Quit Smoking

[Kringkily]

Originally Posted by axxeman01

Yes, that part is configurable, they are $5 here. I've heard in NYC a pack is $11, now *that* would be some serious savings!

It's 13-15 depending on which brand...they just increased taxes...

[psv]

Don't get me started on smoking... Best of luck and STICK WITH IT!

[GradyPhilpott]

Originally Posted by Kringkily

It's 13-15 depending on which brand...they just increased taxes...

My God!

I quit the cigarettes way back in 1996 and I really hate even the smell of them now, but it's just not right to tax anything that much.

[GradyPhilpott]

When you decide to quit, quit.

Redefine yourself as a non-smoker.

Yes, there will be withdrawals and all kinds of social and psychological cues to smoke, but you can resist.

As you noted, 72 hours will get you through the physical withdrawal and that's a big hurdle.

However, don't dismiss all the other pressures to smoke. You know what they are.

The next most important thing is to not give up.

If you have a drink or two and smoke a couple of cigarettes, just remember that you are a non-smoker and that was just a fluke.

Get back on the wagon, so to speak.

You may regress a few times before you are completely free, but when you are a non-smoker, smoking is just an illogical temptation that you fell victim to.

But you are not a victim and you have not failed.

You are a winner and you will succeed and will come to loathe those nicotine delivery systems with every fiber in your body.

Good luck, even though it's not luck at all. It's perseverance.

[stapler101]

I quit smoking and drinking at the same time!
It was the worst 10 minutes of my life.
Just kidding, I quit smoking about 12 years ago.
When you crave a cigarette, eat a teaspoon of honey. It works!

[axxeman01]

70 days now. I'm doing great. The 1300+ smokes I haven't are a super motivator. At the end of this month, going to reward myself with an ipad2. The wife recently became addicted to Angry birds.

Thanks for all the encouragement!!!!

[watch_nut]

Smoking and Keeping Fit & Healthy are mutually exclusive

so if you start a fitness program then the other habit will disappear

get up in the morning... go for 3km run.... then increase the distance weekly and get targets with strong wills to do... you will start to see the other habit fades away from your mind

[Kringkily]

Originally Posted by axxeman01

70 days now. I'm doing great. The 1300+ smokes I haven't are a super motivator. At the end of this month, going to reward myself with an ipad2. The wife recently became addicted to Angry birds.

Thanks for all the encouragement!!!!

whoa thats what a little less than 20 cigs a day?

[Runnin' Rebel]

Did anyone use prescription drugs to quit smoking, and was there any side effects with the drugs ?

[eric23]

Best of luck for you, I am going to try to quit today too!

[Johny]

Originally Posted by eric23

Best of luck for you, I am going to try to quit today too!

good for you eric. take it easy bud.

[axxeman01]

99 days. I'm going the distance.

[STEELINOX]

Originally Posted by theloxmyth

Yep!

Been a while, save for a decent cigar.

Or an eigth of some purple hair gonge ~

[STEELINOX]

Originally Posted by axxeman01

99 days. I'm going the distance.

Great job, your on your way to a new ROLEX for your efforts ~ !

[STEELINOX]

This thread is a good motivator.

In reality, you are really done, so just remember its "all in your head" and your brain is a powerful tool that you are utilizing to end this filthy habit.

Good go Chris

Randy

[Welshwatchman]

Keep to it.

[Lisa]

Good job!

[theloxmyth]

[jamesbondOO7]

Careful, the 6 month hump is difficult! Keep in mind that saying no to the first one is much easier than to the second one!
I am now 25 years absolute smoke free!

[axxeman01]

Thanks for all the support! Here's advice from me and my experience (fresh) for anyone who wants to quit:

1) check out the book I mentioned above, 'Easyway to quit'.

2) Zyban/welbutrin to help you get through the first 30 days.

3) When you get a craving, think about why you quit and all the bad things cigarettes do to you and how all the 'good' things are just lies designed to get you to feed the 'monster'.

4) Again... for cravings, TIME them! They seem to last forever, but they come and go pretty quickly, even if you have multiples a day for the first couple of months, you must fight through them.

5) The first few weeks and months pretty much suck, but it's a *small* price to pay for a lifetime of health!

6) If you replace smokes with sunflower seeds, remember moderation. Personally I chew coffee stirrers.

Final thoughts:

When you are thinking quitting sucks and you can't do it, remember it gets easier and you'll never have to feel this way again!

Don't intentionally avoid 'tempting' situations. I was drinking and at bars, with friends who smoked, etc quite frequently during the first 90 days, just to make sure I wouldn't have a relapse.

Best of luck to others who want to become non-smokers!

[mcjp6]

Going well Chris......

I am five days away from a year of quitting now. And will not smoke again.

Just one piece of advice......after a few months of not smoking, the little gremlins on your left shoulder start talking to you.

To me, they said,

"hey Michael it has been so easy to quite smoking for some months now, it would not hurt to have just one little smoke now, you can quit anytime you like, it is so easy."

All valid comments......DO NOT give into these thoughts and you will be fine....

[TheVTCGuy]

I seriously commend each and ever one of you that has taken on the very difficult task of quitting smoking. For you, your family, friends, even the people around you, congratulations and continued strength.


Makes me want to sacrifice something... Let's see, what vice do I have? Smoking? No, ... Drinking, No... Gambling? Not unless you call two nights a week and a couple hundred bucks at the casino poker table a vice.... So, what can I stop doing? Oh.. Uh.. well... No... Never... nope, are you kidding!? Nope, NOT GOING TO happen!!!! I don't care what Jerry Seinfeld did!

[axxeman01]

I am still quit, and urges are rare and easy to control. I'm still not happy though, brain fog, 25 lbs of weight gain, etc. It is hard because I can't see the true benefits.

[psv]

Originally Posted by axxeman01

I am still quit, and urges are rare and easy to control. I'm still not happy though, brain fog, 25 lbs of weight gain, etc. It is hard because I can't see the true benefits.

Can't see the true benefits? How about being around to see your kids get married and give you grand-children?

Earlier this year, my father-in-law passed away from lung cancer. He was a big smoker for 40 years, quit for a bunch of years, it still did him in at the end. He passed away less than 6 weeks after they discovered the lung cancer (already at stage 4 at that point).

There is nothing to it. Just hang in there. Putting a physical matter on fire to then inhale the smoke is not the smartest thing one can do in this short life.

[axxeman01]

Originally Posted by psv

Can't see the true benefits? How about being around to see your kids get married and give you grand-children?

Earlier this year, my father-in-law passed away from lung cancer. He was a big smoker for 40 years, quit for a bunch of years, it still did him in at the end. He passed away less than 6 weeks after they discovered the lung cancer (already at stage 4 at that point).

There is nothing to it. Just hang in there. Putting a physical matter on fire to then inhale the smoke is not the smartest thing one can do in this short life.

Thanks- and sorry to hear about your father in law, your wife must be both sad and a tad angry.

The long term benefits are tough to see, I'm 41 and feel generally great, although I felt better when I was smoking. It sounds nuts I know, and *no*, I'm not setting myself up to go back to smoking, but it's true. I'm hoping that more time will clear up the current issues (foggy mind, lack of energy).

[Alex1974]

Originally Posted by axxeman01

70 days now. I'm doing great. The 1300+ smokes I haven't are a super motivator. At the end of this month, going to reward myself with an ipad2. The wife recently became addicted to Angry birds.

Thanks for all the encouragement!!!!

Congratulations......keep going !!!!

And please can you tell me the name of this app ?

Regards,
Alexander

[cecilia]

Congrats. Hope you fix it, Its the most difficult task to quit smoking, i hate it. I gave up smoking 2007 and i miss it badly. The hardest is when u have i drink. I struggle almost every day with it. All the thumbs up for u.

[rr-nyc]

I quit smoking about 3 weeks ago after taking a two year break. I must say its been much easier this time around!

Like I did the last time I quit, I set aside the cash I would have normally spent on cigarettes so each morning, I take $13 out of my money clip and place it in an envelope. If for some reason, I don't have the cash. I go straight to the ATM and sock the money away because I know I would've done it for cigarettes. After a year, I will use the money to celebrate.

It adds up fast and it serves as a great motivator to continue to not smoke

[hdrazor251]

Originally Posted by rr-nyc

After a year, I will use the money to celebrate.

It adds up fast and it serves as a great motivator to continue to not smoke

After a year you can get yourself a sub or gmt from a trusted seller

[axxeman01]

169 days here now. I've gained about 30 lbs or so, but I'm still dedicated to not smoking. Urges are virtually nil, once in a blue moon I'll 'wish' I was smoking, but it's easy enough to overcome.