Just quit smoking cigs -- need buddies!

[minimonkey]

Hi, all -- I am in need of some "quitting buddies" to replace my "smoking buddies!" I know there used to be a "quitters and losers" thread, but I can't find it now. Anyone in the same boat? Wanna join up for some support??????

I'm on day one, btw

[laureninva]

I haven't quit yet, but am thinking of setting Monday 7/12 as a date. i would be more than happy to be your buddy....I need one too, I think i will need all the support I can get.

[Brenda]

Hi. Count me in! My target date to quit is also Monday, July 12. I'm going to use the "patch". I've been smoking 21 years (I'm 41) and I have a friend who is dying from lung cancer. I've tried to quit several times before, but I truly believe I will do it this time. Just need lots of encouragement.

[PonderousOne]

I am one of those that has the right to make that claim. You Can Do It!! I know because I just recently did. Having smoked since I was 13 years old, I am now 39, I quit on April 21st of this year and have not had a drag since!! I used two patches and then just said the heck with it. If I am gonna do it, I am gonna do it! So, with a 2+ pack a day habit (I assure you that is no exaggeration of quantity) I am now what I consider to be a non-smoker.....done cold turkey. And just think....turkey is Atkin's friendly to boot! Yeah, that was bad, I just could not help myself. LOL

If anyone needs a pep talk, just let me know. I truly believe in anyone who wants to quit. No doubt in my mind they/you can do it.

[ohmystarz]

I recently posted this on the PG and would like to share here too:

to the NON-SMOKERS CLUB!!!!

I quit smoking 3 1/2 months ago. It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. Don't get me wrong, it is hard, just not Impossible.
It gets a little bit easier every day. I actually go for 5 or 6 days in a row now without thinking about having one.

My husband still smokes and the smell of him totally disgusts me. I can only imagine how bad I smelled too. It is enough to keep me from smoking. That, and the PROMISE I made to my 10 yr old daughter. When the urge to smoke is bad, I think about the hurt in her beautiful eyes if I started to smoke again. I just cannot destroy her trust and faith in me.

In those first difficult weeks, when I almost gave in, my sweet girl did something that almost brought me to tears. I was climbing the walls with the urge to light up. She ran to her room...got something...and came running to me. She handed me a small statue of Mary and told me that our Mother in Heaven would help me not to smoke. She told me to put her in my pocket and carry her around with me and pray to Mary when I needed help with smoking.

I carried Mary with me for a solid week. My daughter's faith filled me with determination and hope.

[PinkTeam2]

what a neat story ohmystarz!!!! Sounds like you have a peach of a daughter

Mini. I think you can do this. #1 you quit right on my birthday Good start....LOL

I quit AGAIN for the last time positively on August 10th of last year. So I'm almost at a year

I have smoked um....I don't know off and on for about 15 yrs. I always quit before getting pg and while. Then restart afterwards. The last time I quit was prior to an elective surgery my surgeon demanded I quit 3 months prior because smoking really hinders the healing process in this type of surgery. So I quit ONE month prior instead. And I did have healing problems. Shoulda listened Now I'm great. I did have major complications from my surgery in the form of massive pulmonary embolism. My lungs filled up completely with blood clots and the major artery in both my thighs clotted off. I almost died. Now after much labwork we know why. BUT even with the blood disorder I didn't know I had. My lung specialist says that blood clots are a HUGE risk with smoking and/or taking estrogen i.e. birth control!!!!!! So. I was pretty much told to NEVER smoke or take bcp again. And I have not and WILL NOT. My lungs would NEVER make it thru another cig anyway now they are too wussy.....LOL....but I'm blessed to be alive. I've lost many in my family to lung cancer. And there are just SO many bad things that cigs do to us we don't even know them all. And I know I enjoyed the HELL out of smoking. Sometimes I still miss the ACT of sitting to relax and have one? But I hate the smell now, the cost of them, the pain of having to keep up with them and the panic of forgetting them at home..... Even seeing someone else smoke just turns my stomach and I think why do we do that it is so unnattractive kwim? And it makes little wrinkles around your mouth, turns everything yellow and it has a huge effect on our facial skin and how old it looks. Hmmmmm. I enjoy doing lots of things and I will find something else to do to relax that is free.....and won't hurt me.

You can do this!!!! And you will be so proud when you do. And if you slip up. Its just like lo carbing. Each day is a new day. You can always keep trying til it sticks. It finally did with me. I had quit for a year here, 2 yrs there and someone would make me so furious I'd have to have one and boom there ya go. Now I'm 100% confident I'm done. Plus I have a huge support system that after almost losing me might just kill me theirselves if they ever saw me with one.

Good luck to you and we would be honored to be your support system.

[Brenda]

Thanks guys! This is DAY ONE for me and your stories are just what I needed to read this morning. How is it going with you minimonkey? And Lauren, are you quitting today with me?

Good luck - we CAN and WILL do this.

[leeser24]

Hi everyone - count me in too! This is my second full day of cold turkey.

[celticstar]

Hi all,

I'm quitting on friday

not sure I've quite convinced myself yet though, so I'm hoping writing it down will help

I hope those that have already quit are keeping strong

Tracey.

[Brenda]

Hey celticstar - you can do it! WE can all do it. 63 hours smoke-free for me. The patch is helping me a LOT. It's not easy though.

Good luck !!

[leeser24]

3 Days, 20 hours, 9 minutes - $17.00 saved.

6 pounds gained. I felt so tired and depressed since quitting, so yesterday I forced my lazy butt to go to the gym. I feel a little better today.

How is everyone doing? Anyone else gain weight?

[PinkTeam2]

You guys before my surgery I had to lose weight .... I lost 30lbs AND quit smoking at the same time now THAT is pure torture. Not a natural thing to do .....

YOU GUYS CAN DO THIS.

I love that money you are saving, save up for a vacation you dream of it wouldn't take long there is a goal. And weight gain? TEMPORARY, lung cancer is not. Heart disease is not. Look at the glass half full, be proud of yourself. You will do it!!!!!!!

[leeser24]

Thank you Thank you for your awesome support. You can be soo proud of yourself for everything you've accomplished.

[Brenda]

Thanks PinkTeam2 - I really, really needed to hear that today. Day 4 and it (for me) is not getting any easier. The days at work are o.k., but once I get home.....................but I am NOT giving up. And you are SO right, weight gain is temporary, lung cancer is not. Popping another piece of sugar-free gum in my mouth and taking deep breaths. Actually feels good to fill my lungs with fresh air (as fresh as it can be in an office building) and not filling them with cigarette smoke

Keep On Keeping On you guys. We WILL prevail.

[ohmystarz]

Next week will be 4 months for me!




Unfortunately, I've gained 20 lbs.

[PonderousOne]

Thinking of you all. Stay strong......one day at a time, one hour at a time and sometimes....one minute at a time.

Smoke free since April 21st after 26 years of the habit hard and heavy. You can quit....I promise!!!!

[PinkTeam2]

My grandma quit smoking after 50+ yrs COLD turkey no help all she had were a pocketful of her sonic peppermints FOREVER.....never smoked again and had great smelling breaths, and already had dentures so no cavity worries.....

She had like gosh 14 bros and sis's and when she was 9 they HELD her down and FORCED her to smoke. Now if she can quit so can ALL OF US.....right? Do it however even if you need help with a pill a patch or gum? Whatever works just quit how you can. You feel SO much better it is TRULY amazing I promise you

[leeser24]

Pink, if your grandmother can do it after so many years, so can we. My parents both did it cold turkey after 40+ years too. They both said it was a matter of really wanting to quit - mind over matter. They said if you're not ready to quit, you'll have a really hard time, but if you're ready, you'll make up your mind, and you'll just do it.

[helenback]

Hi,

Can I join??

I chose to become a Non-Smoker (sounds stronger than I quit.. imho) on JULY 04, 2004. Yeppers, Independence day.

I am doing the patches. I have a gazillion things that are going on, so to limit my stress where I can, I am doing the patches..

I am so proud of each and everyone one of us!!



WTG US!!




hugz
goldie

[leeser24]

Hi Goldie! Glad to have you here!
yes we can! yes we can! We can do it! How are the patches working, do they help?



1 week, 1 day, 20 hours, $39.78 saved

[PinkTeam2]

I'm proud of ya'll. Welcome to Goldie!!!!

Absolutely ya'll can do this!!!!!!

[leeser24]

Is everyone still out there?

Anyone care to post their stats today?

I'm on Day 10, $46.00 saved, 196 cigs not smoked, and 160 hours of life saved.

Weight is now down by 3 pounds since initial weight gain.

How are you all doing?

[Bet2]

Hello all!

Posting my stats loud and proud! KTQ!!!

Time Smoke-Free: 1 day, 13 hours, 12 minutes and 15 seconds

Cigarettes NOT smoked: 31

Lifetime Saved: 5 hours

Money Saved: $6.64

Over the course of last week, I lost 5 pounds. Not sure what the heck was up with that - as I've been 'stuck' between 133 & 135 for almost 10 months! Oh well. No complaints here. 10 more to go!

BJ
135/130/120

[PinkTeam2]

you guys

You are doing fabulous. Keep up with those stats. I will hit my year mark in August I think the 9th? Not sure.

Keep up the good work you can do it!!!!!!

[leeser24]

WOW - that is great! I guess your quit agrees with you. Your body gave you a little reward
You are on your way!
KTQ!

[leeser24]

Congrats Pink - what a wonderful accomplishment. Please tell us it gets easier...it does, doesn't it?

[PinkTeam2]

It certainly does get easier I promise. As a matter of fact it is a relief to NOT smoke. Don't forget em all the time and then think I'm gonna die without em. I make it thru stress w/o em. I can breathe and feel so good I no longer have the cig breath or taste in my mouth. I save tons of $. I personally don't smell from smoking. Its just nice. Plus when I see others smoking I think I'm so glad I quit that, it is just gross looking to me now. I mean somewhere I think I still miss it and might forever, but its not a longing that makes me want to start back does that make sense? I miss the enjoyment of the action itself that I thought was relaxing when I'd take a break from work. So. Anyway. It gets easier!!!!!!!

[DEBI IN OHIO]

I think I should have started a bank account to put the money in I would have spent each week on cigs
nice chunk change huh???

Friday I learned my dad has some kind of mass on his lung, cat scan later this week.........and he never touched one cig, neither has my mom
I smoked 29 years I miss it but just keep thinking of reasons not to do it again

[helenback]

WTG EVERYONE!! yeah!!!

Debi, I will keep your daddy and your family AND you in my daily meditations.. Only good thoughts coming your way.


The patches are wonderful!!!

I am going to have to do the figuring.. so I can see how much I have saved.. I just might open an account for cig saved money.. GOOD IDEA!!


hugz
goldie