Smoking, that is. On April 24th. After 40 years. Right now I am a short tempered bundle of unfocused energy, trying to get my mind to stick with one thing long enough to complete something, anything. I am wandering aimlessly from one room to another, starting things and then moving on to something else. Being usually very focused, this withdrawal symptom drives me nuts and makes me cranky.
I can use some help from my GMG family, words of encouragement, suggestions, along with some serious threats if I even think about having a cigarette. Well I will obviously think about it, but no one will know except me, as long as I don’t actually take one up. And you friends, contributors, and neighbors who smoke, please do not offer or give me a cigarette, or even a puff, no matter how nicely or persistently I might beg you. Also, please don’t take offense if I avoid you while you are smoking, at least until I feel strong enough to be in its presence without fear of caving in.
I am eating so many carrots that I will probably soon be able to see at night like a cat, through orange tinted eyes.
E.J. Lefavour
Good Morning Gloucester 
Hi E.J.
I believe you have the power over smoking. I quit cold turkey about 28 years ago. I had an urge to take a puff once or twice but did not. You will be so happy when you pass the one month stage. I’m cheering you on.
Joanne
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Wow Joanne, 28 years is a long time. Right now one months feels like it will be a long time, but I know you’re right. Actually I feel better today than I did yesterday. The first day all I did was walk, take showers and sleep.
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Good luck, you will do fine
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Congratulations to you on this important decision and on 4 days of going without…It is soooooo worth it to quit….I quit right before I turned 30 after a 15 year habit, and have made it 6 years, 5 months and 27 days without smoking, but…who is counting, right? Still one of my proudest achievements because I really loved smoking from the time I was a child (shamefully). It was my 3rd try quitting and went way smoother than I expected.
“Be nice to yourself” and “distract yourself” is the best advice I can give. The first two times I quit cold turkey and that was not a good way for me. I needed the help of the patch, but I modified it…I smoked about 15 cigs a day, started with the 2nd level patch (didn’t want more nicotine than I was already getting), put it on in the morning and took it off at night (the patch recommends sleeping with it on, but i did not want to do that). After the first 2 weeks, I started taking it off an hour earlier every few days to speed-ween myself off of it until the last day when I only wore it for a couple of hours….it worked like a charm. My total time on the patch was 54 days. I did find myself getting short-tempered very easily for quite a while (6 months or so) and it does fade away (mostly :-P), but I had to distract myself–I started a new workout routine, stopped buying Dunkin’s coffee every morning, started bringing my lunch to work (instead of buying out) and picked up an old hobby I had passion for but had ignored in recent years…all of those healthy distractions got me to a better place.
Something you can count on…..you will gain some weight…even with added workout routines and better eating habits….there is no avoiding this…Smoking speeds up your metabolism by about 15%. I think I gained about 10 lbs or so over the first 2-3 months and it took me about a year to get it off…I just had to focus on the fact I was doing the right thing by quitting and keep up the good habits (also very hard to do when you are cranky and your clothes are too tight) and eventually, the weight dropped off.
Instead of smoke breaks at work, I would go for 3 short walks (10 minutes or so) per work day. I was lucky enough to quit with a good personal friend that I also worked with, so that helped A LOT. If you have a quitting buddy, I would suggest hanging out with them as much as possible. It really helped with the short-tempered frustration because we could vent to each other irrationally without judgment from others during this process and we really needed that to get through this. We have both been successful so it was our time to quit.
Best of luck to you! Your mind, body, family/friends and wallet will all benefit from this positive change. Very important: If you fall off the wagon, do NOT beat yourself up…it is not productive…this is one of the most difficult addictions to overcome. Hang off the wagon as long as you feel you need to and do not get back on until you feel you are ready to try again, because the cycle of on again, off again makes it really, really hard to hang on to the goal of quitting, it does a number on your mind and if you are not 100% in, it is long term torture on both mind and body to ride it (speaking from experience in my first 2 attempts). When you are truly ready, you will succeed. sorry for the long answer…..I hope my words are of some help.
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Thank you Sarah, I really appreciate all your input – and congratulations on 6 years, 5 months and 27 days. I imagine many people who have overcome an addiction, whatever it might be, can tell you the date they became free. I have “quit” on a few prior occasions, but always for six months and then I would go back. I really don’t want to do that this time. I spent the last 4 months losing 25 lbs. and getting on a regular excercise and healthy diet routine, in preparation for this becasue I know weight gain goes along with it, and that is what has pushed me back to smoking in the past.
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You go girl… they say it is the hardest habit to quit…. You can do it…. Just take deep breaths….
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Deepak Chopra says raw cauliflower helps with cravings. I ate quite a lot of that and drank gallons of water. I quit a little over 4 years ago and occasionally I get the urge, especially if I get a whiff of a cig but I remember why I quit in the first place and don’t cave. Forge on soldier!
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Thanks Deb, I didn’t know that, and I love raw cauliflower too. The water is always a problem. I don’t like drinking water, but have been forcing myself to because I know how important it is to stay hydrated and flush the toxins. I’ve never understood why quitting smoking can make your skin so dry.
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I actually had a doctor, that I was seeing for the first time (he was a back specialist) touch the skin on my back and say “You a smoker?” He could tell I smoked because my skin was so dry. I was shocked. I never knew. Since quitting, my skin has never looked better, I get compliments even! So maybe you just need to get a good moisturizer. It’ll all work out but I’d take a healthy heart and lungs over dry skin any day. 🙂
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Good luck and if you fail say first few “tries” keep at it!!! It took me a few good times to really kick the dirty, nasty habit…. and now I’m smoke free since 1998 and couldn’t be happier on that decision… you’ll be SO glad healthwise and financially to do this ….wow when I quit back then a pack of cigarettes were $2.60… imagine that…. and nevermind weaning off… if you want to do it only way is “cold turkey” GO GO GO YOU CAN DO IT.. we’re rootin’ ya on 🙂 🙂 🙂 yay
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Hey Joanne… very impressive quit duration of 28 years woo hooo Joanne too 🙂 🙂
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Congrats, EJ! I was never a serious smoker, so I don’t have advice for you, but I’m cheering you on, too!
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I’m glad we had that conversation about this post this morning. Don’t forget to feel free to post when you’re feeling weak.
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take one day at a time and you’ll do fine! good luck
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E.J,
Congratulations on your decision. I quit 42 years ago after a 14 year habit, but (get this) my mom quit a 61 year, pack a day habit at age 76.
Think of how good you have felt on your healthiest days. Within 2 weeks you will feel better than that, every day. You will exercise more easily, enjoy your food more, feel better about yourself, and after a while, the old cig smell on your clothes will annoy you so much that you’ll have to buy all new stuff.
It is the best decision you could make for yourself. The withdrawal is temporary. It will pass and you will be a new person.
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EJ! You can do it! I quit about 17 years ago, cold turkey, and have not had one puff since. What helped (and still does) is knowing that with one hit, the clock goes back to Zero! and I will need to start all over (e.g., day 1, day 2, day 3, 3 months, 1 year, 10 years, etc.). You have started your clock and you won’t want to start over, right? Also I suggest: get a tall, pretty water bottle with a straw and use it as your crutch. Take big long draws of water. Helps to flush the nicotine, simulates puffing, makes you feel full, and is a healthy hand-to-mouth substitution. Keep it with you all the time. You can do it! I know you can.
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Keep up the great work, E.J. I’m rootin’ for you.
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EJ! You can do it! I quit 17 years ago, cold turkey, and have not had one hit since then! (dreams about it do not count, TG). One thing that helps staying off: Vowing that if you have a sneak puff, you have to set the clock back to Zero and start counting from Day 1 all over again. After a bit of time goes by, you won’t want to undo your hard work and start counting from 1 again. It really works! Also and very important: get a nice, tall, pretty water bottle with a straw. Take long draws from it! It helps to flush the nicotine from your system, makes you feel full, simulates and substitutes the touchstone and hand-to-mouth habit. Take it everywhere with you, fill before getting into the car. You can do this! No fear.
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I quit after smoking 40 years, wasn’t easy… I have been free 10 years now. Try some nicotine lozenges , they worked for me and were very easily stopped after 2 weeks. Every day is a victory
, one by one! Skip
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A big challenge for me when I quit in 1975 was associating cigarettes with coffee in the morning, and beer/wine at night. But I found a reason to stop (my sister and husband quit and forbade me to smoke in their apartment while I was visiting in Cleveland). So I didn’t smoke for ten days, and it was fairly easy from then on. The biggest withdrawal effect was nightmares of smoking again, and feeling I had betrayed myself. The smell of cigarette smoke began to annoy me, and still does. You can enjoy everything you did while a smoker, and more – including your health.
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Thinking of you and raising up all kinds of positive thoughts! You have a world of friends to cheer you on, to love and encourage you. Just put all the comments on your frig and read them every day as often as needed:-)
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EJ, Fantistic!! I began smoking at 18 and finally quit for good after 34 years. It’s been 10 years since I’ve had a cigarette. Here are a few things that helped me succeed after many failed attempts: 1: Know that the worst craving is TEMPORARY AND WILL PASS (it always does!). 2: Replace the smoking habit with a different one, for instance if you always had a cigarette after a meal, brush your teeth instead. Find a substitute for that cigarette. 3: Avoid alcohol, at least for a while, as it can make you complacent, and a drink and a cigarette go together like peanut butter and jelly. 4: Avoid smokers for a while. 5: Every day that you don’t smoke, put the money that you would have spent on cigarettes in a jar. After a month, treat yourself to something that you ordinarily wouldn’t. I bought a pair of earrings that I would otherwise have considered extravagant!! 6: If you have a calendar, go out and buy some of those gold stars that teachers used to put on papers and each day you don’t smoke, slap on a gold star. Your calendar will be very sparkly after a while. 7: here’s only ONE cigarette that you can’t have and that’s THE NEXT ONE.
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Joey was right, this was a good thing to post about. I really appreciate everyone’s suggestions, encouragement and sharing their own experiences with quitting – many of you I had no idea were smokers. One thing my mother says – she’s been off cigarettes for about 40 years – once a smoker always a smoker, but making the conscious choice not to smoke. She’s great BTW, and calls me first thing in the morning to cheer me on for the day, and prays for strength and perserverance for me.
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I quit over 25 years ago and still want a cigarette when I smell the smoke. You just have to tell yourself that you don’t do that anymore. You will find you have a lot more energy.
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Well assuming I stay quit, which I have every intention of doing, I wonder if I’ll get to say 25 years from now that I quit 25 years ago. I’d be 82. Maybe have a better chance of seeing 82 if I’m not smoking. Although my ex husband’s granny was 106 when I last saw her (she has since passed), but was always looking to bum a cigarette when we went to visit her. The family used to give me grief for giving them to her, which I thought was kind of crazy. The woman was 106 for heaven sake, let her have a cigarette if that’s what she wants. Honestly, if I was 106 right now, I wouldn’t be quiting smoking.
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GO GO GADGET! Rock on and remember – we’re all watching! 🙂
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GO GO GADGET! Rock on and remember – we’re all rooting for you! 🙂
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I never smoked but I’ve heard that it takes 3 weeks to get over a habit.
Think about the money saved!
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I stopped loving smoking for a number of reasons . I was closet smoking the last few years as all the family had quit , felt like a weirdo sneaking around . The cost of cigs got outrageous and that was at back at $3 a pack . I worked at a breakfast spot and all the people who came every day and sat at the counter for coffee that smoked were a definite shade of gray . My kids were getting to the age where smoking was an option , I wanted to set a good example and not be a hypocrite . One day I was free .
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go go go, EJ!! I, too quit, a pack+ a day, about 46 years ago. .. think it was much easier to quit then – [different cigarettes] . .. but even after a few weeks or a month of quitting was very disappointed that I did not feel any different or ‘better’, physically. . . the deal is to keep quitting and eventually you WILL feel better. . . physically, emotionally and spiritually. . . love the idea of putting money in a jar that would have been spent on each pack. .. .then splurge – – as others suggest! I thought about doing that but never did and sure wish we had —it adds up fast. [ours paid some college bills for kids – -good investment, too, and we’re splurging now that they are on their own!]
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You can do it E.J.–I know without a doubt you can. Call if you feel like having a cigarette–we’ll go for a walk instead.
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That’s a great Mother’s Day gift – she’ll be delighted!
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YF09agVUetM
OK, just for a little humor about quitting. In my quit smoking group I had a member bring this to a meeting. Hnag in there past all the intro stuff.
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just don’t drink alcohol when you are trying to quit. It will be useless if you do. Your judgement is altered when drinking. It’s a bear, but I got hypnotized and it worked. Plus, I really wanted to quit!!! remember you can remove the nail from a board but you can’t remove the nail hole. You may want one for awhile but you can do it. I , too was a heavy smoker for 30 years, Now I can;t stand being around anyone who smokes. You will be that way too, I promise !!! 🙂 HANG IN . It’s so worth it.
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Well, EJ, you’ve been given lots of good advice. I’ve never been a smoker, but lost my husband to lung cancer when we were only 33 yrs. old. He’d smoked two packs a day since he was 15. Our daughter was only 8. Your family and friends will thank you for quitting, just to have you around longer. All your organs will thank you, and you will feel better. Just take it one day at a time, and I’ll add you to my Prayer List, to help take the craving away. Good luck!
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Good for you E.J! and the carrots will give you a great glow.
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After reading all these posts tonight I have only one thing to say…what a special thing that so many people have invested in your decision to better your life with their words and positive thoughts. You can, and will succeed with this desire to stop the habit. What a lucky person you are. Stay strong, So many people care and want you to be healthy. That in itself is your motivation. Being valued. What an awesome feeling!
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Couldn’t have said it better myself. Who has a better online and offline community than GMG? You WILL do this EJ, with love and support from all of us!
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You’re so right. I have no choice but to succeed, for myself, and for all the wonderful GMG peeps I would feel I was letting down if I started again. At no other point in my life have I been blessed with such an amazing community and support network. Thanks everyone. You are all the best and I am very grateful to you all.
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When you feel like faltering just make sure you come back to this post and read all the comments again. All good stuff. Especially that alcohol one. Not that you have to quit that too but a martini sure does something to the willpower, like remove it. I’ve lost a couple pounds that past few months and it really is by cutting down on the martinis. Not that the martini has a zillion calories (it has a bunch) but that by having one I would find myself with my head stuck in the fridge at midnight finishing off the leftovers. So easy to rationalize “oh, just one won’t hurt” after a cocktail.
And if you need a quit smoking buddy Ed is ready. He is going to do the Blackburn Challenge but he has to quit to do that. If you both quit then when we see the two of you beating each other up down on the pier (I hear quitting makes you grumpy) we can sell tickets.
And nothing wrong with eating too many carrots. I had a girlfriend in college who became so addicted to carrots that the palms of her hands and the soles of her feet turned orange. I thought it was kind of sexy. Nibble nibble, carroty!
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Keep it up EJ, you are so worth it. I quit 24 years ago and it wasn’t easy, but it made a big difference in how I felt and how I felt about myself. Food is going to taste much better too.The best advice I got was just don’t smoke today, one day at a time. If you believe in a higher power, ask for help. We are all behind you.
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EJ–Persistence always pays off. Cold turkey or through fits and starts, eventually you will get there. Celery is also good since it takes so long to chew. Any kind of good raw veggies will work. As for the water, try this–mix 1 part OJ with 7 parts water (give or take) and drink. The OJ gives it enough sweetness to make it palatable and is really good for hydration. Good luck-Lindle & Darlene Willnow
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I used to smoke also EJ–quitting after about 30 yrs when I got colon cancer back in 97. I was too scared to think about quitting to be honest but I will say this. Your clothes, your hair, your car, everything, will smell so great when you’re a quitter! You’ll walk by someone in a store that’s a smoker and you will immediately recognize that stinky cigarette smell and know you smell so clean now. Take the $ you save and put it in an envelope and save it up and treat yourself to something great with it. Hang in there–it IS hard to do but you seem like a strong person. Wishing you all the best luck.
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Good for you! I quit in 1999 with the help of the patch and am so happy now to be able to run with my granddaughters and not be out of breath! Stay strong- it will get easier!
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Praise you on your effort. I know you are not a big “Material” girl, but yes, Go out and buy yourself a trinket every once in a while. Especially if you have triumphed over a difficult situation. A simple reminderof feeling good. And you know what, just do not have that first one. But if you do, the world won’t collapse. Just do not do it again. I’m sure Mike Angelo didn’t do that chapel roof on one take.
And to let you know, we are all selfish. You are one of the best people I’ve met recently and would like to continue to have you around.
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EJ, virtual ****hugs**** from me to you.
Your willing spirit will conquer and win over the desires of your flesh. The first day you quit your temple became “smoke free” – spring cleaning is taking place – how appropriate!
You have a huge GMG cheering section to keep you motivated.
As for the water, start buying lemons and squeeze a wedge into each glass you drink. Lemons are great detoxifiers. It took me a while but water is now my beverage of choice. Stay away from anything containing aspartame, sucralose, or any of those fake sugars. Those are bad for the temple!
XO
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Thanks Meg, I’ll try the lemon. I usually put a little G2 in seltzer water, but have been drinking more water, and lots of green tea. I do use fake sugar, as I stopped using real sugar months ago.
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This is wonderful news EJ, I’m so happy for you! I am sending positive thoughts and prayers your way!
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