Abby

Congratulations

Father .. 2 pack a day smoker ..... influences . His dr and emphysema diagnoses and determination .... quit with tooth picks , peppermints and nope . Once he quit there was never another word about smoking in our home . Never a complaint how hard , how easy , He was just done . Brother quit long before online support as well ... same method Toothpicks , peppermints and nope . Neither slipped or relapsed .

What is the HMR diet ? One day at a time . Quitting smoking tools can help with the weight loss too . Please do . Let us know how it's going . Cheering you on .

No smoking here .

Congratulations Albert on your decision to quit . My dad would always say if you start something Abby .... stick to your guns . He was such a great guy .. he had emphysema and heart disease . A two pack a day smoker . Quit cold turkey . He stuck to his decision Albert. Never looked back . Proud of that guy . Stick to your guns about your decision Albert . You can do this . Will there be some challenges ? Likely but because of those challenges our quits get stronger and our our life gets renewed to that of a non smoker in time Keep moving forward ; don't turn back . One day you will look back and say "wow" look ?how far I've come ! QT is smooth riding and it will take you on an adventure with friends . Welcome aboard .

Once I was hooked on cigarettes all good sense went out the door and denial set in . Things like " I had lots of time to quit "were things I told myself . I believed those paid drs words because I was an addict and they were words I wanted to hear and the excuse I needed to keep smoking . When filter tips came out I was convinced they were safer too ... why . again .... .because I was an addict. .. Did I really think they were safer ... deep down .... no . But I was so flipping scared . What if I succeeded . Wow ! No more smoking. How would I live my life without a cig . Its been an amazing journey . One I will never regret . I doubt others here regret their decision too . Was quitting easy? Was it hard ? Nope .. Was it worth it .... oh ya! I believed so many lies and made up so many lies as an addict .... it was crazy stinkin thinkin ! I believed less nicotine was safer , less tar was safer .....all to protect my addiction . I don't lie to defend addiction any more . Today I live in truth . I believed I was trying to quit for years until I realized trying was getting me no where . I waited until it was almost too late ... I knew I would have to change my thinking . I would have to do whatever it would take to get the job done .....and ..... that's what I did . Now... what has come of all that struggle and hard work ? I don't worry anymore about the consequences of my addiction . I have done the best possible thing I can do . I don't feel guilty . I love being able to breathe , to live and I am proud because hard work paid off . Did I make a mistake smoking .. yes .... does it mean I am off scott free from cancer ? who knows ; but I am dang proud to be an ex smoker . That in itself has been worth it. You mention some really good reasons for not going back to smoking. It's good to remember the ugly part of smoking. Congratulations on your quits everyone. . No matter how you have chosen to do it let's keep it simple . Let's keep it consistent , let's keep it forever . Not one puff . Not one puff ever . No more shackles !

Not one puff ever .

My quit is awesome ! I never would have said that in the beginning . I had no choice but to quit . It wasn't because I wanted to . I tried to quit many times before this quit , but this time I knew I had to quit if I wanted to live. I feel so very proud of all the younger folks who are more turned off by smoking now than thinking smoking is "cool" or an answer to stress or a fulfillment for avoid or a solution for their problems . Are the warnings , awareness and education about addiction making a difference ? In my day smoking was advertised on tv by high profile people ; many of them were idols and role models . They smoked during stressful scenes , war scenes ; they smoked during party scenes and funeral scenes . Women smoked when there were distraught, alone and in emotional crises ; men in the high stakes gambling or drinking scenes or the old country and western shoot out . Smoking was everywhere in the public and all who smoked were completely unknowledgable about what we would now come to know 30 years later . Each commercial was followed by an advertisement selling and promoting their brand. The best were hired to write the best luring script in an attempt to inspire the young , the vulnerable , the cool , the broken hearted and EVERYONE including you and me to be their future LIFELONG-clients . The power of words they used were toxic words in a fancy cellophane package that sounded good , looked good, smelled good, tasted good , and we were the target. Little did we know at that time that in the future-smoking would cause mass death and destruction . Something that seemed so harmless continues to do that . The warning is in the packaging folks . Let me ask you . Could a spoiled mouldy 3 year old chocolate cake you know has been sitting in your deepfreeze be brought out, then topped with freshly appealing delectable icing decorated beautifully be worth a risk even though you know underneath that icing is a three year old mouldy cake ? Ya I wouldn't eat it either . Not even the icing .That cake is toxic . Garbage . Inhaling anything but fresh air is the only thing I want in my lungs now . Nothing else is worth the risk to me . Nothing ! Quit smoking if you have not , for the rest of us , let's keep it up. Smoking is an inside job, and it's been killing us from the inside out for years . It's time to stop. I like the taste I have with this freedom and the feel good moments I have with this freedom . I take seconds and thirds of that .

"The way out is through"

Posting for help saved my quit more than once too Doreeen ..... especially in the beginning , but even later on when I didn't feel particularly confident or was struggling I would post. For anyone ... I would never be afraid at any time to post help if needed.. Reach out as much as you need to . Some folks think that after a month or two or three you should be strong enough on your own and won't post for help but posting for help is not a sign of weakness it's a sign of strength and it says " I want this quit " . Posting an sos before you smoke is both helpful to the one seeking to save their quit and helpful as well to the ones who can give back to help another. It's a win win for everyone if we can save a quit and help each other through.

Lol nope , it was the best thing I could have done , I made a mistake losing an 8! year quit , not this time . I don't ever want to smoke again in my entire lifetime. Never . I love my 6.2 year quit and my 8 year quit . I have been smoke free longer than a smoker now . I love that .

Kookomo What will you be doing this weekend

Nope have not smoked but that smoke was in my mouth , I couldn't puff or inhale lol so silly . I just felt guilty more than anything so not sure I should state day 1 or keep my amazing previous numbers and just call it a crazy thing to do lol . I am on vacation ..could have been part of it I think lol ... you know ... the excitement of vacations ! I got the worst over with first lol and wiped out my first day giving myself a whack on the head producing an egg size bump from hitting a glass coffee table . I tell ya never had a drink lol . I did after though lol .

Hi jack , I a, kinda starting over myself after an almost mess up . This is a very supportive site , I know from the past . Great people .

It's been a while but I am back to do this , never really smoked but feel I owe it to myself and all of you to share that temptation was there and can be an easy quit breaker . I put that smoke to my mouth and that is a no no when you are quit. So I am here with more conviction than ever before to keep my forever quit .

Copd cannot be reversed but quitting smoking can slow its progression .

nope

Hi Evelyn . Hope your doing well on the Champix. My suggestion would be to follow your drs orders. Any concerns, speak with your prescribing Dr or a pharmacist . I believe there is a starting dose followed by an increase in dosage to be taken for a number of months . Most common complaint I heard from other fellow quitters was a tummy upset easily taken care of by taking it with a meal . Be encouraged . I have heard very good results . I hope this helps you . _Abby

Nope NONE

I think most smokers who have smoked a long time want to stop and likely have tried. I do believe a quit site of support is the best way to reach out . The first step is theirs but when we share our success, the seed is planted . "Hope" and "understanding "from previous smokers who are succeeding is testimony to those who think they can't quit . To kids I think there has to be more education in schools on the dangers of smoking. ( Testimony is powerful ) . In my opinion this is where we need to start if we have any hope at all at beating BT ; It begins with us. "ex smokers "!

The body has a wonderful way of healing itself . Quitting is the best thing you can do . I was denied a surgery at one time because my blood oxygen levels were too low. Either quit smoking or no surgery they said . I did quit in order to have that surgery but later restarted . Not a wise move . Side effects from smoking returned shortly after. I noticed improvements in my breathing almost immediately when I began my final quit . I smoked 25 years . PFT tests measure how well your lungs are working and may be requested if you have any concerns . Quitting smoking is the best thing you can do . The best is yet to come _Abby

I know the worry and concern you are feeling as you await the news and results of this surgery ; my niece was diagnosed a few years ago with a brain tumor and also had surgery . They removed most of the tumor; not all and she is doing pretty well . I will keep your friend and surgeons in prayer . My thoughts and prayers are with you Tiffany as well. Your friend certainly sounds like a fighter with a very positive attitude just like my niece. Message me if I can be of more support for you during this time . _Sherri

Hi . Glad you are here . Congratulations on a great decision . WTG . Thats the first big step ....so .. you can do this . I am really excited for you . I know you might feel scared but hey we are all walking the journey together. Together we can get through anything ! Welcome aboard

CONGRATS! Keepin it simple, but only because I don't know how to post the "happy dance cats .