Week 4 of Not Smoking!

@Rallon (441)
United States
September 27, 2010 1:19pm CST
So I just entered into my fourth week of not smoking cigarettes! I am very happy that it seems I have finally kicked the habit. Already I can see a big difference in my sleep, breath and wallet! I have to admit that it has been fairly hard to stick with it, but somehow I have managed to go 22 days cold turkey. Anybody have any advice on how to keep my mind off of my lost addiction? It doesn't help that all of my friends smoke ( they say they want to quit too - we will see ). I'm trying to use the saved money on buying healthier items such as juice and veggies.
7 people like this
17 responses
• Canada
27 Sep 10
Congrats!! You are doing great. I once smoked as well, I quit 14 years ago in October, best thing I ever did. It is hard but you can do it, you have already gotten over the hardest part, it will get easier. What I did to get my mind and keep it off smoking was first I didn't do any activities with those friends who smoke especially if I often smoked at those activities, for the first while, after awhile I found that I could be around smokers and it didn't bother me except to make me cough. Then I changed my habits at the time of day when I would usually smoke, I found those the hardest times, like first thing in morning and after meals. I made it a habit to be doing something else then, anything, for awhile I would have a cup of coffee or tea, see I replaced smoke time with coffee or tea time. I found that if I went for a walk that would take my mind off smoking and sometimes hanging somewhere were you can't smoke helps too. Trying something new worked for me as well, I took up a new hobby. I found after awhile that being around a smoker bothered me some, not that it made me want to smoke but the opposite, I couldn't stand the smell of the smoke on their clothes. Have you noticed that yet? How strong it smells. I can now tell when a person walks in a room with me if they smoke, no matter what they use to try to cover it up. Keep up the good work!
@Rallon (441)
• United States
27 Sep 10
Thanks and congrats to you as well! I wish I had already gone 14 years without smoking already. I smoke for about 20 years. Thanks for the advice too! I am trying out some new hobbies to keep my mind from thinking about the little evil sticks. It is weird that I don't want to smoke, but I do. I have been trying out the walking thing too. It really seems to help the most. It is becoming nicer and nicer outside as Autumn sets in, so walks are getting more pleasant each day. I am still super-addicted to coffee, so that actually seems to make me want one when I drink it, but I have been strong this far, so I don't think that is going to be a big problem for long.
2 people like this
• Canada
27 Sep 10
Thank you, and before you know it you will have it far behind you. It does not suprize me that you say that you don't want to smoke, I felt that way too. But be careful, sometimes it will sneak up on you. With me, I was out walking and seen people outside from work on their break having a smoke, that really bothered me, I don't know why. It just struck me that I was never going to do that again! But when that happens, if it does, use it to your advantage like I did. I thought, WOW, thats great I'll never have to stand out side in the rain again just for an old smoke. LOL, little evil sticks that is a good name for them. I am super addicted to coffee too and know what you mean I used coffee and smoke to socialize, so it was hard when I drank coffee too, at first. So, I changed the time of day I used the two together and had tea instead at those times, kinda made me appreciate the coffee more as I'm not a big tea lover. I found what made it easier was just changing your habits that were associated with those evil little sticks. I hope something I shared with you helps you in the next few weeks. But you have it beat, just keep telling yourself that. Good luck to you. :)
2 people like this
• United States
28 Sep 10
Congratulations! That's just awesome! You might try chewing gum or occupying your mind with something else to help keep you from thinking of smoking. I've found that keeping music on or something in the background to distract you is a big help. You might try some local talk radio even. It seems to get your mind thinking while you are doing other things hopefully keeping the thought of smoking away. Anyway, a huge CONGRATS to you for beating a tough habit! Best of luck with it in the future!
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
27 Sep 10
I would think of all the money you saved and how healthy you are now. That in itself will keep you from looking back on when you were smoking. Maybe instead of thinking of fruits and veggies although they are best is to also imagine something that you really wanted to buy but couldn't because of your former habit. Take the cost of a box of that habit and translate that into something you really want to have. For instance a trip someplace if you saved so much, you would be able to take it within a year or less.
@Rallon (441)
• United States
27 Sep 10
That is really sound advice, thanks! I had already thought of saving the money I would have spent on smoking and purchase something awesome. That way I could show my friends that are still smoking what I was able to buy with the money. Maybe that would convince them to quit as well. A vacation does sound nice, but I think I may save up for something like a new computer though. Thanks so much for commenting!
2 people like this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
27 Sep 10
You're welcome. I am also saving for a new computer and part of the reason I was able to get almost enough to pay for it was that I quit eating junk food. I hope you get your computer very soon.
2 people like this
@Miner49r (568)
• United States
27 Sep 10
hey congrads! I can say that is an accomplishment. I tried cold turkey once and had people begging to go out for a smoke. Now, this was in a non-smoking facilty and smokers were the disdain of all. I hope you are able to stick with it and keep your track record. I have made it a up to six weeks before I caved. If I may offer one point of advice, to get to over confident and tell yourself you made it. Always be aware of those sneak attack cravings ... often they are the worst and come out of the blue.
2 people like this
@manish48 (36)
• United States
27 Sep 10
First of all Congrats for Controlling your smoking for 4 weeks. I am a smoker and i am not able to control it. I think its a big achievement. Although there are times when i try hard to restrict my smoking to 2 or 3 per day, by eating gums. It will keep you diverted . I wish I also could stop smoking like you. In the end it is very harmful for us.
2 people like this
@Rallon (441)
• United States
27 Sep 10
Thanks! I'm not too big on gum, but I do like hard candy; so that has helped a lot. Mainly, though, telling myself "no" has been the real trick to it. There has, of course, been a couple of times when I was at the store that I almost broke down and bought a pack. I didn't go through with it by shouting "NO!" to myself - on the inside of my head, of course. Otherwise people would probably think I was crazy from talking to myself. : )
1 person likes this
• Indonesia
28 Sep 10
it seems you have a lot of exercise every day, and breathe in fresh air at foot of the mountain, taking a leisurely stroll. it can make a mind addiction to smoking is reduced little by little. then use your money as possible for your future! regular meals and breaks, multiply to consume vegetables and fruits that contain vitamin C, it can neutralize the toxin levels in your body.
2 people like this
@Rallon (441)
• United States
28 Sep 10
Thanks! That sounds like a good plan. I appreciate your advice! I actually have already started to eat more oranges and various fruits as of lately. I really have come to enjoy blueberries! I am using the Wii Fit to get in some extra exercise, but I need to kick it up a gear and do more. The Wii Fit is good and fun, but not really too much of a challenge.
1 person likes this
@angelface23 (2494)
• United States
28 Sep 10
That is great!! I am proud of you!! I have tried to quit many times. My husband smokes and has no interest in quitting so I think that is a big reason why I can't quit. Maybe I will try again someday. Good luck to you!
@greenline (14838)
• Canada
27 Sep 10
Congratulations to you. I know it is not easy to stop smoking and keeping it away. I was a chain smoker some years back. I finally stoppped it to. The way to do is just "determination". That's no other way ! Happy non-smoking !
2 people like this
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
28 Sep 10
hi rallon congratulations on your fourth week and I can see you are going to make it too. My dad took up chewing gum after he quit cold turkey and it seemed to help him when he got the urge and he said after awhile the urge c ame a lot less frequently and he felt so much better he was glad he quit.Some people substitute candy but again it depends on whether you are overweight.
2 people like this
• India
27 Sep 10
good job keep it up.....hope u wont do it forever
2 people like this
• Pakistan
27 Sep 10
it's really a great job. don't start smoking again you know that it's not good for your health and smoking have not benefits and also advise to your friends that not smoke good luck
2 people like this
@harry89 (2330)
• India
27 Sep 10
you are really doing a great job
2 people like this
@Rallon (441)
• United States
27 Sep 10
Thanks! I appreciate the support : ) Even though my girlfriend still smokes, she has been very supportive of my quitting as well. I hope I can convince her to join me soon. I don't want to come off as a hypocrite though.
1 person likes this
@formidexo (1351)
• Canada
28 Sep 10
You are doing great! But you have to continue to fight until you get to the point that you can't be around people who smoke because the smoke bothers you. At that point you will never want to smoke again. Keep at it!
2 people like this
• Indonesia
28 Sep 10
wow that's cool Rallon hope you can break out your habit,because it will makes you healthier ,just dont care about your friend that is smoking too,emmm maybe you need some books or video to concentrate about what is dangerous of smoking,or read it in internet because i know there's much video and article about dangerous of smoking people,well hope you get well from your addicted in 22 days at turkey :D
2 people like this
@sender621 (14894)
• United States
28 Sep 10
Your life and health will be so much better for not smoking. Every day can be a struggle for a smoker. Keep up the good work!
@sunnycool (12714)
• India
28 Sep 10
Thats really great man .I have few friends who are chain smokers and i'm kinda bored of them saying "I'm going to quit smoking".Knew it isn't that easy to get rid of this addictive thing...but they never tried firmly upfront.I see them still smoking and you see me covering my nose as i do not like the way it smells.great day!
1 person likes this
• Philippines
28 Sep 10
Congratulations on managing to keep away from smoking for this long! The best advice I ever got that worked is to tell yourself that you can smoke later whenever you get the urge. Delaying it is more effective than flat out telling yourself no. I manged to keep myself from smoking for 150 straight days. The withdrawal was horrible but it was worth it at that time.
1 person likes this