Cigarettes

Travis Porter · 05-05-2008, 10:45 AM

If I remember correctly, there are quite a few members who are attempting to stop using those sweet smelling things called cigarettes.

I believe Bas is still clean after 5 months?

Chuck, how are you making out?

Newtowood how are you handling?

Me, I am still cigarette free (although I will stand next to people smoking at times), but I still want one. Some days worse than others. Beer for some reason doesn't make me want one too bad. Coffee does, but I can deal with that.

My current remedy for when I want one is bubble gum. Favorite is Hubba Bubba Tropical Fruit. It also blows the best bubbles!

TracyP · 05-05-2008, 11:57 AM

Still doing good here. I want one at times, but Chantix has done well for me. Getting ready to give that up soon also. Beer don't taste the same without a cigarette or cigar though.

Coffee doesn't make me want one. Driving by myself is my worst time. Used to lighting up while driving by myself.
Good thing I don't go on many lonely long trips I guess. I guess I will have to take up singing along with the radio. OK, Maybe not

.

Bigdog72 · 05-05-2008, 12:02 PM

I quit 21 years ago and still get a craving every now and then. Nasty habit! I wish all good luck in quitting and wish all who haven't quit to rethink their decision!!

Bas · 05-05-2008, 12:59 PM

It will be a year for me this month. I have been smoke-free for eleven months, two weeks, three days and 10 hours. 7069 cigarettes not smoked, saving $1,148.72. Life saved 3 weeks, 3 days, 15 hours and 5 minutes.

That's right, I gained almost a month just not smoking! Those 5 minutes per cigarette really add up. And that doesn't even take into account the time I spent buying cigarettes, cleaning ash trays etc. You can do a lot of shop projects in a month.

I still get cravings. Coffee doesn't really trigger it anymore, alcohol is slightly more difficult but that could be more due to a loss of willpower. My strongest trigger is when I'm working in the shop, the panel is glued and clamped, and it's "break time".

What helped me most is remembering that even when I smoked, I frequently had cravings. Meetings, air travel, shopping, there are lots of times I couldn't light up. I actually have fewer cravings not smoking than when I did.

Oh, and I decided that for every dollar not smoked, I'd get to buy three dollars worth of tools.

So far, that's going great

tom hintz · 05-05-2008, 02:19 PM

I quit smoking nearly a year ago using the Nicoderm patch program. Went through it once with no faltering and have not had a smoke since putting the first patch on back then. No problems since either. I get the rare thought about I used to smoke "while doing this" but that passes quickly and they are getting more and more rare.

Ray Martin · 05-05-2008, 03:16 PM

I wonder how much money I've saved. I was at 3 packs per day. I quit on July 14, 1977. Haven't had one since.

Ray

tom hintz · 05-05-2008, 03:22 PM

Originally Posted by Ray Martin

I wonder how much money I've saved. I was at 3 packs per day. I quit on July 14, 1977. Haven't had one since.

Ray

My wife tracked my savings by not smoking and a few weeks before the Superbowl announced that I could get my bigscreen HD TV (I did) and still not spend everything we saved since I quit.
I figure at this rate, sooner or later I can get an airplane.....

Don Sorensen · 05-05-2008, 03:23 PM

I quit Feb 14 - 2004. And I wish I could share how I did it. I was just able to put them down and walk away from a pack-and-a-half a day habit.

The first time I tried quitting (in the late 90's) I went through 9 pounds of double bubble bubble gum, broke four teeth, got four crowns, and gained 10 lbs. Nekkid women and beer got me started smoking again.

This last time I quit - and it's working - I bypassed the whole oral substitute thing except for food - I'm 30 lbs heavier than back in 2004.

What irritates me most - I quit smoking - I cut back from 10 cups coffee a day to maybe 2......and *NOW* I have high blood pressure.

sapwood · 05-05-2008, 03:38 PM

Multiple rounds of applause for those who have stopped for 0-2 years!
After about 2 years most of my "longings" dissipated. So keep up the resolve and you can lick the habit

Roger (smoked 7-8 years and got up to 3 packs a day)

rcorne01 · 05-05-2008, 04:03 PM

Originally Posted by newtowood

Still doing good here. I want one at times, but Chantix has done well for me. Getting ready to give that up soon also. Beer don't taste the same without a cigarette or cigar though. Coffee doesn't make me want one. Driving by myself is my worst time. Used to lighting up while driving by myself.
Good thing I don't go on many lonely long trips I guess. I guess I will have to take up singing along with the radio. OK, Maybe not.

You could switch to a motorcycle!

pcooper · 05-05-2008, 05:10 PM

Congrats on all who have quit the habit, I have no idea how hard that is as I never did take it up. My father however did smoke for years, from a small child of about 7 years old. When I was a mere 5 years old I convinced him to quit. That was 42 years ago, and my dad is still with us, hanging in there at a ripe age of 76. He is fit and doing very well. I could tell even back then that after he quit his health improved over the months and years, not to mention the money saved. My mother allows him to buy things occasionally reflecting on the money saved on smokes, he last got a new car....so the money saved was much more usefully spent. You all are doing yourselves and your families a great service by taking care of yourselves. My hat's off to you!!!!

MikeL · 05-05-2008, 05:15 PM

Great job everyone!

I haven't had a cigarette since December 16th of last year. After 12 years of tobacco use, I finally decided to quit once and for all. It just so happens that I turned 30 last December 17th, and it seemed like a great milestone for a healthier future. I still have cravings, often at times. The car still wants to turn into the gas station for a pack, but luckily the fuel prices scare it away.

saw4you · 05-05-2008, 06:02 PM

It has been 15 months for me. I still to this day could smoke the heck out of one, but I am not going to do it. The one bad thing is beer does not taste the same.

Jack

DaveO · 05-05-2008, 06:18 PM

Originally Posted by Bas

Life saved 3 weeks, 3 days, 15 hours and 5 minutes.

That's right, I gained almost a month just not smoking! Those 5 minutes per cigarette really add up.

I hate QUITTERS......Bas the life your saving is really at the end when you're wearing Depends

Just kidding, I applaud all

who have or are kicking the nasty habit, maybe someday I will be able to join the ranks.

Dave

Bas · 05-05-2008, 06:35 PM

Originally Posted by DaveO

I hate QUITTERS......Bas the life your saving is really at the end when you're wearing Depends

Not likely. By the time I get to that stage, I plan to die from a shop-related accident

Yes, that means I will need some seriously large tools! For those of you that want to go out on your own terms, just make sure you have buddies like Travis and Scott (scsmith).

But I'm probably not saving a whole lot of time. There are lots of other ways to goof off besides smoking. Lots and lots. I think I'm an expert on most of them.

But, on the topic of quitters, I can't STAND people who once smoked, quit, and then turn into the Smoke Police. The Cigarette Nazi's. Just because YOU decided to quit doesn't mean you now have to start preaching!

My $0.02 (which I would have spent on power tools otherwise....)

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