Smoking

[kmf563]

Updates everyone?? Thunder did you quit? Townhero how's it going? Daveskater - great idea. Visual reminders are awesome.

Today is my 30 day mark! I honestly didn't think I would make it this far. I had to quit the Chantix after 3 weeks, I had a rare reaction to it that was mainly due to my low levels of iron and immune system. Anyway, my mouth looked like I had a serious STD for a week...gross...but it's all cured and I still am not smoking. If you take it make sure you have normal iron and b-12 levels. If they are normally low, take supplements and you will be fine. Other than that, I didn't have any negative side effects other than weird dreams - but I liked those. The prescription is now $145 a month without insurance coverage, mine does not cover it. Even though I only spent about $50 a month on smokes (if that much, with coupons and the camel guys going around to the bars) - the money is totally worth it. It really works. I have quit a million times and it's never been like this. I don't have any urges, no cravings, being around smoke doesn't bother me at all, and I haven't cheated once with even a drag of one. I recommend trying it if you really want to quit. If you can follow the directions and stick with it, the longer you are on it the easier it is to quit. Some people tried to only take it a month and quit on their own the rest of the way and ended up smoking again.

On a sidenote...yogurt is a miracle cure for lots of things. lol.

[kevinpate]

> yogurt is a miracle cure for lots of things

nods and whispers congrats.

At 30 days you're way beyond being nicotine free. For the rest of it, it's avoiding the triggers that restart old habits. Those do fade, but perhaps never truly go away, so the attitude of not cheating even so much as a drag is a good one to possess.

I have no desire to smoke anymore, and don't even miss it, except for the rare moments I do miss it. They pass if you let them and don't look to hold onto the moment.

To your continued success!

[PennyQuilts]

Today is my 30 day mark!

Congratulations! You rock!

[Thunder]

No, I didn't.

[kevinpate]

Today is as good a day as any to not smoke for the next three hours. After that, it's 100% your call if you have one, or go another three hours.

Luck with it, whatever you decide.

[westsidesooner]

Congratulations KMF.

[DaveSkater]

Yay for day 30! You're past the hump, just keep on humpin!

Thumper, when you're ready, you'll do it. But not a minute before then.

[Lauri101]

-Today is my 30 day mark!

Woohoo - wtg kmf!

Yesterday was my 18 month point - I've not missed it a tad.
Now, I find the smell of cigarette smoke almost revolting, but I refrain from being the type of smoke nazi I always hated as a smoker.

I can't seem to lose the last 20 pounds of the 40 I gained, but I can live with being plump. I'm working out 30 minutes a day, taking stairs instead of elevators and walking further from car to office in my new downtown parking.

KMF - you'e got it now - just rejoice in every fresh breath. Thunder - you'll do it when you're ready. I smoked for 30 years and I finally got sick and tired of being sick and tired. I did not have my usual winter bronchitis this year - in fact, I haven't taken sick leave in over a year when I used to take about a day a month. It's all good!

[PennyQuilts]

Lauri, you're doing great. Sounds like you are doing exactly what you should be doing. I am so impressed!

[Thunder]

I just bought 2 packs and smoked several the past hour.

[PennyQuilts]

I just bought 2 packs and smoked several the past hour.

Oh Thunder.

[Thunder]

I didn't get sick during the winter, but during the Spring, I did for a short time.

[ronronnie1]

Ugh @ this thread. Congrats to everyone who has successfully quit smoking. I quit 3 weeks ago, but for some lame brain reason I picked one up, and now I'm back to my old ways. Damn me.

Actually, I ate a whole half gallon of ice cream in one day all to myself right after quitting smoking. I then went to McDonalds for some double cheesburgers. What can I say? I panicked.

The age old dilema: Wrinkled face/sexy body or beautiful face/whack body.

The body won.

[kevinpate]

go for the latter. the face is always out there, but clothes and lighting can work magic over a whack bod, and though I have no business noting it, there is always that thing I've heard of called exercise. might look into it myself some day.

[PennyQuilts]

The face is going to go, regardless, but a strong body will keep you out of a nursing home. Exercise! Keep moving!

But for that matter, have you SEEN the faces on long term smokers" EEK! At my last highschool reunion, the long term smokers looked like dried apples. The skinny ones looked like dried apples on a stick. You couldn't sell those things at the fair even if you wrapped bacon around them.

[kevinpate]

[OT alert]
Speaking of food on a stick ... Jeff Dunham gets his own series on Comedy Central beginning in the 2nd half of October (the 23rd if memory serves)
[/OT alert]

[kmf563]

LOL. You guys are great.

Thunder do it on your own terms in your own time. It won't work until you decide you are ready.

Lauri congrats!

Ronronnie don't give up! Get right back up on that horse. It wasn't until I started treating it like a disease such as alcoholism that it clicked in my brain. We can't just have one. Some people think they can, but somewhere down the road the line crosses over into another made up rule smokers use as an excuse. "I only smoke at night" or "I only smoke when I drink" or "I only smoke when I go out" all of those are junkie excuses.

[ronronnie1]

Thank you for the support, kmf563. I bought a pack today, and honestly I'm just not feelin' it anymore. I'm about to make a trip to Walgreens and buy some nicotine gum because I'm over smoking. I'm DEFINATELY not giving up on myself this time.

[Lauri101]

Go for it ronronnie! kevin is right - think of it as one less cigarette at a time

I know I have an addictive personality, so I know I can never so much as puff again. That's ok - I'm a Crackberry addict now

Those of you trying - never give up! It took me at least 10 tries to quit. When you're ready, it'll happen. Congratulations for not lighting up right at this minute!

[dmoor82]

My mother is 59 and smoked everyday of her life since she was 13! she found out she she had lupus in 1999 and quit that same year!my Aunt's have both had cancer and one has passed away,she had lung cancer and still smoked after she found out! I smoke a 1/2 pk a day to a full pack,I agree it is a stupid habit to to pick up on,diabetes and cancer run in my family so I might want to quit!!! You know whats funny also? you can take a shower and put on some nice cologne and think you smell great, but to someone who doesnt smoke-you stink like sh#t!! I have stayed with my buddy in Texas a few times and brought some clothes and stuff and I was unpacking and he walked in the room and said WOW it smells like sh#t in here! I said what!!!! he made me wash all my clothes!!!

[PennyQuilts]

Yeah, it has a rank odor and I hate how it makes my clothes stink. When I come back from visiting a smoker and unpack my clothes, the smell just about knocks me over and I have to wash everything.

[Thunder]

My experience working at Crest Discount Foods - Home of Rock Bottom Prices was that they all did not realize that I am a smoker. One by one, they will discover when I am buying a pack or catch me smoking outside. Oddly, they do not smell the smoke off of me?! I wear clean work clothes each day, brush my teeth each day, take a shower each day, and use a colonge. There are some of them that did not have a clue for months! One cashier thought I was buying a pack for someone, but no, that pack was for me. As for mom, she complains a lot about the smoke, but everyone else says nothing.

I started back in June '05 and still going. The most I've quit was for a few weeks. There was a time or two that I had gone a week without smoking while working at Walmart and during those times, I did not have a craving until I stupidly lit one up.

It got me to be thinking.... Do animals get lung cancer? I have a cat, a kitten, and a bunny living with me. When I moved into this new place, I only smoked outside and planned to keep it out, but I started to smoke only in the bedroom. I have always thought that smoke rise up to the ceiling and that it wouldn't affect them being down on the floor. So, I probably should try quitting if this stuff do cause them to have lung cancer.

The past few months, I've been coughing. At one point, it had gotten so bad. Now, I still cough every day and my breathing/lungs sounds/feels funny. I hoped it would stop, but this coughing doesn't seem to want to go away.

Just to mention... I'll turn 25 in a few weeks.

[kmf563]

My experience working at Crest Discount Foods - Home of Rock Bottom Prices was that they all did not realize that I am a smoker. One by one, they will discover when I am buying a pack or catch me smoking outside. Oddly, they do not smell the smoke off of me?! I wear clean work clothes each day, brush my teeth each day, take a shower each day, and use a colonge. There are some of them that did not have a clue for months! One cashier thought I was buying a pack for someone, but no, that pack was for me. As for mom, she complains a lot about the smoke, but everyone else says nothing.

I started back in June '05 and still going. The most I've quit was for a few weeks. There was a time or two that I had gone a week without smoking while working at Walmart and during those times, I did not have a craving until I stupidly lit one up.

It got me to be thinking.... Do animals get lung cancer? I have a cat, a kitten, and a bunny living with me. When I moved into this new place, I only smoked outside and planned to keep it out, but I started to smoke only in the bedroom. I have always thought that smoke rise up to the ceiling and that it wouldn't affect them being down on the floor. So, I probably should try quitting if this stuff do cause them to have lung cancer.

The past few months, I've been coughing. At one point, it had gotten so bad. Now, I still cough every day and my breathing/lungs sounds/feels funny. I hoped it would stop, but this coughing doesn't seem to want to go away.

Just to mention... I'll turn 25 in a few weeks.

If you are already having bronchial problems you should probably quit now. Only 25? wow. You'd be amazed how much not smoking will help your immune system. BTW - smokers are more likely to get the flu and such because your immune system is already weakened.

As for the animals, yes. Anything breathing takes in the toxic chemicals as well as the smoke that is released into the air. It doesn't matter if they are on the floor or not, it goes everywhere. You just SEE it going up up and away. Trust me - you can smell it. Try having a nonsmoker smell your carpet...I bet it's stinky. And if you smoke in one room, your entire house and clothes will smell like it.

I smoked in my garage and now that i don't smoke, i can smell it on everything in my house just from bringing in my purse, on my shoes, and clothes. I am in the process of deep cleaning everything. And I apologized to my son. I really didn't think it came in the house and I never smoked around him for that reason.

[kmf563]

2 months!!! woot woot.

Hey a week ago I went down and bought a new car. I pay for it with the money I would be spending on cigarettes. Every time I walk out and look at it I smile. It's much prettier than smoking.

[kevinpate]

Congrats on the car and on smoke free. When I stopped in 04, the $ that used to go to smoking went a really long way on a car payment for us as well.

Still have the 'burb, and have better lungs/health than if I had not stopped, but not so good as if I had not restarted after the first time I stopped, long, long ago.