Quitting smoking (almost) 1 year in.

[Monkey]

Monkey. Keep quitting until it sticks. 

Count me in the “quit 4-5 times before it stuck.”  Now it’s been 32 years. My “quit buddy” was my new lady friend who was a social smoker but we quit together and leaned on each other. Both the quitting and the lady stuck. Our 31st wedding anniversary was in March of this year. 

This’ll be my third “real” attempt. 8 and a half days done, no slip ups, and I’m pretty much no longer miserable. Can’t wait to be done with those things!  The scary thing is when I realized that just the cost of the cigarettes alone was more than the monthly payment on my fishing boat. So the way I see it, if I stay quit, I get a free boat!

 

[floating dutchman]

This’ll be my third “real” attempt. 8 and a half days done, no slip ups, and I’m pretty much no longer miserable. Can’t wait to be done with those things!  The scary thing is when I realized that just the cost of the cigarettes alone was more than the monthly payment on my fishing boat. So the way I see it, if I stay quit, I get a free boat!

And some more years to enjoy it.

I'm two and a bit years, don't seem to be able to quit the vaping though.

I actually enjoy the puff and contemplate the world time.

 

[Innocent Bystander]

This’ll be my third “real” attempt. 8 and a half days done, no slip ups, and I’m pretty much no longer miserable. Can’t wait to be done with those things!  The scary thing is when I realized that just the cost of the cigarettes alone was more than the monthly payment on my fishing boat. So the way I see it, if I stay quit, I get a free boat!

The righteous "I'm going to quit" is pretty important the first couple of months.  You've tried this before so you know it's important to avoid triggers when your resistance is down.  For me, that was with a beer after a race, when out partying at a club,after a tough meeting when I wanted to reflect on what happened and what to do next.  That sort of thing.  

Have a plan. Avoid triggers for a while and recognize that you will want a smoke, badly at times.  If you break down had "have just one", get past it. Go somewhere where smoking isn't allowed until the temptation passes. I had the luxury of controlling my schedule so would take a break from work and go for a run when the temptation got too bad.  Sex instead of a smoke is always good. The temptation will pass with time.  Hang in there.  

 

[mikewof]

IMHO vaping is worse, but industry is better at lobbying and hiding the facts, so who knows what will come out.

- DSK

I think it's worse too. The big problem with vape is that you can do it anywhere; in bed, in an elevator, in your new car. It becomes this weird furtive addiction that isn't social.

At least with a pack of ciggerbuddies, you can share one with a new friend, have a conversation while the little guy burns down, take a quick pull and think about things a bit. Cigarettes and cigars are social too, especially if you avoid smoking alone and mainly smoke socially. It lowers the stress. Even better in these smoke-prohibited times, you have to leave your desk or your home, go outside into the fresh air, find the designated smoking area ... heck, it's nearly healthy these days.

But vape is crazy addictive, you can just pull whenever and wherever you want, no need to worry about setting yourself ablaze in bed. And the carrier is apparently a kind of vegetable glycerine. That's harmless enough when ingested, but inhaled? What does that do in the alveolar region? When it condenses on the alveolar region, it's too low to trigger any kind of coughing mechanism to remove it.

I started with vape a couple years ago, just a puff now and then. Before I knew it I was draining the battery once-a-day, burning through the vape juice like mad, and I even had the no-nicotine vape which I assumed was mostly harmless. My rowing times plummeted, I lost nearly five seconds off of my unsanctioned 250, I just couldn't pull enough air into my lungs to keep up with the pace boat. I developed a dry, pointless cough, that never pulled anything up, no phlegm, just my lungs thinking that there was something they could remove, but they never could, it wasn't in the top part of the lungs like regular smoke, it was much deeper.

And the vape industry is smart as hell ... they're pushing to raise the legal smoking age nationwide to 21, knowing full well that teenagers are going to want it more desperately than ever. I don't know any teenagers (including my own teens and their friends) who don't vape. They all do it, anywhere between one cartridge a week, up to three or four a week. At least with cigarettes, we now have a societal way to limit smoking, we just can't do it indoors any longer, and even outside, we have to be in the right area and then we often get to meet new people, talk for a bit.

Fuck vape.

I get it, there are people who can't smoke in moderation. One cigarette and they're back to a pack-a-day in the blink of an eye. But there are lots of former chain smokers who now smoke socially at well less than a pack-a-month, and about half of those are ones they give away. I don't see anything wrong with a pack-a-month pleasure. Life is too short without a few bad habits. But vape is the fucking devil incarnate.

 

[Monkey]

The righteous "I'm going to quit" is pretty important the first couple of months.  You've tried this before so you know it's important to avoid triggers when your resistance is down.  For me, that was with a beer after a race, when out partying at a club,after a tough meeting when I wanted to reflect on what happened and what to do next.  That sort of thing.  

Have a plan. Avoid triggers for a while and recognize that you will want a smoke, badly at times.  If you break down had "have just one", get past it. Go somewhere where smoking isn't allowed until the temptation passes. I had the luxury of controlling my schedule so would take a break from work and go for a run when the temptation got too bad.  Sex instead of a smoke is always good. The temptation will pass with time.  Hang in there.  

My quit method this time around is a little bit different than the norm. I’ve been staring down every evil trigger possible the whole time. Just went through a bad break up with the girlfriend two days before quitting, had to ride out a whole weekend wondering if I still had a job because lay off rumors were flying around, still drink coffee and alcohol. 

I use the triggers and the following cravings as a way to feel in control of shit I can’t control. It’s a warped way to do it, but no problems so far. 

 

[Point Break]

My quit method this time around is a little bit different than the norm. I’ve been staring down every evil trigger possible the whole time. Just went through a bad break up with the girlfriend two days before quitting, had to ride out a whole weekend wondering if I still had a job because lay off rumors were flying around, still drink coffee and alcohol. 

I use the triggers and the following cravings as a way to feel in control of shit I can’t control. It’s a warped way to do it, but no problems so far. 

Dude........whatever works..............

 

[mikewof]

My quit method this time around is a little bit different than the norm. I’ve been staring down every evil trigger possible the whole time. Just went through a bad break up with the girlfriend two days before quitting, had to ride out a whole weekend wondering if I still had a job because lay off rumors were flying around, still drink coffee and alcohol. 

I use the triggers and the following cravings as a way to feel in control of shit I can’t control. It’s a warped way to do it, but no problems so far. 

How is the no-nico train treating you?

I'm down to about a pack every other month, and I tend to give away about half of those. I've noticed it's easier when I go to bed a little earlier, get a little extra rest. I bought a pack two weeks ago, haven't taken off the wrapper yet. That pack is going to get smoked, just not yet.

 

[Steam Flyer]

My quit method this time around is a little bit different than the norm. I’ve been staring down every evil trigger possible the whole time. Just went through a bad break up with the girlfriend two days before quitting, had to ride out a whole weekend wondering if I still had a job because lay off rumors were flying around, still drink coffee and alcohol. 

I use the triggers and the following cravings as a way to feel in control of shit I can’t control. It’s a warped way to do it, but no problems so far. 

Excellent! Not everybody can stare it down, but if it's working then my hat is off to ya!

Sorry to hear about the GF and job stress... no help there. But good luck, hope you make it

- DSK

 

[Bump-n-Grind]

I kinda like lung oysters, I don't know why.

have you tried them on the half-shell with a little squirt of Texas Pete?

 

[mikewof]

have you tried them on the half-shell with a little squirt of Texas Pete?

About two years ago, I'm sitting in this bar in D.C., kind of near L'enfant if memory serves. I'm drinking some nameless booze, water and beer, and this woman walks in, absolute knockout, the kind of woman you can't unsee, California Dime.

She sits at the bar, orders the happy hour oyster special, no booze. A few minutes later they bring this massive plate of oysters to her, it looked to be enough for a party of five. This chick then slurped down the entire platter of those mucusy mother-fuckers in like ten minutes flat.

I had to take a ten pint piss, and when I got back she was gone. 

No explanation, but I've wondered about that for a while, it was just weird to see a woman eat like a stevedore at a Carl's Jr.

Anyway, the best part of quitting is that first smoke after weeks. It's like suckling on the universe's milky breast.

 

[DA-WOODY]

How is the no-nico train treating you?

I'm down to about a pack every other month, and I tend to give away about half of those. I've noticed it's easier when I go to bed a little earlier, get a little extra rest. I bought a pack two weeks ago, haven't taken off the wrapper yet. That pack is going to get smoked, just not yet.

Smoking in bed has been how many have quit permanently,  all at once

 

[Mrleft8]

Just keep trying. It's been many years for me now, but every so often I pat my chest pocket looking for that pack of Lucky Strike no filters.....

 Once you bust through the wall, you just have to keep going. It's a never ending draw that you just have to resist.

 

[ShortForBob]

I went to the docs a month ago..blood pressure high.. check up last week.(Thurs) BP taken three times..last reading 158 over something.

Told to get a ECG .. normal, told to get an echocardiogram. waiting on results.

Stopped cold turkey last Thursday (9 days!!)very few  cravings, when I do get a little twitchy, i have a glass of water in my usual smoking place. 

.

I don't drink, I'm not over weight, Kidney and liver function perfect.. that leaves Salt (nope) Cigs, stress, hereditary or cholesterol .

Best way I've found to quit (When not on holiday) 

Get your Doc to scare you shitless.

Get cholesterol results next week.

 

[ShortForBob]

We never got an update on Meli666 giving up smoking when she went on holiday.

BOO*, how's it going?

I've given up every year since then

This time I think I might just stay Quit. They say it takes a few goes. I know now..I'm no different than anyone else. You really can't "just have one" 

 

[Bump-n-Grind]

I quit smoking cigarettes on Nat'l Smoke out Day in 1982 went from 3 to 4 packs of Kools a day to nuthing... after about 4 days I was homocidal. I lasted about a week and bought a can of Cope. a couple years later I started racing. Owner on one boat said "I don't want you spittin that shit all over my boat" and gave me a cigar.  I was in heaven.. couple years later I bought a pipe. Had a nice little pipe collection there for a while.. very grateful that I never got into inhaling the cigars or the pipe.. so I got my lungs back.  in 97 I tried to get off nicotine altogether with nicorette gum... nope..   all that did was escalat into a 100$/wk gum habit.. so went back to dip... nicotine has always been a mother fucker.  it's the single most insidious substance to kick. never even considered vape. now with all the people gettin sick and croaking from that shit I'm glad I never went down that route.. I'll probably die leanin over a spitoon, but I can breath.  

 

[ShortForBob]

I quit smoking cigarettes on Nat'l Smoke out Day in 1982 went from 3 to 4 packs of Kools a day to nuthing... after about 4 days I was homocidal. I lasted about a week and bought a can of Cope. a couple years later I started racing. Owner on one boat said "I don't want you spittin that shit all over my boat" and gave me a cigar.  I was in heaven.. couple years later I bought a pipe. Had a nice little pipe collection there for a while.. very grateful that I never got into inhaling the cigars or the pipe.. so I got my lungs back.  in 97 I tried to get off nicotine altogether with nicorette gum... nope..   all that did was escalat into a 100$/wk gum habit.. so went back to dip... nicotine has always been a mother fucker.  it's the single most insidious substance to kick. never even considered vape. now with all the people gettin sick and croaking from that shit I'm glad I never went down that route.. I'll probably die leanin over a spitoon, but I can breath.  

It's odd. The nicotine addiction doesn't seem to get me much. I don't get cranky, have headaches or even crave the stuff much. It the psychological triggered that trip the need.. If I'm busy ...I dont smoke..simple.

little mini breaks..finish a task..have a cig, trick is to find a cig substitute for those little breaks. a glass of water in the same place as my smoking spot seems to do it. 

Everyone's habit is different, most quit strategies seem to concentrate  on the nicotine substitute and totally neglect the psychological addiction.

I've spent 4 month preparing to quit.

Every cig smoked, you consciously smoke it.. and put it out half smoked, every pack you buy, you make it go further. really think about your addiction, the expense, the stupidity ...really make having every ciggie a dumb stupid choice. Really spoil every cig you smoke, willfully hate them.

Then get your doc to scare the shit out of you. and stop.

Worked so far for me, but maybe getting sick is a tad drastic

 

[ShortForBob]

Help! nearly 3 months clean. I quit easy. Got told my BP was OTT so I quit. 

Easy. no real withdrawal symptoms, no real cravings.

Also quit butter and cheese cos my Cholesterol was OTT too.

Last week, feeling peaceful, relaxed and happy ...I bought a pack, smoked 3..threw em away. bought another pack last night, smoked three, threw em away.

What the fuck is doing on? 

I'm struggling with this little voice thats over riding every single rational reason to stop. I'm possessed.

 

[SloopJonB]

 

[ShortForBob]

View attachment 341799

exactly that

 

[Bcubed]

The smoking cessation classes I participated in taught that the physical act is as much of a habit as the the addiction. You are in the habit of lighting up in order to have a brief respite from whatever you are doing, or that you just are in the physical habit of having one under certain circumstances, such as getting into your car. You have to break these habits as well as the addiction in order to be successful. I quit over 20 years ago now, but even now still have the occasional dream of falling off the wagon and waking up thinking that I really f--ed it up all yesterday, only to realize it was only a dream! Good on you that the taste is no longer that appealing, you are on the road to finally quitting for good. Now just ignore that little red fellow on your shoulder every time you drive, or have a cuppa joe, or take a break from the desk. It does get easier with time.