I quit smoking!

[Pita]

Yesterday was my first day as an ex-smoker. I have smoked for 23 years and have finally just had enough of it. After doing some studying on quitting, I told hubby to keep them away from me and have gone cold turkey.

The withdrawals have been very hard on me. Headaches, upset stomach, dizziness, tired and total lack of concentration. It’s taking me forever just to write this. :D

Anyway, I just wanted to share my good news and to add one more group of people that I can be accountable to. I have been really tempted, but haven’t touched one since smoking my last one Sunday night.

Any advice or tips are very much welcomed. :)

[Aqua]

Congratulations Tess!!!! That is awesome!

Next time you get a craving just head for 'pics of men'. :p That should get your mind on other things. ;)

[BigBear57]

Congrats Tess! Good luckon holding to it too... I'm next on this nandwagon, just have a few things to get settled first.

[Bluetigertone]

Well done, :x: hugs and kisses.
Being an ex 60 a day person I know what you are going through!! :hair: But it does get easier. Just keep telling everyone you are a non smoker not an ex smoker!!
So best of luck and you have my support.

[Steph]

Way to go, Tess!

Are lights brighter for you right now, too?

I'm insane and most insane people smoke but I should quit one of these days, too. I think once I come close to seriously thinking of spawning (shaddup, PF!), I'll quit then.

[nikki1979]

YAY congrats

[Fangtasia]

Keep ya hands occupied.........

I went cold turkey years ago.....found the biggest thing was breaking the habit of having a ciggie in my hands (not so much the smoking of it)

I went and bought me one of those squishy ball thingies (tension relievers) and always had a bottle of water/coke with me....when ever i felt the urge i used to take a sip of coke and then squeeze the shit outta the ball thingy *LOL*

I also took up doing paper mache.....with hands all covered in wallpaper glue and my mind occupied elsewhere i didnt feel the need for a ciggie.

Eventually you will retrain yourself....cold turkey isn't that hard once ya learn your triggers for wanting a smoke

[maddy]

way to go, Tess. I haven't a clue what might be helpful - but I wish you all the success in the world.

[jseal]

TinglingTess,

When I quit, the biological/chemical symptoms were over after 3 days. I remained edgy for another week - perhaps 10 days; light sleeping, jumpy - that kind of thing. I found getting tipsy in the evening helped me for the first week.

Alassë's right about the hands, mine drifted up to my shirt pocket for the pack whenever I began sipping my coffee; the two behaviors had been one for many years. It was the psychological patterns which almost had me smoking again - several times.

Be on guard. It was not easy for me.

Good luck!

[Pita]

Thanks everyone for your kind words and advice. :)

I have to say I like Aqua and jseals advice very much. I will have a good stiff drink and go look at the hot Pixie men. :drool:

Steph lights and noise are driving me nuts. I could go for something other then a cigarette to smoke, but I gave that up too. ;)

Bigbear I kept saying I would quit when my life settled down too. That was 20 years ago. Finally had to decide to just do it.

I did find this website very helpful if you or any one else thinking of quitting wants to check it out.
http://www.quitsmokingonline.com/

Thanks again. I love you Pixie people :grope:

[Lilith]

It was one of the hardest things I've ever done. But also the most important for not just my health but also for my family.

Congrats! Stay super busy!

[Scarecrow]

Way to go TT, welcome to Ex club. It is hard to do but very rewarding. I have not had a smoke now ofor 3yrs and that after 35yrs with the habbit. Again congrats.

[bare4you]

Congrats. I haven't taken the plunge yet - will one day but hearing of another success story gives me hope that I will have the courage one day.

[fzzy]

Congrats TT ... what an awesome accomplishment ... keep up the good work ... lots of people here ready and willing to cheer you on anytime you have the need! :) :jump:

[LixyChick]

Congrats TT! Gotta say it gets harder before it gets easier...but I hear it does get easier.

I quit quitting...I suck at it and I hate to be bad at something. I may try it again someday, when I have more confidence!

Keep busy and try not to replace it with something bad for you. Instead of eating when you want a smoke (which in turn will make you want to smoke afterwards...a vicious circle), try drinking water and working out...especially in these first weeks. The excercise will help with the peaks and valley's of the cravings!

Way to go girl! Hang in there and lean on us when the going gets tough!

[dicksbro]

Congratulations, TT, and the best of luck. I quit Christmas Eve, 1997 and haven't regretted it at all.

Talk to your family doctor. He/she may very well be able to offer suggestions for helping to reduce the cravings. I did that and his advice was fantastic (for me). My biggest concern had been being so irritable with my family and he helped me avoid that. Haven't touched a cigarette since.

I'm here if you need someone to talk to.

[dick]

Good going Tess, and you got some great advice here from Alasse and others.
Many people are able to tough it out and go cold turkey successfully. Others, like Lixy, may need a little help. My good friend smoked for over 50 years and needed help from a hypnotist recommended by his family doctor, and it actually worked. My mother-in-law used the nicotene patch and that worked for her as well.
Bottom line, its important; in fact its a matter of life and death. So whatever you have to do will be worth it.

Cheers!

Joe

[WildIrish]

It sounds like you've definately got the right frame of mind. I'm glad to hear you're done with it. Congrats!

[GingerV]

Way to go Girl!! I've never had to quit, but I've watched friends go through hell with it. And every one of them says it's the best thing they ever did for themselves. The ones who made it did just what everyone here is telling you to do, KEEP BUSY.

Besides, look at the support you've already got on here....how could anyone with this cast of crazies behind them fail?

[Pita]

:thumb: Thanks everyone! I feel much better this morning. Stomach is better and just a slight headache. I want one, but I told myself no way! Hubby left his pack on the kitchen counter when I got up again. He really needs to not do that!! :hair:

I really do feel that I will kick this nasty habit and finally be free from it. :thumb:


(((hugs)))) and thanks again. :x:

[moose]

Congrads Tess, I smoked for 27 years and after trying to give the bloody things away several times, my son finally gave me the encouragement I needed and I have not had a smoke for seven years now.
the one thing I did come to realise is you can try to give them up as many times as you like but you wont succeed unto you are actually ready to quit, then the journey to break the habit is not as hard as you think.
I should also say the other peoples advice is excellent keeping your hands busy does take your mind off reaching into your pocket or purse looking for the cigs, so keep up the good work, one last thing wait to you get your taste buds back and you suddenly realise what you have been missing
.

[maddy]

Woot! Another day without 'em. Give yourself a little treat today, you deserve it!

And just remember, if quitting was easy, everyone would be doing it!

[lizzardbits]

i'm am what i consider a social smoker...I smoke when i am around friends that do or going out to the bars. I quit cold turkey when i was PG with my kids. When i was a non-smoker, i realized that they stunk really badly, and i could smell them when someone was smoking outside even. made my stomach turn.

The thing that i found is that if i know that i have cigarettes around, that i know that i am making a concious choice on not having a smoke. I can go days or weeks or even a few years without smoking, as long as i know that it is my choice to smoke or not to smoke.

Another thing that i have done, is that i have put money in a jar about the same for what would smoke for that payperiod and used it to treat myself on a new CD or DVD or gas money for travelling or whatever. (with the prices today per pack/carton it should add up quickly!)

Good Luck!

[Pita]

Hey Liz did you just hear the new report on social smoking? It is just as bad for you so I urge you to just give the nasty things up altogether. You don't need them anymore then I did! :x:

Last night I was walking down the hallway and hubby was in his computer room. I could smell the smoke before I even got to the room and was SHOCKED at the smell. I was also horribly embarressed that I have subjected people to that all these years. He is having a stress test today for his heart pains and I sure hope his doc can knock some sense in him to quit too. He is surprised that I have actually done it so maybe I can lead by example.

4 days and counting!! :jump:

[jseal]

TinglingTess,

Yes, I read that even if you only smoke 4 or 5 cigarettes a day you triple your chances of having to deal with heart disease!

Hang in there! You will succeed!

[maddy]

You rock TT! Keep it up ... keep rewarding yourself for every day you get through. It won't be long and you won't have to keep count because it will just feel "normal" to not smoke.

[FallenAngel5]

Having never been a smoker, I can't offer you much advice - other than I know I see the pain in people's eyes every day when I charge them $6.50 a pack, ouch!

But I read this article several years ago and it has always stuck with me, hopefully it'll provide you with some incentive to continue the 4 days. :)

Changes Your Body goes through: When You Quit Smoking
Within 20 minutes of last cigarette:
 Blood pressure drops
 Pulse rate drops

Within 8 hours:
 Oxygen level in the blood increases

After 24 hours:
 Chance of heart attack decreases

After 48 hours:
 Nerve endings start regrowing
 Ability to smell and taste is enhanced

After 72 hours:
 Bronchial tubes relax, making breathing easier

After quitting 2 weeks to 3 months:
 Circulation improves
 Lung function increases up to 30%
 Walking becomes easier

After 1 to 9 months:
 Coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue, shortness of breath decrease
 Cilia regain normal function in lungs, increasing ability to handle mucus, clean
the lungs, and reduce infection

After quitting for 1 year:
 Excess risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker’s

After quitting for5 years:
 Stroke risk is reduced to that of a non-smoker’s 5-15 years after quitting

After quitting for 10 years:
 Lung cancer death rate about half that of a continuing smoker’s
 Risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidneys, and
pancreas decreases

After quitting for15 years:
 Risk of coronary heart disease is that of a nonsmoker’s


Rev. 1/04 Eileen Crossey Source: American Cancer Society

[GingerV]

Keep it up Tess, the first days are the worst.

[osuche]

((((((Tess))))))) ~~ you've amazed me again. Good for you!

[moose]

good on you tess, keep up the good work and before you know it 4 will be 44

[Lilith]

Tess, if he leaves them on the counter...put them in a tub of water.

I still walk behind people smoking and wish for one but Tess I promise you will be so glad. And it will be so much better for your work too. Put the $$ you are saving away and buy yourself something frivilous.

[wyndhy]

excellent, tess! wtg!

[WildIrish]

Put the $$ you are saving away and buy yourself something frivilous.


:hair:

If I had done that...I would've had my Antonio Banderas Love Doll years ago! :mad:

[Coaster]

Way to go tess.............. I'm sure we can think of a few ways to keep you busy!!! :D