Posts by ambertiger4

Ashley King said:I had a dream that I was smoking—woke up in a total panic thinking I’d betrayed "the thing" and all that... just one of those nights.

😁 Ugh, how awful. 😁 Hang in there. 🙂

So, I was just sitting here thinking about all the perks of quitting smoking that I’ve actually felt personally... maybe this will give someone else a little nudge. What's weird for me—and this might sound strange—is that health-wise, I don't feel any noticeably different after these last 2.5 months. No more cigarette stench either (now that I'm clear, I realize how disgusting it really was). I've been watching what I eat, so there hasn't been a weight issue—you just have to stay disciplined and careful. Money isn't even a factor for me; I haven't saved a dime because I end up spending even more—constantly "rewarding" myself for staying quit... 🙄 😛

But other things have definitely hit home. Here are a few things that just crossed my mind:
- I don't have to constantly air out my apartment (I've even been keeping it pretty cool over the winter)
- I don't have to obsess over whether I actually put my cigarette out before leaving a room
- I don't have to worry about running out of cigarettes right after the local convenience stores close up
- I don't have to act like an idiot, heading out at all hours just to grab more packs—something that used to drive me crazy
- My favorite handbags—the ones I absolutely love wearing—actually have way more room in them now
- I don't have to clean up ash after people anymore (that smell always grossed me out!)
- I watch smokers lighting up and just think, "That used to be me"

Man, I just hope I can hang in there! 🙂

So, after cruising through two and a half months without a single hiccup, I hit my first massive crisis this past Saturday. It was one of those huge social gatherings where everyone was smoking—cigarettes everywhere, just a constant cloud of smoke. For the first time, I actually felt the urge to light up. Even a friend tried to push some cigars on me, acting all dismissive like it’s no big deal... and people call that friendship! 🙄 😁 But I held my ground—I didn't cave. Honestly, though, the air was so thick and suffocating it felt like I’d already smoked two or three cigarettes myself.

P.S. I'm also counting down the days until my own first year smoke-free! Kudos to the kid.. 👍

Gregory Evans82 said:Honestly, if I actually believed quitting cigarettes would be this easy, I would have done it a long time ago—but life isn't that simple.
Just gotta make a call.

Look, you can't exactly force someone to quit and hold their dignity hostage—people eventually realize when they've had enough of the cigarettes on their own (if they ever do). For anyone actually thinking about quitting, honestly, it’s much easier than people make it out to be. 👍 Don't sweat it—as they say, if I can make it through this, anyone can. 🙂

Yeah, I’ve probably put on maybe a pound or so by now—I can definitely feel it—but honestly, it’s manageable. I mean, if I actually manage to kick the cigarettes for good—which I will—then a few extra pounds isn't really going to be the issue. 😎

Sherry, I’ve already started getting back into my workout routine—you should get moving too, while the winter chill is finally fading. Honestly, I feel amazing physically. I almost felt like putting "Proud Ex-Smoker" on a t-shirt, but then I thought better of it—I'm not sure I want that kind of attention. 😛

mistymarlin7 said:Hey everyone—it’s day three for me without a cigarette.
I've got a whole pack sitting right there on my desk at home, unopened.
I’m off work this week, which honestly makes things a little easier.
Just wondering if I have what it takes to pull this off.
But I really want to.

Any ideas on how to make this suck less?

Any advice out there?

Honestly, you're doing great!! If you can make it through three days, you can handle three more. For me, just telling myself "you've got this" was a huge help... 😉 My last cigarette was three weeks ago and I'm cruising—way easier than I expected, actually. I can hardly believe it myself. I've been snacking on fruit, drinking tons of water, and grabbing stuff like pretzels or Goldfish...

The first week is a grind, but after that, the cravings mostly fade away. One trick that worked for me: my last few cigarettes were moments where I actually felt nauseous thinking about smoking. I forced myself to light up those last ones just to prove a point, and they tasted awful. Now, whenever a craving hits, I just remember that gross feeling and the urge vanishes. 😉 It's nothing you can't beat with a little Pavlovian conditioning... 😉

Get rid of that pack before you lose your nerve... Just hang in there for a few more days. I promise the second and third weeks get much smoother! 👋 Not to mention the sheer pride and happiness you'll feel once you hit those milestones. 👍

stormynomad602 said:Everyone’s mistake is thinking they can just quit for a month or a year—it’s never just a temporary break. I was just saying this was my last one; she blew out the candle and never lit it again.😉

I don't actually know anyone who "quits for a year or a month."😕 What does that even mean? From what I've seen, everyone wants to kick the habit for good, they just usually fail at it. 😢

As for me, I've made it two weeks—it’s honestly been way easier than I expected or prepared for. Hopefully, it stays that way. Once you get your head straight, things feel manageable. I keep telling myself—if you can make it through one day, you can make it through the next; if you hit a week, you can hit two. That's the logic I'm sticking to.🙂

Come on, guys, hang in there. If I can pull off two weeks, anyone can.🙂😲 👋

Raymond Turner6 said:Nasty thread..
P.S.
Not sure if it's actually true, but I read somewhere that kicking heroin is easier than quitting nicotine.

Yeah, I also read that cocaine withdrawal lasts maybe 10-12 days, while nicotine drags on for 20-30.. Look, obviously the coke crash is way harder to stomach than nicotine, but the data is still 😲

I used to love smoking—it was my thing—and stopping never even crossed my mind. But lately, it’s been grossing me out, and I’ve started seriously thinking about quitting. First time in my life I'm actually being serious about it. I haven't lit up yesterday or today. Sounds impossible to most people, honestly. I keep getting those same old thoughts you guys mentioned earlier—those repetitive patterns that tempt you to just have "one more." I don't buy into the whole "gradual reduction" thing; for most people, that's just lying to yourself. Of course, I can't stop thinking about it. I don't know if it's physical, psychological, or if I'm just fascinated by the process itself... but cigarettes are just playing in the background of my mind constantly. It's exhausting.

I also cut out coffee, which is a brutal habit to break—I can't imagine coffee without a cigarette. Anyway, my head has been spinning all day. Anyone else deal with this kind of reaction?? I'm eating plenty of fruit and staying hydrated, and I don't want to go out and buy a bunch of extra junk, though that SmokeAway sounds decent—except I doubt you can even find it here in the States.. 😢 Any good websites you'd recommend for this? I've been scrolling through stuff for two days straight now..