Turkey's Triumphs: Page 6
Insights from cold turkey quitters who've remained nicotine-free for at least 1 year
Victory@WhyQuit.com
I smoked my last cigarette one year ago today - on September 11, 2005. 24 hours into my quit, I started searching for help on the Internet and found WhyQuit.com. WhyQuit gave me the tools and education that I needed to finally quit, not for the first time, but for the last time.
Quitting smoking was one of the most difficult things that I have accomplished, but it is definitely the most rewarding. I have enjoyed the past year without cigarettes more than I ever thought possible. Until I got rid of the addiction, I did not realize how much it controlled me. I was always contemplating the next cigarette; any activity had to be planned with smoking breaks included. I did not realize how isolated I had become in a society that no longer tolerates smoking. The freedom that I have now is beyond compare.
Many thanks to everyone at WhyQuit.com for all of the posts and information.
WhyQuit.com was helpful to me once I'd stopped smoking. A few days after I stopped, I found this site and used its articles and wisdom to my advantage. I wrote a somewhat long-winded description about quitting in my blog. It's been 2 years since I stopped smoking. Definitely "educated cold turkey" is my recommended way to quit.
I discovered WhyQuit on August 3, 2005 by accident. I was just browsing the internet. Call it fate or whatever you want to call it. It was a Godsend. You see, I have been a smoker for 21 years and have been trying to quit ever since. After reading all of the information and material you had on your website, I began to think about my family and friends and my health in the long run. I am married and a father of 3 beautiful girls. My 15 year old always use to nag me all the time about smoking. She would tell me that she loves me but if I did not stop smoking I would die of cancer.
This really sunk in. I love all of my children and family. To make a long story short. On August 27, 2005 I decided to quit Cold Turkey. Today is September 8, 2006. It has been 1 year and few days that I have been smoke free thanks to your website and amount of information about smoking. I already have inspired two people to quit in the work place. I also recommended them your website for additional information about smoking and what to expect after withdrawal. If I who have been smoking a pack a day for 21 years quit, they can too. Yes! You can quit smoking. All that is needed is a willingness to quit and confidence that you can do it! I live one day at a time. Free at last, free at last, free at last.
God bless WhyQuit for intervening in my life in a mysterious way.
As of August 17th it has been one year since my last cigarette. With the help of WhyQuit.com and Joel, my life no longer revolves around tobacco. Since then, my Boss quit Jan 1st, my Husband quit April 29th and my Sister-in-Law has been nicotine free for 6 weeks. These were all a direct result of my quit and I am proud to influence those around me to give up those cigarettes too (I have a few more victims in mind). Thank you WhyQuit.com and thank you Joel for all of your influence and education, I could not have done it without you.
I have been quit for 1 Year, 5 Days, 21 hours, 9 minutes and 46 seconds (370 days). I have saved $1,668.96 by not smoking 7,417 cigarettes. I have saved 3 Weeks, 4 Days, 18 hours and 5 minutes of my life. My Quit Date: 8/17/2005 2:00 PM
It's been 5 years since I had my last cigarette and I owe it all to this site. Thanks for the continued support!
Editor's Note: Although Heather credits this site, WhyQuit is simply a tool to be used or ignored. Heather is the one who put it to work. We'd love to think that we somehow endured even a single crave episode for any visitor but it has never happened. The glory is 100% Heathers! Heck, we don't even have our own quitting method but simply share the method that will again this year be responsible for generating 80 to 90% of all successful long-term quitters.
Today is one year! I feel so good and I am so proud of myself. This web site has helped me so much. By the time I discovered WhyQuit I had been quit for too long to join or post, but I came to this site at least once a day for about 5 months. I could not have done it alone. The main factor in my quitting success is the education that is available to anyone who seeks it.
I have tried tirelessly to get anyone I know who smokes to come to this site and start their education. But most of the people I talk to are in denial and they have even gotten very mad at me for even suggesting it to them.
My dad has emphysema from 40+ years of smoking 2 or 3 packs a day. He did quit when he couldn't breathe on his own anymore. My mom had a triple bypass when she was 57 but her years of smoking contributed to her heart disease. She quit smoking when that happened to her too. I just didn't want to wait until it was too late to quit and I had something that couldn't be reversed.
So today I am celebrating and telling anyone who will listen to me that I have been smoke free for one year. And a lot of friends and co-workers have congratulated me on my quit. To anyone else who lurks here for awhile You can do it!!!! Just remember to Never Take Another Puff.
I have been quit for 1 Year, 11 hours, 45 minutes and 15 seconds (365 days). I have saved $1,553.32 by not smoking 7,309 cigarettes. I have saved 3 Weeks, 4 Days, 9 hours and 5 minutes of my life. My Quit Date: 8/15/2005 12:03 AM
Today, August 9, 2006, is my first anniversary as an ex-smoker! It's been one heck of a year, and I am most appreciative for this site, and for Freedom's discussion boards. Like many others, I was rocked to my core when I learned of Peter Jennings' death. For over 20 years I watched him faithfully night after night. Somehow learning of his death from lung cancer brought the hazards of smoking front and center to me.
I thought about Mr. Jennings and his family all day long. The following day, August 9th, I decided to quit smoking. It wasn't the first time I had attempted to quit smoking, my last attempt, some 5 years earlier had lasted almost a month. On August 12th I was pulling my hairs out and looking for information to assist in my quit. Luckily, a Google search turned up the WhyQuit site.
I must have read for three hours the first day. I attempted to join the Freedom boards, but there were so many folks who quit near the same time that I did that the site could not accept all those who wanted to join. Nonetheless, I continued to read every day * for at least an hour * for the first two months. It's a good thing I did. The education alone sustained my quit during some rather rough patches for me.
Two weeks after I quit smoking, my aunt died. A mere seven weeks later, my mom died too. Supportive friends told me that it would be all right to relapse into smoking again at that point, that I could quit later. I smiled when I told them I was much too educated to ever take another puff. The more I read, the easier it made my quit.
The amazing thing was there was always an answer to a question or feeling that I had. I remember the first scary smoking dream I had. I woke with quite a fright believing I was actually smoking and had blown my quit -- this was some 3 months into my quit -- when I hardly thought of wanting to smoke anymore. Luckily I remembered reading about the same thing happening to someone on the Freedom boards, and how it was quite common. I reassured myself by getting up and turning on my computer and finding the post in the Freedom boards and reading it again.
I found solace and comfort in knowing others had been there before me, or that there was a scientific reason for my feelings/dreams and that I would be okay. The answers I needed for reassurance were as close as my computer! I am forever pointing people to the WhyQuit site now. And I am forever grateful!
1 year 8:01 smoke-free, 9,141 cigs not smoked, $2,399.51 saved, 1m 1d 17:45 life saved!
Hi everyone! I'm proud to say that I reached Gold on Sunday 6th Aug 06 and wanted to say "THANK YOU" to all of you at WhyQuit and the Freedom Discussion Board. Throughout the whole year I have been reading in Joel's Library and on the discussion boards and it has helped me such a great deal. Thank you for letting me learn from you!
Although I had an easy quit (no climbing up walls etc.) I had one occasion where the Help board was a lifesaver. Reading all your good advice, even though it wasn't directed at me, helped me through the rough time.
A copy of The Smoker's Vow and The Law of Addiction is decorating the office wall and I've pinned-up all my awards next to it, Glory Week, Green, Bronze, Silver and now Gold.
I gained 6 pounds within the first 6 months, so I started walking at lunch times and if I take it easy on the sweet stuff and the wine the weight comes off, slowly but surely (recommend to read Joel's article on Weight Gain).
My very best wishes to all of you,
Elke from England
P.S. Well done to the people who translated Joel's Library into German. I've sent it to my sisters in Germany who both smoke and hopefully 1 day they will NTAP!
It has been 2 years (May 23 04) since I have been smoke free! Never though it would have come to this, I never posted anything on this website's forum, but I read many of the posts when I was having issues with my quit - it surely help!! Thank you!
Today marks one year for me without a cigarette and I'd just like to thank the people who put this website together, it truly helped me when I had no place else to turn.
I started smoking when I was 11 years old in a misguided effort to lose weight, and remained a pack a day smoker for the next 17 years. I had tried quitting once before with the patch, but went back after just 3 months. To be truthful, I never really had a desire to quit or to limit myself. I liked smoking too much. But a year ago today I started to feel a summer cold coming on. Anyone who smokes knows all too well the disgusting feeling of inhaling smoke through lungs filled with mucus, the awful taste it leaves at the back of your throat. The memory of how it tasted and felt the last time I was sick left me feeling like maybe I could put down the cigarettes for a few hours at least. I told myself I was only stopping for a few hours, but something inside me said "You know, if you can go 4 hours, maybe you can go 6." Still, I didn't even admit to myself, much less to anyone else that I was considering quitting. Plus, I had been so conditioned to believe you needed patches or gum to quit, I would have never dreamed I'd be capable of actually quitting all by myself. When I'd gone a whole day without a cigarette, I felt so proud of myself and so amazed at my own resolve that I decided it wasn't worth it to keep smoking and let myself down.
The withdrawals though were utterly horrible, and I quickly started to wonder why I was doing this to myself. I kept thinking of all the negatives to quitting and I was desperate for someone to remind me why I was going through all this, it suddenly seemed like such a bad idea. Crying, my head screaming and feeling like someone had beaten me bloody, I frantically typed "Why quit smoking?" in a search engine. I found this site and was inspired, both by the success stories and by the painful tales of those who lost family and friends to cigarettes. Over the next couple of weeks, this web site was a big part of what got me through. No matter what time of day or night, no matter what the situation, when no one else was able or willing to help me, this site was here. I can never thank you enough for helping me to stay strong in the darkest hours. I'm happy to no longer be nicotine's slave.
Thank You!
Myste Dawson
As of July 18th it will be two years since I quit cold turkey. This website played a big part. Seeing what nicotine can do to your system really awakened me.
THANKYOU.
I've done it -- I now have a full year between me and the very last time I put nicotine in my body! I think back to that time, when I was so afraid of what I was about to put myself through. That was how I found WhyQuit, actually -- I had bought into all the marketing spiel and thought I needed some nicotine gum to be able to quit, but I didn't have the cash to buy it and was trying to get an idea of how bad it was going to be "goin' it alone". So far, I owe 365 thank you's to John, Joel, and everyone who has shared a story here. I didn't need more of the drug I was so helplessly addicted to -- I needed the courage to believe I was capable of making my own decisions again. I needed to understand that there really isn't any such thing as "just one". I needed to hear the truth, and not just snippets of it, but the whole ugly in-my-face reality-check version.
I went to sleep after staying awake all night in dread, and then I woke up an ex-smoker. Those first few days were tough. Day two was the worst for me, screaming into my pillow just trying to get the cravings out of my mind. Knowing I never have to go through that again makes it easy to say "no" in those very rare moments a temptation strikes. And what I didn't totally realize at the time was that it really *was* just temporary. It doesn't stay like that.
If you're going through it now, just hang on tight, because you *can* get through it! Now I know that my fear was because I thought that I'd continue wanting a cigarette every hour for the rest of my life, like I did as a smoker. And that, of course, simply isn't how it works. Those hourly cravings all go away, as long as you don't give in to them again.
I've been able to stay quit by simply withholding permission from myself to fail. Think about it... In order to fail, you have to put the cigarette in your mouth, and that requires a conscious decision to quit quitting. Don't ever tell yourself it's okay to do that. Never. Because as some people have learned all too painfully, it isn't okay at all to take another puff.
And on a lighter note, I had to temporarily order my hot wings a little less hot because my sense of taste got so much better! I have enough energy left after work to do other things if I want to. The little signs of healing are really incredible when you stop to notice them.
Ashleigh
Yesterday, June 27th, marked one whole year without cigarettes. This site and the knowledge contained in it's library is what made this possible.
I had tried to quit several times before. I tried 3 times with the nicotine patch (crazy dreams!). I tried using the Zyban medication (talk about side effects!). The very first time that I tried just plain cold turkey, was after reading this website. Once I realized the power of the statement, Never Take Another Puff, I realized just how easy this journey was going to be. And it was.
I smoked a pack a day for eleven years, and then was able to quit cold turkey. I came to this site religiously, everyday. I reread the same articles over and over and over again. I began preaching the site to my friends and family, "You need to go and look at this site. I know you know that smoking is bad for you, that's not what this site is about, it's more about why people smoke, not what it does to their bodies". Then these same people would look at the site, and come back to me, "You know, you're right. That is a really great website!"
I would like to personally thank WhyQuit for helping me achieve something that I thought I was never going to able to achieve. I had pretty much accepted the fact that I was going to smoke for life. Either because I was so addicted, or because the thought of a life without cigarettes was too unimaginable. How could I possibly give up something that deep down inside, I felt like I loved?
I think the first thing that I really, really noticed was at work, just how much cigarettes affected my behavior. By the end of a 1 1/2 hour long meeting, I'd usually be going crazy, unable to pay attention, staring at the second hand on the clock. Now, I can go the whole day without ever feeling like I need to run outside. It's incredible. I never realized just how much a slave I was to nicotine. Better put, I never realized how nice it is to remain calm for an entire day.
The major reason I quit was because I did not want to get a disease from smoking. I did not want to find out one day that I had lung cancer, and it was because I smoked. I can't imagine the guilt that people must feel once they discover that they could have prevented this. When I smoked, I knew there was a great possibility of getting cancer. Yet somehow I was able to push that fear deep, deep inside me and continue on.
Carrying this inside of me was like walking around with a bowling ball in my stomach. Every time I smoked, I felt guilty, a little ashamed. I now have so much self confidence! I am no longer under the power of anything but myself. One of the articles here said it best when it described cigarettes as objects. They will not jump into your hand and push their smoke into your lungs, you are the one who has to pick them up. They are just mere objects. They contain no powers. You have all the power.
Thanks again for saving my life!
Michael A. Sacco
Webster, New York
Today is my one year anniversary of quitting smoking!! And I have to thank you over and over again for this site. The articles, testimonies, quit meters are all so responsible for my success. I had tried to quit so many times, have every stop-smoking aid in my medicine cabinet - but nothing worked. One day I ran out of cigarettes and thought I'd try to go the day. I really just stumbled onto your site and read through it for those first 72 hours - and I've never looked back. I use Harry's Quit Counter every day to track my progress.
I'm having a hard time writing this note because it's impossible to tell you in words what hitting this anniversary mark feels like to me. Thank you so very much a million times over. Please share this!!
Thanks! NTAP!
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In just a few hours I'll reach a very important milestone in my journey of healing and freedom from this gripping addiction. I will never forget where I came from and what brought me here.
I remember my very first cigarette 28 years ago - It was stolen, it was menthol, I inhaled deeply, coughed and then vomited. I was 15.
I remember the exhausting cough when trying to expel dark brown phlegm out of my lungs and worrying that I might have cancer. Sometimes I'd even spit it out into a Kleenex and force myself to look at it to ensure that it wasn't bloody and then sighing with relief when it wasn't.
I remember delaying my annual physical and dentist appointments because I didn't want to be lectured. After all, I was an educated, mature adult and had an awesome career. How dare anyone lecture me about smoking?
I remember a kind old fellow, *a complete stranger*, walking up to me, placing his hand on my shoulder and softly saying "What's a pretty woman like you doing smoking?". God, how I remember him. I hope he realizes what an impact he made on my life. Dear kind Sir "Thank You" from the bottom of my heart; I have carried your words for almost 20 years.
I remember the yellow nicotine stains on my fingers and nails...so much so that I was embarrassed to show my hands. I even remember soaking my hands in bleach on the morning of my wedding day in a vain attempt to get rid of them.
I remember the burning sensation when the smoke got into my eyes and being worried how the smoke would affect my eyes healing after lazic surgery.
I remember the dogs being cooped up in a smoke filled car. How did we dare compromise their health?
I remember being in bed with phenomena in both lungs and STILL smoking....even when I was warned that I'd be hospitalized if I continued to do so.
I remember feeling like a failure, an outcast and a poor role-model to those I mentored and looked up to me. I will never forget the "Oh, you smoke" look and the sparkle in their eye fading when they realized that I can't possibly be who they thought I was. After all, heroes don't smoke, do they?
I remember how short tempered I was as a smoker and then discovering the reason for this behaviour was the short half-life of nicotine and my constant need to suppress nicotine withdrawal. I love the calm new me that emerged when I quit.
I remember the hundreds and hundreds of dollars spend on courses, books, tapes, gums, patches, inhalers, drugs, and hypnotism, each one giving me hope that they will help me to quit smoking. And each one leaving me a little poorer and confirming that I indeed was a failure. Double your chances? Yeah right.
I remember the shear desperation of wanting to be a non smoker, the hundreds of dollars spent and still not quitting. To be completely honest, it brought me to tears more than once and at my lowest point I remember, stumbling upon www.WhyQuit.com on the week of June 1st, 2005 and finally being able to understand why this addiction had such a powerful grip on me. It was my very own personal "ah ha" moment and it shook me to my core. So on June 6th, 2005 (only a couple of days after discovering the site) I quit. For good. Cold Turkey.
And I remember a fellow giving me a big huge bear hug when I told him I quit...and I will never ever forget the tears welling up in *his* eyes. To this day, I don't even know this mans name...just that he works in my office building. I'm glad to tell you that on the rare occasions that I do bump into him, I am always at the receiving end of a bear hug. And yeah, I still don't know his name, only that my quit touched him deeply.
But on the other hand...
I will *always* remember how proud I feel for making the decision to never have another puff. And I will always remember how my quit has impacted my family, my friends and my life.
So, thank you for your continued efforts at educating, motivating and promoting healing and freedom from nicotine through whyquit.com. Education is indeed power.
With best regards,
An Anonymous Successful Quitter
Free and Healing for: Eleven Months, Twenty Nine Days, 18 Hours and 34 Minutes! (365 days). That's 7295 cigarettes not smoked, and $2,786.18 banked!
Hello every one,
I just wanted to say hi to all those at WhyQuit. I have reached Gold!! It is my one year anniversary of being free from my addiction to smoking and I feel great. I wanted to Thank this site and all those who are apart of it, whether it be a member or staff. Thank you. Even if one can not join, "lurking" is still helpful. I am a lurker who found relief and hope that quitting was worth it on this site.
This is a message for those who do not become members, keep with it. Come and view all the streams here and learn from others. You may not be able to talk to them but you can learn. I did and I am gold for it. Thank you so much and I will check in each year to remind all those who lurk out there to keep at it. God bless you all and may all those who are struggling find freedom here.
Love Shelby
It has been over a year since I have quit smoking. April 1, 2005 was my quit date. Ever since then life is a million times better. The first 3 weeks was hard but after that now it's nothing to me.
I work in a hospital and I watch patients die from smoking. To me I realized that when you smoke and you catch lung cancer or anything smoking related you are being very selfish because you not only cause pain on yourself but also to your family as well.
To me it feels so good to no longer be under the control of nicotine. It feels great to be free and the money I saved, and when I pass by and see people shaking in the cold or rain to smoke or out in the heat, I just can't believe that was me at one point. I am living proof that if I can do it then anyone can. I wish you all the best.
Today I am happy to celebrate my first year of quitting!!! I go often on WhyQuit.com and I recommend the link to my friends who want to quit....for two reason. First it's a great source of information about all tobacco concerns...and second it help me to be better in English, because French is my first language.
Thank you for helping us to stop smoking !
It will be 3 years this September 2006 since I quit. I picked my grandmothers birthday to quit because I knew how much she hated the fact that I was a smoker for over 15 years. I quit cold turkey thanks to the great support and advice at WhyQuit.com as well as my now deceased grandmother's memory. I never thought I could do it, but I took one day at a time and now I will be here to see my 3 young children grow. I am now 35 and smoke free for life and you can be too!
I quit cold turkey on August 19, 2004. My last cigarette was @ 2:30 p.m. on that Thursday afternoon. It was rough in the beginning as I had smoked for 18 years & nicotine had a strong hold on me. I couldn't believe how much better food tasted & how much better I could smell different things.
I thank this site for speaking the truth & sharing others' triumphs. I would also like to thank my husband for being so understanding & supportive. Knowing that I didn't have to fight this battle alone made being smoke-free a reality. Kudos to us all!!
Made it 14 months as of May 7th! Thank you for giving me the tools to do it. I had been smoking for 22 years. Thanks again,
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