I’ve been dealing with the exact same symptoms—actually went to see my doctor about it. Thank God everything came back clear with my lungs. Get to a doctor immediately!!!!
First off, I want to wish everyone the absolute best for the New Year's Eve ahead!!! 👋 On New Year's Eve, I decided to treat myself to a box of cigars, and now it feels like I'm reaching for one way more often than I used to. It’s driving me crazy! Look, I know I have no one to blame but myself, but I smoked for so long that grabbing a cigar just feels like second nature—it's honestly ridiculous. I don't think I've done enough to actually quit, especially since I don't smoke inside the house, only outdoors. Right now, I feel like I'm stuck at this awful crossroads, trying my hardest to stay inside 😢 because everyone around me is smoking, and it's just too easy to give in when you're in that kind of crowd. Is anyone else dealing with something similar?👋
boldpuma89 said:No big deal. It’s just what Dimin said before! Honestly, I’m so pissed at myself right now—it's driving me crazy. I'm currently trying to negotiate a new plan with myself for tomorrow. Just waiting for things to settle down a bit in about 15 to 20 days...
Hey everyone!👋
You have my full support here. I totally get it—whenever I slip up, I end up being incredibly hard on myself.😠 The main thing is that you're actually thinking about it and that you genuinely want to quit. 😉
Hey everyone, just thought I'd check in for a bit👋 I haven't started yet, and honestly, I’m feeling pretty good about that. So, what’s the word with you all? Anyone hitting new milestones, starting up again, or dealing with any recent setbacks?
I went to a friend's party this past weekend and ended up lighting one up. I haven't touched a cigarette since, and honestly, I have zero desire to pick it back up. I won't sit here and say I don't regret giving in for a moment—it wasn't my finest hour—but at the end of the day, life goes on and I'm moving forward. 👋
Lawrence Garcia93 said:For me, it’s all about the pressure cooker or the microwave.
Honestly, a pressure cooker is a total game-changer—I just toss in a bunch of veggies and have a delicious stew ready in maybe 10 to 15 minutes... mmmmmmmmmmm🙂
When it comes to steaming vegetables, I’ve switched entirely to using a steamer. It’s honestly such a game-changer—you just pour in the water, set the timer for whatever you need, and you're done. No more hovering over a pot; the thing shuts itself off automatically and it's a breeze to clean up. Plus, the veggies actually taste better than when they're boiled in water. It didn't even break the bank around $67. I’d recommend one to anyone—I've actually decided I want one as a wedding gift down the road (instead of some fancy KitchenAid mixer 😁)
Rachel Walker56 said:These are basically the core principles of the zone diet. Personally, I think it’s solid—I’ve been sticking to it for about a year and a half now. 👍 Though, let’s be real: when PMS hits, all bets are off. Cookies? Forget about it. Watch out, because I will absolutely demolish everything in sight! 😁
Look, I know the zone diet inside and out—I actually own two books on it. But I'm curious about one thing: do you really have to eat every single scheduled meal? Like, do people actually eat right before bed? For me, two or three meals a day is plenty. It was honestly a bit of a struggle to get used to at first, mostly because I had this nagging fear that I’d end up gaining even more weight. That said, I tried it once and it works wonders for the body—you never feel that post-meal crash or constant hunger.🙂
Check out the thread on "smoking cessation." Basically, I quit over two months ago, and honestly, the cravings still hit me—but I don't give in. There was one day where it just became too much, both physically and financially. 👋 😁
boldpuma89 said:You guys are being awfully quiet. Did everyone seriously miss this?
Well, looks like we’ve all finally made it—we are officially 100% non-smokers now. 🙂 I'm thinking about starting a new thread: "How to start smoking." 😂 😬
Listen, everyone—don't let this stuff get you down. I just had a moment where I actually went a little crazy with joy because I pulled out my calendar and realized I haven't touched a cigarette in two and a half months now. 👏 👋 😵 🎉
Lawrence Garcia93 said:Regarding what Bradley Davis33 is getting at—I think he's right. It’s those small, incremental shifts over the long haul that actually lead to success.
A lot of this really boils down to how much time you actually spend out of the house. Since I started college five years ago, I’ve consistently put on about 4 to 5 pounds every single year—it’s such a slow creep that I barely even notice it happening at the time. Most of my days are spent hunkered down at home, just studying and sitting around, which is exactly how the weight creeps on. After spending an entire day hunched over books, the last thing I have any motivation for is physical activity. And let's be honest—without being active, everything you eat basically goes straight to your waistline. I started my freshman year at 115 pounds, and now I’m sitting at 155 (though I do jump on a random diet every now and then to try and reset). I actually just started a really solid new diet today—so if you guys are interested, I’ll post the details for you. 👋
thanks Dyna: Honestly, I’m doing fine—except for one thing, hmmm—I feel like my hips are getting a little wider...
...tell me more about it...🙄 I’ve noticed a bit of filling out myself, but don't let that get you down. When you stop pumping nicotine and all those other toxins into your system, it’s a massive shock to the body. 😲 I think we just need to hang tight for a bit while our internal functions stabilize. I've heard stories about people gaining weight after quitting even when their appetite hasn't actually changed at all... Anyway, we'll get everything sorted out eventually. 😉 😎
You won't believe this, but the real struggle is only just starting for me—and I’ve actually made it about two months smoke-free. I almost lit one up the other day... It felt absolutely terrible, but in that moment, it hit me: that craving for a cigarette is never going away. It's just part of who I am now. 🙄 I guess I just have to learn how to live with it. Besides, after being quit for this long and dealing with the weight gain—there is no way I'm going back to it!😠 Sending strength to everyone else who has quit or is planning to take the plunge👋 👋 👋
boldpuma89 said:I guess that’s the core of the issue. I can’t honestly promise myself—let alone anyone else—that I won't light up just one more time. To be honest, making those kinds of promises actually scares me a little.🙂
The best move is to not make any promises at all. When you do, you end up feeling suffocated by the weight of your own words. Just focus on the fact that you aren't holding a cigarette right now—that's enough. I actually kept my quitting a total secret from everyone—friends, parents, the whole lot—and I can tell you that handling it quietly was way easier than announcing it to the world (I've tried both ways 😁). When you go public, people won't stop teasing you about it, and they never stop talking about it. My parents would constantly praise me, which sounds great, but meanwhile, I'm sitting there the whole time just obsessing over when I'm going to cave and have one. 🙄 By keeping it under wraps, I found the time passed much faster—people eventually figured it out on their own, and I had the space to build up my strength and finally become 😎
boldpuma89 said:Tomorrow marks one month since I managed to cut down from two or three packs a day to just about 3 or 4 cigarettes. I haven't hit my ultimate goal—total cessation—yet, but honestly, I’m not unhappy with where I'm at right now.
There you go—just a quick update for those of you following along.
I’d love to hear (or see) what the former smokers and those planning to quit think about this current phase of mine.
I have to say, props to you for not letting those 3 or 4 cigarettes drag you back into finishing an entire pack. I'd say you're definitely on the right track toward quitting; if you actually went from smoking 40-60 cigarettes a day down to just 3 or 4, then... seriously, kudos to you.👍 Just keep chipping away at it a little more...😁
Listen, everyone—I’ve definitely put on some weight since I quit smoking.😢 I’ve started getting out on my bike more often, so we'll see how that goes... I’m really hoping the results kick in soon because, honestly, I'm reaching a point where nothing in my closet fits anymore. 😁 As for the cigarettes—of course I miss them. It’s especially tough during those moments when I used to polish off an entire pack in one sitting—like, say, hanging out outside at night with friends who, naturally, are all still smokers. But then I just stop and think about how much money I'm saving, and that helps me push through. Plus, let's be real: breathing is just a whole lot easier.👋
I’ve been chewing on the idea of quitting smoking for a long, long time—but honestly, I just couldn't make it stick. Every single time I tried to quit, I ended up failing. 😢 So, about a month ago, I just... stopped. Out of nowhere. 😎 I have absolutely no clue how I actually pulled it off, but I did. 😁 The weirdest part? There weren't any massive withdrawals or bouts of irritability; everything just went smoothly. And now, I'm saving a decent chunk of change by not feeding this stupid addiction—I'm talking about spending up to $167 less every month. Now I can actually afford to buy something useful instead of just burning cash on cigarettes. 🙂 Anyway, I’m waiting until I hit at least the one-year mark before I really start bragging about it. 👋 P.S. Sending my support to everyone else out there who is currently trying to quit or has already managed to kick the habit. 👍 👍 👍