Has been 3 Months Today

and still going strong

Well peoples, mrs starkers and I gave up smoking 3 months ago today and we're feeling so, soooo much better for it....it's a celebration....yippe.

Having tried and failed so many times before, I'm actually very, very surprised at just how easy it was/has been for me this time. Not once have I resorted to nicotine gum, lozenges or patches to help me beat it. Nope, this time it's all my own effort/doing....now I'm free, free, free of the filthy addiction after 45 years plus of smoking. And no, I'm not suffering with impulses or cravings ....the smell of it now is quite repulsive and there's no way on earth I could bring myself to take up the filthy habit again.

Although I found it easy, mrs starkers had some difficulty to begin with and used the gum to help her to wean off 'em, but that was only for the first week or so and she has since been nicotine free.

Just thinking, with no smokes and no grog, were now addiction/habit free....oh, with the exception of WC and Stardock....and even if there were patches lozenges or gum for that, we wouldn't use 'em anyhow.
7,143 views 39 replies
Reply #1 Top
Congratulations to both of you. Going on 4 years since my wife and I quit smoking.   
Reply #2 Top
That's great both of you.I gave up on Sunday and to say I'm feeling rather stressed out and agitated at the moment would be an understatement so well done indeed.
I'm just off to run through some solid objects now.  
Reply #3 Top
I was wondering how that was going.....very proud of you both my dear........ i bet you've saved heaps of money from it all..... awsome indeed.......  
Reply #4 Top
  
Reply #5 Top
we're now addiction/habit free


how ya goin' with coffee & chocolate!!.....  
congratulations both.......mighty achievement......  
Reply #6 Top
  to the both of you!
Reply #7 Top
Happy for the both of you, going on 2 years for me.  
Reply #8 Top
Hello, Starkers'sssss ( both of you..) I am so happy to hear you gave up cigs.
That is wonderful. CONGRATULATIONS.....
Reply #10 Top
CONGRATS! It helps me not to even start!
Reply #11 Top
Kittymalone wants me to make a cat smoking a cig for Xion - I'm not too sure if it's a serious one to do!!
Reply #13 Top
Congratulations to both of you. Going on 4 years since my wife and I quit smoking.


Orrighty then...and won't we have some bragging rights when we've reached that milestone ....good onya's.

I gave up on Sunday and to say I'm feeling rather stressed out and agitated at the moment would be an understatement


I guess that I was lucky (everyone else around me, too ) cos I didn't go through the eeby-jeebies or screaming abdabs while I was quitting. You can beat it, too, Bobby, so keep up the good fight cos it's so, so worth it, both health-wise and financially.


I was wondering how that was going.....very proud of you both my dear........ i bet you've saved heaps of money from it all..... awsome indeed.......


yep, we're doing very well with it...and thanks muchly for your kind and supportive words. And oh yes, we're saving heaps thru quitting....been paying off a debt but we'll see the financial benefits soon enough....and the health benifits are becoming more and more apparent every day.



how ya goin' with coffee & chocolate!!....


Dunno how many people said: "Oh, you'll put on weight and eats lots more...." yeah heaps of 'em, but my/our eating habits haven't changed a lot....oh, I lie there, I'm eating breakfast these days, but I/we certainly aren't eating more to compensate for the smokes. As for the chockie, well we might have some occasionally but it's not a must have....and coffee is and always has been once in a blue moon.



CONGRATS! It helps me not to even start!


Thanks for the congrats. REDstyler.... ....and you'd have to have rocks in your head to ever start smoking, so best thing for you is to never take that first puff.....EVER!!!

And Thanks to everyone for the support, encouragement and congrats, our achievement feels all the better to know our WC family is right behind us all the way.
Reply #14 Top
Congrats!

I went on Zyban 2 weeks ago to help quit. Not doing as good as you.   
Reply #15 Top

I went on Zyban 2 weeks ago to help quit. Not doing as good as you.


Just be careful of that, Craig, and watch out for anything unusual in your mood, eating habits, etc. It's just that tried Zyban twice (didn't click as to the cause first time) and it was not a pleasant experience for me. It can affect different people in different ways, and you may be one of the lucky ones who suffer no ill effects at all, but still watch for anything unusual just in case.....

Still, I wish you every success in stopping....it does get easier over time and is truly worth the effort, so here's hoping you find it gets that way/not too big of an ordeal to beat it.

Reply #16 Top
As of August 1, 2007
====================
Days = 942
Months = 31
Years = 2 and 7 Months
Hours = 22,608
Minutes = 1,356,480
Seconds = 81,388,800
Moments = 488,332,800
====================


It is good to be smoke free...
All the best to those who quit.
Reply #17 Top
It is good to be smoke free...
All the best to those who quit.


It sure is good to be smoke free....and haven't you done exceptionally well. I'd also like to add....all the best to those thinking about/still trying to quit.

The tobacco tycoons are rich and getting richer from your ill health and considerably slimmer wallet/bank account, so fight back with a very decided 'NO THANKS' and feel healthier, happier....a fatter wallet in your hip pocket.
Reply #18 Top
Congrats to you and the wife Sir Starkers.   

Interesting point to ponder, lots of well wishers when we finally give up a on a bad habit, don't remember people there when I decided on starting the bad habit!   

Keep it up, it gets easier and easier as time goes by.   

Reply #19 Top

I'd also like to add....all the best to those thinking about/still trying to quit.


Yes. My apologies.
It took me 7 or 8 tries over 6 years to get where I am today (here).
At one point I had 6 months.
It only takes one puff...and...
While you still live you can always quit again (and again).


Reply #20 Top
Way to go guys.

Unfortunately, I should have added a negative feature into that Butt Out Widget.

I find quitting the easy part, it's the not starting again that always get's me. Quite for five years during college & early 20's. Trust me it gets harder to quit the older you get.
Reply #21 Top
Keep it up, it gets easier and easier as time goes by.


Exactly, every day is more of a breeze than the one before....and the breeze part can also be taken as fresh air into the lungs...rather than filthy tobacco smoke.

Yes. My apologies.


No apologies needed...we all knew what you meant.....and I'm only too aware of what you mean by 7 or 8 tries over 6 years....bin there, done that....but there'll be no one puff to undo everything we've achieved.

I find quitting the easy part, it's the not starting again that always get's me. Quite for five years during college & early 20's. Trust me it gets harder to quit the older you get.


Yep, quitting was always the easy part for me too....did it time and time again, often 4 or 5 times a week. I dunno about the harder to quit as you get older bit, though. Never could do it while I was ten foot tall and bullet proof, but now I'm finding it harder to breath, bits n' pieces not functioning as well, I'm thinking more about my own mortality....how smoking results in a premature and painful demise. Nope, I got kids and grandkids....wanna be around for them a while longer yet, and in better health without the coffin nails.

Reply #22 Top
Great work starkers. Keep it up!


Between 2 weeks and 3 months:

* circulation improves
* walking becomes easier
* lung function increases

Reply #23 Top
Glad to hear you quit. Been on the nicotene roller coaster myself. It's been six years since I quit and some additional effort to eliminate second hand exposures to tobacco. I feel better and the effort has been worth it. Continued good luck Starkers to you and your wife.  
Reply #24 Top
it does get easier over time and is truly worth the effort


Those words help alot. So much that I'll send you a skin I made that noone else has.   
Reply #25 Top
Great work starkers. Keep it up


Yep, we have every intention of doing just that....and thanks for those stats, they're even more encouraging.

Glad to hear you quit. Been on the nicotene roller coaster myself. It's been six years since I quit and some additional effort to eliminate second hand exposures to tobacco.


Yeah, it is a roller coaster alright....and it never ceases to amaze me how people who never smoked will say things like: "Aw cmon, it can't be that difficult!" or "I know what you're going through." Sure....and I know how painful it feels to be extremely wealthy. And that second-hand smoke, geez, isn't that a bummer! As a smoker I didn't notice it, but whoa, it sure reeks like buggery now I'm not....eeew! Oh, and thanks muchly for your words of support and encouragement, they're appreciated and mean a lot.

Those words help alot. So much that I'll send you a skin I made that noone else has.


I'm only too happy to offer words of support and encouragement....knowing how trying and difficult quitting can be, it's a given that I'd wanna help friends and family to succeed as well....and that's what we are here at WC, isn't it. As for the skin, well that really isn't necessary....er, but then again, I've always been a great admirer of your work....