I know many have tried, some suceed and some don't.

Well, I took the plunge. It's only been two months but hopefully the worse is over. I haven't even told my kids and they haven't even noticed that mom hasn't stepped outside for a smoke, or so it seems. I have only mentioned it to my boss only after going to lunch with her when she assumed I'd be in the office after a quick smoke. Anyway, I am not saying anything because "if" I had a cigaret and mess up, I'd feel like an idiot. So I figure I'll be an idiot here on the BB should I go "off the wagon."

Why now? Two reasons really. I wasn't feeling very healthy. I didn't like not being able to catch my breath. But, the main reason for me was this. I have a cousin (the daughter of my great aunt who recently died from a fall)who was/is a very heavy smoker. Well, it started out a couple years ago where she had to be on oxygen for several hours a day; now it's 24/7 and she has been diagnosed with lung cancer and given a year to live.
What's worse, my sister tells me that many people have the attitude that she brought it on herself and imply that she deserves it. Granted, we take the risk, but man, to say someone deserves it is pretty low.

I have heard many stories like this. Why now, I don't know. This scared me into quitting and I do want to stay with it. This is the most serious attempt I've ever made to quit. I have I think an unusual system I used, which I'll go into later if anyone is interested. All I can say is it worked for me (hopefully)

TIS

A big, big, big congrats and well wishes to you TIS.

Congratulations TIS i am truly pleased for you i have smoked since i was 12 years old (i know very bad but i liked a girl that was older than me and she smoked so you can see where im going with this) and i am nearly 23 i have tried so many times to stop and it goes ok until i go to the pub and as soon as i have one pint then i automatically buy a pack of cigs and smoke to my hearts content i am just facing the fact now that i cant ever see myself stopping plus i do really enjoy smoking when i have a pint,anyway well done and keep up the good work! and yes i would like to know what system you use

A HUGE test for me (as any smoker can tell you) was last month when I went to Vegas. Can you even imagine gambling, drinking (although I admit, I really didn't drink that much) without a cig????? I can't believe I did it.


TIS

Wow gambling an drinking at the same time i would a have lit a cig as soon as i got there ! impresive for you though

Good for you, TIS. I hope you can do it and it sounds like Vegas was a test you passed with flying colors.

My mom was forced to stop 2 years ago when she was diagnosed with cancer (not lung). It has greatly improved her health, breathing, and well-being. Plus it's nice to take our kids to grandma's house and not have it stink like an ashtray.

A hearty congratulations to you, TIS. I'm so very proud of you. It's a big thing for a smoker to quit, as for many smokers, it's an almost impossible feat. You should be very proud of yourself being smoke-free for 2 months!

Smoking seems to be an epidemic in my family. Nearly everyone in my family smokes (or used to smoke.) My grandmother died at the young age of 59 from lung cancer that metastasized to her brain, and it was from smoking. My grandfather quit the year I was born. My stepmom quit over a year ago.

My dad, unfortunately...doesn't seem to have the willpower, and he is an absolute slave to his addiction. He goes through 2 cartons a week. That's 400 cigarettes in 7 days. He smokes more out of habit and boredom than actual pleasure, now. It's a sad thing to see, because he's nearing that fateful age of my grandmother's death.

Again, TIS, congratulations. And hopefully you can be an inspiration to anyone else out there who wants to quit, and just doesn't know how!

Well done TIS
Fortuneately gambling and drinking are my only vices

Now you've inspired me!

Tell you what I'm going to do TIS. I'm going to join you. Let's stay in support of each other and set New Years Day 2008 as our goal date to stay smoke free! (and of course continue to from then on.)

But we'll make it interesting. Starting with and counting tomorrow there are 133 days left in the year. If we both preservere until New Years Day, than we each make a donation to a charity of our choice in the amount of $133.

If one of us stays the course and the other one doesn't then the one who doesn't has to make a $266 donation to the charity picked by the one who preservered.

So we'll make tomorrow the official starting date.



Waddya say me lady?

I've tried...ummm who knows,but i d o want to know TIS,is what is your method to quitting?

Let me know.

That's great, TIS! I'd love to hear your method.

I almost did it last weekend when I was with family in Annapolis. I don't smoke in front of them (in fact, they think I'm still quit from the last time years ago I think ) but I was chewing Nicorette like a horse. lol At the 36-hour point, though, once I got home, the biggest problem set in: normal routine. I then said I'd have one as a "reward", but we know how that goes...

Just take it one day at a time, and be VERY careful not to have "just one" -- cuz that "just one" didn't work for me, even the time I had gone a few months... Think of the benefits: not just health reasons, but also the fact that you can taste food better, you save a ton of money, your house and clothes don't stink, you're not standing out in the rain or snow like a jackass, etc...

DC - TIS has a 2-month head start on you, don't forget -- you'd have to pay more

Congrats TIS.. I'd like to hear your method as well.

congrats TIS

Good for you TIS!!!

I had my doctor prescribe me something to help me stop... he gave me a prescription for Chantix (some people swear by it). I developed severe headaches after taking it for a few days ("headaches" are listed as one its possible side-effects) so I told my doctor who had me discontinue it.

I'd like to stop but I dunno if I can do it right now (on my own).

Anyway, good luck to ya, TIS.

That's fine with me. I'll gladly give an extra two months ($60 )from my end. I just really want to stop. And I figure that TIS and I would encourage each other, and anyone else who wants to quit from here (cough**ahem**Geoff*ahem**SC**Cough) for that matter.

Why don't we try to get as many people that smoke on here to get in this thing that I've proposed? It's will be good for all of us health wise, financially, and the donations that we make would serve a good cause.

I would,but i know myself and i have a pathetic amount of will power.
I want to quit,but the flesh is weak.

Thinking like that, you're already defeated.

True.
I really would love to do it,but do we have to start tomorrow?

I have a friend who was the worst chain smoker in the world; anyways, he was on this pill for about two-months, and now he doesn't smoke. It's the most bizarre concept I've heard of in a while; a prescription medicine that allows you to stop smoking. What's even crazier to me is that it actually worked.

There was actually a time, about halfway through the treatment, in which he did decide to just go for a cigarette, but the minute he started smoking it, he told me that it "isn't the same" and then he said he didn't really want it, so he put it out after one or two drags.

Well, anyway, that's my story. Good for you, TIS.

I was scanning through really old threads and found this one. Stop Smoking Support Thread

C'mon TIS, give me a yes or no answer soon please! I had my last cigarette earlier this afternoon and right now am going out of my mind for one!

I need group supprt here!

Thanks for reminding me that I failed, Blib! lol

Group hug time! {{{{{{{{{{{{{{}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

Thanks everyone for your encouragement and replies. I smoke (smoked) about a pack a day. I get paid once a month and would buy three cartons (30 packs) of cigs for the month. The last cartons I purchased was May 30th. It was into June when I seemed to have a hard time ctaching my breath that I seriously considered quitting. Of course in CA this is a very smoggy time of year and that I'm sure was part of it. So roughly 2nd week or so in June is when I started to try.

Keep in mind that everyone is different, some people smoke way more and some way less and frame of mind and "readiness" play a huge part in a decision like this. I by no means will say I've quit and from what I hear it "can" be a lifelong craving. I'm not at an "I did it" place at all.

I started first, by cutting down the number of smokes in a day. Instead of smoking 4 cigs on my way to work (I have an hour drive), I made it 2 and same on the way back with 2 during lunch and 4 to 5 in the evening. You think I was goiing nuts on the drives? I had a certain landmark I'd pass that more or less gave me permission to light that first or second cigaret. I immediately noticed how difficult it would be. Yet, that cutting it in half right there, even if it sounds like more.

After about a week I would light up a cigaret and not inhale it. I know I know. Anyone who smokes knows it's the inhaling that is the refreshing part. That was the hardest part. It simply wasn't satisfying. For a couple days, I'd take one or two drags from the cigaret but that's it. Then I'd put it out. I guess I did that for about a week or maybe less. Finally I simply lit a cigaret and didn't smoke it. I know, again sounds weird. I'd let it burn down yet and it's tempting. Don't know if it's the surrounding smoke or what that I need as a crutch or not. In Vegas, I did that one time. I had a margarita in my hand was by myself at the time and I walked down the street lit a smoke and simply let it burn out. Never did take a drag.

It's been about two months now and it's probably been about 1 week since I let a cigaret burn out. However, on May 30th I purchased 3 cartons of Salem lites and I have a carton and a half (actually seven packs in the second carton) left. I know I'm making progess.

Sorry for being so lengthy. I'll call it good therapy just to write about it.

Thanks

TIS

DC,

I'll give it a shot. It really isn't fair though that I've got a 2 month jump on you. How about if I go through March. Would that even things out?

Another thing, what if (and I mean "if") one of us falls off and has one smoke or even two or if I say DC I couldn't resist and had two hits of a cigaret. How do we handle something like that. Is it an automatic loss? I won't complain mind you, but just checking the ground rules. You know how serious quitting is....and add a little cash to the equation and whoa!!!!

Good luck DC!!!

Giving to a charity is a good idea. I know logically the heart association and or cancer are great causes. "I always took a special interest in a cure for alzheimers. I think that's what I'd choose. But hey, got a long long way to go!!!!

Does holding an unlit cig in my hand count??? "The heat is on!"


TIS

We have to trust each other and be on the honor system. NO SLIP UPS! One drag of a lit cigarette and that's it! We fess up.

An unlit cig does not count against you.

We also have to be on the honor system that if either of us falls off the wagon, we'll send the money to the charity of the winner's choice. Or when we both make it to the target date, we'll trust each other to send the money to the respective charities of our own choice.

No need for you to go until March. New Years Day is fine for both of us.......


..... that's if we make it!

And I again applaud you for doing it for two months now. Way to go!


NOW LET'S DO IT!

DC

It's a deal. Don't worry, I let you know if I mess up. If I fall off the wagon, I'll kick my own ass on the BB for all to see. I'd be pissed!!!

Are you going cold turkey then???? No gradual cutdown??


TIS

COLD TURKEY!

I had my last cigarette earlier this afternoon and do not have anymore left.


AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

Good luck DC! You CAN do it!!!!


TIS

I'll give you a tongue lashing just for quitting. Is it a deal?