Any Ex-Smokers out there! Doesn't it feel great not to smoke? Smoking sucks.?
449486
i stopped jan 2005 and cannot believe how bad i must of stunk cos smoking STINKS!!!!!!!!!! I hate it, its disgusting and Im really pissed off that I was addicted to that crap for fourteen years of my adult life!
823489
theres a million and one reasons to quit smoking and a million and 2 two excuses not to stop. I smoke and wish I didn't.  I quit 2 times (when I was pregnant & nursing my 2 kids. ) WHY did I start back up??? Don't know, sitting by the fire one night I thought I could have just one.  NO NO NO.  \n        I can tell you a good thing that happened when I quit and that was I had a lot more free mental time to myself and time to get other things done.  \n     They should have a smokers anonamous because I want to quit, like you and need support. It is hard but you can do it and so can I.  We weren't born with a cigerette in our mouths. :)   \n         If you need someone to talk to or just tell how many cigerettes you had today, just email me.  You can contact me via this answers site.   that nicorette gum does help a little.  but your Will does all the work,  Don't doubt yourself and take it minute by minute if you have to..   Someone told me its harder to quit smoking than to quit herion.   My best to You.
650471
First i stopped smoking when i went on holiday, so that i was outside of my normal environment which made it a bit easier.  Then i just stopped.  Was hell for the first 7 days, horrible for the next 21 days, not nice for a couple of months, and then got to be normal not smoking. \n\nGood luck
709051
Quitting smoking is a great opportunity to learn about ourselves.\nCongratulate yourself  on having the desire to stop - then you are over the worst, but still need to maintain your resolve. It's just so easy to start thinking that just one won't hurt, but it does. Just one achieves nothing except feeling the need for another. Whatever you do, don't have just one. Beware - alcohol will weaken your resolve.\nHere's a few home-brewed tips that might be useful.\nIt's not just nicotine addiction - there are 50+ chemicals in cigarettes. Also the main problem is habit.\nWe have been used to having body sensations which we translate as 'my body needs something', which we have attempted to satisfy by having a cigarette.\nWhen we try to stop smoking, we still get these 'my body needs something' sensations, and we still feel that we want a cigarette. We have to train our body to be more selective. When we feel we need something, we have to work out what it is that we actually need.\nA glass of water is an excellent substitute if nothing else comes to mind, as it helps with the clearance of the toxic substances in our body. Another good substitute is a bag of salted peanuts, used in combination with the water.\nAnother thing to do is to find an activity which occupies the mind or body. Go swimming - nobody wants to smoke while they are swimming. Slowly, as our body adjusts and translates the 'want something' feelings into something other than cigarettes, then the feelings begin to go away. We know its not a cigarette that the body really needs, because as soon as we've had one we still have the feeling, and want another!\nWe will have a few bouts of feeling or even being short tempered. We must try to bite our lip, and control; ourselves. Recognise the short temper as being the removal of toxins which are trying to find a way out. They went in through the mouth, and they try to get out that way to. We must learn to keep our mouth closed, and force the toxins out the other way.\n\nAfter we have stopped for a while we will begin to feel that just one wont to any harm.\nAll that leads to is a desire for just another one. We must guard very strongly against the desire to have just one.
907703
I quit smoking last year on Halloween at this party we were at- ran out & then decided to quit for good.  I had terrible headaches but overcame them in time, but sought help online & hooked up with Nicotine Anonymous.  It is hard to quit as you can smell smokers everywhere & I still avoid our local casinos- but last year in Washington we passed a law saying no smoking in restraunts-25 feet away from a business etc.  That sure helped me-in fact I voted in favor of the law!   In the 80's my dad got lung cancer after smoking 3 packs a day- I quit smoking for 5 years- but took it up when he was in his final stages of dying. But I refuse to go back to smoking & reward myself all the time for not smoking- anything I want I can buy.  Please try to quit for you & your friend- www.Quitnet.com  - try this site.  My husband quit in 85 when we got together for my son who was 14- Trav is 33 & didn't even remember Rick smoking.   Now Trav's daughter Chloe ( our only grandchild)  will not remember me smoking as she is only 4.  When you  want a smoke- just pray & the urge will pass- it only last 10 minutes.  Meanwhile look around for a hobby  to occupy you hands!  Good luck- you can do it!
196347
I quit for almost 2 years now. I used the patch and the pill both! I quit on the 12th of may and my dad died on the 16th, everyone knew I'd start back smoking but that only made me stronger because he always lectured me about it. I am so proud of myself!! I still want one sometimes but I really feel better, gained 30 pounds but I feel better!
296592
there is not much you can do. Me and my husband quit. about a month ago. I have to say that i just did because he did. i didn't really want to. But as of right now am still smoke free and feel better. oh, i want one every so often but not like i thought i would. i have children too and it sure did make them happy. It feels good to be free of "oh, did i get my cigs" or "do i have a light".  Show your dad this question and answer. I will be praying that you do this for your child. Just give it a try. We used the patches and gum. only had to buy 2 weeks worth and then the patch became just plain annoying and the gum just tasted plain gross. Just try it. My husband smoked 1 1/2 pks a day and i smoked 1 pk a day and didn't even want to stop. once the nicotine gets out of your system, You will feel better. Trust me. just try it.....
1087906
I gave up smoking 3 years ago.  I had the same problem, I was really nasty tempered.  \n\nThe reason for me was that when I smoked, it was an 'escape' and a tool I used to calm myself if stressed, part of the benefit was taking a moment out and taking deep breaths.  \n\nI found the solution for me was to have little breaks as I would when I smoked, but instead of having a cigarette, I would get a cup of coffee, sit quietly and take some deep breaths.  Part of what you are missing is the ritual of smoking, create a new ritual and it will be suddenly much easier to cope.\n\nWell done, and good luck for continuing success.
1088438
I smoked 30yrs.ago and i decided i was going to quit....I would eat peeled carrots when i wanted to smoke and it did help some...But the way i ended up quiting was,COLD TURKEY....Your really have to what to quit to get through this and don't start eating to make up for not smoking....Set your mind that you are going to do this no matter what....It really work for me....You know i can't stand to be around anyone smoking,it's a dirty nasty habit and the smoke just stinks and hurts my nose....And the second hand smoke is killing people all the time...Thats another good reason to quit and the cost,i can't believe it....I can remember when a pack was $.25.....Be strong and quit,you will feel alot better and you won't smell of cig. anymore......GOOD LUCK......\n Clowmy
1146519
the question is How addicted are you? I gave up by reading the book How to stop smoking and stay stopped for good by Gillian Riley. I went to the smoking cessation clinic who prescribed me patches and lozenges. It was hard, i know someone who could stop for days at a time yet couldnt completely give up! It is hard yet its well worth it and four years down the line i can have a fag every 6 months yet its just not the same, yet im £1000 a year better off and i dont cough and wheeze in the morning and the numb feeling in my toes has come back. My ex is looking at having his legs amputated as the blood flow and oxygen dosnt reach his toes, still he smokes. the sooner you give up the better. if i can do it you can too!
577478
I couldn't agree with you more! I am totally against the whole smoking thing. I have never tried a cigg. Sure, just like other teenagers i've been offered a cigg and went through peer pressure but I stayed strong and said no. My grandfather died when I was 8 years old from lung cancer because he smoked so much and that made me learn. I loved him a lot and used to spend so much time with him and my grandma and when he died I was crushed and i've been so against smoking ever since. People shouldn't wait until somebody close to them dies from smoking to learn how bad it is because by then it might be too late. Oh, and to the people who start smoking and then quit sure I'm glad that they quit but it's their fault they started smoking in the first place. Nobody can make anyone do anything. So I definitely have more respect for those who never started.
709298
first off let me congratulate you on the fact that you've stop smoking smart decision. Well i think that you don't feel good since you stop smoking your body isn't use to it yet. your body is prob still getting use to you not smoking don't worry about it with time you will feel better. CONGRATS
263113
Heres a tip: try cutting back and use nothing at all.  Tobacco is not good for you or anybody.  If you really need nicotine (although i don't suggest it, because its not good for you either), try the patches or the gum.\nTry quitting, then you will feel much better.
922926
hey hunny - thanks for the coffee - i chose not to have cake due to being determined to get back on weightwatchers programme today - been really struggling with it the last few weeks - i gave up smoking about 4 years ago and really notice the benefits - i was feeling very similar to you at the time that i gave up - i set myself a date (6th of january fyi as it's 12 night so the christmas period was officially over) - i went to see my gp and got advice and a prescription for nicotine patches and i went for it - good luck and stay safe ~x~
380736
Correct me if I'm wrong, but, you are asking non- smokers why they don't understand that we need to smoke? The smokers smoke to alleviate stress, the more stress... the more we smoke. There how's that?
424585
Nonsmokers have some serious issues with "control" when they start talking about not smoking outside. Just walk around the smoker huddled next to the ash can, it's really not that difficult. If he's not huddled next to the ash can do that silly fake cough thing, that will show him. Sigh.
712866
Your risk of several types of cancer are increased, and more so if you have a genetic predisposition to cancer causing cells. Besides that and, of course, the fact that it isn't legal for you to smoke, you are young and the damage you do to your body will reverse itself if you quit. Your are changing your body's ability to breathe, distribute oxygen to your brain and other organs, circulate blood properly and about thirty other things that your body does involuntarily to keep you alive. So, you need to ask yourself, why do you smoke? While at your age some people (also mostly your age) will form a certain opinion about what kind of person you are, once you hit about the twenty to twenty-two age group and older, most people think you just look weak and ignorant for not knowing what you're doing to your body and too lazy to help yourself (much in the same way most people view those who are morbidly obese). The fact that you're smoking such a small amout says to me that you don't need it, you just like it. I know. We can smell our own. When I quit I promised myself I would light up one or two whenever the mood struck me-this idea helped me quit cold turkey. I had one a couple of months later, a few a couple of months after that, another one about six months later, etc. The more time that passes the less I feel like I like it so the less I smoke. But the only reason I ever did smoke was because I liked it, the feel, the flavor, the smell even. If you can't pinpoint why you do it at all-then why do you do it at all?