So... How Are My Fellow Former Smokers Doing?

[Yes We Did]

16 Days into the new year and still going strong here. Had a couple rough days last week, but still holding out. Hope you all are doing well with it too. Be Strong!

[asdjrocky]

1. Been since the 5th for me.

I'm hanging in there, walking two times a day, and feeling better. Gawd I want a cigarette.

[Yes We Did]

2. You must still be having "The Dreams"

I hated those. Don't worry, it will get easier.

[asdjrocky]

4. I put on my first patch today.

But all in all, I'm feeling good and pretty darned proud of myself. I've never been someone very good a quiting things. I'm just glad I'm not giving up my other habit.

[Yes We Did]

10. You should be.

You put your patch on today... I remember the first time I tried the patch. I put it on when I got up and started cleaning. I went to the grocery store and it finally kicked in. I couldn't quit laughing! Everyone thought I was stoned.

Oh... good times.

[donco6]

32. Don't fall asleep with the patch on.

At least - when I did, I had super-wild dreams.

Some were sorta fun. . . others, not so much. Hubby had to shake me awake a few times.

[asdjrocky]

33. Lol, I've never minded dream tripping a bit.

Maybe I'll see what happens.

[Yes We Did]

37. LOL...

LOL... LOL... Keep us posted. LOL...

[asdjrocky]

44. I can always use a new idea for a short story.

[donco6]

45. Have a pen and paper handy.

I remember just having the longest, most intricately-woven dream-stories. It was like a Technicolor movie all night long.

The problem is, I just felt exhausted the next day.

[Yes We Did]

46. I used mine for graphic designs.

Never know when inspiration might strike!

[asdjrocky]

48. Is your avatar south parks Phill Collins?

If so, that is just too funny.

[Yes We Did]

52. It's Cartman as Dogg, the bounty hunter

That has to be one of my favorite episodes... "Teacher Bangs A Boy"

[asdjrocky]

53. That's right.

Am I alone in thinking that he looks a bit like Phil Collins with a beard?

[Yes We Did]

55. LOL...

I see it. Oh... I love that show. Sometimes they really put out some hilarious stuff.

[asdjrocky]

58. I loved the Michael Jackson spoof, and of course, when Tom Cruise wouldn't come out of the closet.

[Yes We Did]

60. Did you see...

Mystery of the urinal deuce? or Butter's Own Episode?

OH... and I recently found out where they got Moses from in "jewbilee" It was the "god" in the 1982 movie Tron!

[asdjrocky]

74. Butter is the single best new invention any show ever has come up with.

I love Butter, and I loved his own show. It's a sick sad and funny world. Excuse me while I go paint my walls.

[Political Tiger]

69. Your icon always reminds me of Barry Gibb

of the Bee Gees...

[Yes We Did]

71. OMG!

:rofl: It does, doesn't it!

[sam sarrha]

3. 13 years.. couldnt have done it without meditation.. good luck, just remember all the people with

oxygen tanks you see with a tube up their nose so they can walk.. ARE THE LUCKY ONES.. the other old smokers are all dead..

[Yes We Did]

6. Yes.

My grandmother died of lung cancer in 2004, so I know all to much how true that is.

[sam sarrha]

39. sorry to hear of your tragic loss. i can not believe that a product that kills nearly half a million

people a year is legal, or that adults are allowed to use such a dangerous drug in view of children.. Tobacco kills as many people as the total death toll of our soldiers in Iraq in 4 days. the tobacco industry is dependant on child abuse to stay in business. if they cant addict children they would go out of business. few people start smoking after the teenage years. their money is already allocated to necessities. Tobacco killed my father, he started smoking at 11 years old.

[Yes We Did]

49. I was 12 when I picked my first one up.

Didn't start smoking regularly till I was 17... But shit, I'm only 30... that's 18 years already!

Was definitely time to quit.

[Journeyman]

5. Twenty-two years, eleven days, twenty-one hours and counting. . .

toughest addiction I ever broke -- and most rewarding. . .

[Shiver]

7. Uh... we were supposed to quit?

I didn't get the memo...

[Yes We Did]

11. Only if you wanted to.

Smoke away. :smoke:

[Shiver]

21. I really should quit

I lost a chunk of my tooth last night, and I need to save up some money for dental work. Quitting smoking would save me about $150 a month...

The idea scares me though. I always smoke while I write, and doing one without the other doesn't feel right...

[asdjrocky]

38. I never thought I could do it.

Then I coughed so hard I nearly passed out, and that did it for me. I still have a long way to go, but if I can get this far, anyone can.

[QC]

8. It's been a little over a year for me now, and it's getting easier all the time.

Keep at it--the cravings will become rarer and less intense.

[Yes We Did]

13. I bet dislocating your wrist helped alot too.

I'm sorry... I'm sorry... But that post still makes me laugh! You are too much.

[QC]

18. Well, yes, it makes it much harder to get the cigarette up to my mouth.

Ever little bit helps.

[annabanana]

9. Mr Banana got himself an "e-cig"... delivers nicotine without tobacco. .

He has cut his smoking by more than half... (and he has a 38 year, two pack a day habit)

I haven't heard much about these things, but WOW what a difference
Here's where he gets them from... Does anyone here know anything about them?

http://www.puresmoker.com/

[Raksha]

73. Thanks for the link, annabanana.

I've never heard heard of e-cigarettes before. I'm still too chicken to seriously try to quit (I'm seriously addicted!) so that might definitely be an option for me.

[cynatnite]

12. Still smoke free after a little over a year n/t

[Yes We Did]

14. Woo Hoo! Good Job!

[TheKentuckian]

15. Quiter never win and winners never quit

Just kidding guys. keep it up and good luck! I hope it sticks forever.

[The Straight Story]

16. why do you hate kids? Without smokers we can't fund schip program

and kids will suffer. Guess I will have to smoke more cause I care about the kids :)

[Yes We Did]

17. Problem=Solution

:)

[ellenfl]

19. a year and a half and doing fine . . . just getting fatter. eom

[Yes We Did]

27. I have recently rediscovered oranges.

I can't get enough of them. And ice cream... and chocolate... and...

[ellenfl]

78. it's the chocolate that got me. eom

[FreeState]

20. 4 years two months to the day - and the hour too! LOL doing great n/t

[Jazzgirl]

22. I quit finally completely a year ago.

I had quit then started cheating at home and not telling anybody. I got really sick and couldn't go to work. I bought a final pack of cigarettes and came home and lit it and knew it was probably the last one I would ever smoke. I wound up in the hospital. I was there for 8 days. When I came home (after I took a shower and my friends left) I took the pack out of the drawer, crushed it, and threw it in the trash. I haven't even missed them. I also sleep with oxygen so that is plenty of incentive for me to not want to smoke anymore.

[Yes We Did]

26. Oh my goodness.

I'm so sorry. It the oxygen tank because of the smoking? or is it temporary?

[SoCalNative]

23. I'm on day 5 today

have had it a little rough last night and today..too much work stress..but have no intention of lighting up.

[Jazzgirl]

25. Believe me, the cigarette won't help the stress.

Been there and done that. I quit several years ago for 3 years. Hardest thing I ever did. It took me getting really sick (almost died) to completely quit. I don't miss it now. Just one day at a time.......

[mtnester]

24. 17 months this week

smelled my brand this afternoon and stood for a minute with the memory


I believe, even though I have no real craving for them, that any of us can go right back to it within 30 seconds, so I am always careful to recognize my weak times

[Yes We Did]

28. My dad will quite for 5 or 6 years and then go right back to it.

....for 5 or 6 months, and then quit again.

[mtnester]

36. I have no idea how he manages to do that

I know I could not

My weak spots are the 'reward" cigarettes...like after I have finished cleaning house, or making a big meal, or mowing the yard....those are the times I want one (still)

I feel I have entered non smoker mode/state of mind, but still the occasional whiff of my brand will make me stand still and breathe it for a second or two before moving along.

[Yes We Did]

41. The only time I REALLY want one...

is after an argument. Aside from that, it's been very easy this time... probably because I actually WANTED to quit this time.
I tried a ton of times last year. This was the first time I didn't go through withdrawals.

[mtnester]

51. I am so glad for you...really

I quit cold turkey too...and this time I really wanted to....that is the key factor


:)

[Yes We Did]

54. I tried using the patch last year...

Three times I think. Didn't take. Actually, if I wouldn't have gone to visit my mom it probably would have. But this time, I didn't use anything. Oh, wait... that's not true. I used one patch (a leftover) but yeah... after that, nothing. I was actually worried because it seemed to easy.

[mtnester]

65. You too? I thought it was easy for me too

I planned for weeks, and did actually have a couple conversations with the quitline folks (great people all)


So easy, it made me nervous.

[Yes We Did]

67. I almost went to the hospital...

Seriously. I thought something must be wrong with me. But here i am... feeling fine. And one of the best things is that I'm not snoring all night any more.

[Mike 03]

29. I'm a former nicotine gum and smokeless tobacco addict.

Contratulations to you. Nicotine is the hardest drug to quit, according to addiction specialists.

By 16 days out, all the nicotine is out of your system. You are probably through the worst of the physical reactions. The rest is mental.

The good news is your body is all ready healing itself; your blood pressure is probably ten points lower, and your pancreas is pouring out a lot less insulin.

Great job.

[Starry Messenger]

30. I'm almost up to 10 months.

I want to rip that cigarette out of the monkey's mouth. Nah. Not really. Finally the worst of the cravings are done. Now I'm suffering what Chris Hitchens calls "C.R.A.F.T." (can't remember a fucking thing). He's an ass but his description of quitting smoking was quite funny.

[donco6]

31. I'm Doing GREAT!!!

Since Election Day I've had TWO cigarettes!

And about 200 packs of gum.

[lanlady]

34. 5 years, 8 months without a cig

I was a serious smoker til I woke up and confronted reality: quit or die. It was the smartest thing I've ever done. You won't regret it. Good luck!!

[oldnslo]

35. It will be 7 years April 30. I still have cravings, but don't give in.

[Yes We Did]

43. Still? OMG!

I hope I don't still get them.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

50. Yep. Still. After 12 years.

Not as often, but once in a while a whiff of second-hand smoke, and I want one.

I'm pretty sure I won't start again.

It gets easier.

[Yes We Did]

56. Pretty Sure...

Wow, that scares me. Well, stay strong.

[crone]

77. I have the occasional craving after 24 years...

and I occasionally sit downwind of a smoker on purpose!

[prolesunited]

40. Working on my sixth year here.

Wouldn't go back for anything. Quit cold turkey and never cheated.

I used a month of aversion-therapy on myself prior to quitting and stopped drinking for about four months until my resolve was strong.

[alfredo]

42. Smoke free since 1973. Went from three packs a day to nothing. It can

be done. Stay strong.

[onethatcares]

47. 2 years and 16 days as of now.

my wife is quit 4 months ago MOL. I feel pretty good at this point.:toast:

[Yes We Did]

57. I bet you do. congrats!

:fistbump:

[NashVegas]

59. I Still Consider Myself a Smoker, Believe It Or Not

Even though it's been 18 months since I've had one.

I'd love to have a smoke. I just don't at this time.

[Yes We Did]

62. Kind of like a recovering alcoholic?

I can see that. It scares me a little, but I can see it.

[NashVegas]

75. Oh, No, Not So Much That

I stopped for three reasons:

1. I wanted cilia back in my throat and ear canals
2. getting into arguments with militant anti-smokers is more fun this way
3. $120 per month

No, not so much recovering alcoholic-type thing, but my sympathy is way more with smokers than with people who get a forehead bulge at the thought of people with that "filthy disgusting habit." Fuck that. Smoking is wonderful! It just happens to be bad for you in the long run.

You gotta not beat yourself up for wanting one.

[truebrit71]

61. Day 12 for me....

..not a puff.....cravings getting easier to handle...

[Yes We Did]

64. I had to figure out something to do when I had a trigger.

I used to go outside for a smoke, cuz that is just where I smoked, so now I just go outside and take a few deep breaths, and try to enjoy actually breathing.

[truebrit71]

66. I would do that but it's minus 23 degrees at the moment...

...but I do have to get up and take a walk every so often, otherwise I become welded to my chair...It's sort of ironic that in order to smoke I had to get physical exercise (get off my arse, go downstairs, walk to the bulsing garage) because the smoking area at work is so remote, and now that I am being healthy and NOT smoking I get less exercise!!!

[Yes We Did]

68. Isn't that funny?

But you'll live longer anyway.

[trof]

63. I'm pretending to be a non-smoker for a few days.

We left home Wednesday morning, flew to Boston for a week with our daughter and family.
It's freakin' 10 degrees.
I knew it was gonna be colder than a Siberian well digger's tuchas this week.
How fucking humiliating is it to have to step outside the back door in freezing weather so you can get a hit?
So I left smokes and lighter at home.
I got my pride.

But right now, 3 Scotches into the evening, I'd seriously consider trading you a BJ for one Capri 120 Menthol.
crap

[JuniperLea]

70. Yay! Congratulations!

I've been a non-smoker at least 2 1/2 years now, and I'm damn happy about it! Once in a while the thought of smoking creeps in... and I think of the smell, and the expense, and those little wrinkles around my lips that are now almost completely gone... and the money I'm not giving to the tobacco industry... then decide, naw, I'm good:)

[Yes We Did]

72. Thanx Juniperx!

Nice hearing from you.

[Howler]

79. The wrinkles disappear????

Juniperx, You wouldn't kid me would you? The wrinkles around the lips from smoking go away?
I quit smoking on monday mine are still here. When do they go away? Please Juniperx tell me its true!!! That would be so cool What a nice extra perk!!!

[TroglodyteScholar]

76. Doing great! I quit on 12/31...

...and I'll NEVER TAKE ANOTHER PUFF! :D

[proud patriot]

80. 4 or 5 years now for me doing fine

:hi:

[live love laugh]

81. One solid year under my belt. I'd quit before and restarted now I'm done for good. nt