So, I’m quitting smoking tomorrow. My plan was to switch to Ultra Lights for one carton and then after that’s gone, no more. I decided to go the “patch” route, and bought myself a box of Nicoderm CQ.
I’ve pondered quitting for a long time before but now I’m just plain ready. I’ve told all my friends and family, and now I’m telling you guys. Hopefully, that will be enough admitting to shame me into keeping my word.
It’s amazing how much I dislike about smoking - the health issues, my stinky house, my stinky self, the cost, wearing down my computer components, maybe giving my dog health issues…yet, I just haven’t been motivated to quit.
I decided sort of spur-of-the-moment, but I gave myself plenty of time to ponder it.
Good for you! I smoked my last cig in October 1989, after 27 years of nicotine bondage. Telling people that you’ve quit can really help. I had tried quitting several times, but notifying all my family and friends that I had quit provided an extra reason for staying away from the cigs: avoiding the embarrassment of backsliding.
I tried starting this past Sunday but broke down and had one on Wednesday and now I’m full blown again. The only way I can ever do it is if I cut down on the drinking too, which would suck. I wish you all the luck in the world Zip.
another wish for good luck, strong resolve, and success. Take it minute by minute if you have to. I quit 15 months and 18 days ago, cold turkey after smoking for about 23 years, a pack a day. If you want it, you can do it. Good luck!
Glad to hear it, ZipperJJ…I’ve been off the sticks for a few years now, after 25 years of pack-a-day-plus. I’ll second FloatyGimpy – I can’t recommend The Easy Way to Stop Smoking enough. Even if you’re sure you going to stick through this and drop the habit for good, the book is still an excellent read just to prepare you for unexpected pitfalls down the road.
Best of luck ZipperJJ! You can do it!
I’ve been off them for about 13 months. I feel better and so forth - but what gets me more than anything? How much it really does stink, and it worries me that may ever have smelled as bad as that - really. While I don’t think I ever did, that doesn’t mean I didn’t.
I’m one week away from 13 months free, after decades of two pack a day smoking. Tried quitting and failed a number of times. The thing that finally worked for me was the prescription drug Chantix. I just followed the directions exactly as recommended, and it seems funny to say, but quitting was easy with that medicine.
Hope the patches work for you, it’s great to have freedom from Ol’ Nic.
Welp, it’s been almost 10 hours now smoke free. It hasn’t been that bad. I actually spent a good bit of time today with my dad while he smoked and I was cool.
The hardest part for me will be getting through a work day w/o smoking. I work at home and do most of my smoking while sitting in front of the computer. I just need to use some other tools for de-stressing while working instead of reaching for a cigarette.
Question for anyone who’s still listening - how much work did you put into “de-smoking” your house? I plan on cleaning my drapes and washing my walls. Do I need to have the carpet cleaned too? Or should I just Febreeze the heck out of everything and vaccuum?
What helped me the must was patches. I didn’t actually use them to taper off – I just slapped one on at moments when I was really craving a cig.
I swear, I could feel the effects within a couple of minutes. To this day I have no idea whether it REALLY worked that fast, or was a really good placebo.
I used 4 or 5 patches during the first couple weeks, and it’s been just over 5 years since then.
Good luck! My last cigarette was smoked a little over a month ago, after our monthly bar night. Last night was this month’s bar night, and we were absolutely fine, even though almost everyone else was smoking (PA doesn’t have a smoking ban yet).
I stopped cold turkey. Just came home from our bar night, smoked one last cigarette, and soaked then shredded the rest of the pack. I almost feel guilty sometimes at how easy it was for me this time. I didn’t even have any withdrawal symptoms. The worst thing was unlearning the habit of going out to smoke whenever I was bored.
Good for you! It won’t take long for you to notice the difference in how things smell and taste and how much less you cough and wheeze and lots of other good stuff.
I still have my last pack of cigarettes. My wife told me for years that if I quit smoking, I’d never have to buy her another present for anything, ever. So I cast it in a block of clear plastic and gave it to her as a birthday present on September 1st, 2006. Of course, I still buy her gifts on all the appropriate occasions, but if I ever forget, I can just point to my last pack of Camels - the ultimate get out of jail free card.
Sometimes it’s like some of the habits are worse than the habit itself. Avoiding those “comfort” smokes seems like the worst part. Smoking has always been such a good reason to walk away from my desk for 10 minutes, or to get in the car, or etcetera. Smoking it habit forming, but not in the way that non-smokers would ever understand.
I still have my last half-pack, in a ziplock bag in the freezer. At first it comforted me that if I changed my mind, I had a cigarette available. Now it’s just there.
Giving up smoking is a decision I have never regretted, not for one instant. I’ve been smoke-free for almost 6 years now.
