I actually just quit last Saturday, so tomorrow will be the 1 week mark. I was a pack a day smoker.
The first 24-48 hours were pretty rough and I was a total asshole all day, but it’s gotten a lot easier. The cravings are virtually gone, now it’s just the mental part. You don’t really realize how your day revolved around smoking until you finally quit. I used to always smoke after I ate, and now I’ll find myself looking for my pack of cigs after a meal before I even realize what I’m doing.
I’m trying to replace the bad habit with good ones. So now after a meal I’ll brush my teeth instead of smoking.
[quote]FightinIrish26 wrote:
I quit on June 1 of last year after ten years.
My advice is don’t be a bitch. When it’s time to quit, you quit, and that’s it.
I’m not going to say that I haven’t had the occasional smoke when super-drunk, but I always wake up wishing I hadn’t because I feel so crappy and I NEVER have had the urge to go back to smoking because the difference in how I felt was remarkable, and I’d never be able to box if I was smoking.
It’s hard the first week and then it gradually gets easier. But seriously, stop with the “Attempts” and either shut up and smoke or quit and be done with it. As Yoda once said - do or do not, there is no try.
From now on, you’re a non-smoker. There’s no “I’m trying to quit.” There’s only, “I quit.”
If you go back to smoking, you’re a nancy with no willpower. Nothing pissed me off more than guys who were always “trying to quit” but in reality just quit buying packs and tried to bum butts from me all time.[/quote]
This is exactly how I approached it. I wasn’t “trying” to quit, I quit, and that was it.
[quote]HoustonGuy wrote:
Basically don’t be a pussy. The physical symptoms pass you just have to tough them out and deny your weakness, as much as it sucks.
The gum crutch only feeds your mental short comings. It’s an excuse.
Cold turkey hell month for the win.
You don’t actually need nicotine, your body is lying. Grow some balls.[/quote]
I’m agreeing with you way too much recently.
Anyway, I’ve never had to deal with this, but I know someone who has. He’s my best friend’s dad and he quite smoking 20 years ago (when he found out he was going to be a father). He quite cold turkey. No nicotine gum B.S. or falling off the wagon. He just stopped and hasn’t smoked at all for the last two decades. So, it absolutely can be done and it absolutely gets better. He has zero desire to smoke any more. I don’t know when exactly the cravings stopped, but I’ll ask him for ya.
I know it’s really easy for a young, handsome, nicotine free fellow like myself to say, “grab your balls and stay tough!” but, grab your balls and stay tough. You can do it.
Well, you are making yourself accountable by telling others. Looking for advice, so you are on the right track. Somewhat unrelated but what is the difference between Hubbly and smoking? I can smoke hub for an hour, but hate the smell of cigarettes. Also my friend smokes all the time but for some reason never really smells like smoke, whereas everyone in my collage does. He doesn’t spray himself or anything HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE?!
[quote]HoustonGuy wrote:
Basically don’t be a pussy. The physical symptoms pass you just have to tough them out and deny your weakness, as much as it sucks.
The gum crutch only feeds your mental short comings. It’s an excuse.
Cold turkey hell month for the win.
You don’t actually need nicotine, your body is lying. Grow some balls.[/quote]
I’m agreeing with you way too much recently.
Anyway, I’ve never had to deal with this, but I know someone who has. He’s my best friend’s dad and he quite smoking 20 years ago (when he found out he was going to be a father). He quite cold turkey. No nicotine gum B.S. or falling off the wagon. He just stopped and hasn’t smoked at all for the last two decades. So, it absolutely can be done and it absolutely gets better. He has zero desire to smoke any more. I don’t know when exactly the cravings stopped, but I’ll ask him for ya.
I know it’s really easy for a young, handsome, nicotine free fellow like myself to say, “grab your balls and stay tough!” but, grab your balls and stay tough. You can do it. [/quote]
I did it cold turkey and about a month for cravings. Maybe like a year if you smell it. Now I can’t even stand the smell.
[quote]marlboroman wrote:
7 years as of last month .
approximate savings of $12,600 .
so basically , kicking that habit paid for my f-150 .[/quote]
Good way of looking at it, if you’re a money conscious person. Since getting married a few weeks ago we’ve been a bit tight on money because of external circumstances, and it makes it SO much easier to say “What else could I do with that money that would be more profitable?”.
[quote]postholedigger wrote:
Forgive me for bumping an ancient thread. I was just curious as to how OP’s been holding up.[/quote]
She is not on here any longer. [/quote]
Aw…what a bummer…[/quote]
Alexus is still here. Maybe she didn’t see that you’ve bumped her thread. She still has an active log in PW, and recently answered some of my questions about hip stability in the injuries forum.
[quote]postholedigger wrote:
Forgive me for bumping an ancient thread. I was just curious as to how OP’s been holding up.[/quote]
She is not on here any longer. [/quote]
Aw…what a bummer…[/quote]
Alexus is still here. Maybe she didn’t see that you’ve bumped her thread. She still has an active log in PW, and recently answered some of my questions about hip stability in the injuries forum.
[/quote]
still have an urge sometimes, but not at all unbearable. still chew nicotine gum occasionally - mostly for class.
i’ve been learning how to study (read dense material and write technical papers) without cigarettes. think that is the hardest part, actually.
i’ve got a bunch of work to do on core stability and on diaphram breathing. my breathing ROM is short from habit 'cause it hurt / got cloggy before. need to put in some time doing something aerobic… learn to breathe deeper and slower.
i’ve gained weight… but was aiming to add some muscle. a tiny bit flabbier but not much. have been chucking back the protein so i surely earned it!