Well, what can I say? Not smoking is the absolute best thing in this world.
I am so glad that I finally made the decision to go the distance and never smoke again. What a difference it’s made in my life!
It’s amazing what I’ve accomplished in these past 24 days. It feels like I’ve done an entire year’s worth, that’s how much I’ve achieved.
I’ll be honest, there were some hints of physical withdrawal still scattered throughout my day at work, and I noticed them right away as symptoms, but they came and went very quickly.
What that means is that there is a tiny amount of nicotine still left in my body.
I still need to focus hard each and every day until I never feel any withdrawal. Who knows when that will happen.
The worst of it is in my past, and that’s where I want it to stay.
I’m forgetting about cigarettes more and more as each day goes by. When I get a little craving I think, “Oh that’s right, I used to smoke!”
Other than that, I don’t really think about them. At the beginning, especially during the first week, smoking was on my mind pretty much every minute of the day. All I thought about was relapsing and making excuses for it.
Not anymore.
I do want to point out though, that over the weekend, I managed to hangout with friends for almost the entire day without smoking.
Three out of the four people I was hanging out with were chain smokers.
I went into it thinking it would be tough, as I’d be watching them smoke all day long, but as the day progressed, I was OK with it. I really didn’t feel too many urges to light up at anytime.
I played a game with myself and I counted how many cigarettes they smoked.
Drinking was involved, and I understand that the two go hand-in-hand, but it still was a lot to me. It seemed every 10 minutes someone was lighting up another.
That was me for many, many years.
Plus the car ride with them was just awful the way they smelled. As soon as they got in, you could smell the stench of an ashtray all over them.
This is what I smelled like for 18 years. It’s disgusting.
Of course smokers can’t smell themselves, so it really doesn’t matter to them.
But to us who don’t use tobacco, it matters a lot!
It wasn’t that hard though, watching them chain smoke while I enjoyed being healthy and sober. It was quite empowering.
I’m glad I managed to stay strong and not do anything.
But I was honestly OK with not smoking. Because I’ve lasted all this time, the cravings just weren’t as intense as they were the first week.
In terms of my everyday life, I’m as happy as can be. Life is pretty great right now. I couldn’t have said that 24 days ago.
Sleeping is just phenomenal. Today I woke up 45 minutes before my alarm completely rested and ready to spring out of bed.
Would I have done that as a smoker? Haha, never! I would’ve lied in bed until the very last minute. Now, I can’t wait to jump out of bed.
I’ve got so much energy!
I did experience some anxiety today. That part of my life still hasn’t gone away completely.
Maybe it has to do with the stress of work, or maybe it’s because I’m still going through some slight withdrawal symptoms. I really don’t know at this point.
None of it is severe, though.
As a smoker, I would have massive anxiety attacks almost everyday of my life. Now that I’ve quit, it’s gone down about 80%. I think that’s pretty awesome, and well worth it.
Hopefully tomorrow I won’t feel a single craving. I’m ready to be nicotine-free for life!
Day 24 no cravings withdrawals have finally gone away
smoked from 18-30
went to my doctor twice since quitting
to make sure I’m healthy “withdrawals” where fucking with me, and my anxiety was through the roof but i didn’t let that get too me i never smoked !!
im so happy i take a lozenge or 2 a day
i will use a patch if I’m going long distance or just having a long day !!!
goodluck everyone we can do this !
You people are fantastic, today is my 24 day without smoking, thanks for helping me go through this ,I am 67 years old Chilean woman living in USA for the last 48 years of my life, I started smoking at 18 .24 days ago I run out of cigarettes In the middle of the night.i was so upset.I went to the store at 3 am , back home I was sitting in front of my pc smoke the entire pack by 10 am , I look at myself I feel sorry for the person I was seeing in the mirror, I cried, I promise to that person that I will never touch’s cigarettes again thanks God I did. Today I am celebrating my 24 day with all of you ❤️❤️❤️
Day 24 – still “not a smoker”. I’ll tell you, yesterday was particularly hard for me even though I thought urges had subsided. As I was leaving work all I could think of was a cigarette but knew I had none, wasn’t buying any, so I’d get through it. I had to pick something up on the way home and once stopped, I started looking through the console next to me for a pen; there was no pen but what I did stumble across (and I had no clue it was there) was a full pack, unopened! In a matter of seconds I must have had countless thoughts of whether to smoke or not, buy a lighter, one will be OK, don’t do it…you name it. Also in a matter of seconds I opened the car door, threw them to the ground, put the car in gear and pulled away! Crisis averted. This taught me a couple of things. One, I’m not as far away from being addicted as I thought I was, two, how strong I can be and three, how much I really don’t want to smoke. I think I needed this little reminder to boost my mind into remembering where I want to be. Needless to say, I never picked up what I thought I needed…so I guess I really didn’t need that either!!
Lol…but you littered the parking lot with your smoke!!! I’ve always hated that when people tell me cigarette smokers and their butts all over the floor. I tell them I keep my butts in my pocket or toss them in trash. I defended cigarette smoking by saying butts on ground are litter bugs problems not smokers. The point is, I was dumb for making excuses for smoking. Good job on quitting for 24 days though. I am also on my 24 day.
Today is day 24 for me.Im 45 yrs old and have Been smoking since I was 14 years old.I am so freaking proud of myself!!!.I feel great and have lots of energy!!!..I have been getting a lot done.I feel like I have to keep busy at all times.Im constantly finding things to do wich is great!!I can smell absolutely everything..I hate the smell of someone who just smoked,it turns me off so bad!!..I plan to stay smoke free..no going back now!!..not another puff no matter what!!!stay strong people
Day 24 here too, been a smoker for 21 years. Its time to put this habit to bed. According to this little app, wasted 30,600 Euros so far which is insanity 😛 As I only smoked a pack a day. Every day that passes I notice less and less cravings which is a blessing. I’m waiting to cross the first 30-day milestone and regroup for the next target. Keep up the fight my friends 🙂
I posted on Day 9 & 16. Today is day 24. I smoked for over 30 years. I’m feeling excitement over my accomplishment but I’m anxious too. I can honestly say that after 24 days I am STILL COMPLETELY OBSESSED WITH CIGARETTES. The “itch” always seems to be there. But the desperation is fading. So I know that with time I will be ok.
And this is Day 2 off the booze using the CORE technique which is really working.
I am learning to separate my conscious “thinking” mind from my subconscious “wild” mind. The subconscious wants what it wants and it does not care. To my subconscious, cigarettes are more important than food & water. It is a creature of habit. But now that my “thinking” mind understands this, she can tell the wild side to shut up and go to bed!
Over time, and with good decisions, my subconscious will have a new set of good habits and I wont have to think so hard!
I cant believe i am on day 24, how fast it all gone?! It feels like yesterday i have been on day 4 moaning about that all i can think is smoking! And now, it does cross my mind now and then but nothing major no more!- not that i care much anyway! Its the longest period i don’t smoke in 15 years. And now i am so over this habit that i wont be looking back! Stay strong people- if i can do it ( and i got no willpower) -you can do it!
Hey MATEO made 24 days!!! Feeling great and only a few urges. Maybe you can post what day you’re on now and how you are doing?
I’m at day 24 and cant help but feel disappointed. Every night before bed I read forums to get a sense of where everyone else is at in their quit journey so I don’t feel quite so alone. I don’t have any friends or family that are ex-smokers so don’t know anyone who has been through this experience.
Majority of comments mention the physical benefits they have noticed since their Quit. I feel disappointed because I have yet to notice any benefits. I’m sure my organs appreciate me quitting and are on the way to repairing themselves but I don’t feel different. My energy levels are no different although I never had low levels whilst smoking, my skin looks the same, I never had a cough when I was a smoker so no changes there and my breathing/lung capacity had always been OK.
The only changed I noticed was in the first week with my smell and taste although I don’t notice this now.
I am 40yo, smoked for 23 years and this is my first quit attempt. Doing this cold turkey which I haven’t found too DIFFICULT. There were 3 days in week 2 in which I felt the cravings the most but pushed through. I would say I don’t have any real bad cravings anymore. At times i reminisce about having a smoke but don’t feel like one.
I did struggle with loneliness for a bit and at times I guess I still do.
Anyway…..I hope I notice benefits soon because right now I don’t feel any different so questioning why I gave up.
yea same here but I’m glad to save the money and food tastes better and can breath a little deeper.
i’m the same, i’ve stopped cold turkey
today’s my day 24 … smoker for 25 years, bout a pack & half a day
.I quit for about 3 months a few years ago but 1puff got me going back at it ..slowly, before u know it i was back smoking full time. So i guess for me what i learnt was, if i stopped again & think you’ve passed the worst of it… NEVER take a puff ,
I haven’t felt any benefits yet that i’ve read others have had on this forum , besides the, ashtray in my car have a lot more coins in it
My breathing i thinks the same, taste .. energy level , everything . I still miss smoking i think, it passes my mind a few times a day now still , tho not as much as the first few days
It hasnt been that hard TBH , more of a mind challenge but i still feel fair bit away from the safe zone , like i can spark up if a smoke & lighter suddenly fell into my hands
If anything it’s an uncomfortable feeling at times, don’t know what withdrawal feels like but that might be it .. like when i’m writing this .. it’s making me wanna smoke .
I had a few beers a week after quitting & i must say that has been the toughest phase so far , seeing my mates i was with all smoked, i surprised myself waking up the next day knowing i didn’t take 1 puff.
I haven’t had any alcohol since but i know that my weakest point .. with functions/ events approaching with heaps of piss around these next couple of days i hope i stay strong
# mind over matter
HELLO ALL X-SMOKERS ON DAY 24 AND HAVE MY MOMENTS BUT I
REFUSE TO SMOKE EVER AGAIN I DID SMOKE FOR 45 YEARS AND
WOKE UP ONE DAY AND SAID NO MORE AND LOVE IT YES ITS VERY
HARD THE FIRST TWO WEEKS BUT HANG IN THERE ITS WORTH IT
STILL CHEW ALOT OF SUGARLESS GUM BUT NEED LESS DAY BY DAY
REMEMBER THERE ARE NO DOWN SIDES TO QUITING NOT EVEN ONE
THANKS TO ALL FOR YOUR COMMENTS ITS HELP ME ALOT….ROBERT
Day 24: I am 52 years old and smoked for 35 years I think I am going to make it this time. I still have urges throughout the day. my husband still smokes and it does bother me a lot. I am dealing with hot flashes and my energy level is still very low.
You are not alone but hang in there!!