25 Year Smoker Ready To Quit! Support thread!

reply to post by AshleyD


I just heard about these today. One of my co-workers was telling me that our local mall carries a similar product. Thank you, because if I need to, I will try this!!

Some interesting numbers for you to consider ( and help you along the way)....

When you stop smoking the effects start pretty quickly.

In 20 minutes your blood pressure will drop back down to normal.

In 8 hours the carbon monoxide (a toxic gas) levels in your blood stream will drop by half, and oxygen levels will return to normal

In 48 hours your chance of having a heart attack will have decreased. All nicotine will have left your body. Your sense of taste and smell will return to a normal level.

In 72 hours your bronchial tubes will relax, and your energy levels will increase.

In 2 weeks your circulation will increase, and it will continue to improve for the next 10 weeks.

In three to nine months coughs, wheezing and breathing problems will dissipate as your lung capacity improves by 10%.

In 1 year your risk of having a heart attack will have dropped by half.

In 5 years your risk of having a stroke returns to that of a non-smoker.

In 10 years your risk of lung cancer will have returned to that of a non-smoker.

In 15 years your risk of heart attack will have returned to that of a non-smoker.

Don't worry so much about the cons... focus on the pros.

reply to post by N3krostatic


Hi ya buddy!!! You are soooo right!! Lame as this may sound, one of the things that really makes me want to quit...I have long hair, after I wash and dry it, it smells good only to later smell like an ashtray!

reply to post by Greenize


Good for you Greenize! I am not a smoker myself, but I understand it can be quite a challenge ~ I admire your determination to make the effort. When I was much younger, my parents quit smoking. They got pretty jittery, but kept themselves occupied by being busy, and allowed themselves to eat whatever they wanted in trade.

It's so impressive to see fellow ATS'ers jump in to offer their experience and support... You guys are awesome!

Be sure and post often how it's going for you, what seems to work best, or even if you just need to vent on a difficult day. Hugs and best wishes!

reply to post by AshleyD


I smoked for 35 years. Three weeks ago, I bought an electric cigarette from inlife. I have not smoked a cigarette since. I am breathing better. My sense of smell and taste came back. I no longer smell like smoke. I get the nicotine that I crave and nothing else. It feels like I am smoking even though I am not. This is THE BEST thing to happen to me in a long time. I would have never quit without this product.

I think that in 3-5 years, very few people will be addicted to cigarettes and will be using these new products.

Who here is ready to do the deed. Why dont those that wish to quit, support each other on this thread.
The more the merrier. And I know I would like to give up (I smoke around 3-7 smokes per day, and even have days where I wont bother at all, but for some reason wont hand them away, its really not worth me smoking at all)
The best thing would be being able to talk things through, maybe bring differing methods to light.
JUST ONE BIG HAPPY STOP SMOKING SUPPORTIVE FAMILY

Thank you all for your wonderful words of encouragement! I can not express my appreciation enough! This is going to be hard, but this is the FIRST time that I feel totally determined!! You all are helping! Thank you for caring and sharing your knowledge and experiences!!

reply to post by The_Seeker


Exactly, the more support the merrier!! I can already see that just talking about it going to be a great thing! I am getting more pumped by the minute!

Ok that make 2 now.

More hands?

reply to post by Greenize


Yeah I hate getting up, showering and smelling nice then having a smoke on the way to work. Instead of smelling work ready I smell like I've been putting out a house fire.

However, I noticed after a week of quitting you'll start noticing everything you have smells like smoke. Your room, your clothes, your car and that's the worst part but the best as it gives you more motivation to keep going. But you will also be able to smell much more acutely. You kind of forget how good you can smell until you stop smoking.

Step one, for me, was convincing myself I wanted to quit, and that the things I thought were good about cigarettes, were actually just my body yearning for nicotine.

After I convinced myself that the "relaxation" the cigarette brought was really just the tension of lack of nicotine going away, I realized there was something I still missed. That was the oral/hand fixation; I really enjoyed having something to handle and 'do' when I was just sitting around, or waiting. For that, I took a cigarette, (my last, and one I still keep as a souvenir) double wrapped it in rolling papers (to make it durable, I liked to toss it up and catch it in my lips), and then just used it as a make believe cigarette. It allowed me to continue my normal patterns, while siphoning out the nicotine aspect. Two weeks later I didn't feel the need to use it anymore.

And, as someone else said, it's different for everyone, but I'm fairly confident in saying you must want to quit, and focus on the healthier life you'll have.

Oh! And to always remember that the urges during withdrawal only last about 5 minutes. I used that fact a lot to help me get through them.

reply to post by N3krostatic


True! The sad thing is, there is nothing more pleasing to me than a nice smell! But after a cig or two that is all I smell is smoke! Another thing...I wake up in the morning feeling energized...then light the first cig and literally feel the energy drain from me and I suddenly feel tired.

reply to post by The_Seeker


Hooray!!!! You can do it...we can do it!!!!

I've been a pack a day smoker (sometimes more) for just about 5 years now.

Just recently I have begun to feel chest pains and my heart seemed to be pounding and in a not so steady rhythm. I decided it's time for me to, if not quit, at least cut down immensely.

I took a stupid route and decided that using smokeless "dipping" tobacco would help, and it definitely has. I have only had 1 cigarette since saturday and I hated every second of smoking it (it was a menthol though, and I don't really enjoy those anyway)

Buuut, I also have been dipping 2-3 times a day and my bottom lip seems to be taking a toll.

Hopefully this doesn't fuel my niccotine addiction into a worse place than it was, but for now my lungs feel much better and I can smell and taste things much more clearly.

I think those E-Cigarettes are a route I will take, I just haven't bought one yet - probably next week.

Good luck with your endeavor friend,

Hypno therapy - incredible stuff - works for almost everyone I know but you still have to make a massive effort - those who fail have no will power.

LOL Damn it. I only just got a full packet to... Have only taken 1 smoke outta it... mmmmmmmm...... Rubbish!!!!! OMG!!!! OOOOWWWWW!

Start dipping Copenhagan or Skoal.

You will still get the nicotine, but you will atleast be able to breath and you won't smell.

Its cheaper and its easier to quit. I smoked for 13 years, picked up a can a when the tax hike hit and haven't smoked since. I went from smoking a pack a day to dipping a can every 3 days within a few months.

Here are the things I did to make quitting much easier.

1. Stopped drinking beer and alcohol.

2. Stopped drinking coffee.

3. For the first 2 weeks I stayed away from anyone that was smoking. After 2 weeks the smell will make you nasous(sp).

4. Set certain times during the day that you chew tobacco. My schedule is at 6am, 3pm and 10 pm. If you are not able to at that time then you have to wait until your next scheduled time rolls around. It will suck the first 2 or 3 days.

5. After 3 weeks cut your scedule in half. Since I was at 3 chews a day I rounded down.

6. Every 2 or 3 days go as long as you can without taking a chew. Give in only when you think you will actually kill someone if you don't get a fix.

7.After a week with step 6 make it every other day.

8. After you are able to go a few days without giving in you should be free of your addiction. Now you will have to break the habit of having something in your lip. For that there are many non nicotine alternatives. They are completely organic and healthy enough to give to a baby.


I have gone through all the steps, but have decided to go back to step 6 simply because I like the taste. If the wife and I are out for the day I don't chew and it doesn't bother me. I will go 2 or 3 days without it and won't feel any withdrawls.

I am now able to drink a few beers without having a nicotine fit. Thats the big test. If you can drink a beer without nicotine then you have kicked the habit.

reply to post by Greenize


Hey Greenize, Gosh good luck, if u do it let me know how. I think everyone is different and you have to keep trying till you find what works for you. I have smoked for about 20 years and I hate it too. It stinks, it is dirty, it makes me feel bad but I love it at the same time. I can not imagine what to do with myself if I did not smoke. Good luck! You can do it!

reply to post by Greenize


Oh and also I think that people should be put in the hospital and detoxed off of the crap. I think if I were in the hospital and out of it for a few days the hardest part would be over, then they could do out patient classes with people. I realy think this should be available for some people.

What is Dipping Tabacco? I see that you chew it, but what has it to do with dipping?