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Pindan Pearl   Dec 23, 2004   #1

I remember thinking "I really should quit smoking", maybe I even briefly tried for half a day or so one New Year's Day. About 12 years ago!

If I had quit then, the worry I could have saved myself about every bit of pain (is it cancer?), the money I would not have spent and the years of calmness and peace I could have had.... The brief struggle through withdrawl would be in the distant past for me, rather than just 10 weeks ago.

So, if you don't want to ponder on "what ifs" in 10 or 15 years from now, the time to quit is NOW. The addiction will not just go away one day. You have to commit to never take another puff. One day at a time. Please believe me when I say that there is nothing to give up!

Grateful to be quit for 2 months, 1 week and 2 days, not smoking 1600 cigarettes, saving AU$360

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ShutterJulieG Dec 23, 2004 #2

THE JOYS OF QUITTING: FREEDOM, SWEET FREEDOM, from guilt, from always thinking I should quit, from feeling like a loser junkie, from low self-esteem, from embarrassment, from perceived ridicule by the intelligent, non-smoking community, from never-ending messages from my family that I should quit smoking;

SO MUCH MONEY IN MY POCKET, at this rate of savings because of the high cost of cigarettes, I will have saved enough, should I chose to do so, for a vacation for 2 weeks to Aruba in a 5 star hotel!

I FEEL SO MUCH BETTER, after just a short time, I feel cleaner, healthier, I have more energy, but I think most importantly, I feel so much better about myself.

THE JOY OF FLAVOR, as food has "come alive" again. I had been missing so many of the wonderful, delicate flavors...I just never knew they were there! Raspberry is now one of my favorite flavors...how sweet it is! SO VERY MANY, MANY MORE.....

Julie
One week, 2 days, 14 hours

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MareBear GOLD   Dec 23, 2004  #3

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lizzy19595   Dec 23, 2004   #4

You are reading here because you either just quit smoking or are thinking about it. You are me 3 months ago. I was scared, angry, weepy, all those things.....but reading all the information about nictotine addiction is what got me quit and has kept me quit. It isn't a matter of willpower....it's a matter of brainpower......educate yourself and you will be able to quit....Take control of your life and your body. I can't describe adequately how wonderful it is not to be a slave to a drug that does nothing, absolutely nothing positve for you. Face it......you will quit one day....the choice of when is up to you........now .......or in death later.

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SweetLorraine (Gold)   Dec 23, 2004 #5

If you are reading this you want to quit smoking at least on some level. It is possible to quit, millions of us have done it.

Nicotine is a serious addiction, not just a nasty little habit. Smoking kills, cripples and shatters dreams.

Take some time to educate yourself about the nature of your addiction and how to improve your chances of quitting for good. The truth about nicotine and quitting is here, freely available to you.

Lorraine, Celebrating 3+ years of Freedom

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TOM DPLN1 GOLD   Dec 23, 2004  #6

Hello and Happy New Year to all.

If you are reading this, you have the desire to quit. After 2+ packs a day for over 44 years I finally kicked this deadly drug addiction. Yes!!! DRUG ADDICTION. Always remember, nicotine addiction is not a habit, it's an addiction. Education and support are key factors in remaining nicotine free and this journey to freedom is not always easy, but it is simple - no nicotine today. Lorriane said it best some years ago in the following post:

Yes you can...A message from Lorraine

Still taking it one day at a time,

Tom, 12 + months of glorious freedom. YOU CAN DO IT.

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kwhtlw   Dec 23, 2004   #7

News years resolutions? I made one a long time ago and have never broke it. That resolution was "Never make another News Years Resolution." If a decision in life is important enough to make on the first day of the year, then it is important enough to make now, and there is no better decision that so greatly increases our quality of life than to quit using tobacco.

Commitment is the key regardless of when the decision is made. Go into a quit half hearted and one is almost certain to fail. Stay committed for the moment and success is inevitable. Minute by minute, victory built on victory is the venue for ex-tobacco users. It is as easy as staying committed to no nicotine today and Never Take Another Puff!!

Kevin, NicFree & Luv'n It for 6 month plus, I quit chewing tobacco on 6/17/04, have not spent $945.61 on copenhagen.

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kattatonic1 gold4   Dec 23, 2004  #8

Welcome to those considering giving up nicotine! Tell me, where you fall in this list:

It is impossible for me to quit smoking.
It is improbable that I can quit smoking.
It is possible that I can quit smoking.
It is probable that I can quit smoking.
It is doable.

If you are near the top of the list, you are likely thinking "forever" and that is scary. It sure scared me for 25 years of smoking. How do we turn improbable into possible... possible into probable... probable into doable? How do we move down the list?

Let's go to the opposite of "forever". I guess that would be very small chunks of time. Well every smoker knows that they can go without nicotine for an hour. An hour is doable. How about a day? Too much to ask? Let's string together some hours. At the end of the first hour, try it again. This hour is doable. Look at the clock. Just this hour. You know you can do it. Now do it again. Just this hour. Repeat.

Well wait a minute. These hours are not pleasant. No, not the first 72 hours (usually, not always by the way). And some more after that even. But the more hours you rack up, the more comfortable you become. How do you know that? Talk to anyone who has quit. Anyone. They are not aching for a smoke. After a while they don't even think about it. It is true that everything you do with nicotine, you can do without nicotine. That includes coping with life. How do we do that? Get nicotine out of your system and keep living.

One hour at a time turns into one day at a time. One day at a time turns into Never Take Another Puff. And then this is living without slavery to a drug.

You deserve it. Move down the list, one hour at a time.

~ Kay (Gold) ~
Celebrating 1 Year, 7 Hours and 56 Minutes of Freedom.
Forsaking 7327 doses of poison has liberated $2,380.17 and 25 Days and 10 Hours of my life.

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DlunyGOLD   Dec 23, 2004  #9

You have seen the commercials on TV that tell you "You can't do it alone!"

I am here to tell you that those commercials are true AND false at the same time.

False because they want you to believe that the ONLY way to quit smoking is with the "help" of Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) Products, which simply is NOT TRUE. All that NRT products do is to prolong the withdrawal because you are taking in nicotine at lower levels than when you smoked.

True because quitting without a "support group" is difficult. Having a "cheerleader" to remind you of where you have been and where you are headed and/or a shoulder to lean on when things get tough and you just need someone to talk to can truly make all the difference in a succesful quit and a relapse.

Whyquit.com has given me the education I needed to understand exactly WHY I smoked and WHY I should quit and the group Freedom From Tobacco has given me the support and confidence to maintain my quit for over 1 year (which is the longest I have ever gone "Cold Turkey" in over 20 years of smoking and "trying to quit").

Attitude is important. Are you ready to take back control of your life from nicotine? Are you ready to stop burning your money up and your life with it? Are you ready to start REALLY tasting your food and regain your sense of smell?

If you are, then don't light up that next cigarette/cigar/pipe/take that next chew or dip! Keep on doing that, one craving at a time. Don't smoke, don't chew, don't use. In just 72 hours the nicotine will be gone from your system and you will never have a physical "need" for nicotine again. During that time drink fruit juices (Cranberry is excellent) to help your body flush the nicotine out faster and read all you can at whyquit.com and Freedom From Tobacco.

Quitting is doable! I did it and so have MILLIONS of others. Staying quit is also doable. The journey of 1000 miles begins with the first step is what they say. The journey continues one step at a time and so does my quit. When I first quit I took it one minute at a time and eventually hours passed, which became a full day, then a week, then a month, and so on. Now I take my quit one day at a time and often go several days without even THINKING of smoking. I work in a stressful job and have a very stressful family life so I know this can be done.

One day at a time, never take another puff!

David, One year, one month, two weeks, two days, 5 hours, 25 minutes and 4 seconds. 7420 cigarettes not smoked, saving $556.50. Life saved: 3 weeks, 4 days, 18 hours, 20 minutes.

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AnitaMCK  Dec 23, 2004  #10

I hope that there are dozens of new members that quit for new years! I would have never believed, just shy of six months ago when I quit, that:

1. I could have coffee in the morning without cigarettes, or drinks in the evening.
2. That I could live without them at the ritualized times of the day that I had established.
3. That I could get through emotional trips, physical trips, activities, etc. etc. - you name it - without taking breaks to have them.
4. That I would go for hours upon hours at end without even thinking about them.

You have to get on the other side of the fence, where we are here at Freedom, to feel the difference. It is hard in the beginning, but do-able. Best wishes and good luck to all who quit, now and in the new year!

AnitaMCK - Free and Healing for Five Months, Fifteen Days, 16 Hours and 15 Minutes, while extending my life expectancy 8 Days and 17 Hours, by avoiding the use of 2515 nicotine delivery devices that would have cost me $506.51.

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Rickrob53 Gold   Dec 24, 2004  #11

The cigarette, when smoked, is a very effective killing device! (I didn't say efficient, I said effective). When used as intended, half of those who smoke cigarettes will die from it. Some slowly, from diseases like lung cancer or emphysema. Some more quickly from heart attacks and such. The substance in cigarettes that makes it all possible, and that causes people to want to keep smoking more and more, is nicotine -reputedly the most highly addictive substance on earth-- a drug so captivating that most of those who use it cannot free themselves from its enslavement.

You are here at this website because you have been looking for information on a way to end your enslavement to smoking (nicotine). Let me suggest: you need look no further. Everything you need to know about nicotine and addiction, smoking, how to stop and what to expect, and how to reach freedom can be found here at WhyQuit.com .

Quitting will take a little effort on your part and a commitment to yourself to not take that puff when the urges and craves are at there most demanding. As each day of not smoking continues to build on top of the one before it, more and more of the freedom from the shackles of nicotine will find its way to you. You can do this!! Millions of comfortable ex-smokers already have!

Of the hundreds of thousands of poisonous puffs of cigarette smoke that you've ingested into your lungs over the years, are you willing to gamble that the very next puff won't be the one that plants the seed of lung cancer in you? …Or be the one that overloads your circulatory system and causes your heart to stop?

Everything in life worth having takes a little effort (your health, your very life itself?). Aren't you worth the effort?

Richard (after 33+ years of smoking, free for 10 months and 3 weeks)

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Golddabler1   Dec 24, 2004   #12

Once upon a time there was a wise man who saved 10% of his income every week so that he would enjoy his retirement years with some comfort,unfortunately he never reached retirement age as whilst he was saving a percentage of finance every week he was using up a percentage of his lifespan every week by smoking and died early.

Rickdabler 1 year 2 months 3 weeks +happily nicotine free.

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WILLIEGOLD1  Dec 24, 2004   #13

MANY OF YOU WILL READ THIS THINKING I NEED OR WANT TO QUIT SMOKING. I SMOKED FOR 35 YEARS 1-2 PACKS A DAY, VERY HARD CORE SMOKER. JANUARY 1ST 2004 I QUIT FOR GOOD, THE LAST TIME.

YOU WANT THE SECRET "NEVER TAKE ANOTHER PUFF"

I UNDERSTAND TRUE FREEDOM NOW

GUY WILLINGHAM

I HAVE NOT SMOKED FOR 11 Months 2 Weeks 6 Days 18 Hours 48 Minutes 52 Seconds 12452 --CIGS.S NOT SMOKED, WITH A CASH SAVINGS OF $1,867.87. ONLY IN THE GREAT STATE OF TEXAS . THIS AFTER 30 YEARS OF SMOKING.THANKS TO WHYQUIT.COM

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Shinelady Gold3282003   Dec 24, 2004   #14

If you are reading here, I know you must have an interest in what cold turkey quitting is about. I can testify that it is about giving yourself the gift of life. To continue to smoke is to cripple, kill and shatter dreams for the future. How do I know this? I have early emphysema and my husband has lung cancer, thanks to smoking. Did I ever think it could happen to us? Never in a million years did I think it could happen to us. There was no cancer in my husbands family and no emphysema in mine. I hope you will take time to explore this site. It is second to none for education and support. We would love to have you join us.

sue -gold

One year, eight months, three weeks, four days, 2 hours, 46 minutes and 33 seconds. 25444 cigarettes not smoked, saving $3,676.75. Life saved: 12 weeks, 4 days, 8 hours, 20 minutes.

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Roger (Gold)   Dec 24, 2004   #15

What words could I write in this thread that could possibly serve as the one that finally strikes a chord within someone's heart and opens their sensors to the realization of what smoking really is? What pictures or visualizations could be posted for all to see that finally imprint in ones mind the true reality of the most common form of addcition in our society today, as well as the destructive characteristics associated with it?

Prior to writing this, I tossed it around in my mind occasionally for most of today. I reflected on my own 35 + years of active addiction to nicotine at 2-3 packs per day. I remembered how over the last 10 years, give or take, how disgusted I was with myself. I remembered how each time withdrawal signaled my need to again replenish my drug of choice, the agonizing thoughts that raced through my mind knowing how much I desired to quit but never knew how. I solemnly remembered my immediate family members who died at early ages most likely hastened by years of substance abuse.

My thoughts turned to my own quit date just under 3 years ago. My hopes and dreams of finally taking control of my addcition shattered within hours as they were for so many years as I felt I could handle just one puff to relieve the stress experiencing from withdrawal. I thought of that promise I made to myself after yet another failure, to go just 24 hours for the first time in over 35 years without nicotine. I thought of the feeling of accomplishment and pride I was feeling when I looked at the clock to see the final seconds tick off after succeeding for 24 hours.

This brings me to my final statement regarding anyones desire to quit. I believed in myself for just 24 hours. That success opened my eyes to the possibility I could finally do this & become the x-smoker I longed to be. Is it easy? No, you will have challenges. Is it worth it? Beyond belief. Do I believe you can do it? You bet your life I do. Now you ask, How do I do it? My answer is one minute, one hour or on day at a time. Believe in yourself just a little.

Roger
A Proud Member Of This Forum

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tepake   Dec 24, 2004   #16

Every ex-smoker, whether they've been quit three months or thirty years, was once where you are now - sick of smoking and discouraged about ever quitting.

I smoked at least a pack a day for 32 years. Until I took the advice offered at this site I'd never quit for longer than three days. Since coming here I haven't had any nicotine since November 18, 2004. On that date I could not imagine going the rest of my life without cigarettes. Today I know it's not only possible, but likely.

Whatever I liked about smoking is gone with the wind. So is everytthing I hated about it; the stench, the bad breath, the mad rushes to the store, the standing outside in the rain or cold, the wrinkled nose from my wife, the sudden absences from meetings and events, the excuses. Everything bad about smoking, everything that embarassed me about it, everything I feared about it is gone.

At the end of all my earlier quit attempts there was that one cigarette that brought me back. The difference is that I stopped thinking about never smoking again and instead focused on not having the next cigarette. Just that one. I worried about the next one when the urge came. One and a half months later and I still haven't had that one cigarette. I don't even want it anymore.

Some other things that helped:

1. Do not carry cigarettes with you. It's just playing Russian Roulette.

2. Don't change your routine. If you change anything, go to bed earlier.

3. Download Joel's Library and read it.

4. Stay busy.

5. Read Joel's Library again.

6. Take deep breaths or a seres of short, quick breaths during craves.

7. Read Joel's Library again.

8. One day, one hour, one minute at a time.

Terry

Quit smoking on November 18, 2004 after 32 years.

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jdinkcmoGOLD   Dec 24, 2004   #17

By reading here, you're displaying the interest in smoking cessation that we've all experienced, sometimes more than once. I did it too, and bookmarked this site to come back to, reading and indulging in self-flagellation over my own smoking relapse after a TWELVE year quit lost to faulty thinking that I could "have just one." When I finally came to realize and ACCEPT that I was an addict, the "never take another puff" concept of cold turkey became crystal clear. If I could do this, you can too. Do yourself the favor of your life (literally) and read everything you can here. Joel's library and all the posts on this site are the absolute key to the education that will sustain you when all else falls away. We'd love to have you become a member of the world's best quitters. your quit sis, JD

Judy is GOLD and has been nic free for: 1Y 11M 1W 1D and has NOT smoked 31902 smelly cigs, for a grand $$$ savings of $5,343.63 plus life of Freedom extended by: 3M 2W 4D 18h 30m.

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sostark   Dec 24, 2004   #18

REMEMBER! - Giving up NICOTINE isn't easy but it is SIMPLE.

Your WITHDRAWAL will PEAK at around the 72 hour mark, when the last of the NICOTINE you ingested 3 DAYS before, finally leaves your body.

After this you will still have CRAVINGS - but these will be like a snake with no venom. ANNOYING, yes, and the odd one may even STING but without the venom it can no longer AFFECT your BODY, your BREATHING, your REASONING, your SELF RESPECT, your WALLET, your LOVED ONES… need I go on?

REMEMBER your new mantra and NEVER TAKE ANOTHER PUFF.

Steph - Free and healing for 6 Months, 2 Weeks, 2 Days, 1 hour and 3 minutes (199 days). I have saved £1,194.26 by not smoking 5,971 cigarettes. My Quit Date: 08/06/2004

Well here's my effort. Feel free to change it, cut it down or not use it at all.

Steph xxx

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Just Gie Gold   Dec 24, 2004   #19

HEY YOU!

Come here! I'd like to ask you a question. How many years have you put off quitting until tomorrow, until New Year's, until after the big presentation at work......I could go on. Funny how the right moment never seemed to happen, isn't it? Well I'm going to tell you a truth here...the right moment isn't going to come. C'mon..Do you really believe that IF you run across a peaceful, stess free week in your life, you'd actually voluntarily forsake the peace and quit smoking? Or would you savour the peaceful moment by having a cigarette? The best moment is now. Yes--Now! You might say "What's the urgency?" The urgency is this...Every day you put it off you're taking the chance that your first sign something is wrong, it'll be too late. What if the cigarette that you smoke in the next 10 minutes is the one that finally blocks the artery to your heart? What if the cigarette you smoke in the next 10 minutes is the one that causes a pre-cancerous cell to turn cancerous? Look at it when you're smoking it and consider "What if"? For thousands of people worldwide EVERY DAY this is the reality and it could be YOU! What could be more urgent than that??? Oh, you're too young for that you say? Drop by here and meet Noni, Brian, Kim and Sean. Not a one of them over 50.

Look, none of us here are saying that it will be easy to do. It is however, extraordinarily simple. We can give you the education and support to make it happen. You have supply the commitment.

Angie - 11 Months 1 Week 3 Days 17 Hours 38 Minutes 17 Seconds. Cigarettes not smoked: 2765. Money saved: C$1,106.35 I've reclaimed 2 Wks 5 Days 4 Hrs 58 Mins 47 Secs of my life.

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gold osomashi   Dec 28, 2004   #20

I wanted to add one more thing to my message that might be helpful!

this worked for me:

remember the 3 minute crave rule, read whyquit.com and freedom, do yoga, go biking, avoid trigger areas (bars) for the first week, eat sunflower seeds, drink cranberry juice, eat celery sticks, chew on straws and cinnamon toothpicks, ask for support from family and friends, announce your quit so everyone knows.

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If a knucklehead like me can do it, so can you. It's not always easy but it's very simple if you Never Take Another Puff (NTAP). Steve

I have been quit for 7 Months, 2 Weeks, 1 Day, 15 hours, 57 minutes and 54 seconds (229 days). I have saved $1,148.31 by not smoking 9,186 cigarettes. I have saved 1 Month, 21 hours and 30 minutes of my life.

The Myth: Smoking is a stressbuster

The Reality Smoking's killing you

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Liuchka   Dec 28, 2004   #22

Hi!

I am a nicotine addict. I was a smoker for 21 years. I never thought I had the capacity to quit smoking. Everything I did in my adult life was somehow connected to smoking. I did not have the best of attitudes, I was depressed when I quit; I didn't really believe that I could quit.

How did I do it? I believed in the testimony of persons at Freedom who were addicts like myself. After all, what did I have to loose?

What do you have to loose?

You can always go back to smoking...but how about giving your life a chance?

Come meet us...read our stories, read Joel's library, the boards, commit to stop just for ONE DAY. Everyday... I did. It's the best I have done for myself; here I am, FREE AND HEALING...

Cuca

- Free and Healing for One Year, Three Months, Ten Days, 15 Hours and 10 Minutes, while extending my life expectancy 48 Days and 14 Hours, by avoiding the use of 13999 nicotine delivery devices that would have cost me $2,675.79.

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gavula   Dec 28, 2004  #23

I spent two weeks doing what you're doing right now- reading the information on this website. At some point, I couldn't stand it anymore. I force-fed myself all the negative statistics, all the sad stories, all the death, all the lost lives, all the pain and suffering. I cried a LOT.

And then I quit- and I cried even more. But I saw clean air flowing into my lungs- healing them. I swore that I would never again stand at that convenience store altar and ask for death, and hand the guy a $5 for it.

And then I made it through the 72 hours, and got accepted to join this wonderful community of support- and I cried again. This time, happy tears. Happy that I'm free. So little to worry about now. I don't carry hand lotion, perfume, and gum, to cover up bad smells. I don't change clothes before a date because of the smell. I don't have to stand outside while my family is sharing memories. I've gotten so much out of life already.

And it's only been 7 days. A hard-fought for 7 days. But 7 days of learning a new way to live every minute of it.

Anna

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wittler h   Dec 29, 2004   #24

Congratulations on both your interest and efforts to quit using nicotine. Stopping the use of nicotine for me has been the start of the best parts of my life. It is wonderful not to have to think about when I can/can't smoke, where I can/can't smoke, or how many I will get to smoke. How do I smell? How's my breath? Do I need to wash my hands? And do I have any gum? Are questions I no longer give a thought to because of a smoking habit. Wheezing at night, shortness of breath and low energy are health problem alarms I no longer have. For me I have answered those alarms by quitting. I was a pack a day user for 26 yrs. My quit is extremely valuable to me. It is both the goal and the prize. It is worth my every effort. I realized nicotine use is a choice. I choose to only not use it.

DeWitt

I have been quit 3 Months, 2 Weeks, 22 hours, 20 minutes and 48 seconds. I have not smoked 2,118 cigarettes (that's allot a smoke!). I have saved 1 Week, 8 hours and 30 minutes of my life. I WILL N.T.A.P. THERE CAN NEVER BE ONLY ONE!

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BushCreekDudeGoldX4   Dec 29, 2004   #25

You've come here for a reason. To entertain thoughts of quitting nicotine. Everyone wants the easy way out. This isn't easy:it is very simple. EDUCATE yourself about the addiction and something in your mind will convince you that this is the right thing to do. As a famous company's logo says..."Just do it!"

Bob

I have chosen not to give in to my junkie thoughts and inhale 4000+ chemical compounds and 43 known carcinogens into my lungs for 1 Year 5 Months 3 Weeks 20 Hours 21 Minutes 37 Seconds. Cigarettes not smoked: 10816. Money saved: $2,704.24.

Life gained back to share with future grandchildren 2 Mos 2 Wks 2 Hrs 49 Mins 40 Secs YESSSSSS!!!!!!

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