# Q.E.D. Goes One Month Without Smoking! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 2, 2003, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-e-d-goes-one-month-without-smoking/179216 "2003-06-02T21:01:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-e-d-goes-one-month-without-smoking/179216/1 "2003-06-02T21:01:01Z")
Yes, folks, I did it! It’s been a month (well, four weeks) since I last had a cigarette. I still get those cravings from time to time, but they are easy to ignore and they go away pretty quickly. I feel good and proud of myself; I’ve wanted to quit for some time, but haven’t been able to until now. I tried and tried, but always ended up smoking again. But not this time! Gooooooo me! Anyway, anyone else have quitting success stories, be it smoking, eating, drinking or what have you? Share with us so we can all be proud of you too. ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-e-d-goes-one-month-without-smoking/179216/2 "2003-06-02T21:15:58Z")
I recently wondered how you were holding up. Good work. The one month mark is really when things start to get a bit easier. I just passed 6 months. Goooooooooo me! (my wife, OTOH, couldn’t get past 3 weeks. And each of those weeks she cheated) Not a puff **Q.E.D.**. Just remember that. Not a single solitary puff, and you’ll get past month 3. I think month 3 was the turning point. I still dream about it, but I can go a day without a craving now. (thanks to writing about it, I can count today as _not_ one of those days!) 😃 Good work. ---
**Author:** ![Einmon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Einmon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Einmon)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-e-d-goes-one-month-without-smoking/179216/3 "2003-06-02T21:16:58Z")
What a coincidence…today I wondered whether you made it or not (though I’d only been lurking in the other thread a month ago). **Congratulations!!!** Why was I wondering about it? Because…(drumroll)…your thread made me think and I gave it up, too. On my 30th birthday (as a statement, so to speak). And today was the first day where I discovered that I consider myself a non-smoker. I saw somebody smoking and thought, poor guy, he needs to stay there and smoke while I can wander off and do what _I_ like. So I intend to keep it that way, thank you very much. Goooooooooo me, too! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-e-d-goes-one-month-without-smoking/179216/4 "2003-06-02T21:17:14Z")
Oh, and I’ve lost twenty pounds and began excercising. okay. you may hate me now. ---
**Author:** ![Aholibah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Aholibah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aholibah)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-e-d-goes-one-month-without-smoking/179216/5 "2003-06-02T21:31:26Z")
It’ll be 28 days cigarette-free for me tomorrow, **Q.E.D.**! About 10 years ago I managed to quit and stay quit for almost three years, but then I went back when I started grad school. Now after numerous short-lived quit attempts over the past seven years, I’ve finally quit for good – I’m sure of it. Like **Nurse Carment** , I’ve started exercising and eating right, and making a lot of other positive changes in my life, large (like volunteering and going back to church) and small (like reorganizing apartment). Because quitting smoking is just one part of this major life overhaul (which was sorely needed), I now identify not-smoking as an integral part of the plan that I’ve chosen for myself and smoking as part of the way of life that I’ve chosen to leave behind. This identification has made quitting easy for me in a way that it never was before. I’d always heard people say, “you’ll quit when you’re ready” and in the past when I tried to quit, I thought I was ready. But until this time, I didn’t know what being ready was all about. BTW, I spent the first 3 weeks on Nicorette gum, which helped with the worst of the cravings, but I tapered off naturally and haven’t had a piece in the past week. Go us!!! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Aholibah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Aholibah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aholibah)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-e-d-goes-one-month-without-smoking/179216/6 "2003-06-02T21:32:49Z")
Sorry – that should have been **NurseCarmen** – must learn to preview! ---
**Author:** ![Blonde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Blonde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blonde)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-e-d-goes-one-month-without-smoking/179216/7 "2003-06-02T21:33:47Z")
Congrats, Q.E.D.! If you have a really bad nicotine fit, the patches are a great help. I wear them at work… but then I smoke on the drive home. I know, I’m weak/pathetic. Seriously, though, you can do it. Blonde ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-e-d-goes-one-month-without-smoking/179216/8 "2003-06-02T21:39:05Z")
W00t! I have a question, QED. How are you quitting? Did you use a patch or gum, tried quitting gradually or cold turkey? In case you care, I don’t smoke, I don’t have any addictions, I’m not looking for tips on kicking any habits. Just curious. Congrats. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Loneraven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c0e974/32.png) [@Loneraven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loneraven)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-e-d-goes-one-month-without-smoking/179216/9 "2003-06-02T21:42:33Z")
Hey, congratulations! Unfortunately, I’m not quitting/trying to quit anything. Am addicted to a few not so nice things, though. Hmmm. But no. This thread is about you, **Q.E.D.** Congratulations! ---
**Author:** ![Wintermute](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@Wintermute](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wintermute)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-e-d-goes-one-month-without-smoking/179216/10 "2003-06-02T21:46:57Z")
Congratulations, **Q.E.D.** That’s really good news. Think how many years you are adding to your life span! (Shucks, revealed my selfish motivation; we want to keep you around for a good, long time! :)) ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-e-d-goes-one-month-without-smoking/179216/11 "2003-06-02T21:56:11Z")
**NurseCarmen** - Congrats on 6 months! Tell your wife that cheating only makes it worse and more likely to take up smoking again. Trust me here, this is why I failed so often before. **Einmon** - Congrats too! If my other thread ispired justone person to quit, it was worth posting. Goooo you! **Aholibah** - Congrats to you as well! We’ll make it this time, I know it! **Blonde** - Try not smoking in the car either. Honestly, It will get easier after a few days. Psyche yourself up, and pick a day to have you LAST ONE EVEr and then do it. **MeanOldLady** - I went cold-turkey with no patches, gums or drugs. Only way to go, IMO. **Loneraven** - What sort of nasty habits? If you want to give whatever it is up, we’ll all be here for ya! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Nichol\_storm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Nichol\_storm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nichol_storm)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-e-d-goes-one-month-without-smoking/179216/12 "2003-06-02T22:07:11Z")
Congratulations **Q.E.D.** and mucho props to everyone else who’s quit or in the process of quitting! I hope this means healthier lungs, less chance of cancer, and many years added on to everyone’s lives! Not to mention losing the ashtray mouth – huh, Q.E.D.? _grin_ .:Nichol:. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Hand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mr.Hand](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Hand)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-e-d-goes-one-month-without-smoking/179216/13 "2003-06-02T22:30:10Z")
Congratulations everyone. I started smoking when I was 15, and got up to in excess of a pack a day in college. I quit smoking during the summer before my junior year of college, and didn’t smoke for three years. I had no problems whatsoever quitting – mostly because my “quitting” period started by being very sick for two weeks. Flu symptoms distract from cravings remarkably well. By the time I was well again, I barely even missed smoking (except when I was out drinking with my friends, or needing to kill 15 outside while hanging around with a bunch of smokers). I started again this past October. Not really sure why. I think it’s because I wanted to have excuses to take study breaks, or because I wanted to make more friends. Or maybe I just missed the taste, the satisfaction. Whatever. It was a dumb move. Today – now that finals are over – is my first day as a nonsmoker. Time to lose that sore throat in the morning. Time not to have all my possessions reek. Time not to have to shell out so much damn money at mug-me-please gas stations in the middle of the night. Probably the only real benefit of smoking this past year was that, when the power went out in the law school, I had a cigarette lighter and was able to navigate myself through the pitch blackness to get outside. What kind of place doesn’t have emergency lighting? ---
**Author:** ![Loneraven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c0e974/32.png) [@Loneraven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loneraven)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-e-d-goes-one-month-without-smoking/179216/14 "2003-06-02T22:39:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Q.E.D. \* > \*\ ***Loneraven** - What sort of nasty habits? If you want to give whatever it is up, we’ll all be here for ya! Ah, you’re such a sweetheart. Well, I’m addicted to caffeine (who isn’t?) and the internet (ditto) and… um… strawberry laces (am chewing on one as I write this) and did I mention caffeine? I did resolve never to smoke weed again (success) and never to drink again (um, not such a success, though I’ve never been really pissed). So, if I decided to quit strawberry laces, would I have any luck finding a support group? ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-e-d-goes-one-month-without-smoking/179216/15 "2003-06-03T00:49:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr. Hand \* > … when the power went out in the law school … What kind of place doesn’t have emergency lighting? Firefighters call them “death traps.” Personal injury lawyers and wrongful death attorneys commonly refer to them as revenue sources. I don’t suppose now would be the proper time to start going on about _smoke inhalation_. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-e-d-goes-one-month-without-smoking/179216/16 "2003-06-03T00:51:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Loneraven \* > \*\*So, if I decided to quit strawberry laces, would I have any luck finding a support group? \*\* Of course. I’ll even be the first to post my support in your **Help Me Quit Strawberry Laces** thread. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Peg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b38774/32.png) [@Peg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peg)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-e-d-goes-one-month-without-smoking/179216/17 "2003-06-03T00:59:30Z")
Go, Q.E.D.!!! ---
**Author:** ![lillyflower](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@lillyflower](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lillyflower)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-e-d-goes-one-month-without-smoking/179216/18 "2003-06-03T01:06:36Z")
CONGRATS!!! You have made it though the hardest part, so don’t give up now, we all know you can do it! When you get that urge just think of all the hard work and craving you have been through to get to this point. I know from experience, I was a smoker and quit, you CAN do it. Good luck and God Bless!!! :):):)🙂 We are sooo proud of you! ---
**Author:** ![lurker\_anonymous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9fc348/32.png) [@lurker\_anonymous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lurker_anonymous)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-e-d-goes-one-month-without-smoking/179216/19 "2003-06-03T01:25:39Z")
GO Q.E.D.!!! Your post is a reminder to all of us smokers that it can be done!!! Your post has renewed my interest in becoming a non smoker…just not right now, it being Monday and all…:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-e-d-goes-one-month-without-smoking/179216/20 "2003-06-03T01:44:57Z")
I’m so proud of you, **Q.E.D.**!! Keep it up! And all the rest of you quitters, too! Join the crowd, **lurker anonymous**. You can do it! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-e-d-goes-one-month-without-smoking/179216.md?page=2)