I'm a big fat quitter. (Vanity to the Nth)

[socalrepubminority]

Yesterday I quit smoking.
I figure if I can keep a little log on how the progress is going you guys can give advice, and words of encouragement, either that or you guys flame the hell out of me, I never post a vanity again and this thread falls into obscurity.
just some background to get a handle on the situation my wife and I BOTH smoke(d), we're 28 years old, no kids, both smoked for over 10 years, I'm on the gum she's on the patch.
Yesterday was a haze, all I remember is coming home from work diving into two day old pizza and chicken wings, toped off with a bowl of peanut butter cup ice cream. the wife came home, she's a Rat I'm a Republican....I know(we try to never talk politics), it's already set up to be a rumble in the jungle, I think we said four words to each other last night "I love you goodnight".
A couple of things as I move into day two.
1. Is this freaking gum supposed to burn my mouth so much that I can't tell if I'm drooling or not?
2. How long am I going to continue to want to punch people who have done nothing but talk to me?

[socalrepubminority]

Holy crap that's dusgusting, thanks...I'm gonna go hurl now.

[EX52D]

I know where you're coming from...you are going to think you're going nuts for a while, but you will notice you smell better (of course food tastes better), your lungs clear out...I have gone back and forth. If you stick it out for about 3 weeks, you will want to strangle any smoker within your grasp...best wishes to you...

[socalrepubminority]

yeah, but when I'M around smokers after I quit...for some reason it smells really good.

[tje]

I used the gum and just chewed it for hours... I've been smoke free for about 3 months now...

But, I smoked less than 10 cigarettes a day.. so I wasn't so adversly addicted.. How long? over 25 years.. Oh, I'd always quit for a year or two hear and there...

Once you realize how easy it is to quit smoking, you can do it all the time.

[EX52D]

Remember you're doing the right thing...look at that picture of the lung again...remind yourself what drove you to quit, and stick with it...

[Grammy]

I quit 17 years ago (3 packs a day). I didn't use gum or anything, I just decided I'd had enough. Remember that the urge to smoke will pass in about 10 minutes whether you have a cigarette or not. And if you stop with the gum and stuff the nicotine will be out of your system in about 3 days.

The habit part is the hard one to change. Take up knitting to keep your hands busy. (Yes, guys do knit) Also, find out what time is your biggest urge. Mine was at the table after dinner. Change your routine... for me it was get up as soon as dinner is over and start on dishes.

[Wings-n-Wind]

Dear socal...

Have at it...
Both my parent's lives were considerably shortened by smoking cigarettes most of their lives.

The "usual suspects" of diseases/cancers were not present in either case. But their overall health & constitution were badly affected; And the long-term effects on heart (Dad) and lungs (Mom) became very evident when they needed strength to recover from other health problems.

Both died unexpectedly from conditions that would otherwise have been only minor to moderate health concerns.

Wishing you every success and blessing as you win this tough battle against a powerful addiction.

Regards,
Wings

[ORECON]

I quit smoking in 1978 after smoking for fifteen years. I had a two to three pack-a-day habit. For about six months, I dreamed about smoking every night. That first cigarette would be better than the best sex ever. I finally broke down, pulled into a 7-11 and bought a pack. I got back into my car, got out a cigarette with shaking hands and lit it. I drew that luxurious wonderful smoke into my lungs. And then I started coughing and almost threw up. I put out the cigarette and threw away the pack. I was cured.

[lOKKI]

I did exactly what you're doing now, at the same age. I'd smoked for 10 years (started in college) and then quit.

When I did it (this was 'some years back'), there was no nicotine gum nor patches. So, I had to do it "cold turkey".

The first two weeks were the worst. It was said at that time that the nicotine addiction would be gone by then, and that the rest of it would be mental. I would suspect that with the gum and patches, that two-week period of angst will stretch out since you'll still be getting some nicotine - just not as much as you want.

I believe that it's much more a mental addiction than a physical one. Long after I quit, I'd still want a cigarette, particularly after ... a meal, or a drink. I still twirl pens in my fingers, or find other hand-action fiddling-around activities to take the place of cigarette in keeping my hands busy.

While I was quitting, I tried to have a cigarette substitute handy in the form of hard candy for a while, and then switched to a candy that I didn't like and got away from that.

Basically, if you can get through the first two weeks (or so) it's all a matter of pride carrying you for the next couple of months till the mental associations are broken. Get rid of all the ashtrays, lighters, and every cigarette in the place. Deliberately find something to do as substitute instead of having a cigarette when you hit those moments.

It really finally,comes down to a kind of pride thing. Are you a victim of the evil cigarette companies who sell something stronger than you are? Or, are you in control of your own destiny? If you've gone five days without a smoke, it's pretty sad not to make it one more day.

Having said all that, I didn't make it the first time, because I wasn't really mentally ready to do it. Wasn't my idea the first time. The second time I decided I was ready... and now it's been about 20 years.

Oh, if you decide that you have to go back to smoking, only allow yourself a cigarette that you despise. For me it was Carlton's...something about the flavor made me more or less gag. That helped break that positive association for me...

Now: Not good luck to you, but go do it.

[rockinonritalin]

Good luck. I quit smoking over 15 years ago. It took a few times for it to take. I actually quit once for an entire year, then started again. That was stupid!

I think I know what you're saying about the gum vs. the patch. I still chew gum until my jaw aches and my finger nails are usually bloody stumps.

[cowboyway]

How long am I going to continue to want to punch people who have done nothing but talk to me?

I've never smoked in my life and I want to punch people all the time.

[socalrepubminority]

Thank you to everyone for your kind words.(sorry, I don't know how to address everone without writting it all down and re-typing and I don't have patience for that). I'm feeling strong right now and hopefully I can see it through.
ps. I got put on the ZOT list? damn.....how'd I do that?

[DoctorMichael]

I used the gum and managed to quit. However, it took me a lot longer than they said in the box (over a year). Also, buying the large packs of 118 lozenges at Walmart made it cost effective. At the beginning, a piece would last about a half hour and I'd reach for another.

Yes, it does feel like you're chewing "pepper" (burning sensation). Like Pavlov's dog, I now constantly chew Trident gum as a substitute for the Niccorette.

Good Luck!

[JerseyHighlander]

Exercise like a crazy bastard. Get your adrenaline pumping and dopamine levels up after workouts by having a few mixed drinks. You'll be too exhausted to smoke, and you'll train yourself to be able to drink and not crave a cig. Social drinking is where I always relapse.

Nearly the same age, smoking as long, quit in Nov., have had two packs since then(when out drinking). Can run a mile in under 8 minutes for first time since I started smoking.

Cardio exercise is the answer. Bike, jog, swim, martial arts, boxing, exercise with the wife, get to the point you're hacking up lung as soon as possible.

Also, a heavy bag helped with the need to punch stuff instincts.

[JerseyHighlander]

One more thing, with the fixation on holding a cig to thew lips after a meal, a drink, during the morning driving commute, etc, I found this stuff, Original Fruit Leather. It's like fruit rollups from when we were kids, but healthy, and each one last about as long as a cig. Try a few, then buy in bulk, they are a bit expensive. Better then using an inhaler that looks like a tampon applicator, still can't believe they thought that product designed like that would survive in the market place.

[freebird5850]

I get up in the morning and go all day, then I have one when I get home.....it's weird as I have smoked for the last ten years. The weekends are worse.

[alisasny]

Try the 12 steps...

[trussell]

You made it through a day!!

One day at a time!!

[trussell]

I quit over 3 years ago, when my children disappeared! I promised God that if he would bring my children home, I would quit!

2 hours before I picked them up...I smoked my last cigarette (I still had 8 packs out of a carton that I gave away). I quit cold-turkey. I was really motivated...but I found this easier than the other times I had tried using gums and patches.

I will keep you and your wife in my prayers! Good luck and keep us updated.

[socalrepubminority]

how did your children disappear?