# 5 yrs 2 mos since my last smoke. Let's hear it for the boy! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 6, 2010, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-yrs-2-mos-since-my-last-smoke-lets-hear-it-for-the-boy/549447 "2010-08-06T19:55:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![LonesomePolecat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a88e57/32.png) [@LonesomePolecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonesomePolecat)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2010, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-yrs-2-mos-since-my-last-smoke-lets-hear-it-for-the-boy/549447/1 "2010-08-06T19:55:57Z")
I had my last cigarette in May of 2005. It took almost ten years of repeated atttempts. I now have no desire whatsoever to light up, and I actually find the smell of tobacco smoke offensive. How’s about you? Celebrate your victory! When was your last smoke, and how do you feel about tobacco nowadays? ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2010, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-yrs-2-mos-since-my-last-smoke-lets-hear-it-for-the-boy/549447/2 "2010-08-06T20:47:21Z")
My last smoke was in late April, 1965, the day I had a heart attack. I think it 12-15 years before my craving went away, now I can’t stand the odor. For about five years, I would imagine I had been diagnosed with some fatal disease and had six months to live. Oh joy, I could start smoking again, some silver lining. But I don’t have those feelings any more, not for 40 years. Anyway, congrats! ---
**Author:** ![Gedd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gedd/32/4938_2.png) [@Gedd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gedd)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2010, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-yrs-2-mos-since-my-last-smoke-lets-hear-it-for-the-boy/549447/3 "2010-08-06T20:57:58Z")
Actually I’ve never smoked, but I still wanted to stop in to say congrats! It is hard to overcome any kind of addiction, or even just a bad habit. When I hear about stories like these it makes me wonder just how much willpower must be involved. Wow. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2010, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-yrs-2-mos-since-my-last-smoke-lets-hear-it-for-the-boy/549447/4 "2010-08-06T20:59:30Z")
Go you! ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2010, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-yrs-2-mos-since-my-last-smoke-lets-hear-it-for-the-boy/549447/5 "2010-08-06T21:03:01Z")
Two years and 21 days for me. I am so incredibly glad that I quit smoking- life is so much easier and better without it. Now I want everyone to quit. Smoking should be a thing of the past, back when we didn’t know any better. ---
**Author:** ![Blalron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2010, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-yrs-2-mos-since-my-last-smoke-lets-hear-it-for-the-boy/549447/6 "2010-08-06T21:22:13Z")
> [@LonesomePolecat](#): > > I had my last cigarette in May of 2005. It took almost ten years of repeated atttempts. I now have no desire whatsoever to light up, and I actually find the smell of tobacco smoke offensive. > > How’s about you? Celebrate your victory! When was your last smoke, and how do you feel about tobacco nowadays? About a year ago. I now hate the smell of tobacco smoke, but I still find the smell of unburned tobacco to be pleasant. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2010, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-yrs-2-mos-since-my-last-smoke-lets-hear-it-for-the-boy/549447/7 "2010-08-06T21:39:11Z")
I quit when I was 22, after having started when I was 15. That was 1983. I don’t have a strongly negative reaction to tobacco smoke; although I’d really rather not be in a smoke-filled room I’ve let guests smoke in my room as long as they use an ash tray. The craving was gone before the physical withdrawal effects were done with me (damn good hypnotist); I can see people smoking and recall that once upon a time I smoked, but it’s like recalling that once upon a time I craved Kool-Aid and also once sucked my thumb. No desire to do either at this point, thank you. On the other hand, every rare once in awhile I wake up from a bad nightmare in which I’ve started smoking again, “borrowing” a cigarette here, taking a couple puffs off someone’ else’s there, and that I’m falling right back into it and of course won’t be able to quit again. Wake up terrified. Nicotine addiction was scary shit and I don’t ever, ever, want to have to cope with it again. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2010, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-yrs-2-mos-since-my-last-smoke-lets-hear-it-for-the-boy/549447/8 "2010-08-06T22:12:11Z")
I quit on these very boards about 8 years ago. I should dig that thread up. I’d been thinking about quitting and got into a discussion with others and I think it was Crunchy Frog and I that publicly said, “Yea, verily, we doth quit,” or something. I haven’t had a smoke since. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2010, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-yrs-2-mos-since-my-last-smoke-lets-hear-it-for-the-boy/549447/9 "2010-08-06T22:17:00Z")
I quit about 7 years ago. Occasionally when i’m drunk i try a drag or two, it’s always disgusting and the craving or desire is simply not there anymore. I believe at this point i could not force myself to start smoking again even if i wanted. ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2010, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-yrs-2-mos-since-my-last-smoke-lets-hear-it-for-the-boy/549447/10 "2010-08-06T22:27:22Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > I quit about 7 years ago. Occasionally when i’m drunk i try a drag or two, it’s always disgusting and the craving or desire is simply not there anymore. I believe at this point i could not force myself to start smoking again even if i wanted. I had one recently, and for the rest of the day felt violently nauseous. I must have really, really wanted to start smoking to have ever gotten over that. Now, I can’t even get through one. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2010, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-yrs-2-mos-since-my-last-smoke-lets-hear-it-for-the-boy/549447/11 "2010-08-06T22:28:44Z")
Earlier this summer I was at an outdoor concert with some friends, some of whom smoked, and two of them were sharing a cigarette; so I dead-panned like I wanted to share too just to joke around. I took one drag and my head went light and I barely held my cough in. But damn if it didn’t bring back some serious love affair memories of the demon nicotine … the days where I’d light a cig before I even got out of bed, sucking the thing down half-way on one drag. Somehow that doesn’t sound as cool as I remember it. ---
**Author:** ![Perciful](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b38774/32.png) [@Perciful](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Perciful)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2010, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-yrs-2-mos-since-my-last-smoke-lets-hear-it-for-the-boy/549447/12 "2010-08-06T22:39:41Z")
Congrats! I have been quiting for years but now I have almost a year of the butts. I have quit 15 times at least for varying lengths of time but I really have no urge to smoke anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2010, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-yrs-2-mos-since-my-last-smoke-lets-hear-it-for-the-boy/549447/13 "2010-08-07T01:30:54Z")
I mostly quit when I was pregnant with my son almost 22 years ago but I had a minor relapse for a few months during my divorce which means that my last cigarette was actually about 18 years ago. In general the smell disgusts me now but when I’m drinking there is still a little trigger in my head that thinks I should have a cigarette in my hand. That would probably be gone too if I drank more often. ---
**Author:** ![Cub\_Mistress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea666f/32.png) [@Cub\_Mistress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cub_Mistress)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2010, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-yrs-2-mos-since-my-last-smoke-lets-hear-it-for-the-boy/549447/14 "2010-08-07T01:36:43Z")
almost eight years for me. I am around people who smoke 4-5 times a week, usually no desire to smoke ensues. I am so glad I was able to quit. ---
**Author:** ![Tethered\_Kite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a5b964/32.png) [@Tethered\_Kite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tethered_Kite)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2010, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-yrs-2-mos-since-my-last-smoke-lets-hear-it-for-the-boy/549447/15 "2010-08-07T02:05:07Z")
Congrats to every successful quitter here! I know too well what a major accomplishment it is. I’m still somewhere in that ten years of consistent trying. Even made it for a whole year once. Sometimes I’ll even convince myself for a while that I’ve smoked for so long there’s no sense in quitting now. The patches are in the cupboard waiting for my next great inspiration and you’ve all contributed tonight. So thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2010, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-yrs-2-mos-since-my-last-smoke-lets-hear-it-for-the-boy/549447/16 "2010-08-07T02:14:49Z")
I quit roughly five years ago. I made a very forceful attempt not to pay attention to exactly when I quit – kind of an extra “fuck you” to the habit I’d had for 25 years. Kind of like an ex that you’re trying to hurt with “you’re not even worth remembering when I dumped you”. A little silly, I guess, but what the hey. And congrats to everyone who kicked the habit! ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2010, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-yrs-2-mos-since-my-last-smoke-lets-hear-it-for-the-boy/549447/17 "2010-08-07T02:16:22Z")
My last cigarette was on May 26, 1992 after having smoked for 17-1/2 years. Congrats to the OP and here’s hoping you never light up again. I would not go _quite_ so far as to say smokers are losers, but they’re definitely deluding themselves if they think even one on occasion is okay. Oddly, I have never had problems since then being around cigarette smoke, and it does not bother me in the least. I also found no discrnible improvement whatsoever in my senses of taste and smell after quitting. ---
**Author:** ![dogbutler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogbutler/32/428_2.png) [@dogbutler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogbutler)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2010, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-yrs-2-mos-since-my-last-smoke-lets-hear-it-for-the-boy/549447/18 "2010-08-07T03:16:48Z")
I quit 13 years ago, and don’t miss it. Smoke and smokers don’t bother me in the least. Congrats to all the rest of you quitters! ---
**Author:** ![MoodIndigo1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e8c25b/32.png) [@MoodIndigo1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MoodIndigo1)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2010, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-yrs-2-mos-since-my-last-smoke-lets-hear-it-for-the-boy/549447/19 "2010-08-07T03:25:47Z")
I never smoked because my mother smoked 3 packs a day-- before anyone ever mentioned smoking was dangerous or addictive. My mother died of lung cancer at the age of 66. Her parents lived into their 90s, her siblings into their 80s-- and some are still alive and active. Congratulations to all of you who’ve opted for a cigarette-free life, bravo to you all. Do any of you keep a jar with/put in a separate account all the money you save by not buying cigarettes? ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2010, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-yrs-2-mos-since-my-last-smoke-lets-hear-it-for-the-boy/549447/20 "2010-08-07T04:00:30Z")
> [@MoodIndigo1](#): > > Do any of you keep a jar with/put in a separate account all the money you save by not buying cigarettes? Nah, I just spend mine on more food. 😛 I have gained about 25 lbs since quitting, but at least my fat doesn’t smell bad! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-yrs-2-mos-since-my-last-smoke-lets-hear-it-for-the-boy/549447.md?page=2)