One Fu*king month with no cigarettes!

[jzzmusician]

Today is one month without smoking. I quit once before for almost three years and then my dad decided to die and I started up again. That was 6 years ago. I thought I could quit this year when I took a 3300 mile 10 day ride through Canada.

Nope. Got to like Player's instead. Even smoked some cigars.

The problem is that I like smoking. I like it. I like the smell of a freshly lit cigarette, the allure of a fine cigar and the sense of peace and calm that happens when I smoke. Hell, I even go out to dinner just so I can smoke after.

A month ago I had to visit my brother. He's a dentist and while not a rider, is a really good guy. He had just been to a seminar and believe it or not, a lot of it had to do with smoking. Here's what he said, (I have not verified this)

"Bob, I just went to a seminar. A lot of it had to do with the effects of smoking with regard to dental health. One of the things they said was this;

if you quit smoking at age 25 you live an average of 8 years longer.

If you quit smoking at age 55 you live an average of 5 years longer."

I'm 57.

He grabbed a little sticky note and wrote "5 years."

It's a bitch. Saturday was easy. On Sunday all I wanted to do was smoke.

I keep the sticky note in my wallet. I see it almost every day.

5 years.

Just had to share.

Bob

 

[madmike2]

Shouldn't the title read:"One month with no fu*king cigarettes"?

Easy for me to say since it's been over 30 years since I intentionally drew hot burning smoke, from a fire I intentionally set, into my lungs.

 

[Fred W]

I'm not fully understanding your incentive.

Do you really want to live longer? Or maybe live better?

Baed on your own actuarial data, if it's the former, you're pretty much screwed. You should'a quit much earlier.

If it's the latter, it's never too late. You'll feel much much better before you know it.

Before you get pissed at me, think about it.

PS - Just do it. You'll be much happier.

 

[madjackdog]

You can do it, Bob. Somewhere, at the end of the tunnel, there's a light. My Dad stopped smoking 20 years ago when he was 68. He quite cold turkey when the Dr. diagnosed him with lung cancer. He's 88 now and still drives around like a demon. You tell a teenager that he's going to have 5 years lopped off the end of his life, and it's no big deal to him. You're old enough now that 5 years acquires some real meaning. Good luck to you, Bob.

 

[FJRBluesman]

Good on you!

Good luck

 

[canyonman]

One day at a time. stick with it.

Don't give those bastards another dime of your hard earned motorcycle fundage.

It will be 9 years for me in March

 

[MEM]

Great replies! Just say "no!", Bob.

"Nicotine addiction has historically been one of the hardest addictions to break" clicky for info; it's right up there with heroin and cocaine addiction - or worse

So.... get a script for an antidepressant or "the patch" (OM and Sportsguy - if you're reading this, remember when Ricky and Trinity were sharing a patch to get off the smokes?!) or whatever it takes.

You CAN do it, if sufficiently motivated. (I like canyonman's reference to "motorcycle fundage" )

I'm cheering for you ! :yahoo:

 

[Patriot]

go Bob go :yahoo:

 

[beerme]

Congrats!!!!!!! At a month, you're past the hardest part now. If you ever feel tempted to un-quit, just remember the progress you've made up to now, and how much it would suck to have to start all over. The cravings should be over by now, but on the off chance you still feel them, just remember that cravings only last a few minutes. Keep yourself occupied during that short time & you'll help yourself stay quit. The behavior part of the addiction will be with you for a little longer, but you CAN beat it! I'm now in my 10th month without Copenhagen so i know what you're going through. BE STRONG!!

 

[happyPuppy]

try the coffee can trick , figure how much you dropped a week and put it in the can. Then after a time go on a trip or buy yourself something you have always wanted. I find incentives really help motivate me.

 

[FJRay]

It's the best thing you will ever do for yourself and those close to you. I quit in 83 and after the initial problems it has been a blessing since. Good lluck.

 

[Old Michael]

All the best, Bob.

The cravings ALWAYS pass, and it's soooo much better not being all smelly.

And five years is an average. If you're reasonably healthy, it could be an extra 20, or 30.

Hell, you could live to be as old as Dr. Rich.

Stay strong, amigo. :clapping:

 

[timk]

I quit 15 min ago. I feel I'm about ready to cave in again.

 

[chivvalry]

Four years and counting for me... :yahoo:

The below table helped me. I checked off each timeline as I passed it until I finally decided I was a non-smoker again. Looks better if you follow the link but I posted the contents here.

https://whyquit.com/whyquit/A_Benefits_Time_Table.html

Stop Smoking Recovery Timetable

WARNING: The below chart is for cold turkey quitters only, not those using any quitting product. The chart reflects averages and norms. Do not rely upon this chart as it relates to any behavioral change or symptom if you are using any cessation pharmacology product. If using a product and you or your family members are at all concerned about any change in behavior, depression or ongoing symptom contact your physician and pharmacist IMMEDIATELY! If you experience any suicidal thinking, thoughts of wanting to harm or kill others, loss of consciousness, seizure or other serious behavioral change or symptom seek IMMEDIATE EMERGENCY MEDICAL ATTENTION.

Our body's ability to mend is beauty to behold ...

Within ...

20 minutes

Your blood pressure, pulse rate, and the temperature of your hands and feet will all return to normal.

8 hours

Remaining nicotine in your bloodstream will have fallen to 6.25% of normal peak daily levels, a 93.25% reduction.

12 hours

Your blood oxygen level will have increased to normal and carbon monoxide levels will have dropped to normal.

24 hours

Anxieties peak and within two weeks should return to near pre-cessation levels.

48 hours

Damaged nerve endings have started to regrow and your sense of smell and taste are beginning to return to normal. Cessation anger and irritability peaks.

72 hours

Your entire body will test 100% nicotine-free and over 90% of all nicotine metabolites (the chemicals it breaks down into) will now have passed from your body via your urine. Symptoms of chemical withdrawal have peaked in intensity, including restlessness. The number of cue induced crave episodes will peak for the "average" ex-user. Lung bronchial tubes leading to air sacs (alveoli) are beginning to relax in recovering smokers. Breathing is becoming easier and the lungs functional abilities are starting to increase.

5 - 8 days

The "average" ex-smoker will encounter an "average" of three cue induced crave episodes per day. Although we may not be "average" and although serious cessation time distortion can make minutes feel like hours, it is unlikely that any single episode will last longer than 3 minutes. Keep a clock handy and time them.

10 days

10 days - The "average ex-user is down to encountering less than two crave episodes per day, each less than 3 minutes.

10 days to 2 weeks

Recovery has likely progressed to the point where your addiction is no longer doing the talking. Blood circulation in our gums and teeth are now similar to that of a non-user.

2 to 4 weeks

Cessation related anger, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, impatience, insomnia, restlessness and depression have ended. If still experiencing any of these symptoms get seen and evaluated by your physician.

21 days

Brain acetylcholine receptor counts up-regulated in response to nicotine's presence have now down-regulated and receptor binding has returned to levels seen in the brains of non-smokers.

2 weeks to 3 months

Your heart attack risk has started to drop. Your lung function is beginning to improve.

3 weeks to 3 months

Your circulation has substantially improved. Walking has become easier. Your chronic cough, if any, has likely disappeared.

1 to 9 months

Any smoking related sinus congestion, fatigue or shortness of breath have decreased. Cilia have regrown in your lungs thereby increasing their ability to handle mucus, keep your lungs clean, and reduce infections. Your body's overall energy has increased.

1 year

Your excess risk of coronary heart disease has dropped to less than half that of a smoker.

5 to 15 years

Your risk of stroke has declined to that of a non-smoker.

10 years

Your risk of death from lung cancer has declined by almost half if you were an average smoker (one pack per day). Your risk of cancer of the mouth, throat and esophagus has now decreased.

15 years

Your risk of coronary heart disease is now that of a person who has never smoked.

 

[BikerGeek99]

Stick with it, Bob! You can do it!

I'm in a similar boat. I was recently diagnosed with hypertension. WTF?! I'm not even 40 yet!

So I'm trying to be a bit more healthy. Getting my dead ass in the gym a few times a week, trying to eat a little healthier, and cutting out the smokes. I can go a few days at a time before the cravings get bad, but I know I can do it.

And I'm like you - I like smoking. I like the taste of a smoke after a nice meal... Smoking's also a great time-killer (so to speak).

At a month you're over the worst part. Try going for a brisk walk and notice how much easier it is to breathe!

 

[fjrob1300]

I smoked from the time I was 8... yes 8. Bad 'hood. Quit when I was 32 when I couldn't even walk up the stairs in the house. The first month was the worst!! I was mean and angry at everything. My kids would hide from me the dog just up and left! My wife, bless her, never shot me. But as time went on I came back to reality. I was getting healthy even if it killed me. Took up mountain biking, kayaking, scuba diving and hockey. I'm now 46. I've had a heart attack! Lost 30 pounds so far. In the big scheme of things as I look back quitting smoking was the easiest and best thing I ever did for my kids and myself. I still enjoy a nice Cuban cigar a couple times a year but, nothing like the 2 pack a day habbit I had.

You can do it. Good luck.

Now if I could only get away from the bacon and eggs.

Rob

 

[FJRPierre]

I hate it when people reply to these sort of threads with things like " I quite 10 years ago, and feel great...". ok I quit in 1973. . I quit cold turkey sort of; I never lit a cigarette again but when ever I wanted one I popped a cigarette in my mouth, flicked it about in my hand, de-ashed it, pointed with it, flicked it out the window, etc, etc. Sometimes I had 2 unlit ones on the go just like real lit ones! Someone offered me a cigarette (remember 1973...$0.33 a pack military rates... noone ever lit up without offering them all around) I took it but just declined the light. My pockets were filled with unsmoked cigarettes, and loose tobacco. That lasted a year .... I stll miss them after a good meal or other "good" activity ... it's a bitch to quit!

You'll acquire a whole new set of friends btw, those who couldn't stand the smell of you before will flock to you now. People may kiss you again! (ok maybe not) but you'll have to burn all your cloths and move to a new house soon cause you won't be able to stand it yourself... good luck ( and it's true the first 30 days are the hardest and it gets better every day! and trust me one cigarette (there's never just one) will destroy all that hard work and push you back down to the beginning, only to have to relive those very hard early days. Yeah its funny now but not then. My father died at early sixty, after hacking his guts up for most of his life; I quit the day I woke up at 29 and hacked my guts up like him. geeze I could on forever on this topic! :angry:

 

[jzzmusician]

Wow! Great responses.

Thanks everybody. I figure I'll take all the help and support I can get. I actually got all the way to work this morning without thinking about smoking.

Bob

 

[MEM]

.... I actually got all the way to work this morning without thinking about smoking.
Bob

:yahoo: You GO, Bob!!