For those who have quit smoking...

[babar]

Did you really notice a difference, and when? I mean does your skin look better, do you have more energy, other things you noticed? And, did you gain a lot of weight, and if you did, was it because you ate more, or what?

I just can't justify spending the money I spend on smokes anymore.

thanks,
Andrea

 

[JerseyJanice]

I gained weight, but I can't say how much. I quit smoking when I found out I was pregnant and didn't start again after I had the baby. I can't say how much weight gain is from not smoking and how much is from the pregnancy.

The best things I noticed healthwise are that I don't cough in the morning anymore (no morning phlegm). I don't get winded as easily, and I do feel better generally.

Give it up! It'll kill you eventually and goodness knows you'll find better things to spend your money on.

 

[Tina]

One of the first things you'll notice is the return of your sense of smell. I had no idea how much I STUNK when I smoked. Its been 13 years now. I think all smokers STINK horribly. I can smell it from a mile away. I can't believe I couldn't smell it before.

 

[d.kurz]

I'm coming up on my one year anniversary of being smoke-free. I gained 18 lbs. I since took that off. I still miss smoking every day. If cigarettes were cheap, I probably would have gone back to it. That price is a wonderful deterrant for me. Do I feel different? Not really, but my dog smells a lot worse than I thought he did!!

All in all, I'm proud of myself and glad I quit. So is my DD 13. I quit on her birthday. I used the patch (did the whole thing on 1 box!). One of the things I think that worked in my favor is that I don't drink coffee. Some of my friends that are coffee drinkers said that the coffee/cigarette habit is very intertwined.

Babar, I'd be glad to support you through this. I did not seek out support, and I think it would have been easier if I had. PM me if you want. Good luck! You CAN do it!!

 

[caitycaity]

hi babar. the only difference i noticed when i quite was that i got less colds. i gained about 15 pounds after i quit.

 

[d.kurz]

caitycaity!! I hadn't noticed that...but now that you point it out...I don't think I've had a cold since I quit!!

 

[caitycaity]

isn't it nice? the year i quit i actually was almost constantly having some kind of minor respiratory issue.

 

[judi]

I quit 14 years ago, I put on about 15 pounds but I smell things a lot better, I have more energy and the house and car don't smell like smoke anymore. I don't know how my husband and kids put up with the smell. It must have been like kissing an ash tray. I quit cold turkey, it was hard but I had my familys support. Good luck.

 

[*Robin*]

Good for you Babar!!

I quit over 10 years ago...and felt better immediately. Really like within 3 weeks. I could breath better, and smell 100 times better...

And yes, I gained weight, but I don't think it was because I had some kind of oral fixation...more like EVERYTHING TASTED BETTER!!

Good luck, remember it's one second choices!!
(I quit by saying to myself...can I wait 1 more minute for a smoke? can I wait another 1 minute? It turly worked, because I never really quit, I just have been waiting for 10 years to have another!!)

My best to you!!

 

[Regina]

I quit 24 years ago using the Smokenders program. I haven't had a cigarette since.

I did gain weight, but it wasn't that much. I gained a heck of a lot more from "motherhood."

I noticed that I could wake up without having a coughing fit. I could breathe better and I didn't get as many respiratory infections.

After awhile, I realized how stinky I must have smelled. P-U!!

What has kept me from lighting up all these years is the one thing that was drilled into us during the program: "If you smoke because you have a problem, you'll then have two problems."

I look at smokers now and thank my lucky stars that I was able to quit.

Good luck!!!

 

[dmslush]

If you get a chance, read my post on the other stop smoking thread. It is really long, but basically says, "If I can do it, you can too!!" You are strong and smart, you can do this. I have gained some weight, but the little bit of weight is not near as unhealthy as the smoking.

 

[Princess_Aurora]

One of my best friends quit recently (I never smoked) he's really excited because now his teeth are WHITE and they stay WHITE! He said he never realized how YELLOW his teeth were until after he quit smoking and he bleeched them. He did put on some weight though but I think that goes with the teritory.

My dad also quit smoking when I was younger. He had broke his leg and had to stay in the hospital for a couple of weeks and couldn't smoke there. When he got home the ciggarets make him sick and he couldn't stand the smell of it. Ever since then he can't stand the smell of the smoke.

 

[Dan Murphy]

My best to you, Andrea. Yes, I felt much better. No smoker's hacking cough, not out of breath so easily, less colds and bronchial problems. I can't believe how bad the stench is from cigarettes, and that I used to smoke them. I have an meeting next month (wish it was WDW, but just up in WI) and was calling late for my room. They indicated no non-smoking rooms were available, I told them I would call back later. I would have stayed at another hotel rather then sleep in a smoke room. I called later, talked to a different person and they did have one, and I booked. Being around smoke today is not an option.

Good luck, Andrea, you can do it.

 

[iluvorlando]

Best reason to quit smoking is for your health. My mom smoked for at least 20 + years and was recently diagnosed with Emphsema (? SP?). She is on a nebuliser and oxygen. She quit at least 9 years ago.

YOU CAN DO IT!!

 

[joyful1nh]

Funny you should ask -- I've been smoke free 10 years -- and I originally started smoking because I thought it would help me control my weight.

I weigh less now than when I smoked -- but you may need to fill in the gap from smoking with more healthy habits, like a stress breaking walk instead of a smoke, chewing sugarless gum (don't forget to blow bubbles!), and exersize --which you can do once you can breathe again!

You Can Do It!

 

[worm761]

i quit on April 15, 2001. i can now keep up with my son when we race! and i can walk up stairs again. i have actually lost weight since i quit smoking. go figure?!!
here is the best reason i can give you to quit~ i am 26 yrs old and a mother to the best 6 yr old boy a girl could have. at the age of 19 precancer cells started showing up. at the age of 23 they were full blown cancer cells. pretty scary when you are a single mom with not much family. i started smoking when i was 13, and quit just before my 25th birthday. they did a procedure to remove the cancer in january of 2000. i was cancer free for 1 year. at my one year checkup they found precancer cells again. they have determined that the cause was my smoking. if only i had quit sooner, maybe i wouldnt have precancer cells again. it is not a life threatening cancer, but is cancer all the same.
do yourself the favor and quit while you can. try and figure out why you smoke. i started hand quilting. it keeps my hands busy and i dont want the cigarette as much. {{HUGS}} to you. and good luck. feel free to PM me if you want support!