Smoking ceasefire!

[Koala77]

Yesterday was my one year anniversary of giving up the dreaded cigarettes.

After smoking for nearly 40 years I decided I wanted to quit and after many failed attempts in the past, I decided this time I really wanted to give them away. I think that's the reason I've succeeded so far this time and not during the other attempts.....because I wanted to give them up and not because I was told to by the doctor or a relative, or because I was being forced into it with situations like non-smoking workplace policies etc. It was because I made the decision myself.

I used the patches for one month, then went pretty well cold turkey after that. I still have the occassional craving but overall I'm doing really well.

Although some of the damage that smoking has done to my body can't ever be repaired, I feel better in myself. I can climb stairs and hills without puffing, and my chest feels and sounds clear at last.

Congratulations to others who've also succeeded, and to those who are trying to give them away.

[Twinkletoes]

Yippee and congratulations to you, Anne! That's huge!

So happy for you and all others who have had the courage and determination to give up their smokes. :winner_first_h4h:


Ummm, what you doing on NT so early? Didn't expect you for another few hours!

[Bannet]

Congratulations Koala! Good for you!!!

http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q256/ilmanguns/Greetings/congratulation_graphics_2.gif

[Bearygood]

Congratulations is right!! WTG, Koala! I'm actually a bit envious -- I guess just not envious ENOUGH. :rolleyes: I hope I'll get there soon.

[dorrie]

CONGRATULATIONS, ANNE!!
Way to go!! :yahoo: Good for you!!!!:Dancing-Chilli:
My Hubby quit 5 months ago after he had pnemonia...He has never looked back!!
Quitting addictions is not east and you deserve alot of credit for your accomplishment!!!!:hug::hug::hug::hug:

[houghchrst]

Belated congratulations. They say that quitting smoking is akin to quitting heroin. That hard. Great job.

[Curious]

http://dl3.glitter-graphics.net/pub/1318/1318753hrho4qy6r8.gif (http://www.glitter-graphics.com)

[Chemar]

:winner_first_h4h: Congrats Koala. :)

[SandyC]

Congrats Koala! Jim and I are down to only 4-5 cigs a day and that's a huge step for us. Someday we hope to be done but we're not ready yet. :hug:

[DM]

Not a smoker, but I'm proud of ya for being smoke free for a yr. Way to go Anne.

http://dl4.glitter-graphics.net/pub/125/125434p2tl22dqnp.gif (http://www.glitter-graphics.com)

[GladysD]

Congratulations, Anne!!! WTG!!!

[joellelee2000]

WOW Anne, good for you :Excited:. I quit for 3 years, not one puff the whole time! Then, one stupid day, I was under an enormous amount of stress and thought 'hmm..I can have just one'. Well, one turned into 3 1\2 years of smoking again. :Bang-Head: I'm working on a new strategy to quit right now. I can't even begin to tell you what it is because you will think I'm a complete nut. :D. If it works though, I'll be screaming it to the world :).

[Wren]

:hug::hug::hug:
Wow Anne ... That's just SUPER! A year is wonderful.....WONDERFUL.

I quite about the same way -- I used the patches for a bit over a month and then felt free to give them up too. Whew ---- :D

My funny story (that I'm so very very proud of) ..... I was sitting in the neurosurgeon's office yet again and he was talking yet more about cutting into my brain.
I interrupted him to say, "Hey - in case you didn't know, I haven't had a cigarette for almost a month now. I quit!"
Dead silence .... He sat sat there, removed his glasses, tucked in his chin and finally said, "You quitting smoking is more important for your health than me removing this tumor."
WOW.
Then he went back to drawing pictures of my brain ~sigh~ :p

[Koala77]

Thank you everyone.

I too feel like it's a wonderful achievement and I'm very proud of myself, especially seeing I gave away the smokes during an extremely stressful time of my life. I gave them up about a month before I went into hospital to have a major cancer operation.

The cravings I've had aren't too bad, and I haven't had any of the smoking dreams that I've heard about.

I honestly can't imagine I'll ever be tempted to go back on them again now, as I can't imagine anything more stressful that the things I've been through since giving them away.

If I ever get an inclination to light one up, I'll post here so you can all kick my butt.

[befuddled2]

Koala,

WTG!

Congrats!

:) :) :) :) :)

I quit 3 + years ago and I know how hard it is to quit. It's all about having the choice not to smoke as you said. Keep choosing not to smoke every day. I know how proud you must be.