I Quit!
Well, it’s a quarter after five p.m. and I haven’t had a single cigarette today. I’m using the patch. I got up this morning and instead of lighting up and getting all jacked up on coffee, I actually ate breakfast, slapped on my first nicotine patch, and went to the gym.
So far, so good, although just in the last couple of hours, I’ve been having the first seriously strong cravings. That’s what happens when you spend several hours sitting idly in your windowless office getting more and more bored, I guess.
Deep breaths, I can do this.
Please send your prayers my way.
A little more self-indulgent stuff about quitting smoking below the fold.
I’m starting to feel the first flashes of intense irritability. It might be best if I don’t listen to the news today about John McCain and his scary, fascist rallies. NPR is going around talking to people at a McCain rally and hey, whaddyaknow, they’re a bunch of ignorant cuntbags. I think we should start machine-gunning the crowds as they emerge from these gatherings of Nietzsche’s Bungled and Botched. As a preventative measure. Eventually they’re going to get violent, even Dave Gergen thinks so, and I think we should just beat them to the punch by doing Darwin’s dirty work, or at least helping it along a bit.
So, yeah, I’m hanging in there, trying not to think of how good a cigarette would be right about now. I will use this rage, channel it, yes, yessssss…
I’ve been a smoker for 23 years. I quit for three months once, but that was actually twenty years ago. I think I made it two days another time, maybe three.
See, I loved cigarettes. I used to say to people who urged me to quit that there are two kinds of people in the world, Smokers and Non-Smokers and I would be smoking until they close the coffin lid on me, count on it. I dismissed all of the increasing anti-smoking rhetoric and restrictions of the last few years as so much nanny-state hand-wringing and vowed to proudly smoke like a Mad Men cast member whenever and wherever I could forever and ever, amen.
Then Juan Carlos starting having his eye problems and it occurred to me that second-hand smoke was probably a major contributing factor. Then Baby Max got sick, too, and that sealed it. It was the only thing I could think of about our living environment that might affect them that way. Hurting me? Meh, whatever. At least I’m not a junkie anymore. Hurting Max and Juan Carlos? Unacceptable.
The nicotine patches came with a “wallet card” where you are supposed to write down why you’re quitting to pull out and look at when the cravings start to become overpowering. Mine says:
1. Max and Juan Carlos and their health and well-being.
2. My looks.
3. To get everybody off my fucking back. (Are you listening, Mom?!)
I’m sure my lungs and heart should be on there somewhere and a good psychiatrist would probably tell you that there’s some kind of self-harm thing lurking in their absence on the ticket, but I’ll think about that later, thanks. Meanwhile I just want to keep my boys healthy and stop my face from shriveling up like a shrunken head.
But goddamn, right now, I really, really want a cigarette.
60 Responses to “I Quit!”
By litbrit on Oct 10, 2008 6:03 pm |
You have a beautiful face, dahling. And once you’ve quit for a while, your lung tissue will repair itself and your energy will improve and things will taste and smell better.
Keep crunchy stuff in the fridge–little ziploc bags of carrot sticks and celery and sweet apples–and munch on those when you have that oral-attack thing (that’s what I did, not being a gum person). Also, peel and eat an orange–something about having to slow down and use your fingers to prepare the fiddly fruit by peeling it and separating the segments, and then eating the sweet flesh, is satisfying and will take your mind off the craving.
And once you’ve gone a while, treat yourself and rent a professional steam-cleaner for your carpets, and wash the curtains and blinds, and get all smoke-smelling things out of your house. This will help a lot, too.
I’m so proud of you, T. Hang in there.
By PoliticalPolyanna on Oct 10, 2008 6:05 pm |
Been there myself, T. The Saturday before Thanksgiving will be the one year anniversary of my quitting. I smoked for 28 years. Had a couple false starts at quitting, but then finally made it.
It’s not easy, but you can do it!
By Valley Girl on Oct 10, 2008 6:15 pm |
You on you, Trex. Your biological clock might be different, but for a lot of people, myself included, the 5 p.m.ish time is the low point of the day. So, factor that in, fwiw.
By john in california on Oct 10, 2008 6:27 pm |
I was 35 when I quit thirty years ago and I can still remember that first couple of weeks. High anxiety! The thing that I credit most with making me stick with it was exercise. I had once been an athlete and so started running (well, jogging) at the same time I quit. Every day I got up and ran as far as I could before my burning lungs made me turn around and walk home. For the rest of the day, when the craving got bad, I would say to myself, “I Did Not go through all that pain this morning just to throw it away now!” If you are a little masochistic anyway, this method can help and if not it always provides a little more shadenfruede for your commiserating-to-your-face/laughing-behind-your-back friends. Good Luck! In the end, it will all be worth it.
By moistenedbink on Oct 10, 2008 6:47 pm |
TRex! Good for you and the kitties and anyone who will be kissing you!
Keep your hands busy, that’s the key. When my father-in-law quit (he was such a heavy smoker he got to the point he would almost pass out during coughing fits) 30 years ago the tough guy took up macrame. We had enough macrame plant hangers and dream catchers to last a lifetime.
By Kinmo on Oct 10, 2008 7:08 pm |
Delurking.
I smoked for almost 25 years, and loved every minute of it. I quit four years ago, and haven’t regreted one minute. I just decided one day that I needed to move on, turn a new page in my life. I haven’t looked back. It’s counterproductive, and a distraction. Call a friend or family member when it gets too tough, they will help you. Hang in there TRex, it gets better everyday.
By Shoeempress on Oct 10, 2008 7:32 pm |
It’s been three years and one month (not that I’m counting) since I “quit”. Since I cannot bear the thought of actually NEVER smoking a cigarrete again, I vowed only to smoke Gauloise which are only sold in France and only when I am there. So, I get to smoke only in France. This has worked for me so far, and I can really breath much better and my four footed kids seem to be doing better. Treat yourself kindly and give yourself treats to keep from ripping folks heads off. And, remember, you never have to stop being a “Smoker”, only be one who doesn’t actually smoke. (For some reason this helps me.) Oh, and don’t have drink for a good long while, this almost drove me to a frenzy. Good luck, not that you will need it, you are doing fine.
By jwg on Oct 10, 2008 7:36 pm |
It’ll be eleven months tomorrow after 34 years of smoking. Hang in there and tough it out TRex. Good luck.
By DrDick on Oct 10, 2008 7:37 pm |
Congratulations! All my positive thought heading your way. I quit after 30 years, most of it smoking 2-3 packs a day, and I know you can do it.
By litbrit on Oct 10, 2008 7:52 pm |
Oh, oh, before I forget: start a little piggy bank for yourself–throw in the dollars you’d have spent on cigarettes and when it gets full, you’ve got a nice new jacket (or whatever) as your reward. (The habit was expensive enough for me back in the early 80’s; I can’t imagine how much a pack costs now, but think of all that money, adding up, that you’ll save.)
By petedownunder on Oct 10, 2008 8:04 pm |
Good on ya, TRex. I smoked in school and am very glad I quit years ago. John in CA is right about exercise, it really helps plus it also will make you feel better generally.
Good luck!
By Janenyc on Oct 10, 2008 9:07 pm |
Just checking in from the wilds of NC. Am so happy to read this TRex and will send lots of good thoughts your way. Have a sad family history with regards to smoking….am hardly rational on the subject. So glad to see you are taking care of yourself.
We want you and your kittens to be as hale and healthy as possible.
By Cointreau P. Leviticus on Oct 10, 2008 9:11 pm |
Need futher incentive? Here ya go.
On May 2, 2000 I removed my Dad’s last pack of cigarrettes from his bedside… just after the mortician had hauled his cold, metastatic lung cancer-ridden body away from the hospice. He never knew his grandchildren.
Take it from one who knows, you have taken the first step towards saving those who love you immeasurablle heartbreak. Stick to it, you owe them.
By punaise on Oct 10, 2008 9:23 pm |
hang in there, T - you can do it!
By may on Oct 10, 2008 9:29 pm |
good on ya Trex.
sharpen up the won’t power.
the idea of fruit and veg for snacking is really good.
i found the cravings faded into the background.
the worst of it was making sure weight gain didn’t get the upper hand.
By Valley Girl on Oct 10, 2008 9:47 pm |
TRex- this is great advice
moistenedbink said
I wish I could remember where I read it, but it was from a guy who is the talk of his (apparently otherwise female) book group, because he crochets. Especially does so while watching Football.
Knitting and crocheting can be very Zen-like, and calming. Which reminds, me, I need to resume some unfinished projects.
TRex, I have a huge stash of yarn, plus all the knitting needles and crochet hooks one could ever want. Srsly. Let me know if you want a tutorial, plus some of my stash goodies. You know where to find me!
By Sharonlee on Oct 10, 2008 10:17 pm |
TRex–”But goddamn, right now, I really, really want a cigarette.”
Want is not the same as needing.
Congrats on your major step. Just pull out that card and remember JC and Max. And add your own name to the list of reasons for quitting. I have a neighbor who has just gone through her second surgery for lung cancer. That is very real.
Litbrit’s suggestion of getting the smoke influence out of the living quarters is an excellent one.
By Andrah on Oct 10, 2008 10:22 pm |
I quit on Labor Day 1981, and yes, it was planned for that auspiciously named day.
For many years I quit every Monday so planned this day way in advance. I also went on a fast, drinking unsweetened iced tea to infuse caffeine to offset the withdrawal. After two days, I was so happy to get something to eat, all desire for a cigarette was gone! The method was brutal, but I also learned not to substitute food for cigarettes.
It worked.
By nanz on Oct 10, 2008 10:32 pm |
Hey TRex, good luck to you. My dad finally quit after a heart attack about 40 years ago and was doped up pretty good for a long time and in the hospital. Mom knew he would start again if she continued to smoke so she did it cold turkey, that was back before patch help and boy did she suffer –when we cleaned out her garage a couple years ago, there was a full pack of Alpines hidden away. Her last.
But the rest of his life my Dad unconsciously would seek cigs. in his left shirt pocket.
Keep busy– lots of good ideas here. We are with you!
By AmIDreaming on Oct 10, 2008 10:36 pm |
Don’t just use the patch. Use the nicotine inhalers (Nicotrol) as well. They really make a difference. It’s three years now for me, first try after 30 years of smoking, no looking back. They were recommended by a 45-year, 3-pack-a-day user, who attributed success to the inhalers instead of the patch. I agree.
The inhalers give you a little control over the nicotine “kick.” It’s small and subtle, but gives you a handle on what’s worst (for me) about quitting — not getting the rush when you need it.
You’ll know you’re finished with cigarettes in about 6 weeks when you cheat and have one and realize it doesn’t do anything for you. That point really does come. Really.
By Jacqueline Propps on Oct 10, 2008 10:46 pm |
Yay! Sending good energy. I quit many years ago by (ab)using sunflower seeds. Something about the hand-to-mouth habit… but also Deep Breaths can help you ‘act as if’ too.
Congrats. Your kitties thank you and so do we.
By CD on Oct 10, 2008 11:10 pm |
Trex, this is the best news I’ve heard in a long time! Much positive energy headed your way…hang in there. Yourself, your kitties, and your friends (who are legion) will all benefit.
By pepi katona on Oct 10, 2008 11:11 pm |
I managed to quit even before there were patches, and instead used one of those quitting classes that hospitals run. One element that helped was the fact that other people in the class were also finding it difficult. Misery loves company. The class told us about several tricks. One trick is to change all your routines around, so that you aren’t often doing things that you always smoked while doing. Another trick is to face down strong cravings, realizing that each time you DON’T smoke when you really want to, you are blunting the habit of automatically answering the desire to smoke with an instant cigarette. The connection between wanting and lighting up gets weaker and weaker, and pretty soon it is gone. One warning. You might just continue to dream that you are still smoking. You can add these dreams to the ones about being in a play and not knowing your lines, or about exam time when you have never been to any of the classes. Anyway, quitting is one of the wisest decision you will ever make.
By Laura on Oct 11, 2008 12:05 am |
YAY!! Wonderful news, T. I’m glad you’ve put it out to your community. Please remember we’re here, round the clock (round the world, even) pulling for you. And if you can’t vent here, with real but invisible chums (*waving to yr mom*) where can you? Vent, breathe, exercise, savor food slowly, SMELL things and keep those little paws busy. Knitting is a great idea, I think. You’d be amazed how relaxing and absorbing it is….
I love why you’re doing this and I’m sure you’ll see positive results beyond what you hope for. Such a life-affirming choice. Good on you!
By betsy muffin on Oct 11, 2008 12:11 am |
best of luck with the non-smoking T.
By madmommy on Oct 11, 2008 12:22 am |
Good luck to you. Seems the only time I can quit is when I’m pregnant. I was doing great with it for a while but Gustav and Ike stress and evacuation wrecked me. At least I don’t smoke in the house or the car when the kids are with me. Pitiful, I am.
By Don on Oct 11, 2008 12:36 am |
You can do it! I smoked for over 35 years and have been clean for the last 10. It’s hard, but it gets easier as time goes on. Keep up the good work.
By Laura on Oct 11, 2008 12:39 am |
madmommy said
Hope abides, mm. (holding it for you, too.)
By John Chylek on Oct 11, 2008 12:57 am |
Trex, I smoked a pack a day for about 40 years, and stopped after I had a heart attack. I tell my friends that, no, I didn’t quit smoking. The heart attack knocked it out of me.
You don’t need it, Trex. Life goes on without it.
Think of nicotine as a little monster knee-capping your energy every 30 minutes.
By enigma4ever on Oct 11, 2008 1:20 am |
hang in there..you are doing great….you will get through this..GUM and MORE GUM…( nicorette and any KIND helps immensely……my patients swear that Hypnosis works…I quit after watching my granmom battling lung and breast cancer…watching her cough up chunks of who knowbloody what made me quick…I never smoked again….
at the time my ex and I saved money every day to equal what we would have smoked- and then we took a vacation with the money….that was a nice reward…
Best to you….have courage….we have faith that you will get through it…
By darkblack on Oct 11, 2008 2:50 am |
You’ll get more kisses if you don’t smoke.
;>)
By skippy on Oct 11, 2008 2:51 am |
good for you, trex, and good luck.
try hypnosis, maybe self-hypnosis…just give yourself some positive reinforcement as you go to sleep. that’s how i did it.
in my day, i abused pot, coke, acid, speed, and mega gallons of alcohol. i am now clean and sober for over 20 years.
but the hardest thing i ever gave up was my four pack a day habit.
and it was the best thing i ever did for myself.
keep it up. do the carrots thing, and exercise.
By SixStringFanatic on Oct 11, 2008 3:27 am |
Congrats and best of luck on the whole adventure, T. I smoked my last cig on New Year’s Day this year (after a 22 year habit) and haven’t really looked back. I used Chantix and it worked like a charm. Didn’t worry about the scare stories; messing with the ole brain chemistry is always “interesting” and I’ve used anti-depressants in the past without them making me worse.
Everyone here has great suggestions about winning the battle against the cravings; use any or all of them that work for you. It really is the best thing that you can do for yourself and your little ones. When you find yourself recoiling instinctively from people who smell like cigarette smoke, you’ll know you’re getting there. It really is a foul-smelling habit, which you’ll recognize yourself, in about a month or two.
Good for you and keep at it.
By Steve T. on Oct 11, 2008 3:40 am |
Bravo, me boy. You can see we’re all rooting for you.
I never smoked, but my hubbie smoked at least two packs a day when I met him, over 30 years ago. I was smitten, wildly in love for the very first time, so I didn’t care. Much.
He tried to quit several times, but then in the mid 80s he turned to Corinne Calvet. Google will ID her as a French actress who played many sultry roles in noir films of the 40s and 50s. But when that career wound down, she became a hypnotherapist in Santa Monica specializing in helping smokers quit.
It worked. He hasn’t smoked since, though occasionally he admits he’d really like one. When he finally quit for real, he resolved not to be one of those annoying holier-than-thou non-smokers who ban cigarettes from the house. But as time passed, as smoke residue gradually faded from the curtains and the carpet and the blankets and all other absorptive stuff, he was amazed at the difference it made. Clean air! He was also amazed that I’d put up with the stink for so long, but hey, I was in love with the guy.
But banishing the smoke made a huge difference, and I’m sure it will with your kittys. For me, it means that instead of sadly remembering my Alden, lost to smoking related diseases, I can log off at this ridiculously late hour and slip into bed beside him and join him in sleep. Night night.
By Poopyman on Oct 11, 2008 9:39 am |
You can do this T. Just remember that the tobacco companies load up cigs with other addictive crap besides nicotine, so the patch isn’t the end-all. Use this as another reason to quit - deny those bastards an income based on deliberately addicting people.
By MarcInSanFrancisco on Oct 11, 2008 2:06 pm |
Long time reader here and at the ‘lake, first time poster.
Good luck Trex, I’m about a week into quitting. The thing that works for me is the 2mg Nicotine gum, and having a positive reason to quit.
The patch just made me dizzy. The gum (fruit flavored), somehow helps with the urge to have a cig in my hand too.
Once I had a positive reason to quit(saving money now that the economy is ‘tanking’), quitting has turned from a ‘hellish’ experience to an annoying but ‘doable’ chore.
Why? I guess it’s more of an ‘active’ approach: Quitting is something I’m doing to save money. Instead, of the ‘passive’ approach of ‘I’m not going to smoke a cigarette.’ That change of focus, is what’s helped a lot.
Hope this is of some small comfort to ya, and good luck again!!
By Cointreau on Oct 11, 2008 2:25 pm |
P.S., More incentive
I’m a Ph.D. Pharmacologist, my Dad and Grandfather were MD’s who knew better than to smoke. Neither wanted to quit though, because they were completely and thoroughly addicted. By design.
Grandpa died with emphysema, and all I remember of him was his nasal oxygen cannula and the wierd smell of stale tobacco. Dad started smoking at age 11, right after all the GI’s came home with their new addictions firmly established through the patriotic product donations of big Tobacco. War heroes smoked, so my Dad started.
Enough bummers, here’s the point. When my Dad died, the chairman of my Pharm. department came to me and suggested I get a lawyer because, when the truth came to light, I would want to bring big T down for murdering my Dad.
He (my chairman) was on the Institute of Medicine team that got to see internal industry documents describing decades of consciously executed mass murder. He couldn’t share specifics, but I put the story together myself from his hints.
Big Tobacco tuned the cigs to maximize their addictive properties, we all know that. One less widely known bit of trivia is how they did it. They REMOVED nicotine, diluting it out to exactly where they wanted it. This swings the dose per cig downward along the negative reinforcement dose/response curve so you don’t want to puke. At the same time they dialed the nicotine into the sweet spot of the addiction curve. Voila, generations of guaranteed profit, courtesy of “science.”
If you’re interested I can send some supporting peer-reviewed publications that show how this works. Email me.
This is also how their execs managed to be entirely truthful under oath in the ’90s, avoiding jail (for now). They were asked perfectly worded questions by obviously coached congresscritters. Basically the questions asked “Did you add nicotine to make the cigs more addictive?” Truthful answer…no. Hearing closed.
I hope this is inspiring in that you can lose the guilt, you were taken by pros. Now that you’re quitting, you’re beating the fatcat tobacconists despite their best, science-based efforts. You might also consider lawyering up. Go TRex!
By dakine01 on Oct 11, 2008 3:59 pm |
I quit when I was 22 after smoking for 8 years. I was going through three packs a day at the time. But I swore I would never pay more than fifty cents a pack (hey, this was Kentucky in 1974, OK?) and they were forty-five cents in the machines.
I watched my mother die from serious lung problems exacerbated by cigarettes.
Of course, I just went to smoking 8/10/12 joints a day (but doing all the cleaning and rolling did keep my hands busy)
By HarpoSnarx on Oct 11, 2008 3:59 pm |
Ok, don’t laugh. When the urge was bad, I would sniff an ashtray. The smell helped settle the cravings. Of course don’t go overboard, plus drink lots of water too.
Good luck - I know you can do it.
It’s a powerful addiction but once you master it, you’ll never regret it.
By sylvainsylvain on Oct 11, 2008 5:03 pm |
Hey T,
It’s been 6 days since I’ve had one. I’m using the lozenges, they work better for me than the patch. I’ve been a 2-3 pack a day smoker for 15 years, started when I moved to Europe.
I’m telling myself I haven’t “quit” smoking, I just haven’t had any for 6 days. It’s okay if I have one tomorrow, or two, but I’m not going to have any today.
By e on Oct 11, 2008 5:11 pm |
Look T! From Matt Taibbi:
‘I’m standing outside the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. Sarah Palin has just finished her speech to the Republican National Convention, accepting the party’s nomination for vice president. If I hadn’t quit my two-packs-a-day habit earlier this year, I’d be chain-smoking now. So the only thing left is to stand mute against th fit-for-a-cheap-dog-kennel crowd-control fencing you see everywhere at these idiotic conventions and gnaw on weird new feelings of shock and anarchist rage as one would a rawhide chew toy.”
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/23318320/mad_dog_palin/print
Now if he could do it THERE…..
By maximus on Oct 11, 2008 6:41 pm |
Can’t add too much to what has been posted…it’s been coming on to 19 years for me; quit cold turkey after being sure to tell everyone who would listen, so that I wouldn’t backtrack. It was (after the first few weeks of hell) the best move I’ve ever made. It even made my morning coffee taste all that much better. Hang in there, T…I loved cigarettes, too, but loved my lungs and my dogs even more.
By moistenedbink on Oct 11, 2008 8:11 pm |
Valley Girl said
You are thinking of football great Rosie Grier and he took up needlepoint to much derision. And then became a prison chaplain. You know, we are at our best while helping and supporting each other, not hating and dividing. Go Obama!
By Petedownunder on Oct 11, 2008 8:51 pm |
TRex - there is one draw back to quitting. My dad, after he quit after years of smoking, discovered that for years he’d been eating food he didn’t like…
Otherwise it’s all good
By Kathryn in MA on Oct 11, 2008 10:01 pm |
i’m always so awed and impressed when anyone starts pulling Big Tobacco’s talons out - it’s painful!
and, yes, pets can get cancer from second-hand smoke!
Good for you! and please post more pictures of your boys, plsthnx!!
By GuyFromOhio on Oct 11, 2008 10:49 pm |
The force of will can remake the world.
That anger and irritability can be channeled and harnessed and be wonderous - we’re trained to avoid them and be weakened by such things, but with some mental tae kwan m’f'ing do you can ride that bucking bronco to some amazing heights.
Just hang the fuck on, fer crying out loud.
You ride it, while it tries to ride you. It ain’t the destination, it’s the journey that makes the trip. Oh, and drive every single living creature within arms length absolutely batshit bona fide whacko, including yourself. There’s an amazing energy at the core of the thing, if you can find that harness and get it secure, wonders shall never cease.
It’s so totally worth it, one day in the future you look back in amazement that you didn’t do it sooner. It *is* a process of extracting talons, it *does* have an end, it *is* possible to kick this thing so squarely in the crotch that if folds over in agony and slithers away, so many have done it and you *will* look back and laugh, goddamnit.
The force of will can remake the world. Let it remake yours.
By Thers on Oct 12, 2008 12:07 am |
Good luck, mang.
By distributorcap on Oct 12, 2008 8:39 pm |
good for you trex — and best of luck in future with this
i know it cannot be easy. but in the end you will love being smoke free
i remember when my friend dana quit — she said — i didnt realize how disgustingly dirty this habit is — i like being clean and having no ashes
By Jon Parker on Oct 12, 2008 9:58 pm |
Best of luck to you, and I’m hoping it works. If it doesn’t, try again.
To riff on what AmIDreaming said, I quit by using Commit lozenges. It gives you something to do when the urge strikes, and some control over the release of the nicotine. I even kept up my pattern of smoke breaks at work, only I used the lozenges instead of a cigarette. I never thought I’d quit, but there you go.
By Hallie on Oct 12, 2008 10:47 pm |
Bravo TRex.
Quitting is an ordeal that can only be appreciated by those who have been through it. I quit 35 years ago driven by poverty and a chronic cough that scared the dickens out of me. If you can quit for a day, you can quit for two days. If you can manage a week, you can do two. The worst is most likely over, so celebrate by airing out the house and enjoying a romp with the kitties.
Bonus–just think of the fortune you are saving!
By neurophius on Oct 13, 2008 12:57 am |
TRex!
Hang in there. You can do it. You know you can. And you will.
By ouiski on Oct 13, 2008 1:22 am |
Good for you. By now you’re on day three I hope. When I quit, I told all the appropriate people about quitting (Danger Zone!) and I asked them not to talk to me about it so I wouldn’t be REMINDED of cigarettes. That helped.
By larue on Oct 13, 2008 3:17 am |
Dude, I smoked more and for longer than you have.
It’s cold turkey. You do it, or you don’t.
There’s no addiction. There’s no fight.
You either quit, or you lose.
Just do it, for cryin out loud.
Quit.
And stop worrying about your self, and your needs.
Quit, and you’ll win.
It’s easy, hoss. But if yer gonna make it an issue you’ll never make it.
You quit. And if people die, or if love breaks yer heart, or if you do bad music, or have a lousy day at work?
You don’t find a cigarette or cigar to puff on.
You accept your place in life. And if you quit, you don’t smoke no mo just cuz someone died, or you had a bad day. You make the pact with self, you QUIT, fer crying out loud. You quit. And you don’t start again, or bum a smoke in a time of crisis. You quit, remember? Christ, you QUIT ya putz.
So get over it.
Geebuz . . . . ya quit, yer safe now. Ya quit. *G*
By Ahgoo on Oct 13, 2008 11:11 am |
Good on you! It will be the best and hardest thing you’ve done. Reward yourself every time you don’t have a cigarette - candy, chocolate, salami (that worked for me) whatever it takes. Once you get past the cravings and you can it gets easier.
It is so worth it. I’m rooting for you!
By DrDick on Oct 13, 2008 2:44 pm |
Stick with it man! We are all pulling for you here and we have faith that you can do it.
By humbert dinglepencker on Oct 13, 2008 3:55 pm |
You go! Hang in there…you’ll make it. I did and so have many others - and it is really worth it. I have been smoke free now for so long I cannot remember when it was I quit. My life, my lungs, my mind are all much better now that I have been rid of the absolute tyranny of tobacco.
There is no bolgia of hell too perverse for the cigarette industry.
By RandyMacon on Oct 13, 2008 4:59 pm |
As the famous man said, “quitting smoking is easy. I’ve done it dozens of times”. I did it on my tenth try. That was 1982 and I am happy that one stuck. My kids got to grow up in a smoke-free environment and neither has ever shown any interest in the habit. I was happy to be a positive role model for my kids and I would feel really crappy if either of them smoked because they watched their old man do it (that’s how I learned). Best of luck.
By Steve on Oct 13, 2008 6:41 pm |
I haven’t read all of the comments here, but man, make it easy on yourself. Chantix! I’m 62 years old, smoked for more than 40 years, and of course quit smoking many times before. Finally I started taking Chantix last spring, and believe me, this is different from all those other previous times. You can smoke while you’re taking it! You won’t give a shit! It doesn’t satisfy a craving!
OK, your dreams will be weird, and maybe you’ll have a hard time falling asleep. (And maybe, according to some press reports, you’ll go berserk and start attacking other people or yourself, but hey, you’ve been risking lung cancer so what’s the down side?)
This worked for me. People are smoking all around me, and I don’t even care.
By Nevorick on Oct 13, 2008 7:08 pm |
Hang in there!
Just remember that big tobacco lobbyists support the GOP. Every time you don’t smoke, you take money from the other side’s coffers.
By TexasEllen on Oct 14, 2008 6:36 am |
You can do it, TRex. I quit April 15th, 2007 (Was going to be a nasty day anyway) because we were going to have our first grandchild. He turns one year old this week and he will have never seen his MooMoo smoke. I used Chantix-I had smoked for FIFTY! years. It worked for me, but whatever gets you thru.
I put a pair of booties in my purse where I had kept my cigarettes. When I automatically reached for them, I’d touch the booties and remember what and why. Maybe a little kitty toy in your pocket?