After 25 years I have quit smoking!

[Opusnone]

I'm now on hour 75. No sneaking puffs, either. Chewing nicotine gum every 3 hours (very disgusting).
I went cold turkey on Sunday morning while sitting in the ER waiting for stitches to be removed from my leg.
My wife, god bless her, is quitting also, though she is allowing herself 2 cigs a day until she can taper off completely.

Please send out some good DU vibes for us, and don't piss me off or get in my way! I'm a bit testy.

[Le Taz Hot]

1. Sending good vibes your way

from one who quit after 35 years. I, however, had to use the patch, but it still worked! Good luck and goddess forbid, if it doesn't work just keep trying. I probably tried 20 times, maybe more, but it finally worked.

[nxylas]

2. Good for you

Don't forget to donate any money you save to the Dem campaign for the midterms.

[Totally Committed]

3. That is an outstanding achievement!

I will keep a good thought for your continued success!!! --- Definitely good DU vibes coming your way.

You should both be very proud of your efforts!

TC

[The_Warmth]

4. good luck!!!

I find that origami or meditation (more the steps to still your thoughts) are great ways of working through a craving, and great hobbies anyhow. congrats!

[Opusnone]

6. Straws and toothpicks

With plenty of Cinnamon Tic Tacs and Extra gum.

[Warpy]

5. Good vibes aplenty

We need you and your wife strong and healthy to fight the right.

They make nicotine gum nasty for a reason. They want you to be disgusted by the taste so you'll taper it off.

Every three hours is good. The nicotine fix only lasts for half an hour or so, although it takes 72 hours for it to leave your body completely. If you're able to go three hours, that's already fantastic.

Here's a site to tell you what's happening to you as you quit: http://healthbolt.net/2006/07/19/what-happens-to-your-body-if-you-stop-smoking-right-now/

[rep the dems]

7. Congratulations!

I'm not a smoker myself, but it's a good thing to quit. I hope your wife succeeds too! :applause:

[ThomCat]

8. Good for you! Hang in there!

:toast:

[Nye Bevan]

9. Congrats-- the benefits begin after 20 minutes....

20 mins: Blood pressure and pulse rate decrease

8 hours: Carbon monoxide and oxygen levels in blood return to normal

1 day: The likelihood of a heart attack decreases

2 days: Nerve endings regenerate; sense of smell and taste are enhanced

2 weeks: Circulation improves and lung function increases

1-9 months: Coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue and shortness of breath decrease

1 year: The likelihood of heart attack is cut in half

5 years: Stroke risk is reduced to the same levels as a non-smoker

10 years: Risk of dying from lung cancer is about half that of a current smoker

15 years: Risk of coronary heart disease and death become roughly equivalent to those who have never smoked

[JitterbugPerfume]

10. welcome to the ex smoker club!

take a deep breath, and at long last really taste your food!!

[Opusnone]

15. I have a feeling I'm going to start disliking fast food

because it really does taste terrible.

I love your screen name BTW, one of my favorite Robbins' books, probably worth a re read

[bluethruandthru]

11. Here's a tip...

I don't know if you're a coffee drinker...but I am. I couldn't chew the gum or have mints, etc. with coffee..yuck! But, I found that coffee nips candy really worked well. I got the sugar free kind and they taste good with coffee. Keeps my mouth busy!

Good luck...you can do it!

Nicotine patches worked well for me...with the occassional gum booster.

[underpants]

46. Orbit gum

I HIGHLY recommend the citrusmint and lemonlime mixture (one of each).

[caledesi]

12. Try Commit lozenges. Good and they last longer. nt

10 years for me. Smoke-Free. Tried to quit at least 10x. Just couldn't. Gotta keept trying., even if you slip.

Congrats!

[durrrty libby]

30. I agree. Commit lozenges are miracle workers, even after

you have quit for a while. Keep a few around

in case you get a big crave.

Congrats to you and your wife. You will be happier people


:loveya: :applause: :applause: :applause: :yourock:

[Bluebear]

37. Commit did it for me...then I had to get over the lozenges!

Which is another story, but bottom line, they helped me quit smoking!

[helderheid]

13. Welcome to the club! It will be 7 years for me in December!

[poverlay]

14. 3 weeks yesterday. Hang in there. It's not worth it. Never again is

my motto. If I die of something, I don't want it to be the stupidity of not trying...

[Opusnone]

20. 3 weeks is great!

Keep it up. There are so many reasons to NOT smoke, and no reasons TO smoke.

[poverlay]

27. Thanks, I've impressed myself with my own willpower. The hold those thing...

have had on me for the last 17 yrs was horrible. I'm simply tired of the many consequences. I pity everyone still on them. It truly is not their fault. Now, if they would just make some healthy ones... :smoke:

[Opusnone]

31. Can you imagine?

It would be the most successful product ever if science could figure out how to deliver vitamins, antioxidants, fiber, oxygen and amino acids in smokable form.
I'm told American Spirit's are not as unhealthy as major brands. Any idea?

[healthpellets]

49. They are slightly less unhealthy

I smoked American Spirits for the month before I quit. They have less additives and addictive chemicals, thereby slowing breaking your reliance on nicotine. But I've yet to find a "healthy" cigarette.

[gatorboy]

16. Congrats! I quit over a month ago

and haven't looked back. I'm actually surprised by how easy it was.

Good nicotine-free vibes heading you way! :hi:

[Skip Intro]

17. I'm chewing nicotine gum right now -

I quit smoking cigs over 5 yrs ago, and earlier this year picked up a cigar at a poker game. A few months later, I found myself smoking those little cigars, swisher sweets tip cigarillos (no filter) like 5 a day. So this week, I decided to kick those, bought the gum, and...well, I won't smoke during work or in my car, but I'm still sitting the gum down and treating myself to one or two after work each night. Hoping the taper-down thing works this time...

Anyway, congrats - you've made it past three days, and that's a big milestone. The cravings get less and less here on out. Good for you! Hope to re-join the nonsmokers club soon...

[bleedingheart]

18. Good Luck! and Hopefully it will last for 75 years!

[AZBlue]

19. CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

[Ezlivin]

21. You'll regret it

But that's the nature of quitting an addictive habit.

My mom finally quit smoking after 50+ years. My sister and I had encouraged her to quit for years. Finally she did. Although it was hard, she always says she's awfully glad she stuck it out. Her health picked up after that and she just turned 70 this year.

You'll not regret it when it's all said and done.

Keep strong!

[ronnykmarshall]

22. Good luck!!

Now if I can get my other half to quit ... we could affored a new car! :silly:

[Kceres]

23. Good for you!

I've been off for 15 years now. I promise it gets easier and easier. I kept Red Hots in my car and by the telephone for a fews weeks after I quit and it really helped; don't know why. Be strong. :yourock:

[Pacifist Patriot]

24. Fantastic!

I'm so proud of you. Let us know if and when you need any support. Best wishes!

[BootinUp]

25. Way to go. All it takes is the will

to do it.

[aquart]

26. I hear vitamin C helps with the cravings.

It's going to be a gross, annoying couple of weeks. Stay away from sharp objects, guns, power tools, and Republicans.

[d_b]

28. I quit a few weeks ago too!

Try the mint flavor kind,- it's not that bad.

[tandot]

29. Great decision!!! Sending you positive thoughts and vibes.

I quit 12 years ago and have never felt better. It will be though but you can do it.

:applause:

[Pawel K]

32. Congratulations, some advice

don't drink for a while. Alcohol has a really bad tendency to make you crave cigarettes.

Because how easy these things are to get quiting smoking is the hardest thing you can do, hang in the and congratulations.

[mom cat]

33. Boy do I remember the testy phase! The only thing that helped for

a while was killing Houston cockroaches, and even that satisfaction was shortlived.
Congradulations! You have made it through the worst part. I too quit cold turkey, and that was 26 years ago. Best wishes. Just keep quitting. You can do it!:bounce:

[Roon]

56. I didn't really get testy at people when I quit

I got pissed off at myself for being addicted to the damn things, but I was nice to everyone else.

[DoBotherMe]

34. Sometimes I'd chew 2 or 3 pieces at a

time when the cravings got bad--made me dizzy and felt like I wanted to puke...but I got through the withdrawal that way. I quit the first time for seven years, thought I could smoke just one, and smoked away another 10 years. It's been two years this time (and I still chew the gum occasionally). You CAN do it! D ; )

[Subdivisions]

35. I have been there and done that. I wish you the best and my

best advice would be to stick with it at all costs. DO NOT GIVE IN!!!

Best of luck to you.

[wicket]

36. Good luck Opus, you can do it!!!

:yourock:

[neilepi]

38. Keep it up

You owe it to yourself and others around you. FWIW I gave up about 7 yrs ago after about 30 years, I also used the gum and used it for much longer (well over a year) more than I should but didn't have any qualms because it's far less harmful than smoking. Don't "chew" the gum, that's what makes it taste bad, just keep it stll against the inside of your mouth.

Don't expect the urge to smoke or take in nicotine to go away anytime soon, I still have odd twinges 6-7 years on though I will not give in to them.

Check out the new and unique 2007 Anti-Bush Graffiti Calendar

[Stardust]

39. Take a DEEP breath when the urge attacks (and pray) --Those two things

got me through it. I know what you're going through, it's hell, but HANG IN THERE. You'll NEVER regret quitting.

[Vinca]

40. Good for you. Once you're off them, never look back.

The day will come when you'll wonder how you could ever have smoked. Honest.

[healthpellets]

41. Congrats!!!! I'm on week 3, and it's easier every day!

I wish you all the luck in the world! Such a nasty, tough habit to quit. but you can do it, you really really can! I'm using the gum (mint) and while expensive, it will be much cheaper than smoking for the rest of my life.

So you have my best wishes!

[wildhorses]

42. Hang in there!! It gets easier, I promise.

:applause:

[Broken_Hero]

43. Good for you...:)

I went damn near 11 weeks, before falling off the wagon this past saturday night, but have been back on the wagon since...2 smokes, in over 11 weeks isn't bad...:) I hope you can keep it up, its rough...:)

[schmuls]

44. Fantastic! I really admire you and your wife. One step at a time.

[underpants]

45. Good for you. You are through the worst part of it

the first three days are by far the hardest.

Once you get to 10 days you will pretty much have it done.

Seriously. Just keep telling yourself not to "Give up those days" and start all over.

You really just have to tell yourself that you ARE quitting not for 6 months or until the 4th of July or whatever you are quitting forEVER.

Trust me in a month or so you will shake your head and laugh that you used to actually do that. No more cigarette check as you leave for work or from work or going out no more having to figure out where you will smoke (if going to an event) or where you will get more (I never was a carton buyer )

I have quit for 15 months after 22 years or so of smoking.

Trust me the "I can't imagine NOT smoking" will soon be replaced by "I used to DO THAT?!?!?"

Good luck. The answer is always NO.

[Opusnone]

48. Good for you

Thanks for the kind words and advice.

[BarenakedLady]

47. Congratulations!

That is wonderful news.

:yourock:

[bigwillq]

50. Good for you!

Best of luck!

:hi: :hug:

[u4ic]

51. Excellent!!

Keep up the good work!!! :toast:

[NewWaveChick1981]

52. Congratulations! Keep up the good work.

:applause: :woohoo: My sister is an ex-smoker, and she went cold turkey. The first few weeks were awful for her, but she made it through and so can you. :D It's worth the trouble!

[LaraMN]

53. Way to go!

That's a big thing to celebrate! Keep it up- it only gets easier!

[sarge43]

54. Hang in there, Opusnone.

:applause:

[Tikki]

55. If this will help....

my son and I quit two years ago, this January. It does help to have a
quitting partner. I know it was harder for him because he does come
into contact, in the everyday world, with 'still smoking' folks.

But, he comes home, every evening, after work to a smoke free environment and his
4 year old son will never remember that daddy or grandma ever smoked. And that's
worth it all.



Tikki

[Haole Girl]

57. Sending you both good vibes....

[Roon]

58. 101 Things to Do Instead of Smoking

This list helped me.
http://quitsmoking.about.com/od/cravingsandurges/a/101thingstodo.htm

[roody]

59. Hooray for you!! Freedom!!

Breathe!

[mykpart]

60. Sending you good vibrations and hope.

I quit after 38 years of smoking. Five years last August. You can get the Nicotine gum in mint flavor. :yourock:

[jonnyblitz]

61. i am on year 7 of cold turkey quitting. I loved my marlboros.

it can be done. people figured i would be the last one to quit, too. I got tired of spending the money more than the health aspect of it.

[gr8dane_daddy]

62. Good luck...

My last cigarette was in 01/02. Your sense of taste and smell become more acute. You'll know when a smoker has used the elevator before you get on...

good luck

[harlinchi]

63. Congrats! You give me hope for myself.

My kids are on me like white on rice to quit. I know I need to. I love hearing about successful eforts. May you keep it up!

[kwassa]

64. Good for you! Quitting is the best thing I have ever done for myself.

and I quit 22 years ago now.