Did you notice an improvement in anything when you quit smoking?

[alf]

Your mind is now much more diciplined to be able to resist a negative physical addiction built over years for 3 months.

[m21sniper]

Originally Posted by Dottore

Perhaps you didn't inhale? Like that other great American.

My energy level, stamina, sleep, appetite have all improved dramatically since I quit. No comparison really.

Exact opposite for me. No change whatsoever except for appetite, which i consider to be a BAD thing.

[austin552]

Smoked for twenty years. Noticed a change in smell and taste after quiting.

[jwasbury]

Your clothes don't smell anymore and how about the fact that you're saving $$. I have no idea how much cigarettes are in AZ, but here in NY they are expensive. I saw a guy pay $17 for two packs of American Spirits today...crazy!

I haven't smoked for 4 years...quitting is easy for me, but so is picking up the habit again.

[Rick Lee]

Smokes are expensive in AZ, but I often bought them on Indian reservations or online from China, just to screw the gov't. a little bit. Cost was never an issue and I'd consider donating money to the tobacco companies just to piss the gov't. off, if I knew most of it wouldn't go right back to the gov't.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

I'd consider donating money to the tobacco companies just to piss the gov't. off

Yeah, that's a good idea. They're already flying around on private jets on our lungs and wallets, let's donate to them.

[Evans, Marv]

I quit smoking in my late 20's. I basically told myself I didn't want to be a slave to an addiction, and when you think of it, smoking may be one of the most unnatural things a person can do.

[Super_Dave_D]

I am on 5 months now

Things taste better - I gained 35 lbs
Things smell better
I dont hack every morning
I can breath now (thats a plus)
My wife and kid dont harass me about smoking anymore (still harass me but not about smoking)

One day my best friend was saying that his dad had smoked 2 packs forever and he was fine - he was dead from lung cancer in a year.

[m21sniper]

That weight gain doesnt stop Dave.

[Tobra]

My buddy did a hypnosis thing, but started up again when his son wrecked his mom's car.

The pill is supposed to help you quit, cymbalta. Your lungs are better, use them to exercise.

[Heel n Toe]

Originally Posted by Rick V

I quit for about 5 years and started back when I wanted to run amok with a meat cleaver all the time.

Rick, your anger level / temper just started flaring up unexpectedly?

Originally Posted by speeder

I started smoking ~1 year ago after 5 years off, (moron), now I can't quit. At least not at the moment. It's a gnarly addiction for 99% of smokers, 1% seem to be able to quit effortlessly.

Denis, a couple of good friends tried unsuccessfully to quit several times... in their mid-50's. Then they gave the hypnosis thing a shot, and blammo... the guy quit after one session and hasn't smoked since... his wife had to go back for a second session, but after that, she hasn't looked back either. Might be worth a shot.

[m21sniper]

The only way to quit is unaided, cold turkey. That's my honest assessment.

[artplumber]

Rick,
Maybe you're the outlier. But, the vast majority of folks that quit do feel/breathe/ sense tasting better. Somehow, I think your impression really has more to do with your underlying wants. Come over sometime and hang out at the office if your resolve weakens.

As to the weight gain, some is satiety (recent study), but also related to habit of something in hand & mouth. The habit gets translated from cigs to snacking a lot.

[Heel n Toe]

Originally Posted by m21sniper

The only way to quit is unaided, cold turkey. That's my honest assessment.

Yeah, that's easy for you to say... you're one of the one percenters Denis is talking about, Bill.

I was a light smoker for several years during college, but never got hooked... just enjoyed the taste... especially when out drinking... I could smoke a few now... a half a pack or more... and not have any problem putting them down.

I had pretty bad hay fever and asthma as a kid... that probably played into making it easy to give it up.

We've had a no smoking ordinance in restaurants and bars here for about a year now, and it's a great improvement for me... it could get awfully unpleasant if there were a lot of smokers out on a given night. But it never bothered me much when I was smoking, of course.

[TimT]

What I noticed when she quit smoking...

She didn't smell like a smokestack.....

Its not all about "I" when "I" quit smoking...

Regardless of the dangers to your health... are you comfortable with your house smelling like an ash tray?

Inviting guests to your home which has a heavy background scent of cigarettes?

[Geronimo '74]

Originally Posted by m21sniper

The only way to quit is unaided, cold turkey. That's my honest assessment.

That's how I did it. I never considered myself as a smoker though. I have always seen myself as a non-smoker who smokes. I admit that I was lying to myself during the years that I smoked but when I finally decided to quit I made it easier for me. Quiting when your are a " self proclamed-non smoker" is easier than quiting when you see yourself as an addict. Different mindset, I guess. Does that make any sense??

[Rick Lee]

I've never smoked in my house. I didn't even smoke in the garage, only ever outdoors when at home. My wife complained about my smoking, but it's not like the smell ever bothered her. She's from China, where the smell of smoke is totally natural and most of the country smells like you're walking behind a lawnmower. It was difficult for me to light up in her folks' house, even though her dad smoked. If I could just have a smoke whenever I'm jonesing and then put it back down. But I know I can't.

[JavaBrewer]

Been there done that Rick. I stopped 'regular' smoking over 20 years ago and I can say the urge never really does away. But you will find the longer you resist the worse the first cig will taste when you fall off the wagon. I spent 21 days in Korea working 12 hr shifts and after borrowing a couple cigs from folks found my self smoking 10 cigs a night with our US Marine corp. I came home after that session and have not touched a cig since. CIGS ARE NASTY DUDE.

Your claim of not experiencing any 'changes' is the habit speaking...

[Bill Douglas]

I quit smoking many years ago and imediately developed an acute sense of smell. It was a real nuisance, I noticed how much the dog stunk, I got all sorts of coats and jackets drycleaned that had been fine prior to that. What anoyed me was why the sense of smell; why not an improvemnt in vision or hearing.

[coolngroovy]

I haven't given up.....but my mrs did.
I noticed her arse is getting bigger! Does that count?

Edit: I also noticed there is never any chocolate left in the fridge.