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My attempt to quit after 23 years of smoking

6 years ago 0 +0 / -0 175

Hi Milano, like Tim said the fact that you can go without monday to friday is great evidence that you can quit. I understand youre associating smoking with a good time and unwinding with a drink on a friday. I know for a fact that l can not drink without lighting up. So maybe think about skipping the bar routine for at least a few weeks....or at least skip the drink. Maybe until youre strong enough you could do something else on friday evenings for a while....like dinner or a movie or a catch up with mates. Youre really a good part of the way to quitting...l hope you get there!

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6 years ago 0 +0 / -0 808

Hi Milano,

Good to hear that your cravings are not that strong.

"But I must say I get that feeling of missing out on something when I think about not being able to smoke this Friday" What is it that you think you'll be missing out on if you don't smoke? Cigarettes are not really your friend, it's that nasty NicoDemon trying to trick you.

Definition of nicotine

: a poisonous alkaloid that is the chief active principle of tobacco and is used as an insecticide

Stay strong Milano and watch out for all those triggers!

Not One Puff Ever

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Not One Puff Ever (NOPE)

Tim

6 years ago 0 +0 / -0 2

Thanks Tim, so far so good hardly any craving. I have had like 2-3 cravings but nothing bad. As you said it is important I do not drink alcohol for a while. But I must say I get that feeling of missing out on something when I think about not being able to smoke this Friday.

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6 years ago 0 +0 / -0 808

Hi Milano,

Welcome to the site. "but as soon as I would go out to a bar (my bar day is usually Fridays) and had my first beer I would have to light a cigarette. I would smoke the whole night and most often weekend and would stop Monday morning". This going to the bar sounds like a BIG trigger for you. If you really want to make your quit stick, you really should avoid alcohol for a while. Once you get strong enough to fight the urge to light one up, then you can "cautiously" let alcohol back into your life. It sounds like if you didn't drink you would be able to quit... for more than 4 days at a time.

As you know, smoking does affect your digestive, respiratory, circulatory and nervous systems, and like you said, you can notice the difference when you smoke.

We all had doubts when we first started our quits, nicotine is a terrible drug. But once you get a few days into it, you start to gain more confidence in yourself. Then the days turn into weeks, and your confidence grows even more. Before you know it you are starting to count your quit by months, then years. Just start out taking it ONE day at a time. Concentrate on the present and don't think or worry about the future. If you can quit Monday through Friday evenings, you should be able to do this forever.

Keep yourself busy with your sports, and if you feel an urge, take a walk or a run if you can. Keep us posted on your progress.

Stay strong.

Not One Puff Ever

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$25,779.05

Amount Saved
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Days: 858 Hours: 15

Minutes: 26 Seconds: 31

Life Gained
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93,742

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Stay safe & Strong.

Not One Puff Ever (NOPE)

Tim

6 years ago 0 +0 / -0 2

Hi All,

So here I am for the first time starting a thread on these type of web sites. Yesterday I evening I smoked my last cigarette so I am now approximately 12 hours smoke free. Thus far I have not had any cravings but let me give you some insights on my smoking history. I started smoking very young, approximately at the age of maybe 14. My parents are non smokers and believe it or not until today (I am 37 years old) they have never seen me smoking - this is just how we handle things in our family (it is a respect thing which is quite common in my culture). I stayed with my parents until about 20 so I was smoking secretly for about the first 6 years which I believe only intensified my addiction. I could only smoke sometimes at home (e.g. when my parents left the house) or secretly in the bathroom so the reward when I did was much more satisfying.

After I moved out I fell into the usual one pack a day pattern for years and years. In 2013 I started vaping and soon got addicted to it but I stopped smoking cigarettes. Since then my cigarette consumption decreased heavily and I also stopped vaping. The last weeks and months I would stop smoking but as soon as I would go out to a bar (my bar day is usually Fridays) and had my first beer I would have to light a cigarette. I would smoke the whole night and most often weekend and would stop Monday morning until Friday. I would even tell myself on Monday morning when I would feel the cravings that I would have to wait till Friday. Also I should mention here that I feel the effects of cigarettes in regards to my digestion. Whenever I am smoking regularly I immediately feel how my digestive system gets weaker. I also feel it in my sports performance - I play sports and am active approximately 3-4 times a week - when I smoke I get tired much faster than in periods that I do not smoke.

In any case this is a little bit about my history. I really hope that this is not just a 3-4 days of not smoking and on Friday it is back to the old pattern...but I must be honest, I have my doubts. Anyways I hope you are all fine and thanks for any support I can get.

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$176,472.45

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Days: 6832 Hours: 22

Minutes: 24 Seconds: 15

Life Gained
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45837

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916,740

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My attempt to quit after 23 years of smoking