If I can do it, so can you! Quit Now!

[MotherOfGizmo]

I just wanted to encourage anyone who is trying to stop smoking. I started smoking at the ripe old age of 13 and smoked up until June 23rd of 2007 which equates to 33 years! I thought I could never do, it but I did.

I was tired of having coughing fits in public and having people look at me like I had the plague.

I was tired of getting up in the morning and having coughing attacks so bad that I would get physically ill.

I was tired of having to find a place to go to have a cigarette since they are making every place no smoking anymore.

I was tired of being embarassed when I had to get in the elevator after going downstairs for a smoke, and some nonsmoker in the elevator giving me dirty looks because I smelled like an ash tray.

I have been smoke free for 7 1/2 months and I still have a hard time believing I did it, but I did!

Quitting smoking is just like loosing weight, you deal with it one day at a time.

If I did it, so can you! You will thank yourself for quitting, every single day!

[ValidRouge]

Re: If I can do it, so can you! Quit Now!

Congrats, Mog! I, too, am so glad I quit. Once I made up my mind to do it, I just did. Really, though, I used some of the same thinking and determination that I used to get through induction and Atkins in general.

It's one of the three best things I've done for myself.
Atkins
Quitting Smoking
Running

[MotherOfGizmo]

Re: If I can do it, so can you! Quit Now!

Thanks Joy. I'll never be a runner, but I'm working on the excercise thing, now that I can breath just a little better.

[sadie147]

Re: If I can do it, so can you! Quit Now!

Congratulations MOG (and Joy too!) 7.5 months is awesome, and it does get easier, especially the better you start to feel.....

8 years for me on March 18th (that's flown by). It was a friends massive heart attack at 45 that made me quit.

It's very hard but it's really worth it... I'm amazed at how smokers smell to me now..I had no idea that i smelled like that. I always wondered how my non smoking husband could stand kissing me!

And for anyone that uses the excuse that they don't want to quit smoking for fear they'll gain weight..i actually lost 12 lbs when i quit...it can be done!

[MotherOfGizmo]

Re: If I can do it, so can you! Quit Now!

Wow, your husband was a non smoker, that is amazing. John is still smoking although he's cut way back and is trying. But I swear I feel the same way, I never noticed how strong the smell is. He goes outside and is only out there for a few puffs, he smells like an ash tray when he comes back inside! I notice it a lot when I'm out doing my shopping, if someone is walking ahead of me even 20 feet, I can smell it if they're a smoker! I never knew, its been very enlightening!

[MotherOfGizmo]

Re: If I can do it, so can you! Quit Now!

Oh, and the best part for me is that my hair doesn't stink anymore..being thick like it is, it really used to hold the smell. If we go out to a bar sometimes I'll roll over at night and the smell from my hair will wake me up! Amazing.

[JEC48]

Re: If I can do it, so can you! Quit Now!

Hey MOG,

I'm going to be making my first attempt in over 20 years to quit. I have a doctor's appointment next Wednesday. I want to try Chantix, but it is so expensive and insurance doesn't cover it. I'm either going the Chantix route or Welbutrin. I'm really kind of scared about the whole thing. They compare quitting cigarettes to quitting heroin. Did you use any kind of stop smoking aid? Did you gain weight when you quit? I live with my sister and we're doing this together. I, of course, have known for years that I need to quit. It is a stupid habit, but I'll still feel like I'm loosing a good friend . . . know what I mean?

[MotherOfGizmo]

Re: If I can do it, so can you! Quit Now!

JEC, go with the Chantix! That's how I did it, i don't think I could have done it without it. BUT you have to want to quit. John took Chantix with me but he never really made up his mind that he could do it, so he's still smoking, unfortunatley.

I think sometimes that Heroin analogy is a bit of an exagerration, I've watched someone kick heroin...trust me its way, way worse than how I felt trying not to smoke!

I do still want a cigarette, but the cravings pass pretty quickly if I just busy myself with something to take my mind off of it. I only took the Chantix for 3 months and I was lucky that my health insurance covered it so it only cost me 35 bucks a month. At any rate, even full price it would have been cheaper than the cost of the cigarettes I smoked in a month!

Good luck. I really think that if you believe you can do it, you will! I know 3 other women about my age that used Chantix and quit, they were my inspiration because I knew if they could do it, so could I!

[MotherOfGizmo]

Re: If I can do it, so can you! Quit Now!

Oh, and yes I know what you mean about losing a good friend. I've replaced mine with hot tea...I know that's weird but it gives me a little satisfaction at times like after a meal.

[JEC48]

Re: If I can do it, so can you! Quit Now!

And Moggie,

I remember that you liked to inbibe upon occasion in your bourbon or beer. Did you find that you had to quit drinking also due to the fact that you'd want a cigarette?

[sadie147]

Re: If I can do it, so can you! Quit Now!

Hey JEC, I took Wellbutrin to quit, but I had terrible side effects from it, dry mouth (like having a mouth full of cotton..no amount of water would help) but the worst was insomnia. I was going on about 2 hours sleep a night....though it did put me in a really good mood, so I was tired, but happy (it definatelyhelps the mood)! LOL. I ended up only taking it for 1 month out of the 3 i was supposed too.


Like Karen, even after 8 years, I do still get the cravings for a cigarrette but the longer the time has gone on..the less and less i've got them, and the easier they are to ignore.

As far as drinking, I did find it hard, but never stopped....What has made it easier for me is my house is non smoking, so when people are drinking here they smoke outside...so other than being at a smokers home, it was actually quite easy to do since the smell of the smoke is not around and they're not in front of me. i find that almost all of my friends, even the smokers, have non smoking homes now..and all the bars/restaurants are too.

Trust me...you can do this! I had never even tried to quit and did it on my first try! the biggest thing is not to make excuses (just like losing weight..this will only sabotage your efforts).

[JEC48]

Re: If I can do it, so can you! Quit Now!

Hey Jen,

I know it's crazy to be rather fearful but I am. You mentioned about Welbutrin causing insomnia, the same thing is said about Chantix. I believe being successful with quitting smoking begins in the mind and I'm getting my mind in the right place. I guess I feel like I need the medicine to make me believe that something is assisting me. I sure hope I can do this. It will be so nice to be an EX-smoker!

[MotherOfGizmo]

Re: If I can do it, so can you! Quit Now!

Nope, I didn't give up my drinking either, I told John that giving up one vice was enough, if I have to give up all my pleasures i might as well go ahead and die.

I was afraid too JEC, but I finally made up my mind. The biggest thing with the Chantix is that you have to follow the instructions. You pick a quit date, start taking the chantix once a day for 7 days on the 8th day you quit, and you take the Chantix twice a day from then on out. You still have to make up your mind to do it though, but the Chantix really does help eliminate the cravings. Even during the week that you smoke while taking it, you'll notice that you don't get the same satisfaction from a smoke like you used to, you'll think you want one, light it and then not even feel like finishing it. At least that's what happened for me.

The only side effects I/John had from Chantix was an upset stomach if you take it without something to eat, even something very small to eat will prevent that though. And it gives you the most funky bizarre dreams of your life! We called it sleep tripping. I know this may sound werid, but I actually enjoyed the dreams because normally I'm not a very good sleeper at all. I got really good deep REM sleep on Chantix.

[JEC48]

Re: If I can do it, so can you! Quit Now!

Karen and Jen, thanks for the feedback. Doctor appointment in the morning. Have I mentioned that I hate the doctor! I probably border on having a phobia. I haven't been in 6 years! One thing that may be interesting is that I started low carbing 4 years ago. I'll be a little curious to see what my cholesterol is. High cholesterol runs in my family . . . even for my skinny sister. I do not want to have to be on any medication every day. Regarding the stop smoking - my plan as of now is to start the medicine next Monday. Hey Moggie, you're getting me a little excited about the dreams. Since my life is pretty uneventful during the day, maybe I can have a little excitement in my dreams! Bring em' on!

[SunnyB2]

Re: If I can do it, so can you! Quit Now!

I quit smoking back in 1992 or 1993. Somewhere around there. Haven't touched a cig since, though I still dream that I am smoking!

I recently had a lung function test, and am very happy to report that my lungs are in excellent shape! Apparently no lasting damage.