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I'm kicking the habit

4K views 76 replies 43 participants last post by  nomercadies 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
I bought a pack of Marlboro and stashed in my freezer because I know the stress will get to me at least a few times before I can say I'm clean free. My objective is to never finish that pack of smokes. I've been averaging a pack a day since I was 12… over 41 yeas ago. I think it's time.
 
#29 ·
Hang in there, Ted.

I quit cold turkey 12 years ago. It was maybe the hardest thing I ever did, but sooooooo worth it. The important thing for me was to hang on to the thought that "this too shall pass". The first several days of physical withdrawal are tough, and then you move into the emotional withdrawal, which was even harder. For about three months, I just wanted to kill someone. Anyone… it didn't matter. :) But after that, it was like the greatest relief in the world to have that gorilla off my back! So just tough it out, knowing that there is a huge reward at the end of the struggle.
 
#30 ·
After being free from smoke for all these years, I think I would toss my lunch if I was made to light up again. X-smokers are the worst complainers of second hand smoke, but for a reason. It hurts, but the hurt keeps me away. It hurts … so … Good!
 
#31 ·
You can do it Ted. I quit chewing after 34 years (I started young) and since the wife smoked, i would too (sometimes). I did find that using the nicotine gum helped me out. I ended up using the gum for 2 1/2 months, and been tobacco free for almost 2 years.

I got faith in you buddy. You can do it.
 
#32 ·
I started at 19, stopped at 26 when my kid asked me why I stunk and was killing myself. Started again two years later for two years, finally kicked it forever.

I'll tell you this: for me, quitting smoking has turned out to be easier than losing weight!!
 
#33 ·
I started smoking at age 14, I quit on 7 JAN 1991. I haven't had one cigarette since then. I quit cold turkey and I can honestly say I have not looked back on it one bit. The weight gain that went with it was a bigger consideration but I finally won that battle. You will be amazed by the "new smells" and tastes that you will experience from this moment forward. Good Luck - I will be rooting for you.
 
#38 ·
I watched a neighbor couple sit on their back steps and ponder how they were going to keep the house. They were going through some tough times. They both sat and worried and and smoked one cigarette after another. They couldn't find enough money for the house payment, but they would go through the couch cushions if necessary to find enough money for smokes. If you take Howie's numbers above and multiply by four … that's one heck of a bandsaw … or Scottrade portfolio …

I have an addictive personality. I can't help it. I just figured out I need to take on addictions that make me happy instead of control me. I'm addicted to investing. I shared the change in direction I made from smoker to investor with my doctor. He said it was a good move as if I had decided to keep up the smoking habit, I'd be dead. I'm 66 and retired. Investments were a big factor in helping me decide to go and do what I wanted to do instead of what my employer wanted me to.

I am thinking of giving up addictions I never had so as to feed my investing monster more aggressively. I was thinking about e-mailing Patreaus and asking how much his addictions cost him, but I think they are watching his e-mails and I think I already know the answer to what it cost him.

Without much exaggeration, it really is a decision between a good life and death. My dad got emphysema (2 packs of Pall Mall a day). It isn't fun to watch your loved one wither. Smoking doesn't just kill you, it takes away your energy, strength, stamina, and sucks the good out of life. Dad had to stop and sit on a bench between his car in handicapped parking and the inside of the market. He was thin and starting to lose his vision. When no one was looking, he snuck a smoke. I held his hand as he died. He was in so much pain. His health situation was that they couldn't give him much in the way of pain killers.

Can you think of something you will do with the extra years you will have of life, health, and strength?
 
#39 · (Edited by Moderator)
I used to feel exactly like Moron. I enjoyed smoking (or so I thought), and whatever possible health risks might be involved were not as important as enjoying life for the short time we're here anyway.

BUT, when I did finally quit, I realized I was able to enjoy life more rather than less. What I thought was the "enjoyment" of smoking was really just the relief of feeding the nicotine addiction. Smoking is the equivalent of burning yourself just so you can feel the pleasure of putting ice on it.
 
#41 ·
I wish you well. The health implications of smoking are terribly seripous.My son quit after smoking for years he now does weightlifting and the whole nine yards I am extremely proud of him.It is one of the hardest things to do but achievable if you stick with keeping buisy it get's easier after a while every day is a great milestone>I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. Alistair
 
#42 ·
Try this math…...I was a three pack a day smoker. That was $10 a day in 1999.
10×365x13 years=$47,450.00 and that is 1999 prices! Just keep thinking about this and you will overcome a lot of the feelings. Like Alistar said, keep busy. Take it one day at a time.

Mark Twain said quitting smoking was the easiest thing he ever did, he said he had done it a thousand times(or something like that) All former smokers know it's hard but you can do it. Just have to get committed.
 
#46 ·
Ted, I've smoked for 40 yrs. and tried to quit probably 40 times, and still trying. A buddy of mine once told me, to quit smoking you have to get past the 5 THREE'S (3 Minutes, 3 Hours, 3 Days, 3 Months, 3 Years), yesterday I got to 2 months and 17 days. Tomorrow I will start again. I'm still trying, lets keep in touch and see if I can keep up with you. What do you say?
 
#47 ·
Sorry the 5 THREE'S are (3 Hours, 3 Days, 3 Weeks, 3 Months and 3 Years) I got a call last night and was told I did not quote my friend correctly. Oh well you get the point. "IT'S HARD AS HELL, BUT WE CAN DO IT"'
 
#48 ·
Mark, in my experience, once I got past the three months it was smooth sailing.

In the first 3 days, the physical addiction is influencing your thoughts. In the first three months, it's the psychological addiction that will get you. After that, the choice to light up or not is 100% your own.
 
#50 ·
Well Charlie, I guess my friend was 2/3 right anyway. Physical or Psychological Addiction, it's just plain tough. Ted, this is me talking now about me. I used to drink 1 gallon of DeWards White Lable Scotch each and every week, for years and years, and sometimes more. But when the doctors told me I had to stop drinking and smoking I said okay, haven't had a drink in a very long time, but the cigs., that's a different subject. But we are going to do it, right Ted
 
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