I quit smoking

Great news. I smoke, my choice. No rant. No opinion.

Good news, Marsha.

+1 for quitting.

I just hit 10 years of being an ex-smoker. It was as much due to the increasing cost and decreasing social acceptance as it was concern for my health. I did the patch, and I'll have to admit to getting hooked on them and having to put nearly as much effort into quitting the patch as I did to quitting smoking. You do get some amazing dreams, though, if you wear a patch while you are sleeping..

Congratulations Marsha !!
It has been 2 years for me, I used Chantix and it worked for me . The occasional green monkey would come visit me in my sleep ( really bizzare dreams ) but it worked !

I started the program right when the smoking ban went into effect, that was also a big help.

Way to go, Marsha!

Great to hear, Marsha!

It's been many years since I've had a cigarette, probably around 20. I say probably, because one day I just quit after smoking since I was a teenager. I never thought it important enough to make note of the date, so there you go.

The benefits are fairly immediate, as you have found. You sleep better, food tastes better, your kisses don't taste quite so smokey, and there's more money in your wallet.

Robin, move this if you want to, but I just wanted to brag a little bit. This is day 6 of no smoking cigarettes for me. Cold Turkey, baby!

It's rough. But it's do-able. I told some friends today I slept like a baby last night. "A big, drunk baby." LOL.

Anyway, I'll take all the encouragement I can get. But....I LOVED SMOKING so much...I just hate the after-effects.

Congratulations Marsha. Five weeks of cold turkey for me. Take John's advice and reward yourself. I'm saving the $30/week I spent on smokes to buy something nice. Probably put the money towards 3 spring break tickets to Paris.

Marcia,
You no longer smell bad after 6 days.. Smokers stink ,until you quit really dont know.
You go girl !!!
Generic nicotine patches could be money well spent.
Keep us posted ,
It will make you so happy to have kicked NICOTINE !
Good luck,
Cynthia L

Congrats on quitting , I come from a family of smokers...I was the only one not to have smoked. Have now lost too many related to the smoking. But I agree it is a choice, glad you have made the one to quit.

Like Bev, I grew up around cigarette smoking (my father), but I never picked up the habit, aside from a (very) occasional premium cigar, but I can't stand being around the smell of cigarettes...Dad was eventually diagnosed with emphysema, as well as losing a brother and sister to lung cancer (both heavy smokers)...you're young enough to stop now and it will have a very positive, long-term impact on your health...don't wait for a doctor to tell you years from now (as they did w/my father) -- quit or die.

Congrats and keep it up!

Marsha,

On January 1, 2008 I ran out of cigs whilst we were at an auction. Too far to go get some, so I did without. And, I have never purchased another pack since. It will be 2.5 years on July1.

You can do it. It is not easy, in fact it makes coming off drugs look minor.

Keep up the struggle and you can contact me anytime if you need someone to talk to or strangle - it's been months since I strangled a co-worker.

Oh, I now feel it is ok after this much time to be a smoke nazi and that is nice at times.

Hugs

Richard

Good for you! You are now a non-smoker. When I quit 17 years ago, I sucked on red-hot cinnamon disks til the urge went away. I was amazed to realize how the smell of smoke infiltrates the skin and clothing - which, as one person already pointed out, you don't realize when you smoke. Feel smug that you know this now. Also, find something else absent-minded to to do with your hands. I missed the ritual aspect of smoking for a while, but have never been tempted to light up.

[Robin Garr]

You've now been clean for MORE than a week, Marsha!

You should be completely detoxed now and through the withdrawal stage. It should be easy from here, but be careful - for many people, you can't have just one for old times' sake without triggering the addiction again.

But as I said at the beginning, congratulations and best wishes. You'll never be sorry that you quit.

It's definitely gotten easier, but the intense craving still comes in cycles. Luckily, the cycles are wider apart and the craving intense but very short.

Thanks, everyone!

I also quit cold turkey at the beginning of the year. Congratulations and it only gets easier.

The best part? You can go DAYS without washing your hair. I used to wash my hair daily because it smelled like smoke and I never realized how much I hated to wash and style my hair. Now I can do it every two or three days! Plus, my hair is super healthy from not over washing.

I don't know why I like that better than the saved money, the health benefits, or the absence of social stigma, but we all find what works to motivate us. Keep at it.