Still not smoking, but need some support!!

[Inspiringmind]

I haven't checked in forever!! So here are my stats!

Time Smoke-Free: 116 days, 23 seconds
Cigarettes NOT smoked: 2552
Lifetime Saved: 19 days, 11 hours
Money Saved: $340.69

I stopped taking the Chantix about a month into. Some cravings but not to many.

Here is my support needs. I stopped smoking cause I seriously couldn't afford it, so it was easier and cheaper to go to my doctor and get a script for Chantix (That cost me a whopping $6 to do that.)I don't know if I really quit cause I wanted to though. Well, I am now going to be coming into some money. So, hot diggity dog, all I can think of is smoking! I can afford it now!!! UGH!! I am tired of reaching for food instead of a cigarette. I gained 20 pounds since I stopped. Every time I go get something to eat I think, I could have had a cigarette instead. Double UGH!! I go to meetings and 9 out of 10 people are smoking. I miss the hang outside after a meeting a BS for awhile while smoking.

[historyteach]

Well, Inspiring, I do hear what you're saying for sure.
And it's true, you CAN go back to smoking cuz you'll have all that money...

So, what are you going to do after you burn that money up and it's gone?

Only you can decide if you want to smoke or not. Me...well...I never want to quit again! Cuz, that was TOOOOOOOO hard!

I am now One year, five months, two weeks, 13 hours, 31 minutes and 13 seconds nicotine free. That's after 36 years of smoking up to more than three packs a day, but, an average of two packs a day. That's 21222 cigarettes not smoked, saving $5,835.74. Life saved: 10 weeks, 3 days, 16 hours, 30 minutes.

I hope you continue to keep the quit and post before you puff!

Shalom!

[jlo34]

Sounds like you have all the reason YOU need to go back to smoking.

My suggestion, if you want to stay quit...do a pro and con sheet or a gratitude sheet of your smoking quit. If breathing well and being healthier doesn't appeal to you; as well as spending that "money" on something worthwhile for yourself rather than burning it up in a cigarette for a few moments of mindless pleasure while it burns holes in your lungs, esophagus, damages brain cells, crushes your alveoli (in your lungs) and helps pre-dispose you to high blood pressure, stroke, emphysema, asthma, bronchitis, cardiac arrest, hardened arteries, never mind all the possible cancers...mouth, thyroid, lung, heart, esophagus, etc; which truly will cost you so much more than you will spend on cigarettes, if you live long enough to get treated for it...or perhaps, you enjoy the idea of radiation, chemotherapy, or rolling your oxygen tank behind you....

sorry to go off on a rampage, BUT, smoking is insanity. There are so many people trying desperately to quit..you've managed to quit and now you want to go back to smoking because you can afford to do it again?!?! The whole weight gain boo hoo, yea, most people gain weight when they quit smoking. Why? Because they substitute food for the cigarette. Rather than popping carrots or celery, usually donuts, candy bars, etc. When you eat an excessive amount of calories, you tend to gain weight. So was it really because you quit smoking or because you weren't making very wise food choices?

No reply needed on this...sorry if I tick you off...I'm saying it because I've been where you are at...I'm also sitting at a different spot now. I had to work really hard for my quit. I'm going through some pretty serious health problems now (due to smoking) and I've watched some really good friends of mine die from smoking related diseases as well as patients that I transported repeatedly. I didn't really understand the true complications of smoking until just recently, when it applied to me!!!

My advice, enjoy your quit and how easy it was for you...be grateful you are no longer a prisoner to cigarettes, as for your weight, if it bothers you, make smarter food choices and exercise more.

Again, sorry if you are mad reading this, I'd rather get you mad and thinking about the true impact on your life and health (let alone those around you) then to just go back to smoking blindly. Ultimately, the choice is yours, of course.

Blessings,
Jen

[Inspiringmind]

Never mad. Today I celebrate 4 months without a cig. Your reading got me to thinking about it all. And yeah, I took a minute to think of a pro/con list and the only pro I can think of is if I smoked it would make me "feel good" ummm, yeah, that would be like me saying that I want to back to using meth cause I have money. I am not that crazy. LOL Since I will have more money and not spending it on cigarettes I could spend it on a gym membership or a weigh loss place. Even on better food to eat! There is all the positives I can do!!

[jlo34]

Glad you took my words the way they were intended, Inspiring. A lot of times it's hard to communicate true sincerity across with only words. Congratulations on your 4 months, that's awesome!!!

A lot of those words have been used on me as well, helped to clarify my "insanity" moments and become slightly more sane (long way to go on that though!!!).

Blessings and keep up the great work!!!
Jen

[Cindi R]

Our dr's are recommending that smokers take the chantix for about 6 months.
personally, I'd have to pay about 96 bucks a month for it, but it would still be about half the price of smoking since they raised the tax a dollar a pack.
I've gained about 10 lbs in the 4 months since I quit.
I've heard some dr's say that it's better for your body, even if you gain 75 lbs!
Than it is to continue smoking!
That blew me away...
I don't plan on gaining another 65 just to see, but the main thing is that you do quit!
If you're still thinking about smoking ask for another Rx for a couple or three more months of chantix.
It usually only bothers me when I see someone smoking...
you know that old saying...if you hang out in the barbershop....you're gonna get a haircut!

[Mercedes1]

I just wanted to respond to the person concerned about weight and hanging out with the puffies before/after meetings...

First, it is all your perspective! Gain a pound or two? That is less desireable than black teeth, breath, stench that reaks long after you had your last puff..clothes, hair, eyes, ...a total turn off to me.

I am one of the nonsmokers in AA. I don't see 9 out of 10 people "smokers" ..I see the those people as outsiders, not living the program to the fullest extent..still on a crutch, in bondage and basically unsociable. I can't even tally long after BECAUSE of their smell. Halos all around them ..and they have what I want? Forget it.

You want to lose weight...EXCERISE, eat the 4foods, subsitute fatty foods for high protein/lean and low carbs. Take a walk, chew gum, suck on something if your that oral..just not on something that clearly is the WRONG Thing to do.

You know to do the next right thing, is to figure what the wrong thing is and not do that!

[serina]

keep celery and carrot sticks with you - any crunchy raw veggie to munch when you want to smoke. it will keep you from eating other stuff, satisfy that oral fixation, stress, etc. that is one way i quit. i've been craving lately so i may have to start up again - plus you're getting vitamins and fiber. apples work too. i use to eat them in the car.