ex-smokers support group thread

MTK · 06-21-2006, 02:33 PM

For the ex-smokers here, how did you manage to quit? Do you still have cravings?

I find it to be amazing that 9 years after quitting I still battle cravings, though they do seem to becoming further and further apart. But still, sometimes I'll smell a cigarette and it smells like the best thing on earth, most of the time though it smells like crap. Really makes you wonder what they put in these things to hook people that bad.

I quit in '97 but for a long time I was a social smoker like when I was out having a beer, but about two years ago I decided to totally quit for good and I haven't had one since.

The worst habit you can ever pick up, for those that don't smoke, don't start. There's nothing good that can come from it.

gibbsisgod · 06-21-2006, 02:36 PM

quit cold turkey 3 years ago next tuesday.

and yes, i still get cravings but i just smell the clothes of someone who smoke and it brings me back to reality.

MTK · 06-21-2006, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gibbsisgod

quit cold turkey 3 years ago next tuesday.

and yes, i still get cravings but i just smell the clothes of someone who smoke and it brings me back to reality.

When you smoke you don't realize how it seeps into your clothes, your bed, everything.

I used to think if I popped a piece of gum after smoking I was good to go. LOL

I didn't realize I was walking around smelling like an ashtray.

gibbsisgod · 06-21-2006, 02:45 PM

I almost never go to bars anymore simply because i cant stand the smell.

gibbsisgod · 06-21-2006, 02:53 PM

something else i dont miss is counting my sigs to make sure i had enough to make it to the next morning.

i still find myself reaching for a smoke when i drive. i always had to have one when i got into the car.

mheisig · 06-21-2006, 03:49 PM

I switched to heroin. Made quitting cigarettes seem like a walk on the beach.

Seriously though, never smoked so I can't really tell you. Like Matty said I don't really get how smokers can think a piece of gum or a spritz of Listerene covers things up.

I worked with this guy in an office and he was trying to quit - made a big deal out of it, whole office got on board, "rah rah go you, quit smoking we're all behind you" BS. Anyway, two weeks after he "quit" he comes in after lunch and smells like he sat in a burning tobacco field for a week. I was like "dude, did you smoke?" He said "No way man, I quit, haven't had once since two weeks ago." I said "C'mon man, I'm not stupid, you reek of smoke." Just then he took off his jacket and tossed it on his chair and a pack of cigs fell out onto the floor in the middle of the office. I mustered my most disappointed look and walked out.

I've never had a cigarette in my life, but I DO think they smell good. It' so weird, but sometimes I'll be walking around and think "man I could go for a cigarette." So strange...never had one and even I crave 'em.

BrudLee · 06-21-2006, 04:25 PM

I quit with the patch, and it helped immensely. Never smoked again, and that was nearly six years ago.

steveo395 · 06-21-2006, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mheisig

I switched to heroin. Made quitting cigarettes seem like a walk on the beach.

really? I thought I was the only one

saden1 · 06-21-2006, 05:30 PM

Quiting was my new year's resolution and once it hit Jan 1st I quit cold turkey. I find myself craving a ciggy now and then but often times I think back to what it was like to smoke and pathetically standing outside in the cold/rain smoking all alone. Another thing that helps my craving is to go online and look at anti-smoking sites or do a search on google images and look at the pretty pictures.

htownskinfan · 06-22-2006, 12:49 AM

I need to quit,I only smoke when i drink,problem is i drink too frickin much!!
I'm a chain smoker when i'm drinkin,but if I'm not drinkin cant stand the smell of them,I guess i average about 2 packs a week for 20 yrs,not as bad as some,but still pretty bad,can u slap the patch on right before u have a drink and not have the craving? maybe i should substitute weed instead,I read the other day in the paper that their latest study shows smoking weed doesnt cause lung cancer,plus if i mixed the weed with the beer i'd probably drink less and go to bed earlier,lol

gibbsisgod · 06-22-2006, 05:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by htownskinfan

.... maybe i should substitute weed instead,....

Man Law!

gibbsisgod · 06-22-2006, 05:10 AM

For those that have quit, what did you do with the extra cash?

after the first 6 months i bought a new mountain bike.

quitting smoking saves me about $1300 a year.

EEich · 06-22-2006, 09:52 AM

As if killing yourself wasn't enough... watching family members die of lung cancer and watching what that put the rest of the family through... All I have to do is flash to the vision of half my family struggling to smile at the bedside of a dying aunt while the other half is weeping outside the room.

06-21-2006, 02:33 PM	#1
MTK \m/ Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: NY Age: 52 Posts: 99,472	ex-smokers support group thread For the ex-smokers here, how did you manage to quit? Do you still have cravings? I find it to be amazing that 9 years after quitting I still battle cravings, though they do seem to becoming further and further apart. But still, sometimes I'll smell a cigarette and it smells like the best thing on earth, most of the time though it smells like crap. Really makes you wonder what they put in these things to hook people that bad. I quit in '97 but for a long time I was a social smoker like when I was out having a beer, but about two years ago I decided to totally quit for good and I haven't had one since. The worst habit you can ever pick up, for those that don't smoke, don't start. There's nothing good that can come from it.

06-21-2006, 02:36 PM	#2
gibbsisgod Playmaker Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: 129 W 81st street Age: 45 Posts: 3,503	Re: ex-smokers support group thread quit cold turkey 3 years ago next tuesday. and yes, i still get cravings but i just smell the clothes of someone who smoke and it brings me back to reality.

06-21-2006, 02:45 PM	#4
gibbsisgod Playmaker Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: 129 W 81st street Age: 45 Posts: 3,503	Re: ex-smokers support group thread I almost never go to bars anymore simply because i cant stand the smell.

06-21-2006, 02:53 PM	#5
gibbsisgod Playmaker Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: 129 W 81st street Age: 45 Posts: 3,503	Re: ex-smokers support group thread something else i dont miss is counting my sigs to make sure i had enough to make it to the next morning. i still find myself reaching for a smoke when i drive. i always had to have one when i got into the car.

06-21-2006, 03:49 PM	#6
mheisig The Starter Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: The Southeast Age: 41 Posts: 2,119	Re: ex-smokers support group thread I switched to heroin. Made quitting cigarettes seem like a walk on the beach. Seriously though, never smoked so I can't really tell you. Like Matty said I don't really get how smokers can think a piece of gum or a spritz of Listerene covers things up. I worked with this guy in an office and he was trying to quit - made a big deal out of it, whole office got on board, "rah rah go you, quit smoking we're all behind you" BS. Anyway, two weeks after he "quit" he comes in after lunch and smells like he sat in a burning tobacco field for a week. I was like "dude, did you smoke?" He said "No way man, I quit, haven't had once since two weeks ago." I said "C'mon man, I'm not stupid, you reek of smoke." Just then he took off his jacket and tossed it on his chair and a pack of cigs fell out onto the floor in the middle of the office. I mustered my most disappointed look and walked out. I've never had a cigarette in my life, but I DO think they smell good. It' so weird, but sometimes I'll be walking around and think "man I could go for a cigarette." So strange...never had one and even I crave 'em. __________________ Your post count, reputation score, popularity ranking, VIP tag or funny signature has no bearing on how I value you as an individual.

06-21-2006, 04:25 PM	#7
BrudLee Playmaker Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Rehoboth Beach, DE Posts: 3,494	Re: ex-smokers support group thread I quit with the patch, and it helped immensely. Never smoked again, and that was nearly six years ago. __________________ There's nowhere to go but up. Or down. I guess we could stay where we are, too.

06-21-2006, 05:30 PM	#9
saden1 MVP Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Seattle Age: 45 Posts: 10,069	Re: ex-smokers support group thread Quiting was my new year's resolution and once it hit Jan 1st I quit cold turkey. I find myself craving a ciggy now and then but often times I think back to what it was like to smoke and pathetically standing outside in the cold/rain smoking all alone. Another thing that helps my craving is to go online and look at anti-smoking sites or do a search on google images and look at the pretty pictures. __________________ "The Redskins have always suffered from chronic organizational deformities under Snyder." -Jenkins

06-22-2006, 12:49 AM	#10
htownskinfan JUST LIVIN Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: houston,tx Age: 62 Posts: 4,908	Re: ex-smokers support group thread I need to quit,I only smoke when i drink,problem is i drink too frickin much!! I'm a chain smoker when i'm drinkin,but if I'm not drinkin cant stand the smell of them,I guess i average about 2 packs a week for 20 yrs,not as bad as some,but still pretty bad,can u slap the patch on right before u have a drink and not have the craving? maybe i should substitute weed instead,I read the other day in the paper that their latest study shows smoking weed doesnt cause lung cancer,plus if i mixed the weed with the beer i'd probably drink less and go to bed earlier,lol

06-22-2006, 05:10 AM	#12
gibbsisgod Playmaker Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: 129 W 81st street Age: 45 Posts: 3,503	Re: ex-smokers support group thread For those that have quit, what did you do with the extra cash? after the first 6 months i bought a new mountain bike. quitting smoking saves me about $1300 a year.

06-22-2006, 09:52 AM	#13
EEich The Starter Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bristol, CT Age: 60 Posts: 1,001	Re: ex-smokers support group thread As if killing yourself wasn't enough... watching family members die of lung cancer and watching what that put the rest of the family through... All I have to do is flash to the vision of half my family struggling to smile at the bedside of a dying aunt while the other half is weeping outside the room.

ex-smokers support group thread

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