Props for 5 days without smoking

[Sandy]

A frequent poster here on the TGP, who shall remain nameless to protect his privacy :) is now in his fifth day of quitting. Just wanted to publicly tell him how great he is, and that he can do it!

[mprvise]

Yes he can do it! If I can do it, anyone can. My last smoke was 5/8 at 3:45am.

BTW - I used the gum so I wouldn't be a danger to myself or others. Is he using any quitting aids?

[rattles]

Congrats to your friend Sandy! Hope he continues on the path to better health.

[Sandy]

Yes he can do it! If I can do it, anyone can. My last smoke was 5/8 at 3:45am.

BTW - I used the gum so I wouldn't be a danger to myself or others. Is he using any quitting aids?


Yes, this time instead of going cold turkey he's using the gum and using cinnamon sticks as a substitute. He's quit before, once for over 5 years, so I know he can do it. I know it is really really hard, so I'm trying to be as encouraging as possible. He says he feels better already.

[beatnix]

Major props to anyone who is endeavoring to quit a controlling, destructive habit. Difficult - yes, impossible - no, worth it - definitely.

Hang in there.

[ScottR]

Awesome!!! I just hit the 10 month mark last week. keep it up it gets a little easier every day

[Allthumbs56]

A little over five months for me now. I'm not a non-smoker - just a smoker whose not smoking - one day at a time.

Good luck to your friend.

[gdmiller88]

Almost 18 months for me. Congrats and good luck to your friend!

[Midnight Lady]

Tell him a big CONGRATULATIONS! from me. It is a tough tough thing to do but if he's made it five days, he's already well on his way. The gum is good (the patch is better!) but whatever works for him is a-ok. If he has any smoking friends, he should perhaps not spend as much time with them for a while. :)

He's doing great and I'm pleased for him and pleased for you too Sandy!!!

:AOK:AOK:AOK

[halorealm7]

Congrats and he is not alone. I'm on my 51st day without a smoke. Nobody can believe it including me.

[orogeny]

i keep telling myself today's going to be the day. . .

thanks for the inspiration

[Heinz W]

Way to go to all of you Quitters!!! Keep it up.

Next month will be 12 years for me. Cold turkey here.

The secret? There are two: First, you must really want to quit 100%. Not 98%. Not 99.9%. 100. Second, do NOT have even one drag from a cig. Zip. Zilch. Nada.

Good luck to all.

[andyland6]

whoo-hoo!!!

[hb_nz]

Good stuff! Every day is a milestone of sorts when it comes to quitting. I'm nearly 3 months smokefree now and I remember that first week as being the hardest by far and the first 4 days of that week being the hardest. Day 5 is a good sign!

[tonedaddy]

Big thumbs up to all who have quit.
:AOK
I've never smoked, so I can't imagine how tough it is.
You have my respect!

[Flyin' Brian]

It's not an easy path Sandy. Very cool and have him hang in for both your sakes.

[deicide100]

I find these threads to be very inspirational. I believe there was one about quitting about 8 months ago and it finally made me say that's it and I quit for 5 months and then went overseas which completely ruined it for me(having smoker friends don't help much). I am pretty determined to quit one of these days, hopefully for good this time.

[Sandy]

I find these threads to be very inspirational. I believe there was one about quitting about 8 months ago and it finally made me say that's it and I quit for 5 months and then went overseas which completely ruined it for me(having smoker friends don't help much). I am pretty determined to quit one of these days, hopefully for good this time.

I'm glad to hear that! I know that most of you who smoke understand the health ramifications, and don't need the rest of us telling you what a foul habit it is, or nag you about quitting. It truly has to come because you want to, not to appease a wife, girlfriend or family member.

It just makes me really really happy that he is quitting. I am keeping my fingers and toes crossed that he doesn't slip...

[SimonBSinister]

A frequent poster here on the TGP, who shall remain nameless to protect his privacy :) is now in his fifth day of quitting. Just wanted to publicly tell him how great he is, and that he can do it!

You can do it... You are past the hardest part... Get a tub of pretzel sticks and don't give in....

Smoked for 30 year and quit on Jan 1st haven't had one since and don't miss it at all. TO be honest the smell and sight of it now grosses me out and I feel like an idiot for not quitting much much earlier....

Good Luck

[JJGross]

Congrats to anyone who can quit!

I quit years ago - cold turkey.
Quitting was easy - 'staying quit' was not.

The older I get the more grateful I am to be a non smoker.
Seems like every year that passes I hear about someone I know dying of cancer.
I plan on being around to annoy everyone for a long time. :D

Cheers,
- JJ

[SimonBSinister]

Congrats to anyone who can quit!

I quit years ago - cold turkey.
Quitting was easy - 'staying quit' was not.

The older I get the more grateful I am to be a non smoker.
Seems like every year that passes I hear about someone I know dying of cancer.
I plan on being around to annoy everyone for a long time. :D

Cheers,
- JJ


Great Post I will remember your words moving forward as a non smoker...

[Ed Packer]

Going on four years for me, never felt better! Keep it up, Man, you'll be so glad you did.

[Midnight Lady]

The BEST part is how proud you will be that you managed to kick this habit. It does amazing things for how you feel about yourself - that you had the strength and conviction to quit and the dogged determination to "stay quit".

Keep us updated Sandy!

[Dave LaP]

Sandy,

Thanks for the thread. I assume it's about me since we are friends and I am a Gear Pager in my fifth day of quitting? Hmmm...seems too coincidental to be someone else. :) Thanks for wanting to protect my privacy Sandy but it's not like I'm working undercover or anything. :BluesBros

I really appreciate all the kind words and thoughts. It helps me see the light at the end of the tunnel a little better. I really need to beat this habit once and for all-for my own health and for my loved ones who care about me and want/need me around for as long as possible.

[Dave LaP]

Way to go to all of you Quitters!!! Keep it up.

Next month will be 12 years for me. Cold turkey here.

The secret? There are two: First, you must really want to quit 100%. Not 98%. Not 99.9%. 100. Second, do NOT have even one drag from a cig. Zip. Zilch. Nada.


That is soooo true. So true. I have to remember that. It's been my downfall in the past.

Having just one cigarette or even a drag, for me reminds me of an insect that's caught in sink water that's gently going down the drain. It may be on the outside edge where the current is really mild and doesn't feel like much but it's inexorably pulling it toward further and further in until...well..you know...

[Big Boss Man]

I quit 2/22/04. The first few days are the hardest part. That is when you break the physical addiction. After that it is all a mental thing. Good luck.

[tantramar]

just passed the four year mark here. It is truly worth the effort. Keep it up!

[bigkahuna2u]

Thing I learned about quitting is you're only gonna quit if you really want to. After a few failed attemps I made up my mind that I was going to do it. I smoked 1-2 packs a day for a good 10 years. I found the first few days rough but was driven to quit so it wasn't too bad. It was after the first few days when my drive wavered a bit that it got quite tough. Reading posts of people who had quit and things they found that helped, helped. Do some googling and you'll find support in the words of others. It really takes about 5 weeks to get over the major hump of it. After that it gets much easier. The urges will never completely go away but after that 5 week period they will come much less often and pass quicker. Eventually you'll reach the point where you only get a few urges a year that are easy to say no to and pass rather quick. Be careful not to pick up substitute addictions either like sugar and comfort food (my mistake) and realize you're going to have to rewire your brain a bit for how you deal with problems and stress. It's not easy but if you want to quit and have some toughness you'll do it (I quit living alone in NYC in the midst of a bad job situation while job hunting). And remember, the body completely regenerates itself every 7 years...you can have a new set of lungs by 2015 ;)

[QRSS]

Thing I learned about quitting is you're only gonna quit if you really want to. After a few failed attemps I made up my mind that I was going to do it. I smoked 1-2 packs a day for a good 10 years. I found the first few days rough but was driven to quit so it wasn't too bad. It was after the first few days when my drive wavered a bit that it got quite tough. Reading posts of people who had quit and things they found that helped, helped. Do some googling and you'll find support in the words of others. It really takes about 5 weeks to get over the major hump of it. After that it gets much easier. The urges will never completely go away but after that 5 week period they will come much less often and pass quicker. Eventually you'll reach the point where you only get a few urges a year that are easy to say no to and pass rather quick. Be careful not to pick up substitute addictions either like sugar and comfort food (my mistake) and realize you're going to have to rewire your brain a bit for how you deal with problems and stress. It's not easy but if you want to quit and have some toughness you'll do it (I quit living alone in NYC in the midst of a bad job situation while job hunting). And remember, the body completely regenerates itself every 7 years...you can have a new set of lungs by 2015 ;)

did you celebrate after five days?

[bigkahuna2u]

did you celebrate after five days?
Nope. The physical addiction starts breaking in around 5 days which makes it somewhat easier but it's really all about the mental addiction, takes a good 5 weeks to crack that.

[Brian D]

Major props to anyone who is endeavoring to quit a controlling, destructive habit. Difficult - yes, impossible - no, worth it - definitely.

Hang in there.:agree