Quote:
Originally Posted by ChoakMyDee
Very recent ex-smoker and very happy about it too!
I smoked for 33 years, from the age of 12 to 45...I quit in July, 2007. It has not been easy...the cravings were constant for the first month, then 5 to 10 strong cravings a day for the next 3 months, then 1 to 3 cravings a day for the next 2 months. It has only really been the last 3 weeks that I haven't had a craving every day. When I smoked, I was a heavy smoker....2 packs a day for the last ten years...my lungs were screwed...chronic bronchitis, coughing and gagging all day etc. My mother is dragging an oxygen bottle around at 64 and I certainly don't want to be there. I can already feel a huge difference in stamina and lung capacity(I was out of breath after climbing 1 flight of stairs before). I go on 10-20 Km. hikes now. I walked from Phuket City to Chalong 2 months ago and the Thais thought I was retarded.
When people say it is comparable to h*****I believe them. I was having fits of rage for the first few months while I was coming down off the nicotine and I had to work very hard to not yell at people for the least little things. It really is a terrible addiction...I think maybe I should have been locked up for the first couple of months. 
Having said all that, the habit itself is very enjoyable. I found the after dinner cigarette to be the best of the day and the morning smoke with the first cup of coffee was very good too. The only reason I quit was that it was killing me and I was sure to be dead before 65 if I continued. |
Did you do it 'cold-turkey'? Some 30 or so since I started and my old man died of lung cancer at 54. I should know better but that's how strong the addiction can be.