Four Years Ago Today

[LouC]

For Years Ago Today


Just wanted to share that four years ago today I quit smoking, Cold Turkey, it was 2:32 pm in the afternoon that I stubbed out my last cigarette.


Had no idea at the time I would make it this far.


Woo Hoo!

[mysticbeauty_nbeast]

Whoooo Hoooo! Way to Go Lou! 4 years..now that's something to celebrate! Good on Ya!

Do you still get a craving every now and then out of no where? I noticed last time I quiet...five years in..and would still get an odd..although fleeting moment..of craving. Weird huh? :confused:

Congratulations...stick with it...smoking is nasty stuff..expensive too. Now if I could just take my own advice...lol :))

~Mysty

[LouC]

Whoooo Hoooo! Way to Go Lou! 4 years..now that's something to celebrate! Good on Ya!

Do you still get a craving every now and then out of no where? I noticed last time I quiet...five years in..and would still get an odd..although fleeting moment..of craving. Weird huh? :confused:

Congratulations...stick with it...smoking is nasty stuff..expensive too. Now if I could just take my own advice...lol :))

~Mysty

Thanks

I could probably count on one hand, less the thumb, those instant yet fleeting cravings I have had over the last 3 years.

I had more in that first year but by the end they were most non existant.

Over the four year period though I have probably had 10 or 12 or more vivid dreams where I was smoking in the dreams, and woke up in an anxious state, to thankfully be rewarded with the truth I was only dreaming that I had been smoking.

It was a 35 year habit I quit cold turkey on.

[bitterclinger84]

For Years Ago Today


Just wanted to share that four years ago today I quit smoking, Cold Turkey, it was 2:32 pm in the afternoon that I stubbed out my last cigarette.


Had no idea at the time I would make it this far.


Woo Hoo!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

http://smilies.vidahost.com/otn/party/partytime.gif

[mryukon]

Congrats, Lou. I celebrated 3 years smoke free 7 Jul. After a 20 year, 3 pack a day habit, quitting was pretty easy once I got it in my head. I have smoked two cigars since I quit ciggies, but didn't inhale! :mrgreen:

[LouC]

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

http://smilies.vidahost.com/otn/party/partytime.gif

Thanks

[mysticbeauty_nbeast]

Thanks

I could probably count on one hand, less the thumb, those instant yet fleeting cravings I have had over the last 3 years.

I had more in that first year but by the end they were most non existant.

Over the four year period though I have probably had 10 or 12 or more vivid dreams where I was smoking in the dreams, and woke up in an anxious state, to thankfully be rewarded with the truth I was only dreaming that I had been smoking.

It was a 35 year habit I quit cold turkey on.

So it's somewhat normal then. Good to know..thought maybe I was loosing it. I've been smoking on and off since I was 16. Stupid stupid move...wished to god I'd never picked the damn things up in the first place! Hubby and I have quit twice in 25 years...first time for 5 years..second time for almost 6. Both time...sever trauma helped us to make the dumbest mistake one can make...picking the damn things up as a stress reliever. :wall::wall::wall:

We're getting ready to put it down once and for all. We are setting a date...and done with it....Jan 1, 2010 is our day. This time..gonna be the last time I do this. So...uh tell me...cold turkey...how did that do for you? Hard? We used the patch the last two times...worked fairly well...never got past using them for more then a two week to a one month period. Can';t imagine cold turkey...I'd loose it...like BAD. lol :)):snooty::))

~Mysty

[mysticbeauty_nbeast]

Congrats, Lou. I celebrated 3 years smoke free 7 Jul. After a 20 year, 3 pack a day habit, quitting was pretty easy once I got it in my head. I have smoked two cigars since I quit ciggies, but didn't inhale! :mrgreen:

3 packs a day? Do you ever sleep? lol I smoke almost a pack a day...and can't imagine 3. Dang! How did you quit? Patch? cold turkey? Pill?

~Mysty

[LouC]

Congrats, Lou. I celebrated 3 years smoke free 7 Jul. After a 20 year, 3 pack a day habit, quitting was pretty easy once I got it in my head. I have smoked two cigars since I quit ciggies, but didn't inhale! :mrgreen:

Thanks

It was odd but I have dreamed about smoking a cigar.

Odd since the last one of those I smoked was probably 12 or more years ago.

I had quit cigarettes for nearly 3 months once in many of the prior attempts before this time.

I finally got it locked in my head that this time it was for good.

Stubbed out that last one from a fairly new pack, told the person I was with that that was it I quit, and the rest is history.

[mryukon]

3 packs a day? Do you ever sleep? lol I smoke almost a pack a day...and can't imagine 3. Dang! How did you quit? Patch? cold turkey? Pill?

~Mysty

I got the prescription for Wellbutrin. Didn't take them. My son and I were sitting on the veranda having a few beers, then a few more, and a few more. I ended up smoking just about every ciggy in the house. Woke up Sat morning with a huge headache and no smokes, so I said the hell with it, I ain't buying no more. And I didn't. Looking back, it was pretty easy to do. At the time I had a one hour+ commute which made me smoke like a train

[mryukon]

Thanks

It was odd but I have dreamed about smoking a cigar.

Odd since the last one of those I smoked was probably 12 or more years ago.

I had quit cigarettes for nearly 3 months once in many of the prior attempts before this time.

I finally got it locked in my head that this time it was for good.

Stubbed out that last one from a fairly new pack, told the person I was with that that was it I quit, and the rest is history.

Good for you. I think that is the key, getting it locked in your head. The quitting part is easy after that.

[LouC]

So it's somewhat normal then. Good to know..thought maybe I was loosing it. I've been smoking on and off since I was 16. Stupid stupid move...wished to god I'd never picked the damn things up in the first place! Hubby and I have quit twice in 25 years...first time for 5 years..second time for almost 6. Both time...sever trauma helped us to make the dumbest mistake one can make...picking the damn things up as a stress reliever. :wall::wall::wall:

We're getting ready to put it down once and for all. We are setting a date...and done with it....Jan 1, 2010 is our day. This time..gonna be the last time I do this. So...uh tell me...cold turkey...how did that do for you? Hard? We used the patch the last two times...worked fairly well...never got past using them for more then a two week to a one month period. Can';t imagine cold turkey...I'd loose it...like BAD. lol :)):snooty::))

~Mysty

I tried the patch and ended up smoking and patching....

Not good.

I quit cold turkey.

I had to drastically change my life, it had, I discovered, become structured around my smoking and not my smoking structured around my life.

One of the things that helped me was getting involved with posting on forums.

It was a cheap replacement for going and having a smoke that gave my fingers something to do, I already knew I could not smoke in the house, I had quit doing that in 1993 no matter whose house I was in, even the houses of smokers.

But I discovered as I said my life was structured around the next cigarette.

Up in the morning I would set up the coffee pot to brew then go out for the first smoke, come in and get a cup and go out for the next smoke, fix breakfast then get the dishes done my reward was another cigarette and another cup of coffee.

I had to consciously break from routines that had grown up unconsciously.

The first few months were the hardest and I would often find myself reaching for the absent pack in my pocket and thinking "ah time for a smoke" when I would finish a task.

I do not crave them now thank goodness, I can be around people smoking and it does not bother me, and thank goodness I don't get all up in their face about their smoking.

I hate the "righteous" former smokers!

[LouC]

Good for you. I think that is the key, getting it locked in your head. The quitting part is easy after that.

It is the key I do believe.

I tried to quit on my own but always it seems gave myself an out if I failed.

The times I tried to quit for "the wife" did not work either.

It was not until I locked it in physiologically and was honest with myself that it worked.

[mryukon]

Fortunately I am not a righteuos former smoker, but I take advantage of every opportunity to encourage the wife to quit, and remind her of how quitting could improve her health. Besides, it is a stinky habit...I can't believe that I atually said I enjoyed it! P.U. :D

[mysticbeauty_nbeast]

I tried the patch and ended up smoking and patching....

Not good.

I quit cold turkey.

I had to drastically change my life, it had, I discovered, become structured around my smoking and not my smoking structured around my life.

One of the things that helped me was getting involved with posting on forums.

It was a cheap replacement for going and having a smoke that gave my fingers something to do, I already knew I could not smoke in the house, I had quit doing that in 1993 no matter whose house I was in, even the houses of smokers.

But I discovered as I said my life was structured around the next cigarette.

Up in the morning I would set up the coffee pot to brew then go out for the first smoke, come in and get a cup and go out for the next smoke, fix breakfast then get the dishes done my reward was another cigarette and another cup of coffee.

I had to consciously break from routines that had grown up unconsciously.

The first few months were the hardest and I would often find myself reaching for the absent pack in my pocket and thinking "ah time for a smoke" when I would finish a task.

I do not crave them now thank goodness, I can be around people smoking and it does not bother me, and thank goodness I don't get all up in their face about their smoking.

I hate the "righteous" former smokers!

Oh...I understand the routines we build around our habit...you betcha. We quit smoking in the house...great ...fine....you end up spending a tone of time outside to smoke. :rolleyes: So yeah..I get it.

On self righteous former smokers...oh lord...do I have a few in my life. Both sets of parents quit. (Mom and Dad divorced way back in the 70's..Dad remarried...I call them my 'two' sets of parents.) Anyway...both sets smoked for 35+ years. Both sets recently quit...5 to 7 years in..and constantly harp about my smoking. :rolleyes: It gets tiring...I can't argue with them...they are right in a way; I need to quit. But talk about hypocrites...dear flying frogs...I want to scream...'go look in the mirror bub'...but never do. I'm a bit more respectful then that towards my own parents. :silenced:

Keep us in your thoughts this upcoming season...it's our year to quit once and for all. It's expensive..it smells to high heaven..and you can't just smoke anywhere anymore...it's a huge waste of time...and not worth it anymore. :snooty:

~Mysty

[mysticbeauty_nbeast]

Fortunately I am not a righteuos former smoker, but I take advantage of every opportunity to encourage the wife to quit, and remind her of how quitting could improve her health. Besides, it is a stinky habit...I can't believe that I actually said I enjoyed it! P.U. :D

Smells...oh yeah it smells...think of the money she'll save in breath mints spray fresheners! Tell her how pretty and clean the walls will stay in your home. Oh you bet..all benefits of non-smoking.

Health improved?...yeah and no. You can have better lung capacity if you work on it...you bet. Can increase your cardiac output too in strenghing the heart muscle...with work. But all around health...not really. Meaning whatever is gonna get ya in the end is gonna get ya in the end regardless what you eat or don't eat, ingest or don't ingest, excersise or don't excersise.

Just saying....

~Mysty

[LouC]

Fortunately I am not a righteuos former smoker, but I take advantage of every opportunity to encourage the wife to quit, and remind her of how quitting could improve her health. Besides, it is a stinky habit...I can't believe that I atually said I enjoyed it! P.U. :D

I don't take any medications today.

I was on a couple medications when I was smoker.

The symptoms went away after I quit.

Yes it is stinky, always was to me, I hated the smell of an ashtray and would never let mine get icky, even when I quit smoking indoors...

[mryukon]

So Mysty, you said you had quit before, what method was successful for you? You could always stick with what works. I know a few folks who toook Chantrix, and quit within a few weeks of starting the pill.

Success! Very short lived, both were smoking within three months. Of course they said the pill didn't work, but I believe they didn't "WANT" to quit.

All said, ciggies are a tough habit, but not unbeatable. Good luck in your quest to be tobacco free.

[mysticbeauty_nbeast]

So Mysty, you said you had quit before, what method was successful for you? You could always stick with what works. I know a few folks who toook Chantrix, and quit within a few weeks of starting the pill.

Success! Very short lived, bith were smoking within three months. Of course they said the pill didn't work, but I believe they didn't "WANT" to quit.

All said, ciggies are a tough habit, but not unbeatable. Good luck in your quest to be tobacco free.

Thanks for the good luck wishes. :mrgreen: I/we used the patch before. I'd heard allot about the non-smoking pill...but hadn't met anyone who actually used it. It's one reason why I asked how you quit. If I can find a better way to 'skin a cat' then I want to know what it is.

Doesn't sound like the pill works very well though. :think: Think we'll stick to tried and true..usually doesn't take more then a few weeks and I'm not wanting to put the damn thing on anymore..makes me dizzy and queasy. A few more days to a week of mild irritability..and I'm done. So all in all...a month or so of discomfort is waaaay worth it to get rid of a nasty smelling and now expensive habit. Government isn't getting anymore of my money then I can help...know what I'm saying? That more then any other reason is why we want to quit. They've gone to far...and I'm only helping them if I continue to smoke. :wall:

~Mysty

[mryukon]

Health improved?...yeah and no. You can have better lung capacity if you work on it...you bet. Can increase your cardiac output too in strenghing the heart muscle...with work. But all around health...not really. Meaning whatever is gonna get ya in the end is gonna get ya in the end regardless what you eat or don't eat, ingest or don't ingest, excersise or don't excersise.

Just saying....

~Mysty

I realize I started dying the day I was born. I'm just not gonna tempt fate...

[mryukon]

Thanks for the good luck wishes. :mrgreen: I/we used the patch before. I'd heard allot about the non-smoking pill...but hadn't met anyone who actually used it. It's one reason why I asked how you quit. If I can find a better way to 'skin a cat' then I want to know what it is.

Doesn't sound like the pill works very well though. :think: Think we'll stick to tried and true..usually doesn't take more then a few weeks and I'm not wanting to put the damn thing on anymore..makes me dizzy and queasy. A few more days to a week of mild irritability..and I'm done. So all in all...a month or so of discomfort is waaaay worth it to get rid of a nasty smelling and now expensive habit. Government isn't getting anymore of my money then I can help...know what I'm saying? That more then any other reason is why we want to quit. They've gone to far...and I'm only helping them if I continue to smoke. :wall:

~Mysty

Many years ago, the wife and I tried the patch. That only lasted about 4 hours, we were ready to kill each other :)). Off with the patch, smoke 'em if you got 'em.

[The Girl from Ipanema]

CONGRATULATIONS LOU!

:clap::clap:

No kidding, that's no small accomplishment! You too MrYukon, Congratulations!

Mystic, good luck! I almost made it once. Installed an app that gradually increased the time between each cigarette. It was working, but I kinda set myself up for failure because I started it right at the same time that I started cutting out sugar and worthless calories from my diet. It was going well though, I was up to almost 12 hours between cigarettes, had a REALLY BAD day at work one Friday, smoked all that weekend and it was all over. Now that I've lost the weight that I wanted to, I should probably try again.

Since you've got a quit date set, have you considered trying something like that app as you move closer to your quit date?

[CountryGirl]

For Years Ago Today


Just wanted to share that four years ago today I quit smoking, Cold Turkey, it was 2:32 pm in the afternoon that I stubbed out my last cigarette.

Had no idea at the time I would make it this far.

Woo Hoo!

Congrats, Lou! As a smoker who has quit a time or two [when pregnant] I know how hard it is to STAY quit. I've never managed more than 9 months at a time.

I'm celebrating an anniversary today, too. 24 years of Marriage!

While the marriage didn't improve my smoking, I will say that my drinking picked up a bit. :D

[gosling2Lindy]

http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=33568

Just a little encouragement. Continued success to you, and the others in the thread who have, or are contemplating quitting.

[TheBurningRed]

Congrats on not having a smoke, I too have just quite smoking cold turkey and its only been 3 1/2 months. I can tell you in all honesty it was easy for me to quit as well (for some reason turning off addictions is just as easy as starting one).

[LouC]

CONGRATULATIONS LOU!

:clap::clap:

No kidding, that's no small accomplishment! You too MrYukon, Congratulations!

Mystic, good luck! I almost made it once. Installed an app that gradually increased the time between each cigarette. It was working, but I kinda set myself up for failure because I started it right at the same time that I started cutting out sugar and worthless calories from my diet. It was going well though, I was up to almost 12 hours between cigarettes, had a REALLY BAD day at work one Friday, smoked all that weekend and it was all over. Now that I've lost the weight that I wanted to, I should probably try again.

Since you've got a quit date set, have you considered trying something like that app as you move closer to your quit date?

Thanks

I like to bring it up cause I do think it is an important subject, plus I hope to inspire and inform, and yeah slap my self on the back with the positive reinforcement for a tough job still getting done.

[LouC]

http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=33568

Just a little encouragement. Continued success to you, and the others in the thread who have, or are contemplating quitting.

Cool!

And Thanks!

[gosling2Lindy]

Cool!

And Thanks!

You're welcome. Pat yourself on the back a lot. Quitting smoking, and staying a non smoker, is no easy task for most. 4 years is a wonderful achievement.

[LouC]

Congrats, Lou! As a smoker who has quit a time or two [when pregnant] I know how hard it is to STAY quit. I've never managed more than 9 months at a time.

I'm celebrating an anniversary today, too. 24 years of Marriage!

While the marriage didn't improve my smoking, I will say that my drinking picked up a bit. :D

Congratulations!

It was 21 years ago on the 8th of this month that my latest wife and I were married, 08-08-1988, we are separated now but still married, it is a long story. :confused:

I pretty much quit drinking long before I quit smoking.

I occasionally get a craving for a cold beer or a mixed drink, more than I ever did for a cigarrette, but I don't act on the craving or ever think about it once I go to the store.

The last beer I had was in 2004, the last mixed drink I had was a Bloody Mary in 2005.