Is Smoking an Addiction ?

LakesideDream · 15th October 2009, 2:55 PM

I'm a life long smoker, literally since I was 12 years old 47 years ago. Two weeks ago I was smoking 4 packs of non filters a day.. sometimes more.

A week and a day ago I decided to quit. Woke up last Thursday no cigs in the house, and didn't buy any. Cold turkey, no patches, drugs, etc. I'm already on a strict diet, so no increase over 1250 cal. daily.

The first two days were difficult. Irratible, eyes hurt, felt gritty. Bad taste in the mouth, lots of phlem.

After a week (today) nothing, no desire, smiling when I realize I won't be paying $1050 a month for cigarettes. That was my purpose in quitting. I couldn't be successfully retired when I had that thousand dollar hit forcing me to work more than I wanted to.

Is another shoe gonna fall? It's been a week... is there a point where It's going to get more difficult?

Lizzie60 · 15th October 2009, 3:03 PM

OH LSD... CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I quit 13 years ago... I was smoking 1 1/2 pack a day... that's a looooot of cigarettes.. and lots of wasted money ...

It won't get any harder.. you've already went through the difficult part..

I quit cold turkey.. and I was miserable the next morning ..while taking my coffee.. but that was it.. I never ever missed another smoke after that.. so it was really easy for me..

I did put on weight.. (that's when I got my huge breasts)...

then I lost 29 pounds in about 18 months.. but kept my big girls.. my body was the best then... my life completely changed.. for the better..

Please don't quit!!!! (and I don't mean smoking)..

You're strong.. you're strong..

donnamaybe · 15th October 2009, 3:30 PM

Oh, LSD, GOOD FOR YOU! Keep it up!!! YOU CAN DO IT!!!!!!

I'm VERY happy for you!

LakesideDream · 15th October 2009, 3:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lizzie60

OH LSD... CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I quit 13 years ago... I was smoking 1 1/2 pack a day... that's a looooot of cigarettes.. and lots of wasted money ...

It won't get any harder.. you've already went through the difficult part..

I quit cold turkey.. and I was miserable the next morning ..while taking my coffee.. but that was it.. I never ever missed another smoke after that.. so it was really easy for me..

I did put on weight.. (that's when I got my huge breasts)...

then I lost 29 pounds in about 18 months.. but kept my big girls.. my body was the best then... my life completely changed.. for the better..

Please don't quit!!!! (and I don't mean smoking)..

You're strong.. you're strong..

Thanks for the good thoughts Lizzie. I won't "go back", I was pretty much "priced out" of the habit. 30+ dollars a day for cigarettes? That what it cost me. That's a herion or crack habit for many people. The taxes are crazy.

I wonder what the government is going to do without the tax revenue from the hordes who are quitting.

I know I won't gain weight. I've been on a serious diet for 6 weeks now, chart everyday. I have continued to lose weight since I quit, although curiously the amount of weight loss has slowed. I don't know if the two things are related.

Lizzie60 · 15th October 2009, 3:46 PM

don't obsessed for the weight.. concentrate on NOT smoking... if you quit smoking ..then diet.. it could be too hard.. I know it was for me.. so I decided to 'take care of the weight' later..

You have noooo idea how great you'll feel.. everything changes.. even my hair double in thickness.. it's crazy.. in a good way.

LakesideDream · 15th October 2009, 3:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lizzie60

don't obsessed for the weight.. concentrate on NOT smoking... if you quit smoking ..then diet.. it could be too hard.. I know it was for me.. so I decided to 'take care of the weight' later..

You have noooo idea how great you'll feel.. everything changes.. even my hair double in thickness.. it's crazy.. in a good way.

Lizzie, I already invested a month and a half into the diet.. that's an investment for me! I had planned on quitting smoking.. "someday soon", I just decided to try a week ago and it worked.

My question was really why has it been so easy? The diet is much harder, I obsess about food all the time, I'm always hungry.

Obviously I can do both. I kinda have the idea that the diet pushed me so far toward my pain threshold that when adding in cigarettes to the mix there wasn't much more pain (discomfort) to be felt.

I'm not going back on any of it. Do or die ! Hurrah !

marlena · 15th October 2009, 4:31 PM

I want to quit, too. It's making me sick. I don't even enjoy most of the cigarettes I have. Good for you, LS!! Keep it up! Soon, I just might follow suit.

Lizzie60 · 15th October 2009, 4:35 PM

I'm PROUD of you LSD.. I know you can !!!

It's not always 'painful' ... I know lots of people who quit cold turkey and found it very easy...I'm one of them..

donnamaybe · 15th October 2009, 4:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marlena

I want to quit, too. It's making me sick. I don't even enjoy most of the cigarettes I have. Good for you, LS!! Keep it up! Soon, I just might follow suit.

You can do it, Marlena! You're a strong gal!

laRubiaBonita · 15th October 2009, 4:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LakesideDream

My question was really why has it been so easy? The diet is much harder, I obsess about food all the time, I'm always hungry.

maybe the food is more important to your psychie, since you are obsessing about one the other isn't bad at all.

and Congrats on Both your accomplishments!

alphamale · 15th October 2009, 4:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LakesideDream

A week and a day ago I decided to quit.

so now are you going to become one of those ultra-militant-anti-smoking-nazis?

LakesideDream · 15th October 2009, 4:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alphamale

so now are you going to become one of those ultra-militant-anti-smoking-nazis?

OH NO, NO, NO, NO..... !!! This is a personal choice. I enjoyed my cigarettes. If I could get by on $3.00 a day worth, I'd still be smoking. My cigarettes were costing me over $30.00 a day and I had to earn the money to buy them.

I ran out of the time and energy to earn the money, and buy the cigarettes. I can work 1/3d less now with the same result. I'm 59 Alpha... and I need to slow down some. This is already helping.

I will never pressure anyone to quit smoking. It's none of my business.

TogetherForever · 15th October 2009, 4:55 PM

Hey LSD,
I quit this year on Feb. 27th.
It's almost 8 months.

You did it cold turkey but I needed help. I used the patch.

Good job on your quit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!
Keep it up!!!!!

Oh & if you'd like the name of the website I use for help please let me know. I'll pm it to you.

Again, Congrats & keep it up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

TF

TogetherForever · 15th October 2009, 4:57 PM

My Stats:
Your Quit Date is: 2/27/2009 9:00:00 PM https://sepa.quitnet.com/f/images/q2001/trans.gifTime Smoke-Free: 229 days, 18 hours, 55 minutes and 45 seconds https://sepa.quitnet.com/f/images/q2001/trans.gifCigarettes NOT smoked: 4596 https://sepa.quitnet.com/f/images/q2001/trans.gifLifetime Saved: 1 month, 5 days, 2 hours https://sepa.quitnet.com/f/images/q2001/trans.gifMoney Saved: $1,154.60

sb129 · 15th October 2009, 4:57 PM

Well done LSD, as far as I am aware smoking IS an addiction and thats why its so damn hard to quit!

I read somewhere that the first 28 days of any habit are the hardest, because thats how long it takes for us to successfully change habitual behaviour patterns.

You seem to be doing great so far!

In my job I have to give out a fair bit of "smoking cessation" advice, and one of my patients recently saved all the money up each month, and used a third of it or something to buy herself something really nice. (for her it was jewellery)
She said the planning of what she was going to buy helped take her mind off the smoking and gave her an incentive.