For all you smokers out there.

[truebrit71]

Today is day 30 for me.

Nicotine free for 30 days.

Cold turkey.

Toughest thing I've ever done.

But I smell better, I FEEL better, I can taste things again, I sleep better, I have more energy...

Man what a difference it makes.

I feel for you that are still addicted. Yes it is hard, I smoked for 30 years, but you CAN do it if the time is right for you.

I will NEVER tell you not to smoke, that is your right, I will ask you NOT to smoke around me, not because I'm an arsehole but because it really does smell bad, and I will offer you every encouragement and support if you want to quit.

You CAN do it.

But you have to want to.

This time I really wanted to.

And I am finally free.

Peace.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. Congratulations!

Not only for yourself, but for your family. I have never smoked, but suffer the effects of second hand smoke. My husband can't quit, and both of us suffer the consequences.

[msongs]

2. way to go! it gets easier the longer you hold out nt

[TheCowsCameHome]

3. Congratulations ! I did the same, it's tough, but it's worth it.

Only YOU can do it, when YOU make up your mind. No one else can do it for you.

[EV_Ares]

4. Congrats to you & hang in there, I don't know but I would think you have already

gone through the roughest part of the cold turkey the first 30. Good luck.

[crikkett]

5. Congrats. You'll turn around and it'll be three years.

Hope you keep it up!

[Vilis Veritas]

6. Congrats. I know it is tough.

And you are right about the timing...

Peace.

[peace13]

7. That is Great!

Congrats! Peace, Kim

[A HERETIC I AM]

8. I quit cold turkey in 2000, stayed smoke free for 3 years and started again....

I'm getting there...ready to do it once and for all. One thing I remember was that after I got the nicotine addiction out of my system, the habit continued to be an issue for me for probably 4 or 5 months. I would find myself thinking about reaching for the pack out of habit at the times when I used to always have a smoke - after a meal, with the morning coffee, with a beer, etc.

Good for you. Keep it up. I'll be joining you soon.

[L0oniX]

20. I quit 3 times and now its perm. Keep trying.

[Ghost in the Machine]

9. Congratulations to you!

I quit once... for 4 months... and felt the same way. Sadly, stress started me back smoking, but i'm trying to quit again.. it *is* a tough thing to do. I quit a $1000/day cocaine habit, cold turkey, never bothered me a bit... the same way with drinking, quit cold turkey, never had a problem staying clean.... but quitting these damned cigarettes is the hardest thing I've ever done in my life, and one of the only few things I have ever failed at... and it eats me up inside...

best of luck to you for a smoke-free future


PEACE!

Ghost

[malta blue]

10. Congratulations!

March 4 will be ONE YEAR for me.

It was hard and I did it cold turkey - no NRT either.

I am proud of you :hug:

~malta blue~

[Labors of Hercules]

11. Awesome!

I'm burning one in your honor! :smoke: (just kidding)

I've been off the tsola weed for 6 months now, and although I've gained a pound or two (working on that), I have felt a helluva lot better! Goodonya mate!

[Lebam in LA]

12. Day One For Me

This was exactly what I needed to see this morning. Thanks and Congratulations!!!!

[RedEarth]

42. Good for you....take it day by day and you'll make it

it's not easy, but I can promise, you will feel substantially better. During this time try to exercise...it sure helps make it easier to quit.

Good luck!

I smoked for about 15 years and quit 20 years ago....again, best of luck.

[Lebam in LA]

44. Thanks for the encouragement

Day 2 and so far so good. I just have to remember it is 1 day at a time.

[El Pinko]

13. Congratulations!

I quit in 1992.

[flamin lib]

14. Congratulations. Been there and done that 'bout 30 years ago.

By now you've figured out that you can't spend all the money you save by not buying tobacco. You need it to dry clean everything you own and have the carpet & drapes cleaned not to mention painting the interior of the house.

The tough part is still ahead tho. It takes about two years to be completely free of the habits you've formed over the last 30 years. It took me that long to stop reaching for my shirt pocket at every stop sign. Besides, every time something good happened your bud the cigarette was there. He was there for you when things got stressful too. If you do feel the urge just remember that one borrowed smoke will take you back to day one. It'll be over in a few minutes and you can stand on your head that long if ya' have to.

There's another rough spot coming soon. You may become hyper-sensitive to smoke. That lasts about six months and it's what gives "born again non smokers" a bad rep. For awhile your diaphragm may refuse to move while in the company of smokers making it impossible to breathe. Just try to avoid those situations so your smoking friends don't think you're faking it and being an ass-hole.

In about six months you'll be doing something strenuous and suddenly realize that you're not wheezing and your heart isn't pounding. Thats when the payoff comes.

Hang in and good luck, it's the best thing you an do for yourself and for everyone around you.

[shadowknows69]

15. Good for you

I'm strugglin with quitting right now and I have to because I just got real bad news from my doctor about it. You give me hope.

[onehandle]

16. A life changing and health improving event. Congrats! nt

[Marrah_G]

17. Congrats!

I've tried and failed, tried and failed, more times then I can count. Usually I just end up hating myself for lacking the will power to kick it. What I wouldn't give for the sky to not come falling down next time I try....

[smiley_glad_hands]

18. I quit back in October.

Using the lozenges though.

[L0oniX]

19. Excellent

I have quit 3 times. In the future, don't ever think you can just have one because you will start all over again. That's what happened to me. I am smoke free for over 5 years now and I will never touch a cig ever again.

[madinmaryland]

21. Congratulation and best of luck!

:thumbsup:

[azmouse]

22. I'm always happy to hear of people giving up cigarettes.

Too many people in my family have died of smoking related diseases... most recently my 51 year old brother died the day before Thanksgiving of a massive heart attack. He wasn't overweight but he did smoke, just like my late father who died 5 days after his 61st birthday.

Thank you for giving this gift of your improved health and longer life to your family.

[Tammie]

23. Congrats!!!!!!

I've tried and failed a few too many times. Next week I have a doctor's appointment and I'm going to ask for Zyban. The doc prescribed Chantix for me last summer, but I had to stop the pills. They made me crazy and the crazier I got the more I smoked.

Keep up the good work and I hope to join you as an ex-smoker soon!!!

[karmaqueen]

24. Congratulations to you! 4 mo cold turkey for me

Every day that passes it gets better and I feel richer and smarter. I just have fleeting thoughts of smoking every few days now and it seems like too much trouble and it is! Good luck, the worst is over now.

[Name removed]

25. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[japple]

26. Good on you! I quit in 2001 after 30+ years, but I used

Nicoderm CQ which probably saved my sanity, not to mention that of my husband. Even 6 years later, I would still like to have a cigarette from time to time, esp. with a beer.

[lumberjack_jeff]

27. Congratulations!

Okay people, take her off the big "persecute" list. :)

[jhain]

28. Well Done!!

I am sending you flowers:

[rudy23]

29. 4 years and 5 months w/o nicotine--totally worth it

Hardest thing I've ever done in my life. Still fighting the cravings, but my life has improved 1000%.

[Jackpine Radical]

30. CONGRATULATIONS!

I don't usually do that, but this news deserves the shout.

I did it in 1984. May 1, 1984 was my first smokeless day--but who remembers trivia like that? Indeed, it did feel like I had gotten a whole new lease on life. For some reason, I stumbled upon a powerful secret that first day: Exercise. To get myself away frm all temptations, I took a long walk in the hills. Because my system was clearing from all the carbon monoxide and whatnot, I was able to walk much further than I had been able to do in years. Also, the walking no doubt flooded my poor, addicted carcass with endorphins. I believe that endorphins--endogenous opiate-like painkiller neurotransmitters--are a major part of the tobacco hook, so all my walking was keeping me supplied with those wonderful little chemicals, with no need to trigger their production with tobacco smoke. Anyway, I became a regular exercise fanatic as a substitute for smoking, and it hastened my recovery immensely.

A second thing: I discovered I did not have a "smoking habit." I had a thousand litttle smoking habits. The first cig in the morning habit. The cig with coffee habit. The cig in my car habit. The grab-a-cig-to-answer-the-phone habit, etc. I had to find a way to attack each of these habits individually.

If your thread, and my little suggestions here, help anyone else quit those accursed things, our time will be well-spent.

[Lorien]

31. Congrats! I know it's tough, but along with all the benefits you've listed

it must be great to have the extra $$ now, great to no longer be "owned" by Philip Morris (as one of my smoker friends laments), and great to know that no more of your hard earned cash is being funneled to Republicans! :toast: :bounce:

[Summer93]

32. Great job!

Glad you made it. I am so happy for you.

[Bluebear]

33. 'And I am finally free.' - Don't be complacent. Temptation will hit you when you least expect it.

Be ready for it, expect it, and congratulations!

[Drifter]

34. I am on day 2 ...

I am going to the doctors in about 2 hours to get a prescription that my doctor says will curb the cravings.

Congratulation to you.
Cheers
Drifter

[Javaman]

35. See what using a little of the Force can do for a person?

and everyone thought obi won kanobi was crazy. Pfft! I say, Pfft!

[Bake]

36. I was smoke-free for 9 months.

I had quit smoking. Clean for 9 months. I was past all the ridiculous cravings, the climbing the wall, eating everything in sight.

Then, we went on a little vacation to the Smokies (ironic, huh) and the idea popped into my head that I could have one little cigarette, no problem. So I did. And then another, and another, and before I knew it I had smoked a whole pack and I haven't quit since. That was probably 15 years ago.

Temptation will sneak up on you when you least expect it.

Bake

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

37. Sincerely, Congrats! Please Understand Though, That Just Because YOU Did It, Doesn't Mean Someone

else can.

Each nicotine addiction is different depending on the individual and the physiological changes that person's mind has gone through. Genetics also plays a big role. So though I know your intended call of motivation and support was well intended, I just hope that you recognize that just because you had the factors necessary to finally quit, doesn't mean that someone else's experience would be similar. Some people, no matter how much they 'want' to, even if they really really 'wanted' to, would still not be able to quit cold turkey like you did.

But I am proud of you for having done so, and wish you continued success!

[Winterblues]

38. I think you will look upon this as one of the best decisions you ever made.

:thumbsup: :bounce: :woohoo:

[DemGa]

39. I stopped over nine years ago

and very grateful for it. I was tired ALL of the time from my habit (and I really overindulged, I was at a pack and a half a day).

I can't imagine how I would feel now had I continued, if I was still here. That would be somewhere in the neighborhood of 100,000 cigarettes later. Staggers the mind!

For me, life is SO much better without those things. Congratulations on your success!

[Tracer]

40. Today is my first day ...

... at attempting to quit.

I've got the "patch" on (which doesn't seem to be doing much) and I'm dying for a smoke.

One day at a time.

One day at a time. etc.

[RedEarth]

43. That's the key.....take it day by day

I quit 20 years ago..cold turkey...and found that exercise help me cope with the withdrawls. Also, after each meal, I would go brush my teeth. Basically, it's just a matter of gutting it out for a few weeks....then a few more weeks...and then it's been a few months....and then a year...and then you realize you're not really hooked on nicotine anymore....perhaps there will be cravings from time to time, but they will be something you can control.....You can do it!

[Echo In Light]

46. Hang tight. Direct all of that nervous energy into something else

[roguevalley]

41. bravo, TrueBrit71!

[Echo In Light]

45. Two yrs ago last Nov for me. Decided to stop paying to poison myself