Hi Everybody!

Thank you so much for all your prayers! I'm now on my 3rd day being smokefree. I know it's not a long time yet but the first 3 days are always the hardest.

God is such a faithful God! He's taken the intense cravings & withdraw & made them almost nonexistent!

WHOO HOO

Thank you!

See you at the top
NiNa

Congratulations!

That's great news, sunshine!
Keep up the good work--every day it'll get easier.:)

God didn't do it you did, be proud of yourself and strong for yourself, this will be the only way you will kick the habit. I quit chewing many years ago{a can a day+} on top of that I smoked. I quit smoking 5-6 years ago prayers or God didn't cause me to start these habits and they didn't do anything to stop them. Self control and inner strength are what will keep you on track, you can do it.

:thumbs: Thanks guys!

Well done sunshine! That's great.


BTW guys I posted about having a given up smoking a while back. Stupidly I recently reverted again.

Hang in there!!!

Quitting smoking is really really tough. Congrats on what you've achieved so far.

I'm trying to quit right now (for the 100'th time) - went a whole week with patches & then last week smoked a few & now haven't smoked for 2 days.

The patches work but you have to go thru the nicotine withdrawl in the end. I've tried cold turkey a few times and it's really hard - after a week the cravings are still making you go out of your mind.

When I'm smoking 25 a day I hate smoking - when I'm not smoking I love smoking - whats up with that!

A note to Sunshine, Drew and any other smokers.

I began smoking at age nine. By the time I was in my teens I was smoking a pack a day. During my time in the army I increased my cigarette intake to 3 1/2 packs of non-filtered Camels a day.

When I was in my early thirties I decided to quit. It was hard, but unlike the two previous times I managed to give up the cigarettes, cigars and ten or so bowls of pipe tobacco per day.

Almost ten years after quitting I developed a scratchy throat and my voice began cracking. I went to an EENT and found I had cancer of the vocal cords. This type of squamous carcinoma is found almost excluively in smokers. I had five seperate operations. They removed both vocal cords, and half my larynx. I spent weeks with a tracheotomy hole in my throat and didn't fully get over the trauma of the operation for about a year and a half. I had to go for checkups in which they stuck a tube with a light on the end down my throat every month, then every three months, every six months, once a year, etc..

It has been twenty years since my last operation and I talk in a very hoarse whisper. I often cannot be understood when using a telephone and cannot be heard when talking at noisy parties like weddings where a band is playing.

Give up the smoking if it is at all possible. Take this bit of advice from someone who waited too long before doing so.

Wow Frogger! You sure made it much clearer for me! I shouldn't have even started. I was in a near fatal auto accident at age 13 & that stripped me of all my athletic talent. I was a natural athlete with dreams of going to the Olympics! In a flash it was all gone. I'm thankful to even be alive!

When I was 15 my pulmanary doctor told me if I didn't quit smoking I'd wind up in a wheelchair with an oxigen tank by the time I was 30. Both of my lungs had collapsed in the accident & I was trached twice then they resectioned my windpipe so I was the worse person to ever start smoking. I figured I lost my ability to play sports so who cared. Now at age 35, I'm having the most difficult time quitting but hearing what you had gone through inspires me to really do all I can to keep my quit!

Thank you so much for sharing your story! You're saving lives whether you know it or not!

With much gratitude!
NiNa

It has been twenty years since my last operation and I talk in a very hoarse whisper.

Hence the name "Frogger?"

Smoking drinking etc.. is no different then any other habit to break, it takes will power.
Drew I felt the same way when I smoked/chewed I hated it then when I didn't, I wanted it. Now that time has passed I can't stand to be around either. I quit cold turkey and never looked back, I believe all these so called stop smoking gimics are just that. They seem to just make the habbit drag out instead of getting rid of it.

its a lot more than a habit - nicotine is a very powerful chemical addiction.

Yes Drew you are so right about nicotine. As a matter of fact smoking is more addicting than heroine.

mad dog, I only wish I could be as strong as you were. Unfortunately I'm not & quitting is a real struggle for me.

You are correct about the chemical, but it is still a habit and will power is what is needed. I smoked 2+packs a day since the age of 11-12 plus chew and cigars{had these HABITS for 20+ yrs}. Sure I felt like crap for awhile after quiting but what is better, keep on puffing or breathe clean????????? Try to think of it this way, it's your body and your mind not the cigarettes. Most of us have no problem putting an 10lb cat in its place but for some reason a little white tube can kick our a**.

stick in Sunshine - I know exactly how you feel. Reading Froggers post stopped me buying a pack yesterday.

Congrats and hang tough, you can do it.

stick in Sunshine - I know exactly how you feel. Reading Froggers post stopped me buying a pack yesterday.

Way to go Drew! I take it your quitting as well. How long have you been a smoker?

I started at age 14 after the accident I was in. (stupid I know)

Today makes day 5 for me.

See you at the top
NiNa :thumbs:

Congrats and hang tough, you can do it.

Thanks imp! :)

Hence the name "Frogger?"

Nope. I just happen to like to collect frogs (and turtles). I guess I must have about 300 frogs in my collection, not counting the real ones in the koi pond. I started collecting them because I figured how many can there be. It will be a cheap little hobby. WRONG! There are zillions of them.

Neverthought of it though now that you mention it, Frogge is a good nickname for someone who sounds like a bullfrog when he talks.

Congrats Sunshine :D

I have been *clean* now for 2 years 4 months and 21 days.......:D

I gave myself a day (New Years Day) and i did it,,,,,,,,i havent caved in once !!

I feel so much better,,,,,,,,,i feel clean,no smelly hair,,,,,,i can run without stoppin to cough,,,,my skin is better,,,and i can taste food again.......

Hubby gave up on Monday,,,,he has had 2 cigs that i know of,,,,,,,but he is snappin at everything i do........ :( So im stayin out of his way... :p

I found it hard cus i smoked at certain times,,,,,,,,like 8.30,,,,11.30,,,,2.30,,,,ect ect.....
At these times id make sure i was doin something,,,,,lol,,like skipping or hula hooping !!!

I ate jelly bellys to ease the pain,,lol.......

Dont cave,,,,,,every time u feel weak,,,,,,go do something......

It is a little known fact that if you wait twenty minutes the craving will go away. Of course it will come back but it will go away again. The craving is not a continuous thing but comes and goes. Most people get the craving, smoke a cigarette and notice the craving goes away. They don't realize it would go away anyway.

The trick is to not try to quit cold turkey but to quit for short periods of time. Say to yourself, "I am not going to have a cigarette until after breakfast." (You can last that long.) After breakfast say, "I am not going to have a cigarette until I reach the parking lot at work." Again, you can do that. Keep making short commitments throughout the day.

Drew, if I helped you stop smoking in any way, I am happpy. i used to go to classrooms and give my, Smoke and you might wind up talking like me, lecture.

Add up all the money you save by not buying cigarettes and promise yourself you will spend it on yourself to buy something you would not normally purchase. Say you want a new suit, or dress, (not you Drew), or a digital camera. Tally what you didn't spend on cigarettes and when it equals the cost of the item go out and buy it. That way you will have one more incentive to stop smoking.

Congrats Sunshine :D

I have been *clean* now for 2 years 4 months and 21 days.......:D

I gave myself a day (New Years Day) and i did it,,,,,,,,i havent caved in once !!

I feel so much better,,,,,,,,,i feel clean,no smelly hair,,,,,,i can run without stoppin to cough,,,,my skin is better,,,and i can taste food again.......

Hubby gave up on Monday,,,,he has had 2 cigs that i know of,,,,,,,but he is snappin at everything i do........ :( So im stayin out of his way... :p

I found it hard cus i smoked at certain times,,,,,,,,like 8.30,,,,11.30,,,,2.30,,,,ect ect.....
At these times id make sure i was doin something,,,,,lol,,like skipping or hula hooping !!!

I ate jelly bellys to ease the pain,,lol.......

Dont cave,,,,,,every time u feel weak,,,,,,go do something......

I'm so happy for you! :thumbs:
Bad day today, I had a couple cigarettes now I feel just rotten about it.
Oh, Frogger a craving only lasts for 3-5 minutes. This addiction is hard not just for the physical aspect but also your mind which is what I'm really stuck with. I no longer have bad cravings or need it physically--it's all in my mind now.

I would pop in jelly beans or some kind of candy but I'm afraid of gaining weight. (I know it's vain) I quit for 4 months last summer then I went in for knee surgery & when I was home I was so bored from being laid up so long that I started again. Oops another BIG mistake.

Stay strong Helen! You are now an ex-smoker & keep it that way!

See you at the top
NiNa

One thing I find helps is those frozen cool aid icepops - they are about 12 inches long & a sealed plastic thing that you cut the top off to eat - they are quite addictive, and whenever you want a cig - eat one of those - it really helps.

Mr. Freeze's Drew !!!

Do the Americans not have ice pops ??

Thats a good thing to help aid gettin rid of the deadly weed......:D

Sorry u caved Sunshine,,,,,,hubby caved last night in the ensuit (thinks i cant smell it :rolleyes: )

Just make sure u keep busy and change your routine...........

Ive given up 2 addictions in my life,,,,,,

1 cigs
2 vicks nasal spray....

If only i could give up chocolate now too......:mad:

They are identical to Mr Freeze but don't have a name - at least not in the store I get them from - they just come in a net sack with 36 in.

My son likes them too, although he is not allowed to eat as many as I do.

How do you get addicted to vicks nasal spray? Does it get you high if you sniff a lot of it?

correction to my last post - as I went to the Freezer to get one - I noticed the bag has a name "Fun Pops"

How you doin Sunshine ???

Hubby has caved a few times since Monday,,,i wish he would stop,,,he is megga work stressed,he is a big drinker,,,,,,,he dont excersise,,,,,he smokes....

:rolleyes:

I think u get to a certain age and think,,,,,,,ok,,,,,,,,,,time to stop arsing around with this life i have,,,now i need to look after myself....

I know i have /did.

How you doin Sunshine ???

Hubby has caved a few times since Monday,,,i wish he would stop,,,he is megga work stressed,he is a big drinker,,,,,,,he dont excersise,,,,,he smokes....

:rolleyes:

I think u get to a certain age and think,,,,,,,ok,,,,,,,,,,time to stop arsing around with this life i have,,,now i need to look after myself....

I know i have /did.

Hi Red!

I'm doing pretty good. Thank you for asking.
It's funny, if I know I can have a cigarette I don't have any cravings. I live with a smoker so it made it kinda tough.

This is why I say it's a mental addiction. At least for me. I'm fine knowing that cigarettes are available to me, it's when they're not that plays mind games with me. When my boyfriend is about to leave for the day, at the very last second I'll say "Give me a cigarette" stupid huh.

Over all I would say that I'm doing good. I went from 1 pack a day to maybe 2 cigarettes if that. I know it has to be zero cigarettes & one day out of the blue I won't have any then I can honestly say that I'm an ex-smoker!

So far today I haven't had one. Let's pray that I don't cave.

Thanks again for asking!

See you st the top
NiNa ;)

Doesn't anyone here just wanna light up hmmm good ol pack of ciggyz.... :thumbs: