Cigarettes. I love them, I hate them. They've been a part of my life longer than booze was. Not to compare the destructive nature of the two, but there are many similarities in how I drank and how I smoke. Having the first one of the day sets up an obsession to have more, I often delay going to sleep to have just one more. If I don't have a backup pack, I get a bit crazy- I have to have a backup pack. I lie about how much I smoke ... Telling friends I 'only smoke at work', or ' only smoke when I dont work'...'oh, I only have like a couple a day' etc. I smoke a pack a day rain or shine, whether I have a cold or not. I will walk up to the store at any hour, in any weather to get smokes. In terms of the last 10$ in my pocket- smokes get that no question. When I started smoking I was the coolest girl in grade school- it was part of my budding well-cultivated persona of REBEL. Now... Well I'm nearing 40 and it's gross. The physical signs of the ravages of smoking are just around the corner. It's expensive... The brand I smoke is 'all natural' so they cost more. It stinks- I'm constantly spraying perfume (another expensive habit) and chewing breath mints to mask my cigarettes. I find myself smoking in dark alleys cuz its embarrassing to smoke in public nowadays. Never mind the litany of health concerns that all smokers could face. But...i still love them. They're both my friend and foe-much like booze was. The real reason I want to quit? Vanity- plain and simple. I'm not above admitting it. I think it's kinda trashy, I don't want 'smokers face', I'm trying to put on weight as muscle and smokings not helping. Yellowed teeth, exaggerated crows feet, bad skin tone, acne- all related to smoking. So, I know a few of you have quit smoking. I pretty much know for a fact that I will be a lunatic bitch for a while after quitting (26ish years of smoking? Yup, I'll be a total psycho) haha. Any tips or advice in undergoing this endeavor without causing physical or psychological harm to others is welcome:)
I smoked a few less per day leading up to the quit day, but Monday came, and I just quit. I quit drinking, smoking, coffee, soda & all chemically laced food on the same day. Well... I got back from the doctor with a positive pregnancy test... so I had a bit of incentive to stick to it no matter what ; )
So my suggestion to you is stick to it no matter what. Treat it like it's not an option, just like you have done for drinking. You are expecting to crave, and you will. Celery sticks with peanut butter - and other healthy stuff to chew on was what I tried but nothing helped for the 1st 3 days. I knew it would get a little better after 3 days so I just counted the hours down. After that, it was a matter of habit, and I tried to not do certain triggers. Well, I stopped drinking coffee, my number favorite thing to do with a cig besides drinking - and I had quit that already - so those were gone. Not having one in the morning was pretty easy. Not having one after eating was hard. Not having one after doing the hokey pokey with my husband.... well... that just plain sucked. It will suck - but you can do it. Billions of us have. My friends smoked right through their pregnancies... that wasn't an option for me, and smoking isn't an option for you either.
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Thanks for everything. Peace and Love on your journey.
Pappy you are too much!!!! Getting pregnant is a bit drastic but hey, it's a thought. Some folks in my homegroup have used the steps to quit smoking & one of our members actually got together with a local health clinic & started a step study/group for nicotine. He had tried for a year prior to that to quit & never could. Today it's been a few months and he's doing well. Good luck. We'll be here for you.
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I asked God for all things that I may enjoy life. He gave me life so that I may enjoy all things.
Awesome Col. Use the tools you learned in AA. Know it gets worse before it gets better, but that when you "break through" it gets easier, and there is a point where you will wonder how you ever smoked. Keep us posted! Tom
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"You're in the right place. That's the door right there. Turn around."
I smoked for 25 years, a pack a day except the two times I was pregnant. I went to AA and stopped drinking and told myself I would quit "eventually". Well 3 years went by and I was clinging to those disgusting things like a life raft. I tried everything over the years to quit, patches, gum, cold turkey, but Chantix worked for me, I stayed on it for 6 months because that's what my insurance would pay. It's been 3 1/2 years and still haven't smoked. I went to a wake and funeral last week for a dear friend, dead at 51 from lung cancer. Please quit!
Lmao! Sure... Now I just have to find a man worthy of impregnating me:) yup, pappy- that looks about right! Another motivating factor? I'm running the marathon next year- a pack a day habit and running 26 miles don't mix:) I do have amazing lung capacity for a smoker, but then again it's been a while since I've ran a longer distance than to the bus I'm about to miss lol!
I found the smoke easier to give up, but the lingering cravins are more than the for the drink. I stopped smoking first, cold turkey, this is my first go at stop drinking as well. (And last, as I won't pick up) I think I was just ready, I knew I would die question was by which means so i stopped both. I'll tell ya, the smell of a fresh lit smoke gets me every time, but if I walk by someone that just had one, man that stink is enough to kill a person. Stank, stale rotten smoke, gross. Just be realistic, set a firm date and just do it. You know u can.
I am quitting on May 9 and will be rooting you along, Col. We CAN do this. I truly believe it is God's will for me and if I align my will to His, the impossible becomes possible. :)
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I think there's an invisible principle of living...if we believe we're guided through every step of our lives, we are. Its a lovely sight, watching it work.
