last cigarette, wish me luck

[Maia Gabrial]

I'm joining everyone in wishing you congratulations on this decision. You won't regret it.
I'm a former chain smoking, 5 pack a day smoker. No lie. I scoff at all those one-pack a day smokers.... At the time I would have loved to get down to one pack...!

It had gotten to the point where I couldn't stand smoking anymore; so, I made the decision, too. I told myself that if I could replace the habit of putting a cigarette to my mouth for about a week or so, that I could succeed. I quit for 2 months, but I still wasn't free of the habit. When I'd look at someone's pack of cigarettes, I'd still want one. I told myself, one cigarette couldn't hurt. HA! I was right back to 5 packs a day again!

A very wise man told me that you have to find a REAL reason to successfully quit. Surprisingly, he said health wasn't it. For some, it is, but for most it's not. At the time, I worked at a convenience store and watched customers coming in just out of the hospital, lugging air tanks with them just to buy a pack of cigarettes.

I found my reason not long after (martial arts) and I haven't regretted it once. Money was tight, so I chewed Big Red gum because I like the cinnamon flavor. Every time I thought of a cigarette, I'd put a piece in my mouth. I'd chomp on them with such vigor that customers would tease me. My boss was understanding and allowed me to do this while I worked. I'm proud to say that I've been free of cigarettes since 1999. I can be around any smoker now and not be affected.

If you want to succeed, it has to become a way of life. It sounds as though you've already found your real reason to quit. And this is why you'll succeed....

[Tangri]

Posted by dreamer (here)
I am turning 30 today, and as a gift to myself and my family, I am quitting cigarettes. Please, may your hopes and prayers be with me, I need it. Just a simple request, I don't want my children's last view of me to be with tubes and needles coming out of my cancer riddled body. they deserve better . thanks guys.

I am not there yet but with that pretty girl you should definitely go for good

[dreamer]

That's actually an old pic, she had her first day of kindergarten on Monday, it was awesome.

[nomadguy]

Dig it -

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=IYvc1IILQMU

[dreamer]

Wow, can't believe how good I am doing, I cheated once or twice, but when I did, I grabbed the oldest stale, nasty half smoked cigarette in the ashtray. that way even when I cheated, it was a nasty reminder.... and it worked. food for thought 4 anyone who is trying.

oh, and thank you all so much for backing me up. one of my best tools to fight off a cig was to think of how many people were pulling for me here at Avalon.

[DeDukshyn]

Good stuff! Always remember, just because you may encounter a stumble is no reason to lay there on the ground and not pick yourself up and keep trying. I like your way of cheating in a way to re-enforce your objective -- very smart!

Keep up the excellent display of willpower!

Also keep away from any associations -- for me I had to refrain from alcohol for a while, as I always smoked when I had a drink - always. That association was the hardest for me to break because even while I was doing good, one drink would make me think of having a cigarette.

That's why I earlier said to change all your routines - to help break those associations. I first realized how strong those where when I went on a vacation where all my routines were changed by force - I found I smoked waaay less and when I did, it was because I reminded myself - less so because of a craving.

Just 2 cents! again, keep up the great work!

[atlantianferret]

Congratulations! I quite on the 26th. It is insane the process you go through mentally. It teaches you a lot about the mind and it's interaction with you.

Seriously, good for you.

Sent from Tapatalk 2

[Anchor]

I have been told that quitting is the easy part. Its the next ten years that present the challenges to a former-smoker to stay a non-smoker.

[kreagle]

This is a very dear topic to my heart, in that I, too, battled this very problem for a lot longer than I care to remember. From the time I was 15 until the age of 26 I smoked, and of course with time, the problem just got worse and worse. I personally had gotten to the point of 1.5 to 2.0 packs per day and was now finding it difficult at times to breathe in a lung full of air without it hurting and causing me to cough violently. Even to this very day, my own father, (now 82), is suffering with COPD because of this very same addiction, which he gave up over 5 years ago. Certainly, my heart goes out to anyone afflicted with this addiction!

As I have read and kept up with this thread, everything said by each of you really jumps out at me for obvious personal reasons,.....especially these following three lines......

per dreamer ( we're praying for you buddy!),......

as a gift to myself and my family, I am quitting cigarettes.

per Maia Gabrial,..........

A very wise man told me that you have to find a REAL reason to successfully quit.

and per Anchor,..........

I have been told that quitting is the easy part. Its the next ten years that present the challenges to a former-smoker to stay a non-smoker.

dreamer,....it certainly appears that you have found a 'REAL reason' to quit smoking, as pointed out by Maia Gabrial. Keep focused on your personal 'REAL reason' and never loose site of it, my dear friend! I'm sure you've at least heard the same thing that Anchor has equally pointed out, in that it can really be tough down the line as well.

With this being said, I just want to share with each of you my personal testimony of being 'delivered' from this addiction, also.

I had personally tried to quit smoking on two or three prior occasions and like so many others had failed miserably. When I was almost 21 years old I suffered a very serious accident where I had fallen off of a platform 30 feet high. I was told by many physicians that I should not have survived the fall, in that I severely fractured my skull, and also bruised my lungs very badly. It just so happened that a 'world renowned' physician was at the hospital and happened to view my x-rays of my skull injuries. When I finally 'came around' he came to visit me and personally asked me if I would grant him permission to 'borrow my personal file', including my x-rays, etc., to take with him to Switzerland for a 'physicians world council' he was attending in the next month or so. He was the main speaker at this medical council which dealt with topics concerning,......'modern day miracles!' Time after time, he shook his head in disbelief as he talked with me and my family, and held my x-rays up to the light to see. His words to me were simple and to the point,....."Young man,....you should not be alive!"
Consequently, I consented to his request to use my personal file in Switzerland.

My injuries kept me sidelined and out of work for approximately 3 months. As I mentioned earlier, my lungs had been badly bruised, which now leads me to the point of our conversation here. Literally, my lungs hurt so bad that it was totally impossible for me to smoke anymore! I thought to myself,....finally, perhaps this would be my personal opportunity, once and for all, to successfully quit smoking! Over the next two and a half months I was totally 'smokeless!' Never before had I gone that long without a cigarette! Surely I was free now........or......was I? Sadly, I will have to admit, that after 3 months of being 'smoke-free' and now beginning to feel my lungs being restored to health,....guess what happened? The overwhelming urge to smoke had hit me, once again, and I lit up! From that point, I was beginning to think that I was hopelessly hooked for the rest of my life. If I didn't, or couldn't, quit then,....just when would I ever?

By the way, all of this that I've explained up to now occurred at a time in my life when my wife and I were expecting our 1st child, (a daughter). Here my wife was in her 7th month of pregnancy with a husband 'barely escaping death!'

After another 4 years went by, and another child, (a son), and of course me still 'smoking like a freight train',......I finally began to 'see the light' and recognized that I, too, was developing a reason,....a 'REAL reason' to quit smoking!



You see, I had a 'REAL reason' myself, just like you, dreamer. I, too, was a young man, with two young children at the time, (....and a third later on). In addition to my family, I had another pressing 'reason' to quit smoking, in that I wanted to be 'clean!' Not just 'clean from smoking',....but I had finally made the decision that I wanted to be 'totally clean!' I had decided to make God,.....my God!


Somewhere around the latter portion of January of 1981, I found myself pouring my heart out to God and asking Him to forgive me of my sins, which He did. From there I went on to be baptized in the name of Jesus' on January 30, 1981,....and then received His Spirit, the Holy Ghost, on February 22, 1981. I had been born again!

The thing that I want to really point out, here, is that on the day I was baptized, I had smoked earlier in the day. As I also pointed out,...I wanted to be 'totally clean!' I literally had a conversation with God, prior to being baptized, and told Him,....."God, you've seen how I've tried to quit smoking before, and failed,....every time!" "God, I cannot do it without You!,......I must have Your help!" "If You will be my Helper, I will serve You for the rest of my life!"

And with that,....I was baptized in the name of Jesus'! And to my complete astonishment, I found that I had to endure '3 hard days' of withdrawals, chewing gum, popping candies in my mouth, etc,....but after those '3 hard days' I literally found that I had been 'totally delivered' from the bondage and 'addiction' of cigarettes, once and for all!! I had done my part,.....and now God had proven Himself to me,....He did His part and set me free!


John 8:36
King James Version (KJV)

36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.


You see, dreamer,....and to everyone else,....from that '3rd day on',...I have indeed been totally free from any desire to smoke again. The phrase that Anchor shared with us above is hauntingly true for so many people in this world who have travelled down that particular road. I've personally heard folks say, time after time, that after so many years of being quit from smoking that,.....'they still have cravings to smoke',....perhaps after a meal, etc. It's times like those that make me question,....."what kind of victory is that?" In reality, it is not,......especially when you can be 'totally free!'


I'm praying for you, dreamer,.....may all your 'dreams' come true!


your friend, brother, and servant,.......kreagle

[bennycog]

dreamer, mate!

looks like i'm joining you.. i had a bike accident a couple days ago and broke a rib which punctured my lung and partially collapsed it.. so cigerettes is only going to infect it, like you i would rather see my daughters grow..
so i am giving up from 3 days ago as well.. too much pain to smoke anyways
just keep at it mate and i will too..

[nottelling]

Posted by Anchor (here)
I have been told that quitting is the easy part. Its the next ten years that present the challenges to a former-smoker to stay a non-smoker.

I think we'll all take it one step at a time without the requirement to worry whether our resolve will still be solid for the next decade.

One day at a time guys, that's all you have to worry about.

[Fred Steeves]

Quitting smoking is easy, I've done it dozens of times. Going on around 6 months this time.

By the way dreamer, if you cheat, you're done for. Take it from an expert.

[Chucky]

Well Dreamer, You are definitely not alone in your change. I have now been smoke free for 3 days now. On patches but I feel different about it this time. I am sick of it so this I feel is the one. Bill you are right. Just do it!! Hope you are keeping busy and forgetting about the habit. New habits are being made each day.. Healthy ones!!

[Mark]

Ok, time for updates. How's everybody doing? No hiding possible, you made public commitments.

Muhahahahaaaaaa!

J/K, I used to be a smoker I feel your pain. 17 years total, 2 1/2 years off the nicotine. I suppose it's like any addiction. We'll always be smokers.

We're just not smoking right now and for the rest of our lives. Bless.

[EsmaEverheart]

You can do it!!! I just know you will. Just think of all the extra time you can spend with your family now. Many "keeping days" with your children. That is days that you want to keep and hold in your memory of special days with your children. Happy Birthday too!

[Chucky]

Just thought I'd let those on here or this post anyway I am now into my 3rd week no smoking. I am standing strong this time on this and sso far feel ok. Just learning the new habits now but I am ok. Hope anyone else considering this should just jump in and do it ..Maybe my time is right this time. It feels different than the many before times I tried. I just don't want to smoke any more..

[bennycog]

dreamer and chucky it has been over 2 weeks for me now.. i wont say im out of the woodwork yet but very confident..
wishing you guys welll

[Mike Gorman]

It is not even Tobacco that we smoke, if it were it would not be so bad, it is a chemical abomination designed to enslave and kill.
I know this may not be fashionable, but e-cigs have helped me enormously, i still get to puff contentedly on something, but it is not toxic.
You will be fine.

[BrianEn]

Much luck to you. Smoking is a tough addiction.

[Ouroboros]

Congratulations on taking your 1st step to freeing yourself of the clutches of nicotine. I wish you every success in banishing it from your life