Welcome to the Group

Welcome! We would love get to know you, so please tell us a little bit about yourself. You can choose any format you'd like, but most of us here share some or all of the following details:

1. Reason for joining this group:
2. Some interesting details about yourself, such as your job, your family, your pets and your interests:

And now just go ahead and make that first post!

Hi all. I have smoked since I was 11 years old. I am 35 now. I was a pack a day smoker. I quit smoking almost 5 months ago, after about 23 years. It was the most bizarre thing for me. I had toyed with the idea of quitting for many years, but never really made a real attempt at it. 5 months ago, I woke up one morning and lit up a cigarette, as I was smoking it, I knew it would be my last.

It was like a light bulb just came on over my head and I knew THAT was the day. I still don't know why, but I ran with it. That cigarette that morning was my very last one. I've not touched one since. That morning I went and bought some nicotine patches. I used them for about 2 weeks and realized that maybe I could do without them. So I stopped the patches as well and went cold turkey. It was hell for the first month. I even went to the doctor for some anti-depressants (I never got the prescription filled). I was not a lot of fun to be around then. I was moody and uptight. It finally passed and my mood just mellowed out. I still deal with serious PMS once a month, but that's a whole different topic.

Best of all and this is huge for me. Before I quit smoking I had been dieting for about a year. I lost 50 lbs in that year. I was determined not to gain that weight back. I'm happy to say that I've lost another 20 lbs in the 5 months since I quit smoking!

I am very proud of myself and feel like I am accomplish anything. If I can help anyone in any way, please let me know. I just wanted to share this because when it's your time to quit, you will know it and you will do it. Simple as that. If you don't stick with it, then it wasn't your time to quit. It will happen eventually. Don't give up.

Way to go gingin.  Your right, when it is time it will happen.  It isn't easy but it can be done.  I'm going on month 14 and couldn't be happier.

Hello i've been smoking since about 1987. About 1 1/2 to 2 packs a day. This is the 3rd time I have as my wife calls it taken a break. The first time wasn't a choice was in hospital for 7 months when I got out i started back up about 2 months later. The second break was about 9 years ago for about 2 months. This time has been about 1 month so far.

The reason this time for quitting is for my mother and my kids and now i have a grandbaby i would like to see grow up also.

Hi everyone. I first started smoking like maybe 15 years ago. I had my last smoke on January 25, 2008. I have not had once since that night. I even work with 2 smokers. I was getting obsesed with the smell of smoke and the smell of my hands. I would wash everytime I got done smoking!! My Grandpa passed away from lung cancer that went to his brain and that was a good kick in the ass to get off of them. I quit and feel so healthy now. But I did turn to food and I gained the weight also. But it is good to be able to breath deeply and feel your lungs expand. And not be out of breath when mowing the lawn. I cant wait to see how I am when I have to shovel snow this winter. My sister also quit and my mom did too and she was a smoker for over 30 years. It is hard but we had help from the Dr. and it worked for us.

I wish you all the best of luck! It is just a mind thing and YOU CAN DO IT!!!!

Hello all! My name is Michelle and I recently signed up for the Calorie Count Plus and then this group since I have quit smoking.  Today is one month of being smoke free.  I started taking Chantix to help me stop. I took it for about 3 weeks and then stopped. One, I just kept forgetting to take it and it didn't bother me and two, it gave me some wicked dreams.  Anyway, I smoked for about 15-16 years, quitting each time I was pregnant and then starting back up when my boys were born. My husband has also quit smoking and our boys love it!  We take it one day at a time, but for the most part I do not have cravings a whole lot and I have started running again, so I feel great!

For everyone who has or wants to quit smoking, GOOD LUCK! It is hard but it can be done. 

Thanks,

Michelle

Greetings All,

I am Evher. I stopped smoking July 13th, 2007. It's ironic the reasons why I stopped. I met someone who did not smoke. He did not know I smoked and I have so much respect for him that I never smoked in front of him.

One day he asked me to take a vacation with him. All I could think about was the addiction. How would I handle being on vacation for 4 days with someone who has no idea that I smoke? 4 days without a cigarette? I could not fathom.

I began to make plans to quit. I assured myself that if I could make it from break to break at work then I could make it day to day. So that's exactly what I did. I took it one day at a time. Smoking only 1-4 cigaretts a day. Now for some that may not seem like a lot, but for me being a person who could smoke 1-2 packs a day it was a miracle.

I had 2 months to quit. It was May when I was asked and the vacation was set form the month of July. Then it hit me. I had friends and relatives who smoked so I asked them all if they would like to take the "Quit Smoking" journey with me. I got one person to do it! Thank God. My room mate who smoked just as much as I did.

We decided to smoke a maximum of 5 per day, and we made the choice to include allowing putting out the cigarette once the "urge" had subsided. We found that gum was one of our crutches as well as liquid. No coffee included and we tried our best to cut out foods that made us want to smoke. Like doughnuts and muffins which tasted best with coffee, as well as foods that were not very filling. This is probably why I have gained so much weight since then. 

We then began to find ohter things that would consume out time and surround ourselves with people who did not smoke. People we respected and cared for. I spent alot of time with my children and mother. Smoking around them is never an option.

Before I knew it July 1st had come and gone and the days seemed to slow down. I was so excited about the trip that I pushed smoking to the back of my mind. It also helped alot telling others about my decision to quit. I was surprised at how much others will support your desire and efforts to stop smoking. I told customer service agents, bank tellers, postmen, business owners, children, teachers, I even talked to myself in the mirror from time to time and told myself how proud I was. Seems a bit silly now, but it worked wonders.

Quitting smoking was very difficut for me. I had mood swings and I ate too much, yet I would not take back the experience if I could. I learned alot about myself and my strengths and weaknesses as well as how others respond to you when you tackle things and conquer them.

I still take things day by day and never place myself above reality. I just pray that I will continue to have the strength to stay smoke free for the rest of my life; because i deserve to live!

Salutations,

I quit smoking several years ago 1999. I have always been a health nut the exception was smoking so when I quit I was over joyed! I am a part time trainer so now I can be a better example.

Here's the catch, Earlier in the year I went through a very personal drama that without going into much detail sent me into a depression (not the get medication type of depression or maybe it was and I just am not into that so I never realized it but it was a very lonely solitary miserable place) this was followed by a minor but painful injury. You guessed it, I picked up a pack and started again. The good thing is I have been smoking 2-4 cigarettes a day as opposed to the pack a day I smoked years ago that number hasn't increased or decreased. The bad news is now I am coming out of this funk I have been in and starting to live again and I am still unable to eliminate those 2-4 cigarettes.

The irony is I insist that my clients quit I inspire them and talk them down when they are thinking of falling off the wagon. It seems however my own wagon went all Thelma and Louise on me and I fail to inspire myself. Or perhaps I have some Freudian fear that letting go of those couple smokes will send me back to the Garbage dump of a mindset I just emerged from.

Thank God for my daughter she hates smoking and I think that is why I have kept it in check is because I hide it from her so I am in the closet per-say.

Anyway I am going to read your inspiring posts and see if perhaps you good people here can inspire me again.

Hello,

My name is Amanda, I'm 28 years old and have been a smoker since I was 15.  I have been married for 10 years and I have 4 wonderful sons.  I have one dog that is my only daughter.  I play darts in a dart league(at bars), I like playing basketball with my kids, bike riding, and yard work.  I am a dispatcher for a trash company.  I have been there for a little over a year now.  I love my job.

Each time I was pregnant I was able to quit smoking but I always seemed to slip back into it after my boys were born.  I have tried the patch, gum, etc...

I'm interested in Chantix but I'm not big on taking medication that I don't need.  If anyone has taken it and can share their experiences that would be great.  I'm basically here for support because I know that this is not going to be easy.  Especially since I just started my calorie diet a couple of weeks ago.  Any advice from anyone would be great. 

Thanks.

Hi Amanda. My husband and I both took Chantix and tomorrow will be 6 weeks since we quit smoking. Within the first few days we both noticed how the cravings weren't as significant as they usually were for us and by our quit date, we were ready.  Since then, I was having some pretty vivid dreams, but they went away after about a week and a half.  My husband did not experience this, although I have a couple of friends who did.  We both have stopped taking the Chantix at this point, only because we kept forgetting to take them.  The only time I "want" one is when I have been out drinking, but other than that I feel great and haven't really given it a second thought. 

I too, stopped smoking each time I was pregnant (have two boys) and started after they were born. I smoked for about 15 years at a pack a day usually. All in all, I liked the Chantix.

Anyway, good luck and I am always here for support!!

Michelle

Hi my name is Brooke, I'm 20 years old and have been a smoker since I was 15. At least one pack a day. I quit September 29th, and haven't had a cigarette since then. So today is my 8th day smoke free. The best benefit is definitly smelling fresh and clean, and loving the smell of my perfume.

I started with the patch, but the 3rd day in, the head aches were killing me. So I ripped the patch off and am proud to say I've still been able to avoid smoking.

I joined this group, because I'm taking some big steps in my life right now and want some support too. I'm trying to lose about 40 pounds, stopped drinking energy drinks/ sodas (which were an everyday all day thing), and stopped smoking.

But as tough as it it, I'm sooooo darn proud of myself!

Mickeyleelynn,

Thanks for the advice.  I think I will make an apointment with my doctor and talk with him about getting on the Chantix.  The patches just aren't cutting it for me.  I do know exactly what you mean about being out drinking.  That's how I started back up this last time.  I hope my wheel power will be better the next time around.  Thanks again.

Amanda

Hi, I quite smoking on August 20th 2007.  I will be soon celebrating 14 months smoke free.  I contribute my continuing success to the fact that I started running shortly after quiting.  Every time I run, it reminds me how great it that I don't smoke.  As for the running,  I will be attempting my first marathon this Sunday.

Good luck everyone.  You can do it. 

Hello.  I'm 38 years old and have been smoking about 20 years.  All of our buddies have quit with the exception of me and one other who lives out of town.  My husband quit before we got pregnant, i quit while pregnant, then slipped back in a few months after our son was born.

My grandmother died from emphysema and it terrifies me that the same will happen to me.  I keep smoking.  I throw away cigarettes all the time and can go a few days without smoking, but then we'll go to happy hour, or i'll have a long day, and i go get another pack and smoke, smoke, smoke.

I don't smoke in front of our 4 year old, but sooner or later he'll figure it out.  I hate myself each time I light up.  And i do it again.

I threw away another 1.5 packs this morning.  Could this be the day?  I'd give anything to walk away from the habit and know i'm through.  I know i'm stronger than i'm acting, but i still go buy another pack.

My husband and i started calorie count 3 weeks ago and are really having fun doing it together and it's so very rewarding to feel the weight come off. 

Would love some advice, help, encouragement, whatever to get through a few days smoke free and start to shake myself loose of the addiction.

laurar23

I'm 30, will hit 31 in March.  I snuck my 1st smoke with a friend at age 11, tried to inhale and coughed. Picked it up again at age 13 with a cousin, didn't inhale until age 14. My great grandfather died of emphasima (sp?) - I watched him wheel around an oxygen tank for years, struggle for air as if he was sucking it in through a straw. He would grasp for breath from walking to the living room from his bedroom... having to sit down every 10 ft or so; an aweful, aweful way to go.  My grandmother now has heart disease from smoking since she was 18, now she is in her late 60s.. maybe 70, I'm not sure. She recently had a heart valve replaced because the artery was completely clogged due to the addiction.

Recently, my best friend's father (in his mid 50s) was just diagnosed with the same. My fear is the trachia (sp?).  I've once seen someone with it, and I just cannot imagine her daily struggles.

My husband hates my smoking and I hide it from him most times, smoking only on the weekends while drinking and watching football, and only 5 at most.

I used to be what I consider a heavy smoker, 1pk/day. Now, I smoke maybe 5 ciggarettes a day.  I try to stay busy working, cooking, cleaning, the gym, my dogs WHATEVER I can do to keep my brain occupied because I've figured out that, that is what works for me.

I have this problem. I'm not craving the smoke anymore, in fact, it grosses me out - the smell burning my nose, the burn in the back of my throwt in the morning, seeing the ashes anywhere... the act of sneaking a few throughout the day while my husband is at work - all of that. My problem is habbit (i think). I wake in the morning, grab my coffee then, sit on the back porch with a friggin smoke that I consciencely tell myself is going to kill me if I smoke it then, I rationalize that it is only one ot two I will have with my morning routine and it will be ok.

Then, the guilt sinks in after my coffee is gone and I consider going to the gym... or I get a headache from the smoke and force myself to forget about that bad deed I've just committed.

I need to get past this hurtle. I need to stop BUYING the ciggarettes... but, sometimes I rationalize the buying because I feel like I want what I can't have so, I tell myself if I just buy them, and have one...

Then I throw them away, a day or two or three goes by without smoking, and the vicious cycle begins again.

I want to quit so badly.  I want to get in the best shape of my life. I don't want to die from anything niccotine related! :(

mayperl - i hear your misery about it and share it 100%.  i wrote my post a few days ago, went a day, then a half day, then got to the afternoon and a co-worker was smoking, so i bummed a few and bought some for the way home. 

my fears of dying from this are like yours.  and my inability to quit are the same.  and i'm tired of whining about it, too.  and i wonder why i'm so strong in other things (opinions, for example!) and can't be strong in this.  if they say a nicotine habit is as strong or stronger than heroine, perhaps that explains it?  but then i can go days and be fine - it's times where it's such a habit - after coffee, dinner, with a beer, that i get bogged down.

am having success with calorie count.  this part feels great.  but wish there were a nicotine-count, too.

laurar23

Laurar - Thanks for sharing how you relate to my story.  I just joined CC yesterday and today is my first day of counting. I have never done this in my life - ever.  I'm hoping this lifestyle change will also inhibit a more stronger mindset for a healthy lifestyle, and result in me quitting smoking for good.

I'm actually an over eater.  I've always ate healthy foods, just waay too much of them.  I'm still trying to come to grips with breaking out the measuring cups for portions so, I'm really glad to hear you're having success.

Nicotine-Count... That is a great idea for us that are trying to ween-off.  In the mean time let's pray for strength and continue to search for tools to assist quitting for good!

good luck with your first day!  if you space food out during the day, you should be fine, and after a week if you stick to it, you'll be rewarded - i promise!  aim for around 300 calories per meal (or less at lunch/breakfast and a bit more at dinner) plus two 100 cal snacks.  if you get a little workout in - and check the activity list - cleaning house counts - you can have a little more.

i recently swapped ice cream for sherbert.  1/2 cup satisifies my sweet tooth and the ice cream craving.  and my son thinks it is a great treat - as good as ice cream.

best wishes for a great day!

laurar23

oh my goodness.  I wish I would have read your suggestion for spacing out my food earlier

I had about 500 cals by 12:30, worked out to a fitness video for cardio w/ weights. By 4:00 I was starrrrving! I had about 500 more cals waited for it all to settle and by 6:30 off to the gym to hit the treadmill. Needless to say, side cramps and so full I can't fathom eating any more tonight.

I luv sherbert but, not as much as chocolate... or marshmellows... or caramel, mmmm.  Reminds me of a brownie sunday I used to get at baskin robins.

I have a little good news on the smoking front.  I only had three today.  Every time I thought of having one, I'd grab a glass of water.  Fill up on that for a bit and before I knew it, I was occupied with something else.

Baby steps.

Hello.  25 years old and I've been smoking for about 8 years.  I've been on and off again for the last six.  I've got a kid on the way, and a wife who doesn't smoke.  So I'm going to kill the habit.  I didn't join the group to look for tricks, I just need someone to hold me accountable. 

Can't say I am in the most conducive environment to quitting.  I am in the military and currently deployed.  Kind of sucks; but mix the stress, work (coworkers), and make the smoke pits the community hang outs, and it's hard to quit.  Not saying I won't, it is just going to suck.

Welcome! Just remember there is no perfect time to quit. I quit during one of the most stressful times of my life. I was having so many problems I felt like I was about to have a nervous breakdown. In the midst of all that, I decided to quit. It was really hard but I did it and so can you. The control and power you feel over your life when you are able to overcome something like this is unbelievable. I feel like I can do anything now. The first few weeks are the hardest and the most trying. Just take it one day at a time. Good luck.