Quitting smoking....

Originally Posted by Snake_Lady

Good for you.

Please join in on this thread as often as you want....

How long have you smoked? Did you go cold turkey or are you using NRT?

If it helps to post, keep on posting.

I'm glad to see so many quitters, and soon to be quitters, and all the support from the non-smokers, and reformed smokers.

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I am sure that I will be posting alot in this thread. I will need all the support I can get. I tried the patch a while back but it made my skin feel like it was on fire so I quit using it. Then I tried the original nicorette gum but that tasted too nasty for me to use it. I had been thinking about quitting for a while. I finally decided that today was the day I would quit, so I went out at got the mint nicorette gum and it tastes much better than the original. I had been smoking for 10 years.

Originally Posted by lil maggie

I'm happy! I had 8 like I decided instead of grabbing that extra one or three

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I knew you had it, the strength. Good job

Originally Posted by Poppy0109

I just now read this thread...but you don't want me in here. I'm one of those annoying ex-smokers that picks on people that smoke ......

Sure we do. We can use any support we can get... long as you can do it as support, not picking on us.... picking on smokers just makes em feel worse. Honestly, if someone were to tell me its disgusting, to quit, etc. I would smoke just to spite them.

Can you get to that point, where it disgusts you? You said you enjoy smoking, right? Can you try telling yourself over and over again how unhealthy and disgusting it is? Would that help?

My main issue with the above.... health: Yes I know it is unhealthy...but, I do not feel any ill health from smoking, unless I smoke a pack a day, which I don't. So in all honesty, the health part is not what is going to help me quit. However, once I do quit, the health issue will help me stay quit.

As for the disgusting part.... The only time it disgusts me, is if I go to my one friends house, he smokes in his garage and smokes alot more than I do. When I leave, even if I only have 1 or 2, I STINK.... YUCK. But I don't smell it normally. I do know, from previous quits, that once I've gone a couple days that the smell of smoke will gag me.. That too will help me stay quit.


Just don't quit quitting. You are stronger than the nicotine addiction! If you REALLY want to quit and you're REALLY ready and not just because your surgery is making you, then you'll do it and not pick it back up after the surgery. YOU CAN DO IT!

Ok...climbing down off my soapbox now.

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Now that last paragraph is awesome support

Originally Posted by babygirl2000

I am sure that I will be posting alot in this thread. I will need all the support I can get. I tried the patch a while back but it made my skin feel like it was on fire so I quit using it. Then I tried the original nicorette gum but that tasted too nasty for me to use it. I had been thinking about quitting for a while. I finally decided that today was the day I would quit, so I went out at got the mint nicorette gum and it tastes much better than the original. I had been smoking for 10 years.

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excellent. Support in a group is great. Even if you want a cig and come post here instead, untill the urge passes. Whatever will help you. We are all in the same boat (or were former smokers) and the ones who have never smoked are giving great support.

I know I don't have to hide.... but I do feel guilty or ashamed persay. More because I've disappointed myself, and if I talk about it, it brings the disappointment up..... so if I hide from it, then I just feel guilty, instead of as disappointed.... does that make any sense?

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This TOTALLY makes sense! I want you to come in with us whether you are smoking or quit...or even decide you won't quit for another year. I think any kind of support for something so serious is useful. I toyed with the idea of quitting for 2-3 years before I did...and doing groundwork was v. helpful.

Poppy - having successful ex-smokers around is helpful IMO - esp. longterm ones like you. It is good to see that it can be done and the quit can be held onto.

Babygirl - welcome! you are doing great!

Poppy,

You hit the nail on the head with EVERYTHING you said! So true and I agree 100%.

Just checking in to say Hi folks. I've had a few urges in the last couple days, but I've gone this far so I don't intend to go back now.

Everyone is doing well and hanging in. We're all bound to slip back a bit in the first few weeks so don't beat yourselves up. It was easier for me because I was in hospital and they just won't let you smoke there.

Originally Posted by Yosemite

Just checking in to say Hi folks. I've had a few urges in the last couple days, but I've gone this far so I don't intend to go back now.

Everyone is doing well and hanging in. We're all bound to slip back a bit in the first few weeks so don't beat yourselves up. It was easier for me because I was in hospital and they just won't let you smoke there.

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You have a great positive attitude and you have to be positive to be sucessful with quitting!
Thanks for the support!!!

Oh, I don't know about that hospital thingy...when I was in a cast, an orderly opened a window and gave me a styrofoam cup to smoke lol The next few stays in the hospital, I wheeled myself outside and smoked. No one said anything to me I guess because nobody messes with a person having one of those Don't Get Near Me nicotine fits
Now I wish they'd have been stricter!

Originally Posted by lil maggie

You have a great positive attitude and you have to be positive to be sucessful with quitting!
Thanks for the support!!!

Oh, I don't know about that hospital thingy...when I was in a cast, an orderly opened a window and gave me a styrofoam cup to smoke lol The next few stays in the hospital, I wheeled myself outside and smoked. No one said anything to me I guess because nobody messes with a person having one of those Don't Get Near Me nicotine fits

Now I wish they'd have been stricter!

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They are very strict here in Canada. You even have to be quite a distance from the entrance doors. And that's for all buildings, not just hospitals. If the building has an awning over the entrance you are not allowed to smoke under the awning - you need to move out and away from it.

ETA: I also had oxygen on my face 24/7 - hard to light up with that durn stuff in the way.

Well today wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. The nicorette gum I'm using really seems to be helping me. I have noticed that it really takes the edge off. I am really confident that I will succeed in quitting this time.

Originally Posted by babygirl2000

Well today wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. The nicorette gum I'm using really seems to be helping me. I have noticed that it really takes the edge off. I am really confident that I will succeed in quitting this time.

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Keep at it! You are doing fantastic! The first few days are the worst... it DOES get easier

I have not smoked in 2 weeks tonight!

Julianne.

Wow Julianne - two weeks! That is great!!

Originally Posted by Julianne

Keep at it! You are doing fantastic! The first few days are the worst... it DOES get easier

I have not smoked in 2 weeks tonight!

Julianne.

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Welcome back to the smoke-free life we came from!

Originally Posted by Julianne

Keep at it! You are doing fantastic! The first few days are the worst... it DOES get easier

I have not smoked in 2 weeks tonight!

Julianne.

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WTG Julianne..... Good for you.

Did you know that, within 2wks of quitting smoking, your risk of a smoking related heart attack goes down and your lung function is improving....

http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_stat...ers/20mins.htm

Sharing this, a flash presentation frum the Surgeon General about smoking.... click the "benefits of quitting" to see the different milestones.

Reading the milestones helps me, cuz I can think that ok 5-15yrs after I quit, my risk of smoking related stroke is down to that of someone who has never smoked. Honestly, strokes scare the livin' crap outta me.

ETA the link LMAO: http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_stat...ash/index.html

Thank you everyone!

I won't lie and say every day is easy - but one day at a time!

One thing I have found out recently (and I never realized this before) was that I used cigarettes as a form of reward... I would tell myself "clean the oven and you can sit down and have a cigarette". That habit has been the worst to break! If you are the same, try to break it before you give up!

Everyone quitting / cutting down keep at it! The rewards are worth it

[QUOTE/]http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_stat...ash/index.html[/quote]


Thank you for the link! I am looking at it now and it just reinforces WHY I should never have a cigarette again.

Chris, has you countdown started yet?

Way to go Quitters and Cutter Downers!! Good Job!!!

Originally Posted by Julianne

[QUOTE/]http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_stat...ash/index.html


Thank you for the link! I am looking at it now and it just reinforces WHY I should never have a cigarette again.

Chris, has you countdown started yet?

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10 days One week from Tues. BUT, if I find out surgery is postponed again, I will still quit then (might move it to a couple days before tho, so its on the weekend when my hubby is home) because just from the experience of postponing it the first time I have learned, if I don't stick with the date, then I won't quit....

Like the link I posted, I love those.... I love knowing that X # of yrs down the road, my risk of lung cancer drops dramatically. It is motivation to NOT pick up a cigarette.

I really really do not want to die of lung cancer or throat cancer from smoking. The stories I've read about those cancers....well its not an easy road and I do NOT want to put my kids through seeing me like that, or any other of my family.

So yup, 10 days till both Cat (lil-maggie) and I quit.... 10 days till I have surgery

I've been smoke free for 4 days now and still counting

First off: Congrats to babygirl for 4 smokefree days Is it getting easier now? I remember my one quit and it was day 2 and 3 that were pretty bad, then it got alot easier.

Second:

I have a plan.
My quit date is a week from tommorrow.

This weekend, I'm dropping my cig amount down to 3cigs. 3 on Sat. 3 on Sunday. That is my goal.

I am so proud of all that have quit and cut down! I know how hard it was for me, but I can also tell you how much better I feel physically and mentally! Keep strong!