Today, August 20, is my 1 year anniversary without cigarettes. Yep, it's been 1 hard year and continues to be, but I can breath better.
Last year I wasn't able to get my oxigen up to 80%. Now it is up to 99%!!! I still crave them. I'd sure like to know how to get rid of the desire. If anyone has any hints, I'd love to hear about them. I thought I would be over them by now. The only thing that keeps me from smoking is that I'm not coughing myself silly.
7155 Congratulations... when I gave up and got the craving I would say to myself if I smoked I would have one now but I don't so I won't. I gave up for 16 years and gave in to the craving and it took me 2 years more to beat it never will I smoke again nomatter how hard the craving. Another thingI did I would carry a packet of tic tacs I don't know if you have them where you are but they are a very tiny mint in a little flip top container and they came out a small opening I would tip the whole packet into my hand and then put them back into the container except for thelast one and i would eat that very slowley. by the time I had done all that I had no more craving.And if any one offered me a cigarette I would take it and smash it in front of them so they would not try to tempt me again. Hope to here this time next year you are doing just as well if not better ....I've been 10 years free now
by ezzemml 23 Aug 2008
no not now took a year then i didn't need them but never give in to the craving. And in time you find that food tastes better. another thing you can do is drink a glass of grapefruit juice especially if others are smoking around you it changes your taste palet after a while.
8950 Grannyo. I'm so proud of you for quiting. My husband and I have been smoke free for a little over 7 years. He never wants a cigarette but I still do occasionally, when this occurs I just get out and about for a little while and will always run into someone smoking and just the smell is enough to satisify the craving. If you find an easier way please tell us about it.
by grannyo 22 Aug 2008
It must be the type of personality you are. I want to be more like your husband. :-) *4u
4001 It's not easy to brake a habit especially if it has become an addiction. Since i have asthma and have never smoked I can;t imagine how hard it is to quit.Keep after it.
by grannyo 22 Aug 2008
Yes, this has been a hard habit to break and to keep broke. There's always the thought that, "I've quit, so I can smoke a couple then quit again." That makes it so tempting. I keep telling myself that it was soooo hard to quit at first!!! *4u
2823 You never will, there will b mornings when u could eat one if u had it. I know been quit 4 more than 20 yrs. & still crave but never give n to it. You r to b commended, proud of u & u can see the difference in your life now. You deserve a medal, I have a 75 yr. old aunt n Ga. that has been quit for a little more than a yr. Cold turkey & she had smoked since highschool, I'm so proud of her but every time I talk to her she'll say "Oh I want a cigarette" *4U
by grannyo 22 Aug 2008
lol, I know how your aunt feels. Thanks so much. I sure don't like that thought of wanting a cig for the rest of my life. Hopefully, the desire will be less and less.
30758 Congratulations! You will be so much better off without them. Smoking is what killed my MinL, CPD. Can not suggest anything to help you kill the desire, as have not had that habit, but I have a friend that chews on a straw to kill his craving. Don't really want to suggest that, for that looks silly to me - him running around with a straw in his mouth most of the time. But, he has not smoked for several years.
by grannyo 22 Aug 2008
That's worse than that actor that used to such on a lollipop all the time. No, I wouldn't suck on a straw. Although I have a piece of hard candy in my mouth, most people don't know about it. *4u
13962 Good luck! And congratulations! I didn't smoke for many years, then my DH started again and so did I, because the smoke was always there in my face! Now that he has passed away, I'd like to try and quit again, perhaps I can without the smoke there all the time. I, too, have problems with my lungs. Did you take anything to help you, or did you just do it on your own. When I was taking Wellbutrin I could probably have quit without thinking about it, except for DH. Best of luck to you, keep up the good work!! Marji
10290 Congratulations. Be strong and keep at it. Your health and life will be much better.
20384 Take a DEEP breath & shout HooRay!! Then picture your lungs before & after..I am sure you have seen the pictures of such! A year is GREAT and keep it up! You have extended your life and the life of those around you. Congrats!!
2717 Wonderfull, congratulations...not sure what to recommend other than keeping your hands busy and stay out of the other smokers cast offs. I quit back in 1971 when my FIL was diagnosed with lung cancer and given 3 mos. My 2 kids were 6 & 1 1/2, I decided I wanted to be around to see them grow up. Your doing great...hang in there ...
by grannyo 20 Aug 2008
Thanks so much. You are the people that I was looking to talk with. Do you still want to smoke?
by 
by sqdancer 21 Aug 2008
No grannyo I don't ever have the urge to smoke and it is so much easier now when there are so few places in public that allow smoking. No smoking in my home, if you want to smoke you go outdoors. The one time I can remember wanting a cig was the day the hospital called to tell us my FIL was dying and I couldn't find my MIL (she was on her way to the hospital) and my DH was out of the office. The was 3 months after I had stopped and I might have taken one if there had been any around but there weren't so it passed. Just keep busy and you will be fine...
by grannyo 22 Aug 2008
Thanks again. My MIL died yesterday and this was really hard on my husband. He has been fighting the urge ever since. It is so understanding, but I don't want to let him get started up again.
7622 Good for you!!! My DH has been smoke free for about 6 months now... wooo hooo!
15395 You have done good. I don't have any hints, but keep up the good work. Pat
187 Congratulation. I wish I had your willpower.
by grannyo 22 Aug 2008
It wasn't willpower as much as it was desparation. My doc wouldn't give me my back operation until I had quit smoking and had to quit for 3 months. I just stayed quit after that because I noticed that I was breathing better and feeling better. You never know what it will take to make you decide to stop. Different people have different reasons. *4u
12343 Donna Lee, congratulations - I never smoked - so I can't help you with that - but I know one thing - that if you give your live over to God and ask Him to help you to get rid of that craving - He will one day at a time. I think that you have gone this long is wonderful and you really have done something there - for whatever the reason - just keep doing what you are doing and you will keep getting what you are getting. Hehehe!
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13811 2776 Congratulations You have made it this far which is the hardest so keep up the good work. Get involved with what we all do here. We will support you whenever you need it. Just call on us. Ok. *4u
13428 403 Good for you I gave it up 34 years ago and it will get easier every week, just hang in there I found keeping busy was the best way also the joy of seeing my children & grandchildren growing up. Take lots of walks with your DH smell the flowers and enjoy tasting fresh food again.
by grannyo 22 Aug 2008
Thanks so much. :-) That's a remarkable feat. It's nice to know that it will be better. *4u
3977 That is great!!!! I quit 19 years ago and don't miss a puff. We both celebrated today, your anniversary and my b'day. Congratulations.
1095 
9783 Ok so this time next year I want to see your 2nd anniversary of not smoking. I am happy for you, just hang in there trust yourself to do it. Well done.
by grannyo 22 Aug 2008
Yeah, that is something to look forward to. Last year, I had no idea that I would be celebrating this anniversay. It is surprising.
5064 CONGRATULATIONS! Hang in there and never
give in. You'll live longer, you
smell nicer, you have a lot more money to
spend on embroidery and other great little
luxuries, your clothes and home smell
fresher and will stay cleaner and your
Grandchildren won't hate you kissing
them.
My third anniversary is 31st August. DH
quit too because I hounded him. We both
still get cravings but just remembering the
pain of double pneumonia and struggling for
every precious gasp of air is enough to
keep this habit (of 50 years for me) at bay
forever. Not to mention being short of
breath after the least little exertion and
the loss of my, once beautiful, singing
voice. Dh also had Emphysema starting and I
just keep telling him I want to Celebrate
25 years together (we have 21 to go) so we
often bounce off each other and when one of
us wants a cigarette we say so and the
other one says, No You Don't and we
kiss and cuddle and smell each other and
laugh. It works for us.
I could gladly strangle the people
responsible for perpetuating this killer
habit. hugs and support, Meganne
by by grannyo 22 Aug 2008
This is a lovely story. My husband has gained 20 lbs this last year. That's his big complaint. Last night he said that if he starts again he would lose it. I told him that he would have to work to lose it whether smoking or not. It wouldn't just fall off. It almost turned into a heated arguement. It's a good thing we don't get the urge at the same time. Thanks *4u
16682 Congratulations. You will see that it gets
easier and easier as time goes on. I
thought I was being cool in college, but I
really wasn't. I didn't know how
bad it was for you, but gave it up long ago
and don't miss it anymore. I'm
still embarassed thinking that I sent my
babies to school smelling like smoke! Try
thinking of all of the positive things and
write them down, so you can go back and
look at them when that thought of lighting
up hits.
Remember you only have to NOT smoke that
one! ;)
31909 Congratulations ! That is a super accomplishment .*4u
10289 
3455 grannyo, I quit 6 years ago. I don't have cravings anymore. Or maybe I do, but the thought comes immediately how much money I have to spend on fabric. When I quit in 2002, I saved $100 per month on cigarettes and $45 per month on medical insurance. I bet I saved my life since then. So go out and buy yourself a nice present with all that money you are saving. A flower for you and a flower for all others for encouraging grannyo.
1326 
12599 I too want to add my CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!! It is the best thing you can do, for everyone. I too am a former smoker, my 10yr. Anniversary will be Dec. 8th this year. It is a hard battle, but we have won the war.
by grannyo 20 Aug 2008
It is a hard, hard thing to do. Four others have tried to quit with me. One has continued with me. That's my DH. He says that when I start that he is going to start too. lol That's another reason for me not to start.
362 Good job..it's soooo hard to do, but keep up the good work!!!
3374 
3256 
5796 Congratulations to you! Keep the good works up. The worse is behind you.
559 well done grannyo - you've done the
best thing you can ever do for yourself.
I'm a reformed smoker too - about 20
years nows and yes it was the hardest thing
I've done. I'll never smoke again
as the withdrawal symptoms for about 3
months were just awful and I haven't
gone through them just to go back and I did
it without all the substitutes that are now
available to help people get off the weed.
By all means try hypnosis etc but everyone
is different, what helps one may not help
another. You really have gone through the
worst part, don't give into those
little cravings they may go on for some
time. If I smell a smoke that is a little
fragrant I can still remember the pleasure
I had from a cig.
I used to do some deep breathing when I got
the urge to light up and the craving soon
passed. Keep those hands busy and think of
the almost perfect oxygen levels
you're getting now.Be very proud of
your effort.
by jayemcee46 20 Aug 2008
PS I used to say too "I didn't need that cig yesterday - I don't need it today". Best wishes Jo
3237
Thanks, I've been doing sugar free candy. I'm a diabetic. So, what I've been doing has been pretty much the same idea. Are you still doing the Tic Tacs? I find it interesting that you say you are "free". lol *4u