Quitting smoking

@T_gray (7774)
Salina, Kansas
November 12, 2015 9:38pm CST
As I sit here and smoke my 4th cigarette of the day (9:30pm), I realize how wonderful I am doing with this quitting smoking thing. Let me take a step back here. When I was smoking, I was a very heavy smoker. I would push two packs a day. Not something I was proud of. I never saw myself quitting either. When I first decided to quit I did it as a romantic gesture for a girl I was dating, who didn't smoke and didn't like that I smoked. I told myself I would never quit for anyone, but I loved her for some reason and thought it would make her love me more. Stupid right? Well that stupid move has got me to quit. Just because her and I are on the outs right now doesn't mean I'm going to pick up the habit again. So I'm proud of myself all in all...... Who's quit smoking and how did you do it?
14 people like this
13 responses
@1hopefulman (45120)
• Canada
13 Nov 15
I stopped 45 years ago when I was twenty as I joined a religion where no one smokes and I'm glad I did as I don't think I was very smart breathing smoke. It took me a while as I had been smoking since I was 7 years old. I wanted to be cool like older people. After a while I could not stand the smoke and now I'm allergic to it.
7 people like this
@JudyEv (342104)
• Rockingham, Australia
13 Nov 15
Seven is very young to be smoking. It is good you stopped at a young age as well. There really is nothing good that can be said about smoking.
4 people like this
@T_gray (7774)
• Salina, Kansas
13 Nov 15
Wow 7 it's such a young age. I think I started to be cool as well. Sucks huh but I was 16
1 person likes this
@a_manick (879)
• India
13 Nov 15
I have never smoked. But, during my college days, the difficulty was to overcome the peer pressure. I am glad that I resisted all those pressures to come out unscathed. Smoking is an unnecessary habit. Its good that you have left the smoking habit, voluntarily or otherwise.
6 people like this
@T_gray (7774)
• Salina, Kansas
13 Nov 15
I am glad you didn't start. Your right it is an unnecessary habit that I wish I never started
1 person likes this
@inertia4 (27960)
• United States
13 Nov 15
I tried to quit a few times. I also tried cutting down as well. Even though cutting down seems to help, it never truly works all the way. Like an addict, us smokers have to want to quit. For our own reasons, not for anyone else. Once we make up our minds to quit, we usually succeed. I am on the fence right now with it. Part of me wants to quit while the other part is like, not yet.
3 people like this
@inertia4 (27960)
• United States
14 Nov 15
@T_gray That's great. I am still struggling with this whole smoking thing. What makes it hard really for me is that I see it as a three part problem. One, the addiction, that's a given. Two, the habit, it is habit forming. And Three, I actually enjoy it. That, like number one, is a hard one for me.
1 person likes this
@T_gray (7774)
• Salina, Kansas
14 Nov 15
@inertia4 I agree with all those. That's why I never saw myself quitting. But one day you'll be ready and you'll find the motivation.
1 person likes this
@T_gray (7774)
• Salina, Kansas
13 Nov 15
I was the same way. I didn't want to quit for the longest time. I'm more ready now then ever. And for me. Not for anyone else
2 people like this
@sishy7 (27167)
• Australia
13 Nov 15
I quit on my own will many years ago before I had kids. My brother-in-law who was a heavy smoker quit cold turkey when he found himself coughing up blood one day.
4 people like this
@sishy7 (27167)
• Australia
13 Nov 15
@JudyEv It sure scared him big time! And he quit, just like that!
2 people like this
@JudyEv (342104)
• Rockingham, Australia
13 Nov 15
Coughing up blood would be enough to stop most people I would think.
4 people like this
@T_gray (7774)
• Salina, Kansas
13 Nov 15
Yeah I would quit for sure if my health got that bad. I already cough enough as is
1 person likes this
@bookbar (1609)
• Sudbury, England
13 Nov 15
Quit around 3 moths ago with the help of eCigs, saved myself around £1,000 so far...a better incentive
5 people like this
@JudyEv (342104)
• Rockingham, Australia
13 Nov 15
That is a lot of money to save. I never smoked but I love standing next to a smoker and 'passive smoking'. I think if I'd taken it up I would have found it hard to stop.
5 people like this
• United States
13 Nov 15
I smoked 4 packs a day for many years...I wish I had all that money back - plus my lung back..they are pretty useless now.
2 people like this
@T_gray (7774)
• Salina, Kansas
13 Nov 15
Yay glad you quit. I also am using an ecig. Or a vap cig. Which ever. And it's nice to save money!
2 people like this
@JudyEv (342104)
• Rockingham, Australia
13 Nov 15
Well done for quitting - or at least cutting right back. Think of the money you're saving and how much healthier you are. And you'll live longer too.
3 people like this
@T_gray (7774)
• Salina, Kansas
13 Nov 15
Thanks a bunch. I do already feel better with how much I've cut back
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160951)
• United States
13 Nov 15
I have never smoked, but my first husband, my high school sweetheart did. He quit many times, and the last time he was dying, not from smoking but he was in a nursing home and was not allowed to smoke. He said he wished he had quit years before. You will not quit any younger than you are right now, and whatever is working for you, keep it up. You will save thousands of dollars outright, as well as avoiding illnesses and not burning holes in your possessions. People do not realize how many things are related to smoking, besides lung diseases.
1 person likes this
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
13 Nov 15
I have quit and started again quite a few times. Usually when I quit I go cold turkey. It's hard, but I read somewhere that just cutting back keeps you addicted so the withdrawal symptoms last longer, where as if you just quit the withdrawal symptoms go away after a short time.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (168269)
• Boise, Idaho
14 Nov 15
I have never had a habit of smoking. I have taken up the habit a couple of times but it was a social thing, not addictive. I have written many articles of the subject and on COPD as well. What I am hearing is that it takes several times quitting to actually reach a place where it actually happens. COPD is awful and I watched my grandfather die of emphysema. It is horrible and even more horrible to know that it could be rectified by stopping.
@kevin1877uk (36988)
6 Jan 16
I've never smoked. I never been with someone who does smoke.
2 people like this
@kevin1877uk (36988)
6 Jan 16
@T_gray Awww hugs, you'll do it if you want too
1 person likes this
@T_gray (7774)
• Salina, Kansas
6 Jan 16
It is a really bad habit. I am still trying to quit. It is hard but I kind of lost my motivation when I got depressed in December.
2 people like this
@T_gray (7774)
• Salina, Kansas
6 Jan 16
@kevin1877uk I want to, and it will happen. I just need to make it happen.
1 person likes this
• Valdosta, Georgia
14 Nov 15
I have tried to quit smoking many times and failed many times. Congrats on cutting back-that in itself is so difficult! I hope you keep up the great work and keep yourself busy as I know that is one thing that does help. =)
1 person likes this
@T_gray (7774)
• Salina, Kansas
14 Nov 15
Oh yes, keeping busy is the challenge for sure! I manage. Thanks for the positive words. :-)
1 person likes this
• United States
13 Nov 15
14 years ago I smoked 4 packs a day - I quite cold turkey and have not cheated once. My husband and I quite the same day. Cutting back is a sure way to fail...get rid of the cigs and keep away from them, it works.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (342104)
• Rockingham, Australia
13 Nov 15
Wow, four packs a day! You should be rolling in the money you've saved.
1 person likes this
• United States
13 Nov 15
@JudyEv Plus my husband smoked two a day.
• West Haven, Connecticut
6 Jan 16
Wow two packs a day to 4, thats great progress! Keep it up and you can turn 4 into 2 a day
1 person likes this
@T_gray (7774)
• Salina, Kansas
6 Jan 16
I am still trying! hehe
1 person likes this