Author Topic: I have quit (Read 811 times)

scotsman · « **on:** February 09, 2013, 01:21:23 PM »

On January 28th, 13 days 12 hours and thirty three minutes ago I quit smoking. There was no significance to that date I just decided I had had enough. I smoked a pack and a half a day for 37 years, since I was 18. It has been hard to do and is still hard to do but I am done. I am hard headed that way and I really believe I will never smoke again. If you have quit how did you do it? Did anything help with the cravings? How long before the cravings went away? The worst for me is after a meal or when driving. How did you handle your worse times?

clum sum · « **Reply #1 on:** February 09, 2013, 01:32:15 PM »

Don't fixate on Your cravings or how longe it has been. Thank of why You quit.

ironglow · « **Reply #2 on:** February 09, 2013, 01:37:08 PM »

From 1958 until 1968 I smoked a pipe..and I never inhaled..(just didn't like it) so I guess it wasn't quite as hard as quitting the cigs.
I did quit once or twice before that..but in each case I found that in 2-3 days I was saying things to myself such as"pipe smoking isn't ALL that bad"..and I took it up again.
I was breaking promises to myself and I needed motivation. I had 2 young sons then and i asked them, " would you like dad to quit the pipe?" When they asked that I would..I made them a promise that I would drop the pipe that day and never use it again.
Breaking promises to myself was difficult, but not out of the question. Breaking a promise to my sons is out of the question..I have not smoked since..

One tip: You seem to be counting the hours/days since you had a smoke..perhaps that is not a good idea for staying power.

gendoc · « **Reply #3 on:** February 09, 2013, 01:40:44 PM »

after dam near 50years i set'um down an carried a pack with 19 in it with a lighter
to test my will power ..... 2years ana few days have past an i ain't done it since

still got tha pack somewhere...?? don't need it anamore. i get to taste'n them from time to time, but its
my imagination. i can handle it !!!
used to smoke while havena drink or 7

or after a mitey fine cook.
but ya know, itsa will-power kinda thing for me... as it was in cambodia for 5 years

i've been thru worse than them smokes...... and i have survived them all.
now whats next !!!!
i wish you great control, and you should be ok. good luck.........

jhm · « **Reply #4 on:** February 09, 2013, 02:01:50 PM »

I gave them up 25 26 yrs ago, cant tell you how long the cravings will be with you, but food/drink will start tasting better and you will get to the point where you will notice how smoker smell like a overflowing ash tray, then it will don on you that at one time your clothes smelled that way, buy you some sugar free candy and keep it handy to off set the cravings. Jim

Ranger99 · « **Reply #5 on:** February 09, 2013, 02:54:13 PM »

if you've ever lost a friend or loved
one from smoking that's reason enough
to toss 'em
if i get to wanting one i think of that.
i sure don't miss hacking up that tar mess either

good luck

Shu · « **Reply #6 on:** February 09, 2013, 03:34:55 PM »

It takes 72 hours to beat the pharmalogical addiction. It takes longer to beat the physical addiction. If you have gone this long you have it beat. Sugar free gum for when you think you need a smoke.

If I can stop there is no reason you can't. The first smoke in the morning and the last before bed are the worst to give up. The ones after each meal are next.

Congratulations on doing this, it sure isn't always easy.

JustaShooter · « **Reply #7 on:** February 09, 2013, 03:35:11 PM »

Congratulations! You've made it past the actual physical addiction, now you have to make it through the psychological addiction, which can be even harder. Stick with it and it will make a wonderful difference in your health and wellbeing.

Something like 6 years ago I also quit, after 25 years of smoking. For me, it was being under the conviction of the Holy Spirit, and it was through His power I stayed quit. I had tried many times before, and always tried to do it myself. This time, I laid it at His feet and asked for Him to take the addiction away because I knew I couldn't do it on my own. I relied on this promise: John 14:14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

twoshooter · « **Reply #8 on:** February 09, 2013, 03:44:22 PM »

I was a 3 pack a day man, from college until my second child was born. My son had some mild asthma, and when my wife was pregnant with our daughter she was begging me to quit. I was to the point that if I walked quickly up a couple flights of stairs I was completely out of breath. I realized that here in our rural environment, if I had to pick up a child and run- from snakebite, from dogs, from fire, my child was going to die. I gave my friend my lighter and pack of Tareytons. That was 31 years ago this past new years. I still have to remind myself- not ONE, not now, not ever, not even a cigar for a wedding or a birth. The only way to quit is to WANT to not smoke, more than you want to smoke. Every day- for the rest of your life.

KIMBER45 · « **Reply #9 on:** February 09, 2013, 04:41:55 PM »

Good going and enjoy the extra money in your pocket. Reward yourself and buy a Handi or 3.

powderman · « **Reply #10 on:** February 09, 2013, 04:50:27 PM »

SCOTSMAN. Great news. I've been tobacco free 14 1/2 years. Even after that long I'd still love to fire up a pipe, cigar, or cigarette, but know that I can't. You got it whipped, congratulations. POWDERMAN.

jcn59 · « **Reply #11 on:** February 09, 2013, 05:04:35 PM »

I made up my mind to quit .......as soon as I had a heart attack, which I had 9 years ago. Would you believe they wouldn't let me smoke in that hospital? I didn't have any unpleasant withdrawal issues at all. Took me awhile, but I finnnnnally figured it out. It was the morphine drip. That's the easiest way to quit smoking. It took me 3-4 years but now I don't miss it.

My advice is to eat candy and whenever you get thinking about a cigarette, redirect yourself. Sex is a good diversion. Probably better than abstinence.

Flemc1 · « **Reply #12 on:** February 09, 2013, 05:08:42 PM »

Scotsman , Good on ya !

Stop counting and go on with your life , look at it this way ya dont stink like cig's anymore , when ya think ya need one , Just take a deep breath , let it out , all is good , drink a glass of water and poof that one is gone , wait for the next craving and repeat . you will find you will be running to the pisser and wont have time to smoke . It took my Dear Wife having a heart attack at 43 years old to open my eyes , we both quit cold turkey . it was hard after smoking for almost 30 years .

Chris

RevJim · « **Reply #13 on:** February 10, 2013, 03:45:38 AM »

I smoked in the Army, about 3 packs a day, and various other herbs partying! I developed chronic bronchitis right before discharge, so I transitioned to Skoal ( I always dipped/chewed) after about 6 more yrs, I decided to quit tobacco altogether. I found some cinnamon flavoered toothpicks, and whenever a craving came up, I'd just put in a toothpick. It gave me something to do with my hands,etc, and in a short while, I couldn't stand the flavor of cinnamon anymore either, ha, but I quit. Sugarless gum is easier to find now, but its the "idea" of occupying your mind that helps. You know

being a "Thrifty Scot" should help too, the price of cigarettes nowadays astonishes me, and I'm only half Scot!

Good luck to you, I hope you live to be a 120!

oldandslow · « **Reply #14 on:** February 10, 2013, 03:56:50 AM »

Good for you scotsman. Hang in there. I quit in March of 1972 and have never touched tobacco in any form since. If I could do it so can you.

It really amazed me how after several weeks I began to notice how much better food tasted and how much more I could smell. Now tobacco smoke smells terrible and I won't stay around it.

Sourdough · « **Reply #15 on:** February 10, 2013, 04:43:01 AM »

I saw a young girl smoking and thought it was so disgusting. I said something to her about starting a bad habit. She looked at me and said "You smoke, so don't say anything to me". I laid them down and have not picked one up to this day. That was about 35 years ago, don't remember the exact date.

When Sky was about 6 or 7 we were out one day and a young teenaged girl lite a smoke. Sky looked at her and very loudly said, "Ew, a dragon lady, you stink". She wanted to hit him, but I stepped in the way. I looked at her and asked, "Truth hurt"? I ran into her a few months later and asked if she still smoked. She said "No I quite, now I can't stand to be around someone that does".

bulletstuffer · « **Reply #16 on:** February 10, 2013, 04:44:00 AM »

Scotsman,

Probably an easier way to quit than a 3-4 year long morphine drip

Took me awhile, but I finnnnnally figured it out. It was the morphine drip. That's the easiest way to quit smoking. It took me 3-4 years but now I don't miss it.

You just have to decide what is important to you. I decided to quit in 1989 luckily before I met my wife because she might have not gone out with me if I had been smoking. It is amazing how much better you will feel. Soon you will actually be able to take a big breath of air without coughing and hacking it back out. Quitting will just make your life better all around.

Best of luck,

Bulletstuffer

jparedes · « **Reply #17 on:** February 10, 2013, 05:15:35 AM »

Let's see: $9.00 per pack (that is what they cost here in Florida), one pack per day, times 30 days makes $270.00 a month. That is enough to buy one Handi Rifle each month!!!!!

Congratulations!

scotsman · « **Reply #18 on:** February 10, 2013, 07:23:35 AM »

Thanks for all the well wishes guys. I am really not counting hours and minutes that was just my attempt at humor. It has been two weeks now and I feel pretty good. I sometimes still really want one but I have so far got through it. I am chewing Orbit gum and that helps. One thing is when you smoke you really do not know that you smell like that, it seems amazing that you could smoke and not know how it smells.

jcn59 · « **Reply #19 on:** February 10, 2013, 07:46:04 AM »

The morphine drip was associated with being in a hospital for my heart attack for several days. The 3-4 years was for the craving for a cigarette to go away.

bulletstuffer · « **Reply #20 on:** February 10, 2013, 07:55:04 AM »

That was my attempt at humor too

Isn't it amazing how emails can be misinterpreted

Hope you have quit for good!

Bulletstuffer

jcn59 · « **Reply #21 on:** February 10, 2013, 08:40:43 AM »

The secret to my early semi-retirement was to go down to 4 days a week when I quit smoking, then 3 days a week when I quit drinking, then 2 days when I quit the morphine. I never noticed the drop in my income, or much of anything else, either.. Now I'm thinking about getting a full time job so I can have fun again.

nw_hunter · « **Reply #22 on:** February 10, 2013, 08:44:01 AM »

Quote from: jcn59 on February 09, 2013, 05:04:35 PM

I made up my mind to quit .......as soon as I had a heart attack, which I had 9 years ago. Would you believe they wouldn't let me smoke in that hospital? I didn't have any unpleasant withdrawal issues at all. Took me awhile, but I finnnnnally figured it out. It was the morphine drip. That's the easiest way to quit smoking. It took me 3-4 years but now I don't miss it.

My advice is to eat candy and whenever you get thinking about a cigarette, redirect yourself. Sex is a good diversion. Probably better than abstinence.

I'm still working on the candy thing, but free from the other stuff.................

ironglow · « **Reply #23 on:** February 11, 2013, 05:00:55 AM »

Kimber had a good idea..promise yourself a new Handi or other gun ..if you can hold out for say ..2 months. That should get you over the hump to where you are past most of the craving.. Of course, as jparedes said the $9-$10 should help in the convincing..
As Shu suggested, flavored toothpicks..sounds like a good help.. If you can't find them, you can make them..
http://www.ehow.com/how_7600026_make-homemade-flavored-toothpicks.html