My pregnant little sister is in town, along with her husband. I am excited to see them, but wary of the reaction I will get if I tell them I quit smoking. They are both vehemently opposed to smoking, so I am sure they would be happy for me, but they would also be skeptical and I really don’t need to hear that shit right now. Add to that the fact that my mom still smokes, I don’t want any negative attention brought down on here. So I came here to celebrate.
I have not smoked for: Two days, 22 hours, 47 minutes and 52 seconds. 176 cigarettes not smoked, saving $22.47. Life saved: 14 hours, 40 minutes.
176 cigarettes…really now? That seems like an insane number after being just shy of three days. I am using the patch, the very occasional nicotine lozenge, and a few puffs on an e-cig first thing in the morning and right after dinner. That’s probably not recommended, but that’s what I’m doing and it is working for me, thus far. There are so many opinionated assholes in the “quit smoking” forums, and everyone is an “expert,” and the whole thing resembles the bad parts of Alcoholic Anonymous.
I’m not saying that AA doesn’t help some people quit drinking, but not everyone responds to that sort of thing. What I DO respond to is feeling already like my lungs are healthier, that I don’t smell like smoke (other than the stale-ishness still in my clothes and car and coat), and the satisfaction of knowing that I am accomplishing something important.
Even though my mom smokes, I receive probably the most support from her. She is really proud of me, and that means a lot. She pointed out that I have given up some difficult things for no reason other than my health. I gave up drinking in April of 2012, not because I had a problem or needed to or my doctor recommended it, but because I knew it interfered with my meds. I haven’t had a drop since, and it really hasn’t been all that hard. I don’t think it hurts that I do occasionally enjoy a virgin margarita or virgin Bloody Mary mix on ice. 😀
I am giving up smoking mainly because I am tired of how my lungs feel and how limited I am as far as physical activity. I really want to lose some weight, and while I know that most people who quit smoking gain weight initially, I am fully confident that I won’t because I will be more active. And even if I do, an extra 15 or 20 pounds can be easily lost with some exercise and moderate diet.
I’m just saying, gaining a little weight is the least of my concerns. I have actually dropped almost 10 pounds in the last two weeks, without trying too hard. I just have been leaving something on my plate and eating only until I am full. So, progress made on both fronts.
So there’s some more quitting smoking blah-blah-blah for now, and maybe after Thanksgiving today I’ll feel more motivated in posting about it. For now, this will have to do!
RosieSmrtiePants 
Yay YOU! My husband who has not had a drink in about 8 years — he could probably tell you almost to the hour how long it’s been — makes a wicked virgin bloody mary. Hs virgin marys saved me from starvation and probably madness.
I found spicy food helped with quitting smoking — where the Virgin Marys come into the equation. My mouth needed soothing, not just my nerves. Smoking isn’t about just nicotine. We get addicted to holding the cigarette, lighting it, taking the first drag, etc. It used to be part of my writing process. When I needed a break to think, I’d have a cigarette. I literally didn’t know how to take a break without a smoke and had to figure out other things to do with my time and my hands. A friend of mine took up crocheting. Another used to eat popcorn, one kernal at a time. When my husband was quitting drinking, he ate. Ravenously. Things he had never liked before.
I think NOT telling people right now is a wise decision. You really don’t need extra pressure. They may notice anyhow, but if they don’t, you aren’t obligated to inform them. You are doing it for personal reasons … the only reasons that count.
A final anecdote: I had a boss who got hooked on heroine. He quit heroine relatively easily, largely by breaking away from the people with whom he had indulged the habit. He said quitting smoking was much, much harder.
It was the greatest test of my determination and will in my life, the hardest thing I did. Don’t let anyone tell you it’s no big deal. It’s a big deal.
Hang tough.
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Thank you so much, Marilyn, for taking the time for a long reply. I need all the inspiration I can get at this point. I think you are right about not telling people and now there are people I wish I hadn’t told, but I can’t go around untelling, unfortunately. And now I want an extra-spicy Virgin Bloody Mary. With two pickles, because that’s how it’s best served. 😀
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Which is worse, Rosa… dog poop on your shoe or a cigarette in yer mouth? 😉 Agree with Marilyn… It’s a HUGE deal. And also, the thought of quietly working on quitting as opposed to “coming out” with an announcement. Unfortunately, those who are the worst critics of smoking are often the least able to find the right thing to say that’s actually helpful. It also creates a watchful attitude… and who needs that schitt when you’re fighting for yer life? All that does is create an extra stressor when it’s least needed. It’s about you, not pleasing someone else.
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I know you and Marilyn are so right. There are just a couple people (you know who, Mom) that I was really excited to tell and then it just fell flat. And they are the worst critics of smoking, but they don’t have anything to say that will make you want to stay quit.
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