Why did you quit? Not how, why?

I quit because I had chronic bronchitis. My regular doctor sent me to a respiratory specialist. The RS came busting in the door of the exam room with my records [that I had brought from my GP - I smoked in the car on the way over] under his nose and he says "YOU SMOKE!!" [interpretation: are you really so stupid to come to me with respiratory problems and you smoke??? Really??]

Well, that was the end of that!! I knew that guy had my # and I had run out of excuses.

p.s. that was in 1998..

Did it cure your bronchitis?

IMMEDIATELY! I have never suffered with bronchitis since...

Well, crap. I have such a love/hate for it. Love it when I am alone first thing in the morning, hate it when I am not alone. I like to think of myself as a clean smoker...meaning, I am conscience of the smell, breath, constant washing of hands, clothes, teeth whitening, Smart Mouth. It's still gross. Not sure what I wanted to here from you, Melody. I just need to make the decision to quit.

This blows. You'd think a health issue would be a no-brainer, and my step mom died of lung cancer in 2008. She was my best friend for 20-ish years and only 68.

Blah. I'm just going to have to do it. Never a good day though.%$^#*!

It's not going to be easy--I've read in some articles that it is more powerfully addictive than heroin, and the withdrawal's not far behind either.

Some people pick up a new habit in place of smoking. One guy in the "Holes" movie picked sunflower seeds. My uncle (who still smokes, but does this on the job when he's not allowed to smoke) picks tootsie-roll pops.

If you do this, whatever you do, don't pick sugarless gum.

Mel, may I use you as a bounce off person? No requirements. I have to quit this demon. F.....not looking forward to it. Or, SCane, are you a smoker?

Trust that I am not a need-a-partner person, but would be nice to bounce progress. I have raging PMS right now, so I make major decisions monthly, and analytically. Oddly, usually good ones. Works for me...got a great interest rate in 2011 during PMS. LOL!

Karma,

Advise on the sugar-less gum??

I know...it's gonna suck. But, it's got to get done, as they say.

I bought these lozenges/mints for a 4.5 hour flight. Wow. Worked, and I didn't even think of smoking until we were landing, and that was just mental. They are essitially "chew" in mint form, I believe? Treated as the same. Expensive, too. I'll gladly pay, though,

Yes, the new habit...I am easing into almonds...trying not to gain weight. That's a pipe dream though.

Thanks!

The thing used to flavor sugarless gum (sorbitol) in place of sugar has a laxative effect in high doses--which, 9 times out of 10, a smoker would take.

Sure, I will be glad to pop in here when I can!

Have you heard of Chantix? My mother quit smoking using that and she raves about it.

Mel,

I can only take an educated guess that you, dear lady, were hell on wheels before you got some direction.

I think I prefer the Mel we got, instead of the Mel that was (even if we bump heads vigorously from time to time).

Why thanks, HHH. Yes, I got lots of "direction" from the School of Hard Knocks!

Surfer,

My dear friend who passed last year was a smoker and she died very young - 10 days past her 60th birthday.

Her official cause of death was a massive heart attack, but she was suffering with pneumonia at the time and refused to seak treatment. She smoked two or three packs a day even though she had a heart condition.

I smoked for only two years of my life, starting at 17 (to try and look "cool,") ending at 19, but with great difficulty. By then I was up to a pack a day. I had tried to stop a couple of times before, but the attempts didn't work out well.

I found smoking very difficult to stop for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the addiction to nicotine. I used it as something to do while I was waiting for something or someone, like at restaurants. I used it sometimes in place of eating, because I was somewhere where food wasn't available, but I was hungry and always had a cigarette available. Smoking also went so very well with drinking.

After a while, I didn't like smoking as much, because I was very aware of how it made my clothes and hair smell up until I could take a shower. I knew from looking at older women that it seemed to take a toll on their skin and voices, but at 19, it wasn't of great concern. Smoking was also rather expensive, not only to purchase cigarettes, but also because sometimes I burned a hole in an article of clothing. Once it nearly caused me to have a car accident because I tossed the cig butt out the window only to have it fly right back in and land on my lap.

One day, I simply left my money at home. I used to buy a pack or two at a time and back in those days, I had no credit card. I didn't tell myself I was quitting; that would have been too hard. I told myself I could get through just one day without a cigarette.

It was doubly hard in those days, it seems to me now, because smoking was allowed in most offices and restaurants. My workplace back then was no exception. For the first few weeks, it was hard having someone smoke around me. I wanted to grab the cigarette from his/her mouth and start smoking it myself.

I went one more day without a cigarette, then another, but I always said that for one day I could do it. From that day to this, I have never had another cigarette, although throughout the first decade I would occasionally crave one. I don't like chewing gum and haven't since junior high, so that wasn't of much help to me. I was able to avoid gaining weight, because I didn't replace smoking with eating,

I replaced smoking in restaurants with ordering a plate of carrot and celery sticks instead. My boyfriend at that time was very supportive, although he never pushed me to stop smoking. It was easy to avoid smoking in bars/dance places if I also avoided any alcoholic drinks. I don't know why the two go together so well, but I could smoke an entire pack of cigarettes in one night when I was also drinking.

I started doing many more physical activities to make myself feel better and to keep busy. After work, I would ride my bike for about 10 miles. Or walk or run. Physical activity would keep me busy and each of those activities required me to build lung capacity. It started to feel really great to avoid smoking. Fewer colds and other minor illnesses.

Chantix worked for me ...........for about 3 months, then the cravings came back. I then bought an electronic cig and loved it! Didn't smoke for a year! Vaped instead.

Then WW pulled her crap and I folded. Smoke more now than I ever have. I will get back on the wagon soon tho. It just never seems like a good time to quit smoking lol.

Did you suddenly stop taking the Chantix? If so, try weaning yourself off it. I went from 1 to 1/2 to 1/4 pills over a month and it was ok.

Suddenly stopping Chantix made me REALLY want to smoke.