Turkey's Triumphs: Page 42
Wisdom from cold turkey quitters who've remained nicotine-free for at least 1 year
Victory@WhyQuit.com
I smoked over a pack a day for nearly 15 years. In theory quitting should be easy as you literally have to do nothing to succeed... unfortunately in practice breaking the addiction is anything but easy. The hardest part for me was maintaining the motivation. The inspirational stories and informative articles on WhyQuit.com helped me maintain the motivation that ultimately broke my nicotine addiction. Today I celebrate 11 years without nicotine. I tried (and failed) to quit hundreds of times. But the greatest part about quitting is that it doesn't matter how many times you fail, you only need to succeed once.
Andy Kuhns
I will be honest, I'm not sure of my actual date. I'm always bad about that, but it's been well over 2 years. I don't have cravings anymore, at all. Actually I have developed quite a disgust for cigarettes. When I see someone sucking one down, I say "Ugh, NASTY!!!" I am actually appalled by cigarettes now, I can't believe I ever even smoked. Anyone else feel this way? I think this mindset is what will keep me from EVER going back. I know 100%, no matter what happens, I will NEVER EVER smoke another nasty cigarette again, and I feel great about that. Cold Turkey is the only thing that ever worked for me.
Melanie Wright
I stopped smoking by going cold turkey at 2pm August 19th 2005! I still remember the exact time and date because I had my mind made up. I had smoked for 23 years, since I was 15 and I could not remember what it was like to be a non smoker. The first few days were the hardest, I'm not going to lie and say otherwise but eventually the cravings and the dreams waned until now I don't give them another thought. You too will be exactly like me. The rule is easy, never take another puff. That's it you're free... Forever. You can do it 👌
Allison Weir
Quit 10/2/14. That first week was rough but I painted my house and got a LOT of crocheting done lol. Hang in there and be proud!
Angie Burge
Keep it simple. Don't give in. Not one puff. It'll get easier. I promise.
Quit 20/10/2010
Rob Wheeler
15 years for me and doing wonderful! NTAP!!!
Patty Ann
I read the free books from WhyQuit. It took several reads, but I quit cold turkey after over twenty years of what ended up turning into two packs a day. My five-year quit anniversary is this July. Because of what I learned from the books, I knew I couldn't even try it ever again.
My life is so much better now that nicotine doesn't control my day. It was hard, but it gets easier over time. The withdrawal symptoms will go away, and you will never regret quitting.
Monique Renee
I quit cold turkey 11 years and 3 months ago after stumbling upon this website. I smoked for about 13 years around a pack a day. First year was hard! Now though I rarely if ever think about it-usually only around my anniversary or when I think about how happy I am that I made it through that time. Anyone can quit as long as you want to. Stick with it it gets easier every day.
Jacque Weltken
I thought I could never quit smoking for good and quitting cold turkey never crossed my mind. I tried patches and gum and pills but I always ended up returning to cigarettes. After over 25 years of smoking and failing to quit numerous times I decided to try once again.
This time I searched the internet for the best ways to quit and among the information on nicotine replacements which I had already tried I found Whyquit.com. I started reading and learning about what happens when you stop putting nicotine in your body and how your body reacts. I learned about nicotine addiction and how it affects your brain and I read stories and experiences of others who had quit cold turkey and were able to remain nicotine free and why quitting cold turkey was the best way to go. It all made sense to me.
Crossing the 72 hour hurdle was very difficult for me but everytime I felt like I was struggling I would read some articles on WhyQuit or find something to keep me busy and the craving would pass. I got to rely on this to help get me through. Just knowing that what I was going through was temporary was a big thing for me. Instead of worrying about quitting for good I learned to just focus on getting through one crave at a time and NTAP was always on my mind. I knew that if I took one puff of a cigarette I would have to start all over again and I was determined not to let that happen.
It got easier over time and I thought about smoking less and less. I have been nicotine free for over 11 years now and I don't even think about smoking cigarettes anymore. Thanks to the knowledge I received from WhyQuit I was able to quit cold Turkey and quit for good.
Sincerely,
Paula Durham
10 yrs and 3 months already. To help me, I translated in Italian Joel's "NTAP" and shared it on newsgroups. Still in contact with some of the friends of that period. Great!
Andrew
Just wanted to let you know that I quit cigarettes 9 years ago in July and I wouldn’t have done it without WhyQuit. I was just thinking about this and realized I’ve never let you at the site know about my success. I spent at least an hour on the site every day in my first 1-2 months, reading and rereading every single article. I do not believe I would’ve made it through those afternoons without you. After I quit, my husband was able to as well. My family thanks you!
Megan Varvais
I was a teen in the late 60s and the early 70s. YOU know the years I’m talking about. Man, we were weird! We did some crazy STUFF; we listened to great music – (Bohemian Rhapsody was a fabulous movie); we wore bell bottoms and Navy P-Coats.…and Paisley Shirts (I have a granddaughter named Paisley, she is fabulous!); we had long hair; we drank Annie Green Springs and Mogen David and we tried really hard to buy Everclear; and Roller Rinks!! I spent so dang much time at the Skating Rink. We liked big cars! I loved my 59 Ford Country Sedan. We had a revolution, a fabulous revolution! (kind of like today’s teenagers) And…many of us smoked….young! Most quit as the years went by - I didn’t.
Today, March 19, 2019 - 1 Year; 12 Months; 365 Days; a whole bunch of minutes or seconds; Back to March 19, 2018 – the day I woke up and decided to quit smoking (after about 47 years –shhh…don’t say anything). COLD TURKEY – No gum, no pills, no patches…just me. I MADE IT – 1 year surprises me. I’m surprised because I never once had a nicotine fit and never had withdrawals. It didn’t bother me when I was in a place that allowed smoking…like a casino! I did have a desire to eat …ya…EAT! I didn’t gain (much) weight because I didn’t allow myself to indulge in my desires. But, oh man, I could have eaten an entire chocolate factory!
One Year - Many more to come!
WarrenH
My friend and I gave up 27 years ago cold turkey. BEST THING EVER. Hard but Worth it.
June and Kay
There's nothing fishy about being a quitter! I'm 2.5 years as a smart turkey after nearly 30 years addicted. Woohooo! I love how awesome I smell. It makes me hug my loved ones more. I'm no longer that stinky mom/sister/friend. Kudos to all you newbies. It is NOT easy. But, it does get easier. There are ups and downs, a lot! And then, one day, you realize you haven't thought about a cigarette in X days, and then XXXX days, and then you give yourself a nod and say, "Look at me go. I got this." Because you do.
When you want to cry, when you want to cave, when you swear the nicotine addiction is too much to overcome...fight back. You will and can win. When the wave of desire hits you, just steel yourself and say over and over, "Never Take Another Puff." Within moments the urge will pass, you'll be free, and you'll be winning another day. Just keep swimming!
You got this
.I will not smoke with you today. WE got this together. Kudos to you!
‎Audrey Buglione
‎Hi WhyQuit! Today is my 16th anniversary from quitting smoking cold turkey, with the help of this site and Freedom board (not sure if it still exists). 16 years!
Because of this site I stopped craving cigarettes within a couple of weeks. Before in previous quits the cravings never went away.
I usually forget my quit anniversary, but I finally put the reminder into my phone. I barely remember smoking. Thank god for this site. Thank you!
Kimberly Dunworth
It's pleasent to scratch a mosquito bite because the itching stops. Unfortunatley just for a short time. To really stop the itch you have to quit scratching entierly. Reduce the amount of scatching and the itch will continue. It's the same with smoking: Replace the itching with the craving to smoke, the scratching with the act of smoking a cigarette and the mosquito bite with your smoking addiction. The difference is, that the mosquito bite will dissapear after some time, but the addiction will stay. Luckily it won't itch anymore, as long as you never scratch again.
When I quit smoking a bit more than 4 years ago, I didn't know about the law of addiction. I thought that after a while of abstinence I would be able to enjoy an occasional cigarette. Thanks to this website and Joel Spitzer's book I soon knew better and never relapsed. Thank you very much!
Maurus
It will be 15 years I quit smoking on March 22. I was a 2 1/2 pack a day smoker for over 30 years. Joel Spitzer and WhyQuit educated me and saved me. All it took was a sense of knowledge, a kick of willpower and the determination to quit cold turkey. Cold Turkey is the only way.
I too suffered at about 4 days of withdrawals and I mean brutal ... but I kept on going because after 4 days, your body is on its way to healing. Best thing I ever did. I'd like to share with you a post I keep on my wall to remind me of my Victory. It is powerful and strong and makes me very proud of myself. Good luck to you all who have quit and to those who are trying to quit. You can do it! Just NTAP! Today, I choose life!
Yesterday, I chose to be a slave to a disgusting, filthy, self-destructive addiction.
Today, I choose freedom!
Yesterday, I chose to be controlled by that addiction.
Today, I choose self-control!
Yesterday, I chose disease and sickness, because it was easier to remain a slave to my addiction than it was to break free.
Today, I choose health!
Yesterday, I chose weakness, because if I was too weak to break the chains of my addiction, no one could blame me for remaining bound.
Today, I choose strength!
Yesterday, I chose to suck multiple poisonous substances into my already severely damaged lungs because I "needed" one of those poisons to feed my addiction.
Today, I choose not to smoke!
Yesterday, I chose death.
Today, I choose life!
Patti Ann
Happy New Year everybody!! Today marks 1 year cigarette free and I have the biggest smile on my face writing this. Never really thought I’d make it this far but I’m here and happier than ever! Good luck to every one starting out, it may seem tough but the end result is so worth it, so just keep fighting through!!
Brenda Yonan
Yesterday marked 4 years, seven months for me and my quit. I couldn't be happier. I remember how "normal" it used to seem to smoke cigarettes. Now it seems so UNnatural. I watch smokers these days, and if it wasn't so pathetic, dangerous and tragic, I would have to laugh. The behavior is comic, but addiction is no comedy... unless it ends in a permanent quit.
A time will come when you won't think about it very often, and if you do, it won't be a craving. Don't ever throw away what you have worked so hard to achieve. NTAP. It's that simple.
Steve Clark
Thanks John and Joel ...…. GOLD X 5 on 1-1-19
5 Years and Counting !!!!!!
NEVER TAKE ANOTHER PUFF …… NTAP works!!!!!
Bud Laramore
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