Wherein I make a spectacle of myself

[Edward]

Weird how these things turn out. A friend of mine who keeps trying to quit after just 2 years of light smoking can't stop the cravings.

It seems to me it's all down to how much you want it - like many things, I suppose. I've known light smokers have terrible trouble too, while heavy smokers give it up overnight.... A long time ago when my dad was still with BT, back in the 90s when they went as a company to a non-smoking policy (smoking only in one pokey room at the other end of the building - that'll be long gone now!), there was one of the guys there just stopped one morning. He'd been on twenty a day or something - relatively a lot - and he just decided at his desk that it was gonig to be more hassle that it's worth traipsing to the smoking room, it was expensive and bad for him, so he just dropped it - threw the half pack he had in the bin, and there was the end of it. The thing is, he really wanted to give up. The folks I've known who found it much harder to quit tended to be folks who felt they should give up - for their health, the cost, whatever the reason - but didn't really want to for whatever reason - often because they enjoyed the social aspect of being a smoker, because they couldn't resist down the pub, were worried about wieght gain, or whatever. It's the same with me and weight - I want to lose weight, but at the minute the drive to eat is higher than the drive to lose the weight.... I need to change that!

 

[PrettySquareGal]

Congrats. I've just gone past my 4 year anniversary of quitting (I smoked quite heavily - cigarettes, weed etc - from 16-24). Never once had a craving, neither. I was finally induced to quit when i realised what it had done to my squash game. My lungs were knackered after 2 games. Not good.

bk

Bravo!!

 

[Samsa]

Congrats!:eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

I'm always impressed when people quit permanently like that. I "quit" a year and a half ago, but tend to light up occasionally when at the bar or when I'm having a very stressful time. I smoked a pack of Camels yesterday after a rough night, and am now very mad at myself for having given in. I was lying in bed last night, my chest hurting, and just thought "how stupid."

 

[PrettySquareGal]

Congrats!:eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

I'm always impressed when people quit permanently like that. I "quit" a year and a half ago, but tend to light up occasionally when at the bar or when I'm having a very stressful time. I smoked a pack of Camels yesterday after a rough night, and am now very mad at myself for having given in. I was lying in bed last night, my chest hurting, and just thought "how stupid."

Thanks, Samsa.

I've gone through what you described, and I realized over the years that I was unable to quit smoking and still drink (at all). *Any* loosening of my inhibitions and I was lighting up (and yes, bumming a smoke off of someone, anyone lol ).

 

[scotrace]

89 days clean.

 

[PrettySquareGal]

89 days clean.

I guess this means I have to make that heavy breathing phone call I promised if you make 90 days??????

Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[scotrace]

I dig chicks who get broad hinting. lol

 

[Josephine]

Congrats Scotrace. Well done.

 

[K.D. Lightner]

Congratulations to all of you who have stopped smoking whether it has been a few months a few years or over a decade. You don't want to be smoking at my age. You might not make it to my age if you smoke.

I was never able to smoke (allergic to chemical in cigs; that's one allergy I'm glad I had!), but have suffered losses: my dearest friend for 25 years is gone, one of my favorite aunts, several other old friends, a half dozen other relatives.

Here is a story about how sensitive our lungs are:

My father had to have a cat scan of his lungs when he was 84 years old. The doctors told my mother that there was flour in his lungs and wanted to know how it got there. Mother told them the very first job he had when he was in his mid-teens through his 20's was as a baker in a bakery. He was also a baker in the U.S. Navy during WW II.

The flour was still in his lungs, 60 years later.

karol

 

[pgoat]

great thread. Congrats to all me fellow quitters.

This made me realize it was just over 8 yrs for me too (had my last cig new years eve, '99-2000). I recall reading that assuming your lungs are otherwise healthy , with each passing year after quitting your damage from smoking is less and less of a detriment for your health. Better to have never smoked, of course, but quitting is the best for those of us who did have the habit.

I hope this inspires all who still indulge to kick the habit TODAY! Save money and save your life. You'll be glad you did.

 

[Idledame]

It took lung cancer to make me quit. My last cigarette was the night before surgery to check out a spot on one of my lungs. They ended up removing part of one lung. Feeling like crap and being drugged out really helped me to not smoke. That was December 23, 2004. But I still think about them. I love the smell, the feel, how it did whatever you needed: cheered you up, calmed you down, made situations less boring, waked you up or helped you relax. I dream about smoking all the time, I almost drool when I see someone light up and take that first long drag, even in a movie. And for some reason, the anti-smoking ads really make me want one. But I know I can never have even one puff. I thought it wouldn't affect me because my mom and dad and brother all smoked for many years before giving it up, and none of them got cancer. If I found out that I had some dread disease and had one month to live, the very first thing I would do would be to run out and buy a carton. It's rather embarrassing to admit, but true.

 

[pgoat]

Congrats!:eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

I'm always impressed when people quit permanently like that. I "quit" a year and a half ago, but tend to light up occasionally when at the bar or when I'm having a very stressful time. I smoked a pack of Camels yesterday after a rough night, and am now very mad at myself for having given in. I was lying in bed last night, my chest hurting, and just thought "how stupid."

I 'quit' plenty of times, and actually went a year or two at times with no smokes but started again during stressful times (back to school, emotional messes, etc.). I'm closing in on 9 yrs clean now and I kinda knew this last time would stick.

Point is, don't beat yourself up over it. Just take it one day at a time. It DEFINITELY gets easier the longer you go without cigs. I STILL get the urge to light up on occasion, but not nearly as often as when first quitting, and it's much easier to ignore those cravings now. Keep trying and hang in there.

 

[scotrace]

I survived watching Now, Voyager last week without caving, so I think I've got it licked. I'd better stay away from Casablanca for awhile, though. That one has invariably been my downfall.

 

[hepkitten]

Feeling like crap and being drugged out really helped me to not smoke.

My mom quit after 35 years of smoking thanks to a horrible respiratory flu. She couldn't smoke and still get enough air to breathe. It took her two weeks to recover, and she figured the first two weeks without cigarettes were probably the hardest, so she might as well keep going. Stayed off them the rest of her life. She used to tell me, though, that even twenty years after quitting, she would get powerful cravings in certain situations. Like after completing a project at work, she'd still automatically reach for the coffee and the cigarette pack.

Congratulations to everyone! I'm pulling for you all. :eusa_clap

 

[PrettySquareGal]

I survived watching Now, Voyager last week without caving, so I think I've got it licked.(

We never never ever have it licked. Never let your guard down or underestimate the enemy. Just last night I had a smoking dream where I'm suddenly hooked again and am trapped. It's a nightmare, btw and it keeps me on my toes. I always say I'm a smoker who isn't smoking today. It DOES get easier! But any one of us are one drag away from back to smoking. Having said that, you are doing so well and are inspiring others, I bet!!!!!

Hope you enjoyed the call.

 

[pgoat]

I survived watching Now, Voyager last week without caving, so I think I've got it licked. I'd better stay away from Casablanca for awhile, though. That one has invariably been my downfall.

True dat! Bogart was the unfiltered cig pusher....

 

[scotrace]

Hope you enjoyed the call.

Ha!

Minx.

 

[PrettySquareGal]

Ha!

Minx.

When I quit smoking, drinking, cussing, etc I made allowances for things like being a minx.