Stop smoking 2009

[lindaokc]

Ok, guess I will start the new Stop Smoking thread for 2009. I don't want anybody who wants to quit to not have the support available here.
Welcome aboard the no smoking train...toot toot.

[BarbDe]

Hi everybody!!
Who is starting the New Year smoke free???

I have been quit for 1 Year, 1 Month, 3 Weeks, 6 Days, 12 hours, 43 minutes and 6 seconds (423 days). I have saved $2,117.64 by not smoking 16,941 cigarettes. I have saved 1 Month, 3 Weeks, 6 Days, 19 hours and 45 minutes of my life. My Quit Date: 11/4/2007 9:12 AM

[BarbDe]

Wow.
16,941 cigs I haven't smoked.
That makes me want to throw up thinking about that many cigarettes!!

I don't have the $2117 either, but, oh well!

[lindaokc]

Ya know, I kept wondering where all that money went when I was keeping tabs on it too. Still haven't found it

[TurnNBurn]

Thank you lindaokc for starting a new thread! I got distracted with my DD and her BF so came back here and I was glad to see you started the 09 thread.

I haven't quit yet; I am reading "The Easy Way to Quit Smoking," by Allen Carr, which was highly recommended on the 08 quit smoking thread. So I haven't set the quit date yet.

I will do this, don't know what I'm waiting for. Just need something to "click."

[TurnNBurn]

I put down the cigs at 11:36 last night (New Year's Eve)

I hope this quit sticks!

I'm hoping some others join us here.

[auntiesocial]

Marking my spot.

[lindaokc]

Congratulations, TurnNBurn!!! What are you doing to assist you? Any scripts or gum or ?
The longer you go without a cigarette, the weaker the nicodemon gets.
There is also another website that gives support to nonsmokers, it's devoted to that. If you will pm me, I will give it to you. Got a friendly reminder yesterday not to be posting webites on here Another thread.

Good to see you again, antiesocial

[auntiesocial]

Thanks, Linda... I've been around, just busy for the holidays.
Still smoke-free, though... this really hasn't been nearly as hard as I'd thought it would be.

[lindaokc]

Originally Posted by auntiesocial

Thanks, Linda... I've been around, just busy for the holidays.
Still smoke-free, though... this really hasn't been nearly as hard as I'd thought it would be.

ATTA GIRL !!
It'll be good to have you here to help others.

[TurnNBurn]

Originally Posted by lindaokc

Congratulations, TurnNBurn!!! What are you doing to assist you? Any scripts or gum or ?
The longer you go without a cigarette, the weaker the nicodemon gets.
There is also another website that gives support to nonsmokers, it's devoted to that. If you will pm me, I will give it to you. Got a friendly reminder yesterday not to be posting webites on here Another thread.

Good to see you again, antiesocial

Linda, I sent you a PM.

I am not taking any meds, gum or lozenges. I picked up some sf hard candies yesterday, though. I have determined that since I quit for a whole year before (back in 2000 !! ) without meds I can probably do it again this time.

This time it will *stick*

[SugarPop]

Day One for me.........

I'll post here what I posted in the other thread:

Today is Day One for me too......I'm wearing the patch, but I don't think it's making a difference - maybe.

It's a hard thing and you should be very proud that you know your limitations and are quitting again.

I did the same thing as you 3x.........Once I quit for 4 years and then I had every stress imaginable in my life happening at the time and impulsively I grabbed a cigarette from my husband's (now ex) pack on the counter.......It took me years to try again and then when I did I got to almost a year and had had a few drinks at a social event, like you did, and thought I could handle it but I only wanted more.............I quit again and started dating a guy who smoked cigars and we would drink wine together - before too long I would ask for a drag of his cigar while we drank our wine.......soon I was smoking my own cigars!!!!...then just switched to cigarettes.

The thing is that years can go by before you quit again - like it did with me. So bravo to you for nipping it in the bud before years go by.

I have constant pain in my chest, I cough when I wake up and on a recent date the guy kissed me and asked if I had smoked a cigarette earlier (I had a few hrs before).........All this and more are my reasons for quitting again. For a long time I thought it would help me not to eat.....but in reality I was a fat smoker. So here I am - I'm with you and we can do this.


B

[lindaokc]

Good for you, SugarPop. You will not regret it. One of the reasons it takes so long after going back to smoking before we can quit again is fear. We remembered how we suffered and don't want to go through it again. The problem is, we are suffering more by staying w/ the cigarettes, just a different way. You can do this!! We will help you, girl. Day one is about to bite the dust!!

[TurnNBurn]

Sugarpop, you have made the best decision in your life for your health.
We can do this together!

[mmmhmm]

Alright - I am quitting smoking, too, for 2009!! I used to smoke half a pack a day about 8 months or so ago, and I have been cutting back to,, now? Really only smoking when I drink, and an occasional one during the week. I want to put them down for EVER!! I don't want to make excuses for anything - not even a holiday, a wedding, any social outing, nor during the weekdays. So, I am glad I found this page. Maybe it will give me the support I need. I need to find SOMEthing that works...

[TurnNBurn]

Originally Posted by mmmhmm

Alright - I am quitting smoking, too, for 2009!! I used to smoke half a pack a day about 8 months or so ago, and I have been cutting back to,, now? Really only smoking when I drink, and an occasional one during the week. I want to put them down for EVER!! I don't want to make excuses for anything - not even a holiday, a wedding, any social outing, nor during the weekdays. So, I am glad I found this page. Maybe it will give me the support I need. I need to find SOMEthing that works...

Welcome!
Its great you are dumping those evil, nasty cancer stix for now and forever!
We can do this together!

[TurnNBurn]

I lifted this from the 08 Stop Smoking thread : thanks PrettyPaula!

QUIT TIMELINE

After 20 minutes blood pressure and pulse return to normal
After 8 hours nicotine and carbon monoxide levels in the blood halve, oxygen levels return to normal
After 24 hours carbon monoxide eliminated from the body, lungs start to clear out mucus and other debris
After 48 hours there is NO nicotine in the body (provided no replacement therapy is used) smell and taste begin to improve
After 72 hours bronchial tubes relax, energy levels increase
After 2-12 weeks circulation improves
After 3-9 months coughing, wheezing breathing problems improve as lung capacity increased by 10%
After 5 years, risk of heart attack falls to half that of a smoker
After 10 years, risk of lung cancer falls to half that of a smoker, and risk of heart attack is the same as someone who NEVER smoked


Very convincing timeline, don't you think?

[SugarPop]

Originally Posted by lindaokc

Good for you, SugarPop. You will not regret it. One of the reasons it takes so long after going back to smoking before we can quit again is fear. We remembered how we suffered and don't want to go through it again. The problem is, we are suffering more by staying w/ the cigarettes, just a different way. You can do this!! We will help you, girl. Day one is about to bite the dust!!

Thanks, lindaokc.........Going strong - Day 3. At this point I feel as if I'm truly just running on willpower........Sometimes I think the patches work and sometimes I just wanna rip it off and head to the nearest 7Eleven. Trying to keep busy helps.

Thanks for the cheers.

B

[SugarPop]

Originally Posted by TurnNBurn

Sugarpop, you have made the best decision in your life for your health.
We can do this together!

Thanks, TurnNBurn....Still hanging in there!

B

[SweetPoison2]

Originally Posted by SugarPop

I have constant pain in my chest, I cough when I wake up and on a recent date the guy kissed me and asked if I had smoked a cigarette earlier (I had a few hrs before).........All this and more are my reasons for quitting again. For a long time I thought it would help me not to eat.....but in reality I was a fat smoker. So here I am - I'm with you and we can do this.


B

You can do it, Woman! I will be here to kick you in the butt...along with a few hugs! I quit smoking July 4th of last year and will never ever look back!

I quit for 16 years while my kids were growing up ~ they will smoke if you do ~ they don't..... then my life fell apart three years ago and I started again!

I am finally done ~ in fact ~ I just quit the Wellbutrin I have been on from day one ~ I don't want to be on it anymore...but it worked!!


GOOD LUCK!! To everyone!

[DEEDLYNN]

I started taking Chantix on New Years Day, with the expectation of been done with these cigarettes by 1/7/2009. I quit once before for 10 years and have no idea why I picked these things back up.

Good Luck everyone!

Dee

[lindaokc]

Originally Posted by SugarPop

Thanks, lindaokc.........Going strong - Day 3. At this point I feel as if I'm truly just running on willpower........Sometimes I think the patches work and sometimes I just wanna rip it off and head to the nearest 7Eleven. Trying to keep busy helps.

Thanks for the cheers.

B

I so identify w/ the wanting to run to 7-11, lol. Been there, for sure. Just trust that it does get better, sometimes not as quickly as we'd want, (like YESTERDAY) but it does get better. And one day (soon) you will notice you went the whole day/week-end/week without even thinking of a cigarette. All ya gotta do is get through today. Truly. That's all ya gotta do.

[lindaokc]

Originally Posted by DEEDLYNN

I started taking Chantix on New Years Day, with the expectation of been done with these cigarettes by 1/7/2009. I quit once before for 10 years and have no idea why I picked these things back up.

Good Luck everyone!

Dee

Wooooo Hoooooo!! You go girl
One thing you might want to consider this time is that the addiction will always try to get you to pick it back up...it's that way for all addictions, but since you've done it before, you know you can do it again.

[SugarPop]

I'm having a really hard time tonight.......My son came over for dinner and I was happy and got me and the place all ready. He ate the LC meal and liked it, then wanted snacks - I have stuff for when my kids come over and normally I'm okay with that - but over the last 2 nights I've binged on sf chocolate candy instead of smoking - and after he left I finished off the candy and while I picked up I ate his stuff too (peanut butter pretzel nuggets) I feel like 'why do I have to either smoke like a chimney to not eat OR eat so I won't smoke.' Honestly, I know that if the cigarettes were here I wouldn't have eaten and that pisses me off about myself.

I still have the patch on, but I feel like it's useless. I think nighttime is the worst.

B

[SweetPoison2]

Originally Posted by SugarPop

I think nighttime is the worst.

B

Then stay busier at that time. Don't be home. Go for a walk, or work out ~ SHOP? Don't stay home and trip about it ~

You can do this. If I can. YOU Can!!

[lindaokc]

Yes, nighttime can be the worst for some. I'm sorry I wasn't here last night when you were so down. I know the cravings can get really bad, and that's when you need to switch your brain to something else. A hot bath, a good book, coloring your hair, cleaning a closet. Sweetpoisen is right. Do something.
As far as eating goes, that's the way I felt when I quit. I had to decide that the smoking was the most important and I did gain weight. All you can do is the best you can do and then give yourself some credit. You are doing great!! I know it doesn't feel like it but you are. Hang in there, girl.

How long has it been since your last cigarette? See, the time is growing and the longer the time is, the less the craving will be.

Look back at that timeline that TurnNBurn copied.

Hang in there, sweetpea.

[micki]

339 days smoke free for me. I am 99.9% certain I will never smoke again. Never say never, right?

[lindaokc]

Hey, that's great! Congratulations to you Good looking number you have there

[SugarPop]

Still hanging in there- not happy about it though. I cried last night while driving in my car - I always smoke in my car (felt like my friend was missing/the only one who understands me)

I've gained weight and it's taken months to lose it.....

But, even though my chest still hurts and I'm coughing (I had bronchitis all of November and still am recovering because I smoked the whole time) I feel like maybe soon I'll be cleared up and that's what I really need.

I kept busy all day.........cleaned everything in my place except for washing my floor and vacuuming my walls. Other than that- its' done. I've started to clean out my car today, by returning things and bringing things to thrift shop (unfortunately I picked up more things - but they're cute so it's all good)

Talked w/ a friend that told me she quit smoking and gained over 100 pounds in 3 years........that so scares me.

Watching Diettribe on Lifetime channel for motivation. Have my jammies on so I can't go to 7-Eleven. Bed soon......took a sleeping pill so I can escape addiction challenges..........don't feel strong enough today. I'm not doing LC the way I need to and it's showing. Also I MIGHT be gearing up for my period, feels like it. I thought I was DONE with that forever, but I guess not........I'll be 54 in 3 weeks.

B

[lindaokc]

Sugarpop, just believe that it does get better. It's ok to cry, and it's normal to be emotional right now. You are doing fantastic and relief is not that far away. You do need to realize your friend has turned on you and betrayed you, so you're better off without them. Sometimes deep breathing would help me, it mirrored the inhaling and exhaling of the smoking. Breathe deep, then exhale. I always thought it was the cigarette that relaxed me, but it wasn't. It was the deep breathing. It does get better. The craving will go away whether you smoke or not. That is a fact.
Hang tight, girlfriend