Update on Marigold's attempt to stop smoking.

Firstly, I want to thank everyone who responded to my post.I can't believe the wonderful support and really useful advice.I've nearly completed my first day and I haven't had a cigarette.I've had 3 apples,lots of orange juice, and half a packet of sugar free mints.
Judging from the number of views this thread has had so far, I think there are a lot of 'smoking lurkers' out there!!!Would anyone like to join me in my attempt to quit?BTW, tomorrow, I am going to use my cigarette money to buy a plant....(What a lovely idea, Janiejoy...thank you)
Marigold

Way to go Marigold! Although I never have smoked, I hear it can be hard to quit but you can do it! Just think how lovely your garden and your lungs will be...hang in there :)
Trish

Way to go, Marigold! Just think how beautiful your garden will be if you do that each and every day! We'd have to plan a DG garden tour just to come visit you and oooh and ahhhh over everything!

Marigold - I quit for 7 weeks, my husband and I were quitting together, then my husband started back 3 weeks into it, and I endured for another 4 weeks - then couldnt quite do it, with him puffing away within smelling distance.

Good luck, I will try again in a week or so......

Hang in there Marigold, you can do it!!!

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wonderful news marigold!!! You keep it up! We are all pullling for you!!

Tips from a recent quitter;
If it gets too difficult towards the end of the day I found the easiest way to deal with it is to simply go to bed. When you wake up in the morning take a moment before your feet hit the floor to remind yourself you just completed 7 or 8 hours painlessly. Be proud of every hour, you are that much closer to the easy part which REALLY is coming.
It might sound crazy but when the going got tough for me the first couple days I chanted. I chanted the word "control" to myself. I convinced myself that I did have control over my own body.
I looked up pictures of cancerous lungs and mouths on the computer and saved them. Several times a day I looked at them. Even when I wasn't having an urge.
Everything works different for different people. I hope some of these tips can will help you. It's not easy but it will be. I promise.

Good Job Marigold.
Great advise Gwindion I did the same thing figured 8 or 9 hours of smoke free was the same rather I was awake or asleep for it still gets you closer to the easier days. And yes they do get easier.
Keep going!!!! We're all behind you!!!

Wishing you all the luck, Marigold. I'm an ex-smoker for 2 yrs. My anniversary date was July 4th. I smoked 1 and 1/2 packs a day, figured $3 a pack, so that's $4.50 a day. That was $31.50 per week. Multiplied that by 52 weeks and wah-lah!!! a grand total of $1638 the first year. I put that in a special savings account each week and it sure went a long ways on that cruise my DH and I took last year. Every time I went out on deck to get a breath of fresh air I felt like that was exactly what I was getting. Now if I could just get DH to quit, I could go on a trip maybe to Paris. LOL..
I know you've heard this before but it really does get easier. After smoking for 32 yrs. (started when I was 16 cause it was COOL) I didn't believe that line either.
I did use patches and LOTS of peppermint candy.
I still have my cigarette account and probably will the rest of my (I hope) healthier life.

Sassitabbi, that's such an inspiring story. I wish that my in-laws would quit - they're both up to a 2-pack a day habit (although neither would admit to smoking that much.)

My FIL has had carotid artery surgery twice, and open heart and bypass surgeries more times than I can count. My MIL has osteoporosis and all the early signs of emphysema. My nephews suffer from asthma and upper respiratory infections, but my FIL and MIL get very defensive if anything is said about the fact that secondhand smoking may be exacerbating their problems.

We pray a lot for them, that they may "see the light" and decide to quit for good, but obviously this is something they have to decide to do for themselves. Stories like yours are so encouraging, I just wish they could envision themselves as "former smokers" and see all the benefits to be gained by quitting. Ah well.......thanks for sharing! (And I hope you get to see Paris soon!!!!)

Way to go marigold!!!!!!!

Way to go, Marigold! :o) Keep us informed on what's going into your new VICTORY GARDEN!! :o) Kimberley

Marigold, I'll join you. But I'm not going cold turkey, not this time. I went to the dr today after a two year denial phase. I have emphysema, and I haven't been able to breathe for the last three weeks. Not looking for a bit of sympathy here, just stating facts.
All my dear family promised to quit with me, support me, etc. It lasted just a very short time, and then I just plain decided I didn't want to face it. We smoke outside, and never around children. But it still is killing me. I got an inhaler today and Welbutrin. After I take it for a week, I'm going to cut back hard.
If there are any 'smoking lurkers' still out there, you better believe that it will get you one way or the other. You can't depend on any one around you to help, you can accept their help, but you have to be alone in this. When the cravings kick in, you're the only one there. But you can do it. I can do it. I have to. Don't wait until you have to.

Marigold,
I will be joining you soon. I have smoked for more than 30 yrs and I watched my mother die of Emphysema.Ten minutes before she died at the hospital she begged me to stop smoking. Did I listen? NO I didn't and now I am following in her footsteps with breathing problems.I have a 4 yr old grandson and a new grandaughter that will be here in November and a 28 yr old daughter that still calls me just about everyday even though she is busy with being a wife and mother. Do I want to lose all that because I don't have the willpower to stop an addicting habit.I don't think so.
I think of how lost my daughter would be if I wasn't here to answer the phone or give advise or just to send my love.
I don't think cigarettes are worth all the pain it causes to not only the one that smokes but also to everyone that loves that person.So hopefully these last two packs that I have left will be the last that I buy.
Keep up the good work Marigold. We should listen to tigs warning.It will catch up to us sooner or later.

Hi Marigold,
Hang in there! With all this encouragement, and prayers you
can do it. In fact, with all this encouragement I think I will try again. I Have been thinking about quitting a lot recently.
I stopped once before for about 9 months, then the stress from a divorce started me back. I remember how hard it was the first week or so. I also remember running around the block every time I wanted to smoke. By the time I got back to the house I was to tired to smoke! I also kept my cigerettes but I put them in the car, since it was the dead of winter and very cold I didn't run out to get one very often. Then it started getting easier. A friend gave me some goldenseal tablets and told me they would help detox my body. I think I will go by the healthfood store and get some. I don't know if they helped or if I just thought they helped. But with all the support of all these wonderful people it CAN be done.
OK all you smokers out there, looks like the challange is on! How about a DG smokeout! LOL!!!
Just think how strong we can be if we just all hold hands.
Good Luck Marigold! and everyone else.
CNClady

I smoked heavily from the time I was a teenager until I was 45 years old. Tried to quit lots of times but never could. So fifteen years ago I decided to cut back. I now smoke one cigarette (which I "bum" from the same lady each time) every 5 years. I am due for my 15 year one in september of 2001. Sooo if you can't quit maybe you can cut back??