Do you or have you ever smoked?

[Lovely2CU]

I used to be quite a heavy smoker, but have been smoke free now for over 10 years. I quit cold turkey but gained weight at the time, I have since lost my extra lbs due to a little exercise that I take each week.

ETA: Sorry for the typo in the poll - smole!!!

 

[luvmy3]

I was a pack a day smoker up until dh and I decided we wanted to start a family. That was over 13 years ago.

 

[metalis4ever]

I used to smoke both cigarettes and other things from 6th grade to around 11th grade but quit cold turkey like you but given that I was so young I didn't experience any significant weight gain....having said that I still have cravings some 13 years later, but thankfully I have never given in

Congratulations on your 10 years without a haul and on losing your weight!!!!

 

[MarilIncredible]

I quit back in January when I found out I was pregnant. I have actually lost about 3 lbs. since quitting (my appetite is pretty wonky lately).

I started as an occasional smoker in college, smoking when we went out to the bars on weekends, but I could go without for weeks or months and not have cravings.
I picked it up more in law school b/c of the stress.

Before I quit, I was only smoking about 5 or 6 cigarettes a day. I don't even think at my worst I smoked more than half a pack a day.

 

[nmmom95]

I started when I was 15 and smoked until I was 22 or 23. I'm almost 41 now.

 

[robinb]

I am an ex-smoker. I quit my 2-pack a day habit cold turkey nearly 19 years ago.

 

[MushyMushy]

I started smoking around the age of 12 and continued until 1999 when I quit cold turkey.

Unfortunately I've slipped back into it since the death of my mother in 2008. I'm not smoking daily or anywhere near as bad as I was, but I need to go back to my former resolve.

 

[ncmickeyluvr]

I quite smoking about 12 years ago. We had decided that we wanted to have a baby so I it was relatively easy for me to stop....or it could have been the pregnant girl that I worked with that I had to look at in the smoking area every day She definitely helped with the motivation. It took about a year to get pregnant and I was glad that I quit early and wasn't stressed about it while pregnant.

I didn't start smoking until I was 21 and working at a 2 week sleep away summer camp for the summer. The children weren't allowed anywhere near the staff smoking areas and the administration would allow smokers a break but non smokers would be told to get back to their kids.....stupidest reason to start smoking EVER!!

DH finally quit last August after nearly 25 years of smoking. Funny thing is he never smoked around the children so they didn't even know he smoked. They couldn't figure out why he was so cranky

 

[luvsJack]

Started when I was 15 or 16, quit using Chantix 2 years, 2 months and 1 week ago at 44 years old.

 

[Sgt Mickey]

I have never smoked

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Right now still smoking. I have quit 3 times. Last time I quit was for 5yrs and then when we moved back to MO, I started up again. So I have been smoking for almost 2yrs now. Blah.

I am working up to quitting. Just have to stop smoking again. I know I can do it.

I am a "closet smoker" and only smoke at home and never in public. Most people do not know I smoke.

 

[4nana]

Good for you Lovely2CU and all those who've beat the habit, best gift you could ever gift yourself and those your love!

No, don't smoke, unless you count trying 1 cig for kicks as a teen ! I grew up in a smoking home, but thankfully I never took up the curse. DH grew up in a non smoking home, unfortunatley started when he joined Air Force and smoked 3 pks a day when I first met him. I'm very greatful he quit cold turkey when our first child was born. Believe it or not, back then cigs were only 35¢ a pack!!

Sadly I've witness illness and losing several good friends to this curse. I have a dear bro has all sorts of complications (heart, COPD, vascular) due to his 3 pkg a day habit. I don't know why in this day and age so many chose to gamble with not only their health, but of those they love . Altho my parents quit smoking many many years ago, they both still ended up battling cancer. Sadly I lost my dear Dad 7 yrs ago to Esophageal cancer attributed to smoking. We praise God my Mom is a 16yr. breast cancer survivor.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Good for you Lovely2CU and all those who've beat the habit, best gift you could ever gift yourself and those your love!

No, don't smoke, unless you count trying 1 cig for kicks as a teen ! I grew up in a smoking home, but thankfully I never took up the curse. DH grew up in a non smoking home, unfortunatley started when he joined Air Force and smoked 3 pks a day when I first met him. I'm very greatful he quit cold turkey when our first child was born. Believe it or not, back then cigs were only 35¢ a pack!!

Sadly I've witness illness and losing several good friends to this curse. I have a dear bro has all sorts of complications (heart, COPD, vascular) due to his 3 pkg a day habit. I don't know why in this day and age so many chose to gamble with not only their health, but of those they love . Altho my parents quit smoking 30 years ago, they both ended up battling cancer. Sadly I lost my dear Dad 7 yrs ago to Esophageal cancer attributed to smoking. We praise God praise God my Mom is a 16yr. breast cancer survivor.

Now I know you are meaning to be preachy however smoking is an addiction.

I know it is hard for people to rationalize what an addiction is but you have to take it on faith that quitting an addiction is difficult.

I call myself a cig-a-holic when I am quit because I have to choose not to smoke daily, even after 5yrs.

It is in your head if that makes sense. Not everyone is like that but I have met more smokers that are like that then not.

 

[OK!]

I've never smoked. I think it was my mother's threats of forcing us to eat any cigarettes she caught us smoking when we were little that scared me off. I have reduced lung function anyway, so smoking would NOT be a good idea for me. I can even tell the difference in my breathing if I've been around a heavy smoker for more than an hour or two (and I really hate having to come home and strip down, throwing all of my clothes in the wash immediately to get rid of the smell. BLECH.)

One of my best friends smoked for years and quit cold turkey on New Year's Day, 2009. I was so proud of him. From what I've heard, smoking is one of the absolute hardest addictions to work your way out of. I told him to call me whenever he felt like smoking if he wanted, to distract him until he thought he could get through the craving. Sure enough, for about the first 3-4 days, he called about every 15 minutes. I was glad he chose me, though.

Oh, and I can't believe I forgot to mention this, but my grandfather actually had lung cancer and had to have a lung removed as a result of the effects of secondhand smoke. My grandmother was a heavy smoker, but she quit cold turkey when she heard the news. I can't imagine the guilt that must have come with that. Luckily, she managed to escape cancer and lived to be 83.

 

[Robinrs]

I have never smoked because my parents did.

My Dad died 7 years ago today due to emphysema and lung problems due to smoking. He smoked till the day he died.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

I've never smoked (or done any drugs thankfully) but my Dad did for 35 years and quit cold turkey. I do have to say I was tempted when I was 21-23 mainly because I was out at bars/clubs every weekend and it seemed like everyone smoked. My brother still smokes (which I know is very disappointing for my Dad as he feels like he's somewhat responsible). Even though I've never smoked I can certainly understand the addiction and the hold it has on people. I mean I know how good working out 5 days a week is for me but I have to struggle to do it sometimes(not comparing it to an addiction just saying it's not always as easy as just doing what's healthiest for ourselves).

 

[Kathi OD]

I've never smoked. Neither has DH. Both of us came from families where both mom & dad were smokers. I hated when my dad would finish dinner before the rest of us and light up. That smoke always found its way to my face. Can't even begin to tell you how gross it was.

We have three kids; two of them smoke. The middle one started smoking in high school. I kind of understand how someone would start smoking at that age. He's 28 now. However, the youngest started when he was 23. He's 23 now. Whatever would possess him to start now, is beyond me.

 

[Darsa]

I've never smoked, never had any inte3rest or curiosity about it.

I think that the thing that boggles me the most is the fact that kids these days are given detailed, even sometimes graphic, information and demonstrations as to what smoking can/will do to you, yet some still take the habit up. Do kids still think that it's cool? I can't imagine, really; it gratifies me that my daughter listened to me and (as far as I can tell at this point) will never think about starting up something like that. She's even preached the same stuff to her cousins and friends that I've told her; I only hope that it's had an impact on them.

My grandmother quit smoking after her multiple heart bypass surgery many many (21) years ago, and my mom quit with her. They both quit cold turkey, and I was so proud of them. My grandfather died of cancer when I was 16 (whoa, 24 years ago!), that was attributed to his smoking.

 

[krcit]

I have never smoked because my parents did.

My Dad died 7 years ago today due to emphysema and lung problems due to smoking. He smoked till the day he died.

I'm sorry Robin.

I have never smoked. I am so glad that I never started when I was a teen like most of my friends. I feel for people who are struggling to stop, it must be very difficult.

 

[tinkntraining]

I'm a smoker (dang it's hard to admit that) . I started when I was 15 and now I'm 42. Although it was peer pressure that got me started, I have no one to blame but myself now. I've quit multiple times -- only to restart again.

I wish I'd never picked up that first cigarette. I'm college-educated and I KNOW if I don't stop, it's going to kill me. And it will be a painful, ugly death. Intellectually, I know that. Emotionally, I'm just not where I need to be to tackle the addiction. I hope one day I'll be strong enough to quit for good.