OT - MGoQuitting Smoking

Submitted by GoBlueScott on

So, three days after my 32nd birthday, I quit smoking. This was after half my life addicted to those little sticks of joy. As of today, I have been smoke free for almost 40 days.

For those who smoke, do you ever think about quitting? For those who have quit, what do I have to look forward to?

(Haha, I just saw another post about quitting red meat. Man, we're just a bunch of quitters.)

stonyc96

May 27th, 2010 at 12:58 PM ^

Keep it up, man... I quit over 10 years ago.  I was probably at about a 1/2 pack a day.  You're probably past the worst of it... the immediate quit cravings were the worst.

Baldbill

May 27th, 2010 at 1:00 PM ^

I quit and mostly regret nothing only once in awhile does an urge come over me to have a smoke. Your long term health will improve.

GVBlue86

May 27th, 2010 at 1:00 PM ^

I wish I could quit the grizz. My effing roommate in college got me to try it while drinking one night and over time I got hooked. Its a situational addiction as basically I only do it while playing video games late at night lol, but still. Its gross and I want to quit. Its just soo hard. Congrats on being smoke free for 40 days!

Goblue89

May 27th, 2010 at 1:13 PM ^

Dude, I am also a situational chewer and can't seem to kick the habbit either.  I can't watch Michigan football without it, and since I won't be giving up that anytime soon something has got to change. 

I live with a former Major League baseball player who has been around the stuff his whole life.  He said a guy he played with had tried to quit for years with no avail.  He finally decided he was going to make himself sick over it and literally grabbed a spoon and ate it.  This of course caused him to puke and he hasn't touched it since. 

Bird of War

May 27th, 2010 at 1:38 PM ^

Nothing beats throwing in a dipper while playing video games.  Gets me real into the wild west atmosphere in RDR.

I once tried doing the same thing (swallowing half a tin) hoping it would make me quit.  Unfortunately, I still chew except for the flavor that I swallowed, which was peach.  If I get a whiff of that stuff I immediately have the urge to vomit.  

I wish I were able to quit but it's been difficult every time I've tried.  

GVBlue86

May 27th, 2010 at 3:23 PM ^

Im glad Im not the only situational guy. Yeah its COD MW2 for me and before that it was MLB and NCAA 09. Just helps me relax big time.  Ive thought about the swallowing thing. Maybe thats a good idea. I just dont see it working. And I dont knwo about you guys but I always rationalize my use with the idea that, "i wont think about it or use it unless im in ___situation so its not that bad!" My girlfriend is disgusted by it too so I have to be secretive.

WichitanWolverine

May 27th, 2010 at 2:07 PM ^

I chewed a ton back when I poured concrete in college.  We chewed Kodiak, which is harsh as fuck if you guys haven't had it.  I chew once in a blew moon now, mostly if I'm drinking and someone else has it.

Chewing obviously isn't the smartest thing you can do, but it is much safer statistically than smoking.  So at least you've got that...

Hemlock Philosopher

May 27th, 2010 at 1:09 PM ^

Congrats, Scott.  As a hospital-based pharmacist, I see so much sickness brought on by "those little sticks of joy" of cancer.  Good work and here's to hoping that you can influence other smokers to make the same decision as you did.

Foote Fetish

May 27th, 2010 at 1:10 PM ^

was the social aspect and the habit of it.  I liked hanging out with the smoke break posse, or being at the bar with a beer and a cigarette ("luckily" Chicago won't let you do that anymore) so that to me was the worst part.  Every once in a while, I'll be out for a walk in the summer and still kind of miss having a smoke. The nicoteen I didn't really miss.

I  haven't had a cigarette in a couple years now and I'll tell you what: the chest doesn't hurt as much anymore and I really do feel healthier.

Noahdb

May 27th, 2010 at 1:17 PM ^

For those who smoke, do you ever think about quitting? For those who have quit, what do I have to look forward to?

 

Way to go! I started smoking when I was 14, started smoking about a pack a day when I was 19 and finally managed to quit when I was 28. I'm 37 now and I'm one of the self-righteous folks who can't even stand to be in the same room with a smoker.

One of the more frequent dreams that I still have is one where I've started smoking again and half to "detox" again. You're over the hard part. The physical withdrawl and the pangs and the restlessness are gone. Now you have to tackle the mental part. You have to get over the "Well, I can have ONE, can't I?"

NO. You can't.

I used Nicorette in the beginning and then I transitioned over to sugar-free mints to get off that. One of the things that you don't realize when you smoke is just how badly you reek. For those of you who still smoke, go put a shirt that you wore today in a dry-cleaning bag and tie the bottom. Then quit for two weeks. When you get your since of smell back, go take a whiff of that shirt. That's what you smelled like when you read this. It's like finding out that you've been sh*tting yourself and never knew it.

When you get the urge to smoke, get in the habit of doing something else. Train your body and your mind to do a new activity. I started walking up a flight of stairs and doing deep breathing exercises. Drink plenty of water.

Between the amount of money that you'll save and the difference in your health, you've done the single-greatest thing you could POSSIBLY do for yourself. If you want to top that, you'll have to pick the correct numbers in the Powerball and convince Natalie Portman to sit on your face.

Suavdaddy

May 27th, 2010 at 2:36 PM ^

I smoked for about 10 years before that.  Noahdb has it straight.  You can't ever have just one again.  I have had a relapse or two when work has gone beserk and the home life too.  Saturdays with the boys can be tough.  Sometimes I dream about that lucious dirt stick. 

That being said, I am healthier than I have been since HS.  I hardly ever get sick.  And I am out doing much more.  The smoking ban has helped me.  The best tool for quitting for me was to do jiu jitsu.  Can't take someone out if you can't breathe. 

Jehu the Damaja

May 27th, 2010 at 1:20 PM ^

Ive tried to quit smoking cold turkey but damn its a lot harder than I thought. Although with cigs at almost 7 bucks a pack, now would be a great time to quit

Dark Blue

May 27th, 2010 at 1:25 PM ^

I'm almost 30 now and have been smoking for about 12years. I've quit a couple of different times but have always gone back to the smokes. But YES I think about quitting every single day, I'm just to big of a pussy to actually succeed at it.

Beavis

May 27th, 2010 at 1:29 PM ^

I'm a situational smoker - given it up for weeks at a time without even saying "I'm going to quit".  I find there are certain situations where I enjoy one (after a LONG day at work - on the drive home, at 2 AM after being inside a bar), so I will probably continue on that trend for a few more years (currently 26) before eventually having a woman make me quit (figure that is what it will take).

The one thing that HAS to be harder to quit (as certain people in this thread have mentioned) is chewing tobacco. Skoal has me in its grasp.  I probably dip 2-3 times per night after getting home from work.  I don't see that stopping until I get married, unfortunately.  Although the idea of eating a spoonfull and puking it up could be an effective idea.  Ballsy, though.

Fat Mike

May 27th, 2010 at 1:31 PM ^

I quit cold turkey 6 months ago. Everybody that I hang out with smokes so that first week was terrible but after you get past that point the cravings pretty much stop.

I gotta say it feels great. No cravings, I can go for a walk and still breath afterwards, I just have a lot more energy. And still being around cigs now with all my friends I hate them, can't stand them

umjgheitma

May 27th, 2010 at 1:34 PM ^

I'm not a smoker (can't stand the taste left in my mouth) but I would say the bonus is quite a few bucks in the bank account. I'd say with the low market, invest the savings and look forward to being able to enjoy your retirement.

Beavis

May 27th, 2010 at 1:46 PM ^

By "enjoy your retirement" I'm assuming you mean health reasons and not financial?  Because financially, it won't make THAT big of a difference on your retirement savings whether or not you smoke (depending on your passion for sticks, we're talking anywhere from a "free" Honda Civic to a 500 benz at age 59.5 if you quit at age 30), but nothing you can retire on. 

aawolve

May 27th, 2010 at 1:35 PM ^

That craving can pop up just when you thought it was gone forever, be careful when you're out drinking. I manged to quit, and though I only smoked for a few years, it was very difficult and I failed several times. The best part for me was gaining the ability to taste food again.

Don

May 27th, 2010 at 1:37 PM ^

You can look forward to being able to run, swim, climb mountains, bike, play softball, or just walk up a flight of stairs without wheezing. You can kiss your GF or your wife or whoever and be confident that you don't taste like an ashtray, nor will your clothes smell like one, either.

It won't be easy to stay away from them 100% of the time, but if you have a non-smoking wife or GF, it will be easier to stay away from tobacco.

Congratulation. There are literally no downsides to quitting.

wmu313

May 27th, 2010 at 1:42 PM ^

and good luck to you. I smoked throughout high school and college, got up to a pack a day after I stopped swimming. Quit 2 years ago cold turkey and haven't had one since. The toughest part was going out to the bar, but that isn't much of a problem now with the ban in place. Getting through the first two weeks is the toughest part.. I got through it by chewing LOTS of gum

readyourguard

May 27th, 2010 at 1:45 PM ^

When I arrived on campus in 84, I began a chewing habit that lasted 26 years.  I am hopelessly addicted to niccotine.  However, I did the right thing and quit this year after my 14year old daughter made a plea for me to stop.  It's a bitch, I'm not gonna lie.  The cravings (in my case) never go away.

 

Good luck to you.

sandiego

May 27th, 2010 at 2:22 PM ^

are my friends.  12 days, no cigs.  I'm 37, started chewing at 16, transitioned to a nice smoking habit at 21 and have quit 5-10 times over the last 15 years w/ varying degrees of success. 

When the urges are borderline uncontrollable, I grab some nicorette gum, punch a dophin, kick a kitten, do 10 push-ups and pound a glass of water.

HAIL 2 VICTORS

May 27th, 2010 at 2:50 PM ^

Scott-

When I was 5 years old my Father had me take a drag off of his filterless Camel and I never put another cigarette to my mouth.  There is video evidience this does not work on every small child however.