Dunedain1014
20639
664
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Finally decided to quit smoking and things are going better than I thought! MV/FP Edit: Thanks for Most Viral and Front Page. "Tis most appreciated along with all of the kind words.
Weneedbees
Wait till you get your sense of smell back! About one year
thirdlittilbird
The worst of the withdrawal symptoms generally last 2 weeks, so if you can weather that you're pretty much in the clear. The mental habit remains, so always stay vigilant
StubbornSlug
Congratulations! You're a bamf. That shit is super hard. I'm four years nicotine free and it's made my quality of life increase 10x with just that one change. You're going to be experiencing a whole new world.
Mostlydeadpool
honor on you and your family. breathe deep and free!
Pikkupanda
Nicotine is so insidious. My husband tried repeatedly to quit and I made sure the medical examiner added it as a contributing factor to his death.
In other words, YOU ROCK. Well freaking done. Stay vigilant when your triggers appear, like after a meal or during stressful moments. But after a month you’re over the hard part.
I know. I myself had to quit after college.
classGemJunkie
As a non-smoker in a family of smokers I congratulate you!
JarJarDrinks
Of all the substances I "sampled" in the 60s tobacco was never one of them. My smoker friends were always broke, always bumming cigarettes from each other, never actually enjoying it.
PileOfWalthers
Fuck you want, a cookie?
Dunedain1014
I've wanted to quit for awhile now. Just was never in the right frame of mind. Came home one day carrying 2 gallons of Milk up my front steps and all but lost my breath. That was my breaking point - enough was enough.
Thanks for the kind words everyone. All of them help and keep me going. Some days (like this one) are harder than others, but I refuse to start back up again. This thing won't win!
bottledham
Respect!
drhobotron
Good on ya, friend. It's definitely a Hard thing.
The harshest realization that most ex-smokers have is, once their sense of smell and taste return to normal, is just how horrible smokers smell. It's quite jarring.
liveOffOfDownVotes
I thought you meant you quit for 38 and started back up a month ago (understandable really these days lol)
eventide215
That's how I read it as well. Was looking like ..what are we celebrating exactly? Lol
akafluffy
My wife had trouble quitting, when she was going to go back to smoking she switched to vaping instead and it got her off smoking for good, and we're even slowly reducing the nicotine in that.
SuicidalThots666
I quit about a month and a half ago. Good on you, fellow quitter! Best of luck going forward.
Loctavius
Good on you! I quit in 2008. I had a pack a day habit of menthols. If I catch even a small whiff of tobacco smoke today it makes me want to vomit.
lutasch
Congrats! Go for it!
When I quit smoking—that was 13 years ago—I had already started running a bit. Just light jogging. Whenever cravings hit, I’d quickly run around the block. After that, the urge was gone. I only gained about 2 kilos.
AndTheArghnauts
I had a hard enough time quitting after less than ten years. I don't know you, but I am nevertheless very proud of you!
JimJim11
I smoked for around 25 years and have been quit now for close to 10. Once I finally knuckled down to quit it was easier than I expected. There was one thing that allowed me to succeed and I’ll teach it to you free of charge. Follow the advice and it’s 100% guaranteed to work.
Everyone you feel like you want a cigarette…..just don’t have one. It sounds stupid, but if you keep that in your head you are absolutely going to succeed.
AndTheArghnauts
The common thread on all my failed quits was that I was trying to taper off, which meant there was always a "next one" at some point in the future, so it made it easier to justify skooching that up by a few hours, days, what have you. Once I decided to go cold turkey, the whole thing was much easier. (YMMV)
Bmgm4u
When you quit ( tobacco free 2 1/2 yrs) did you notice the world around you stinks!? Everyone and everything
Dunedain1014
Not really, although it's only been a little over a month. I do notice some smells are stronger though. Judging by the feedback that I've gotten so far, that's going to continue to become a larger field of smells at some point.
iamjackscompletelackofcompassion
At some point you will forget how long it's been since you smoked. That's when you know you've truly quit nicotine.
merrowcattech
Good for you!! I, too, quit after 35-plus years. That was over 10 years ago. Best thing I ever did for myself. I never looked back. You got this.
Iplaybadguys
Congrats! I’m about a year and a half free of a 20+ year addiction, I know how hard it is :-)
AyatollahBahloni
https://media3.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPWE1NzM3M2U1cHIycW9ycmkwdHRmb3dhZmoxNjl6ZWthM2c2MDlneXE5YjVmcnVsMiZlcD12MV9naWZzX3NlYXJjaCZjdD1n/7fCfc8ts4v1HKtgRcM/200w.webp
Ratherintresting
I did end my 20 year hobby of smoking last easter. Was good idea
zFUBARz
When we met my wife had no idea how to cook. (Now she's fantastic and drastically better than me) Her parents both smoked and can't taste shit so just made nothing but bland food her whole life till we met and started doing things on our own, she learned from me then surpassed me.
AVaguelyFamiliarUsername
Yeah, food tastes A LOT better. I gained a "few" pounds after quitting.
SamuraiChemist
I still remember the first pizza I had after getting my sense of taste back. It was like pure distilled sunshine.
PleaseRespectMyAsshole
I recently quit as well after smoking for close to 30 years. I haven't smoked in three months.
Honestly, I'm not struggling with cravings like I thought I would. My biggest issue has been the habit.
Zalm
Try something to replace the oral fixation. Like a pocky stick, lollipop, or even a chew stick of some sort.
eventide215
My mom recently had quite a health scare and finally is quitting. She's been without for 2 months now I believe. She has said similar that really she doesn't miss the cigarettes it's the habit. Chewing gum can help if the habit for you is oral. If it's more about idle hands get something like a fidget toy. Stress ball, spinner, etc can all help.
Scahrossar
Same here. Quit some 9 months ago after 35 years and, especially with working from home, smoked at least a pack a day. I still occasionally want to grab one when I'm not really doing anything and then have to actively remember I don't smoke anymore. No real withdrawl cravings at all though and never had.
Thorketil
When I had to stop drinking and smoking after 25 years due to a heart condition, giving up alcohol wasn't a problem. But quitting smoking gave me really nasty withdrawal symptoms for a week. I was absolutely losing my mind.
DidaChikDumaChum
I had the same thing. Hardest part was work. Coffee break with a cigarette had been go to ritual for so long. Other than that I had surprisingly little problems
Zalm
Sometimes, that's the thing. The habit is more the issue than the addiction. I always suggest trying to find something to replace it, like maybe a pocky stick, something to replicate the oral tradition.
ToenailClippingsJar
The habit is what has kept me from quitting definitively. Somehow something always happens and there I am, buying cigarettes again. Thinking ‘fuck’ at the same time. The habit is so strong it’s not even funny. Starting smoking at 12 hasn’t helped either. The habit is rooted DEEP.
I need to call my doctor again for a champix set at some point.
PleaseRespectMyAsshole
Yeah, I started smoking at 12 as well.
I'll admit, I had a bit of help with quitting: I took generic Chantix and I just got braces put on my teeth and, when they did that, they also had to pull a tooth so I didn't want to risk dry socket.
CALAMOSCOPYJANE
Hypnotherapy works too
RoboUnicornFishBalls
Congratulations!
Welcome to the club.
I quit for vapes in 2012 then quit vapes in 2024.
I'd strongly advise you to look at walking, cycling or jogging to keep that extra food off the hips.
Almaadin
I hate vapes but they are better than cigarettes. Congrats on quitting both!
RoboUnicornFishBalls
Thank you!
Hard journey addiction is. Never felt better though
BipedalHumanoidWithSlightlyDifferentNoseRidge
Every person I know who quit, ballooned in the following years....
yamsonyamsonyams
All the more reason not to quit!!!!
RoboUnicornFishBalls
I did 34lbs.
Just dropped 15 since January from fasting, miserable not eating in the day but i can see my bits again!
yamsonyamsonyams
Circuit training - 2-3 times a week with some weights, dont even have to go heavy.
Circuits are incredible cardio AND build muscle - absolutely hands down the fastest way to get in shape. Way better than jogging
Tobiansen
Try drinking a bit of apple vinegar with water in the morning. It helps a lot with the fasting. I can hold up for 18h easy with this. Look it up. Just be mindful to rinse your mouth with water because it can damage your theeth.
RoboUnicornFishBalls
Appreciated but I'm happy with water and black coffee from morning until evening when I eat.
It might help someone else trying to shed a few pounds though.
I'm pretty set in my way as it works, just miserable because I like nice food and miss smashing the odd pizza at lunch or icecream when it's hot!
yamsonyamsonyams
I lost 50 pounds in a year on that diet
Dunedain1014
I don't think I'll have that issue. I have weighed the same weight since High School (I am from the States). I fluctuate anywhere from 130-140 and stay in that range. I've had a high metabolism ever since I can remember. I eat 5 pounds of cookies and don't gain an ounce. My wife looks at one and gains 10. She hates me for it, heh.
RoboUnicornFishBalls
That metab will drop the older you get!
I was once effortlessly ripped and low fat and ate what I wanted.
All changes! You just have to adapt a little and be a bit more mindful of balanced diet.
eventide215
Luckily there are plenty of great foods you can eat to help keep that metabolism up. But yeah once you hit like 30+ it starts slowing down.
RoboUnicornFishBalls
Oh I know that now. Lmao. It only took until 42! I love snacking on walnuts and ez peel fruits.
rudejohn
I was the same weight for 20 years, then put on 30lbs when I quit cigarettes and still haven't gotten rid of it 4 years later.
yamsonyamsonyams
You’ll be aiight - being a little thick in the ribs is better than drowning in your own pulmonary fluids
BipedalHumanoidWithSlightlyDifferentNoseRidge
A little thick is ok, but too much Yellow fat around the heart is just as big a risk.
yamsonyamsonyams
Youre right, better to continue smoking than to gain 15-20 pounds
BipedalHumanoidWithSlightlyDifferentNoseRidge
... because of the cigarettes. There is a reason catwalk models use cigarettes, and heroin.