New to Forum- Day 18

[Old Man Coffee]

I’m now on day 18 of the quit.  I had my last cigarette at 5:00 am on October 14, 2019.  I had just turned 46 a few weeks earlier and I realized that I had been smoking for 30 years- a sobering thought.  So on a  Monday morning a couple a weeks after my birthday,  I was heading to work and I saw one cigarette left in my pack. I lit that final one up and decided not to buy another pack. 

So, a little back story- I started smoking at 16 and it became a pack a day habit until the birth of my daughter in 2008.   Went on Chantix and was able to knock out the worst of the physical symptoms, but I would still have one or two at the bar.  After a year or so, the one or two at the bar became a couple in the car while driving to work, one on the way home, one or two on a solo trip to the store.  I became a regular closet smoker- never smoking in front of my wife and kids but smoking as much as I could when I was not around them.  My kids (who are 11 and 9) still have no idea; they knew I used to, but I have been able to keep my current smoking a secret from them.  I want to come clean to my family eventually, but first I want to achieve a good length of quit- maybe a year.

Because I wasn’t smoking heavily, the quit hasn’t been that bad so far.  The major issue I’m having is the metal fog at work in the mornings.  The bulk of my smoking would be before work and I’m sure that my body is missing the jolt of adrenaline first thing in the morning.

I have been avoiding going to bars, I’ve taken off two of the last three weeks of my weekly pool league, and I had left later in the morning for work so that I only have time for the drive and not any extra time to be tempted to go buy a pack.  I have only been seriously tempted once- a few nights ago I was drinking at home and I was tempted to go to my local bar and get a drink and find someone outside to bum a smoke from.  I quickly resisted the urge by remembering that I promised myself that I was stronger than this.  I realize this is something that if I don’t do it now, I may be looking back in the future when it’s too late regretting not taking this step.

 

Edited October 31, 2019 by Old Man Coffee

[Sazerac]

Congratulations on your quit Old Man Coffee !  and welcome to our merry little band of nicotine free creatures.

 

You are right, you ARE stronger than nicotine addiction

but, you need to stand by your commitment to NOPE (Not One Puff Ever).

 

Learning about and understanding nicotine addiction will help you immeasurably in building a successful quit.

 

 

You may find this thread helpful 10 Ways To Effectively Use This Forum To Quit Smoking

 

and here is a thread about The Great Smoke Free Mental Fog

 

Let us know any other issues you are experiencing,

not only will there be commiseration and information but, your experience will serve to help others in the same situation.

 

The burden of nicotine addiction and the burden of 'hiding' it from your family will be lifted.

You are choosing Freedom now.

You quit smoking !

 

 

[Vivianne]

Welcome aboard Old man Coffee! Congratulations on your 18 day quit!!! Well done! 

[jillar]

Hi old man coffee, welcome to our train of quitters The mental fog is one of the worse quit symptoms. Most of us had to deal with it too. Try sucking on something sweet or drinking juice. I was hooked on soft peppermint puffs my whole first year

I too stayed close to home my first month quitting and only ventured out when my never smoker husband could go with me because I didn't trust myself to not stop and buy a pack. Missing a few games of pool is a small price to pay for kicking this addiction after all

18 days is fantastic so be super proud of yourself. We have a great group here so I hope you stick around and check out all our many forums. Lots to do to educate yourself as well as keep your mind off smoking

[Doreensfree]

Welcome aboard Old Man...though to me your a yougen......

Congratulations on your great quit ...and taking your life back ....

It's hard work being a closer smoker ...far easier to quit ....

We have a daily pledge ...it's a promise to yourself you won't smoke for the next 24 hours ...

We all stayed smoke free one day at a time ....

We are a friendly bunch ,who support each other,And have fun along the way ...it helps pass the day's.

Read all you can here ,so much information on the main board ,and Joel's videos which cover all of your questions ...you can do it ..

[Old Man Coffee]

40 minutes ago, Doreensfree said:

It's hard work being a closer smoker ...far easier to quit ....

Oh so true!!! Part of the decision to quit came from just being sick and tired of hiding it.  I went through some much mouthwash, febreeze, mints, and hand sanitizer.  I do feel a great sense of freedom now.

[HeatherDianne]

Welcome - You are ahead of me by a couple of weeks, but I am with you on the closet smoking thing. My family knows and are behind me in my quit, but I was not an open smoker at work or in some social situations. In some ways it makes it a bit easier, because once I get to work the cravings are not as bad - since I often spent my work day smoke free (but in withdrawal) by the end of the day I was dying to get out of work and then I would smoke one after another in the car. I have a 45 min commute and this was my favourite smoking time. I even drove slower to get more smoking time in. This week I am driving as fast as I can to work - I treat myself to a Starbucks which keeps my hands busy. It is nice not to have to worry about stinking anymore. I used to spray my clothes and hair with frebreeze every time I got out of my car and the breath and - well we closet smokers know the routine. 

 

But I am determined to beat this addiction once and for all. I had a bad day yesterday and thought I was losing my mind, and it wasn't even smoking thoughts it was just anything - made me cry. But the wonderful people tell me it is part of the process and part of the journey. When I think about smoking a lot I come here and read or post or both. Until I feel that inner strength build back up. I never thought it would really work but it does and I am THANKFUL

 

Congrats again and take  it one day at a time. 

[johnny5]

Welcome to the board, Old Man Coffee.  Congratulations on 18 days smoke free.

 

Stick close to this site.  There is plenty of support and knowledge you can gain here to stay smoke free.

 

Keep up the great work! 

 

[Boo]

Welcome aboard Old Man Coffee.  Good call on giving up the smokes.

 

5 hours ago, Old Man Coffee said:

I do feel a great sense of freedom now.

 

Get used to that feeling.  Quitting Smoking = Freedom

[Vivianne]

Congratulations on your 3 week quit today OldManCoffee!! 

[Old Man Coffee]

41 minutes ago, Vivianne said:

Congratulations on your 3 week quit today OldManCoffee!! 

Thanks! Also, I was able to go to a casino and play in a poker tournament without having to run to the smoking area on break.

[Sazerac]

Congratulations, Old Man Coffee on your Three weeks of Freedom !

 

6 hours ago, Old Man Coffee said:

Also, I was able to go to a casino and play in a poker tournament without having to run to the smoking area on break.

 

As time goes on and you understand more about the slavery of nicotine addiction you will notice more situations.

 

You aren't thinking of nicotine every 20 or so minutes anymore.

 

You aren't planning your day around nicotine, where and when you can smoke.

 

Patting yourself down....'do I have enough smokes, where is my lighter' before you left home

or the stress of 'I don't have enough cigarettes to get me through this long, dark night'.

 

Missing out on conversations or activities because you had to go smoke.

 

Aeroplane, ship, train travel !  Concerts, movies, shows, dinner engagements !  The list goes on...

 

The Freedom is Delicious !

 

 

[Sunshine59]

Congrats Old Man Coffee ,

 

You overall physical health will improve soon .

 

Continue the mental fight , you always have to fight it off .

 

It is not that easy

 

 

 

Edited November 11, 2019 by Sunshine59

[Sazerac]

On 10/31/2019 at 11:32 AM, Old Man Coffee said:

Oh so true!!! Part of the decision to quit came from just being sick and tired of hiding it.  I went through some much mouthwash, febreeze, mints, and hand sanitizer.  I do feel a great sense of freedom now.

 

How are you doing, Old Man Coffee ?

[Old Man Coffee]

On 11/11/2019 at 12:47 PM, Sazerac said:

How are you doing, Old Man Coffee ?

Doing great!!

One month smoke free!!!

I still have moments when I romanticize the smokes and think about how nice it would be to have one with a coffee or a drink; however, I realize that I am a non-smoker now and it feels good.  I ran a mile for the first time in years this weekend (not very fast and my legs were aching, but my heart wasn't pounding out of my chest) and I hope to do a 5k in a respectable time next year.

 

Edited November 13, 2019 by Old Man Coffee

[Vivianne]

Congratulations!!!! Well done!!

[jillar]

That's awesome oldmancoffee, congratulations!

[Sazerac]

Excellent news, omc !

 

Stay vigilant and remember, that particular romance is dead, dead, dead.

[Sazerac]

@Old Man Coffee,

You are getting close to celebrating your Four Months of Freedom !

How are you feeling ?  What's the haps ?

[Old Man Coffee]

18 hours ago, Sazerac said:

@Old Man Coffee,

You are getting close to celebrating your Four Months of Freedom !

How are you feeling ?  What's the haps ?

Doing well!  Besides the 9 pound weight gain, everything is going well.  There are many days where i don't even think about smoking.  Decided to do a sober February and my family is showing solidarity by giving up sweets. I'm drinking half caf coffee. No depression and the anxiety has lessened due to work stress going down for the time being. Thanks for checking in.

[Sazerac]

Thanks for checking in @Old Man Coffee, with your fabulous news.

 

Glad anxiety has lessened due to work stress going down,

some of this may be due to your work situ but, also due to the anxiety involved with addiction that you have kicked to the curb.

 

I hope if work stress increases you will not be taking so much of the anxiety on anymore, having learned new ways to deal with stress by quitting smoking.  

Like breathing ! lol.

 

Congratulations on your quit and sober February.

The skills and self-confidence acquired in quitting smoking often lead to other life affirming changes.

Thank you for sharing your quit with us.  

 

S

 

 

[jillar]

Thanks for the update old man coffee