I am no longer a smoker!!!

“So I'm sitting here waiting for something called "LUNG.jpg" to load and wondering if I should go back to the index page before it displays...”

“lmao, pretty good violin!

thanks for the encouragement everybody.”

“Good on you, Roam! Never give up. Quitting cigarettes is harder than getting off heroine (at least that what my Dr told me). You can do it though! Sounds like you're really going about it the right way. Just heed Gem's advice and NEVER EVER have another cigarette again.
I chewed Trident like a maniac when I quit, along with baby carrots.”

“Great news Roam...you can do it!!
Congrades to you and hopefully more congrdes every June 1st to follow...rox”

“....might not work for you" things.

I quit a year and a half ago, New Years Day. I was very concerned that I wouldn't be able to do it; as stated before, it's friggin` tough as hell and I saw a lot people I know go through it and fail. One troubling thing that I noticed about them, was that everytime they fell off the wagon, they would mentally beat themselves up, or just get real down on themselves. I had an idea: I would give me self permission to have one smoke if I felt I needed it and if I did, I would not beat myself up over it. I would continue quiting. The catch? Don't take myself up on it.

What helped me out big time, also: A group of the MMer's were looking to quit as well. Tarabull and I made a pact that the one who falls off first gets to smack the other right in the kisser. If you ever seen pics of Ms. Bull, you'd know that that smack would hurt fer DAYS. Thanks be to her for keeping me in line! It's been a big part of my motivation.

Being the self-abuser that I am, I love a good challenge. The quickest way to get me to do something, is to tell me that it can't be done. I would argue that the dependantcy is 90% mental. I know about the nicotine and such, but I've seen too many people freak out, saying "I NEED TO HAVE A SMOKE!" Well, you THINK you need that smoke, but you have to work on deprogramming yourself outta that mode.

I started this by telling meself that everything about smokes is bad, which is a no brainer, but you have to re-enforce that to yourself. Everytime someone would light up, instead of saying to meself "Damn, that looks good. Wished I had one", I put in "Damn, that person is killing themselves. I can't believe that all this time, I'm was paying to die!"

Where's the carrot? Well, I have a couple. First, after all this time, my lungs are finally starting to open up. I find that I don't get wasted on the trail as much, or as fast. I've lost at least 15 lbs by sub-planting smoking with excerise and eating right. At the same time, I pretty much swore off eating junk food too. Of course, everyday I look at my two young boys, I know that one day of not smoking gives me one more day with them. I would hate to see them see me slowly die from lung cancer. I've seen it many times, and it ain't pretty to say the least. The last carrot: The money saved on smokes, goes toward more expensive beer!

In closing, congrats on becoming a non-smoker. I truly hope it works out for you. If you want some goot motivation, bring up the "Michigan Mountianeers Support Group" thread, reset the date to "all" and look at some of the pics Pathman posted for us. It's pretty gross what cigs do to ya. Thanks be to him for helping me as well. Never quit quiting, it's not worth it to beat yerself up if you have one, just try to not have another!

Good luck!”

“Congrats and good luck, Roam.

Just remember this one little thing that got me through temptations when I quit: If you decide to smoke another ciggie, it will not be Geobeet you will hurt by doing that silly little thing!

Go for it.”

“Scorch, didn't I see you with a cig in your hand in one of your Japan pics?”

“Roam.....those lungs will get a workout in the Smokies.”

“Yep, I'm lookin forward to it!”

“Good on ya.

It can be done and you can do it.

I'm a kid from the East end of Montreal and we start smoking early - 9 for me. I quit at 24 and it was by far the hardest thing I ever did - and I swore that if I started smoking again I'd never again try to quit.

I started again after being smoke-free for five years. After two years of slavery I quit and I have been smoke-free for twenty years.

If I can do it you can too.

Good luck.

Doug”

“I stopped with the help of bazoka gum.

it was kinda easy at first, but then it did get harder.
But roam, you will get over it, I promise. keep at it. when ever you have an urge, chew gum. 2 years and 3 months later, I am now jogging and my lungs feel great. it took 2 years for that to happen.

good luck and you will do it!
god bless bazooka joe”

“I quit 3 1/2 years ago after 13 years of smoking. This timeline fits pretty closely with everyone I have spoken to that has also quit:

- first 2 weeks you will almost kill someone; this may be easier if you have the Patch or nic gum
- after 4 weeks most daily cravings are gone, but beer or a large meal will still bring on a nic fit; at this point your mental routines are changing so you don't automatically reach for the pack when you get in the car or when you wake up
- after 3 months you don't think about it most days, but beer or a large meal will give you an occasional nic fit
- after 6 months you don't think about it most weeks and you are mostly ok with beer and food

The big thing is making it through the first 2-4 weeks. After that you can't claim you broke down because of cravings because the few you get are easily manageable.

Keep it up!”

“Oh, and I went through one of those warehouse sized tubs of cheese puffs my first week - gained 15 pounds right off the bat. Didn't care because I knew I had to trade one craving for another and I also knew I could loose the weight much easier than quitting.

After the first week I started using the strongest sugar-free mints I could find (Ice Breakers), and chewed on salted whole sunflower seeds (shell and all) to satisfy the oral craving. Didn't need the seeds or mints after 6 months but still keep a tin of the mints around - but not for cravings anymore!”

“first 2 weeks you will almost kill someone;

is this where he can insert a name?”

“The patch is keeping the fits at bay, it's mostly mental for me. Espec after food and in the car.

But I do feel better.”

“roam...feels funny if you think "smoking" but then realize "opps, I don't do that anymore", don't it? it's a really strange feeling I think.”

“mapleleaf - yeah, usually the significant other. Almost killed my wife, or at the very least was worse than a family of girls all having PMS the same week.”

“Roam, there aint nothin to it, but to do it. I quit feb 23 2003 and dont miss it a bit! Good luck.”

“Good for you, Roam!

I know I enjoy being around non-smokers more than smokers and I used to smoke 20 years ago. Now smoke gives me a major headache. I quit cold-turkey but I didn't have years of habit to contend with (only smoked for 2 years). It was still tough though and frankly I don't remember if I used gum at all to help. The patch sure wasn't invented yet so it was just basically will power. It can be done.

I believe you can do it too. Keep at it.”

“too bad, I was thinking he could clean up the troll problem here.”

“My quit date was Feb. 23, 2001. Told myself on 1/1/01 that I would quit the day after my b-day.”

“well...I don't care WHAT anyone says..I am NEVER going to give up smoking!!!...EVER....

Congratulations ROAM......”

“Gemini, it is strange, like when I get in the car or just finish eating, it's an odd unfamiliar sensation.

Thanks everybody for the support!

Div? i didn't think you smoked???”

“Oh....wait I don't...and never have........LOL...hehehheheheh...

Congrats!!!”

“Good luck to ya, Roam. I hope you're successful -- you'll thank yourself in the future.”

“great...soon you will be just another one of them ex-smoker, holier-than-thou nags. JK Roam. Congratulations!!! Keep up the good work. You can do it!!”

“Go Roam! You can do it. The cravings do fade, then you'll be free! I went to a hypnotist 13 years ago and evidently it worked! (I chewed a ****load of gum, too!)”

“lol Ivygal.

I will be one of those "you can't smoke in my house" people, but hey whattaya expect.

lol

I have noticed that most, not all, but most of the more attractive single women are non-smokers, so I was really limiting my options by being a smoker.”

“keep up the good work, Roam, keep up the good work Roam, KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK ROAM, keep up the good work”

“I quit smoking 20 years ago after 5 attempts of never less than 6 months in duration. Once I quit for 2 years & had one after being in a serious fire & was hooked again. I stood in a smokers draft for aprx 5 years after that. Now, they nauseate me.”

“well, i've been off the patch for a couple of weeks now. I did have about a week of "lapse" and smoked a couple of packs over a few days. But then I got really pissed off at myself and got back on the patch and threw away a pack of smokes.

Now that I'm off the patch I feel really good about it.

Like I really accomplished something. My kids are happy I quit and so am I. It is the hardest thing I've ever done though.”

“Congrats, dude. Keep it up. You'll save money, live longer, and hike farther.

Best of luck.”

“Good for you. Don't kick yourself too hard over a relapse. It makes it that much harder to quit again. Be gentle with yourself...give yourself tons of credit. In many ways it's the toughest of addictions.”

“When I quit, I put the cost of the two packs a day into a coffee can every day. Got some nice gear with that can! And that was a few years ago. Today, some places here in Chicago, it's $5.25 for a pack! Imagine what gear you could buy at that rate!

Keep hanging in there. I know it's TOUGH!”

“Thanks! Its pretty good now, pretty much past all the bad cravings and urges.

Just have an occastional thought, but they are pretty easy to get past now.”

“congrats roam!”

“Good Luck Roam, I hope to follow in your footsteps soon. I need to Quit!”

“that's awesome Roam!!!”

“Pulls a long drag off a marlboro mild after a snort of irish whisky.....mmmmm it's soooo good”

“congrats roam, now let me come over and smack you a couple times for lapsing.

CONGRATS!!!”

“Hey Opie,,













you suck









LOL just kiddin”

“Although it was 17 years ago, there are a few days when the second hand smoke is nice. But still clean after all those years.”

“I meant to add, hang in there. It's worth it.”

“I quite like almost 4 months ago and last week i went out and got my favorite marlboro 27 and made a ciggarette every day and now that the pack is gone ui aint smokin again!!!”

“I'm more of griller than a smoker.”

“It does get easier with time, congrats on your accomplishment!

(3 1/2 years smoke-free)”

“I'm up to perhaps a pack to a pack and a half a month. I enjoy a cig or two while on the golf course. I stick mainly to cigars though. Anyhoo... hasn't anyone ever told you winners never quit? And quitters never win?”

“You are not the smoker! the cigarette smokes, not you.

You are just the sucker on the end.”

“I had a relapse on New Year's Eve and had a cigarette. The drink weakened my sensibilities. hee hee. It happens sometimes.

Keep up the good work!”

“got to say, when I quit this time I had NO relapse, not one! It's been over a year. Quit june first of last year.

I can't relapse, because if I relapse I'll get back to it real quick. I refuse to start over. It's been hard for the first couple of month. HeII no, I won't go through this mess again. :)”