I've Stopped Smoking

[Ravenseye]

Went out on Friday with a buddy, we smoked a pack of smokes over drinks, and agreed that was our last pack. I had 3 remaining yesterday which I spaced out. Today none. I'm feeling it already and it's only 7am. This'll be interesting.

I got me my chewing gum (non-nicotine) and cinamon sticks. If need be I'll pick up some patches later on.

I decided that I needed to stop not only for my future health which is fine so far, but for my new daughter (5 months old).

Why do cigarettes have to be bad for you? It sucks.

[Anarcho-Socialist]

1. Good luck with it

I smoked for three years before I stopped. Quitting was one of the best things I ever did.

It took about 3 weeks before the cravings finally went away, but the first 4 days were the worst.

[Ravenseye]

2. I've smoked about 13 years or so

Ever since Freshman year in college really. First midterms. I had cigarettes before that, but thats' when I became a regular smoker.

So about 13 years of smoking.

Yeah the first 3 days they say are the worst cause your'e still breaking the physical addiction. I'm so excited AHHAHAH

[Spinzonner]

3. Or ... You've started stopping smoking

Day by day

[Demeter]

4. Congratulations! Just Keep On Quitting!

You can do it, and you will be glad you did, every day of your life!

[pnorman]

5. I did it successfully with Nicorex (chewing gum),

about 15 years ago. It was actually Copenhagen I cut cold turkey. Since I was essentially mainlining it direct to the gum capillaries, it was probably more addictive than cigarettes. With Nicorex, the most important thing is to follow the directions and chew s.l.o.w.l.y. I supplemented it with regular chewing gum, and BOY did my gums ever ache.

But the first thing you'll notice, one you're over the craving pangs, is that everything tastes so much better! That will lead to the second thing you'll notice ... you'll need larger sized clothes. And the FIRST thing others will notice is that you "smell a lot better"!

If you're home clean --- okay --- congratulations! But if you feel your resolve slipping, consider trying Nicorex.

pnorman

[politicat]

6. I strongly recommend the commit lozenges instead of patches or gum.

They taste better than the gum by leaps and bounds. And unlike the patches, you can use them when you need to, to control a craving, rather than to keep a constant dosage.

You can make it!

[Quakerfriend]

7. You GO Ravenseye!

When it gets really tough during the first couple of days just keep thinking about that beautiful baby girl!

[Yogi]

8. Ravenseye, I quit after...

20+ years at three pack a day. I know you can do it. You just got to want to. You can do anything if you want it bad enough. Patches worked for me. Good luck.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

9. This is a HUGE step, Ravenseye!

CONGRATULATIONS! As a nurse, I can tell you that you have positively benefitted everyone around you, starting with yourself. Your baby girl will benefit the absolute most. Her delicate pink lungs will remain that way! You have dodged one of the most dangerous bullets known to humankind. EVERY organ in the body is adversely affected by tobacco. I wish I had a link for you to explore, but I don't. Also remember that the tobacco companies don't care about you; they just want your money...

:yourock: :yourock:

:woohoo: :woohoo:

[LostinVA]

10. This past Friday was ten years for me

And I smoked two packs a day. YOU CAN DO IT! It sucks, physically and mentally, don't let anyone tell you differently, okay? Remember: you cannot fall into temptation. It does get easy, it really does.

Good for you! PM me any time. Seriously.

[SheilaT]

11. Another benefit to look forward to you

is that non-smokers will no longer despise you. That's got to count for something. ;)

[tinfoilinfor2005]

12. The clue word in your first sentence is "drinks"

Try to stop having drinks for the first few weeks while you are quitting smoking, because you will crave a ciggy the most when you are having a drink, and after a drink or two, your resolve will weaken. Ask me how I know this? Once the nicotine is out of your system completely, it won't be so difficult to have a drink sans smokes.

[MrModerate]

13. It can be done -- I quit about 15 years ago, 1-1/2 packs a day.

I didn't want to either -- my employer suddenly made our building smoke-free and I didn't have much choice.

However, they offered stop-smoking classes as a part of the building conversion. I went into the class with the worst imaginable attitude: didn't want to quit, didn't think I needed to, and didn't think I could. I had tried to quit as many times as Mark Twain (and he stopped counting at 600).

However, something was in my favor. 6 days later I had quit, and although the craving stayed intense for several weeks, it DID fade away.

[ewagner]

14. 17 weeks for me

I was a pipe smoker for over 30 years so I still find myself reaching forthe pipe.....I never had the will power to stop on my own....

heart attacks, however, seem to give you a whole, new resolve....

[radwriter0555]

15. The patch really, REALLY helped me a LOT. It sounds like you'll be

just fine, GO for it.

Just think of it as no longer handing the republicans $3000 a year to KILL you!

[gizmo1979]

16. Do you have the urge to kill someone?

That's usually how I feel when I attempt to quit.Smoking sucks!Quitting smoking sucks more!

[Zorra]

17. Added incentive: Tobacco companies are HUGE rethug supporters.

Quitting smoking is patriotic.:-)

[MissMillie]

18. You'll never regret it

I quit 7 years ago. Even after gaining a bunch of weight (which I am now on my way to losing) I am a lot better off than I was as a smoker.

[Enraged_Ape]

19. Congratulations! And we have a DU Group about this now!

Here's the link:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=326

I just quit a couple of days ago. There are a lot of people here that seem to be doing this around the same time.

[goodboy]

20. I've quit for over a year on 4 occasions with the patch, I started it on

monday again, and only made it 48 hours. I think I didn't prepare myself enough in advance for quitting this time, just a kind of spur of the moment thing.

[Bzzzz]

21. Congratulations!!!

I've been smoke-free for 19 years. To this day, sometimes if I pass by a smoker, it will smell good for a split second. Have willpower...you CAN do it! Good Luck!:applause: