Smoke-Free For 3 Months!

[snapcat]

Next week, I'll be smoke-free for three months! I quit smoking back in February. It was probably the hardest thing I've done in my life. The nicotine withdrawal was both profound and insidious.

I used the nicotine patch; the gum was just plain awful. And I had to change a lot of habits that weren't easy to change. I think changing your everyday routine is about the hardest thing one could attempt to do.

I found that I didn't have any problem being smoke-free at work, but the drive to and from work was challenging. I always smoked while I drove. So, I found me some gum I liked a whole lot (Orbit Mojito) and got the truck cleaned completely. Not having the smoke smell in my truck, I wasn't tempted as badly.

The biggest hurdle was to sit here right here at the computer and not smoke. Sitting right here in this chair I would often chainsmoke while surfing online and JUBbing.

Fortuitously, I had some problems with my computer that kept me offline for a long while. That forced me to change my habit of sitting at the computer smoking. I brushed, flossed, and used mouth wash a whole lot. I think having the computer problems happen at that time probably made the difference in me conquering the cigarettes.

I still think about smoking, I just don't do it. The anxiety attacks and panic attacks have greatly subsided. The crazy dreams during the nicotine withdrawal have greatly subsided.

I still miss the smoking, but I've managed to not do it. I've often remarked that when I had my heart attack that only hurt for one day. Quitting smoking hurt for more than a month.

I keep my goals realistic. I know I'm human and could relapse at any time. But I also know that I have it in me to get right back on the smoke-free train should a relapse ever happen.

So, three months smoke-free means a lot to me, and I was wondering if anyone else quit smoking and wondered how they did.

 

[Brijan]

Congratulations!

You are doing a great job!
Changing habits surrounding smoking are key to quitting, and you've obviously identified and modified them as needed.

/hug

 

[jockboy01]

Congratulations Snaps!!! That's awesome!! It's a VERY hard habit to break. Keep up the good work and normally once somebody makes it a year, the urge to go back to it has diminished significantly.

 

[Simon123]

Good for you! Keep it up.

 

[Ramindra]

Keep it up! The benefiys are worth the few "moments" you will have. Some friends tell me that they have these "lightning bolts" - a sudden urge for a ciggy - and they have not smoked for years. Needless to say, they never give in to this urge which is but momentary.

 

[sunshinesteve]

Good on you mate!

 

[snapcat]

Thanks everyone! I never thought I'd be able to surf the internet and not smoke. But I'm doing it right now.

There was some weight-gain, which I'm told is normal. It seems like a cruel turn of events for weight-gain to be a common side-effect. But now at least I have a new goal for a new hobby! LOL!

 

[bhtupstateny]

Congrats to you snapcat! For me, it has been nearly five months now... 27 Nov. I tried the gum and the patch numerous times before and they did nothing for me. There is a new drug out called Chantrix that worked wonders for me. The success rate is very high with it. If any of you are considering quitting, check into it.

It is amazing how stuff smells now - I can tell when a smoker is around now, and I now get why non-smokers 90% to the time hated the smell (and taste of kissing a smoker)

So to you Snapcat, again I say KUDOS to you, and keep it up! ahem..... well, i meant the non smoking!

 

[shea]

Good for you Snapcat. Hang in there. myself
quit 2 years ago and never made a wiser
decision. The health benefits alone are worth
it. There are still times when I would like to
have one, especially when really stressed.
But it will never happen.
Stay with it and enjoy your new life.
Shea

 

[shyguywpg]

I am currently on my 9th smoke free day. I am using Zyban and nicotine gum.

I as well have an easy time at work not smoking. It seems my two greatest "triggers" are waking up in the morning (I always had a smoke right after I woke up, before the coffee or anything else), and leaving work......sigh.

But I have managed now for 9 whole days. It may not seem like an accomplishment to a lot of non smokers, but trust me, I am patting myself on the back right about now.

Cheers!!

 

[Scrub]

Congratulations snapcat. Hopefully one day I can say I am smoke free as well. I have tried in the past and know how difficult it is. Keep up the good work.

 

[snapcat]

Congrats to everyone else for staying smoke-free for so long!

You really do tell a difference in the way things smell. The cigarette smoke had permeated my home and you couldn't really smell flowers. Candles always seemed dull.

I'm really proud to hear about everyone else's accomplishments! Bravo to everyone!

 

[gobuckwildonme]

I'm on day three (with the patch), and while it's not as long as three or five months, I'm making a good start. During work is the hardest for me because out of the 8 other people I work with, 4 of them smoke, and the two I worked with today were two of those four. My manager asked me if I wanted to go on a smoke break today and I said "Nah, I'm wearing my breaks on my shoulder."

It itches so bad... and it feels like someone punched me in the shoulder really hard.

 

[dave_63]

Good for you snapcat. Keep it up.

I will also be 3 months near the end of may (26th)

Wishing all you guys who are trying to quit every success.

 

[jackoroe]

I'm very proud of your accomplishment, snaps. I used to smoke cigarettes when I was starting out in college. You could smoke in class back then and nobody cared. One day, I was sitting on the front porch of my folks house. I was getting done with a cigarette and flipped it into the Arbovitae bush. Of course it immediately burst into flames and damn near burned down the house. Dad was at the airport going to Europe and Mom was just getting out of the shower as the fire company arrived. Dad called in the middle of this and I was really glad that he was going to be gone for six weeks.

Anyway, no damage to the house and I figured it to be a good time to quit smoking cigarettes which I did. I do smoke cigars now, but it's a completely different process than cigarettes. I may burn one or two sticks a month. Usually with a nice glass of port. Not an everyday thing though.

Best of luck, snaps! Keep up the good work and just consider all the good your doing for yourself, healthwise. Not to mention all the money you're now saving!

 

[TopThruster]

You're on your way to a better you.

I support all of you who are quitting. Not trying, but quitting.