OT: Smoking (or lack thereof)

[Madalot]

I've never been a smoker, but want to congratulate you on the success you've had and send you positive vibes to keep up the good work.

[HoseCrusher]

Congratulations.

[snuginarug]

Congratulations!!!!

I quit smoking after something like 15 years. (I used gum though.)

A year from now you'll look back and wonder how you ever stood being a smoker.

This is the best thing you have done for yourself, up there with starting cpap.

This site details exactly what happens to your body upon quitting... the benefits you can expect to reap over the days, weeks and years. http://whyquit.com/whyquit/a_benefits_time_table.html

Any smokers can PM me too.

[Pugsy]

Congratulations. I have quit more than once. I understand just how difficult it can be.
Keep up the good work.

[brazospearl]

Congratulations! I admire your strength and dedication. You should be very proud of yourself!

[Mr Bill]

Very interesting post found while searching on 'minute volume'. Congratulations on your success and it seems your lungs have become more efficient after quitting smoking.

[GrayGhost]

Congratulations. I know cold turkey isn't easy. I quit cold turkey about 5 years ago. I found a website WhyQuit.com. It was great. It told me what to expect the weeks after quitting and gave me ideas on how to handle cravings. The thing I love most about not smoking is the fact that I can smell again. Being able to smell the flowers I buy my wife and just the fact I can smell her perfume puts a smile on my face. She doesn't get it but you will see what I am talking about.

[tschultz]

Congratulations and I hope you can kick it for good.

As a non-smoker, but one with a wife that does smoke I see the difficulties in kicking smoking, there is not only the brain's addiction to the nicotine but there is the large habit and daily activities also. My wife quite once for about 6 months but she did so after being pushed by the doctor and it was not "the right time" for her to quite so the first bad day she returned to her smoking. She is now planning to quite starting the end of the month and says it is now time that she really wants to quit.

I certainly expect the habit to be the most difficult for her. After smoking for the past 35 years of her life she says all she know is how to be a smoker. Many of her daily routines include a cigarette; she has a cup of tea and a cigarette, she smokes after each meal, she smokes if she is idle, etc... For her to quite she will also have to change certain activities or replace the cigarette with something else and this is what I think many people have the most difficulty with.

Best of luck!

[BlackSpinner]

Congratulations! I never smoked for real but I watched and helped my eldest quit after many years.
For her the reason was her daughter. She had a hard time the first week, especially since she was quitting for someone else, then one day she was walking downtown and realized she was following a smoker to snag some of the smoke. This made her so angry, that it had such a hold on her because she was sure that she could control this any time she really wanted too, that it was a big turning point, it was suddenly about her and view of her self. It has been 6 years and she hasn't looked back.

[Lizistired]

tshultz, You might want to consider an electronic cigarette for your wife. Here is a link for one from a reputable supplier. It's only $10.00 and it's a decent unit to try and see if it might be something that will work for her. I have some of these "disposables" that are still going after months. I would probably get 2 so she has 2 batteries. It's still half the cost of a carton of cigarettes. It really helps with the habit and hand to mouth routine. She can still enjoy it with her tea.

Congratulations and I hope you can kick it for good.

As a non-smoker, but one with a wife that does smoke I see the difficulties in kicking smoking, there is not only the brain's addiction to the nicotine but there is the large habit and daily activities also. My wife quite once for about 6 months but she did so after being pushed by the doctor and it was not "the right time" for her to quite so the first bad day she returned to her smoking. She is now planning to quite starting the end of the month and says it is now time that she really wants to quit.

I certainly expect the habit to be the most difficult for her. After smoking for the past 35 years of her life she says all she know is how to be a smoker. Many of her daily routines include a cigarette; she has a cup of tea and a cigarette, she smokes after each meal, she smokes if she is idle, etc... For her to quite she will also have to change certain activities or replace the cigarette with something else and this is what I think many people have the most difficulty with.

Best of luck!

[BlackSpinner]

You might want to consider an electronic cigarette for your wife.

But don't use those that look like tampon covers! The first time I saw an add for those my daughter and I were rolling on the floor laughing, joking about saving and recycling the inserts!

[Lizistired]

You might want to consider an electronic cigarette for your wife.

But don't use those that look like tampon covers! The first time I saw an add for those my daughter and I were rolling on the floor laughing, joking about saving and recycling the inserts!

Those were compliments of Big Pharma. I don't think they were even intended to work.

[sleepycarol]

My husband smokes -- he pretty much is a chain smoker - one after the other. He has smoked since he was in his early teens and he is now 58. The doctor and I have talked to him about stopping but he says no way he is going to give up his cigarrettes. I am just glad that with the help of Dr. Bob and Bill he was able to kick the booze habit.

My son was able to stop smoking after a 4 pack a day habit. He had a major accident that left him with 3rd degree burns over 1/3 of his body and the rest in 2nd and 1st degree burns. He took a long time for him to heal both physically and mentally. He woke one morning and decided he was going to smoke a whole carton in one day. After that he was able to stop cold turkey. He said smoking that much in one day actually made him sick and he can still remember the awful feeling of not feeling well afterwards. My son-in-law quit the same day but started back up after a couple of years. Son-in-law has since quit again.

I applaud you for quitting and hope you continue to see improvements in your health.

[needzzzzs]

My most heart-felt congratulations to you! My mother died of COPD caused by smoking, and almost everyone in my parents' families smoked and died of some smoking-related illness. I never acquired the habit, but I've watched others struggle with quitting, and can see how difficult it must be. Take a bow!

Debbie