I just quit smoking after 12 years, any words of encouragement for this long and painful ride ahead of me?
by 
anonymous
ANSWERS: 31
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sex... is a VERY good alternative to smoking. I started smoking at 18 and stopped now, almost 20. Everytime i want my girlfriend to do something for me, I tell her im feeling like having a cigar. She will do ANYTHING to make sure i dont smoke :)
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Yes. Congratulations, and I'm sure your family and future children will thank you for what you're about to go through. I only wish I had the willpower and determination to follow suit. I'm about to hit my 12-year mark this fall, and I'm disgusted with myself for my inability to make any progress in quitting. At the risk of sounding self-absorbed, however difficult quitting may be for you, stick with it and you will serve as an inspiration to people like me.
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Thanks a lot for making this world better and healthier. Thanks for being a good example to many who are (were) in the same shoes as you. You are my hero today!
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You go, girl!
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good for you sara! you'll be glad you did and so will your loved ones
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Congratulations! Science tells us that some of your systems have already returned to normal (like your blood pressure), as if you never smoked. And others will continue to return to normal as time goes on. Good for you for discontinuing a disgusting, expensive, harmful habit!
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First off, CONGRATULATIONS for your success in stopping smoking! Here's a piece of advice that I hope will be of help to you: You know how alcoholics can't have just one drink? Well, it's the same for smokers. DO NOT, whatever you do, just take a little puff or drag off someone else's cigarette when they are smoking around you. I thought a little puff wouldn't hurt me but soon it was several puffs, then I was too embarrassed to ask, so I ended up buying a pack, and was back to smoking. So stay as far away from smokes as you possibly can. I hope this serves as an encouragement to you - I KNOW it can difficult. BTW, I smoked for 20 years and have been smoke-free for 40 now. I finally found a solution that worked for me :)
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IMPORTANT - change your toothbrush. When you brushed your teeth as a smoker, nicotine was deposited on the brush. Brushing your teeth as a non-smoker may give you cravings if you don't change brushes. (True!)
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Sara: 2 of my three sisters smoked and quit. They said that they didn't all of a sudden feel wonderful but they're still very glad they stopped. There's some family history of cancer and even if they weren't all of a sudden singing and dancing, they knew they were at least stacking the health cards in their favor. There was also a good family friend who was a lifelong smoker and was diagnosed with emphysema some years ago. He quit smoking but couldn't "quit" the illness. He ended up having to tote an oxygen tank around and couldn't walk very far without having to stop to rest. I know what you're doing isn't easy but I salute you for doing it and encourage you to stay with it. BTW -- I added a picture to my answer that shows (on the left) tissue from a non-smoker's lung. On the right is tissue from a smoker's lung.
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Don't reward yourself for not smoking by smoking. Sounds dumb, but its the addicts way of thinking. Contantly remind yourself why you are doing it. Water baby water....a grip of it. Don't feel bad when you blow up on yer guy, and don't take it personally when he loses it with you. You are refusing you body of what it thinks is a natural need and will rebel, don't give in. Your mind will be your worst enemy....resort to first advice...remind yourself why you are doing this. I have faith in you, and much admiration. YOU CAN DO IT!!!!
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Good for you!! You mentioned the patch, but it sounds like just the boyfriend is using it. Bravo for that too!! It's good to see that "willpower" still exists. I quit after ten years of smoking, long before the "Patch" was invented. People use to ask me, "how did you do it, what's your secret?" They'd get a little upset when I'd say "willpower". The nay-sayers will say "it's not a matter of willpower, it's an addiction". But nicotine is not a drug, it's a poison. How addicted can you get to poison? You go, girl!!
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Man! Good for you SaraSmile!....My word of encouragement is....McLovin. I say you should go back to SaraSmile. Or SaraMcLovin. Or SaraMcSmile. Or Sara Chinese, Japanese dirty knees, look at these.
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Sara, Keep off those Nasty Things! Make your Favorite foods and Eat your Veggies and think of How Good They Taste now that your NOT Smoking! And IMAGINE how great SEX will become, Your goal should be Multple Orgasms!!!
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I am still struggling with quitting, think about your health, that of your children when you have them. The smell that like skunks we leave behind & it sticks to our clothes and hair. Think you have gained many years of a good life time ahead of you, please don't make the mistake and start again. Be careful with you diet, so you will not gain weight and want to start smoking again. This is an important issue. Check this link: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2001/06/16/sugar-part-one.aspx Good luck and be strong. Regards.
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good look to you i have been trying to give up for the last year and a half and cant do it i have been smoking for 7 years and could not do without one now you will have to try really hard but it will be worth it in the end :0) and uncle liz says have fun with the nicotine cravings lol :0)
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The long painful ride is actually behind you(think hawking up loogies and cigarette hangovers and smelling bad). I quit several years ago and I'm extremely glad. I didn't miss cigs at all after about two or three days. Now I never even think about them.
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First of all, congrats! The biggest step, when I quit, was finding a support. Someone who won't condemn you for feeling the urge, but will help you through the troubling time ahead. I found positive feedback was more beneficiary than negative feedback. The second step for me was finding a replacement for the oral fixation. So, I started smoking crack. Just kidding. I ate more than normal, and gained 30 pounds. I am 6'4" and weighed 220 lbs at my largest. That is OK, as long as you eat decent food. Exercise can negate that weight. My third, and last, step was getting back in shape. I started walking on a regular basis, and progressed to running again. I am now in perfect health (aside from the history of heart disease in my family) and run/bike an average of five miles per day. One of the most useful tips I learned was that it's OK to eat more. Just exercise more to make up for the added calories/fat/etc. There are exceptions to what you eat, though. I suggest doing another search for healthy foods.
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Try not to eat something every time you want a smoke. I quit for the last time in 1985, 2&1/2 packs a day. I think I immediatley gained 40lbs. Once I capped out on my weight I was fine. I felt better than I did in years, I slept better, food was certainly better, Oh but the worst thing in the world is a converted smoker, to non-smoker. Don't be an a@@hole around all your friends that decide to still smoke. Believe me they don't think it's to funny when you all go out to eat together and you tell the waitress, Um Non-Smoking Please:~)
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Great Job I quit two years ago after smoking 1 1/2 packs a day of marlboro reds since I was 14. It is the best thing I have ever done.I am proud of you.You will feel much better,you and your house will smell better,food will taste better,your circulation will be much better.Good job
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Well done you!!! Im so proud of you and wish i could do the same... im so pleased you decided to give it up. I know it wont be easy for you, but we're all rooting for ya babe.. ((((hugs))))
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Good for you!! and good luck..I have no advice because I have never smoked. I still wish you luck though..if we wore our lungs on the outside...nobody would smoke
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dont comfort eat coz it'll make you feel worse in long run,find something to keep your hands busy.good luck x x x
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Don't think of it as a "long and painful ride". Remember what Emerson said..."If you think a thing is easy, it becomes so"..good luck and congrats!
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CONGRADULATIONS! JUST TAKE IT ONE DAY AT A TIME AND SOON IT WILL GET EASIER. I QUIT 2 YEARS AGO AFTER SMOKING FOR OVER 30 YEARS. AND WHAT I DID WAS JOIN A HEALTH CLUB. SO NOW THE MONEY I USE TO SPEND ON CIGARETTES I USE TO PAY FOR MY CLUB MEMBERSHIP.
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I have no idea, but that's awesome news.
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When I quit I was smoking nearly 3 packs a day. It was rough for a while, but I used the incentive plan to get through it. I took the money I used to spend on smokes and put a $20,000 boat in my driveway.
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Great work-you added years to your life and will feel better and save money to boot! And no use messing up that chest with lung surgery scars ;-)
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YAAAAAAAAY!!!!!!!!!! I'm sooooooooooo proud of you!!!!!!! As hot as you are you wouldn't wanna ravage your looks with all that smoke and nicotine and shit!! Congratulations!!!!!!!!!
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Good job. About 7 years I threw away my last pack and never looked back. My best words of encouragement is that you will never regret what you have just done. My words for advice is to find another vice to fill its void. You, like all other ex smokers will be weak in the begining. It is normal for use to fill the void to help ease the pain of withdrawing. make sure its on that won't effect you. For me it was drinking which was bad. for a friend he chewe gum. He has TMJ problems now. Make sure you have someone there for support. And congradulations.
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Get the hate going for the tobacco companies.. that is what i am doing.. I just quit as a birthday present to my self about 10 and a half hours ago .... and I knew that I would need something to truly latch onto whenever I am feeling like...( like right the hell now... ) I want a smoke.. so .. i picked those bastards who lie and make it so damn easy to smoke.. hook yah and feed you free packs at bars and wherever else... knowing what they know.. what alot of people know about smoking now... I am not saying i am not culpable in smoking.. i am.. we chose to smoke.. but , i am telling you.. think about it when you throw 6 bucks down on a pack.. or something medical happens ... and the only one you can blame ??? is yourself.. beat it - lets both kick the sh@# out of smoking.. good luck
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when I quit I usualy go around to my favorite diners and try the food anew, then change my eating habbits the focus helps to cut the cravings too. not to mention food can taste realy good but smoking kills taste so...
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