12 hours without a smoke.

[Dan J]

Good for you Fred! I was hoping you'd post good news like this. Keep it going It's a foul,disgusting habit and I don't think you're a foul and disgusting kinda guy

[svandamme]

You hav passed the worst now



Things will only get better, just keep in mind that when a crave pops up, time warps.
It seems to last longer then it actually does.

Also, be aware of things when it goes to easy. I mean, Don't get complacent.
When i did my first quit (2006), at day 19, completely out of the blue this massive crave came up.
Wasn't prepared for it. And i caved.
Drove to the Fuel tation 2 miles from my appartment, bought a pack.
Started smoking on the drive back..

By the time i arrived at the appartment, i was more drunk then a boozer who just downd a pint of Whiskey.. Almost fell over while walking up the stairs.

Got inside, and there was the guilt. I then smoked 4 smokes back to back till i nearly puked and managed to stay off the ciggies for 9 months.


Relapsed on a ski trip, drinking, smoked 1 or 2 with a "it's just a couple" mentality... But ended up relapsing completely. till last year, quit again, not one , not ever again.

But let's not get ahead of things.. You'de doing great, You have passed the worst.
Try and focus on replacing the bad things with good.
Exercise to deal with the mood swings... a sports high is great to kill the cravings.

[DonDavis]

Congrats, Fred! Glad to hear you're making progress. We're pulling for you!

[paulgtr]

great job Fred! I quit cold turkey on March 1, 2005. the worst times were the jonesing for a smoke. one time I was waiting for some one and checking my watch because they were getting late. had a strong jones for a smoke and then noticed it went away. took 8 minutes... about as long as it takes to smoke one. you can make it! you'll feel better for it and soon you will see and smell how nasty smokers actually are.

[azasadny]

Fred,
How are you doing??

[A930Rocket]

Never smoked, but good for you and everyone else that has quit smoking.

Keep it up!

[Por_sha911]

Been there. Keep going. One day at a time.
Remember that there is power in absolutes. Zero cigarettes each day is a million times more encouraging than "only had one..."

[Oh Haha]

Just saw this thread.

Keep up the momentum, Fred.

My wife and I quit about 9 years ago when we decided it was time to add kids to our family.

I can honestly say that I have not hadany tobacco since the day I put them down. Strangely enough, I have had no cravings either.

Nowadays, I can't stand to be around anyone that smokes.

And the price of a pack?!!!!

I couldn't afford to smoke now anyway.

[Danimal16]

Fred,

You are inspiring me to get off the darn things!!! KEEP IT UP MAN! I am totally into the thought of it and now just need to follow your lead. You come to hate the damn things! I am there but just need to push over the top to start the process.

Dan B

[nikita76]

Hey Fred,

Keep up the good work! You can do it and you'll love yourself for it!

I quit 8 years ago with 2 accupuncture sessions.

ND

[jshape]

I quit on December 6, 1982, well before Chanitx and other drug-based anti-smokig aids. There was nicotine gum but it didn't work - at least not for me.

I'd tried to quit many before that but that time it stuck BECAUSE I MADE THE CHOICE THAT I WANTED TO QUIT - forever. Three things got me through it:

1. Knowing that the urge to have a cigarette WOULD go away - whether I had one or not.
2. Knowing that having 'just one' WILL hurt and that I couldn't do that.
3. Knowing that my desire to quit was stronger than my desire to cheat on myself.

I also put a very large rubber band around my wrist and every time I really wanted to light up I stretched it out and let it fly. Yes, it stung - and it was supposed to. The sting would help me focus on something other than smoking.

[fastfredracing]

GO FOR IT DANIMAL! It is silly hard the first day, but you start feeling better the next day, although the cravings are still rough today , 10 days later. I have probably eaten 4000 life savers over the last two weeks, but is better than cigs.
You guys here in the ot helped me more than you will know. There were a few times, I almost caved, but I did not want to report back to you guys that I am a spineless pussy with no will power.
I do feel a whole lot better, and I am more productive as well. I was a two pack a day smoker, so I just got back 40 smoke breaks a day worth of my time.
I have quit many times before, and I think I know where I tripped up before. I don't drink or party anymore, and that was always my downfall in the past.
Than you pelicans, I am SMOKE FREE!!.

[paulgtr]

excellent Fred! get a bicycle now!
work on your lung capacity, take some nice easy rides and get the healing process jump started
the sooner you start having fresh lungs the sooner you will have no cravings

[fastfredracing]

I am on vacation all next week, swimming, surfing, fishing, etc... But when I get back, I am jumping back on my mountain bike. I miss the hell out of riding.

[DonDavis]

You're doing very well! Have a great vacation and keep moving forward, I'm proud of you.

[Rikao4]

congrats..
now throw the $$ in a can..
seriously..
figure at least 12 bucks a day...
you will be amazed what you burned up..
besides your health..

Rika

[vash]

alright!!! well done

use US!! dont let US down..!! (if this helps) hahah.

so how soon did food start tasting better? all my friends that quit comment on food flavors and how they taste heightened.

[svandamme]

Originally Posted by fastfredracing

I am more productive as well. I was a two pack a day smoker, so I just got back 40 smoke breaks a day worth of my time.

Be carefull with that, if you just work and never take breaks, you'll end up overworked and stressed. That's no good either.And probably just as risky in terms of nicotine relapse....

Do make sure to take the occasional time for yourself, even at work.
Take a walk around the building, if there's a company gym, go do some exercises.
Take more time to talk to people

Your ability to focus may change with time, so take time to adapt to a new way of thinking and concentrating..

Be creative.. Don't simply convert the smoke time into work time.

[Brando]

Here's some encouragement:

Within ...

20 minutes
Your blood pressure, pulse rate, and the temperature of your hands and feet will all return to normal.

8 hours
Remaining nicotine in your bloodstream will have fallen to 6.25% of normal peak daily levels, a 93.25% reduction.

12 hours
Your blood oxygen level will have increased to normal and carbon monoxide levels will have dropped to normal.

24 hours
Anxieties peak in intensity and within two weeks should return to near pre-cessation levels.

48 hours
Damaged nerve endings have started to regrow and your sense of smell and taste are beginning to return to normal. Cessation anger and irritability peaks.

72 hours
Your entire body will test 100% nicotine-free and over 90% of all nicotine metabolites (the chemicals it breaks down into) will now have passed from your body via your urine. Symptoms of chemical withdrawal have peaked in intensity, including restlessness. The number of cue induced crave episodes experienced during any quitting day will peak for the "average" ex-user. Lung bronchial tubes leading to air sacs (alveoli) are beginning to relax in recovering smokers. Breathing is becoming easier and the lungs functional abilities are starting to increase.

5 - 8 days
The "average" ex-smoker will encounter an "average" of three cue induced crave episodes per day. Although we may not be "average" and although serious cessation time distortion can make minutes feel like hours, it is unlikely that any single episode will last longer than 3 minutes. Keep a clock handy and time them.

10 days
10 days - The "average ex-user is down to encountering less than two crave episodes per day, each less than 3 minutes.

10 days to 2 weeks
Recovery has likely progressed to the point where your addiction is no longer doing the talking. Blood circulation in our gums and teeth are now similar to that of a non-user.

2 to 4 weeks
Cessation related anger, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, impatience, insomnia, restlessness and depression have ended. If still experiencing any of these symptoms get seen and evaluated by your physician.

21 days
Brain acetylcholine receptor counts up-regulated in response to nicotine's presence have now down-regulated and receptor binding has returned to levels seen in the brains of non-smokers.

2 weeks to 3 months
Your heart attack risk has started to drop. Your lung function is beginning to improve.

3 weeks to 3 months
Your circulation has substantially improved. Walking has become easier. Your chronic cough, if any, has likely disappeared.

Keep it up!!!

[Targa Me]

keep it up !
YOU are in control. When you feel like you want one, say to yourself...NO NOT TODAY.