Still not smoking

nursedawn67, LPN · Jan 8, 2003

WTG!! You are doing something so good for your body!! Keep up the good work!! :)

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jan 8, 2003

Woo Hoo! Keep it up!

renerian, BSN, RN · Jan 8, 2003

Keep working on it.......I am on week 26 or something. Starting to lose count.

renerian

NurseWeasel · Jan 8, 2003

I'm so proud of you! Don't ever start again or you'll never forgive yourself!

My hubby quit using Skoal Bandits (chew) about the same time as you, and he also quit cold turkey and has been earning my pride!

I've never smoked or chewed so I don't really know how tough it is on a personal level, but I've heard! Also he used to smoke but quit that and went to the chew about 10 years ago. The doc saw his lip back in December and told him he'd better quit... AND HE DID!!!! I'm so proud of you both! =)

StrugglinStuden · Jan 8, 2003

Hate to admit it, but smoking and smoke breaks are the only thing getting me through nursing school.... Oh how I long for those breaks during those really long, monotone, circa 1970 films we must endure once a week....

I did, however, make a new year resoulution for next year. Will stop smoking the day I graduate nursing school... One year left.

Hooligan · Jan 8, 2003

Woo Hoo!! Congratulations!! I know first hand that it's a hard thing to do. My advice is to not to even think you can just be a social smoker. I tried that and it didn't work! I really feel for you though since your b/f is still a smoker. I had the luxury of having a husband who HATES smoking! His whole family consisits of nothing but smokers and his mom is in the early stages of emphesema. She still smokes...I personally think it has to do with the fact that her b/f is a chimney! After she came home from the Dr. she made a concerted effort but reverted back after a month.

I know it seems hard to do but like my husband says..."It's easy...just don't smoke!" Ha...as if he knew! :rolleyes: Anyway, Good luck to you! You really are doing something that you won't regret later! You never hear people saying "I wish I would have quit later!" :)

~Bean

Angelica · Jan 8, 2003

Way to go, Chrissy! I quit a year ago on New Years day. Well sort of. I stopped smoking cigarettes and started chewing Nicorette. I chewed that stuff for a whole year! Really expensive- $50 for a box of 108 pieces. I'd go through 2-3 boxes a month. I stopped the Nicorette two days ago.

Stargazer · Jan 8, 2003

Rock on, Chrissy! And congratulations, renerian and Angelica. So proud of you guys!

OBNURSEHEATHER · Jan 8, 2003

WOOT! Congrats and good luck!

14-15 months for me (you DO lose count!)

Heather

SmilingBluEyes · Jan 8, 2003

each day that goes by will get easier...you are getting thru the toughest part. keep up the wonderful work and good luck!

Anaclaire · Jan 9, 2003

i am so proud of you!!!!!

i smoked for 16 years 1-2 packs per day. i can say that quitting smoking is the one thing i am most proud of... even more than making it through nursing school! i know now that my chances of living a healthy life is much better! my mom smoked for almost 30 years and although she doesn't have lung cancer, she does have emphysema and must use inhalers three times a day. her ability to do physical things is very limited and she says she could kick her self every day for smoking. i love her dearly but never want to be living my life in my old age as she is having to do now. i've learned from her life lesson!

besides feeling so much healthier, i no longer feel like a slave to the cigarettes! i can remember not being able to leave the house, or anywhere for that matter without having to ask myself, "where are my cigarettes and lighter?" and of course had to have a pocket or purse to carry them in. i also remember a few cold, rainy nights where i realized i only had 2 cigarettes in the house... if i wanted to smoke one before going to sleep and then have one in the morning that meant i'd have to get up early and go buy cigarrettes or go get them in the cold, rainy night. yep, you guessed it, i went out and got wet and cold to have the darn ciggs handy! it's a small thing, but the relief of not having to waste time counting how many i had left in my pack, and not having to concern myself if i had my ciggarettes and lighter with me is unmeasurable!

i know a good portion of us are married or dating, but i do remember overhearing some good looking guys once in a restaurant saying something about two pretty women across the room... one said to the other, "sure she's pretty, but look, she smokes. yuk!" obviously being a smoker put the girl out of the running for a date with this handsome, healthy guy. i have often wondered how many great guys passed over me as the years went by... hummmm... sigh....

congratulations again!!! keep up the good work!!!

i'd also suggest to try to not count the weeks, days, months, etc. so much because, if you are like me, you'll think subconsciously, "well it's been _______ (amount of time) so i should be able to reward myself with just one now." big mistake! smoking is an addiction like, if not worse than, any other! just one is all it takes to ruin all you've done! it happened to me and i ended up smoking for 6 months until i finally quit for good.

instead try saying to yourself, "i'm a non-smoker." that one works really well.

i too can't remember how long it's been since i smoked. i think it was in 1993 or 1994. isn't that a hoot?!!

keep up the good work. sounds like you are a success story already!

warmly,

anaclaire

:kiss