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Post by Karyn on Feb 16, 2005 13:56:31 GMT -5
Ok guys just a quick survey, has it been worth it, do any of you struggle at all, or is it just a quick passing thing.
Do you ever say I would love to have a cig, or are you happy not to be smoking anymore.
Sorry I know I am not supposed to think long term, but just need to know how all you feel now.
karyn
I have been quit for 2 Weeks, 2 Days, 15 hours, 17 minutes and 24 seconds (16 days). I have saved $37.43 by not smoking 249 cigarettes. I have saved 20 hours and 45 minutes of my life. My Quit Date: 1/30/2005
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Post by Ann on Feb 16, 2005 14:06:07 GMT -5
Karyn, there are times it's still in the front of my mind. I still love the smell of smoke and when I walk buy someone smoking I'll take a deep breath and second hand inhale the smell. Then there are times that it's completely out of my mind and I no longer say to myself "I wish I could have a cigarette now". I think a lot of it has to do with my mood of the day, if I'm happy and busy or if I'm bored and depressed. Then I remember my grand babies and I quickly push any thought out of my mind because I know that I wouldn't be able to see them as much as I do if I still smoked.
It does get easier the longer you are quit, make no mistake one little trigger that you can't handle and you are right back at the beginning of quitting again. Never become complacent with your quit.
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Post by Karyn on Feb 16, 2005 14:25:53 GMT -5
 ah maybe I didnt want an honest answer. LOL Thanks Ann, I know I can never let my guard down. I just hate when I start thinking too much. Ugh Karyn I have been quit for 2 Weeks, 2 Days, 15 hours, 46 minutes and 49 seconds (16 days). I have saved $37.47 by not smoking 249 cigarettes. I have saved 20 hours and 45 minutes of my life. My Quit Date: 1/30/2005
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Post by countryblocks on Feb 16, 2005 15:16:12 GMT -5
I also wonder the same thing. Would like to hear from some more nonsmokers. I seem to be having a hard time.
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Post by Don on Feb 16, 2005 15:28:59 GMT -5
I agree with Ann about still liking the occasional whiff.
A closed, smokey room however, is just pure disgusting now.
My urges to smoke are very far and few. They usually crop up in times of stress or moments where you don't feel 100%. (Or after a couple of drinks.)
I honestly don't miss my cig with my coffee anymore.
I honestly don't miss smoking. It's that memory romance we have. Sorta like an old crush, but when you see that long-lost love now...the sparkle is gone.
Mind you, I still have an occasional "puffing" cigar every year or 2 on my fishing trips---which *I* plan for---not the other way around.
I really like being in control of my addiction instead of it controlling me. I can live with the notion that I'm addicted for life, but smokefree for now, by choice.
I cannot ever touch nor inhale a cigarette again.
I know what playing with a tiger's tail will get you.
But in answer to your inquiry: No! I do not struggle with my smoking thoughts anymore. They still pass by as a rare, faint evil thought. And then are quickly dismissed. Because, at one time I denied myself permission smoke them and now....I just don't smoke cigarettes. Just a matter of fact.
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Post by Elaine on Feb 16, 2005 18:24:53 GMT -5
At 5 1/2 months, I am still a newbie, but I had to reply:
I LOVE BEING A NONSMOKER! Yes, a whiff of smoke smells good once in a while but I don't ever want to smoke again. I can breathe, I can taste things, I am no longer skulking around, embarrassed to be smoking. I smell good and I feel great. It is *so* worth it!
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Post by batman on Feb 16, 2005 19:11:32 GMT -5
ok karyn, you asked for an honest answer and here is mine. I AM A NICOTENE JUNKIE there is no other way to put it. i think about it fairly often and the thought of putting one of those things between my lips scares the he-- out of me. i know i would be right back into 3 packs a day and breathing heavy and stinking like a skunk. i once told nc pops that i would take up golf and i have. it is nice to get out in the fresh air and SMELL IT> i have been clean since 7/15/03 and along with my oldbie friends on this board, i have made it through another day. hey oldbies can i be considered a somewhat oldbie? you see karen, the oldbies on this board know that my quit was quite unconvential. it was totally unplanned for. i had posted all my feelings on the just4uboard and i have no objections if any of our adminstrators on this board can refer you to that post. i forget the exact date but someone out there can probably do it. the post was "batman bares all" it still gives me shivers to remember that and helps me today with my quit. all you folks keep your little quit because that adds up to a big quit. the beast is beatable!!!
batman
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Post by Bubb on Feb 17, 2005 9:39:53 GMT -5
I don’t struggle with being smokeless but for me, remaining an ex-smoker is an everlasting mission. Don't interpret that as difficult or agoninzing. I DO consider myself an addict. Addicts don’t become ex-addicts, they become ex-users. My wife smokes (heavily) so I’m never ‘away’ from cigarettes. But lets face it, cigarettes and smokers are everywhere and you can’t just bury your head in the sand and pretend they don’t exist. Since quitting smoking, I’ve made significant lifestyle changes. I find my new life much more satisfying and if I were to go back to smoking, I really believe it would be a devastating step backward. That thought in itself sustains my quit. I did enjoy smoking and trying to convince myself that I didn’t is a waste of time. For me, it’s a matter of choosing my new life or my old one.
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Post by judyb on Feb 17, 2005 12:11:20 GMT -5
I agree, Bubb! We'll always be addicted to nicotine, we just don't use it anymore.
The addict in me would like to smoke, but I won't allow it. I rarely have smoking thoughts, never crave. When I'm feeling down, I find myself thinking about smoking, sort of to "punish" myself, but I'll never go there.
Like is so much better not smoking. I wish I'd've quit earlier to avoid that "touch" of emphysema I have, but the fact remains that I no longer smoke. And never will!
Keep the quit!
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Post by judyb on Feb 17, 2005 12:34:45 GMT -5
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Post by judyb on Feb 17, 2005 12:36:55 GMT -5
I'm out of practice posting hyper links. So here's the post to save y'all cut & paste time::
Joined: May 27, 2001
Posts: 226
From: florida
Posted: 2003-11-13 20:39
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
i will try to put this as simple as i can for myself. exactly 124 days ago, this batman took his last puff of a cigaret. why??? i did not plan a quit, i was perfectly happy smoking 2-3 pack a day and getting away with it. i had no intentions or goals whatsoever of quitting. then a very bad thing happened to me.
i have been married for some time now and believe it or not, i have always been faithful to my wife. if i do say so myself, i am not the worst lookung guy in the world and have had many chances but never slipped. my main reason was i always wanted my wife to hold a sense of pride and never had to go anywhere and face someone that could say ""ha ha, i slept with your husband" i made sure that would never happen. my biggest fear was to look into her face with the thought of how she would look if she ever caught me cheating. i could not bear that.
an emergency happened at the bat cave and instead of her being at work, she was at home when a neighbor called me at work. i had never told her that i had quit smoking but she assumed that i did many months ago. my standard procedure was to douse myself with febreze and chew tic tacs before going home from work so the smell of smoke was not on me. this time i had to rush home and did not douse myself and when i walked by mrs batman, she said "you have been smoking" i stood there and denied it with all my breath. she continued to say you have been smoking and i kepe deneying it. my final image of that day is my wife sitting on the side of the bed sobbing with her face in her hands sobbing and sobbing that "you are lying to me." my biggest fear had come to light and that terrible image comes to me whenever i think of lighting up. all seems ok now but she knows i have not smoked since then. i hope you all somewhat understand as you have all supported me and i felt that you all need to know my big motivator for quitting.
batman
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Post by Karyn on Feb 17, 2005 13:09:28 GMT -5
First thanks so much for all your honest answers, you all have truly shed some light for me.
I try not to go down the road much, but I figure if I can get all of you oldbies thoughts I can say to myself yes Karyn, you may still want the occassional cig, but you dont smoke so there fore it is not an option, I know this but kind of need to be reminded that it will get less and less of a thought in my brain. Thanks.
Judy thanks for finding that.
First (((BATMAN))) I dont know how I remember that because I was smoking and off the boards but I still popped in to find out how everyone was doing every once in awhile, but I remember that post of yours clearly.
I can remember crying, and feeling very bad for you and what you and your wife went through. I did the same sort of thing to my husband with my first quit. We had this 6 week old, and I hid the fact I went back to smoking for about 2 weeks. He was so mad and so dissapointed and I never wanted to see that look again.
But after my second child I just told him, honey I smoked at the Browns game. So he knew.
THanks for sharing that.
Don I love the long lost love - but the sparkle is gone.
I agree already with most of you about the occassional whiff, but the thought of it full blown in my face makes me sick.
Bubb you are right, I keep telling myself that, you cannot bury your head. I chose not to smoke for a reason, therefore because my best friend smokes doesnt mean I have to or want to.
It must of been a long road for you if your wife still smokes. Bless you.
Thank you all for your answers you have helped at least me alot and I am printing all your answers to refer back to.
Sorry so long\
Karyn
I have been quit for 2 Weeks, 3 Days, 14 hours, 30 minutes and 30 seconds (17 days). I have saved $39.60 by not smoking 264 cigarettes. I have saved 22 hours of my life. My Quit Date: 1/30/2005
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Post by Dee on Feb 17, 2005 13:41:45 GMT -5
I don't crave cigarettes. I can't stand them anymore. I can't stand to be around them. I hate sitting in the smoking sections of restaurants. I don't really like to be with people that smoke, but I would never hurt their feelings by being rude to them. I won't let people smoke in my house or my car, but when they see no ashtrays they should be able to figure that out for themselves. I am just so mad at myself for waiting all those years to take the bull by the horns. It was a battle too, just like many of you are having now. It took many attempts. I tried EVERYTHING on the market. NONE of it worked, probably because deep down I really didn't want it to work. I finally got sick of myself, set a date and quit cold turkey. I didn't think I could do it. I was scared half to death of failing yet again. By the grace of God, here I am almost 5 years down that smokeless road and I love it.
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Post by slim on Feb 17, 2005 15:01:59 GMT -5
Yep it's me _slim coming in the side door cause I am so busy it seems with work and family. My 5 year old is really sick with fever, and congestion and bla...poor little guy....I was up half the night worring and by 5 am his fever broke (zithromax and motrin)...and yes I thought for a brief moment around 3 am or so (tired and worried) that a smoke would be nice. Which of course it total junkie thinking right! Most times smoking never even enters my mind...I am enjoying that! I didn't quit cause I hated smoking. If I could go back and re-read some earlier posts of mine....( I think you have)...I would see how my path has evolved and how my understanding has grown. At some point it was like someone turned on the light if you can relate. i do not struggle with my quit like I did early on, like you probably are, where all you think about is NOT smoking...man- when does that end I thought... and it does, it will get better for you, like it has for all of us oldbies. We are all different tho and I firmly believe that positive thinking and moving forward with your smoke free life is important. I find myself still romancing the good ol' days now again, but never would I entertain ol' nic again...he really does stink!  Just a friendly reminder from _slim  |
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Post by Karyn on Feb 17, 2005 15:03:24 GMT -5
woo hoo Dee, that is wonderful
Gosh I would love to think like that,
How long did it take you to feel that way???
Karyn
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