Those who've quit smoking, do you consider yourselves

LauraMax

LauraMax

Cathlete
EX-smokers or NON-smokers? Or a "recovering nicoholic," as I do? ;)

I'm coming up on my 5 year anniversary after 25 years of smoking (May 1, yay me!) and I'm STILL getting major cravings, especially when I'm stressing. I've spoken w/people who quit 20 years ago & still think about it every day. I'm wondering if the hankering will go away someday? I'd love to call myself a non-smoker, but I feel like it's just not right. I don't think I'll ever be able to consider myself a non-smoker. :-(
 
Laura - Congrats on the 5 years!!! That's a major accomplishment. Quiting smoking is tough. And, oh yeah, it's been 11 years for me. I still get cravings. I would occasionally have a smoke when I was drinking for a while, then I started running, and simply could no longer do that without feeling sick for days afterwards. So, now, when I get a craving, I simply shake my head and laugh. They aren't strong cravings any more either, more like, "Yeah, a smoke would be relaxing right now." Then I think about how it would taste and make me feel, and that's it for the craving.

As for what I call myself - hmm, never really thought about it. If someone asks, I'll tell them I don't smoke. But if someone is smoking, I don't launch into lectures like a lot of reformed smokers. I know how tough it is to quit and that a person has to want to quit in order to be successful. It's the same reason I don't launch into lectures when I see someone overweight eating something that's not healthy. If someone asks, I will say that i used to smoke, but I quit. But I don't call myself anything. I guess that would make the fact that I used to smoke too important. I don't want it to be, as it's not who I am now. Does that make sense?
 
Congratulations to you guys! You should consider yourself healthy and amazing women! You guys rock!!!
 
RE: Those who've quit smoking, do you consider yourselv...

What a great inspiration you guys are! I am a smoker and I want to stop again (I have quit several times - the last time was for 1 1/2 years, how stupid to have started again.)

Laura, I agree that I will consider myself a recovering nicoholic when I do quit again. (Which I plan to do in the next week - I may be posting a lot for the next while to distract myself LOL).

I know that I cannot have just one cigarette - that's what ended my last smoke free period.

I really want to see how much my workouts improve when I stop polluting my body, so that will be my motivational target. It's hard right now because I have no problem getting through my cardio workouts, so I tell myself that I am still healthy even though I know the harm I am doing to myself. x(

I have a lot of smokers in my life - parents, siblings, DH. Do you ladies have any advice on how to deal with this aspect? I also don't want to substitute food for cigarettes which I have tended to do in the past (although I didn't gain any weight on my last quit - I actually continued to lose weight.) Any tips would we VERY welcome!
 
RE: Those who've quit smoking, do you consider yourselv...

Awww, congrats are sweet, thanks, but I was always rather ashamed that I did it in the first place. :p

I have lots of tips. First of all, it's a foul, disgusting habit. OK, it tastes great to you, but not to everyone else in your vicinity.

Second, yeah, there's the exercise part of it. I've always had a pretty good cardiovascular capacity, but when I quit my workouts became phenomenal. Not just cardio either, weight training got better as well. I think something about your muscles taking in more oxygen.

Third, your health. Think about the people who care about you. Do they want to see you suffer from cancer or some other smoke-related illness? How would they deal w/losing someone they love b/c of a drug addiction?

And fourth, most importantly, my main motivator: the mirror! Smoking is 2nd only to the sun when it comes to skin damage. I already have enough UV damage, I didn't want to make it twice as bad w/cigs. I quit when I turned 35 & the signs of aging were starting to show. I saw results immediately in my skin texture. That's probably what's kept me going the last 5 years.

I used the patch. It helped a lot. I think some other stuff has come out since, you might want to check w/your doc. Good luck! I promise you won't regret it. You might crave it, but you won't regret it. :)
 
RE: Those who've quit smoking, do you consider yourselv...

I have to join in here!

I quit 3 years ago May 1! I consider myself an ex smoker, who struggles totally, but also have gotten to know myself much better. I am such an all or nothing person, if i were to have 1 cig, i would be right back to a pack a day for another 15 years!
Congrats to all of you who have quit! And for those trying, its very possible to succeed, Lauramax, awesome tips.

I read Alan Carr's book, the easy way to quit smoking...sounds weird right, but it worked! Never smoked again. I also had one hypnosis session (dont judge me :) right after i read the book...

Think of all the money you'll save! I bought a house and just didnt want to waste so much money on cigs anymore!

You will feel healthier, and just more confident that you actually did it, its a very big achievement.
Best,
Steph
 
RE: Those who've quit smoking, do you consider yourselv...

I am also an ex-smoker. I don't really call myself anything either. When someone asks I just say no I don't smoke. I agree that my w/outs also became phenomenal(sp?). I always did well with cardio while smoking but it must have done something to me because w/outs became much better. My skin also became better. Less dry. I just quit cold turkey. I still get cravings from time to time but they are not so bad that I would have a smoke.
LD
http://pic40.picturetrail.com/VOL395/10721112/19111645/307955868.jpg[/IMG]
 
RE: Those who've quit smoking, do you consider yourselv...

I quit about 8 years ago. I consider myself a non-smoker for sure :) I told my husband I am going to quit and you can't smoke around me at all because I won't be able to do it. Not only did I do it cold turkey, I motivated him to quit as well. My kids only know me as a non-smoker and I plan on keeping it that way. I don't ever (really!) get cravings anymore. In fact I can't stand cigarette smoke it makes me sick and I can smell it a mile away. I am really anti-smoking now (sorry) and can't believe I ever did it for 14 yrs. I am really, really proud of that in my life. I am tooting my own horn and I don't care who hears it!!!!!

Laura
 
RE: Those who've quit smoking, do you consider yourselv...

Laura and everyone else who quit, congrats on quitting smoking! I smoked for about 6 years from ages 16 - 22. I smoked about a pack a day. I quit cold turkey, mostly because I have asthma and that coupled with smoking made breathing quite the chore. I consider myself a non-smoker now 100%. I even hate checking the box that indicates I used to smoke on dr's forms. They always congratulate me on quitting even though it's been 14 years since I touched a cigarette.
 
RE: Those who've quit smoking, do you consider yourselv...

Thanks for the encouragement Laura :)

I (and all smokers) are so aware of all the things you listed, it is amazing that anyone smokes anymore! I am also very ashamed of my smoking and try to hide from anyone who doesn't know me well.

I laughed when I read your 4th motivator - I have just recently began to think of this aspect of smoking. I turned 39 this year and had to go get some Retinol ;( because I was getting scared of the wrinkles.

Stephanie - I am in the process of reading Alan Carr's book. I have found it very repetive and skimmed through it quickly and am now reading it again. I am hoping it works - I bought some patches today, but I would prefer to go cold turkey to get the nicotine out of my system faster.

I really look forward to ramping up my workouts. I have been very focussed and have been seeing good results with my strength training lately, so it's exciting to think that I will be able to improve my performance.

Thanks for all the support - I love the wonderful folks on these forums!
 
Congratulations! And wow, I've seen your picture and you certainly don't look old enough to have smoked for 25 years!!!

The day I found out I was pregnant I had one more cigarrette and then quit. I had been a smoker for about 5 years, I think, and my daughter is now 9...so it's been about 10 years since I've quit.

I consider my non-smoker by now. DH still smokes...he tried to quit once but he's just not ready...he doesn't want to quit, and that's his business. He doesn't smoke in our house or in our car. I'd like him to quit, but I've stopped talking to him about it because it's obvious he doesn't want to quit.
 
RE: Those who've quit smoking, do you consider yourselv...

Recovering Nicoholic definitely! I miss my little frinds lol! Seriously though, as much as I miss it I don't regret quitting for a second. Congratulations to Laura and all you other quitters:)

I quit cold turkey in November of 2006 after smoking off and on for about 20 years (yikes!) I never had the ceremonial last cigarette and I think that helped with my success. I always had the pack there if I needed it but would talk myself down from the cravings when they came.

Wishing huge success to all you current and future former smokers!

Coni
 
I'll go with "recovering nicoholic." I quit almost nine years ago, and I still love the smell and could still start right back up. Fortunately, the desire is not overwhelming, and most of the time I'm VERY glad I no long smoke.

Shari
 
Hmmm I dunno. I quit 21 years ago and I definitely consider myself a non smoker. I think I'm more sensitive to smoke than someone who has never smoked and I can't stand to be around it! I NEVER have a craving for a cigarette so maybe there is a time element to losing the desire, but it might be 15 or 20 years!

Congratulations on quitting, Laura. It's a tough thing to do, particularly if you're around people who smoke or in situations where you were used to smoking.
 
I quite them for GOOD (after several attempts and started up again etc..) 14 years ago. I still, think about having a fag with a cuppa!

THE BEST thing that got to me and has kept me off them is "THEY MAKE YOU AGE" You will get wrinkles! So, its realtively easily not to light up, because i FEAR that DREADED wrinkle.x(

I quit cold turkey, once I found out I would wrinkle up like an old prune! And i havn't had one since

I described my self as an ex smoker.

Did you guys in the States ever get the T.V add many years ago now, that had a "smokers" aorta and squeezed out the fat deposits from the wall of the aorta? YUK!! That add assisted to put me off the smokes too!

Andrea
 
I guess I think of myself as a non-smoker--it has been 16 years since I had a cigarette, but I do have "smoking" dreams now and then and still occasionally have strong cravings. Still. Nicotine is a powerful drug.

congrats on your 5 years
Maggie:)
 
I guess i would cosider myself a nonsmoker! I quit 7yrs ago as soon as I found out I was pregnate..cold turkey!

The only time i get cravings is when i happen to be drinking(and i aint' talking diet coke either;-)) and there is somebody who is smoking around me. Then i want one,but have yet to pick one up:)
 
>EX-smokers or NON-smokers? Or a "recovering nicoholic," as I
>do? ;)
>
>I'm coming up on my 5 year anniversary after 25 years of
>smoking (May 1, yay me!) and I'm STILL getting major cravings,
>especially when I'm stressing. I've spoken w/people who quit
>20 years ago & still think about it every day. I'm wondering
>if the hankering will go away someday? I'd love to call
>myself a non-smoker, but I feel like it's just not right. I
>don't think I'll ever be able to consider myself a non-smoker.
>:-(
It has been 10 years for me & I still get cravings, sometimes it wakes me up. My doctor told me that nicotine addiction is harder to kick than heroin. Congrats to you & to anyone who can quit

karen:)
 
I quit a week and a half ago while I was on vacation. I'm taking Chantix, the fairly new prescription drug that controls cravings. It's worked amazingly well for me. I was on vacation with a group and some of them are smokers. I could sit next to them all afternoon and even smell their smoke without getting a craving at all. I have tried everything in the past: the gum, the patch, cold turkey, only smoking x number of cigarettes per day, etc. Chantix is the thing that worked for me. It's expensive, but worth it!

anne
 
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