks!

[Alameda]

21. Wow....congratulations!!! Keep it up, even if you do fall down

a little, just pick yourself up and keep on going. I'm 3 weeks clean....I hope to G-d I never pick it up again. I look back and wonder how I could do such a thing to myself?

[TransitJohn]

22. 11 weeks and a day.

:bounce: Good luck to everyone else.

[Alameda]

23. You are 11 weeks and several days clean....cool!

Thanks for letting us know. You know I read posts about people stopping, but after a while you stop hearing about them. It is nice for those who recently have stopped to hear the stories, successful or not.

Congratulations and good luck! Think of all you have to gain!

[TransitJohn]

24. 14 weeks!

How's everyone doing?

[Alameda]

25. Still clean! Why oh why did it take so long to give it up?

[TransitJohn]

26. Good on ya.

Me too. As to why it took so long for me....well, I still miss it....I genuinely enjoy smoking. It was a willpower thing for me.

[Mari333]

27. 3 months now, chewing the nicotine lozenges

2mg....still better then smoking...i will probably continue with these til i dont need them...and yes, wayyy cheaper then cigs. and i can breathe again. and i am singing again. and i can take in a deeeeep breath again.

[cyndensco]

28. I quit April 1st in anticipation of the tax increase.

I did the patch thing, via the Quitline, and, after finishing the 2 months, picked up lozenges. I am pretty hooked on them, have gained about 5 lbs., but otherwise feel good.

Shortly before I decided to quit this time, I heard a report that women smoking menthol cigs had a very low quit success rate. I was determined to bet the odds. So far, so good.

Isn't it nice getting dressed in the morning without worrying about smelling like smoke?

[TransitJohn]

29. 16 weeks!

Other than the slip up w/ the cheap cigar weeks ago, I'm still smoke free.

[TransitJohn]

30. 17 weeks clean.

I'm keeping this bumped on the off chance that it might be inspirational for some. I haven't even chewed a piece of gum in 2 1/2 weeks.

[david13]

31. 24 years here. Keep going. Don't smoke no matter what. Not

even if your ass falls off.
dc

[TransitJohn]

32. 21 weeks.

Still no slip up other than the one cigar a couple of months ago, mentioned upthread. Good luck everyone.

[LNM]

33. Good for you TransitJohn

It's been nearly 20 months for me. Man it feels great!

[TransitJohn]

34. 27 weeks and counting.

I now refer to myself as a former smoker in conversation.

[WheelWalker]

35. You may Control a Mad Elephant,

You may Shut the Mouth of the Bear and the Tiger;
Ride the Lion and Play with the Cobra;
By Alchemy you may Earn your Livelihood;
You may Wander through the Universe, Incognito;
Make Vassals of the Gods, be Forever Youthful;
You may Walk on Water and Live in Fire;
But Control of the Mind is better -
And more Difficult.

[Gore1FL]

36. stop the gum

It is not helping you. You can get over nicotine easier than you think you can.

[TransitJohn]

38. You think I'm on the gum

8 months later?
Edit: And thanks for telling me how to run my body.:crazy: