Today was a piece of cake in terms of physical withdrawal.
I didn’t really have any intense cravings at all, nor did I have any stomach pains or anxiety attacks, either.
Today was just a good, all-around day, and I wish all days were like this one.
That’s not to say this is over though, because nicotine is still in my body.
I can feel little bits and pieces every now and then. It isn’t finished yet.
But the end is in sight, and I have my milestone day marked on the calendar.
It’s my day off, and it’s going to be a fantastic day to celebrate.
I’m a server at two restaurants, so I always have cash.
What’s so different about this is that I used to go directly from work to the bar and spend it all, and then go home with nothing.
I did that 3-5 times a week.
I mean I would literally spend every penny I just made, from grueling away at work, doing my very best, in about 20 minutes at the bar, in a slot machine.
Plus add 5 or 6 drinks to that.
Plus a pack of cigarettes, of course.
This was my everyday life for a long time.
Every time I would relapse, I’d get very angry, and punish myself by going to the bar and spending all the money I just made.
I would smoke as much as I could to “really hate cigarettes in the morning” and I’d drink as much as I could.
Every morning I woke up feeling absolutely horrified at what I did the night before.
It truly was a vicious cycle, because it happened all the time.
As soon as the hangover went away, and I made more money at work, I wanted to do it all over again.
It was not a healthy lifestyle at all. It was a vicious cycle that never ended.
If I wasn’t smoking, I wouldn’t be going directly to the bar after work. I’d be doing more responsible things.
I’m not saying going to the bar is bad all the time, as it’s perfectly fine in moderation, but I was going everyday after work.
That is not OK in my book.
Moderation is like once a week, not 5 times a week.
If I wasn’t going to the bar every night, I wouldn’t be spending all my money. If I wasn’t spending all my money, I wouldn’t be depressed and punishing myself.
See how it’s all a domino effect?
One things leads to another.
So by putting my money directly into the bank before I even get home eliminates the source for spending.
Sure I could still go out, but the cash wouldn’t be there. It really is an effective tool that I’m glad I’ve introduced into my life.
Plus I’m saving money and paying all my bills at the same time. It’s a total win-win situation for me.
The great news so far is that I’ve gone directly to the bank each night. I haven’t been foolish yet.
I’m used to it now, as I feel it’s a total lifestyle change.
I don’t want to go back to that old life. I wasn’t a happy person, inside and out.
I was quite miserable, actually.
The best part of my life is still to come, though, and I’m 100% confident of that.
All the pieces of the puzzle are coming together, and I’m finally beginning to be the real ME.
But what I can’t do in these final days is let my guard down and expect nothing bad to happen.
There is still every possibility of smoking, because nothing is guaranteed, and you never know what lies around the corner.
Something terrible could happen tomorrow and I might not be strong enough.
Hopefully I am, but you never know.
You just have to believe in yourself, and want it so badly that you’ll face any hardships, no matter what.
You have to believe that it IS possible. If you don’t believe that anything is possible, you won’t succeed.
It’s really as simple as that.
Thank you!! I’m no longer a smoker! Smoke free for 100 days!!
Day 16, its been great getting past the two week mark. Cravings are still present for me i have some really nice chest pains that come and go with them now.. started shortly after i quit and never experienced this type of withdrawal symptom prior to this quit. Throats been needing clearance the last two days and still coughing on and off. Withdrawal symptom seem to be triggered psychologically at this point otherwise i don’t have a “want” more like random chest pains that come out of nowhere and last about the same length as a withdrawal would. Mostly when i see someone smoking and acting as if they enjoy it and the other trigger might be smell because my partner still smokes and i told him not to quit while im quitting. Id rather not butt heads with someone being as irrational as i am when im going through it, and i feel like its been a good way to push myself past the cravings and not giving myself any excuse. Like in the real world you will be around smokers so get over it. Alot of people i know smoke, its their choice… But for me i need to stop, i want to stop. Its not a choice any more for me, i am not ok as a smoker. I want to be a non smoker… Healthy, energetic, beautiful, smelling good, feeling good… So sick of just feeling exactly the opposite. One too many hours spent sucking down one after another after another… Im not a one cigarette type of person. I am a true nicotine addict with a compulsion to finish an entire pack in a couple of hours. Ive sucked down on average one to two packs a day for years. Started too young… 24 years later… The statistics say ill live a normal life if i quit now. Ill take whatever i can get as long as im not sick in the end. Im done im never going back, i don’t want to live on oxygen. Im doing something now to prevent that! Day 16! Cold turkey! I don’t even care about the withdrawals, im proud of myself!
Way to go!! Congratulations! It’s tough but as you are proving to yourself, it’s not impossible. Keep going!
Coughed up so much grey chunky sputum this morning it was unbelievable and disgusting. Am so grateful it’s not in my body anymore. Heck yeah to my cilia coming back to life!! Day 16 going great, so much better than last week!
I was in need of an easier ride today as the last couple of days have been tough. Happy to say today was so much better. No real cravings at all, more like the odd thought of a cigarette coming into my head and then just going.
I know some days will be harder than others, but that’s just life isn’t it. But honestly a good day helps with the positivity so much.
Another day crossed off and I’m so happy I’m doing this.
Day 16 and so many people are saying it’s the easiest.
Rubbish – I haven’t had an easy day yet, it’s depressing, demoralising. The drive to smoke is still there, the chest still hurts, I ache and now my ears are blocked and I have a post nasal drip going on (so far, all day non stop).
“Just no to one more puff” it’s taking all I have, if it doesn’t get easier then what is the point.
Oh yeah – Just once, I would like to achieve something real. That’s the point.
35 years, 40 a day, cold turkey.
@TJ, I am 35 as well and combo of first and last name is TJ to.
Back to business; quitting cold turkey from 40 to 0 is quite something. Keep faith in yourself and keep up the good work. You’ll come there in the end men. Cheers
Day 16 for me and I feel terrible! Here if you need a friend
Amy,
How are you doing?
Im on day 70 . This is my second quit over the
past year. I made it 81 days last time. I smoked
for 35 years. It’s nice to see new people trying
to quit. My advice to smokers is start trying
to quit as soon as your ready.
IT is hard.
Day 16 for me… I did 2 weeks on step one patch then went straight to step 2, which may have been a mistake as I have had bad cravings but doing ok, no relapse! I did sit at a gas station for 15 minutes, talking myself out of going in and buying a pack!!! Trying to stay strong, I stopped once before and recall it getting noticeably easier after 3 weeks…
Hello again from the Philippines.
Its my day 16, as of this posting it is morning here. Feeling great no cravings for the past week except for the tremors (every morning). But overall im feeling absolutely great no other withdrawal symptoms occured but im not letting my guard down. Just keep on saying No! to every cravings of smoking, mind over matter and determination is the key guys.
We have made this far let’s not blow this we can do it! We only have 5 more days until the nicotine is out of our system.
Thank you matt for your blog. It really helped me a lot to move on…
Day 16 for me after 30 years. I started with patches and gums and now have weened myself off to just using 1/4 piece of gum when craving hits which is still totally less than 4 mg/day.
Started on day 15 was the nasal congestion and spitting up brown mucus. Now the nasal drip is coming. The craving for the last couple of days was less intense but still there.
I just want to say thank you for all your post/blog, Mateo. I read it daily and it really does helps me understand what I am going through. I was going to start one on my own but yours does the job so kudos to you.
Day 16. Cold turkey, stopped Smoking after 30 long smoking years. It’s so hard and Sometimes I feel sad and low so, I’ve been drinking wine and eating, more than ever, to distract myself from cravings due to nicotine addiction. Still I’m doing my pushups every morning so I don’t get too lazy or fat.
I can’t promise this will be for good but, I’m Hanging on for now, during the quarantine. I have cigarettes all over the place but I don’t feel like lighting them up…
So so cool. I think we have stopped smoking the same day! 19 years with couple of breaks here. Nowadays – way more food, but wine – for me it’s still too early, I think if I would drink, I would get a craving from hell.
But this day was pretty cool and easy. I met my cousin who has started smoking again and I was not jealous for his cigarette. I was smelling spring instead. Grateful for today.
Day 16 cold Turkey. Cravings aren’t too awful today. I went from a pack a day every day or more for the last 17 years. It sucks and there’s days when I’m really angry but in the end it should all be worth it for my health and for money sake considering they’re $10 a pack where live
I am on day 16 and feel a little pressure behind my eyes and sinus. Don’t know if this is a delayed withdrawal or just a weather change normal effect. I do not wake up wanting a cigarette and I do not crave them during the day anymore. I refuse to go back to being a smoker. I have said this twice before at the 3 month mark I go back but this time feels different. Maybe I am older and wiser this time. The Coronavirus has made it easier for me to quit as I am staying at home and won’t go out to purchase them. We can all do this. Just say no to even one cigarette because that is all it takes. Done it twice Lesson learned.
Today is day 16 and I want to post this message for those who have reached this point. This can even be a message for those just starting out on their journey as well. It’s a process that I call renewing your mind! You are in control of your mind no matter what! The first thing you must do is change the way that you think about things and the decisions you make. I told my mind I don’t need cigarettes to survive and I refuse to be a prisoner to this nasty addiction anymore. Oh, you will go thru the hot sweats, sleepless nights, irritable days, anxiety, frustration, helplessness, aches and pains, and feeling sorry for yourself you will get it all coming at you. There’s a reason for all of this and I want to quickly explain why this is so, your body wants to kill itself if you allow it too. Whatever you introduce to the body your body will adapt to what you are introducing to it. So basically its mind over matter. You must and I repeat must be able to say to your body NO! This can work with anything you do in this life. If you want to save money you must control your mind to respect money and discipline your spending. If you like alcohol you must discipline yourself to not drink every day or even decide to stop drinking altogether. Same goes with drugs, women, whatever you feel could be a problem in your life the way you think and how you approach it and decide that this is something you want to change it first has to start in your mind. Heres a key you can say to yourself. I’m in control of my body, my thoughts, what I put in me, and what I choose to avoid. I will take one day at a time and whatever I choose to not accept or allow in my life or my body just for today this will not be! As you continue this process day to day, believe me, the body will fight you with everything it has because the body wants to control your mind but its the mind that makes the decisions and if you control the way you think you can control anything in your life.
Great post.
Thank you! I neede this
I still get cravings after meals. Also, time seems to have slowed down. I feel like my whole life was built around the reward of a cigarette after craving a cigarette and now it has changed. That withdrawal/reward cycle was kind of stupid and small but it was a big part of my day to day life. I hope it will be completely forgotten soon.
Yes, you have PLENTY more time now. Almost like 3-4 hours more per day.
I smoked for 28 years nonstop. The last 8 years has been a merry go round of smoking, e-cigs, lozenges, snus, chewing tobacco, quitting, and failing. 36 years, 3/4 of my life. I’m on day 16 today, cold turkey. It’s been extremely hard. Some days are better than others. I really look forward to reading Mateo’s next day on his website everyday. I know I am going to make it this time. My mind is different. I’m not quitting again. In my mind I’ve already quit. It’s hard to explain, but it gives me strength.
This is my 16th day of not smoking. This has been the easiest day so far. I just hope they all keep getting easier but I’m not counting on that because the cravings can come fast and hard.
ive read your blog every day on my quitting journey. I have smoked for 18 years. Im on day 16 right now. Feeling great today. Being able to read your daily entries and see that you went through the same things im going through has really helped. Thanks a lot for posting this Matt, I hope you realize how much this is helping others.
I posted on Day 9….now I’m on day 16! Yesterday was the first day I didn’t want to kill someone. Really feeling the urge to smoke this morning though…difficult to focus. With that being said, I am starting to feel so much stronger:) But I KNOW that when the memory of all this pain fades, I’ll be most vulnerable.