Quitting cigarettes

According to my Quitmeter (sad I know but, it helps! lol)

Since 01 January 2007, I've been smoke-free for:
19 Days, 10 Hours, 59 Minutes, 21 Seconds.

I have saved £9.12 by not smoking 116 cigarettes. (I smoked roll ups so, not expensive)
By not smoking I have added
2 Days, 14 Hours, 50 Minutes, 4 seconds.
to my life expectancy.
 
I had some friends stay at the weekend and, its fair to say that a reasonable quantity of beer was consumed. Strangely, the cravings on Saturday night weren't too bad, it was the cravings that came with the hangover that I found most difficult to endure!

I made it through though and, every hurdle I get past can only make the next time easier. 23 days now and I'm not feeling like its much of a struggle :D
 
Yes, in fact, it's day three that is without doubt, the toughest day to get through. Day four is only slightly better.

Good luck to all.
 
When I quit smoking, I had this chart that was pretty motivating. I can't find it anymore, but here's basically the same info:
Benefits of quitting

* Within 8 hours of quitting, carbon monoxide level drops in your body and the oxygen level in your blood increases to normal.
* Within 48 hours your sense of smell and taste improves and your chances of having a heart attack start to go down.
* Within 72 hours your lung capacity increases and bronchial tubes relax, making breathing easier.
* Within 2 weeks, the nicotine is removed from your body.
* Within 3 months circulation improves and lung functioning increases up to 30%.
* Within 6 months coughing, sinus congestion, tiredness and shortness of breath improve.
* Within 1 year risk of smoking-related heart attack is cut in half, and your risk for cavities is lower.
* Within 10 years risk of dying from lung cancer is cut in half.
* Within 15 years risk of dying from a heart attack is equal to a person who never smoked!
Source:
Click to expand...

Hope it helps!
 
Thanks yippie - nice to know there is no longer any nicotine inside me and I seem to be surviving pretty well without it :)

15 years seems like a long way off though...still just taking one day at a time.

Ron, are you still around? Hows your quit going?
 
You're doing great!

Keep up the good work! Its the best thing you will ever do for yourself and everyone you know and love. Don't look down the road, stay focussed on the present. :cool:

Greg
quit ~ 10/7/05
 
Saturday night I cracked and smoked! :mad: Beer and women (well, one woman in particular) were the combined reason but, that is no excuse! I am gutted but, not defeated! Not had one since - after today, my system will be nicotine free again.

one day at a time
 
I've not had a week of success I'm sorry to say. I've been stressed out about a number of things and have used that as an excuse!

Well, I threw everything out related to smoking this morning - matches, lighters, ashtrays etc. (apart from one ashtray a friend bought me in Egypt).

My local surgery runs a 'quit smoking' workshop or something which, before this week I thought was a bit sad and unnecessary but, I think I'm going to sign up as I clearly need all the help I can get!!
 
Getting through those stressful times are the maker or breaker.

Chew gum, drink water, eat nuts, whatever. Do something other than light up. I took me about 10 times before I made it this far (in my sixth or seventh week).

Also keep in mind, once you've been smoke free for 24 hours, they start tasting like sh*t.
 
I wouldn't beat yourself up too much ChrisJG! A week or two of smoking will likely not have much effect on your health in the long run. Try focusing on the positives such as the fact that you went 26 days without a cigarette - that's 26/35 (74.3%), 27/36 (75%) if you don't smoke tomorrow...

You do need to find better ways to deal with stress though! Cynic's suggestions are excellent - I would also add the option of some exercises too like stretching or walking. They might cover these things in that workshop you mentioned so it might be worth checking out!
 
I agree not to beat yourself up. Stay persistent though! I wanted to quit smoking more than anything but in the first month and 1/2 I relapsed 4-5 times. I finally reached down deep and found it within me to quit reaching for those death sticks when stressful situations popped up. Smoking was not an option anymore. Find that thought and implant it into your brain.

Smoking is not an option!

For me, carrying around toothpicks everywhere I went for the first year did the trick. I still chew one up from time to time, not because I am craving a cig but because I am stressing and I re-programmed my head to reach for the toothpick.
 
I'm gonna give up tomorrow!
I've been saying that for 2 years now but I have a good feeling about tomorrow, 731st time lucky as they say :D

It's funny how tomorrow never comes though :rolleyes:
 
I shared this with another group of people that are trying to quit…thought I’d share it here as well.

It is a well-known fact that smoking interferes with our fitness. It does this in a number of ways, mainly by reducing the amount of oxygen available in the body.

I'm sure you are all aware of this, but I'm gonna post it anyhow-lol!
A couple of the major effects of smoking on the body's respiratory and circulatory system include…..
>High levels of carbon monoxide from smoking, reduce the amount of oxygen absorbed into the blood from the lungs.
>Carbon monoxide in the blood also reduces the amount of oxygen that is released from the blood into the muscles.
>Smoking increases the heart rate for a given level of exercise.
I’m sure there are more effects, but I cannot remember to name them all! LOL!

Studies have shown that smoking reduces physical endurance and affects the physical performance in smokers compared with non-smokers and that smoking increases fatigue both during and after exercise.

I also read a while ago, that research shows cigarette smoking may damage cells in the testes - the cells that synthesize testosterone.
Testosterone levels within the body govern the muscle growth process from training. Therefore, smoking may hinder optimal testosterone production and interfer with the body’s capacity to build muscle. :(

Also…the nicotine in cigarettes leads to insulin resistance, making nutrient transport into muscles and other tissues more difficult.

These effects that smoking has on the body is just crazy!! This is exactly what encouraged me to quit.

I felt that the psychological addiction seemed to continue for a longer time.
The "strong" withdrawl symptoms that some people experience, significantly decrease in frequency after the last "dose". So EVEN ONE cigarette may cause the withdrawl process to start from the beginning.

I quit smoking about 6 years ago!! Best thing I ever done for myself!!
Very hard habit to kick, but I did it and will never take another draw!!! :)

If you really want to give this habit a kick, you will. As I just said, the phychological addiction is the most lingering.
I quit cold turkey. The first week was the hardest for me, but I did not give in--I'm stubborn like that--lol


Best of luck to you all!
 
Its all useful information Newfiechick but, I've known that smoking is a killer and a health hazzard since picking up those first cigarettes! Trouble is, like most young men, I have felt immortal for most of my life - its the 'it'll never happen to me' syndrome that has been my failing!

The psychological grip smoking has on me is strong, thats become very clear. I have currently not smoked since Monday so, thats 4 days total. I don't intend to give up (giving up I mean), no matter how many times I slip!!

CCR, its tomorrow now buddy - no more excuses! :)
 
I thought it was going to be tomorrow today but it turns out tomorrow isn't until Saturday now!

Seriously though I think the info from Newfiechick is the most likely to help me give up. I also suffer from that 'It won't happen to me' attitude problem when it comes to smoking and cancer. The addiction seems to knock out my judgement.
But the stuff mentioned in Newfiechick's post IS happening to me right now and the idea that my muscle growth is being held back because of this hits a stronger nerve with me than anything else. It's pure vanity I know but in this case Vanity may prove to be a positive thing if it stops me from smoking
 
It's now day 6 of quitting and I'm getting to breaking point, I really think my addiction is too strong to quit now.
I feel like I'm about to beat the crap out of something (or someone) to release the tension. I've only come on here to vent my frustration and distract my mind from the cravings.

On the positive side I feel my chest is better already, it doesn't hurt all the time anymore. The only problem is I'm unable to hold a conversation or maintain concentration for more than a few seconds at the moment
 
CCR said:
It's now day 6 of quitting and I'm getting to breaking point, I really think my addiction is too strong to quit now.
Click to expand...

You can do It! Remember, you are at the very end here. After about 7 days you are no longer physically addicted. any thing after this point is all mental.
 
CCR said:
It's now day 6 of quitting and I'm getting to breaking point, I really think my addiction is too strong to quit now.
Click to expand...

It's a b*tch, so you have to really want it. Do you know anyone that died of lung cancer? I do. Since cancer runs in my family, I needed to quit.

Are you using any crutches? Patches, gums, anything? They can help, but it's still up to you and your personal desire.
 
No, I'm going cold Turkey, mainly because I know people who've become addicted to the gum and then started smoking again!

The main reason I want to give up smoking is because of cost so I'm trying to buy myself a little treat everyday with the money I save from not smoking; like a coffee (like Dale Cooper :) )
 
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