Smoking

[LMT66]

After years of this disgusting habit, I am really feeling the effects of it and it prevents me from certain hikes (Climbing Devils Lake Bluffs) I once did.

For those of you who have kicked that habit once and for all, how did you do it?
How has your lung capacity increased after you stopped?

My guess is many here smoke and maybe responses to this might help those of us who continue to light up, quit.
Thanks in advance.

 

[Munky88]

Fancy time line.

 

[pitdog]

I have never smoked but a buddy of mine who smoked for many years finally quit by selecting a date when he would stop and told as many friends and relatives when that date was ! He said it was real tough and even ten years on when he is in a bar and someone near him is smoking he says he would still love one but that worked for him !!!!

Best of luck buddy !!!!

 

[TwinBlade]

I smoked for 17 years. In November of 2007 I looked at a cig that I just lit up and said "You will never rent a little space, free of charge in my mind again". I threw the pack out, took my Zippos and sold them, and bought a 6 pack of beer and drank it that night (solidifying in my head the beer/cig combo and destroying that concept) and never looked back. I win the battle of wills. You will not own me.

Good Luck!

 

[WalterDavis]

Hey man, I don't know if this will be of much help, but here it goes:

I quit smoking right about a year ago. I don't remember the exact date and I really don't care. After living around smokers my whole life I started smoking when I was 21 and had a pack a day(sometimes more) until I was 30. I tried patches a couple of times and loved the dreams they gave me, but they didn't work by themselves. One night I finished the last cigarette in a pack and when I woke up I decided I was done smoking, and I had more important things to do with my life. The thought that motivated me was that I was 30, overweight, a smoker, working a stressfull job and that if I ever wanted to have a child and watch them grow up, I'd better change something NOW!I put on a patch and went on with my life:thumbup:I actually only wore the patch the last time for 4 or 5 days, then said "To hell with it". I changed my mindset-as soon as I became a non-smoker in my head, the cravings all but went away. I actually calmed way down (though my boss sure turned into a bunghole) and I just went on with my life.

I did do some things to help myself, though I didn't really realize it at the time. First, I seriously cut out booze, because that triggered a craving for a smoke. I'll have a drink, or two, or even go out with the boys now and tie one on, now, but for a while I just didn't. And since I've quit smoking, I have cut down on my 'social drinking'. Second, I started working out, playing tennis and hiking mostly. Got active, so I didn't sit around much and think. Didn't get any skinnier, but I'll be up tomorrow working on that some more!

However, there was some not-so-nice side affects to quitting. I got a summer cold that lasted for ever, probably 4 months with varying degrees of effect on me. I was pretty upset that I could give up such a nasty habit and feel worse For some reason now my sinuses are much more sensitive, also. And now I have to remind myself to carry a lighter when I go out hiking:foot: I haven't seen much of an increase in lung capacity, but I haven't been doing much cardio for the last couple months, though with spring fully here, I'm starting back up.


Funny my longest post would be on this, but maybe it'll help somebody else. Just remember, it's all about the mindset. Don't 'quit smoking', everybody's done that (multiple times), instead find something positive in your life to focus on and get on with it:thumbup: Good luck, and put aside some of the savings for a new knifegift for a loved onenew knife

 

[The REAL Commander]

I was a 5 (yes FIVE) pack-a-day smoker at my worst, and it was only in my early 40's when I had my boy that I decided to quit smoking. I remember I accidentally exhaled in his little face and saw it discontort with disgust. I felt horrible, how could I do this to my little newborn? I decided right then the pack I had would be my last. In fact, I didn't even finish the pack, I just tossed them out. That was more than 3 decades ago and I have not missed the dang things a second in my life. It just boils down to what is important.

 

[DOC-CANADA]

Different strategies work for different people. I smoked for 32 years, my last cigarette was in 1989 (yes, I started smoking when I was 12 ). I'm not going to tell you what will help you quit smoking, because I don't know, but one thing I will tell you -

You will never be a non-smoker! However, you can go the rest of your life without another smoke. Being a smoker is like being an alcoholic. You may never have another drink, but you will still be an alcoholic.

The reason it's important to remember this is: as little as a drag or two could get you smoking again, so never, ever think "Well, gee, one won't hurt!!!!!!"

I'm still a smoker, but I haven't had one for 20 years. As long as I keep this in mind, I should be fine...............

Doc

 

[quietmike]

Smoked for 19 years, have been smoke free for about a year.
For me sunflower seeds or hard candy helped to get rid of the nicotine fits and agitation.

For me it is not having the cigarettes around. If I had some on me now I would probably smoke them, but knowing I'd have to go to the store and buy them is enough of a disconnect for me.

Telling folks when you're quitting for the added peer pressure is a good idea!

 

[sidecutter]

heavy beer drinker for 30 yrs and quit cold turkey. found out i like the money more than i liked the beer. more $$$$ = more knives!!! :thumbup:

 

[Loosearrow]

Started smoking in the Marines, quit for a number of years, started up again foolishly. Quite again. Nobody likes a quitter, don't beat yourself down. Just choose not to smoke. If you have one, so what, don't beat yourself down, don't keep score. Don't reinforce, I quite for 5 years then had a cig, I'm bad, I can't quite. Just tell your self, Hey one cig in 5 years pretty good, and go on. Just choose not to smoke. I am a respiratory therapist and I see first had what it does to the lives of people and how they mold their activity around continuing poor health. No time like the present. This body is the only model you get to travel in this life.

 

[trldad]

Different strategies work for different people. ........I'm not going to tell you what will help you quit smoking, because I don't know, but one thing I will tell you -

You will never be a non-smoker! However, you can go the rest of your life without another smoke. Being a smoker is like being an alcoholic. You may never have another drink, but you will still be an alcoholic.

The reason it's important to remember this is: as little as a drag or two could get you smoking again, so never, ever think "Well, gee, one won't hurt!!!!!!"

I'm still a smoker, but I haven't had one for 20 years. As long as I keep this in mind, I should be fine...............

Doc

Doc hit the nail on the head for me. I am 1 year and 4 months now smoke free after 20 + years of smoking. The CHANTIX pill worked for me to help me through the hard parts. As mentioned above 90% of not smoking is MINDSET. Tell yourself you don't want to smoke, set a date, keep looking forward. You will backslide a little at the start but keep the goal in site and keep looking forward.

Good Luck
trldad

 

[WILLIAM.M]

another thing to remember-

-NO ONE on their death bed------wishes they smoked "more" than they did--or longer than they did.

The sooner you quit--they better off you will be.

and you will have more $ for knives---and more "lifespan" to use them..

Sincerely

Dr.Bill

 

[slimshaneee]

Quitting smoking is what led me to knives. I've got a modest collection now, I own the kephart woodcraft and camping book, bushcraft, and the $50 knife shop book. I've got over $2000 worth of knives, books, a drum set, a banjo, and a lot more pride in myself. None of it really cost me a thing besides cigarettes. With the recent price hike here in Michigan my old habit would have costed me about $300 a month.

Before success I tried quitting smoking an average of about 6 times a year over the 8 years before it worked. I used the patch, but I used the patch many times. What really honestly worked was taking a VERY hard stance against smoking.
I picked a date a month away. Don't rush in, if your mind isn't ready, no patch, gum, chantix, candy, or anything will work for long. I started to think to myself with every cigarette, soon I won't do this, this stinks, this is expensive, this is killing me, only idiots or weaklings smoke. I had to develop my current belief that the only way a reasonable person can smoke is if they admit they are weak, or foolish. I don't see another option. I don't want to be weak or foolish
I've always been able to quit for a month or two. The things that got me through those late onset cravings that say "you've been good for a long time, you can have one now" were knives. It started my whole knife hobby. Anytime I wanted a cigarette I would touch my knife, or take it out and open it, or cut something with it. I would look at the amazing pocket knives that I would have never been able to afford, and tell myself that I earn these by not doing that silly behavior of smoking.
Now with the knives I've earned I get to make my life easier and other peoples. By not running around looking for something to cut something with. Without the reward system I could not have done it. My wife told me that if I start again I will have to sell all that I have earned. I won't smoke again.

Hope parts of it helps!
Shane

All the posts in here have great ideas. Also being that this is W+S forum. Imagine this scenario, you are lost in the woods for 3 weeks. You only have one pack of cigarettes. Not having those cigarettes will affect your mood. It will cloud your thinking and make it harder to think, make judgements. Some of the dumbest things I have done were shortly after quitting, at times I could NOT concentrate. Which could lead to big problems. Plus cigarettes are added weight on a hike!

 

[Dave Costin]

Like Doc, I started at around 13 yrs old and smoked for about 33 years. Mainly pipes and cigars in beginning then quickly to cigs. Me and a couple of neighborhood friends started together but one never allowed them to get a hold. My best friend died (one who started with me) died about 5 years ago of cancer. He was 40 (almost) and left 7 kids behind, ages 3 to 13 at the time.

Anyway, I quit 3 years ago. After trying everything new as soon as it would come out, I finally quit after laser treatment. I have never actually craved a cig afterward. It really is a mindset. I associated pain with smoking and pleasure with quitting, basically the opposite to what most do. I now say that quitting was "the hardest thing I ever tried but the easiest thing I ever did". Once I got past the headaches on days 4,5, and 6 it was very easy. I can still drink beer if I want but don't even do that much anymore either.

Yes, it has been much easier walking, exercising, working...heck just breathing is easier. If I would ever think about a cig (not same as a craving) I would take a very deep breath and hold it. While smoking I would always cough when I tried this but not now! I used to always have a hacking cough too that I didn't even notice. Nothing now though!

It's a wonderful feeling to be free of them. Congrats to those who have quit and good luck to those who are wanting to quit. If I can ever help someone quit please feel free to pm me.

 

[stitchawl]

Different strategies work for different people. I smoked for 32 years, my last cigarette was in 1989 (yes, I started smoking when I was 12 ). I'm not going to tell you what will help you quit smoking, because I don't know, but one thing I will tell you -

You will never be a non-smoker! However, you can go the rest of your life without another smoke. Being a smoker is like being an alcoholic. You may never have another drink, but you will still be an alcoholic.

The reason it's important to remember this is: as little as a drag or two could get you smoking again, so never, ever think "Well, gee, one won't hurt!!!!!!"

I'm still a smoker, but I haven't had one for 20 years. As long as I keep this in mind, I should be fine...............

Doc

I'm with Doc on this one. I am a smoker. I smoked unfiltered Kool's for 43 years. I'll always be a smoker. But I haven't smoked in ten years, six months, three weeks, four days, 14 hours, and 57 minutes. (But whose counting.) I smoked my last one at 6am standing outside Miami International Airport, getting ready for 29 hours in no-smoking conditions. Ten and a half years, and not a day goes by that I don't think of smoking. I don't want a cigarette. I want a whole carton of cigarettes. But I won't smoke today. I pray I won't smoke tomorrow, but I'll worry about that tomorrow. For now, I just won't smoke the next one. I know that the minute I tell myself that I've quite, I'll go out and celebrate by having 'just one.' So I haven't quit. I just won't smoke the next one.

If you want a lot of good suggestions, (and you'll need a lot of different one because stopping is different for everyone,) log on to the Usenet group Alt.Support.Stop-Smoking and introduce yourself. There are a lot of good people there all going through the same thing you are. They'll listen to you rant and rave and won't make you feel badly about it. They'll help you bury the bodies that get in your way. (I once chased a guy on my motorcycle for ten miles because he made a turn in front of me without signaling!) Perhaps the number one thought I can give you is this; it's not easy but it's do-able. Ya just gotta want it.

Stitchawl

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

Never smoked myself, but my manager has been trying for some time...that being said he gets tired walking anything greater than a quarter mile, and only in part because of his smoking habit. He's done a great job of cutting back though.

 

[Zaner01]

I smoked a pack a day for about ten years and then quit. The birth of my first child was the motivator. I just decided that I was going to quit, and quit, cold turkey. That was 12 years ago.

I don't agree with those who say you're always a smoker. I haven't craved a smoke since the first week. I never think of smoking.

My experience was that motivation makes all the difference. If you try to quit but you still like the idea of smoking, you fail. If you are strongly motivated, it's much easier.

 

[kvaughn]

I smoked red Marlboro,s in a box for 23 years and quit when my new born son was in and out of the hospital a number of times with asthma. He is 20 now and when someone pulls a box of Marlboros out I literally start salivating even now. I quit by smoking ultra lites for 2-3 weeks and then just quit. I was smoking a lot more weed back then and maybe that helped. Stick with it. You'll feel a lot better soon and when that happens it makes it easier.:thumbup:--KV

 

[yooperman]

I was helping a friend move a small drill press, he was getting ready to retire and was purchasing some shop tools. I had 80 percent of the weight of the drill press, we got to the top of the stairs and he sat done gasping for breath, white as a sheet. When I asked him if he needed an ambulance he could not even answer me. He eventually caught his breath and was OK, but shortly after that episode he went on oxygen full time for the rest of his life. I thought to myself, I do not want to work my whole life and when I am ready to retire be in such poor health from smoking that I cannot do anything.
I quit then and there, over 20 years ago, and never had another. Most times the smell of smoke bothers me, but that are some brief moment when I think I would like to have another.

-Yooperman

 

[tonym]

Thank you all for the motivation! I will, no I am quiting as of today!!!!!!!!

I hope it stick this time around.....