Thread: Question for those who have quit smoking

Originally Posted by poggles3

I have smoked for 16yrs.I have tried off an on on my own to cut back until I quit with no luck. Now that smokes are $3.81 a pack with a $.61cent tax coming soon theres no time like the present. So for those of you who have quit, what worked best for you? Meds, patchs, gums, or just candy! I have been wanting to quit and slowing down but I just cant get them completly gone. Any advice would be appreciated!

I have no special solution to quitting because I tried off and on for years to do it. Having a heart attack 2 years ago at my age did it for me. Cigarettes are $7.00 a pack here so I've saved a bundle plus my health. The cause of the MI was a blood clot caused by cigarettes and the birth control pill. (I was on it due to some menstrual issues and lied and told my doc I had quit smoking.) So for those of you that smoke and are on the pill, stop because I never practiced what I preached to my patients and thank God I am lucky enough to talk about it today.
Not meaning to be preachy but I really never thought my smoking would really cause a serious problem. Just a little added info to help you quit.

I quit cold turkey 4 years ago when I saw my mom laying in a hospital bed having a ventilator breathing for her and only to lose her 2 days later.

Cold turkey here too.. My dh stayed home for 2 weeks and I didn't smoke when he was around. I lit one up after he left and it was horrible! That was 6 years ago

On Valentine's Day it will be 6 years for me. I quit cold turkey after getting sick with pharangitis and not being able to smoke (or breathe) for about a week. I picked a cigarette up when I started to get better and it tasted gross. I decided it was as good a time as any to quit (I wanted to quit before I started having kids anyway), so I did it and I've never gone back.

ALSO, it's not as expensive here in Maine as it is in Massachusetts (yet), but it IS $5.00 a pack here now. I take the money that I would have spent on cigarettes and put it into a savings account so that we have a little money when things go wrong with the house (the washer breaks down, the microwave dies, etc.). It's not a ton of money, but I know I would have found a way to buy cigs if I was still smoking so I figure we won't "miss" the money I sock away.

GOOD LUCK!!

Oh, no way ! I could have never quit by cutting down... And, at the same time, you can't quit if you are out of ciggs, you have to have 'stand by' ciggs that you KNOW you can fall back on, if it gets really bad.

I smoked from age 15 to age 40, that's 25 years ! I was smoking over 2 packs a day when I quit. Hard to admit that, but, true.

Anyway............. I laid them down one night (so, I planned quitting after waking up in the morning... not having that first cigg of the day.), after finding myself yet again, at the 7-11, getting a pack of smokes in my PJ's, because you HAVE to have smokes to go to sleep... as you can't wake up in the AM with no smokes.

That was 2001, and, I have not smoked a cigg since. Can't even stand the smell !

I even dreamed that my quitting smoking was a dream... I'd have to remind myself in the AM, when I woke up, that I really had quit, and was no longer a smoker. I'd get sooooooooooooooooooo bummed in my dream, thinking I really hadn't quit. I was so happy when I woke up and realized I really was a non-smoker.

For the first month or so, I kept a pack in my garage... knowing they were there calmed me somewhat, knowing if it got 'too bad', I could always run to them, and I did a few times !

A few times, I was freaking out, in tears ! I ran to the garage, fired one up, and, the first drag made me dizzy, since I hadn't smoked in a few days. I'd look at it... after taking one or two drags... and say "This is NOT what I want ! I am not this damn weak !! NOTHING is going to control me like this !" And, I'd stub it out.

Next step... the 3 or so months in stage... you figure "Hey, I proved I can quit, so, I'll smoke again !" That was the HARDEST part for me... that NOT SMOKING was my reality... it was what I wanted, that it was REAL.

Finally, after a year or so... I got to where I didn't like the smell... and, a year after that, I honestly lost my craving for ciggs... that's the BEST part !!

Now, it's 8 years later... and I can't believe I ever smoked !

I personally think that people who smoke are depressed...lol, why else would someone do something they know is slowly killing them, ruining their health, and, paying BIG BUCKS to do it ! Anyone with a desire for health and life is not gonna smoke, only if they are in denial as to what it's doing to their body.

My only regret in quitting smoking is that I didn't do it sooner.

I couldn't smoke those cheap 'smell and taste like burnt rags' ciggs, I smoked Marlboro Lights. So, I have bunches more money now too !

One thing for sure... you can't go wrong by quitting smoking.

Oh, let me add ! As a smoker, I was at the local "Quick Care" at least three times a years, needing antibiotics due to a raw throat, sinusitis, bronchitis, and/or pharyngitis.

I have not even had a cold since I quit smoking... 8 years, not even a cold !

Cutting back did NOT work for me. I had to quit cold turkey. Chewing gum, chewing coffee straws and a caffeine addiction worked LMAO

I got sick of smelling like an ashtray plain and simple.

Originally Posted by galeane29

Cutting back did NOT work for me. I had to quit cold turkey. Chewing gum, chewing coffee straws and a caffeine addiction worked LMAO

I got sick of smelling like an ashtray plain and simple.

I agree ! People who smoke have no idea how TERRIBLE they smell to non-smokers ! I was soooooooooo grossed out after I quit for a while, and, smelled others who smoke, I was stunned !! I knew then that I was smelling like that to others ! It was so nasty gross !

Originally Posted by Char

I agree ! People who smoke have no idea how TERRIBLE they smell to non-smokers ! I was soooooooooo grossed out after I quit for a while, and, smelled others who smoke, I was stunned !! I knew then that I was smelling like that to others ! It was so nasty gross !

I was shocked too how bad my sister smelled after I quit for a while.. I cannot believe I let myself smell like that UGH!!!