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How did we ever start smoking?


14 years ago 0 1080 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
My story is pretty much like Tabbys, thinking it was cool to do at 13-how deluded were we? But to be fair, although we knew it was wrong because it was considered a 'grown ups' habit, there was nowhere near the health education there is today. At 13 we wanted to look and be more grown up and smoking was the way to go. I often wonder if the two girls I tried my first with went on to be long time smokers like me, and funnily enough I still resent them for encouraging me to try it although I suspect I would have smoked eventually anyway.
Also my mum was a smoker too, and from being a small child I loved the smell of my mum's newly lit cigarette, maybe it was that association too which drew me to my addiction.

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 5/10/2008
Smoke-Free Days: 494
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 12,350
Amount Saved: $7,410.00
Life Gained:
Days: 58 Hrs: 7 Mins: 20 Seconds: 47

14 years ago 0 280 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
I guess I just thought it was the thing to do....  my friends smoked (the cool kids hung out at the pool room smoking, and you could buy them for only 25 cents each).... my parents smoked (seems like everyone around me smoked)... It was just part of life, no one ever told me at 13 that this was a bad thing and that I would become an addict... lol..    How did it go from being the cool thing to do ... to being the most embarrassing thing to do...
My Milage:

My Quit Date: 6/1/2009
Smoke-Free Days: 106
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 2,226
Amount Saved: $623.28
Life Gained:
Days: 9 Hrs: 11 Mins: 28 Seconds: 37

  • Quit Meter

    $32,075.40

    Amount Saved

  • Quit Meter

    Days: 665 Hours: 14

    Minutes: 47 Seconds: 43

    Life Gained

  • Quit Meter

    5455

    Smoke Free Days

  • Quit Meter

    114,555

    Cigarettes Not Smoked

14 years ago 0 1387 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
For me it was all peer pressure.  If you didn't smoke you weren't cool.  I too choked and gaged but I kept on smoking.  If only I had a crystal ball back then.
Kaiser

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 7/30/2008
Smoke-Free Days: 411
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 10,275
Amount Saved: $513.75
Life Gained:
Days: 82 Hrs: 20 Mins: 17 Seconds: 11

14 years ago 0 12049 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
This is a great thread!
 
We would love to hear what others have to contribute.  This addiction is strong and sharing will help us understand one another experiences.
 
Josie, Health Educator
14 years ago 0 1904 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
I didn't even enjoy my first cigarette. This morning I set thinking about how I nearly choked to death when I smoked my first cigarette and how that didn't stop me from lighting up another a week later. I remember a bunch of us kids were sitting around tying to smoke. I was 14 at the time. I also remember discovering a month later that I was hooked when I tried to quit. I threw the cigarettes away and about 30 minutes later dumpster dived to retrieve them.

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 5/1/2009
Smoke-Free Days: 135
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 3,780
Amount Saved: $1,464.75
Life Gained:
Days: 14 Hrs: 19 Mins: 32 Seconds: 6


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