Earlier this year, I had a bad bout with pneumonia. I had my lungs xray, which was very scary if you're a smoker. With pneumonia, smoking HURT. And I never wanted to worry about "what if." Smoking also increased my chances of getting pneumonia again.

So I patched when I got home. I'm still patching (taking it VERY slow), but I haven't smoked in 8 months. After about a month, my sense of taste came back. It's a lot easier for me to move. I don't cough when I laugh. I don't have that constant worry of "when can I have one." I feel like I'm free to do things I wasn't able to do. I get cravings, but Goof refuses to let me cheat. They do pass. And knowing my triggers helps me.

Congratulations, G! That is fantastic! And not odd at all...that is what they tell you to do. Walk away and do something else when you are craving or when you would typically reach for a cig. And walking is the best choice! I know for me walking would burn off the cravings.

Congrats to you too, Blush!

those were my exact sentiments...this is my deal and I am the only one that matters in this at this moment making it day to day.

Ive been a non smoker for a week now loving it and food tastes so different hotwings i love them however i have suddenly found out they are a bit spicy for me, pepper jack one of my favorite cheeses um yea no thanks it burned my mouth wth? lol....

Spring time smells so good right now i cant seem to get enough.

Im not coughing cause im not smoking, i love that.

I love that when "negative nellie" comes knocking on my door she is turned around or when she sneaks in a window i quickly toss her out. I don't have to deal with the negativity and i don't have to feel like crap cause i quit. i actually feel so much better.

I quickly dismiss any cravings or thoughts of smoking this seems to be working for me.

yes, incubus, i know i will be successful because i already am and yes i have a different mindset this time. i had a goal of 4/19 anyway and your story bumped that up by a week thank you for sharing that. i also spent some months increasing my vitamin c prior to quitting as opposed to after sure has made a difference. Im sorry to hear you have a non working smeller, i promise you every time i take in the scent of fresh flowers (f) i will think of you along the way.

I dont think i could wear the patches long term im thinking 6 weeks max, one more week on the 21mg then 14mg for two then 7mg for 2 then done with those as well.

The glorious part about the patches i have they are more than 6 mos expired its more the mind trick for me.

Woooohooooo you really have that changed mindset. It makes the job so much easier. It takes the 'fight' away; or it did for me. It meant I just gave myself over to quitting no matter what it took.

Awwww, how cool knowing that thousands of miles away someone is smelling a flower and thinking of a fellow non-smoker who can't smell flowers. :bouquet:

As you have read I took Champix/Chantix and took them for the prescribed amount of time which was 12weeks, two of which were before stopping the ciggies. I was apprehensive about finishing them but there was no need to worry it wasn't so hard. I still kept hold of my plastic inhalator thingy but very shortly after didn't need that either. I don't think it's a terribly good idea to take or stick on such things for longer than is recommended, they can just be another 'addiction' or crutch.

One thing I did which might not suit others but worked for me is that I had (and it's still there a year later) the makings of a ciggie left in the bottom of my last packet of tobacco. I needed to have the choice if I was ever so desperate. Despite the stresses and strains of a pretty bad year it was never needed.

i have a choice on every street corner and at every store i ave been too in the last week and the gas station as well, im choosing not to today. just as you are..

thanks for being an inspiration

Remaining calm
 

I have been taking extra vit b for this and extra b12.

Last night i had my first upset and i ended up calling a friend who is a smoker and actually helped me through the upset. Seriously visualizing bubbles. im smiling still however for those involved in this thread.

How do you handle your upsets. your cranky moments etc. ?

I told my kid i was feeling cranky she kept poking no i didnt smoke, no i dont want to smoke.

What do you do when feeling a bit cranky?

Wooohoooo! Yesterday was my one year anniversary of giving up smoking tobacco. I'm seriously chuffed with myself.

I had a tough year last year gaea and when times were bad I just rode them out in my usual non-smoking grumpy fashion, having a rough time is merely an excuse to smoke not a reason. I probably drank more alcohol though which is not the answer. Grumpiness was dealt with mainly by learning to ride a unicycle. You just can't remain grumpy when you're having wheel fun. :cheesy:

CONGRATS, INCUBUS! This is no small feat!

Strappie my boi!

You can do it! Baby steps, take baby steps and don't beat yourself up for not doing it as quickly as you'd like. It's a process and do it at your own pace.

Hang in there brotha!

Thank you Scorpie it means a lot to hear that. Yet at the same time, I've heard it so many times ya know. It's so disappointing to let your friends and family down time and time again.

Smoking Cessation Support
 

I hear ya Strap. I am a "reformed" smoker so I feel you on that one. Honestly, when I have a few drinks I still like to have a smoke and glad I have the "self control" to put it down when I need to.

BUT...As you already know, ya gotta do this moreso for YOUR health and not the family and friends (even though everyone is concerned about you, because they love you). Hopefully, they don't ride you too much on that and cut you some slack for trying and NOT police you. That would make a person want to smoke more because you feel like you're "disappointing" folks.

That's why I said "baby steps" in my prior post. It takes time bud, and you can do it. Even if you cut down to 4 or 5 smokes a day. Try and commit to yourself to do that. Basically, start off with "realistic" plan that will work for you at YOUR own pace.

It's cool to have a great support system, but you can't do this for anyone else but YOU.

Much love brotha...

-S

Strappie i am on a sub-lingual b complex i swear im calm as can be not fidgety and im not experiencing those surges your referring too, dude get some bcomplex sub-lingual stuff it isnt meds and it will help.

here for support if you need.

CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!
 

so the cranky came and went i cried myself to sleep (ugh) i couldnt go anywhere it was late, i woke up in a sour mood...felt better at around 1pm after venting and venting and venting the what happened to get me to that state...continuing on with my quit because its for me, my health, my quit.

I don't like being cranky at all.

I noticed several thing already
I have more energy
My clothes smell pretty now
So does my hair :)
I just feel better all the way around.
Im calmer, as in no more anxiety
I have more heartburn i also have stock in anatacid's at the moment this will pass and the antacids are a heck of a lot cheaper and last longer
I have a quit buddy or two or three

Sublingual Vitamin B
 

Is helping me to stay calm and not have the anxiousness seriously i take a dropper full every 3 hours and this is working plus my regular vitamins that i take daily.

My co worker quit a couple months ago and she is a wreck i told her what i was doing cause she cant beleive how calm i am so i told her there are breathing exercises as well as get your self some vit b and you will fee better.

On with the breathing exercises, what ive learned is if i hold my breath then fear and anxiety can grow within however in regular breathing you can remain calm or get excited about something, this can be applied to lots of situations regular normal breathing with positive thoughts and you can get through this.

I suddenly have a lot of extra time woo hoo, i calculated the number of cigarettes i haven't smoked by the minutes it took to smoke one and what i came up with yesterday was that i had gained an additional 40 hours of free time in 3 weeks rock on.