This Sunday I hit one year quit!!!!!!!!!! I thought I'd have some sort of lengthy story of wisdom to share when it happened, but the reflection has been in every second and every day that I have not had a cigarette. The cravings turned into whims which turned into moments of silent reverie and absolute, unabashed joy for April 27, 2007, the day I quit smoking and claimed my freedom.

I never would have thought that would happen to me. One year ago, no one could have convinced me that those painful, aching, miserable, body and soul crushing moments of withdrawl would ever manifest into daily prayers (for lack of a better term) of thanks for my lungs, my moments, my ability to realize that I've actually had mild allergies all these years that were covered up by a nasty smoker's cough and that general feeling of malaise...

I didn't forget my quit date; in fact my brain would not let me. In the days leading up to it, I had some of the worst smoking dreams I've ever experienced. They were real, vivid, and left me feeling depressed because, inevitably, in every one I was smoking again. I celebrated on the date, though. Boy, did I ever celebrate.

I did exactly what I said I would do in my early quit diary. I took the money I saved from smoking and bought myself a horse. So I am now the proud, smoke-free owner of a gorgeous five year old American Cream Draft Horse named Houston. Every second that I am out on the trails enjoying this divine Spring weather (and the newfound allergies, for which I am surprisingly grateful), I celebrate my quit. Every single scrap and speck of withdrawl, depression, psychological upheaval and stress I had to undergo in the quit is worth just one second of sitting on the back of my own horse. Heck, it was worth it to feel like I am once again back in control of my self, and more importantly, that I am, once again, simply myself.

In reflection, just for kicks and giggles, my life is so much more rich than it ever was when I was a smoker. I still go outside at regular intervals to enjoy sunsets, or beautiful, private moments with nature, but when I do, I can breathe deeply and fully. I exercise; I can run two miles now without hardly breaking a sweat, and gasping for air is a thing of the past.

I have longer focus and stamina of mind, even if I do not think as quickly as I used to, I make fewer mistakes. I have more time to develop my interests. I read more. I live more. I took my ambitions and applied (and was accepted) to graduate school. I no longer feel ashamed or guilty about being a smoker. For the first time ever, I took a group of students on an extended field trip (three nights to Boston) without feeling insane, and without having to leave them to satisfy some stupid addiction. I am nicer. I am infinitely more patient. I am happier. By far, I am happier.

So congratulations to me! But more so, congratulations to every "Newbie" out there who is going through the rough times of an early quit. I promise the ends justify the means, and the means are more than worth it. I'm not even at the end, yet, just at one more milestone like a tattoo, but the beginning strife seems like small potatoes now, even though I remember how I felt like David, or even Sisophys at the beginning of this quit. Hang in there.

Life is good.

Katatatarina - Free and Healing for One Year, One Day, 18 Hours and 50 Minutes, while extending my life expectancy 25 Days and 12 Hours, by avoiding the use of 7356 nicotine delivery devices that would have cost me $1,867.00.

As I sit here on my sixth anniversary of my quit date, I become a little nostalgic. This feeling will soon pass as this has been quite a miserable day.

We've just within the last week moved from Florida to Tennessee to be close to our daughter, who by the way is expecting our first grandchild in July (hence the move). I've had a bad cold (has anyone ever had a good cold?) since before we left, and now I have a toothache. I spent part of my birthday at the dentist's office being informed I must have a root canal.

Through the pain and misery I'm trying to get unpacked and listen to the wife (who I married 32 (I think) years ago today) complain about the brand new washing machine that doesn't work. And did I mention it sleeted just after we got here last week. From Florida.

Now I tell you all this not to digress or to burden the board with personal issues or any of that forbidden stuff. I tell you all this as usual to give you hope. Hope for the new quitter who at three days or three weeks just doesn't think he can make it.

At six years, I can tell you that this most miserable day is infinitely better than my absolute best day while I was smoking. I didn't realize it then, but there was no such thing as a good day while I was smoking. There were just different degrees of bad.

At three days or three weeks, I know you're hurting. But I promise you, life does go on after smoking. It's not all a bed of roses, because life just isn't like that. But your worst day smoke free will always be better than your best day smoking. Trust me when I tell you, it does get better. It gets a lot better.

So now on my 56th birthday and my 32nd anniversary and my sixth smoke free anniversary I'm going to take a pain pill and go sit down. Not in a nice restaurant with my bride like you'd expect, but still it will be a good day. It will be a great day because I won't have to smoke. Not even one puff.

My thanks to this site, the managers and all the members new and old. To call this forum a life-saver would be an injustice. I thank you, one and all.

Dave

I don't smoke and I don't chew and I don't go with the girls that do. Six years today.

I can hardly believe it – but, according to my quit counter – I have been quit for OVER 1 year and forgot to celebrate.

I just plain DO NOT think about smoking anymore!

Imagine – ME!! I was still having troubling thoughts in my 5 and even 6th month of my quit, and then POOF – I just stopped thinking about it.

If you are still struggling, maybe this could happen to you too – hang in there, eventually, you will stop thinking about smoking.

Free and clean for 1 Year, 1 Week, 5 Days, 18 hours and 57 minutes (378 days). I have saved $569.69 by not smoking 3,030 cigarettes. I have saved 1 Week, 3 Days, 12 hours and 30 minutes of my life. My Quit Date: 4/2/2007 8:00 PM

Woo HOO!!!

Karen

Hello!

My name is Ismael Orenstein, I am Brazilian and live in Rio de Janeiro. Yesterday I celebrated one year free of nicotine, after smoking for 34 years, 20/30 cigarettes/day.

Quitting smoking was a hard struggle for me and I am sure I should not have succeed without the precious knowledge and the good words from all the people who participate in the WhyQuit.com. Thank you very much: you saved me ! ! !

I will never take another puff !

A great hug !

Ismael

Dear WhyQuit.com

4 years 7 months and 5 days ago I chose to stop smoking. (I still have my "quit counter" running on my computer which is now just a reminder!)

I gave up at age 39 after watching my elderly mother successfully quit and deciding some years later that I could finally do it too. At 70, she had walked out of the doctor's office, thrown her cigarette pack in the rubbish bin and never smoked again.

She didn't find it easy for the first week or so but had made up her mind and never went back on that choice. This was after more than 50 years of smoking. That I have also managed the task is a tribute to her, my own resolve and this web site.

We lost mum last year. If she had not stopped smoking when she did, the years between would have been far, far fewer. In one year, our family fiction of having "good genes" and thus no ill effects from smoking, ended suddenly.

We lost our mum young. In my family, non smokers die in their 90's . In 2006 - a year before my mother's death from emphysema - she and dad had their 50th wedding anniversary. Attending that party was mum's 93 year old aunt and 91 year old uncle. My mum died at 77 soon after her uncle. Mum's aunt is still with us at 95.

Mum died on the 9th April 2007 with her husband and children there until the end. (My brother - who we never thought would quit - gave up the next day and a year later has not had a cigarette). Seven months after mum's death we were again seeing a parent die from smoking. Dad developed lung cancer which spread rapidly through his body. He was lost without his wife and never really recovered from watching her die. Despite this and his own illness, he was insistent about wanting to smoke (his "gaspers") until only weeks before his death when he was too ill to move from his bed.

I look at the cigarettes in the shops and wonder how many more mothers and fathers the makers of these drugs will kill in the coming years. However, the sad truth is that while they sell the stuff, we choose every day whether to buy it or see it for what it is. Smoking is not a treat, is not a reward and brings no true comfort to you.

Everyone dies. This is a truth I can understand and accept with much more peace now. However we should not die before it is our true time. My mum and dad never saw their grandson finish school, become an adult nor see him now go into the world on his adventures.

Please don't smoke anymore.

TM Smith
Perth Western Australia

It actually happened on April 1st. Not that I forgot, how could I forget??

So I'm 2 years smoke free - who would've taught? Not me, for sure. My addiction was so strong I couldn't imagine a life without smoking. But surprisingly enough life does go on without cigarettes and it's even better! So all you newbies hang in there - this is the best thing you'll ever do for yourselves.

Adela

Free and Healing for Two Years, Five Days, 10 Hours and 8 Minutes, while extending my life expectancy 63 Days and 22 Hours, by avoiding the use of 18411 nicotine delivery devices that would have cost me $7,212.08.

365 days today! Thanks for the site .. great resource. Has been very helpful in breaking my addiction to cigarettes.

Thanks again,

Peter Rose

I just want newbies to know that there is life after quitting, and it is fabulous. I do everything I did as a smoker, only so much better. The truth is, I get up everyday and go through my life without a nanosecond of attention to smoking. It's as if I never smoked.

Every few months I get an urge, not a crave because there is no nicotine in my blood to crave, but a fleeting thought of what it was like to smoke. I then laugh, and think how awesome it is to not have to smoke.

Read everything you can here. If I can do this, anyone can. Thanx to everyone who made this site happen.

Big hugs, Jacqui

Two years, two days, 23 hours, 38 minutes and 23 seconds, 29,359 cigarettes not smoked, saving $8,073.83. Life saved: 14 weeks, 3 days, 22 hours, 35 minutes.

I reach GOLD today at 5:35 pm. I never joined your organaization and therefore never posted. However, I poured through every bit of information, more than once, on your web site. Just had to write and thank you for the support.

I smoked off and on for more than 25 years. In my younger days, I could lay them down easily and without a second thought. As I got older, I was hooked and tried to quit many, many times unsuccessfully. As you well know, with each failed attempt comes the overwhelming feeling of frustration and lack of self worth. It's been an interesting year with many bumps along the way, but I made it.

One year ago, I placed an entry in my palm pilot that simply says "NTAP" and each day for a year now, I hear an alarm at 7 AM every morning as a reminder that I don't need to smoke today. I know now that NTAP is the only way to go. I realize that I can NTAP because I'm a nicotine addict and it's too hard to quit! I feel much better and enjoy life much more now. Not real sure how I ever had time to smoke. I work out 30 minutes to 1 hour 5 to 6 days every week and have learned how to handle my very stressful life without smoking.

Thanks for all your help! My message to the new quiters, trust me -- NTAP, it's worth it! GOLD at age 50! Life is good!

Nanamel

Only way to go. COLD TURKEY! A little over a year ago I had a stroke I ended up in Hospital lucky to be a live, YES.

Well I have given myself a second chance at a much better way of life by GIVING UP, what may have been the reason for the stroke in the first place. Hey I know that I will never be one hundred percent again, but I do know that I feel, breathe, smell and can taste things much better than before, plus I AM NO LONGER ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN.

Jeanie P.
New Zealand.

Hello All @ Whyquit,

I found your website about a month ago and have been in total awe of the stories about other peoples' success in kicking their nicotine addiction. John, Joel and all the other people that keep the web site going and fight the difficult battle to educate folks about the dangers of tobacco use and how to quit the addiction are to be commended and admired.

I, too, have a success story that I wish to share with you concerning the addiction to tobacco and the damage caused by that use.

Like many others I started smoking cigarettes in my youth. The addiction grew to the point over the years that I became a three pack-a-day user. Every thing I did revolved around smoking. In the middle of the night I would wake up and have to have a nicotine fix. After many years and bouts with various illnesses caused by my addiction to nicotine, in 1980, I quit smoking "cold turkey" out of pure disgust with myself for having allowed tobacco to take control of my life.

However, tobacco, and the dangerous effects of its use, was not through with me. Three years after I quit smoking I came down with lung cancer. On December 19, 1983 my left lung was completely removed due to my smoking dependency.

With the grace of God, a good woman's love and lots of patience and persistence I have beaten cancer and survived 28 years. It is often said "that which does not kill you makes you stronger". I have come to believe that there is some truth in that saying. Even though I still have to take medications that help make up for the loss of that lung I am grateful to be here and be able to share my story with others.

Thank you for letting me share some of my story. A more in depth story about my addiction and triumph can be found at my web site QuittersCanBeWinners.

Keep up the good fight and stay quit.

Best Regards to All,

Vic Johnson

Almost forgot to post my aniversary celebration. As of 11 pm on the 17th I have been nicotine free for 4 years. That's how comfortable not smoking has become in my life. Hardly even think of the aniversary date anymore, whereas I used to tell anyone who would listen on a daily basis. I smoked for 50 years, and thought I would probably smoke for life as I had tried to quit and failed several times. Until my daughter introduced me to WhyQuit and Freedom. That turned my life around, as it can for all of you. I know, that sounds easy coming from someone no longer struggling to get through the next minute, hour or day. But I know you can, it's not always easy, but it sure is simple. You made a promise to yourself to NTAP, keep that promise! It gets easier as time goes on. Believe me. It does. So, always be true to yourself, take it one day at a time and NTAP.

Dina

Free and Healing for Four Years, One Day, 10 Hours and 11 Minutes, while extending my life expectancy 126 Days and 22 Hours, by avoiding the use of 36,561 nicotine delivery devices that would have cost me $12,431.57.

Thank you for having a web site that provided the support I needed to quit smoking cigarettes. It has been 3 years and almost a month, although at this stage I am no longer counting months, weeks, or days, since I quit. I could not have done it without your website. I believed that nicotine was stronger than my own will. I believed I couldn't quit without some form of nicotine replacement. I needed only your website. And I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I started smoking at age 15. Quit at age 52. I have never felt so free. Thank you a million times over.

Sandy

Today, March 10th, marks the 5th year anniversary of my mom's quit date. I remember that day like it was yesterday. She was so proud of herself! She struggled through the first 72 hours then even more proud, signed onto your site. She remained an active user of your site through the first year and was thrilled to go through each stage to finally make it to Gold. We celebrated her one year mark in style – all of her kids flew in from their homes around the country to celebrate her first complete year of being smoke free. We were all so very proud of her. She finally did it … and couldn't have done it without whyquit.com. The support she found here was invaluable and because it was so readily available to her, she was able to communicate with others who truly understood her struggle.

I'm writing to you instead of her because she passed away last December. She was still young, 68, and her death was sudden from a respiratory virus that lead to pneumonia. Being a lifetime smoker certainly didn’t help her outcome. Still, I celebrate today because I have to believe that because she was brave enough to stop smoking after 42 years, she was able to stay with us for an extra 4 … smoke free.

So I thank you for establishing this site, managing it and making it work so well for those who need it. Today, I will forward your address to my family and friends who still struggle with smoking in the hopes that they will find success that so many others on your site have found, including my mom.

Sincerely,

Lisa Larsen
Daughter of Madeleine (Madge) Heppler

Dear All @ Whyquit & Freedom,

I have been a lurker, non posting member/ whatever & a Nicotine Addict in recovery, Cold Turkey quitter for 1 year today. I have been committed to your teaching because i recognize the truth when I see it. I have to say that after following the advice (to newbies) to read, read, read, I was armed with all the information I needed to become a very happy ex smoker. I have worked hard, developed patience, to achieve my comfort but I know without you all I would not be at this stage, thank you so much, keep up the good work and success to us all. NTAP.

Maggie

I'm probably just passing my three year mark before I remembered to thank the bunch that helped me quit! Better late than never though, so thank you soooooooooooooo much for that site, and the counters, articles! Etc. I read every article posted during my quit. It took months.. LOL

This was around my 11th try and using cold turkey instead of gadgets and crap hypnosis. Honestly, I did not know about what happens (medically speaking) when you would take a puff a cig, and why it hurts so danged bad when you suddenly DON’T take a puff. Once I understood, I made it past. The counters helped me stay quit and eventually self preservation kicked in with a bigger voice than the dying addiction had.

Thank you! I will continue to send every smoker I know to your site for help. Do know that you are helpful and appreciated.

Lora Szloh

I wonder if anyone ever forgets the date they stopped taking nicotine in one form or another? Not many I should think, certainly 6th March 2006 is as memorable to me as 25th December and my children's birthdates!

Now two years later my only regret is that I waited 42 years to find out that I could become such a contented ex-smoker!

Sally

Free for Two Years, 5 Hours and 43 Minutes (after 42 years not), while extending my life expectancy 50 Days and 18 Hours, by avoiding the use of 14625 nicotine delivery devices that would have cost me £2,818.69. In fact I've probably saved more than that as the price of cigarettes has gone up a lot in two years.

I quit smoking cold turkey on 5/2/2006. Tomorrow will be 22 months nicotine free!

Fred Ratliff
ltng77_2000@yahoo.com

Hard to believe 3 years have passed and this once pack+ a day smoker for 27 years is now free of all cravings and desire to smoke. I am so thankful for this site and promote it regularly as the reason I'm comfortably quit forever.

I know it's forever because I will NEVER take another puff - !!

Newbies - keep up your fantastic quits ... you'll never look back!

Julia
3 years

I am clean of nicotine for over two years. Thanks to my strong will, and to you, people from WhyQuit.com.

This was not my first cold turkey quitting, but this one was more elaborate. I was prepared and educated for everything on the way. Thanks to your excellent site.

First 3 days I was very often reading posts at your site. Next 3 weeks I was thinking to join you. After 3 months I was sure in my success, forgetting you...

I've sent the URL of your site to few colleagues trying to quit, two of them succeeded to, cold turkey of course. You have pretty good success rate here in Croatia :-)

I just want to tell you, thank you very much, love you all.

Srdjan Selendic
selendic@vip.hr
Zagreb, Croatia

Good afternoon, managers, members and visitors of WhyQuit and Freedom!! In September 2006 my employer decided employees would not be allowed to smoke around the facilities or on the property! I was upset, how dare they impose these restrictions on my right to smoke. So I decided I would take control and quit smoking on my own before the January 2007 deadline. How ironic that I thought I was in control, when nicotine had been controlling my life for 25 years!

So October 31, 2006 at 6:00 PM I smoked my last cigarette. I had no idea what was in store for me. During my search for answers, I found WhyQuit and Freedom. Wow. I was so excited to understand what was happening to me and why. From the blood sugar changes, to the craves, to the triggers, the smoking dreams, and the light bulb moment for me, the realization that I am an addict. How simple, how true, how powerful this knowledge became to me!

I also learned that beating my smoking wife with this newly discovered wisdom would not help her see the light. We have to do it for ourselves, independent of others. So I chose to set the example, to show her and others there can be life after smoking. She still smokes, but when she is ready to quit, I will be here for her. And as I realized this was indeed a life changing journey, I decided to make other changes at the same time. Simple changes, like eating smaller, healthier meals during the day, and why not exercise a little too? They all go together, like a chain around a sprocket. Healthier eating, exercise, no smoking, all are lifestyle changes.

I feel a connection to all members who post on the boards, even though we have never met. I thank you all for sharing your struggles, victories, feelings and thoughts. You have been a light on my journey, a rope I can hold on to, and the wind that pushes my sails. I am so proud of you all, and I am proud of myself. This has been the hardest thing I have ever done, but it is the most rewarding.

Within a few weeks of my anniversary, I completed my first ½ marathon. Two weeks ago I completed my 1st marathon in Miami. I am confident to say this would not be possible without you all sharing your experiences, and allowing me to visit, read, secure and protect my quit. From 2 packs a day for 25 years, to running 26.2 miles, anything is possible when you find Freedom!! And it keeps getting better, I can't wait to see what's next! To once again borrow a priceless phrase, It's simple but not always easy: Never Take Another Puff.

Thanks,

Jeff

Free and Healing for One Year, Three Months, Eight Days, 20 Hours and 59 Minutes, while extending my life expectancy 40 Days and 10 Hours, by avoiding the use of 11647 nicotine delivery devices that would have cost me $1,187.27.

I have been tobacco free since January 25, 2005. I smoked for 40 years and tried to quit for probably 35 of those years. I have been reading this website for almost as long as I've been quit.

I lost my wife to lung cancer on April 1, 2005, and I quit the day I took her in for her biopsy. I figured it was about time to get serious about quitting. It only took the disease a little over 2 months after she was diagnosed, to kill her. We were both lifelong smokers and she had quit the week before New Years of that year. I am glad I quit, not only because of my health, but it was one of the few things that she and I could do together those last two painful months of her life.

We wanted more than anything, to grow old together. Nicotine robbed us of that very very precious time. If anyone wants to, go back and look up Number 26 in the smokers memorial on this site. I posted our story quite a while ago.

I wasn't going to post this "Victory" story, but I had to chuckle when I read Dottie from Ohio's tale about having dreamt of smoking a cigarette. Odd, but that's the only remnant of my nicotine usage that I have noticed! Occasionally, even still, I will dream that I smoked a cigarette and I wake up so mad I want to scream because I know I am hooked again! Imagine the relief and gratitude when I realize it was only a dream!!!!

I have to confess that when I heard that my wife had quit and I agreed to also, I had to "taper off" a bit. I just started going an hour without a smoke, then two, then 4, then 6, and so on until I could go 24 hours. I intentionally forced myself to get used to going without the nicotine. After that, the three day period was a snap! I carried hard candy and ate it. I walked. I kept my mind and body busy.

If I gained any weight, I don't remember. All that just happened to coincide with the day I took her in for her biopsy. I was in the process of quitting before we knew she had lung cancer. It seems that everything just sort of came together once I had made the decision to really quit. I put that last cigarette out and threw away the ash tray. I got rid of anything in the house that had to do with nicotine----ash trays, lighters, matches, old empty cigarette packages, and most of all, all the remaining tobacco, which wasn't much.

I hope my story helps someone out there to quit....even one person, maybe a middle-aged man or woman, or maybe a teenager, or newlywed....just think of all the people who will suffer with grief and miss you and hate to see you die.

Yes, it does seem that your mind plays tricks on you. Every time, and this time is no exception, that I tell my story, I always end with the same sentence which has become an ongoing, and comforting, affirmation for me.......:

"I'll never smoke another one!"

Chester Baldwin
Oklahoma

February 10, 2008 is 3 years that my wife and I haven't smoked a death stick. Together we have not smoked 65,700 death sticks. Probably a few more than that because I had gotten to 3 packs per day for about a year. I give 100% of the thanks and praise to God. He delivered us from smoking, and guided me to WhyQuit, for knowledge. I am so glad that I do not have to depend on that fix anymore. Just quit, you are killing yourself. Your child should not have to go through life without you. It is just that easy to quit. Oh sure, I had some rough days, but it is easier to quit than to battle cancer, heart attacks, strokes. Good luck on your quit!!

Danny C.

I just had my year anniversary (on quitting smoking) on January 30th! And I am sooo happy. I had quit before but only lasted 10 months so I'm trying to be humble and realize that nicotine addition will be a life long struggle (to stay quit!). This is the first and only attempt a quitting cold turkey and I just made my mind up that enough was enough! I got tired of ALWAYS having to have my smokes right at hand an letting it have that kind of control over my life.

On January 30th 2007 I had no money so my husband gave me $5.00 for smokes but being in a rush for work that morning, I didn't pack a lunch (nor did I have the additional monies). I was at work and I asked my girlfriend, "Do I eat this $5.00 or waste it on a pack of smokes?" Of course she said "EAT!!" From that point on, I never bought (or smoked) another pack of cigs. Never even took one hit!!

I will tell you that for several months after I quit, I kept having real life dreams that I was sneaking a smoke and even in my dream I was like, "Oh No!! What are you doing? You were doing sooo good!!" I'd wake up and the dream felt so real that I seriously had to ask myself if a cheated and started smoking again. It wasn't till I was fully awake that I was able to re-assure myself that I still had a successful quit under my belt. Goes to show how our mind/brain really needs/wants that nicotine. Terrible-Terrible Habit that I can say I no longer have!

Yeah!

Dottie Minnick
Mogadore, Ohio, USA

I will not go into every detail, but I started smoking, well I know it was well over 20 years ago. I have attempted quits, thought about quits but just never really did, because there were just too many events coming up. Going to Vegas, well I am going to smoke there so I can't quit now. Going to a large party with friends in a few weeks where everyone is going to be smoking, can't quit now. Golf tourney coming up, can't stop now. Lung cancer, I know what it is, but the cig overpowers common sense. I get winded going upstairs, I will get my breath back in a few minutes, no biggie. Sleeping issues, waking up in the middle of the night with anxiety attacks, (which now have gone away) not a problem, just deal with it because without a cig I might just, well I just might something. I did not what that something was, but I did not want to find out, because it would be horrible to live life without a cig. Oh well that was life and cig was a part of it, nothing I could do. Despite the butts all over my back yard when the snow melted that I had to clean up. Coffee cans full of butts in the garage because I did not want to give my dog cancer. What about me?? That did not matter because the cig was the only thing. After a couple laughable quit attempts of misery because I knew I was going back, just a matter of time, I decide to search the net one night. I knew smoking was bad for me, yada yada yada, but whatever. Thought maybe I would give it another go. Typed smoking cessation in and somehow found this site. Read some articles that made some sense and then some more until it all sunk it. I AM AN ADDICT, just like the heroin people on HBO. Me, I am an addict, never really hit me until then.

I read, planned my quit date and just did it. The first three days were absolute HE double hockey sticks. Hot flashes, not able to concentrate, but I read about why this was occuring to my body on this site. I did this to myself and have no one to blame except for me. I accepted that fact and pressed on. One week led to two and then three and then Thanksgiving diner. I looked at my wife and said this is the best meal you have ever made. Not discrediting her at all, but the reason it was, well because I could taste. Truly amazing, my body in healing mode. Wow, I love to eat gourmet food, and I was missing it. True understanding of how smoke can infiltrate every part of your body to the point where your taste buds do not operate properly.

Well that is about it...I wish I could write more about it, but that is the end of my smoke life. From then on, yes it was hard for a month but looking back now 1 year and 2 months later, I do not even remember it. Just like mothers and fathers do not remember the years of no sleep when their children were infants. I really can't remember July without a smoke, but I did not have one. I do not remember going to Vegas again, without smoke, but I did not have one.

For those of you just starting out or are planning on a quit, do it. Do it, do it now, do it for your family. You gain nothing by smoking. Nothing will happen to you, nothing at all. The only thing will be a few tough weeks where your body is healing. It is actually fun seeing the changes in your body and senses as they adapt to life without nic and the thousands of carcinogens.

Almost forget, one thing does happen when you quit, life begins. It is truly amazing now when I see other imprisoned smokers bring a light stick to their mouth and inhale over and over again. I just think back to those days and wonder how I ever did it. Maybe your one of those people now and someday you will think back as I am now and just wonder.

Rob

GOLD! After 40+ years of drug addiction I have now been free for a full year. Before learning the “Law of Addiction” I tried every method of quitting pills, patch, gum and even one turkey many years ago. Now that I understand that I MUST NOT violate the law with even a small dose of nicotine it’s all pretty easy.

Education is everything and WhyQuit was the best course I ever took! I even try to teach others. If I am in a store and see some poor struggling person looking at NRT, I always approach them. I talk with them, offer my email address and tell them about Freedom. I feel so bad when I see people smoking and riding the addiction roller coaster.

So after so many years of slavery I am finally free for a full year. Actually it is over a year. My quit date was January 13, 2007. I always thought I would be typing this letter on January 13, 2008 but it slipped my mind. Smoking and cigarettes are simply no longer the ruling part of my life. I plan to remain free for the rest of my life because I like not being controlled. The way to stay free is real simple and not so hard. NEVER TAKE ANOTHER PUFF!

Harry Munroe
harrym@cox.net
West Greenwich, RI

I've only been GOLD for about 3 minutes...and I'm posting about it after quite a long absence from the site. That should tell you how excited I am!!!

I have to say, I can't BELIEVE myself that it got easier...but it has. Now, most days I don't even think about smoking--and my husband even still smokes!

To anyone just quitting...you CAN do this! Go back and read my diary...I was NOT one of the most encouraging posters to read in the beginning...I cried, I whined, I WANTED to smoke! Well, I'm SO glad I didn't...because it's a year today. WOOTTT!!!

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU to Joel and to every single person on this site who lifted me up and encouraged me when I needed it the most! I love you all!

xoxox

Michelle :)

January 13, 2007 was the last time I had a cigarette. I had smoked since I was 15. I am 34. I had been reading Joel's quitting book and had prepared myself mentally and physically to quit smoking. I just knew that if the urges lasted as long as WhyQuit said they would (3 minutes) I could do it. Joel gave me a determination that I did not know I had. I had 13 cigarettes left in my pack of Marlboro Lights on that Saturday night. At midnight, I smoked my last cigarette. I stayed on WhyQuit's web site until 4 in the morning devouring the information. It helped me so much. And it is free! I can never thank you enough for having all of this information, I could not have done it without you. January 13, 2008 I can't believe I have went a whole year nicotine free. I finally threw away that pack of Marlboro Lights, with all 13 cigarettes still inside.

I will never take another puff!!!!

Kellie Johnston

I used to try to convince myself that I was not a "real" smoker because I didn't normally smoke a pack a day. Somedays I would only have 2 or 3. Other days I would smoke over a pack, usually if it was a weekend night. I couldn't imagine not smoking....what it must be like to have never smoked or be a "non-smoker".

But, here I am...3 years, 4 months & 19 days a NON-SMOKER, cold turkey too! I can truly say that I barely think about smoking & when I look back to the days when I did, now I can't believe that I even smoked....and it feels great!

C. Smullin
Jacksonville, FL

To say I quit cold turkey would be demeaning to the support I got from the message boards, my family and my friends. I quit on Dec 27 '06 because I just wanted to stop and had failed previously with gum. I decided that if I couldn't control myself with my own will, that no gum or patch would ever be able to do it. The support I got was instrumental in my staying away from cigarettes, as was the education provided by the WhyQuit mob.

Tommy Molloy

Just turned Gold

Today marks one glorious year without a cigarette after a 30 year pack-a-day addiction. This journey would not have been possible without Joel and my anonymous WhyQuit "friends" whose honest postings gave me the confidence, knowledge and support to do what I had thought was impossible, quit cold turkey and break free of the my nicotine addiction. Although I never registered to post comments myself on WhyQuit, for the month or so leading up to My Big Quit Day on 1-11-07, I read incessantly from the site, chain smoking in the garage a majority of the time. I devoured Joel's on-line Never Take Another Puff book filling a small notebook with facts and inspirational comments. All of my excuses, fears, lies, rationalizations, everything about smoking; being afraid to continue smoking, being afraid it was too late to quit, being afraid to quit, being afraid not to quit, afraid of failure, afraid of success, all of it was there on the website. There was no hiding from the multitude of former long term smokers who knew how I felt and there was no hiding from myself.

I admit that, at one point reading the mantra NTAP for the umpteenth time, thinking "Oh, for heaven's sake, get on with it" until one day it clicked. That really is all there is to quitting cold turkey, nothing more and nothing less. If I NTAP I would be free. Using any of the NRTs and just postponing and dragging out the inevitable withdrawal process really sounded stupid, unnecessarily difficult, and without much hope of long term success. Instead of trying to quit with a NRT I found the courage to just quit with WhyQuit.

I quit when I had a 3 day weekend so I could get through the dreaded first 72 hours with only my husband around (and he steered clear at my suggestion). I rid my house and car of all smoking materials, loaded up on cranberry juice, hard candies, and Joel's videos and made it through the first 72 with, honestly, less discomfort than I had feared. I spent hours that weekend and over the next month at the WhyQuit site and clung to the knowledge that so many others had successfully made this journey before me and that it would one day be much easier.

I took WhyQuit's advice and made no promises to my family or even myself that I was actually quitting forever as forever was way too scary a concept to contemplate and "too big an elephant to chew". One day at a time however was doable and gradually the days became weeks, then months, and now one entire year. I guess that elephant, one bite at a time, was not too big after all.

During the first month I spent about 2 hours each day stalking the postings on WhyQuit and getting tremendous support from the honest postings. In the second month I spent about 1 hour a day and by about 4 months I realized I was only at the website about 2 to 3 times a week and by 6 months I visited the site less than once a week. I now go to WhyQuit about once a month just to see what is new and to check on the successes of my fellow quitters. I do though still check my QuitMeter weekly or so and smile brightly at the big numbers.

I took WhyQuit's advice and made my quit my number one priority. I didn't let my job or anything else interfere with my quit. That and not promising to anyone, including myself, that the quit was forever helped tremendously as did the awesome love and support I received from my husband and daughters to whom way too many broken promises had been made over the years. Quitting is hard work and, as all smokers know, you can only truely quit for yourself, not for anyone else.

For me, it was easier than I thought it would be but it certainly was not painless. There were days and times that I had intense cravings but, thanks to WhyQuit, I knew that "this too shall pass" and it did. The wish for the "ahh" cigarette still occurs occasionally but I know I can't ever have just one. I know it is all or nothing and I've chosen nothing and it feels terrific.

WhyQuit saved my life and gave me the knowledge,confidence, and strength to break free and then remain free of the nicotine bondage. If I can quit cold turkey, anyone can. WhyQuit, thank you from the bottom of my heart. NTAP. It works.

Nancy Goodhew

After 37 years of smoking, today is my 500th day of freedom, 20,000 doses of nicotine abstained from. Thank you for caring enough to furnish me with the tools I needed to accomplish this feat. Your educational materials provided knowlege and encouragement that made all the difference.

While I never joined or posted on the forum I did read there and took much strength from the generous sharing of those writing. While my quit has been a monumental struggle on some levels, it has not been without its lighter moments. In the early days my husband was out of town, I was having trouble sleeping so I thought I would dust. Couldn't find the swiffer anywhere, but found a cigarette pack that had fallen behind the trash. I don't know what made me look inside it, but there was ONE horrifyingly tempting cig inside. The trash was under the kitchen sink. I instantly held the open pack under the tap and tossed it like a venomous snake in the trash. Then, not trusting myself to refrain from later toasting it dry, pulled it out,quickly shredded it. Then, I actually said out loud, "Dang, I think I'm a non-smoker!"

Just a few weeks ago, after a very stressful holiday, I had a very vivid dream where I searched the entire house for a stick of GUM. Thanks to all of you for all you do.

Sherry Krol

I just completed the second year of my quit. I went cold turkey two years ago, and the WhyQuit web site was and still is my main support. My life has been riddled with sadness since I started my quit in 2006, with the loss of some truly great friends in 2007. These things did not encroach on my quit. My quit is very strong, like a rock. I am so happy to be free.

My advice to anyone is simply to come to the realization that smoking is a drug addiction and must be handled accordingly. You have to free yourself as best as you can from the people and situations that temp the need to smoke when starting/maintaining a quit. Replace it with playing with your kids, or playing a video game, or taking a walk, or even just dance like a fool for a minute or two in place until an urge subsides. Drink fruit juice.

My Mom, a lifetime smoker at 74, lost her husband/my father to lung cancer caused by a lifetime of smoking. He was diagnosed and dead within 8 weeks in December of 2005. My quit started after my Dads funeral, a "New Year's Resolution". I found the WhyQuit site for support and never looked back. Anyone can do it, and yes there will be those that will tell you, "Your gonna die of something". Well that may be true, but if you smoke, as I so brutally found out, you stand a heck of a good chance of dying of cancer or heart disease or maybe a myriad of other fine illnesses that are extremely painful. And that is an experience I do not want to live with, nor have my loved ones have to see. Good luck to everyone, YOU CAN DO IT !!!

My name is Thomas, I am a nicotine addict.

I have stopped nicotine for 2 years, 6 days, 11 hours. I've not smoked 15,466 death sticks(OVER 15,000!!), and saved over $3,188.00- Blown it on my wife and kids and I love it! I've saved 53 days,16 hours and 48 minutes of my life. And life is great !!!

Thank you for this site...or maybe I should say, this sight. It's been a year and I don't think I could've stuck it out for the first few days without the knowledge this site has provided me. I have passed it on to every smoker I know and am now coaching 3 or 4 through there first few days and weeks.

Thanks again for giving me the knowledge and power to save my life.

Jim Yeaman

Today is my second anniversary of not having one puff after 20 years of smoking. Your site has been a big part of the smoke free journey. Words cannot express my gratitude. Keep up with this great effort, it is having a greater positive effect than you know.

Sincerely

Timothy Burdett
Billings, Montana

I just wanted to share with everyone. I have quit for one year now! I am in the GOLD club! I can't believe it! When I started this a year ago, I wrote , something to the effect "I shouldn't be here". I thought quitting was something someone else could do. I NEVER had any luck trying to quit. (Did I say the word luck? Hmmm interesting.)

I did it all.... gums, patches, the group thing, where this guy puts everyone in the room in a "Trance" to make us hate smoking. Yea right! I smoked on the way home! Timers, drops of some stuff on my tounge, to make cigs taste bad. (Ha Ha!) Rubberbands, wore on my wrist to snap, whenever I had a crave to smoke. It goes on and on. The more I think of it, it had to be quite the show, to watch. Except for one thing. It had to be a sad show. Myself and the people in the same situation were trying to save our lives. Nothing funny there.

So for those of you reading this, and starting your quit. This web site works! Stay with it! If I can tell you one thing that helped me, be ready for triggers. Plan for them. What will you do when faced with them. Joel has a great article about them. Read , Read , Read!

A big thank you to the WhyQuit staff, and everyone I have posted with. You kept me strong. 38 years as a smoker. One year quit, 9,110 not smoked!

Dave
GOLD !
Thank GOD !!

Hey y'all, x-smoker Tex here. 2007 has been a roller coaster ride for me. Jan 4, 2007 was my last day to smoke. April was my bronze. June I proposed to my significant other of 12 years (yeah, at my age I don't rush into anything). July was my Silver. September I married. A few weeks ago I lost a great friend to cancer. And through all this, I did not smoke.

I remember in the early days of my quit were pretty rocky. It could have been so easy to drive into town for the one "ahh" smoke. But y'all were on my mind. NTAP is my code, so engrained in my subconscious. So thanks to y'all, Jan 4, 2008 will be my GOLD. I am posting a little early as I will be on vacation and no where near a computer.

So to John, Joel, Jeff, Kat, Frits, Hannes, Wendy and Randy, Diane, Chipits and rthe many that my old brain forgot, I tip my hat to ya'll. But most of all my Baby, my bride, my soulmate, my cheerleader Nanette for putting up with me and is About to help me spend my $1089.00 that I have socked away in a special "non-smoking" savings account.

I'd better stop typing. I'm gettin' a little teary eyed. And this ole leathered Texan can't be seen this way. A great big YEEEEEEEEEEE HAWWWWWWWWWWW to y'all. And Happy New Years.

Tex

December 2 was five years since my best friend died of a heart attack at 55 years of age. He had smoked since he was 16. He had no apparent health issues. Not even a cough.

He was athletic, slim, and had more endurance than people ten to fifteen years younger. But he died anyway.

Arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) of the arteries feeding his heart caused by all those years of nicotine consumption did him in. One minute, he's trimming brush in his front yard, the next, he's gone.

I'm not sure of the statistic, but there is a certain percentage of smokers for whom the first sign that anything is wrong will be sudden death by stroke or heart attack. Kinda hard to recover from that one...

Lung cancer and emphysema seem to get most of the press when it comes to smoking related illnesses, but there are a host of other ailments caused by smoking that will kill you just as effectively. Dead is dead, no matter how you got there.

I try to mention something about him every December on this forum as both a remembrance and as a cautionary tale to reinforce our decision to quit and perhaps give a lurker or two that extra little "push" to take the plunge and tough out that 72 hours..

Smoking gives us nothing. It only takes. It takes our money, our breath, our health, and our lives, to name only a few...

It took my friend.

I miss you, Gary. Wish you were here.

Beavis-
4 years, 9 months quit

And now it's ONE YEAR – today's my "anniversary"! I know WhyQuit tends to disclaim credit, but it was pivotal in getting me off insect poison masquerading as neurotransmitters. To WhyQuit, to Joel Spitzer, to my friend who steered me to your site…

THANK YOU!

Stan
Johannesburg, South Africa

Dearest Friends-

This letter is long overdue and I will try to make it a short one, to keep you reading until the end. ;-)

I found whyquit.com in December, 2003 and quit on January 2nd, 2004. Sure, you get lots of testimonies and mine is probably no greater or much different than any other single one, but please humor me here, because I must write this letter for myself and also to tell you that your work is a phenomenal blessing to all who have been and will continue to be touched by it!!

Soon after my quit, I became my own worst (previous) nightmare: I became an Anti-Smoking advocate, became certified as a Smoking Cessation instructor by the American Lung Association and contributed to the successful passing of our new (Ohio) state smoking ban. I have shared your website with thousands of people (yes, really...one day, I shared it with two local radio personalities who were live on the radio, discussing their desire to quit, but feeling "not quite ready." I called them and recommended your website; not only did they feel newly-inspired, but the thousands who heard us talking on the radio that day probably caused a surge in hits on your site that day. :-))

Oddly enough (or not!), the other day, I met someone who said they were trying to quit smoking and said they had been using a website, which they heard about on the radio a while back (again, back to the day I was able to share your incredible website with a few thousand people at a single time!) and it was "the best thing ever!", per that individual.

The one thing I never fail to share with others about my own personal connection with your website is that, back in 2003, when I realized I really, really should quit, I feared failure because I wasn't "ready" (interpret however you wish - it's too subjective and people can pick it apart ad nauseum).....BUT, reading and revisiting your website took me those last few steps from not being ready to BEING READY. The sum of all of the education I received there was KEY. So, when people say "But, I LOVE to smoke" or "I'm just not ready - don't you really 'have to be ready' to quit?", I answer that I loved to smoke, also, and absolutely was not "ready" the day I committed to setting a quit date. You are born a non-smoker and you must return to thinking and acting like a non-smoker. The brilliant articles in Joel's Library gave me incredible insight and helped me to recognize the lies I'd created around my addiction.

One more consistent "excuse" I hear is "I'm going through too much right now....maybe later, when such-and-such is over or this or that is going right in my life...."...Well, let me share with you the story of my best friend, Janet, who quit smoking the day her sweet, beautiful mother passed away. This, she explained, was in tribute to her mother....an indescribable act of love and feat of strength!! Can you imagine? Who could have blamed her for smoking on that day, through the funeral and the entire mourning process?

The other thing Janet gave to me was her mantra: "It's not an option." Instead of the internal dialogue and the war being waged internally when feeling tempted, nip it in the bud right away by remembering that "It's NOT an option!" Do not entertain it. Close the door to any options. It's amazing how it worked/works, still, for me (yes, I still want my cigarettes). Just like NTAP, it reminds you that you cannot entertain those thoughts. It has helped me move right through countless weak moments.

Well, I knew I would type too long. I apologize. There's so much more I want to share, but that's it for now. Thank you for listening...but, more importantly, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO!!

God Bless,

Andrea S. Bihari