Update

Hey everyone,

Thought I would drop a post on this group blog, just to introduce myself and my progress in trying to quit smoking.

I made the decision to quit in early February, having been a smoker for over five years. Going from smoking one pack a day to nothing at all was a real challenge, especially as I'm in my final semester at university - probably the most stressful period in my life that I have encountered thus far. The first month was the toughest; all my friends would pop outside the pub for a cigarette and I'd be left inside on my own - those are the times when you really feel like giving in. But I persevered and kept focussed. Then came the set-back of having an influx of job rejections (I'm trying to find a graduate job at the moment). However, I stuck to it and didn't give in. Not once. No matter how much I wanted to smoke, I just took a deep breath, and said to myself 'No'.

I now haven't smoked for almost 2 months. I think I'm over the worst of it, but you never know what's round the corner. However, I'm confident of achieving success.

If anyone needs any advice on how to quit - I've come up with a few exercises that might be of help. Let me know if you're interested; I'd be happy to help.

Anyways, hope all is good.

Joey

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A Year Without Cigarettes

May 21st marked a full year without cigarettes.

How am I doing? I didn't think about it until May 23rd.

The freedom from smoking has changed my life. I could sit here and tell you about being able to hustle up stairs, or that my clothes don't stink or how good food tastes, but in reality the biggest thing about being smoke-free, aside from physical health, is purely psychological - I am free from an addiction. My life no longe revolves around smoking. That speaks louder than anything else.

I plum forgot about my one-year anniversary because I simply don't think about smoking much anymore. Occasionally the topic will cross my mind, usually when talking to another smoker who also wants to quit. I tell them what they've heard is true - you have to want to quit. You have to want it more than anything else. Most people who smoke like smoking, even if they really can't see why anymore. The satisfaction factor for their cravings has earned the title of "something I like to do".

I no longer think about when my next break is, or if I can sneak out between breaks to catch a smoke. I don't have to remember to suck one down before a movie, or a dinner out. No more standing in bad weather, or cracking the car window. Its not that the cessation of these activities is a big deal in and of themselves, its that I don't even think about doing them. It's natural to not do them.

A few days ago, I walked out of a diner where a couple of men were standing outside, and one remarked that he was going to ask me for a light but I didn't look like someone who smoked. Wow!, I thought in my head. Something else I hadn't considered - people who smoke generally look like people who smoke. That comment made my whole day - I was telling friends "hey, I don't look like I smoke" (of course, there's always the wise cracker who says "yeah, but you're still ugly").

So, unless I have a relapse - and I don't see it happening - you likely wont hear from me again. Since I don't smoke, and I don't think about smoking, I've simply run out of things I can say about it. And that's great - not having a thing to say about smoking, because it's so not part of who I am and what I do.

I am an ex-smoker. I hope all of you reach your one-year anniversary and become true ex-smokers, too.

how is everyone doing so far?

I hope everyone hasn't given up on stopping smoking? Kelly did you set a stop date to just say I have had enough of this being a slave to cigarettes and be strong and over come the urge to light up? I guess it is somewhat harder to stop when someone you live with still smokes, you might feel like you are being deprived of something you enjoy doing, I really did enjoy smoking and for the longest time I really didn't want to stop in fact I told people that when they asked me why I didn't stop. I always wondered what people did with their hands all the time since they didn't smoke. Well now that I don't smoke I don't miss not holding a cigarette all the time, in fact it is actually more handy not to have to find somewhere to lay a cigarette while I am trying to do something.

I think today is the last day this month to follow the almanac but there are 3 days next month I think and I believe that the 3rd is one of them I could be wrong on that, and I know some folks think that is a lot of witch craft or star gazing but there are gazillions of old timers and some not so old timers that swear by it, and I will admit, I think there is something to it too and not only the smoking thing.

Gigi50 I guess you are still not smoking? I also noticed some withdrawals or what ever they are called but everyone I talk to in the medical field tells me that will all get better in a while. I hope so because some of it is annoying, do you notice getting up in the middle of the night almost every night, I do, from 12:00 to 2:00 every night and it is hard to get enough sleep like that and I even get night sweats some times, I guess it could be menopause..lol but really I am not sure what causes it.

Anyway, I wanted to check in with the folks on here and see how you all are doing. Good luck. Be safe.

Vernon

Just Checking In

Hello. I don't have too much to say about smoking or quitting right at the moment. I did want to say that after I stopped the Chantix and the Avelox, I started feeling better almost right away. It is nice being back to my normal self.

I have been busy with work and with my sons. Just normal life going on. I am really starting to get spring fever. I know I need to quit while it is still cold because I enjoy smoking more when it is nice and warm out.

Thank you Robert Drysdale for your great posts! Welcome to our little group. I hope you will continue to provide us with your good information.

I am working on setting a quit date. Gee, that sure makes it sound like a big deal, huh? There really is no great project involved with setting the date, I just have to pick one and do it. I have not checked the almanac for good dates to quit in March, I think I will do that now. I hope I did not already miss them.

Congratulations to everyone out there that has already quit smoking. That includes everyone that writes here and also all of our commenters that have quit. I am really learning a lot from all of you and your experiences. Thank you for sharing.

Side Effects Think about it

I've been catching up. Think about side effects like this.

When you smoke there aren't any perceivable side effects (that the smoker sees) BACK OFF all you reformed smokers - I'm going somewhere here.

The minute we stop we begin to look for what? Side Effects blaming the pills, patch, whatever crutch we've chosen to help us get there.

Perhaps the side effects are just from quitting?

Being BITCHY, SNAPPY, GRUMPY, GASSY, CRAPPY, SLEEPLESS, HUNGRY (god I sound like the 7 dwarfs all rolled into one) I probably snuffed Snow White but just don't remember doing it.

Sleepless = not sleeping, insomnia, tired, cannot get enough of the infomercial world until the early early edition of the news shows up around what 3:00 am

Gassy = OMG you would think I'd eaten enough pinto beans to be my own blazing saddles!

Crappy = crappy taste in my mouth YUCK

Hungry = I could eat the kitchen counter some days, silestone isn't good for one's digestive system

Bitchy/Snappy/Grumpy = well those are all self defining now aren't they?

Positives (that I've noticed)

My skin looks 100% better
I don't have to have waxing done as often
Food tastes better
Those wrinkles around my mouth are diminishing
My voice is different clearer, less raspy (I don't sound like that woman on Beetlejuice anymore)
Cardio isn't a dirty word anymore
My sense of smell seems better
No Sinus infections
Yellowish tint to my fingernails is gone


Enough Ranting for Now

Staying on the Wagon without firing a shot!

Well I'm back. It's been a month officially and 2 months unofficially. I still haven't smoked but boy have I wanted to more than once. Friday nights when our friends all get together to throw darts, talk, hang out whatever oh yea and drink.......Now that smell just makes me sick to my stomach. I hate the way I smell when we get up the next morning.

I've quit taking Chantix. Took it off and on for over a year, never wanted to kill anyone or myself, all the side effects etc. It worked for me what can I say, or maybe it really didn't and I was just ready to quit - I'll never really know. But it helped me get there. I honestly think I finally decided not to let it beat me any longer. Us Taureans can be really stubborn you know! Bottom line whatever makes you quit makes you quit.

I've been faithfully working out (6 times a week) haven't lost a stinking pound or one Percentage of body fat, still on the blood pressure medicine, etc. I did have a pity party last Tuesday because NOTHING had happened to me since I quit except for I'd been sicker than a dog after quitting and I'd quit.

Here's the Positives - I can go a good solid 30 minutes on the elliptical without hacking up a lung, I can do 20 military style push ups, I can handle up to 40 lbs when doing tricep push downs. I haven't gained one pound from stopping smoking. I can take a deep breath without coughing and it doesn't hurt. I jogged/walked my first mile in my entire life a week ago and lived to blog about it!

Bottom line all the scare tactics in the world aren't going to make anyone quit.
You'll quit more than once
You'll fall off the wagon and get back on the wagon and fall off and get back on.
You have find the thing that will enable you to quit no matter what it is and go for it.