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Smoking and How To Quit
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Zarahelana from AF Pacific (AP) (United States)
January 14, 2010 10:15 a.m.
It’s January 14, 2009. I made up my mind to quit smoking, and I’m starting at this very hour. I’ve been a smoker for 14 years and honestly I really do not enjoy smoking anymore compared to my younger years. When I smoked, the pleasure was gone. I just couldn’t understand why I kept on smoking. Maybe the satisfaction it gives when the urges hit me. Please, I do need support to make it through.
Jeff from Missouri (United States)
January 11, 2010 11:32 p.m.
I haven't had a smoke in 8 days (after 28 yrs) and to take the edge off I used the commit lozenges and I'm down to one per day. Good luck and you can do it for you and your kids.
Om from Virginia (United States)
January 6, 2010 5:48 a.m.
It is true that we all smokers have similar thoughts and experiences. The only fear among us is in regard to possibility of quitting smoking. I now know this is really an easy task and you must believe it. Do not think too much to go for medication etc; just leave smoking at once, that’s all. It’s only a strong will-power and we can feel a real happy and enjoyable life which is not available or seemingly possible while smoking.
Liz from New York (United States)
January 5, 2010 3:02 p.m.
I am on day 5 of not smoking. I’m not too grouchy, but I think about smoking constantly. I hope that will stop too.
Lesa from Texas (United States)
December 28, 2009 1:35 p.m.
I quit smoking 3 weeks ago today! PRAISE GOD. I decided it was time. I think you have to decide it’s time and it makes it much easier. I quit COLD TURKEY. I FEEL AWESOME. NOT COUGHING, I can breathe better my lungs feel better and I DONT SMELL BAD. I don’t worry about being beside of my non-smoking friends and thinking “Oooh, how bad DO I smell?” I am amazed. I thank the good lord. I have tried many times but this time it feels like it will work. I am scared to death of getting cancer because I smoke. Today I know my risks are still there but I AM NOT as scared. My heart feels better and my panic attacks have stopped!!! I AM AMAZED THAT I HAVE DONE THIS . . . . . . IT FEELS GOOD. I QUIT COLD TURKEY. MY NEW THING IS WATER. KEEP THE WATER CLOSE AND IT HELPS. IN THE CAR DRINK WATER - LOTS AND LOTS OF BOTTLED WATER. IT GIVES YOUR HAND TO MOUTH SOMETHING TO STAY BUSY. GOD BLESS YOU AND GOOD LUCK!
Connie from Illinois (United States)
December 24, 2009 8:57 a.m.
My husband and I quit almost 2 years ago. I was 1 pack a day, he was 3. I had been smoking for 25 years, he over 30. We went to a chiropractor for a type of acupuncture. It was a sort of tack that she put in one ear. When I had a craving I pushed the tack. It helped, but was not a silver bullet! Quitting together was the most help I believe. I'd also like to say that my motivation was because of yellow teeth and facial wrinkles brought on by smoking. You could have shown me pictures of my lungs and heart all day long, but vanity was much stronger!
William from Virginia (United States)
December 19, 2009 2:25 p.m.
Hi. It’s been 56 days smoke free and I really feel good. Let me tell you, if you smoke, quit and see the difference in how you feel. I stopped cold turkey. A cigarette used to be the last thing in my mouth before bed and first thing out of bed. I smoked about 30 years and just decided it was my time to quit. Ask the good lord to help you with the cravings and see him come through.
Susan from New York (United States)
December 18, 2009 10:23 a.m.
I am on day 13 of being smoke free. I went cold turkey and found it much easier than trying the medication or a patch. The fact that you can smoke when you are on those meds didn’t help me. I couldn’t get past the cravings. I only wanted to smoke more. I found just not picking up that first cigarette was how I got through!! If you don’t pick up that morning cigarette you can move on. Then it’s just a matter of willpower. I am 50 and have been smoking for years. When you get a feeling that scares the daylights out of you - it’s easy to stop! When you get a scary feeling like you might be getting a heart attack - it's easy to stop! I am breathing better. I am not getting winded walking up the stairs. I am no long clearing my throat every 15 minutes. I can taste things. I can smell things. I can smell my perfume. My hands no longer smell like disgusting cigarettes! Ahhh, I could go on and on. I am taking it one day at a time. I still get cravings but much less than the first week. As a matter of fact, yesterday I barely thought about cigarettes at all. I'm keeping my fingers crossed as I take this journey day by day.
Rebecca from Texas (United States)
December 14, 2009 8:11 p.m.
I smoked for 18 years - even after my dad died of lung cancer. My kids would parrot their teacher’s lectures about how I as their smoking mother would die of cancer (yes this is what the schools are telling your kids). Still I smoked. I'm 35 now...and frankly I got tired of having to always have the darn things with me. And then there's the idea that if I go back to work, or want to take a few college classes...will I be able to not smoke? Ok this was getting out of control. Went to the doctor and she prescribed me some medicine. Wow...really? A little pill twice a day was going to make me stop...Yeah, right. Well it's 2 months later. The first week I smoked every day as usual. The next week I was supposed to completely stop, but I slipped (a lot). Ok, so I smoked like 6 a day, instead of 16. The 3rd week I smoked like 3 a day...still not good in my eyes, but ok. By the end of the first month it was really dumb. I was smoking half a cigarette in the morning and half at night...ok, I may as well just stop. I feel dumb still needing it. It was then that the cravings were the worst. Knowing that I was almost done with my last pack, and knowing I would not allow myself to buy any more. I ate all of the kids Halloween hard candies and gum. Went through another 3 packs of gum, and even called my family to complain! I still have 1 cigarette in the last pack. I think I'm ready to destroy it...maybe as a celebration. I CAN beat it!
Heather from Pennsylvania (United States)
December 4, 2009 4:47 p.m.
I am on my second day of quitting. My grandmother died from heart failure due to smoking and this is the reason I am quitting. I do not want to have an oxygen tank or be on a nebulizer, nor have a horrific cough. I can do this. It's a shame that it took a death for me to get the picture. Please don't let it be you.
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Content last updated January 14, 2010.

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