1 year gone by: Without Coffin Nails 10/15

[cuda hunter]

just to say it.  I quite smoking when I turned 30.  I used Backwoods cigars to help me get off the usual cigarettes. 
the backwoods are hand rolled in a leaf natural tobacco.  they won't stay lit for long.  So as a construction worker i could still have something in my mouth for the habit.  I found that after a few months the craving was very different from cigarettes.  Todays cigarettes are not just plain old tobacco.  Nor is the paper having burn additives.  I say I quit cold turkey but I had been planning it and using those cigars for the help.     Hope my experience helps someone else.

We're definitely glad your on here TopCat and we look forward to many years of your commentary. 

[BIGSHCLUNK]

Never been a cigarette smoker. The occasional good cigar on the other hand.......   

[chargerdon]

Congrats...  I quit cold turkey about 20 years ago...   I had gotten a really bad cold and sore throat so sore, that smoking a cig was painful.   So, for about 4-5 days couldnt smoke because of the bad cold.   I had read in an article that the physical nicotine addiction only lasts about 6-7 days...that if you can make it past that, then, its only the mental addiction to it.   So, i thought, heck im more than half way there...just another day or two...   So...i did it...

The mental addiction lasts a really long time probably never truely goes away 100%...   I remember for months, especially after a meal,  reaching into my breast pocket for a cig and finding it empty and thinking.. ...shoot im out...ah shit its worse than that...i quit.   

Now im so happy i did quit !   

[Spikedog08]

I too was once a smoker . . I started when they were 45 cents and quit when they hit $2.00.  I refused to pay two dollars for a pack of smokes.  I was 29 then . . Really do not miss it.  Karma . . Now I buy them for my wife . . 

[dodj]

Never been a cigarette smoker. The occasional good cigar on the other hand.......

Last time I had a cigar I was in Cuba. I figured when in Cuba you should try a Cohiba. So I did. Didn't know you are not supposed to inhale when puffing a cigar. I think I turned green. The Glenlivet scotch with it was very good though.

Back on topic though, it must be very hard to quit. I know a few who quit, but many more who died trying.

[gzig5]

Congratulations! 

I think I hit one year since quitting in August.  After screwing around for years I just quit cold turkey.  Use to do about 3 packs a week, not a ton but none is better.  It really sucked for the first few weeks and it was important to keep myself busy.  Idle hands get me in trouble in more ways than one.

I finally was able to quit because I bought my Cuda.  In the spirit of you have to go along to get along, I let my wife put me on a budget/allowance years ago. Smokes are $8+ a pack nowadays.  The $100+ a month I spent on smokes significantly affected my ability to by parts for the car.  I also almost stopped eating out for lunch which helps a ton.  Probably saving $250-300 a month between smoking and brown bagging it.   I feel a lot better, and eat better so I didn't gain a ton of weight.  All that savings goes to get parts and it is amazing how fast the pile disappears!

All I can say is stick with it.  I still get urges but I think I'm over the hump.  If you still smoke, figure out how to quit. The savings for more car parts can be an extra incentive.

[bentpshrods]

   Way to go.  I smoked for a bit over twenty years or so. Developed a pretty nasty cough that wasn't going away so I finally went to a doctor. He took X-rays and said it looks like emphysema was starting. F-that I thought. I don't know if he was lying to me or not but it did the trick. Have been smoke free for 25 years now. Best thing I ever did was to quit. For those that try and fail---just keep at it. It's never to late to quit no matter how old you are. 

[Topcat]

I too was once a smoker . . I started when they were 45 cents and quit when they hit $2.00.  I refused to pay two dollars for a pack of smokes.  I was 29 then . . Really do not miss it.  Karma . . Now I buy them for my wife . .

Hope she finds the path to quit & join you in the near future.

[floorit426]

It sounds like there are quite a few former smokers, here. Congrats and keep up the good work! We can't keep this hobby alive, by dying, too young.

[Cudajason]

Congrats man! 

Never been a smoker, but I understand how hard it can be to quit.

My wife quit  7 years ago...cold turkey!  Best thing she ever did!!!

Stay at it man!

Jason

[340challconvert]

Way to Go
Think of it in terms of; "I now have more time to drive my Mopar!"

[YellowThumper]

Congratulations on the milestone!
I also am a quitter from long ago.
Now many years later I have come to realize how awsome the feat is.
You can continue to impress us for a long time now...

Mike.

[nsmall]

   If you made it this long, keep up the faith and self control.  Way to go bro.

[RusTy/SE]

Congrats Mike It sounds corny but the few times I tried to smoke, I could not inhale without a coughing fit so I never became a smoker.

[Topcat]

Another year gone by.