Major hurdle I'm attempting

I've been a smoker since I was 12 years old. I'm 2 days smoke free and already enjoying myself. Not many cravings because my cigs were so light and I smoked so little, so it's made it easier. I woke up the other day and noticed holding my breath was making me cough a little after I had run 3 miles. I have no problems with any physical activity etc, but had this problem holding my breath.
 
It really scared me...then reality set in. I've not been to a Dr. in 7-10 years. God knows what they'll find wrong with me. But before I get there on Monday, this smoking thing will be one less thing I need to stop doing. I also got to thinking....and wait till you hear this...it's just sickening...
 
I got to thinking how great my body has been to me. If my poor lil lungs are all messed up, it's no one's fault but my own. But I must say, this is a vicious habit. If I could have checked into a rehab for it, I seriously would have. That said, I've been in great shape now working on my 3rd day of no smoke. I desire NOT to smoke more than I want one when the urge comes. Though I don't feel replacing that urge with food or something else is the right move, I sure have been enjoying celery sticks and carrots....so I'm not doing anything too bad. :)
 
But here's the kicker and what I put into perspective. My father and me were talking. He said "Danny, when I quit they just went to .30 cents per pack." Then I looked at my situation. My cigs are special cigs, don't ask me how or why special...they kill like all the others but....they are over $9.00 per pack and $92.00 a carton! What am I nuts?!
 
That's like having a man come to my house and take nearly $100 from me every two weeks while saying "ok, keep in mind now Danny, each time you buy a carton of these, I will take one month off of your life, ok?" I'm sitting here paying to die pretty much and live a horrible life. And who knows, it may already be too late. Why don't we see things like this? Ever see anyone die from cancer? I have...and it's horrible. But the whole time I'm thinking...."I'm too young for that to be me". I just lost a friend I went to school with since 1st grade to lung cancer. I'm lucky I can breathe, sing, jog, do sports, martial arts. It was time.
 
2 days later, I can hold my breath without a single cough. I'm sitting here typing while timing myself holding my breath. 1 minute and 15 seconds. Not too bad for a smoker that's abused his poor body since he was 12 years old. I'm just glad I wasn't a super smoker. I mean ok, in years maybe, but I never did a whole pack in one day and always smoked the lightest ones I could find. Funny story..
 
The last time I did see my Dr. we talked about me quitting with the patch and some medication. The first thing he did was look up the cigs I smoked and then he said "might be a problem...the lightest patch and meds I have here, have more nicotine in them than your cigs." I was pretty surprised to see 0.1 tar, 0.1 nic. 10 of mine are like equal to 1 Marlboro red...sheesh!
 
Anyway, I just felt like venting about this. It's probably one of the hardest things I've had to do, yet in a sense, it's not been hard at all. My hands move to reach for my pack...and it's not here. Hahaha! I washed out all my ashtrays, put my cigs in a box as well as my lighters, and it's been out of sight, out of mind. So far so good...Saturday is gonna suck though. I got a show and like to have a few drinks. No drinks for me...it's near impossible to be a smoker and have a drink, especially right now. So if I don't drink, I won't want to smoke. :)  Wish me luck! I'm soo going to try my best to beat this. I owe it to me, and my great lil body which has never let me down. :)
 
-Danny

Good luck Danny! You're absolutely doing the right thing.

You mentioned the cost of cigarettes..back when I ran a sign company one of my co-directors would buy 40 cigarettes, a bottle of wine and a 4-pack of beer..every single day. Back then that would have come to around £100 per week..enough to pay for a mortgage and buy a small house. I pointed that out to him once...he never batted an eyelid.

Keep us posted on how it's going!

Keep at it Danny!

We more or less stopped smoking in September 2010

I say more or less because when we go to the pub, we might have a couple with a beer (and we only go to the pub once a week these days) so Saturday night is binge night!

If the craving gets too much, try a little nicotine gum

At least you're not a nicotine addict. That'll make it much easier. When I changed to a milder brand, I smoked twice as much. Now I've been struggling for six-seven years, mostly without tobacco of any kind, but I have spent quite a few pack of nicotine chewing gum.

Once, when I finished a smoke-break of five years, I smoked a pack of Marlboro reds in four hours. And every single one of them tasted good. You enter the danger-zone the moment you say:"Quitting wasn't that hard, actually!" that is inaudibly continued :" ...so I can smoke this one just for the old times sake! I won't slip."

Truckermusic


Good Luck Brother....this is not an easy one to get over....but you are doing the right thing....

Also, you can drink before the show.......just make it a diet coke! (or Regular one if you hate the diet stuff)

Or.....bring some water bottles with you and use that flavoring squirt aids that do not have that arspitimen in it.....or what ever it is called.....
Or just go au natrual.....water and lemon slices!  (just think of it as water sangria!)
Hang in there
Clifford

Good move Danny. 

I never really started smoking. Well I tried to be cool like everyone else I was hanging with on the streets of south Jersey back in the day.... but I overdid it and turned every shade of green on the planet. That decided it for me right then and there that smoking was not all it was cracked up to be and I didn't need it. I never touched another cigarette in my life. 

The habit of reaching for the pack is part of the many habits associated with this addiction you have learned over the years, so stick with it and realize that you need to replace those habits with new and healthier habits. 

It's kinda funny because it reminds me of when I first joined the USMC and was in the recruit training. Before I went in the Marine Corps I had hair that was 24" in length. Of course, I cut it before I went to Parris Island because I didn't want to see my hard earned locks on the floor. But for the first week with a bald head, every time I bent over I was reaching for my lost locks to keep them from falling into my face...... oooops, I don't have them any more..... that passed after about a week or two. Same deal with the pack... stick with it, learn new habits and the old ones will fade. 

You will never regret quitting smoking. 

Best of luck Danny.  I smoked for many years until 16 years ago.  Did not think I could quit buy I did.  For me it was one day at a time.  As time passes, you will find those urges diminish and before you know it, they are gone.  Takes a while so stay strong and don't go back!  

Rimshot
 

 I'll second what bayoubill said Danny. On the long shot chance that maybe you might possibly grab one, DON'T GIVE UP. If they aren't around to smoke you can't get one.

 Best of luck to you on getting rid of that habit. Even if you do gain a pound or two it can easily be worked off when you acclimate to the new lifestyle...and anyways, it's better to be few pounds over weight than dead from lung cancer.

Good luck, Danny.

Good luck, Danny. I gotta kick the filthy buggers out of my life too. I smoke very little compared to when I was younger but it's been 20 years. If I only had all that money back I'd have a killer studio. :-/

I think women are worse for my health than the ciggies. :-/

I don't know anything about quitting smoking Danny, because I've never been a smoker, but I've got my fingers crossed for you!  I'm in your corner...holler at me anytime you want some reinforcement!!

Go Danny, go!!!

When I quit I had a constant headache for 2 days. And then someone told me that my body needed more sugar. So I ate some candy and felt better. Go figure!

I would also suggest supplementing with vitamin C and magnesium, both of which have been found to reduce cravings. 

You guys rule, thank you all soo much for this. It really means a lot to me. I really think I got it beat. I know it's early to say that, but I sincerely do not have the desire. I'm very strong for a lil guy. Once I move on from something, there's no turning back. I do it with people, animosity, problems etc...you get the idea.

I seriously sit here and say I have absolutely not desire or craving. Holding my breath to test my lungs right now as I type this. I remember the day I woke up and would cough as soon as I tried to do this. Right here, this is success in such a short amount of time, I'm loving it.

Short story really quick. When I was a little kid, fromw hen I was like 3-4, I had those little gum or candy cigs where you could blow on them and powder came out. It's amazing how those corrupted me. When I was a child, I knew I'd smoke when I was old enough. It was just something that looked interesting. My mom smoked and though she would cry if she knew this (God rest her soul) I seriously feel it contributed to my curiosity. I don't blame my mom at all, but I sometimes wonder if cigs were not in the house if I would have been as tempted?

At 5 years old, I started saying "gimme a puff mom, gimme a puff." I'm talking relentless to where I would keep saying it and saying it. It must have gotten on her nerves so bad. I feel terrible about it now. But one day, mom cracked. She said "you wanna smoke, SMOKE!" All this time, she's expecting me to take a drag and cough myself into oblivion. What does lil Danny do? Takes a drag and says "mmmm may I have another?" The look on her face was priceless. I didn't inhale of course, but what a feeling. That did it for me there. As I got older, I'd steal a few of her cigs, then a pack out of the carton and well, by 12 I was buying my own smokes and hiding them.

To be honest, I'm glad it's all over. I'm not sitting here depressed or fighting cravings to where I might cave in. I'm drinking water, eating fruit and vege's..which I've always done, but more now. Take a walk if I do get a strong craving, do some sit-ups...it's not too bad, I can do this no problem. I do feel different though. Can't tell you what that "different" is...but it's different. Sort of like being in a dream. :) Thanks again everyone, it was awesome to read some of your stories and I appreciate the support. It's also great to hear that so many of you kicked the habit too! Awesome! :)

-Danny

Jonbouy


Good luck Danny bro.
 
I've been at it 40 years now and I know the consequences, I know it's filthy habit that is going to kill me if I don't quit.
 
I have medical proof that it's done and doing damage and time is fast running out for me unless I do something about it.  The insanity of addiction means I'm still at it even though I know insane is the only description for it.
 
Having successfully laid of the booze for the best part of 25 years I know intellectually that Paulo is right and the only reason to continue is that my desire to stop is clearly outweighed by my desire to smoke just now.
 
I just get hope that someone as openly candid as you are about stuff just adds to the weight enough for that tipping point to change in favour of me quitting.
 
I'm praying for us both man, also Rain and anyone else affected by this filthy compulsion, it's the one thing remaining that I haven't managed to turn around.
 
YET!!!

Thanks Jon. I've quoted you and sort of singled you out here because, well, truth be told, I can relate. All the time I've been smoking, I never wanted to stop. I love smoking. I love the taste, how it looks, how it smells, I love blowing smoke rings...I can bounce them off of things from about 6 ft away with no wind. LOL! See how hooked I am?
 
I knew it would take something to make me want to stop though. One thing was th not being able to hold my breath thing...the other is a small lump I found on my left part of my back just below my shoulder blade which I hope is not the end for me. I'm going to the Dr on Monday and let me tell you, I'm crappin' my pants over here. I hope it's nothing. It's squishy...feels like fatty tissue, but I feel resistance when I move. No pain, just a little tightness that tells me something is there and may not be right. So I'm scared man, really scared. People have the big C these days and don't even feel it or know it until it's too late.
 
I wish I could offer you something to assist in your quitting Jon. If I can be totally honest for a second? Man, as much as I love God and believe, I sincerely don't know for sure what's on the other side brother and really don't want to find out just yet. I've seen one of my relatives go from cancer and it broke my heart to see. I don't want that for me, you or anyone else. What helped me is....it's been scared out of me mate. I don't want to stop. If I could make a deal with Jesus and he'd promise me protection from cancer or emphysema, I'd make the deal! LOL! That's how much I love to smoke. But, honest, this hold my breath thing and the lump...were enough to scare it out of me. Not to mention, I'm going to be saving a nice bit of money. At $92 for a carton of 10 packs, that's a pretty steep price to pay to put another nail in my coffin. 
 
I wasn't ready to stop, my body told me it was time. If you're seeing stuff like you mentioned, for sure brother...it's time for you too. Maybe some sort of outside help may be the answer? Trust me...I soo know the feeling. I'd rather have a cig over a piece of cake or ice cream. I love the smell of ashtray...how's that for sick? Today, the smell of cigar makes me sick. My bassist smoked in the studio last night when we practiced...it made me sick and thank God for the power to quit.
 
I hope I stay strong and don't back slide. I know it's possible. But honest, I feel like I have it beat. If there's anything I can do or you ever need to talk, I'm here for you brother. We don't need that stuff...we just think we do. But I don't have to preach to you...you know the deal with it. You're not in denial an neither was I. We love something that can kill us. Hopefully you make a decision to quit before it's too late bro. One thing to remember here...just about everything in life is computer driven. We, unfortunately, do not have an undo button or a "reboot" button. The time is now Jon...you are loved. :)
 
-Danny