[GTO]

Originally Posted by bimal_67

Couldn't but feel proud for having broken free.

Congrats man !

The book is a real life saver

It has some great takeaways. Here's what really helped me : I made a word document with bulleted points of the takeaways from his book, and my personal reasons for quitting. I read it once a month (have a calendar entry for the same). It helps to remind me of just how happy I am to be smoke-free, how it was the right decision to quit and why I should never succumb to the temptation. Very honestly, in the last fortnight, this post is the first time I even thought of smoking, else it's just out of my mind & body.

[shankar.balan]

I had a sudden health scare last November. Very sudden. Resulted in 3 days in hospital.
The Doctor clearly said this is because of your unnecessary excessive smoking habit. Give it up for your own good and the good of your near and dear ones (including your pet) he said.

I have been completely 100% smoke free since then. 6 months so far and counting.

I ve done it before, this quitting smoking.

But this time, I think it is for good. I absolutely dont want to start again.

And the only way is to come to a complete stop one fine day and never resume.

All this “reducing” and all just doesn’t work.

And if you’re smart, you’ll take it from me and not wait until something serious happens and then quit.
Quit while you’re ahead is what I suggest. From experience.

[Thad E Ginathom]

Originally Posted by shankar.balan

And if you’re smart, you’ll take it from me and not wait until something serious happens and then quit.

Welcome to the new and recent non-smokers! Well done!

Yes, I wish I had taken that advice. Even with a constant cough I still smoked for another five years. And with the smoking, the docs were less willing to take the cough seriously.

Yes, the day came when I got scared, and made my irrevocable decision to stop. That also cleared the way for the docs to further investigate the cough and get it fixed.

It's been 27 years now. There's always a latent danger, but, I now can't imagine even wanting to smoke again. Even if I was in dire straits, a cigarette is not what I would turn to. But maybe, for the first ten years, or so, I might have. Stay strong, folks!

[SS-Traveller]

Originally Posted by SS-Traveller

I've lost the urge to smoke from day 1 (48 hours over before I realised it). Don't know how it happened. No craving. No withdrawal symptoms.

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

No, but you still have to store up some will power for those sneaky moments that occur, even up to years, later.
Forewarned is forearmed! ...as the saying goes.

That conversation was over 10 years ago.

It didn't take very long for the cigarette habit to come back to its usual levels. And for 10 years, I've studiously avoided posting in this thread, mainly because I had nothing to say ("nothing to declare"?) about smoking and tobacco.

I've researched oral cancers and tobacco-related oral premalignant diseases as a part of my profession, and not managed to scare myself into quitting.

I've not read any self-help books about quitting nicotine in the last 10 years. I had bought one before that, and never read it. I was quite aware of the pharmacology of nicotine, and what it does to the human body and brain. And I still did not quit.

And every so often, I would quit randomly for a day or two, or even a week. It happened some years ago in Australia, and I threw away my cigarettes - and a few days later, in a very cranky mood, I went and bought a pack of cigarettes for 25 AUD (roughly 1250 INR).

Long story short, I quit - again. It just happened to be the 1st day of April this year, in the middle of the Covid-19 lockdown. The last cigarette at home was lit the previous night. Not that I didn't have access to cigarettes - a local cigarette shop owner is a patient, and I get my packs easily. But I simply ignored the urge to order a pack & light up.

I would not have posted in this thread if things progressed as usual - I'd get a little cranky and irritable without the usual dose of nicotine, and go back to smoking in 2-3 days. And I'd feel very silly after all the encouraging words from all the members in this group.

But the irritability and craving didn't hit me this time.

So, 70 days later, I'm hopeful that this quitting incident might be more permanent than the ones before. When I'd quit before, I'd tried to taper off with 1-2 cigarettes a day. This time, there have been no occasional cigarettes, not even a puff, in the last 70 days.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed about finally being tobacco-free, losing the company of cigarettes after 40 years.

Quitting nicotine + staying home in lockdown + Cordon Bleu chef at home = 4 kg weight gain in <3 months.

[Thad E Ginathom]

(But will avoid those encouraging words, just in case )

[GTO]

Originally Posted by SS-Traveller

So, 70 days later, I'm hopeful that this quitting incident might be more permanent than the ones before. When I'd quit before, I'd tried to taper off with 1-2 cigarettes a day. This time, there have been no occasional cigarettes, not even a puff, in the last 70 days.

Congratulations SS-Traveller! Damn happy to read this. 70 days up, so the nicotine is 100% out of your system. Now, if any cravings come up, they are psychological cravings, not physical. You've come so far, so you just have to go the entire mile. Here's to good health.

I would still recommend reading "Allen Carr's Easy Way to Stop Smoking" because it changes a smoker's mindset toward cigarettes. Your will power kept you off cigarettes for 70 days, but this book will help you completely eliminate cigarettes from your mind. Trust me, it's like hypnosis. This will be the best 250 bucks (Kindle version that you can read in your browser) & 1 week of time you ever spend.

[SS-Traveller]

Originally Posted by GTO

Congratulations SS-Traveller! Damn happy to read this. 70 days up, so the nicotine is 100% out of your system.

Thank you!

Originally Posted by GTO

Your will power kept you off cigarettes for 70 days...

I don't know how to explain this - but I've not had to exercise my will power at all. The mind plays strange games, and today, when I walk past a cigarette shop, it feels the same as entering a shop selling primary school books - I have no interest in buying the stuff, but I'd casually browse through what's on the shelf.

As a matter of fact, my wife was buying some typically Bengali condiments the other day from a shop in CR Park, which also sells cigarettes (and I used to buy from him). So she asked me, do you feel like having one? And I thought about it for a second, and realized that I don't really care any more. There is zero craving. I don't hate the sight (or smell) of cigarettes unlike many former smokers I know, but I feel they are not for me - I've outgrown cigarettes.

If I'd had a cigarette that day after 2 months without one, my wife would not have minded - she's tolerated the smoking (and broken promises of quitting) over a quarter of a century. But I just didn't want one. I don't need will power to stop myself from buying a book of nursery rhymes or learning the alphabet. This was a similar experience.

[Thad E Ginathom]

You are lucky! Not all smokers are physically addicted. But even the physically addiction works through the mind too. I expect your medical education covers this.

[GTO]

Originally Posted by SS-Traveller

I don't know how to explain this - but I've not had to exercise my will power at all.

Super . That'll make it easier for you to stay off cigarettes for good.

Just one thing to keep in mind = Out of 100 days, just 1 or 2 days bring those "delicate moments" where the temptation to light up surfaces. It could be when hanging out with friends, or at a hill station, or a stressful day at work. Just beware of these handful of moments, ignore the craving and move on. You're all set then .

Noopster had once commented on this thread of the romance in lighting up a cigarette when it's raining outside, enjoying a pakora or two (I agree). But he also said that for those rare moments, becoming a permanent daily smoker isn't worth it (I agree).

[Moto_Hill]

So, after almost a decade of smoking, I've finally quit. It's been 34 days. In all these years, smoking never struck me as a habit to put an end to, forget quitting I didn't even take a break. So what changed suddenly?

On a normal day, I used to smoke 3~4 sticks. The numbers remained constant. One of the reasons was that I never bought a full pack and refrained from smoking at work place. For every smoke I used to visit Tapri. Then came the lock down and work from home. The supplies were limited so I would buy 5 packs at one go. Having cigarettes at my disposal combined with work from home, balcony visits became frequent and I started smoking a pack per day. The prices kept on sky rocketing all this while. Double blow!! By third week of May, I started feeling low on energy and per day expense on cigarette crossed 400 bucks.

At the same time, talks were going on in my company about possible pay cut if situation doesn't improves. I work for an automotive ancillary and there had been no sales in April and half of May. Proactively, I thought of cutting on expenses for that extra cushion of savings as there seemed no immediate end to Corona. The very first thing was obviously giving up the smoking. I stocked up all the essentials on 23rd May and decided not to leave home for at least a week. Finished up my remaining and last ciggs also the same day. Sticked to plan and barring initial 2~3 days, i haven't had craving, thankfully. So just like that I'm now a nonsmoker.

What have I gained?? Wish I could explain how fresh and energetic I feel (nope, not exaggerating). I have started loving vegetarian food. It's been three weeks I haven't skipped my morning runs a single day (no weekends excuse) and no yawning in office. There are other factors also leading to good well being. No outside food in last three months. Due to changed lifestyle don't have time for TV as I go to bed max by 10:30.

I understand that it is too early to celebrate but something in my inside is determined to not pick that stick ever again. The gains are enormous and only after being a nonsmoker I realized what I was missing.

[Thad E Ginathom]

Congratulations and welcome to the club!

Bear in mind that however untempted you may feel today, it can creep up on you. Be on your guard for a while: be a nonsmoker, now, for ever.

I ended up wondering why on earth I had smoked at all for all those years. I didn't enjoy it!

[Vasuki]

I don't know whether this was posted(or similar video) before in this thread. It's in Malayalam, subtitles can be activated. But don't think the language would be an issue. He has taken an example of ~15 cigarettes per day, so for a month almost ~500 cigarettes.

This guy posts some good scientific vlogs.

Link

[vinit.merchant]

Don't know where to head to or whom to talk. It's said that talking helps so just thinking out loud here.
Past few days have been quite testing for me on all fronts and the craving for a smoke has returned, happens more frequently now. Have managed to not pick up so far. And I hope to stay that way. Its been roughly 34 months smoke free now

[Thad E Ginathom]

Originally Posted by vinit.merchant

Don't know where to head to or whom to talk. It's said that talking helps so just thinking out loud here....

You're welcome to start here

It is quite usual that even after years, cravings can start up. I've known so many people that started smoking again after two years. The question I always had was why waste all that work? That is the question for you now. Nearly three years! Don't waste it! You can make it.

I always say that hope is not enough, and trying is not enough: only decision is enough. Decide to win this one. You don't have to hope, or try, just do it!

Or rather, just don't do it: don't smoke that cigarette. Don't throw away three years. Head for four years, five years, and a smoke-free life ahead.

Even if you are going through some hard times, smoking will not help. It just brings the problem of smoking back into your life.

This is what I call the irrevocable decision: Whatever happens, whatever disaster or unhappiness, I will not smoke. That was my motivation for becoming, and staying a non-smoker: I did not allow myself any alternative.

Hope that helps a little bit. All the best! Knock that damned nicotine on the head!

[bblost]

Originally Posted by vinit.merchant

Don't know where to head to or whom to talk. It's said that talking helps so just thinking out loud here.
Past few days have been quite testing for me on all fronts and the craving for a smoke has returned, happens more frequently now. Have managed to not pick up so far. And I hope to stay that way. Its been roughly 34 months smoke free now

Twelve years and I still go thru this torment. The frequency has reduced but it never goes away.

Stay strong and remind yourself the reasons why you quit.

It's not worth having even a single puff and resetting the counter of smoke free days to ZERO.