I quit smoking today after relapsing back into smoking several months ago after having quit for about 3 years. Mark Twain said "Quitting smoking is easy- I've done it a million times." Ain't that the truth? I smoked from the time I was 14 only quitting when I was pregnant and/or breastfeeding, but each time I fell back into smoking to relieve stress or because I was bored. It was easy to quit smoking then because frankly, the smell made me vomit. When I quit a few years ago, it was also easy because I had been given some samples of Wellbutrin (AKA- Zyban). Unfortunately, I started hanging around a certain person that I hadn't seen in years who smoked and stress conditions were mounting, and I slipped up. I quit shortly after that for about a week, but then decided that I liked smoking (*who* was I kidding???), and picked it back up. Now that I am really ready to quit for my health, I find that I am not in a position to take any medications to help me. I don't want to risk interference with other medications I take, but in light of recent breaking news stories I am taking it very seriously. I have been noticing that when I wake up, my chest feels "heavy" and I am coughing up all kinds of goodies. This is not how I want to live. I know I smell bad- I remember how strong the odor was to me when I didn't smoke. It's repulsive and I am extremely sick of being a slave to such a nasty, disgusting habit. When I am having a craving (like when I started typing this up), I can actually twist it and rationalize that I am not a slave to the cravings- I am a slave to society wanting to take cigarettes away from me. HOW SICK IS THAT????
Well, I just wanted to vent a little bit about this.
I quit cold turkey on June 16, 2001. I've found myself having a craving at times when I'm around others with it, but to me it's like losing weight. If I let myself slip back, it will be twice as hard the next time. I keep that foremost in my mind whenever I find myself getting a craving and try to either get my mind turned to some other thought or remove myself from the situation causing the craving.
Way to go! I wish I had never picked it back up. I know it will be easier after this first day, but right now it just sucks worse than the suckiest suck ever.
I am glad I am not alone here. I have been smoking for 25 yrs and have decided to put it down. I don't smoke alot but there are some days I feel like I will die with out one then I remember I could die with one lol. Two weeks ago I read Susan Powters book Stop the Insanity (awesome book even if it is old and out dated) I decided to finally take hold of my life. Give up the smoking and the diets. Wow I have also dieted for 25 yrs and I am still fat. It seems to be working the way she does it. I have lost four lbs and never hungry. Seems that the word diet and have to have a cigarette was controling me. Now if I get hungry I eat. I didn't realize there were so many healthy low fat low calorie things in the world. I figure if I can give up junk I can give it all up. I was just wondering when do you ever quit the craving for the bad stuff or do you ever?
It's different with everyone Debbie. I still have the occasional craving, but I'm stronger than they are. Others however may never have the cravings. It doesn't appear to be linked to how long or how much you smoked either, just each individuals willpower/desire.
I quit a couple years ago. Every day it gets a little easier but it is always hard. It completely disgusts me now, and yet sometimes I still have cravings. Try this website http://www.quitnet.com it is really cool because they have a lot of good info and there is a constant reference to how many days you have added to your life and how much money you have saved.
Here are My Stats:
Your Quit Date is: 11/15/2003 12:00:00 PM
Time Smoke-Free: 643 days, 1 hour, 57 minutes and 23 seconds
I quit two years ago and although it makes me sick to even smell it, I still have cravings as well.
There is a book called, 'Allan Carr's Easy Way to stop smoking' that's a good read even if you've already quit. It reinforces all the reasons to stay off cigarettes.
I mentioned this in another 'quitting smoking' thread. What I did to kick that habit was to borrow a cig from my old boss (because it was the day I ran out and decided NOT to buy more), then I drew a clownish face on it and propped it up on my computer monitor and talked down to it all day, "You don't control me!", "I can rise above you!!", "You're just a small, insignificant peice of dried up leaves and thin, flimsy paper...I don't need YOU!", "I have given BIRTH!!", "I am WOMAN!!"...you get the point. Good news is I only worked with my boss and he knew what I was up to or else co-workers would have had me committed. But it WORKED!! I overcame my cravings and told myself it was just a habit and that I didn't need it and dad gummit, after a while, I talked less and less to the stupid cigarette and eventually tossed it in the trash.
I have been quit for 8 Months, 2 Weeks, 6 Days, 16 hours, 48 minutes and 36 seconds (263 days). I have saved $988.86 by not smoking 7,911 cigarettes. I have saved 3 Weeks, 6 Days, 11 hours and 15 minutes of my life. My Quit Date: 12/14/2004 10:48 PM
Are you still a NON-SMOKER??? I sure hope so. You CAN do it!! I did it not to long ago.. sometimes it feels like yesterday!!! But... it is what is best for you.
I just had a thought!.... Why eat healthy, diet, exercise, and work on looking good if we are only going to kill ourselves and make our bodies smell with these cigerettes??
Quitting smoking
Others however may never have the cravings. It doesn't appear to be linked to how long or how much you smoked either, just each individuals willpower/desire.
But it WORKED!! I overcame my cravings and told myself it was just a habit and that I didn't need it and dad gummit, after a while, I talked less and less to the stupid cigarette and eventually tossed it in the trash. 
