Does Life ever get better after you quit smoking?
 

I'm twenty one days in and counting.... made it through 4 days in smokie Vegas but man it isn't getting much easier for me. Any quiters out there that feel good and happy again after quiting? How long is it going to take?

It will probably take a couple months depending on how long and how much you smoked

When you realise you don't stink of smoke and have more money to spend on other shit... :2 cents:

They say it takes 21 days to form a habit (good or bad). You are there! You should feel good about that :thumbsup

I quit last year, after smoking since I was fifteen or so. I feel better, I breath better, I smell better, and food tastes better.

"i do not sniff the coke i only smoke sensimilla"

It must be really hard in the beginning...

nah, i quit for 3 years, it sucked, so i started again. I'm much happier now!

:1orglaugh

Dude I'm with ya. I'm a week in. Stay strong.

Stay strong man, its not easy but think of the benefits once you've kicked it completly.

At the weirdest times I almost reach for a smoke still for no reason. It's not like an urge, it's just the stupid habit of doing a thing that always used to be accompanied by smoking. I even had a dream recently in which I was smoking for some reason.

I started when I was about 12 and I'm 44 now and I've had 1 heart attack so far. So keep it up and good luck.

Hmm... money saved... improved health... no more stinking like smoke. Yeah I'd say life gets a LOT better.

I quit Oct 4 1998 after smoking on and off for 13 years. Best decision I ever made and yeah... I still get the urge but very rarely.

Sadly.. it's going to take a long time to fully get over it. You just gotta DO IT.

Pickup drinking and you'll think less about smoking, lol.
WG

This is my big problem right here :(

I heard that you can bang chicks longer as a non smoker too. Keep that in mind. ;)

Whenever you feel like a cigarette, substitute the need with anything else. Fruits, gum, candy, a soda, whatever. That worked for me. :2 cents:

Anyone use nicorette?

Good stuff AJ, I know it's hard man!

8 Months here. It DOES get easier!!!!

it gets better when you start again

According to the American Cancer Society
these are the changes that take place in your body once you stop smoking.

Within 20 minutes:
- Body temperature of feet and hands increases to normal
- Pulse rate drops to normal rate
- Blood pressure drops to normal

After 12 hours:
- Pulse rate will slow and skin temperature increases
- Oxygen level in blood increases to normal
- Carbon monoxide level in blood drops to normal

After 24 hours:
- Chance of heart attack decreases due to improved cardiac function
- Fine motor coordination will improve

After 48 hours:
- Nerve endings start re growing
- Ability to taste and smell is enhanced

After 72 hours:
- Bronchial tubes relax, making breathing easier
- Lung capacity increases
- Circulation improves, walking becomes easier, stamina and vigor increase

Within 2 weeks to 3 months
- Circulation, stamina and walking improve
- Lung function increases up to 30%

1 to 9 months:
- Coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue and shortness of breath decrease.
- Cillia re grow in the lungs increasing ability to handle mucus and infections
- Body's overall energy increases

1 year
- Risk of heart disease decreases 90%
- Heart will have returned to nearly normal condition

10-15 years
- Risk of lung, tongue and throat cancer will be roughly the same as if you had never smoked.

I think a great thing is to keep a dumbell handy. If you find yourself making that "reach" for a non-existant smoke.. pick up the dumbbell and pump it until you're sore (the dumbbell). Releases some of those good magical thingies in the brain, endorphins or whatever. Not to mention the slight workout every once in a while.

I quit over 4 years ago and yes, it does get easier. The smell of smoke makes me ill now.

I quit over 4 years ago and yes, it does get easier. The smell of smoke makes me ill now.

Actually, I hear that's not true. I read somewhere a while back that the two fuel each other with some similar triggers in the brain. It's not just that you are more open to suggestion when drinking and therefore want to smoke, but that there's actually a chemical link.

So...dunno. I'm trying to quit myself, so I'm right there with you guys.

-HeavyB

Aj Im so proud of you !

2 months cold turkey after 3 packs a day.

Ive had urges and dreams but my will to quit is too strong now.
Every day gets easier. I have lolipops and gum. so far so good
I took my life back

You're doing so well, AJ!!

Day #2 for me, I sure hope it gets better :Oh crap

I've gone a week so far, but keep slipping between 1-2 weeks. Arghhhh.

I quit almost 6 weeks ago and yeah it does get easier but, I have my moments.
What's with those dreams though?? I wake up and could swear that I smoked! I feel guilty and even question rather I really smoked or not...it's so weird.

Around 2 months... Keep it up, you won't regret it!

you can do this AJ, you know you can. mind over matter!! you are a strong person and i watched you push through in Vegas. if you can do that, you can say no to it on any other occasion that you feel the weakness. you have tons of cheerleaders and you will be making friends, family and colleagues extremely happy by securing your future health. use the force Luke!

you can do it too babe! what are you using to help quit? the patch seems to be helping AJ resist temptation.

Man just hearing someone else is on day 2 makes me feel better! I feel for you man. Don't drink any booze, coffee, or fatty foods. That will help. All those things make you want to smoke bad!

febr. 1st I wanna stop again too, but it's SO hard. It's not quiting smoking but the side effects it has with me:
I do hate the sweaty nightmares and the aggresive/angry temper I get when I quit smoking

well, your health will appreciate it for sure

April will be 1 year for me!! I miss it so much still, but it is easier when urges happen, which don't happen much... I swear i was much happier smoking lol but then again I have NOT had a asthma attack since I quit.. Food taste so much better but now I can't see my um... toes YEA thats it lol I will be going back to the gym starting this Monday so who knows! Good luck

This thread motivates me... I think I just might give it a go starting now.

I dunno about longer but i can guarantee you "Harder".
I quit 11 months ago, i smoked for for 20 years, it was the best thing i ever did in all my life. I feel great now.

Keep up the good work :thumbsup

use the patch and you won't even think about smoking. It worked for me after a bit more than a decade of smoking.

Good plan Sean :)
We smoked way too much in Vegas !

The simpel answer is YES. Give it another month or so and you will not even think about it.

*hugs and kisses*

You're never going to have a moment when you're all of a sudden going to say "Wow, I don't want a cigarette ever again"

There will always be times when you want one. Those times are much less frequent the farther into the quit you get.

I stopped and started again 5 or maybe 6 times before I gave it up for good. Every time I stopped, there were times I wished I could have a cigarette...and times I even fantasized about how much better life would be if I could smoke (it would calm me down, help me focus, keep me alert...blah blah blah....all lies)

Every time I started again, I spent MOST of the day regretting that I was smoking and wishing I'd stayed off of them.

I finally realized that no matter what I did I wasn't going to be 100% happy, so I may as well go with the option that wasn't killing me. So I threw them out and haven't had another one since.

Here's something important to consider. Every quit is different. Sometimes you go through hell the first few days and sometimes it's easy (was easy for me this last time)...but you never know.
If you start again, it's possible that you'll never stop before it cripples or kills you. If you start smoking again now then all that you've endured for the past 3 weeks was for nothing.

Remember nicotine is a drug and you're an addict.

If you had kicked heroin would you be asking "is there ever a time when I'll feel good and happy about not shooting up"?, and would you seriously be contemplating sticking a needle in your arm again just because you didn't feel all great and perky today?

BTW....I don't really know how long I've been off the smokes....I decided not to count anymore.
I was listening to this motivational tape about something else and the guy said he was talking to an alcoholic or junky or something like that and the guy was like "I'm X days sober", and he replied "Why are you counting? So that when you go back to it you can tell everyone how long you had quit for?"

That kind of hit home and made me realize that if I'm throwing them out forever, then it doesn't matter how long it's been since I had one....counting is just another way to remind me of the habit I'm trying to forget about.

don't give up now man, you're making it through the toughest transitional time. the first couple weeks tends to knock out the physical cravings, you've got a little longer to break the mental cravings, but seriously you're right on the hump dude. once you hit 2 months you'll notice a huge difference in your ability to wake up in the mornings, breath clearly, and all that other goodness. It does get easier with time, and it is well worth it trust me.

This thread is depressing me, I need a smoke brb

I take ambien to go to sleep and have actually sleep driven/bought a pack of cigs. I've also done a lot of sleep eating and served people ice cream who weren't there on ambien.

Babe, you can do it!!! I'm so proud of you! You're my inspiration!!

I quit after 10 years...... back in 2000, it was a millennium new years resolution.

Never looked back. Infact I still got a 10 pack in my car with cigarettes from the day before new years in 2000. I was kinda sadistic that way, although i never actually smoked again i did like having them around to test my spirit but after a year or two I totally lost the desire to even think about smoking.

I know that 10 years smoking damaged my health but I can say that my health has improved so much that its all been worth it and I know im better for having cut it out of my life. No-one needs that kind of burden because you know one day youll wake up with horrible sore that might turn out to be cancer and its game over. Who needs that shit?

I think this site really helped me form my philsophy and determination where concerns quitting and im pretty proud that my word did end up being my bond. If you ever feel weak, just read some of the info here:

http://whyquit.com