Day one on the road to becoming smoke free.

[True Grit]

Good for you and good luck! It took Zyban AND the patch but it has been 10 years for me. I used to light a cigarette first thing every morning, yuck, hard to even imagine that now. You can get there!

 

[violetsky]

I quit smoking after 10 years and 2 packs. I hope what happened to me happens
to you, I became sensitive to cigarette smoke and get an instant headache if I even
get near a smoker. I found a lot of former smokers become anti-smoking nuts after
quitting. I absolutely can't stand cigarette smoke anymore.

In my younger years after a difficult breakup I forced myself to think of used
kitty litter everytime I thought of my ex. Works like a charm getting over men, not
too sure if that will work with cigs.

 

[cybercat 2]

Woo-hoo!

 

[fuzziebutt]

COngratulations to all of you that have quit!

I quit 2 years, 8 months ago! I used the Chantix as well, and the dreams were really vivid, like 3d! I have gotten a little fluffy, but sooo much better for it!

New Years Resolution time is close, if anyone else is thinking about it!

It's great to be free from an addiction!

 

[ChestnutRidge]

I quit six years ago, having smoked from 12 to 23, sometimes more than two packs a day. For the last year, I smoked a "roll your own," natural tobacco cigarette, which I think helped me get off of a lot of the additives. I had always said that I would quit when I was 22 - smoke for 10 years - and I did get down to about 2 cigarettes a day during the last six months of that year, but I still couldn't let it go. I tried to change small habits. When I traded in my car for one with 4-wheel drive, I told myself I couldn't smoke in the "new" car. I bought a house that year, too, and only allowed myself to smoke in the "mudroom." Little things added up. Finally, I had to take a course at a college and room in the dormitory with my mother, who was taking the same course. My smoking habit had been upsetting her for years because her mother died of emphysema. I had just turned 23, and so my 22-year-old deadline had come and went. So, I decided that I was not going to smoke while rooming with my mother. I would return home on the weekends, and each time, I told myself that if I could make it through the whole week, I could make it through the weekend. And then I had quit.

I still had terrible cravings when I would be upset or stressed, especially during the first year. The best coping mechanism for me was breathing forcefully through pursed lips, almost like you would to whistle. The cravings continued, but lessened in frequency and intensity, during the next two or three years. Now, six years later, I can say I am living almost free of it, although I think this is as good as it will get. Sometimes cigarette smoke bothers me, but most of the time, I can't help but to breathe deeply when I am near it - just once or twice - and then be glad that I am free of it now.

As the OP said, there are as many ways to quit as there are individuals who are finding their own way. Try to replace old habits with new and reward yourself for your efforts. I wish everyone undertaking this the best of luck!!! And

to the OP.

 

[turney31]

Good luck to you, I filled my chantix script today, oh and Xanax.

 

[pinkchick]

CONGRATULATIONS BRANDON!!!!!! Very happy for you and will be praying for your continued success and the strength you will need to get through it.

My dear hubby and I just celebrated 9 mos. smoke free 2 days ago.....I can't believe it! DH smoked for 35 years, so it has been very hard on him, but he is still plugging along. He used the patch for a couple months along with the gum, but he continued to chew the gum for 6 mos. after using the patch. He has not been using the gum for 2 months now and is doing great, but has switched to Bazooka gum instead and the wrappers I find all over the place are making me crazy.

I started messing around with cigs when I was 13, but did not stick to them until I became an adult and found the love of beer........beer and cigs man....beer and cigs, awwww the good ol' days.

I would smoke for a couple years then quit for several years, go out and have a beer with some friends and start smoking again, smoke for a couple years and then quit for several and this was my habit for many years, then went through a horrible divorce and went out drinking with some friends and started smoking full time after that and that smoking ride was 10 years long, the longest consecutive time I had ever smoked. I quit cold turkey and it was VERY hard for the first few weeks, I will tell you that for those first few weeks I was CRANKY and ANXIOUS...I actually cried because I didn't have any smokes. I can't imagine how DH coped with his feelings for it, but bless him he is still coping.

My best memory on this ride so far, was the first time I smelled carrots boiling a couple weeks after we stopped.....I seriously couldn't remember that carrots smelled so nice while cooking....then we ate dinner and I tasted them, YUMMY!. I had no clue that my taste buds and sense of smell had been all messed up while I was a smoker.


Good luck with your journey and I wish you all the success in the world.

 

[Braclin]

Thanks everyone for the great posts. The encouragement is most appreciated!! Congrats to those of you that are now non-smokers!!!!

Day 2
Had a restless night. Fell asleep finally after 3am. No dreams. Cigarettes are starting to have a weird taste.

My blog is a day behind due to me taking the meds at bedtime. I hadn't read the suggested time to take the meds when I decided to take them at night. I suggest to others to take them in the morning. This could be the cause of lastnights restless struggle. Stay strong!!!

 

[Inkheart]

Good job Brandon - sometimes it is a bit of trial and error on these meds i think. If you ever need anyone to talk you down from a ledge - give me a call - i mean it !!! Good luck

 

[kathyinmo]

This is just great, Brandon! I hope the Chantix works for ya. You are gonna be so happy to be smoke free!