According to Help Dot Com I quit smoking three weeks and five days ago; But let me elaborate ...

I had quit smoking for about ten years until a massive emotional event triggered a relapse. I smoked for approximately eight months before I made the decision to stop once more.

I stopped this time the same way I stopped the previous time. Every time I feel that 'urge' - We all knows what that means, I take off the beads I wear on my right wrist, and I 'do a little mantra'.

It really doesn't matter any more what mantra I use- That's another story. What matters, and I have no problem explaining this, Is That I'm Not Smoking ...

After smoking for over forty years, most of us here know how powerful that must be ...

At my age, I'm hardly worried about 'my image' any more < Grin >. Besides- Like my dad used to say, " They don't chase me like they used to. "

Thank you, all of you for your input. It is so important. I have found that each person needs to do "their thing" to make this quitting thing tolerable. So my way to quit may not fit into some elses "quit plan". That's why I think an ex-smoker's input is so important. I am on day 39 and still smoke-free. I applaud your achievement and thank you for joining.

ColeenM

I too recently quit smoking, and I congratulate all of you and myself for a brave and brilliant decision.

I quit on September 21. I had tried a few months before (unsucessfully)to quit....I've smoked for 36 years. Mostly a pack a day.

This is what made me do it....

We usually go out to dinner on Friday nights, and this being Friday was no different. I also usually have two margaritas at our favorite restraunt. When we got home I went out to the deck to smoke a cigarette. When I rose to go into the house, I noticed my heart rate seemed fast. I went in and took my blood pressure ( which also monitors heart rate) and my heart was beating at 95 beats a minute!!! My normal heartrate is 54-58. WOW!!! That shocked me...and scared me as well.

When I awoke the following morning, I realized that I had slept for 10 hours and had a 10 hour quit going. I haven't smoked since...

Now I will tell you that I am using the gum and I really don't care if I get addicted to that..LOL! Seriously, It really has helped me overcome the anxiety that I associated with quitting.

I agree with Singulus, online help was good to look at and get ideas. One of the things they spoke about frequently was NOPE. Not One Puff Ever. Consequently, I made up a little ditty that I repeat to myself ( almost like a march) that has helped me a great deal. It goes like this...

"Today I won't have one puff,

'Cause one puff is never enough.

A puff or a pack,

It all takes you back

To that nasty, smelly old stuff

So, today I won't have one puff"

It's worked well for me...

I still miss a smoke occassionally, but I feel so much better not smoking!!! Good luck to anyone quitting!! It can be done!

Spunky

it's one day at a time-when you get antsy, try saying 'ok, i'll consider having a smoke in 2 hours but right now, i won't'...and then breathe smokeless air into your lungs.

the urge will subside because you want it to-if you really don't, it won't and you'll light up.

and if you do, quit again. it takes smokers many times of trying before we actually do-

you will because you're mind will haunt you until you do.

I have been 8 years tobacco free last summer. since then I found I am diabetic, Had triple by-pass surgery & am going in for a prostate biopsy on Wednesday. Imagine I would be dead & buried by now if I had continued. It was probably the one million & tenth time I had "Quit". Previously up to 3 years.

My Mantra was "F*#K you Phillip-Morris! Every time I had the urge I would repeat that to myself thinking how I was giving a pack of Lying thieving Corporations my hard earned money for the privilege of killing myself.I still on occasion get the "urge".

The thing that PO's me off today is a recent study shows that stopping cigarette smoke does little or no good in the prevention of Lung Cancer. Once a smoker there is no safety from the Big C in the lung. ain't that the Sh#ts? So youngsters, PLEASE DO NOT START!

That is a sad truth (see article below, which I think is what you are referring to), but there are also some extremely positive health benefits as well.....I just want everyone to see these, too.

When Smokers Quit – What Are the Benefits Over Time?

20 minutes after quitting: Your heart rate and blood pressure drops.

12 hours after quitting: The carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal.

2 weeks to 3 months after quitting: Your circulation improves and your lung function increases.

1 to 9 months after quitting: Coughing and shortness of breath decrease; cilia (tiny hair-like structures that move mucus out of the lungs) regain normal function in the lungs, increasing the ability to handle mucus, clean the lungs, and reduce the risk of infection.

1 year after quitting: The excess risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker's.

5 years after quitting: Your stroke risk is reduced to that of a nonsmoker 5 to 15 years after quitting.

10 years after quitting: The lung cancer death rate is about half that of a continuing smoker's. The risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, cervix, and pancreas decrease.

15 years after quitting: The risk of coronary heart disease is that of a nonsmoker's. - American Cancer Society

Aug. 29, 2007 -- Smoking is by far the biggest cause of lung cancer, but about half of new cancers occur among people who have given up tobacco. Now new genetic research may help explain why former smokers remain at risk.

A history of heavy smoking was found to switch on genes that may increase susceptibility to lung cancer and switch off genes that fight the cancer, the genetic analysis shows.

Much of the genetic damage caused by smoking was reversible when people kicked the habit, but some DNA repair genes were irreversibly affected by smoking.

Since it is not clear how much smoking is needed to cause this irreversible effect, the public health message from the research is a familiar one.

"If you don’t smoke, don't start," researcher Wan L. Lam, PhD, tells WebMD. "And if you do smoke, quit as soon as possible because you may still be able to avoid these irreversible genetic changes that can lead to lung cancer."

The analysis is published in the latest issue of the journal BMC Genomics.