Turkey's Triumphs: Page 38

I just want to thank you for this site. I've been smoke-free for 1 year and 298 days. I smoked for over 30 years and never imagined ever being able to quit. My 8 yr daughter was asking for about 6 months to please stop. I remember telling her she didn't understand what she was asking as I have been smoking for 30 years, I'm addicted. I would say what your asking isn't simple for me to just stop.

One day in my quest to quit I stumbled upon your website. I started reading and educating myself as to how it controlled my life. Your website gave me the tools to succeed. I don't know how much damage has been done and I don't care. I've been able to give my daughter the gift of maybe more time on this earth to be here for her. I want to just say please continue your work as it matters and saves lives!

This site taught something so simple ... one minute, one hour, one day!! Whatever it takes just don't take another puff!!

Boston Girl

February 10th 2017 will mark 12 years that my wife and I quit smoking forever. Quitting was not easy, but each day became easier and easier and before we knew it we celebrated our first year. I stumbled across this site 4 months into my quit, the knowledge was awesome. I give this site out to smokers on a regular basis. NTAP!

Dan Collett

I was introduced to smoking when I was 19. I smoked for a year, until 20. I had the best pair of lungs, I guess, as I never ever coughed badly, even though inhaling for a long period time. I smoked because I wanted to show myself and the world that I am a grown-up and mature. I quit last January 26, on my parent's 25th marriage anniversary.

If you smoke, I suggest cold turkey. I was on a packet a day and after quitting I did have withdrawls, including not being able to sleep, depression, and cravings. But I found the strength to quit when I saw my skin getting old, my body depreciating and my life going down.

Just one thing. Whatever the reason for your smoking, don't do it . Just quit. Please quit it guys. All the best. Adios.

Adi Kumat
India

I followed WhyQuit for 16 months in late 2015 and through the whole of 2016. And this year, 2017, is the 16th month of my quit, all done cold turkey.

I wish to thank John and Joel for the insight and wish them a prosperous new year. I am now in a comfort zone and have tackled all the situations that come with life. And you are right. The problems are still the same when tackled without a cancer stick dangling from your lip. So thanks. I hope more youngsters and old healthy or sick smokers take WhyQuit's advice.

It really is a great feeling to have back your freedom: the choice and authority to say "no" and mean it in the comfort that you are treating your mind the way it was designed, to be free and think for yourself, and not an enslavement cap for the corporations. Thanks and good luck.

Paul - 16 months of health and wealth
Glasgow, Scotland

One year free on New Years day, Joel, after 26 years smoking. I stuck to my guns. Thank you kindly. Peace and happiness and a happy Christmas, sir, from Ireland.

Glenn Kavanagh

I smoked 1 to 1.5 packs a day for 22 years. I'd tried quitting close to 20 times, but I always relapsed. The last cigarette I smoked was on February 2nd, 2014 at 11:30am, thanks in large part to this website. Now almost 3 years without nicotine, the biggest benefit I’ve experienced is one I didn’t expect: a decrease in stress. I've removed an entire schedule from on-top of my actual daily schedule, and I have so much more energy and time to spend with my wife and kids.

I used tools to stay quit. I tracked quit days in a calendar that I had made in Excel. About two weeks in, I realized that I needed an outlet for the increased agitation/aggression I had now that cigarettes weren't a part of my day. So I paid to enter a half-marathon that was three months away, even though I hadn’t run a mile in my adult life. The training program I followed had me running 4 times a week, and that turned out to be just the diversion I needed. The final tool was reading your website – it finally hit home that if I smoked even one cigarette, I'd relapse.

When I crossed the finish line in May, I was actually more proud to be 3+ months smoke-free!

Thanks so much,
Scott

I'm 2.3 years smoke free, thanks to your website and thanks to all the fellow cold turkey quitters. Easily one of the best decisions of my life. I quit on my birthday two and a half years ago when I was 28. I tried several times prior to this and failed. I have to say that finding your website was the best thing ever happened to me. I've taken your mantra "NTAP" and used it to both quit smoking and keep me from going to the casino - "Never Go To Casino - NGTS". Your website has been beneficial in several aspects of my life. My wife has also been great support. Thanks much.

SM

PS: I hate the smell of smokes now (never thought I would say this in a million years :D)

I was 31 when I discovered that I was pregnant with my first child. My fiancee and I were not trying but we were very happy nevertheless. I had smoked for 13 years and had tried to stop before but I could only make it for 4-5 days before starting again. I have watched family members die from lung cancer but seeing them suffer wasn't enough.

I thought about the baby that I was going to bring into this world and how he deserved to have a healthy life. I thought about how my smoking could affect his development and cause him to be born addicted to nicotine and having to go through withdrawal. I thought about him suffering from asthma or upper respiratory infections from my second hand smoke. I thought about how my life would be shortened and that I might not be around when he needed me (and even when they are older, they still need you). I always thought about my smoking affecting only me but being pregnant made me realize how that was not true.

I wanted to quit for me but the reality is that having another reason to quit made that possible. I have been smoke free for almost 15 years. Both of my parents quit too so that their grandchildren would not be affected by second hand smoke. They had smoked for 40 and 50 years respectively. Even though they are at higher risk to develop lung cancer than a nonsmoker, they feel much better overall, are more active and have more money to spend on whatever they wish. If you can't do it for yourself, do it for the ones you love. There is no bad reason to stop smoking and it is never too late to have better health.

Kristine

Just wanted to say thank you for your wonderful website. My mom died of lung cancer in 2009. After 30 years of smoking, I knew I had to quit or I'd probably suffer the same fate.

It took almost 3 years after my mother's death to muster up the determination to finally quit. I started out with the lozenges and about 4 days in, I found your site. I read and read and read some more and by the 2nd day I decided to go the cold turkey route and threw the lozenges away. That was April 28, 2012. I haven't had a drop of nicotine since, and I owe a huge part of my success to your site.

Reading your site religiously helped me through the first 6 months which was the hardest part of my quit. Understanding my addiction, the changes my body was going through, as well as why and when the cravings would occur were a tremendous help. Knowledge is power!

Back in the early part of my quit, I fought the urges by reminding my "executive assistant" that I no longer smoked. And as I've progressed in my quit (having grown confident and a little less diligent than early on) one thing that I keep in the forefront of my mind whenever stinking thinking tries to convince me that one puff won't hurt - "NEVER TAKE ANOTHER PUFF."

What I never knew with my previous 3 failed attempts at quitting was that one puff could reestablish my addiction. That is one of the strongest lessons I took away from your site and why I will stay committed to never smoking again. At this point, I don't even miss cigarettes anymore - at all. I never ever thought I'd see that day. Anyway, I really just wanted to say thank you very much for your wonderful site. Every person that I encounter who wants to quit, I direct to your site. It is literally a lifesaver.

God Bless and thank you,
Janeen

I just wanted to send a note thanking this group for helping me quit smoking. Today marks my 5 year quit anniversary and in the beginning I used this website daily ... ok hourly to help me quit cold turkey. It was the hardest thing I have ever done but the resources on this site helped me tremendously. I especially like the quitting timeline. I have been nicotine free, cigarette free without one relapse for 5 years so thank you for helping me reach this goal!

Sincerely,

Leeanna