What Happens to Your body if you stop smoking Right now?
July 19, 2006 by Liz Lewis
Filed under Cancer, Greatest Hits, Prevention, Your Body
I think one of the main reasons it’s so hard to quit smoking is because all the benefits of quitting and all the dangers of continuing seem very far away. Well, here’s a little timeline about some of the more immediate effects of quitting smoking and how that will affect your body RIGHT NOW.
- In 20 minutes your blood pressure will drop back down to normal.
- In 8 hours the carbon monoxide (a toxic gas) levels in your blood stream will drop by half, and oxygen levels will return to normal.
- In 48 hours your chance of having a heart attack will have decreased. All nicotine will have left your body. Your sense of taste and smell will return to a normal level.
- In 72 hours your bronchial tubes will relax, and your energy levels will increase.
- In 2 weeks your circulation will increase, and it will continue to improve for the next 10 weeks.
- In three to nine months coughs, wheezing and breathing problems will dissipate as your lung capacity improves by 10%.
- In 1 year your risk of having a heart attack will have dropped by half.
- In 5 years your risk of having a stroke returns to that of a non-smoker.
- In 10 years your risk of lung cancer will have returned to that of a non-smoker.
- In 15 years your risk of heart attack will have returned to that of a non-smoker.
So, you have more immediate things to look forward to if you quit now besides just freaking out about not being able to smoke. Quit now!
Update: 6/11/07
You can view a high-quality Graphic representation of this post right here.
Update: This make you think it’s time to quit. Check out these 5 Smoking Gadgets That Might Help You Quit Smoking.
Really want to be serious about quitting? Click Here!
[tags] smoking, cancer, quit smoking [/tags]
“the thought of a cigarette after quitting”. how perfect would be that cigarette after so many days past without it. A wonnderful preperation for a nice cigarette.
yea, thats why i started after 1 year and 1,5 years of quitting.
you cant beat that thought, not at all. Eventually one ordinary day it cacthes you and you light that magic 1 cigar.
You have the start up concentration and determination but by time over-increased self confidence. Units with the unbeaten thoughts and takes you to the begining.
I really need to quit this shit forever. I very well know that, i musnt envy or think about it at allllll because i know that i will have a weak second and it will catch me there.
Now its 15 days. I have the experience of long-short quits and starts. I know that it tastes like shit when you start after a quit. The real taste of nicotin is the taste with fresh mouth and tongue which you cant understand when regular smoker. ıykk…
i wont have cigarettes sometimes , anytime, never again. else im really dying of those plant. at age 37 im feeling that on my body- hard to breath etc.
challenging still, yea. but my challenge is a no more smoke any more challenge. not a single 1 not a breath, NOMORE.
my challenge is, i wont write here, i wont read these, i wont think about it at all, wont remember, no thoughts at all, no challenge at all. total freedom
I’ve stopped for 1 week now.. i tried the patches the tablets, the smoke sticks everything but kept going back on them… until i read the Allen Carr book. The easy way to quit smoking. thought give it a try and it worked not only for me but thousands of people. never thought i could do it. if i can you can.
I have to agree with you Angela. I smoke for 14 years straight and recently my son started crying when he saw me smoking. It is 90 % mental!!! I took Chantix and have been clean for 2 months. I stopped taking the Chantix after one week. Don’t get me wrong, I liked smoking. But the thought of seeing my son cry for me makes me rethink it. I learned a new trick after I quit smoking. I took a DEEP breath. I haven’t done that in years without coughing.
Does feel good to take a deep breathe and not have a horrible taste of tobacco in your mouthe and god how good does your food taste… or in some cases how bad. I smoked for 17 years looking forward to being a non smoker for a lot longer good luck
still not smoking… and feeling really good, ofcourse sometimes you have a wee urge but it goes away in 30 seconds!! i’m 36 have a 17 year old. Also have a 2 year old and 1 year old so want to be able to run about after them. I keep reminding myself to be strong and keep going be proud of yourselfs and keep going. Well done.
Hi All, I wanted to drop you this facebook note I posted today as encouragement. I too was a smoker who was seriously hooked. 15 years of 1-2 packs a day. Tried to quite for many reason’s but many were the wrong ones. I can list them and you will understand what I mean.
1. cost too much.
2. sig other doesn’t smoke- so I shouldn’t
3. makes my clothes, house, car, breath stink.
4. I have a cold so its not helping
5. I have bronchitas and can barely breath
6. I”m afraid of falling asleep while smoking
7. I should quit drinking coffee, that makes me smoke
8. I should quit drinking, that always makes me smoke
9. I’m short of breath when climbing stairs, walking, etc
10. My kids don’t like it, – (this one should be first but an addict puts their addiction first)
Here’s what worked for me, (most important, i say to myself- I don’t smoke)
here is finally got me motivated after 7 attemps over 5 years.
1. Stress test after having heart palps and high blood pressure at 28, and I was not even 1-lb overweight. Dr. indciated I have the cardio of a 40+ yr old smoker
2. Chest xray with some issues indicated that in the near future I could have some serious problems. – Much clearer and healthier as of 4 years ago.
3. I wanted my kids to understand what it is like to have a parent that did not smoke and understand how hard it is for someone to quit something they never should have started.
4. Nothing else matters except your health. It can only get worse if I kept smoking and I want to chase my grandchildren around the yard. Not have them learn about who I was from my kids.
The only thing you have to do is “Dont Smoke” If you keep this going no matter what you do, don’t smoke. Coffee, tea, beer, bar hopping, sex, Whatever, enjoy whatever it is and just DON’T Smoke. The desire will leave in about 3-6 months. Here is my post from Facebook today. I never bug any of my smoking friends and family but today is my day to say VICTORY over this deadly addiction. Best wishes to all Quitters alike.
FB post 8-3-09
“I quit smoking 10 years ago today. I have saved over $5000.00 and who knows how many years of my life. I also probably saved an unknown amount of cash in future smoking related healthcare costs. Today my smoking related lung cancer risk is the lowest it will be for the rest of my life if not equal to someone who has never smoked at all. I feel great physically as I am closing in on 40 later this year and much better than I did when I smoked back at age 29 on this day when I quit.
You can do this too, never stop quitting! All you have to do is keep telling yourself. “I don’t smoke”- I personally live by the rule. “Never put anything in your mouth that is ON FIRE” Those that know me have heard me say this and know it has worked for me. If you smoke, please click the link below.” – leads to this page.
Keep Quitting, and you will at least be fighting for every breath.
Well, after 38 years of 1-2 packs a day, and about 20 attempts to quite, I went to Allan Carr & took Champix. That was 8 weeks ago and I feel FANTASTIC, I am a non smoker and feel and smell great & who would have thought my toungue pink under the yellow fur
During any tough moments, and there really weren’t that many – my mantra was:
Hollow tummy feeling for 5 minutes … or Chemo
bit cranky for 5 minutes … or Chemo
feeling like i am missing out when I see someone smoke … or Chemo
A bit of a no brainer and It really helped
Well done to all the other new non smokers out there, a lifetime of freedom is your reward
Carla, that sounds like a great idea!! Posts like yours are what keeps me coming back to this site. I am on day 4 now (should be day 10 but had a little slip last weekend). This time for the first time in my adult life I am in it to win it.. Never Take another Puff.. Good luck to Ya. Dustin
Hey there,
Dustin, i was a smoker for 21 years.Thats more than half my life.I had tried many times to give it up.But alas fell short everytime.This time i have beaten the crave!!!I took no drugs and have come through like a champion.My chest feels great.I am on the road to freedom-
Its like you said your in it to win it.Positive stuff.
I know how hard it is, keep your head down and keep going.You can do it!!!
Go well
Wayne
boy wayne i want a cig right now so bad. it has been 5 days and last night and this am was the worse. I think i fought it but i had one right in my hand!! will this pass????
Hi Carla,
I have stopped for 15 days now and I too feel great! It is amazing how your colour becomes more glowy:)
I have quit cold turkey for 34 days now. I have always had very little cravings. Everytime I crave a cigarette i see ugly images of sick people in my mind. My sister in particular that has stage 3b lung cancer. Which leads me to believe that this is 50% a mind thing and 50% a body thing. Go to hospice somewhere and see the people dying from lung cancer, bet you will love to quit. better yet count the cigarettes that you didn’t smoke everyday i think i am past 650. I never remember myself as a non-smoker becuase i smoked so long. Good luck everybody. THE BOTTOM LINE- THE MIND IS POWERFUL- USE IT.
Sandy, if you are still around or happen to pop in at any time – CONGRATULATIONS ON TWO YEARS OF FREEDOM!!!!!!!
To all the rest, stay strong and post often.
Good luck.
Cheers
Ed
Free and Healing for Nine Months, Ten Days, 22 Hours and 51 Minutes, while extending my life expectancy 19 Days and 17 Hours, by avoiding the use of 5679 nicotine delivery devices that would have cost me $1,292.81.
Hello to all…and what wonderful stories everyone is telling. Congrats to all of you.
I’m writing of my story to warn all of you to be careful. Don’t make the mistake I made two weeks ago. I thought I could have just one. Well, that one innocent cigarette brought me right back to where I started…smoking a pack a day. I’m so ashamed; I had almost 3 months under my belt. All that hard hard hard work…I fell off the wagon. I thought I had it beat..I thought I had finished.
So tonight as I was driving home, I realized I had 2 cigarettes left in the pack. I thought about stopping and getting some more, but I didn’t. I thought “this is enough…I deserve to be smoke free…I know I have the strenghth to do this again”. Not to mention I can’t afford to spend $8.50 a day on these things.
So I haven’t had a cigarette in about 2 hours. I’m okay and hope to be okay for the rest of my life.
So everyone reading this ….just know that there is no such thing as just having 1 and getting right back to the quit….It might just grab you and suck you right back in…..
So move over guys…do you have room for one more “newbie” ?
Good luck Debra. I am praying for you. I also love your story.
I hear ya Debra! I “quit” smoking a year ago….. unfortunately, I quit quitting about ten months ago:(
I too thought that I could have just one….
To make a long story short, here I am quitting for the second time!
And to make it worse, I have been hiding it from my boyfriend ( I think he knew though) and now I have to quit again with no support from him:(
I am now 9 hours without a cigarette and I have to just remember to take deep breaths and drink lots of ice water.
Anyone have any tips on avoiding MAJOR mood swings?…..
I have not smoked for 4 days and i keep thinking….just one…until i read what you just wrote
why does that say waiting moderation
Hello all I am 31 days smoke free today and I feel great. I am really happy I decided to quit and I love coming to this site reading everyone’s stories. This is what helped me stay smoke-free. It is amazing to me of how I can go outside and smell that someone has just finished smoking. I really never knew how strong the smell was. Also smelling the smell on someones clothes, or when they talk to me and you can smell it. I can’t believe that is how I smelled. I never want to go back to that. I have more energy now and I started to gain weight because I would eat and eat but I began to purchase healthy foods and I am not noticing a difference in my weight. Plus exercise. Good luck to everyone..
thanks Lori ! I’m hangin in there. I spent the day shopping with a non-smoker. I think that helped me a lot. I kept dragging her from store to store…cuz you can’t smoke inside a store !!!
Funny, though…when I feel off the wagon, I never did have that cigarette during the workday. I was the only smoker in the office building; and I just refused to stand outside and smoke, so I never did. I was only smoking on the way to work, and on the way (and yes during the evening as well) but not once did I even think about having one during the workday. I think that has a lot to do with the theroy of “habits”. I haven’t had a cigarette (while working) since March 7th….because I really believe that I broke that habit. Today is Saturday, and I am finding it really hard.
I know that those 4 days are just about the worse. I’m eating low carb right now which really helps you stay full. Eating high carb foods tend to lead me into sugar cravings and that can really pile the weight on when you quit. I know this to be true (for me) because I gained 13 pounds when I quit smoking. I have since lost 11 of those pounds.
I just hate the whole thing – I had almost 3 months and I blew it. I thought I had it beat…and that I was stronger than the drug/nicotine. Wow, what a slap in the face. I must come to the realization that I’m a nicotine junkie…just one puff will bring me right back.
Gosh…I wish I had never ever had that one cigarette…It’s like I’ve got this huge mountain in front of me that I have to climb again….Grrrrr
So anyone reading this lengthy blog…don’t make the mistake I made. It wasn’t worth it. Not at all.
Its been 20 days smoke free, 30 some years of doing the nasty, i could’nt remember the stink on smokers clothes its gross. its all about deciding to quit not wanting to quit good luck to us, its a goog thing what were doing, lets do this for us.
Thanks, Debra, for sharing your story. It sounds like you not only smoked one cigarette, or maybe two, but bought a pack (or maybe more than one pack over time) and went back on “scheduled” smoking. Which is understandable of course – I can see myself doing same.
So I asked myself: Where’s the danger? Is it dangerous to sneak two or three puffs once a month (provided of course you don’t go out to buy a pack and stash it away like Ray Milland did with bottles of booze in the movie “Lost weekend”)? How about once a week? Surely it’s dangerous to sneak a few puffs every day— I’ve tried that myself and it does NOT work! It didn’t work for me because I began to look forward to that “special time of day” when I would get those puffs on a cigarette – and it became the focus of my entire afternoon. That’s addiction all over again. So I stopped playing with THAT idea.
Okay: I concluded that a few puffs every day is dangerous. But I want to propose (for discussion) that a few puffs once a month is NOT dangerous – PROVIDED of course that after those two or three puffs you DO NOT go out a buy a pack. Going out to buy a pack is starting to smoke again, and we don’t want to do that.
To put it differently, I’ve seen websites that tell you that EVEN ONE PUFF will get you addicted all over again. Do you believe that? I don’t. It is obviously manipulative bullshit put forward by people/organizations with an agenda. So where is the truth? And what REALISTIC rules are there for us ordinary imperfect people to continue our quit through slips and other imperfect manifestations? And by “continue our quit” I mean to AVOID going back on habitual cigarette smoking – the whole point of what we are doing.
I have definite ideas about this, but I’d be very interested to hear what others think. I mean real opinions – not ideology or self-serving stuff. So the truth is somewhere – but where?
;=)
–Bill
Bill:
If you have just a “few” puffs of a cigarette every month…that would indicate that a pack had to be purchased does it ? Unless you live somewhere where you can buy only 1 cigarette.
The truth ? Who knows. I think it’s probably different for everyone. I’ve smoked for over 25 years, and for me…it’s that one puff that brings me right back. I bought a pack and slipped; but I spent $8.30 on that pack, and I wasn’t willing to throw my money away ! It took me a good 4 days to go through it. By the 5th day, I was hooked all over again.
For me the truth is this: Addiction is addiction. Doesn’t matter what it is, whether it’s booze, nicotine, or narcotics. That one slip is a dangerous slip. I don’t know any alcoholics that can only have a drink once a month, or a crack house that is only open on Thursdays (don’t know much about crack though) so why would the addiction to nicotine be any different ?
I personally don’t get caught up in “people/organizations”, or what statistics say. But here’s what I do know:
While on my “slip”, I was smoking a cigarette on my porch. My 21 year old son came out and said ” Now, I thought you had quit”. I immediately became angry and resented him telling me what I should or shouldn’t do. So I said to my son ” YOU DO NOT GET TO DO THAT TO ME”. ( Thinking, how dare he say that to me).
With a saddened face, my son said ” No, Mom…you don’t get to do that to me”.
That was truth slapping me right in the face.
Wow Debra, you still continue to have wonderful stories that stop me from thinking of that one puff or that one cigarette. I have 2 young daughters who have asked me over and over again to quit smoking. I continued until I was ready to quit. One day I was having a real bad day and I texted my 15 year old daughter telling her that it was really hard for me that day. The cravings were overwhelming. The first thing she did was texted back and said “MOM DON’T DO IT. I MEAN IT”. I had not planned on smoking that day but just those words from her made it where I knew I was not going to smoke. My husband continues his smoking habit, but he does not smoke in our home. The air is so much cleaner in the house. My girls now can smell when someone else is or has smoked because they are not breathing it in anymore. They do not smell like ciagarettes. So Debra please continue with your stories. I love them so…
That’s some anecdote, Debra. And you make a very strong point. Good luck on your new quit!!
–Bill
p.s. What I meant by “stealing a puff” was to buy a pack, take out one of them, run the faucet on the rest, and toss the resulting mess into the trash. Then and ONLY then, puff away (three times) on the survivor.
Please don’t misunderstand: I am NOT recommending this as a strategy for quitting smoking! It’s risky or even dangerous to think this way if you’re a new quitter, it seems to me – at least it would have been for me in my first five “cold-turkey” days. I only want to put it up for discussion and see what others think – as a way for people who are ALREADY on a productive quit who slip, for one reason or another, to STAY on their quit. Most important for this to work: keep only one out of that pack and soak the rest. The point is: limit your slip to at most one cigarette.
Sure, it’s an expensive and wasteful option; but we’re dealing with much more important health issues here. Compare the cost of an occasional pack to the cost of alternatives (CAT scans, X-rays, chemo, ….). And the expense angle also works to keep the frequency down – In CA, this method would cost me $120 per day to restore my previous pack-a-day habit.
It’s worked for me so far (through three slip-ups) on my 10-week quit; and I’m beginning to think that I may actually make it – though I still have quite a way to go. We will see about that. I don’t know if it can work for anyone else, but (?) it might.
Cheers and good luck to all!
Wow. It’s been a while for me and I can see that a lot has changed here. Everything is still the same with me but I won’t go into that.
The only thought I have is this, “in for a penny, in for a pound.”
One puff, one cig, once a month, once a year…any way you look at it…YOU ARE SMOKING. It just sounds like a whole bunch of semantics and justification. It’s NOT ok to do those things. You are basically setting yourself up to fail.
I have yet to meet the smoker who has “quit” and can just smoke once in a while. Folks, that person does NOT exist. Don’t think that you can be the one. You can’t.
I’m not trying to pee in your cornflakes…I am just being honest. I have now been smoke free for about 4 months. I did it cold turkey. I haven’t had even one since I quit. Sure, I would like one every now and again but I know better. If I have even one, just one, I will start smoking again. It may not happen right away but it will happen.
Anyway, let me step down from my pedestal. Sorry if I came off bitter or pissy. I just hate to see people take one step forward and two steps back.
Hi Andrew,
I quit for 2 1/2 months and a few weeks ago I thought I could have just one cigarette. Now two weeks into that one cigarette, I am smoking every day about 1/2 pack. I did quit 15 years ago cold turkey and didn’t smoke at all until two years ago when there was a death in the family. How stupid of me to think I could have that one cigarette! In fact, I didn’t even want it but someone told me to have that one cigarette because I would feel better! Again, what a dope.
It took me two years to finally quit again cold turkey and believe me, I wanted that quit so bad that it was the easiest thing I ever did. Now I am so mad at myself and am beating me up for smoking a few weeks ago. I tried so hard today, but deep down, I knew I was going to smoke.
Tomorrow is another day to quit. I refuse to smoke ever again! You are so right though about one puff. It is an addiction, the devil who grabs you into his evil clutches. It really feels so much better to be smoke free.
Again, I have a brand new day in just a few hours and I will quit simply because I want to!
Thanks so much for writing.
Marilyn
I have noticed… That for one reason or another it,”Smoking” that is seem’s to be a thing that tries to keep a very strong grip on anyone that has allowed it into their lives…. I for one was a kid growing up, and absolutely despised seeing my parents smoke. I thoght it was a waste of money …. a very bad habit… and the way it made everything smell was just awful. I preached and pleaded to both my parents to stop smoking …. their response was always we know what we are doing . We are the adults here. I started smoking when i was 19. Sure i was like any other kid sneaking a smoke here or there when my parents left their packs laying around the house. But i mean really smoking …… Going to the store and purchasing a pack or a carton, i eventually rose to the level of smoking 2 1/2 to 3 packs a day… just like my father. I could not beleive what had become of myself. i now look back on it all and cannot beleive that me, yes me!!!!! The one that criticized my parents for doing what i had let myself be drawn into the smoking ring that was surrounding my life. My father quit drinking…. I was shocked. You see he pretty much drank everyday of his life. No , my father worked hard 7 days a week for 20 years. With only 4 weeks of vacation for those years total. You see he felt like he was entitled to do as he pleased. He went to work in the morning and came home in he evening . He drank til the time he went to bed. Woke the next day and went to work just like the day before. He followed this routine for 20 years. Until one day my father quit drinking cold turkey…. and that just wasnt like my father. It took many days to find out what was wrong with him. Finally he told us that he had been spitting up blood for several months now …we had no clue that this had been going on. He told us that he thought he was dying . We scheduled him a doctor’s appointment as soon as he told us. My father was a strong man , a strong willed man, a hard working man. We went to the doctor’s for them to run tests . My father just knew it was his liver . All those years of drinking, he figured had finally caught up with him. Weeks after the tests i watched my father wither away . The once strong man that i loved was not the person that i remembered just a short time before…..I watched my father experience unthinkable pain … The horror of it all was the helplessness. You see i am an only some to my Mother and My father. I was always there for them. And now transporting my father to the hospital, and experienceing what he was going through and how hard it was for my mother to see this man go through all this.I know that my mother truly loves my father…. They were married 44 years. My father lost his battle 2 years ago. But, you see it wasnt from the drinking…… My Father died of lung cancer. I love him and miss him very much.
Hi Bill,
Just thought I’d add my two cents worth.
You come across as a pretty sensible guy. I also think you have a great deal of self discipline. I don’t think you are trying to justify a few random ‘hits’ of nicotine, I think you are saying that if you can manage your intake, why not?
You can read volumes on the dangers of smoking and I’m sure that may be the reason (or part of the reason) for your quit. So that aspect is a given and doesn’t require debate. The fact that this is primarily a smoking cessation forum poses a small moral dilemna, as ‘newer’ quitters are very susceptible to any justification for a smoke and I wouldn’t want this to be seen that way.
I’m no scientist, but I must agree that “a few puffs once a month” is probably not that dangerous. I think a couple of hours in Bangkok or Beijing would be much worse. We are however treading very dangerous ground now, because I’ve always thought “a few” meant ‘about’ three. But is that correct? Who decides? Is it a few loooooong drags or a few short ones?
My opinion on the matter is that everyone is different. You very possibly can manage/control/regulate a few puffs a month, but there are so many who can’t and for them the N.O.P.E (Not One Puff Ever) principal applies. How about looking at it this way:- Did you quit to become a non-smoker or do you just want to smoke less? If it is the former, then the answer is pretty simple – none/nada/nyet – non-smokers don’t have a few puffs a month…non-smokers don’t smoke, period.
You seem like a really nice guy and I certainly don’t want to ‘preach’ to you, but don’t you think that trying to justify a few puffs a month is very much junkie thinking? I’m sure I won’t convince you, but you did ask for opinions on the topic. I know you have been here a while and I’m certain you will see this through – you have the personality and the strength to do it, so I’m certain that at between 3 and 5 months you will post again with a different opinion.
In any event – smoking makes your breath smell and your tongue all furry.
Cheers Bill and stay strong. Debate is good, it keeps you from smoking.
Ed
Hi Bill
I could not take a few puffs every month or so. My body would remember the nicotine. My addicted brain would immediately begin talking me into buying “just one pack” or “just one cig” because where I live you can still buy single cigarettes for like .25 each (OMG DID I JUST TYPE THAT? NOW THE STORE OWNERS WILL BE IN TROUBLE FOR BREAKING THE LAW).
I can never have “just a few puffs” if I want to remain a non-smoker. My brain will always be addicted to nicotine, the trick is to not ingest any nicotine then my brain pretty much forgets that it is addicted to nicotine. I agree that non-smokers dont smoke, PERIOD.
Anyway, good luck with your quit.
Thanks Ed for still being here too. I was wondering if anyone who I started out with or who joined when I was a frequent poster here was still around. I just hope that all who have disappeared are still hanging in there with us non-smokers!
Have a happy 4th of July everyone!
Well said Ed. I am one of those who the N.O.P.E. aply to. I have been smoke free for 33 days now and I see people smoking everday. I make myself think about how horrible they look with that cigarette in their mouth. Then there are time that I think ummm would be nice to have just one cigarette. I don’t believe for me that one would be just one. I believe it would be more. Then I also don’t want to feel the feeling that I know I am going to experience just from that one puff. So again Very well said Ed.
Hi Ed.
Thanks for the comments. Let me begin by saying that CERTAINLY I want to quit – not just smoke less! What I’m proposing (for discussion, not as a “rule” for anyone) is that for people who have somehow gotten their own successful quit going for a while and who have a slip-up, here is a method for keeping your quit going. I didn’t present it that way (probably I should have, but I wanted to get opinions from as many of you as possible). See my reply to Debra just above for the details of it.
I’ll also confess that I find “all-or-nothing” rules – like ideologies – off-putting because they’re unrealistic; they’re impossible for imperfect people like me to live up to. Sure, one should TRY to do things like N.O.P.E. as you put it, but I KNOW from my own experience that I am going to have occasional slips; so that for me to say these four words over and over to myself is repeating a falsehood – I know there is no way I can live up to “not one puff ever” in the real world with real stresses. So how can I keep saying such a phrase over and over again to myself?
Some time ago, I concluded that if I am going to really give up the smoking habit, I have to learn how to manage my slips – which I view as inevitable from time to time – so that I can keep my quit going. When something happens to trigger a slip, I don’t want to re-start my old pack-a-day habit with all the health scariness, etc. etc. What I’m proposing (for consideration only) is a way to deal with a slip and still maintain the progress you’ve made. It’s simple, and it does NOT require super-powers or super-virtuosity (as living up to N.O.P.E. would for me). Maybe best of all, you can come away from a slip without beating yourself up – and maybe even feel that in some sense you’ve prevailed!
Anyway, this (Let me call it M.A.D.S. = BILL’S ADMITTEDLY DANGEROUS SUGGESTION) has worked for me these past ten weeks – and I’m hoping I can maintain my quit indefinitely, one day at a time, honestly, without promising or attempting the impossible. For sure, I’ve had slip-ups – but the slip-ups haven’t gotten in the way of the BIG prize that I see – namely that I stay off the habit indefinitely. At least so far. I don’t claim that M.A.D.S. will help anyone else, I’m not even 100% sure it will help me in the long run, but it’s possible that it can/will. If YOU think it’s a bad idea, please say so!
Best to all,
–Bill
Correction: M.A.D.S. above should of course be B.A.D.S.
Cheers
Bil,
The whole two or three puffs a month is a slippery slope. I quit for two years and then once in a while I would bum a cigarette at happy hour. Then, I would buy a pack to share with friends while we were out. The next thing I knew, I was backto smoking first thing in the morning. I’m a couple weeks into quitting again, and I think I have a better understanding that I can’t have even one cigarette. Even if it takes a while to go back to smoking, I think that one puff will start me on that course.
Hang in there everyone! I know how tough it is.
Congratulations to all the recent quitters! I had a smoking dream again and I can not believe how REAL those dreams seem. I just stopped by to share that about the dream and to encourage everyone to keep moving forward one day at a time. I am coming up on my 18 month anniversary this weekend and I am so glad I quit smoking! People sure do STINK after they smoke! I keep wondering” dang is that how I really smelled to everyone else?” GROSS!!
Sweet, lovely Vai,
It is so nice to hear from one of the “old” crowd ….. it is so wonderful to see that you are coming up for 18 months – WELL DONE TO U!!!!
Everyone else seems to have disappeared. I realise that it is only natural to post less and less as the need for psychological support diminishes, but it is still nice to know how each one is keeping. I posted recently to Sandy and Tony H, on their anniversaries, but they seem to have disappeared. Oh well! maybe they will pop in some time soon.
Smoking dreams at 18 months – will the demon never let go? It’s really incredible how we are affected by this dreadful habit. I’ve had my fair share of smoking dreams as well and fully expect to have more.
Cheers wonderful Vai, and do pop in again soon.
Ed
Hi Vai, Oh those smoking dreams! They are the worse nightmares, aren’t they? But I rather have those smoking dreams than to smoke in real life. I started again two weeks ago after stopping for about 3 months. UGH. My new quit day is tomorrow. I am one who cannot have just one puff because I am addicted to nicotine. I had my last one tonight and I pray that it is my last one. I cannot beat myself up for smoking these past few weeks, but I could help myself again by quitting now!
You’re right, smoke stinks horribly! I was enjoying my few months of smelling pretty, ha ha….So here I go again. No more butts!
Hi everyone, I am so glad that I found you. I quit smoking two months ago, and wouldn’t you know, I took a puff a few weeks ago and found myself buying cigs last week. Tonight, though, I smoked my last one again. I am so angry at myself for picking up again. I quit for fifteen years but two years ago I had that one cigarette and didn’t quit for two years. So, on April 8 this year, I stopped cold turkey again and it was very easy all because I wanted to quit!
Now, here I am again going on day one tomorrow. I want so much to quit as I really don’t like the smell, and I felt very good when I quit for the couple of months. I know that one puff will destroy all my efforts.
For all of you new to quitting with some hesitation, as long as you know that you definitely want to quit, there is nothing to be afraid of. Life goes on normally or even better without the cigarette. You’ll find after the first couple of days that you will do things and keep forgetting that you want a cig. Good luck to you!
Now, I need to practice what I preach (lol). I’ll write again tomorrow to let you know how I did.
Thanks so much for all your support.
Marilyn
Congrats on the decision to quit again. Praying for you Marilyn.
Hi Lori,
Thank you so much for your prayers, but I did smoke today. I smoked 5 cigarettes from 12:30 – 5:30. Let’s continue to pray that I do not smoke anymore tonight. I am so sick of smoking. They cost about $8 a pack! I really did enjoy not smoking for a few months. Why did I start again! It’s killing me.
I think of tomorrow being another day to quit. I have to want to quit, not just think about it or talk about it. You know, I don’t really even want one it’s just constantly in my mind, “what if I have just one.” And wouldn’t you know, I had five stinky cigs.
I will pray harder this evening that tomorrow will bring a brighter day my way so that I can think clearly and concentrate on my quit.
Thanks for writing.
Hi Marilyn,
Tomorrow is DEFINITELY another day. After two months, your body isn’t used to that nicotine anymore – so you have a running start on continuing your quit. Stay with it: Throw away the rest of that pack you bought and keep your quit going.
If you slip again and buy another pack, take one out, wet down his nineteen friends and throw them into the trash. This will limit your slip – and keep your quit going. It won’t be “perfect” anymore, but it will STILL be a quit (despite what some may say). This might not work for everyone, but it has worked for me (several times during my ten-week quit) and it might work for you too. Most important: if you do slip and buy a pack – tell yourself that you’ll smoke just one or two and destroy the rest (don’t make the mistake of stashing them around the house!) – and then do just that. It hurts a bit to throw all those expensive cigarettes away – but hey, compared to the main thing you are doing, does this expense even matter?
If you can control occasional slips in this way, you won’t be able to say you are 100% smoke free anymore. BUT who cares about that? You CAN tell yourself that a) you’re not doing any significant damage to your body, b) you’re keeping your quit going, and c) you’re controlling your occasional lapses by NOT smoking that pack. It’s SMOKING THAT PACK that will get you – and that’s what you need to avoid.
Keep it going one day at a time, and you’ll become a non-smoker. And most important: Keep your eye on the prize!!!
Hi Bill,
Thank you so much for your response. I did buy a pack yesterday and I am now down to the last one. This is the first pack that I smoked in three months. Like you say, I did buy just two packs previously and took one or two out of the pack, but I didn’t throw them away. Instead I gave them to other people. But the problem there is that when I see those people I feel that they owe me a cigarette!
Please pray that tomorrow will be another quit for me. I really do despise smoking. When I have a cig my chest hurts from inhaling. I have a beautiful little two year old grandson who moved right next door to me this weekend and he loves me so much. I kills me to think that because of cigarettes I will not be around for him when he grows up. He would be devastated if his “ma” was not around for him each day.
Please keep monitoring me as I enjoy reading your site.
God bless you my friend.
Marilyn
The main thing is to keep it going. One way or another. Just keep your imperfect quit going – because you’re giving up smoking and doing yourself a great big favor. It’s the long term prize that is important – not the details.
SO HAPPY I FOUND THIS WEBSITE. BEEN A SMOKER FOR 49 YEARS. ONLY TIME DIDN’T SMOKE WAS TWO OF MY PREGNANCIES. DEVELOPED SEVERE BRONCHITIS AND ASTHMA LAST YEAR AND GAVE UP MY CIGS FOR 3 WEEKS, ONLY TO SAY I WILL ONLY SMOKE 2 OR 3 A DAY NOW. WELL WE ALL KNOW WHERE THAT LEAD. NOW HAVE PNEUMONIA AND HAVEN’T LIT UP FOR 5 DAYS WITH THE INTENTION OF THIS FINALLY BEING IT. READING ALL OF THESE SUGGESTIONS AND EXPERIENCES HAS HELPED, AND I COME TO THIS SITE, EVERYTIME I FEEL WEAK. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THOSE FAKE CIGARETTES, WHERE YOU BREATH IN MINT? SENT FOR ONE, AS MY SMOKING ADDICTION INCLUDED SOMETHING IN MY HAND AND MOUTH, AS WELL AS THE NICOTINE. I REALLY HAVE TO MAKE IT THIS TIME, AS I HAVE EMPHESYMA.
Hello all. It’s been quite some time since I came here because I was not able to quit smoking. NOW…I am scheduled to have an ACDF procedure, a disc removed from my neck with a bone fusion, with the bone taken from my hip, on July 27, 2009. I ABSOLUTELY MUST STOP SMOKING NOW as continuing to do so with interfere with the bone fusing properly and general healing, and I will be prone to pneumonia and other problems. SO, please, I earnestly ask you for your prayers in a successful surgery and quick recovery, and to please be the best support I could ever find in not smoking. If you wish to be more private in communicating, my email is ddemczyk@gmail.com Thank all of you for sharing your experiences in not smoking, congratulations to all who have been successful, and hang in there to those who still struggle. Most importantly, God Bless all of you.
Good luck to you Diane and keep posting. It helps.
Also, after your surgery please do not start smoking again. You will just have to go through this all over again.
Hello Everyone.
Your stories are amazing and its nice to see that there are people struggling in the same way I am. I am on day 4. I really just want to go get a pack and smoke because I know that it will make me feel human again. I know all the withdrawels and the non smokers that say it should be easy you make it through the first day. I have tried quitting several times. I actually made it three months the last time. I enjoy smoking I can’t believe something so good is so bad for you. Anyway I am glad I found this site. I am hoping i can be inspired to stay quit.
oh my you sound like me. it has been 4 days and i miss it because i enjoyed smoking but i dont want to anymore. then i think, shoot, life isnt any fun without smoking. help!!!
Is there a reason why since 11:24 a.m. yesterday the last comment is still “Your comment is awaiting moderaton” ?
i dont know what that means
what does that mean awaiting moderation. can someone help
Day 3. Still going strong although I think about ciggs quite often. Last night I worked out for an hour, and this was the first time of working out in a long time. I am chewing the gum at a rate of about 1 every 3 hours. Working out later at night seems to be helping me with that “I need a cigg before bed” hump.
day 4 for me
Hi everyone,
I found you all by accident, but anyway I an have been off the smokes for two years come this Sunday. Stay focus and best wishes yo you all.
Doug
Day 4. Still doing well, but the thoughts of smoking are still there. Last night I went to throw the trash away and in the drawer there was one lonely ciggy. I actually held it in my hand for that “moment of truth” only to toss it in the trash can. It was a really close call.
Hi there! So good to read all your posts. I’ve quit after almost 15 years of smoking. It’s been 24 days…and counting! It’s oh-so-hard but i’m determined to get through this!
Good luck to you all and keep writing! I believe it helps more people than we’re aware of….
Dear All,
I’ve noticed with regret that my posts seem to be generating negative reactions. My own quit is ten weeks old, and I have had several “slips” – some of which I’ve described in detail. I’ve “managed” those three (or four?) slips by limiting them to just one cigarette – and I’ve described how I did that in concrete terms (see my reply to Marilyn above). But my saying those things seems to have bothered a good number of people – some (most?) of whom report that they have maintained their own quits in a “clean” cigarette-free way. If this is you, then I say congratulations, and more power to you!
However, I am unable to “just say no” to every one of those cravings that comes along! Maybe it’s because I smoked a pack a day for so many years (more than 50), or maybe it’s because I am weak. In any case I had a problem to solve for myself: How do I keep my quit going, given my own realities?
I believe I have found my solution. It may not be for everyone, but hey, it’s worked for me. When I say that, I don’t mean I’ve been 100% cigarette-free, but rather that I have NOT TAKEN UP SMOKING AGAIN. What’s more, after thinking it through as honestly as I can, I also think it’s going to work for me long-term because it gives me a way of keeping my quit going through inevitable occasional slips. Perhaps it might work for others too – despite the fact that it goes against the grain for purists and it is certainly not standard orthodoxy.
Some have even suggested (gently and politely but firmly) that I might be doing harm by making such suggestions here. Others just seem bothered by the idea of it. For sure, I don’t want to contribute in a negative way to this useful forum, so I’ve decided that the right thing for me to do is to shut up. Thanks to those who offered feedback even if it was negative (I mean that), and to all: Best wishes for keeping your own quit going in your own way!
I do hope you keep posting here. I enjoy your posts. You are a very intelligent person and I personally see nothing harmful with what you suggest. It is simply your opinion on what works for you to maintain your quit. We are all different people and what works for you may not work for others but it just might work for a few and so there for it is worth posting. Not everyone can do an all or nothing life.
Lori
Thanks for your comments, Lori. Actually, I was pretty discouraged. You’ve made me feel better, and isn’t that what this blog is all about? Namely – keeping all of us focused on the POSITIVE aspects of getting rid of smoking from our lives!
Best to all,
–Bill
Hey Bill — don’t stop posting !!! I think posting is what keeps a lot of people going….during my most successful times, I was posting here. ( Okay, notice ya haven’t heard from me in a bit)…that’s another story.
I’m certain we can all agree to disagree at times….besides, whenever I have a good 15 minutes to kill, I usually read one of your post. (hehehe I’m just kidding you). Keep writing…you help yourself that way and many many others.
Bill,
Thank you again for your positive approach to my quitting smoking. I have smoked again today, 3 cigarettes and it is 3:00 PM. I didn’t have any this morning and once again quitting was my plan until my husband left me a couple of his cigs. There they were, staring at me, telling me to pick them up and smoke them! UGH, the cigarettes won yet another battle. But! I do promise that I will win the war, if not today, I will try again tomorrow until I succeed again.
Thank You!
Marilyn
Okay Marilyn.
But you’ve got to get your quit going with some STEAM. And from what you’ve said, I don’t think you’ve done that yet.
For me (and I think for many people) getting rid of the chemical dependency amounted to five days of really nasty unpleasantness – fairly constant cravings that CANNOT be given into. Not even once! FIVE DAYS OF HELL. This is the first big hurdle for people who go cold turkey as I did and as apparently you are. It is the worst of it, and there is no way to get around it. But then again, it is ONLY FIVE DAYS.
The fact that your husband left you a couple of cigarettes to smoke shows that while he may have meant well – he wanted to ease the pain/discomfort that you were obviously suffering – in fact he seriously damaged your effort by ruining this initial stage of your quit. So you have to begin by educating HIM so that he should help you rather than hinder you. Tell him that he needs to help you keep your quit going – and not sabotage it with well-intentioned but misguided offers to feed your smoking habit.
P.S. It is HARD for one person in a two-person-smoking family to do this. But it is not impossible. My wife did it twenty years ago, while I continued to puff away until ten weeks ago.
So: step 1: Go five days without a single puff to get rid of the chemicals in your body. This part is really bad, but probably not as bad as you expect.
Then it gets less difficult but more subtle. After the first week, you’ve got rid of the chemical part of it, but you still have to deal with the HABIT. But before you can get there, you have to conquer the FIRST FIVE DAYS.
Do that first! That’s your milestone. Then we’ll discuss steps 2, 3, …. 34, 35, …..
Just kidding….;=), lol.
Good luck!
Hey Bill.
Hope all is well today. Thanks for the great writing, I know how difficult it can be to put yourself out there.
Now comes the hard part. I’m going to be brutally honest here and I don’t think you’re really going to like it. But I won’t apologize because I think that it needs to be said.
You are still a smoker. Ugh, I hated saying that because I don’t want to put you down. But let’s be honest here. Whether it’s once in a while or everyday, if you inhale, you are a smoker. You can say and I quote, “I HAVE NOT TAKEN UP SMOKING AGAIN” but you have. Smoking would be defined as such, “Smoking is a practice where a substance, most commonly tobacco, is burned and the smoke tasted or inhaled.” Now even if it is just once every month or whatever, you are in fact doing the above, are you not? It didn’t say, “Smoking is a practice where a substance, most commonly tobacco, is burned and the smoke tasted or inhaled more than once every month.” It really just comes down to semantics.
You are probably angry with me at the moment. That’s ok, I understand…I would be too. When you feel the need to have just one, think of this post. Get angry. Say to yourself, “eff that guy. he’s a douche. I’ll show him.” and then don’t smoke. If you need to hate me in order to not smoke, then good. I can live with that.
This isn’t only focused at Bill. This is for all of you out there who perhaps are doing the same thing. Slipping up unintentionally does indeed happen. But planning to slip up…well, I think that you are setting yourself up to fail right from the get go.
I really do hope that you all quit. You’ve made enormous steps so far. Good luck.
Hello again, Andrew. I’m not angry. For sure, I don’t fault you for disagreeing with me nor for posting your opinion about it. On the other hand, since we are talking straight, I am also free to tell you that the judgements you’ve presented (and they are quite judgmental) are unrealistic when taken across the population of people who are trying to quit smoking.
Let me begin by summarizing your paragraph unfairly so as to make my point: You say that I am “still a smoker” – which is obviously an indictment. Without giving a definition of “smoker”, your statement seeks to negate whatever it is that I have accomplished, because a) I have not quit smoking YOUR way, b) quitting “your way” appears to have some higher authority to it, and c) (and this one is the troubling and self-serving one) there is a suggestion in your tone that no other method than your method could possibly work for other people – and in any case, yours is preferable. Sure, you did not say all these things in explicit terms, but if one reads your statements carefully, these things do emerge.
I would answer you as follows, Andrew. If you’re saying that I have failed to “stop smoking perfectly”, then you are 100% correct! I have not stopped smoking in a perfect way = NO cigarettes whatsoever. That point is granted.
But you see, I never wanted to stop smoking “perfectly”. And there’s an important distinction there: what I wanted to do was to end the threats to my health that smoking caused. I was never after ideology, for example, the title of “most-pure-and-most-perfect-nonsmoker” in my neighborhood strikes me as so much fluff. (I’ve resisted using stronger words!)
So let me tell you what I HAVE accomplished: My regular smoking every day of my life has been gone for ten weeks. I have not smoked more than a few puffs in a single day, and those times that I did smoke during a day are spread out: five times over ten weeks. You can do the math to see how much that is and that it is a negligible intake of toxic substances. Contrary to what you say, Andrew, I claim that I have STOPPED my habit in the way I wanted to stop it.
Moreover, I also claim (more speculatively) that I am headed toward a life without any cigarettes whatsoever. But I am not there yet, and I have to live with my imperfections while I continue to work on my goal. I don’t know that I will be able to continue this forever, but I THINK I have learned how to do that, and I think I can do it.
You may believe that the smoking devil will get me, that it is impossible to sustain what I have been doing, and I will slip helplessly back into the abyss. Well, it hasn’t happened so far, and I don’t see it happening anytime soon!
You may not like my method, Andrew, but that doesn’t matter to me. Perhaps there are a few imperfect souls out there who can get rid of this unhealthy habit in this way, or maybe in some OTHER unconventional way of their own – and that is why I’ve taken the time to compose this reply and post it – to encourage those people to TRY. To put it briefly, I am satisfied with what I have accomplished, I will continue to live by my imperfect rules, and I am hopeful for the future. I can tell you that it has worked for at least one other human being: my wife. So now there are at least two of us in the world. I conjecture that there are many others.
I don’t want to start a pissing contest in this blog – in fact I will not get into a debate about whether or not my quit is a failure. What kind of support is that, folks? So I am checking out of this exchange. Bye.
Thanks to those who few of you who have offered positive support! Most of all, good luck to all for finding your own way out of your cigarette habit!!
–Bill
Hi Bill,
Please don’t become discouraged. I can assure you that there is not a single person who doesn’t wish you well. We are all in this boat together. You have already inspired so many. There are a number of posts which are direct replies to your own. Your earlier post to Marilyn was beautifully scripted and I am certain helped not only her, but many others.
You are an asset here. Your writing is pleasing to the eye. I have been on this journey for nigh on 10 months and I have witnessed a number of ‘debates’ on exactly this topic. Just remember, it is debate – debate is good, it keeps you from doing other nasty things, like smoking.
I am certain that Andrew means well. After all, he is encouraging you to stay quit. He evens sets himself up as the target of any anger you might be feeling, when he says: “If you need to hate me in order to not smoke, then good. I can live with that.”
Do I have to beg? If so, I will. Just hang around. If I can’t persuade you, then at least stay on track – try http://forums.about.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?nav=messages&webtag=ab-quitsmoking. I post there as well.
Posting is an extremely important part of the quitting process. Encouraging others is (to my mind) an important part of the healing process. So, keep posting and keep encouraging others …. it’s good for them and it’s good for you.
Cheers
Ed
PS: If Nora H is around, congrats on your 2 year milestone on the 4th.
Wow Bill, that was not my intention at all. I do not want you to go. If I knew that that was what my comment would cause to happen, then I assure you that I would have not said anything at all.
Listen, if you think that your method will work, then by all means, continue on with it. I was not negating anything you did or are doing. You are in fact doing great. I guess I honestly got a little offended when you stated that you were not a smoker because I feel that that statement negates what I have accomplished as I have not smoked at all. I felt that it lumped me into a group that was still smoking a little. I am sorry that I didn’t look a little deeper into what you meant which apparently was you are not the TYPE of smoker that you were (at least I think that’s what you meant, correct?).
Anyway, my apologies for making you feel as though you haven’t accomplished anything. I can’t stop you from leaving the thread if that’s what you choose. But I would hope that you stay, if not for you then perhaps for those who you have helped.
bill this is 5 days for me today and it is awful. i had one in my hand and walked away.
Hello all,
I stumbled across this site by chance today on day 2 of my quit. This is my second attempt of quiting in the 7 years i’ve smoked(pack-a-day), I think the positive thing for me is that I do want to quit. Just reading all of the posts from top to the bottom of the page has helped me immensely. It felt like I was on my own trying to quit.
I thank everyone it’s inspiring to see so many people battling this same problem, but knowing your not on your own helps a great deal.
The only thing that worries me is that I see people struggling after 2 or 3 months, I’m sat in work with only one thing on my mind and it’s to light up and enjoy. I just didn’t realise the road ahead would by so difficult to negotiate.
I didn’t buy any at the shop this morning that was extremely tough, so instead I bought lots of food, which i’m eating currently. If anyone has any tips to keep this going, because I don’t want to smoke anymore.
Thankyou again to everyone, all the best in your quit.
David
I quit for two weeks, however after using a NRT (patches)I was still addicted to nicotine and it is easy to go back to smoking..
I just finished Allen Carr’s Easy way to quit smoking.. it really is easy if you follow his instructions, he was a 100 a day smoker to O a day..
Just read it you have nothing to lose right?
Hi Bill,
I wanted to add my support and rationalization for your method. It is similar to the journey that I am on. I smoked 2 packs / day. Now I’m down to 5 cigarettes (reducing to 3 or 4 /day next week). The need to smoke is diminishing and so too is the withdrawal between smokes. I am deliberately not smoking at a set routine, e.g. after a meal or before bed etc. I realize this is a stepping stone to my ultimate goal, which is not wanting to smoke. But, currently I can’t imagine being at that ‘place’ and won’t be able to, until I have arrived at 1 cigarette per week. I think that quitting 1 cigarette per week is a little easier than quitting 40 / day.
Some people can get from point A-Z in one trip. I prefer the scenic route.
Hi Dom,
I can’t resist replying to your post. If I’ve understood you, you’re down to five cigarettes/day and holding. Plus, you’re trying to avoid “smoking routines”. All of which makes good sense. But I do have three comments on the plans you’ve stated.
1. I know someone (a good friend, actually) who has already done a very similar thing. I’ve told the story in this blog before but allow me to repeat it here. My friend had quit cold turkey for more than a year. Then he relapsed and went back to smoking. He tried to quit several times again – without permanent success. Finally, after some introspection, he arrived at the conclusion that he is UNABLE TO QUIT SMOKING PERMANENTLY! He had to figure out how to deal with this rather grim self-assessment, and came up with the following plan. Over a period of months, he reduced his daily cigarette habit by one cigarette per day at a time – on a schedule he had worked out ahead in advance. He finally arrived at a steady state of five cigarettes per day and has been holding this for a long time – I think it’s been a year or so. He tells me that he can get by with three per day if he has to, but not without pain.
I think this story is remarkable, and of course I consider my friend a tower of strength! I also believe (though others are free to disagree) that he has reduced his health risks in a very significant way – though of course not completely. His attitude about his own health is rather pragmatic: he has said: “If five per day can kill me, then so be it”.
Okay. Congratulations to him, but this method definitely would not work for me – I couldn’t maintain it long term. I don’t have that option. I would have to quit entirely, and my guess is that many/most others would too.
2. But notice that my tower-of-strength friend is UNABLE to do what you are proposing, Dom, namely cut down to one cigarette per week. In fact, he’s uncomfortable when he gets under five per day. He doesn’t think he can cut down any more than that and maintain it long-term. I’ve already said that he has given up quitting altogether – his aim is not to quit entirely but to reduce his habit to the lowest level he can maintain long-term: It has to be sustainable.
You might ask: Hey, he quit for a year once – so why can’t he keep gradually decreasing his consumption all the way down to zero? I don’t know the answer to that question. I am only reporting some facts I know are true, without interpreting them or measuring them. But I think they are important facts. They also suggest to me that what you are planning to do may be very difficult, and perhaps even impossible!
3. Finally, method 1 (above) is definitely NOT what I am doing myself!! What I’m doing myself is to maintain a fairly conventional cold-turkey quit for a (weak?) person who is going to have slips, in such a way that even when I have a slip from time to time, I do NOT give in to it! If I were to slip today, I would use the method I’ve described above to keep my eleven-week quit going. The idea is that if you have a slip, here is a way for you to NOT give in to it and to keep your quit going.
Anyway, good luck in whatever you settle on as YOUR PERSONAL quit.
Hi Bill
Although you don’t know me, I somehow feel that I know you a little through reading your posts. I quit on the 27th April, a week or so after you I think.
I think you have done amazing and I know at times the quit as been really difficult for you, but you have carried on and spurred others along with you, me for one. So thanks
Here’s a bit about me
I am 55 years old mother of three and grandma of five. I have been smoking at least 1 pack a day for 30 years or so. I have known for a long, long time, that i should stop smoking but never really wanted to, cos i enjoyed it.
My idea of quitting was to say on one evening “i will quit tomorrow” and agonise until lunch time next day or until i thought I’d given my best attempt at stopping. Then i would rush to the shop like a mad woman, get in the car, rip the packet open, light up and feel relief that i was smoking again. Yes that was my idea of a quit. What a fool was I !
My family have begged me for years to quit, and i would have truly loved to have given them their wish, but i just couldn’t do it.
Then about six months ago I started to get a bit fed up with smoking, standing out in the cold and wind, finishing the smoke in about 10 drags just so i could get back indoors, smokes were starting to become a burden, always fretting that i had enough to last until i could get to the shops again. Not forgetting the cost and health risks. I always said to myself ” that I didn’t want to be an old dithering pensioner with cigarette burnt clothes, covered in ash”
Anyway,I was reading a book about gastroesophageal reflux disease (GORD or GERD in USA),of which i was suffering badly, apparently many smokers do.It said if i was serious about healing I had to stop smoking or it was pointless reading any further. So I did stop. Smoking that is, not reading. My recovery as been rapid, i noticed a improvement immediately and I’d suffered with it for years.
The first day was bad,the second was long and bad and the third day worst of all, but i kept coming on here and willing someone to add another post, and a lot of times that someone was you Bill. Thanks again ! To know you are not struggling alone, is the best support. Knowing all you people here are in for the long haul like me, and hearing from the long time ex-smokers like Ed, all helps
Well I’m almost at my 3 months point and there’s no turning back for me, don’t want to do those earlier quit times ever again.
Good luck Bill with your continuing quit. Please keep posting !
Best wishes to everyone else, and good luck with your quits
P.S Wonder what happened to Chris, Bill. He quit around same time and haven’t seen him in a while.
Hi mo,
Great to hear from you! I haven’t seen anything from Chris in quite a while, and don’t think he’s posted recently. Chris, are you out there?
Thanks for your post. It is very encouraging to hear stories like yours – in which you’ve found a way to turn a corner and launch yourself into a determined long-term quit. Keep it going – one day at a time!
I hadn’t heard about the connection between that awful acid reflux condition (disease?) and smoking. I’ve had bouts with it too, infrequently but over a period of years. Usually, it hits by waking me suddenly from a sound sleep at 2AM or so in a MOST unpleasant way. Come to think of it, this hasn’t happened in the past three months – the period of my quit. So maybe (and hopefully) quitting smoking has ended THAT problem too.
I am only on day 3 of not smoking, but to have two full days without cigarettes is great. Cravings were awful for the first couple of hours but have gradually gotten much fewer and far between. It was not as bad as I thought it would be after smoking for 14 years. My only thought now is, will I always think about the pleasure of smoking? Will I always be jealous when I see someone else smoking? Good luck to other quitters everywhere, just do it!
I am nearing the end of my third week not smoking. I am taking chantix. I am going to do it this time. I have been smoking for 24 years. This is attempt 245 I believe. I didnt quit for pregnancy, I didnt quit when I had pnemonia, cancer or my son became ill. Selfish addiction. I never really understood til now. I am no different then my freind who was addicted to crack. My alcoholic brother in law. The urges, thoughts, and overpowering cravings are what draw us back to our addictions. Relapse is inevitable if your not doing it for YOURSELF. You have to want to quit. Want to not smoke. As much as i hate to say this…as a former smoker who was sick of hearing all the “its in your head” crap….well…it is in your head. I TELL myself everyday, NO cigarettes. When I see someone smoking, I tell my self…NO. When I smell cigarettes, I tell mmyself NO. Is it hard…Heck ya. Is it annoying..Heck ya. But it can be done. I plan to make a point to my brother in law and freind who told me you can never get rid of the addictions, its always with you, and at any point you can slip, that….You can do it. If anyone tells me nicotine addiction alcohol addiction crack addiction are not the same….I’m gonna say..you must not have ever been an addict of anything. I use my face book to document my daily urges and thoughts of weakness. It is only week 3. the support of all my freinds and family daily sure does help. Am I making any sense?
nearing the end of week three. I have a cigarette sitting on the coffee table..next to a lighter. My daughter is a smoker and she left it here two days ago….I have not lite that cigarette. STUBBORN PAYS!!! NO!Not doing it.
I was surprised to find it was easy not smoking, and I no longer found the idea of cigarettes appealing. Really worked out for me.
I quit now for 6 days,It seems to be getting easier now.But out of the blue I will get hit with a craveing.I just found this site so now I will have others to talk to about this.I was up to 2 packs a day.I woke up on the 4th of july with one smoke left and decided to quit at 6pm.So 7 hours to go and day 6 will be done.
john that is great….i am on day 4….yikes…it is tough but this site helps
Sometimes those cravings are unbelievable. One of my biggest problems, not knowing what to do. I just sit there when i normally would have smoked. Like after eating….Instead of going to the other room to smoke..i go in there and sit. Then I wait it out. That part sucks. If I am lucky enough to be busy doing something, its not an issue. Or driving in my car..Now I have a stash of hard candy;s in my truck. That Helps. I’m bored.
Hi Everyone , i have been smoking since i was 13 am now 44 , and 6wks age have gave it up and i feel great for it , after taking a heart attack a few months age i thought enough is enough of the smoking , and the money iv safed is great wish i did it years age now , good luck to everyone thats off it lets all keep going , its great to say am a non smoker .
It’s great to see this site. I had my last cigarette at 2:30 pm Friday…I’m almost hitting the 48 hour mark. I have tried so many times over the years (smoking PAD for 18 years); however, this time it seems to be quite easy. I was at the doctors office Friday and was told I had a rare disease from smoking. The doctor says I’m going to lose at least a toe. I can’t believe this. I have been pretty healthy. This doctor hasn’t even done all the proper testing for a diagnosis, so, I’m not going back to that doctor. Am going to try to get a second opinion tomorrow. But, either way, it was enough to scare me out of smoking. In my mind, if I smoke one more puff, I may lose my entire foot. So, aside from being a basket of nerves and uncontrollably crying, I am NOT smoking. At least that part feels good. I pray you all keep strong in your fight. God Bless
After many years of trying lots of different products, I never thought that I would stop smoking and now it is a dream comes true for me.
I am just finishing day 4 of quitting and it is going very well. I am turning 25 at the end of the month and decided as a birthday present to myself I would quit smoking (I have been smoking since 14). Another big reason I decided it was time is that smoking had become more of a nuisance than anything…does anyone else feel that way?
I have used Chantix and Zyban before without complete success, but this time went cold-turkey and am having a surprisingly easier time (I carry a nicotine patch in my purse “just in case” but haven’t used it). Don’t get me wrong however, I had a wicked attack on the way to work today…I saw everyone downtown smoking and felt like I was going to cry because I wanted one. But the worst part was I knew I just wanted one…my body didn’t….and this conflict is the craziest thing to me…..I want one but don’t “need” it so that’s what I keep telling myself…and I notice that when it comes to mind after a meal or something…it’s just me thinking I should have a smoke because it’s habit…but I tell myself I don’t need it/want it…and I am fine a minute later…
One other thing I did (that will hopefully be motivation) is I put an expensive purchase on my credit card (Bears tickets) and I did the math and by the time I attend the game…if I am still smoke-free, correction WHEN I am still smoke free, that credit card bill will have paid itself.
Best of luck to everyone!
And remember typing keeps your hands busy!
Good job Michelle sounds like your on the right track. Seems like you are doing a great job. Keep up the good work. Today is 49 days free of smoking for me. I quit cold turkey also.
Hi Michelle, welcome to this blog, and congratulations!!!
Seems like you’ve pretty much got through the worst of it already – namely the dreaded first five days. I’ve also experimented with NRT (namely gum) and also with Chantix – without success; and I ended up quitting cold turkey about three months ago.
The worst part for me was getting used to the (fairly constant) cravings to smoke that would appear suddenly – from time to time and sometimes frequently. This is the habit part. I could banish the thoughts from my mind – with some effort – by scolding myself in much the same way you’ve described. But those cravings were relentless and would return. I kept hoping they would go away completely, and waited for that to happen – one week, two weeks, …. But that didn’t happen for me (some have had different experiences).
On the other hand, I can report some good news after three months! The “craving moments” do seem to be getting more and more spaced out; and definitely, they are now all manageable. My cough is gone. I KNOW I have done something very positive for my health – and my wife is impressed. Not to say that I haven’t had slips – but that’s another story for another time. I have kept my quit going, after 50+ years of smoking a pack a day.
I remember I quit once when I was 29 (not much older than you) for a week or two. But then something happened and I went back to smoking, unfortunately. Now, finally, after MANY MANY years and hundreds of thousands of cigarettes later, I’ve finally done it. At least I think I have done it – in my own imperfect and flawed way.
I hope these remarks can help you. You CAN do it now, and save yourself a lot of unpleasantness later in your life. Stay with it Michelle – don’t give in! BEST WISHES FOR A SUCCESSFUL QUIT RIGHT NOW!!!
Lori and Bill,
Thanks so much for your encouraging words! Finishing up day 6 going strong:)
I will be interested to see how this weekend goes as I am supposed to attend a couple social events and will be drinking. This, to be honest I think will be my biggest challenge….I don’t want to be a smoke-when-I-drink type person…
If anyone has any suggestions on a good thing to keep from smoking while drinking please let me know…
Also Lori and Bill (and everyone else) congratulations! You are inspiring in many ways
Cheers!
Tomorrow will be 1 month for me since I quit. Last october I gave birth to my second child, a beautiful boy. It was having him that finally made me do it, I want to be – no I NEED to be – here for my children. But I have to say, I really dont feel any better. I thought I would be starting to feel really good by now. It hurts when I breathe in. I desperately want a smoke, but my daughter is so happy that I’ve quit, and I don’t want to let her – or myself – down. She has hounded me for so long to stop. She’s broken cigarettes out of my packet, thrown them in the bin, not spoken to me while I’m having 1. I don’ want her to think that way about me. But why don’t I feel better yet?????
Have you done any exercising? I know in my first month I was cleaning my house like crazy, wiping down walls, and walking twice a day. I felt great. It does affect everyone differently so I can not explain why you do not feel beter. I would just hope that you do not give in to smoking again because you have made it so far why go back? I quit cold turkey and I experienced so many different feelings that I neveer thought anyone could experience in a week time period. I never want to go back to that so that is what keeps me from smoking and my girls. My girls wanted me to quit also but I had to when I was ready. Now that I have gone this far I will not let them down.
Good Luck
Thanks for your reply Lori. Yes, I excercise almost every day. I don’t drive so I walk and use public transport on a daily basis. My son loves to go for walks in the pram. I don’t know, I guess I’m just expecting too much too soon. I’ve been smoking for a long time, but was never a heavy smoker. Usually only a packet of 20’s a week. But that urge was still always there. And it’s really starting to take hold of me now. I almost bought a packet yesterday, but didn’t! The real test will be the next time I have a drink. It’s been a month since I had 1 of those too! They go hand in hand for me, so I’m not sure how I’ll go. But I’m determined to stick with it. I’m pretty proud of myself actually! Hope you stick with it too.
Hi Deb,
It was that way for me too (the persistent craving to smoke – not the giving birth part). Sometimes the recurrent cravings over time are a real pain. [I could use one right now, for example, but won't]
I’ve given in to those urges more than once. But I’ve never smoked more than one without re-thinking exactly what I’ve been suffering so much for! Then, after those few puffs, I get rid of the rest of the pack, and re-launch my quit. BTW, I have to report that in my case, those few puffs are unexpectedly weird – not greatly pleasurable, not really unpleasant either – just sort of NEUTRAL sensual reminders that I am no longer a regular smoker. And then, of course, I decide that the momentary lapse was really not worth it and trash myself appropriately. Then I wet the 19 fellows in the pack down under the faucet, toss the soggy mess in the trash, curse it, and re-launch my quit.
I don’t know why it’s easier for some; it has NOT been like that for me! At first, I worried a lot about WHY it wasn’t improving more quickly after a few weeks of pain, and kept asking (here mainly) for advice about WHEN the distracting cravings would go away. Some kind people tried to respond; but, there doesn’t seem to be a clear answer to that one. It seems that some have to suffer for a while, some more than others, and “a while” seems to vary through an unknown period of time.
But hey, IT DOES GET BETTER SLOWLY BUT SURELY! At least, it that has been my experience. Enough so that I am encouraged to stay on it – namely stay determined not to lose what I have gained. Hope you stay on it too.
Hi guys, Ive been smoking for 5 years+ and on my way to work 3 days ago I had a smoke, when I got into work and at 10:30 am I was asked to go for a smoke break, I didn’t feel very well so decided against it. This was on Tuesday 14th July and haven’t touched one since, to be honest I’m on my 5th can of Guinness and (drink and cigarettes go like hand in glove together!) I know now that I’m never going to touch one again!!! So weird though, I never intended to quit because I LIKED smoking! It’s just because I wasn’t feeling the best (probably due to cigarettes!) but now I realise it’s all in the mind in regards to liking it or not. Smoking is bad full stop, the longer u stay off them the more determined you are to stay off them for life. My advice is when you get a cold/flu try get off them there and then because at least you’ve something else to encourage you to get off them rather then just ur willpower..and that is…UR BODY telling you smoking is not good!! I gave up due to feeling physically bad/weak/tired, you should try it.
I quit for a month straight
i smoked a cigerette today and right now while im typing im regreting it so bad. And in someway smoking that one cigerette today after a complete month smoke free has made me realise that smoking is pointless and why do i need to crave something so pointless.
Hi Maypeace:
I hope you didn’t go back to smoking. Just remember, not one puff! It brings you right back. I know because I stopped for 15 years and had one puff two years ago and went right back to full time smoking. I did quit in April and had one cigarette in June and here I am, sick as a dog from smoking again. I need to get my mind set for another quit date. Please, don’t smoke. And if you did start smoking again, it is much easier right now to quit again. Please let me know how you are doing.
Marilyn
After 40 years of smoking, I thought I would never stop, finding the date to stop smoking is the hardest to do and now it really worked out for me and have already succeeded. I was surprised to find it was easy not smoking, and I no longer found the idea of cigarettes appealing.
It’s been a while since I have put a serious effort into quitting smoking. I just threw a pack away and I am planning on going for a run in a couple of hours. I don’t smoke a lot, but I find that the cravings are still very strong. I have tried the patch and medication but they are not that effective for me. I can quit the smoking part but I feel like I am still an addict so I give myself permission to smoke eventually when I am on the patch. I am doing this cold turkey!
Most of my friends don’t know I smoke. I am a closet smoker, and have been since I was 13 years old. Part of the habit for me is something to do when I am by myself. The hardest part about quitting for me is to be open about it! It feels so awkward telling people who have never seen me smoke that I am quitting. They say “You don’t smoke” and then I am embarrassed to tell them that “I smoke alone” and that I sneak around to smoke. Sometimes I think I’m much like an alcoholic who drinks vodka. I have to keep up this image that I am healthy when I am really not. The way I see it I am going to have to give up that fear and let other people see who I really am, which is a person who is really addicted to Nicotine, regardless of how much I smoke….which is about 4 to 6 cigarettes a day.
If people knew how much I hike this addiction from the world I fear they would think I am pretty pitiful. So wish me luck, I may get a lot of flack for coming out with quitting smoking.
Paul
Hi Paul, I know how you feel. I lie all the time when I am caught from people who think I don’t smoke. I tell them that I just started. I stopped smoking for 15 years then started two years ago in April. I did quit again for two months this April but started again after a month. We just cannot have that one puff. I thought I could have a cigarette but it brought me right back to the beginning. I plan to quit again on Monday. Maybe we can chat about our addiction. Please please keep the quit. It is so easy to quit, the most difficult of it is to find a quit date. Once that date is here, just quit! It’s all in our minds. If you really want to quit, you will succeed. But!!!! do not feel that you can have just one puff. Just quit….
Thanks Marilyn, I am actually just past day two in quitting. I guess all the nicotene is out of my body and I do feel pretty anxious….but good. I plan on doing some exercising later this afternoon to get me through the evening. I like your no puff additude. The craving is just a moment, but a moment I lie to myself and allow a puff.
Hiding smoking is only the top of the iceberg. I have smoked cigarette butts that other left half smoked, climbed into dumpsters to get a pack of cigarettes I threw out hours before, asked people I don’t even know for cigarettes, you name it. When I want one, I become a junkie.
On to day three, my new goal. I want to have my bronchial tubes relax. That will be nice!
Congratulations for overcoming the most difficult part of quitting smoking! I have heard that cravings come in three’s. Third day, third week, third month, third year. It’s almost like the seven year itch! haha. Be really strong tomorrow, take deep breaths whenever you might have the urge to smoke. After tomorrow, it will be much easier for you. You will have some urges but they come and go as quick as you can blink. Trust me, I’ve been there. Please do remember, DO NOT HAVE ONE PUFF. It will bring you right back to before you quit. Now, do you want to go through all this agony again? Of course not. So keep thinking about your first day of quitting and how you felt. You are on the road to recovery my friend.
Now, I have to practice what I preach. I am having the most difficult time getting to my quit date. I continue to think tomorrow will be the day. I really do hate smoking because I cannot breath all that good and I do not want to get lung cancer. Take a look online at patients with cancer due to smoking. There are videos, pictures, everything! Another great place is http://www.whyquit.com. I was glued to that website when I quit in April and it made my quit so much easier. I ruined it by taking a puff in June. Check it out and let me know what you think.
My prayers are with you. Remember, not one puff.
Marilyn
Thanks for your encouragement Marilyn. Your words ‘one puff’ are ringing in my mind. I am preparing for day three with rest and exercise.
I know it’s hard to get back on the path to breathing free. If you push yourself too hard you can set yourself up for disappointment…not enough and you get stuck in apathy. When I was between quitting I took some advise from someone on this site to try and smoke as little as possible, like I was weening down to my quit. I found it helped me build strength and gave me confidence that I could get back to this place. The other thing that is helping now is being really open and honest with people about quitting. I told a random guy at the gym that I quit, and his feedback was great. He told me he quit 8 years ago and it was the best decision of his life!
Most importantly just prepare yourself to be ready, you’ll know when to take the leap.
Paul
I just passed day 3, and I feel pretty good. My anxiety is up a little and i have had a couple of cravings, but I keep reminding myself to just take it easy. I notice that I have more energy now and I can focus/concentrate better. This helps at work!
I am going for a nice long (well as long as I can) run this afternoon. I am sad I do not have another benchmark until 2 weeks. I am very goal oriented, this is why I originally was attracted to this posted. But now my lungs are un-paralyzed and I look forward to better circulation.
Paul
Hi Paul,
How many days now? Keep breathing deeply when you have those cravings and you’ll get by. You are completely over the worse part of quitting.
Best wishes.
Marilyn
Have you noticed that there are very few new posts?
Not good. The most recent post (above) is 6 July. Whereas there are a few more recent ones embedded as replies. But not a lot. I assume this message will go at the bottom, but I am not sure. So I am posting this as a comment. Hopefully, we can get this site working again by more people posting more comments/replies. THOSE posts are very useful.
Best to all,
–Bill
Hi Bill,
I have been posting just about every day. I still have not quit, in fact, I am smoking more now than I ever did in my life. I just need the right frame of mind to get to that start date. I am going on vacation in two weeks so I thought that because I will be on a plane, it would be the perfect time to quit. Now I’m psyched again to quit. I know I keep saying tomorrow, but I am just not ready. This is a horrible addiction.
Marilyn
Marilyn,
You just have to do it. Thinking about it is much worse then just quitting. Just go one day at a time and don’t look at the big picture. You just have to think of all of the reasons why you want to be smoke free. I know I have more energy, my teeth are white and I love that! I don’t smell like an ashtray. I can be in a crowded place without worrying someone will smell the smoke. I can work out without being out of breath. My skin is nicer. I am no longer a slave to the cig. I don’t have to make room on my person or in my bag for smokes and a lighter. I don’t have to stop and buy them or worry about not having them. Freedom!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi everyone, I’m Kristy.
I quit smoking 8 days ago because I had my wisdom teeth pulled out, I thought it would be a great start date. I have been a smoker for 12 years. That’s a long time now that I think about it, holy crap. What a waste of time!! Expensive too, I was paying $9.70 a pack.
I bought the patch but, reading the blogs on here I ripped that off. I have two little girls that I would hate to see follow in my smoke rings. I feel so much better now that I don’t smoke.
Distraction is key, I keep reminding myself that the money I save on cigaretts will keep a roof over my head that much longer and, I also eat grapes when I want a cigarette.
Keep up the good work to those who have quit!
Michelle, wondering where you are and how the weekend went?
Let us know how your doing..
I have not smoked for 8 days now. I feel healthier, and I love to smell all of the summer scents. For the first few days I was so happy and excited, now I am pretty sad and depressed. I feel like I just lost my best friend. I also notice that I am really sensitive about stuff as well. For example, I went into the bookstore on friday night and I saw a book called “I lost my love in Iraq”. I read the back and it was about a man who went to the middle east as a reporter, and his girlfriend of 6 months went to iraq to work for a non-profit. his girlfriend died in a terrible attack. I started to get all choked up about this…..and I only read the back cover! I am a pretty sensitive guy by nature but this was like hair trigger sensitive.
I am also at a place where I can not go out late on weekends or drink beer. So I am somewhat depressed on friday and saturday nights. oh well, it’s worth it to stay away from smoking. I am hoping the depressing part is just a phase. I really have lost my closest friend and coping mechanism…ole smoky. I figure i should give myself some time to grieve.
Paul
Hi Paul,
I know exactly what you mean about feeling you’ve given up an old friend; and in a way you have. When I start thinking along those lines, it helps me to keep in mind that those little white friends that could be so comforting at times were also going around behind my back to make me smell bad, ruin my sense of taste, give me a nasty cough I really did not like, and otherwise kill me gradually, in tiny little steps. So smoking was a friend I really didn’t want.
Weeks 2, 3, 4 of my quit were pretty awful for me (week 1 was the worst of course), not so much because I was depressed (tho I was a bit depressed as I recall), but more that the near-constant cravings all day long began to wear me down. I didn’t see them diminishing. Now that I’ve made it into month 3 it’s become somewhat easier to deal with them – but still not easy. What keeps me going now is a) I can manage the craving moments when they come up, b) they’re getting less frequent and less intense, and c) I keep my eyes on the prize. The prize: Being able to get through a whole day without thinking about cigarettes and staying away from them permanently. I think it will be awhile before I get there, but now I know it’s possible.
I don’t drink beer very often, but I do like wine with dinner – and I have some every day. At first, I was afraid THAT would be a problem; and I was surprised when it turned out not to be. Going out to drink with a group is something else again – and is probably dangerous (?). But maybe that idea is a false alarm too – and wouldn’t that be a nice surprise?
What’s worked for me so far when I feel deprived is to tell myself: This is a (hopefully brief) period of my life in which I’ve made a commitment to work bloody hard in order to achieve something that a) is very valuable and b) will last the rest of my life.
Thanks Bill. I am through day 9 and tomorrow some friends and I are going to celebrate 10 days with a cook-out and a swim at the pool! Hopefully this will help lift some of my depressed feelings. I was walking my dog the other night and the feeling of loneliness was so strong. I was really married to the drama of smoking in my life. I think what I liked the most was that if I smoked i didn’t want to go out, so I would stay home in shame and smoke on my front porch. What I realize is that now i don’t have an excuse to hide with my ‘white’ three inch friends. So I am going to need to seek out new friends and ways to fill that void.
I must admit, i do want a cigarette now. But I know I am not a person who can have one and just shrug it off, so I think i’ll read and go to bed:)
Three months is fantastic! I image the day when you don’t think of a cigarette will come with time. The ironic thing is that you won’t notice it until it’s gone:)
I am on day 44 with no smoking. (none) I am 55 years old and health reasons drove me there. I had a heart by pass at 39, quit for 5 years and then one day had a cigar at the golf course. One lead to another then another and soon they were little cigars ( dark colored cigarettes really) I can’t believe I blew 5 years worth but alas I did. I hid from family and co-workers until I slowly got busted and just put the pack back in my pocket. Last year I went 2 months on the patch program and then fell off 3 days after patches were done.
Now fast forward. 6 weeks ago I had a TIA . (also known as a mini stroke only you recover). I am done with those darn things running and ruining my life. I hope to have grand kids soon and at least live long enough to hold them. To hold them I have to put down the killers. My advise. Don’t cheat, not one puff ever. Smoking has cost me my health and way to much money. This time I’m really done. I won’t cheat because death is just not much of an option. Hang in there, all of you. Your doing the right thing, keep believing in yourself, but one is not the answer, regardless of the question.
I am 21 years old and have been smoking since I was 16. I have quit twice before, for a few months at a time. I decided to just quit last night. The one problem I always have when I quit is the other smokers around me. My fiance smokes, I know he wants to quit because we’ve been talking about it alot. I am ready, I am not sure if he is. I have been dreading a ciggarette every time I light one up, they are gross. I hate the effects they have on my skin, my teeth, and the smell is not that great. It gets into everything. So today is “day 1″. I’m not much of a day counter, it drives me too crazy wasting time on that. Good luck to everyone for working on bettering themselves.
Hi Non Smokers!
This past March 19, I had a nasty cold and couldn’t breathe very well so I went to my Doctor. The nurse put the o2 meter on my finger then told me my o2 level was only at 77% (supposed to be 95 to 100%). She gave me a breathing treatment and hooked me to some oxygen for 20 minutes and measured my o2 levels again..NOT GOOD! My Doctor wanted to call an ambulance to escort me to the hospital, I refused, signed a waver and had my spouse drive the scenic route, that way I could still puff on a cigarette.(I knew it would be hours before I would be able to have a cigarette once I was at the hospital) I was admitted to the hospital for double pneumonia and had a complimentary stay for 5 days. The nurses asked me if I wanted Chantix or Nicorette gum, I refused and decided to torture myself more by quitting cold turkey! It was NOT easy! I was cranky and had horrible thoughts going through my mind, but I was more mad at myself for putting myself in this postion to begin with! I had my oldest daughter snap a picture of me in the hospital bed with the oxygen mask on and hooked up to IV’s as a reminder not to light up again. I had smoked for 31 years and actually enjoyed it?!?!? I watched my Mother die from Lung Cancer at the age of 55, yet I still puffed. For the past few years, everytime I got a cold it turned into bronchitis, yet I still puffed. I would be carrying on a conversation with someone then have to stop to cough or clear my throat, yet I still puffed. I let cigarettes control my life and at the same time they were taking hours away from it, yet I still puffed! I am 46 years old and on oxygen therapy for when I sleep. I have had urges for a smoke, but I still have some lung junk that still hasn’t come up and I look at that picture of myself from the hospital and REFUSE to give in to that nasty DEMON again!! Feels good being free from smoking
Cheryl,
What an ispiration you are. Thank you so much for posting. It gives me lift to see such posts. I have a sister who has an almost identical story minus 2 years and our mom did not die of smoke related causes.(she died in a car wreck when we were very young) But the rest is her in a nutshell! I am 39 and have quit many times but this time I am doing it. I am using Bill’s method which works best for me and am doing well.(you would have to read the posts and you will see) I unlike my sis only have smoked 10 cigs a day she has been smoking 30 a day for I bet 30 years or darn close. I am at 23 or so years, smoking. I do not have any breathing or bronc problems and never had but would like to quit before I need to be hit over the head with a 2X4 like her. (my sis and you)She has been hit so many times I am sure she is brain dead, so to speak. LOL I talk to my Sis and she is in such denial that she doesn’t even know I have quit b/c I just don’t want to tell her yet b/c then she is like well how long? Have you cheated? BlaBlaBla! She told me one time that she knew lots of folks that quit and then find out they have lung or some other kind of cancer and she thinks it is brought on by quitting! What a cope! I just would like someone to tell me what they think. I want to help her but not sure if I can. She has so many problems from smoking I can’t begin to count.
Thanks!
Lori
Hi Cheryl,
I tried to post a reply a couple of days ago, but for some reason it didn’t get past the moderator. So this is a test.
Hi Cheryl,
I am going to try posting again. I’ve had trouble: Hope it works.
You tell QUITE a story! I can’t offer much – only hope – hope if you break down once in awhile. It is certainly NOT a method. But if you do break down during your quit and smoke, I’d recommend doing this: What does “breaking down” mean? It means going out to buy a pack of cigarettes. BUT, if you do that, then there are rules that I would propose you follow: RULE 1: DO NOT SMOKE MORE THAN ONE OF THEM. Rule 2 (the most important one), TAKE THE PACK OF 19 UNSMOKED FELLOWS OVER TO THE FAWCET, RUN WATER ON IT, AND THROW THAT SOGGY MESS INTO THE TRASH. THIS IS EXPENSIVE, BUT IT IS IMPORTANT TO DO IT.
That’s it. What is basically behind this “principle” is the assumption that we are human, with limits, who for many reasons cannot or will not “toe the line”. Toeing the line means this: Once you decide to stop smoking according to ideology, you NEVER take another puff – NEVER EVER EVER. That is unrealistic, at least for normal people like me. It’s a standard I could never live up to, and if I try, then I will fail – as I have in the past. So how do I deal with this failure of my character (as some would characterize it)?
What I propose is very simple – nothing more or less that a simple way of KEEPING YOUR QUIT GOING when you have a slip. That is what is important – namely keeping your quit going. I am certainly not recommending that you can maintain a schedule of having a “FEW” cigarettes a day and keep that up. In fact, I don’t believe that is possible long term! I say that because I’ve tried it and it has NOT been possible for me. Though I know individuals who are able to do that – I could not and I do not think many could.
If you can figure out another way to do this, please let me know! But I have not. So far, this idea has helped me stay on my quit (in the sense that I have NOT gone back to routine and regular smoking), and it is just possible that it can work for others. In other words, I have kept my three month + quit going despite several slips. Perhaps it is fragile, but it is the best I can do. And what’s more, I think I can keep it going!
Best wishes to all,
–Bill
Obviously one of the first steps that you will need to take is to remove all possibilities of having access to cigarettes from the day you start your program. You need to get rid of all the cigarettes you have in your possession. Many people like to retain one pack of cigarettes as something to fall back on ‘just in case they need one’ but this is setting yourself up for failure before you start
for: Hypnosis quit smoking: That is false – false – false. I have stopped, and I have smelly ashtrays (outside) with butts, an open pack lying about on my table, and another smoker within my household. (But no-smoking in house was my rule, even when I smoked). Now, is it wise to have a pack in the house when you make your first step? Don’t know. It didn’t matter to me. I’m not that strong, but felt determined once I made the decision. Three days of hell, and after weeks, I continue to hate everybody for lack of other words. Over 30 years smoking, and its been about 4 weeks now. Cold turkey, and used every trick I knew. Not happy, and I have a rash on my chest due to something. Perhaps stress. I’m in control, but also out of control. My desire not to light-up, remains stronger at this time. (as I scratch my itchy neck) Damn-it all to hell. Take no offense, please. I might post later, “How I actually got through my first few days.” A later time perhaps, but I do know this, hiding them, throwing them out, is not the first step. At least for me.
I have a friend who is addicted to smoking and has suddently stopped, he has certain side affects. Short tempered and has very sharp pains in his head and stomach. He also is seeing things. I was wondering whether these are the comman side affects of quitting smoking, or whether its something to be more concerned about?
Okay, I found your post. Short-tempered is normal.
I’m not a physician, but I don’t think sharp pains in the head and stomach are associated with smoking. As for “seeing things”, I can only say that these three things are NOT common side effects of quitting smoking. I’d recommend getting your friend into a doctor’s office right away.
–Bill
Wow! When I did a search on Google about “what happens to your body when you quit smoking” I did not expect to find this website with so many personal stories! I am on my 6th day and am using the nicotine patch. I feel better and better each day..but most importantly..more empowered! Loved reading about all of your experiences and I love a challenge..this is the beginning of the end!
Goodbye Cigs!
Shelia
Shelia. Congrats on 6 days clean. I reached 52 days today and actually had to count it up as I havn’t been counting much any more. I too used the patch, I am on level 3 and end this Saturday. I will officially be off tobacco and nicotine. I found the site like you did and was surprized at the amount of comments. I actually posted a couple of weeks ago and got no response and to admit the truth I was disappointed. We are all looking for a positive bit of feedback from fellow quiters as we sure aren’t going to get much from non smokers who never understood our addiction. I miss it and probably always will but I am so glad to be done with it.
Hi All! It’s a new day and I am still hanging in here! I look forward to reading your new posts.
My 2 cents! I hate everybody! It’s been 3/4 weeks now. People that say to me, Oh, it’s so much better for you —blah blah blah. I could smack in the face! I hate to conform to the masses, that is the main reason I smoked: to not follow the line of acceptance. Here’s my reason: I didn’t want smoking to have that much control over me and — the price. A lecture to stop smoking by some pompous ass, will make me smoke again just to blow it in their face. Here’s one tip that really helped: Cologne on the upper lip – constantly. I got really light-headed, still do, from time to time and that helped for a couple of days. I think smokers should have their right to smoke, I did it for me alone, not for those that preach against it. I won’t march in that parade. I do feel better, but then – I lost that edge.
Cold turkey.
I plan to post a little something each day. It was nice to read ‘Right now’ about what happens. For those that created this web-page, I thought it helpful the most, I even printed the information. (good job)
But – I’m old mid-fifties hippie, smoked 30 years, and a radical, artist and musician. I think I’m on day 23.
God forbid anyone giving me a hard time with my attitude during this crises.
I hate to reform or conform to issues such as smoking, nude resorts and church fiascoes. I eat too many sun-flower seeds, I have a rash on my neck/chest due to this non-smoking venture and probably gained 5 to 10 pounds. I would rather yell and holler, than to get encouragement from a non-smoker. (I’m really not all that bad) but really, things just piss me off especially someone patting me on the back saying, “Gee, now your like all the other non-smokers. It’s so much better for you — blah blah blah.” I want to cut their throats and puke. I gotta keep my individuality. I’ll find a way, perhaps, that is why I wrote this. Please everyone no offense to anyone. That’s not my gig. But happy I’m on day 24, yes, Happy that I stopped for the betterment – no. (Enjoy the read)
WILL SOMEONE PLEASE ANSWER MY QUESTION.!?
Hey Ben, you sound insistent. But what question?
–Bill