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Quitting SUCCESS Stories!
Cindy's Success Story
I smoked for 34 years. On November 15, 2005, I went to the hospital. I had pnemonia. My breathing was labored and my lung had dropped from so much fluid. I was told I would be on oxygen the rest of my life. I quit smoking right then. Seven months later I was off the oxygen and I never picked up another cigarette. I was scared to death. I was only 50.
Rachael's Success Story
A lot of factors came together for me to successfully quit. In October 2005, I decided I would quit, but I wanted to wait until after the holidays so I could have my Marlboro comfort through any family stress. By Christmas, I was disgusted with cigarettes and myself- I was really talking myself into quitting. That was when I saw a newspaper ad for a smoking cessation class through the American Lung Association. I signed up. I had a long-range plan that I was working on- stepping down gradually: 100s to kings, light to ultra-light, menthol to nonmenthol... all delaying actually quitting but somehow I was convinced it was how I could pull it off. I had never attempted to quit before because I enjoyed smoking and did not want to fail. Well, in the class, they set a quit date for us. I was mad. I wanted to quit my quitting class. But I stuck with it. I even qut on our quit date, reassuring myself with the thought that if I failed, I might still be on track with the original plan. So I quit on January 24, 2006. I cheated 7 times in the next 2 weeks- 7 cigarettes in 14 days after smoking a pack a day! My last cigarette was after the last class meeting, one last smoke to celebrate my "graduation". Although it sounds like I was on track for failure, I haven't smoked since then. Not once. The class really helped me, along with having a plan. I would recommend them both to everyone. Plus I chewed Nicorette and regular gum, ate tons and tons of jelly bellys and candy cigarettes, chewed and sucked on straws, and obsessively did Sudoku puzzles to keep myself occupied.
Nobody thought I could do it. Nobody believes that of all people, I am now a non-smoker. Really, I am still a smoker; I'll always be one deep down. I'm just a non-practicing one. ;)
I offer my support to anyone hoping to quit and do so successfully.
Lisa's Success Story
I started smoking when I was around 15. I tried so many times before to quit. Cutting back, chewing gum, nicotrette, the patch, carrott sticks you name I tried it. This time it was a little bit different.
My 13 year old daughter was my suppport and my kick me in the A** person. I knew if I continued she would have more of a chance to be a smoker and I did not want to be her reason to smoke.
So this time I did it all at the same time. I cut back, bought a cheap kind of smokes, I made a new year resolution, I used the patch, I chewed gum, had life savers, a friend of mine quit too earlier I figured if they can I can and then everyone said yea right (so I had to prove them wrong).
I did cheat one time, 7 days into it, but mainly just held it between my fingers. Then I went and showered that smell off of me and cried. I asked myself, why did you just do that? I was so mad at myself.
I still think about it, oh you can have one no big deal, then I think of my daughter, that day in the shower and say NO WAY!!!
Miss D's Success Story
I've been thinking about it a lot lately. The filter of a cigarette resting between the split of my lips as I slowly inhale all the worries, stresses and anxieties that have been plaguing me over the last few months. It's even starting to smell good again. This, my friends, is no good. I'm trying to stay strong, walking away every time there's a temptation. I sense it's because I'm coming up on the one year mark of my quit date and it's a lot of pressure considering I've never really committed to anything this long (except for of course smoking for nearly 10 years).
I mean, I have every confidence I'll get through this stage and will continue to live a smoke free life. I make a choice every day not to smoke, always reminding myself that I can always stop at a gas station and pick myself up a pack if I really need to. Then, I remember how good I feel when I walk up a flight of stairs without getting winded, how pleasant my breath, clothes and hair smell without the musty smell of stale smoke. Mainly, I'm trying to focus on the most important reason why I quit. That reason was no longer allowing this to control my life. If I let this one thing stand against the power of my will, then what hope did I have for conquering all of the other demons that plagued my life? The answer was, "I'm going to kick the shit out of this habit." Now, here we are, 11 months into my reformation.
Perhaps you're thinking I'm taking this way too seriously and I'm being somewhat dramatic about the whole thing. That's fine; you can think whatever you want. It's not going to change the fact that I'm actually proud of myself for once in my life. I'll just continue to chew on my gum for as long as necessary. If it ends up screwing with my dental work, fuck it! It's cheaper to get a new set of teeth than it is to get a new pair of lungs.
When I quit, it was like losing an old friend, one that had always been there for me; through good times and bad. I had to remember that this old friend was secretly plotting against me, running rampant through my lungs, depositing tar and things of the like. If I remained true to this "friend," it was just going to give me cancer and/or emphysema. What kind of friend is that? A friend with carcinogenic properties is no friend of mine.
To everyone who wants to quit…do it. To everyone who has quit…you're a badass. To everyone who never started smoking…you're a bunch of lucky bastards. If you've made it this far through the blog, thanks, I appreciate you listening.