Four months smoke free!!!

[Samui Bodoh]

Hi Everyone

 

There seems to be little interest in the 'stop smoking' forum, so I thought I'd start a new thread to see if anyone wants to talk about it.

 

I was a smoker for about 35 years (Bloody hell!)

 

I quit September 17th 2017, the day before the new tax increases were supposed to arrive in Thailand. Ironically, it seems that my old brand's price didn't go up; thank God I didn't know that at the time.

 

How have I done it? I am using will power and that is all. Please don't misunderstand me, if people are using gum, patches, hypnosis, whatever, more power to you. The important point in all this is the stopping; it doesn't matter how...

 

What are the benefits/downsides?

 

The benefits for me are a massively increased sense of taste and smell. Honestly, it is the sense of taste that has been the real shocker; I was a smoker for around 35 years, so I never really tasted Thai food for all the time that I have spent in the country; now I have. And it is delicious! There other big benefit is that I cycle almost every day for about 20 Kms, and now I feel much better doing it. I am getting more oxygen into my lungs (already!) and I am not getting that burning sensation when I am panting/out of breath.

 

There are no downsides.

 

If there are any smokers out there who are thinking of quitting, do it. If I can do it after 35 years, then you can as well. It is difficult, but well, well, worth it.

 

Good luck!

[captnhoy]

Good going and thanks for posting! It has been 34 years ago that I quit and I still describe it as the single best thing I have ever done for myself. I too did it on willpower but also on a "buddy system" My mother was my buddy and she succeeded too after 40 years of smoking. It was not easy but it is very freeing. If you are reading this and thinking about it...DO IT!

[robblok]

Good to quit smoking and embrace a healthier life style.. never too old for that. Take care of your body and it will take care of you.

[Amusements]

Well done so far!

I remember getting a 3-4 months in, and waking up from a dream in a panic! I dreamt that I was smoking a cigarette, before realising that I had quit. 

It happened again a few weeks later, but this time I realised I was dreaming, so I continued to smoke this particular cigarette and really, really enjoyed it, despite watching the filter start to shrivel up and go black. After that I never dreamt or thought about smoking again. That was 18 years ago.

 

Good luck anyway.

[opalred]

30yrs ago was a heavy smoker dr told me to give it up 

gave up and became a sex addict

30yrs on the lungs ok but other parts of body worn out 

[worgeordie]

Good work,keep at it,just think of the money you are

going to save,and improvement to your health,

 

I was lucky i never started,when I was 15 my father 

said I will give you a 1000 pounds if you don't smoke

till you are 21, and I did and never started,and he never

gave me the 1000 quid,but said you are going to save

more than that by no smoking.he died with Cancer.

 

regards worgeordie

[ThaiTrav]

2 hours ago, captnhoy said:

Good going and thanks for posting! It has been 34 years ago that I quit and I still describe it as the single best thing I have ever done for myself. I too did it on willpower but also on a "buddy system" My mother was my buddy and she succeeded too after 40 years of smoking. It was not easy but it is very freeing. If you are reading this and thinking about it...DO IT!

Yes well done! 

[Golden Triangle]

Well done, keep up the good work, I stopped at the end of February last year, I used patches for only 1 month and here I am nearly a year later, I did put on a shed load of weight which I must try and get rid of this year  

 

I still feel tempted, especially when socialising with friends who smoke but I try to ignore it.

 

One word of warning though, I have previously given up for 3 years, 5 years, 18 months  I think that the saying "A change is a good as a rest" is pretty apt, I mean, give your body a break for a year or 2 and it's as though you never smoked.

[csabo]

My last one was July 4. Don't even miss it. Also not bringing any booze into the house. Strictly drinking when out with a meal. Also got back into the gym today. I'm on a roll!  Mmmmm I could go for a toasted roll with sausage and peppers and melted mozzarella. 

[Lacessit]

Over the next couple of years, the OP's lung capacity will probably increase from 3-4 litres to 5-6 litres. Over 10 years, his risk of lung cancer will decline to approach that of a non-smoker.

The toxins in the body will take about 6 months to clear, so he is well on the way. Keep it going.

[baansgr]

Well done, keep it up... 

[Aussieroaming]

22 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

Over the next couple of years, the OP's lung capacity will probably increase from 3-4 litres to 5-6 litres. Over 10 years, his risk of lung cancer will decline to approach that of a non-smoker.

The toxins in the body will take about 6 months to clear, so he is well on the way. Keep it going.

It depends whether he is sucking in good quality air or the polluted city air. However quitting the cigarettes is a good thing. 

[Samui Bodoh]

Hi All

 

Wah! You are all very kind to give messages of support; it is greatly appreciated! Honestly, I never expected much of a response; I assumed that there were one or two people out there who were struggling with a New Year Resolution. That's all.

 

Worgeordie. That is good advice re: the money saved; for the first two weeks I kept a jar on my desk, and every day put in what I would have spent on ciggies. I was too lazy to get to the bank one day and used it, but at eye level on the wall I keep a running, daily total of how much money I would have spent. 

 

Opalred: Er... Ahem... if you stop touching it for a while, the redness will go away.  

(Er... Sorry...)

 

Golden Triangle: You are correct that quitting is sometimes temporary. However, this is the longest that I have gone since my teens, so... no matter what I am ahead of the game. And I am adamantly determined to stay off the damn things!

 

Csabo: I quit drinking a few years back or this would be much more difficult.

 

Lacessit and Aussieroaming: Already feel the lungs improving on my morning ride, and breathing that pure Koh Samui sea breeze.

 

Thanks again everyone!

 

And if there is someone out there reading this wondering if you can quit, you can. It is not easy, but VERY well worth it.

 

Cheers

 

[whaleboneman]

4 hours ago, opalred said:

30yrs ago was a heavy smoker dr told me to give it up 

gave up and became a sex addict

30yrs on the lungs ok but other parts of body worn out 

maybe use lube

[connda]

Make it forty years and we can talk.  Nasty, and legal, addictive carcinogenic substance. 
All government support it's sale an use.  Hypocrites all.  And the difference between cartels, mafias, and governments is???  If the government says addiction is Ok, then it's -- Ok!
BTW, forty year from the time you quit, you'll still have 'urges', you simply don't act on them.  Best of luck.  And don't ever act on your urges. 

[thaiguzzi]

Kudos.

But dont'cha miss that first cigarette in the morning with the first coffee of the day? Or that first cigarette after a great long meal?

Sorry, carry on...

[IvanLaw]

Started smoking at age 14, by 20 40+ cigs a day, changed to pipe.

Had to stop at age 64.

Now 67 & breathing as I did aged 20 :-)

Good luck to all to try to quit.

[chickenslegs]

11 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

I was a smoker for about 35 years (Bloody hell!)

 

I quit September 17th 2017

The last time I quit smoking was 18 November 2005 - the day I moved to Thailand, aged 50.

I started smoking at 13 yrs old and quit numerous times over the years. Once I went 3 years without a smoke and another time 5 years.

My point is - yes, congratulate yourself, but don't ever assume that you have beaten it and can just have a social smoke now and again.

As for downsides - 76Kg in 2005, 105Kg now, and many ups and downs in between - but no regrets.

 

[George FmplesdaCosteedback]

Post again in 2023.

Vegan, no alcohol and Gym next?

You will still die...

[simoh1490]

4 hours ago, chickenslegs said:

The last time I quit smoking was 18 November 2005 - the day I moved to Thailand, aged 50.

I started smoking at 13 yrs old and quit numerous times over the years. Once I went 3 years without a smoke and another time 5 years.

My point is - yes, congratulate yourself, but don't ever assume that you have beaten it and can just have a social smoke now and again.

As for downsides - 76Kg in 2005, 105Kg now, and many ups and downs in between - but no regrets.

 

It's different things for different people at different times, isn't it, like you I started to smoking quite young, by age 17 I was on 20 a day. I tried to quit a number of times but rarely lasted longer than two or three days, despite using Nicorette and all the tips and tricks I could find. Then one day I went for a health check and I failed the cardiac stress test, when I went to make an appointment to see the cardiologist the nurse told me the first thing I had to do was to stop smoking - she could smell the smoke on my clothes I suppose.

 

The heart thing turned out to be nothing serious but later that evening at home I decided I really should stop, so I did. At 10:30 pm that Friday evening I stubbed out my last Marlboro Light and said to myself, that's my very last cigarette. It completely surprised me that I never again ever wanted another cigarette, I had no cravings, no withdrawal symptoms, in fact, I never even thought about wanting one again. As a precaution, I avoided smokers and smoky places for a few months but eventually, even that was not a problem, I found I could stand next to a smoker and smell the second-hand smoke and it did nothing for me, it was quite remarkable - my wife was shocked at it all and still mentions it, oddly, I don't have that sort of willpower generally.

 

I'm super glad I did stop for a number of reasons but I have no idea why it was so easy for me that time around. What I would say to smokers who want to quit but are afraid to try for fear of withdrawals is, don't let that put you off, just go ahead and try to stop, you may find it surprisingly easy.

[cmrichsw]

Smoking has No value. When you want to light one up chew gum or something. Don't think about it so much and it is easy to quit. Yes I know easier said than done.

 

I was a smoker for 50 years and done with it for almost 10 years. I hate supporting big business and taxes from smoking. Thailand cigarettes are horrible is the reason it was easy for me.

[thailand49]

Congrats, it doesn't matter how you do it what the method is use in doing it, the objective is do it and it seems you have done that. It is a disease!

My brother like my father started very young he was a smoker for over 50 years. He had very little friends or visitors at his house it was filled with smoke, he never open one window, brown stain dripping from the walls, his clothes smell, bad hygiene habits to add.

We didn't have much in common except for the love of my nephew I try to get him to stop for years, I think he was easy 3 packs a day?  I still remember the last smoking conversation we had the date and where he told me " I don't want to quit I like smoking and by the way who ask you and what does it have to do with you ".

Years later, he told me he had this bad cough for a while that he felt it was allergies,  I told him your next veteran doctor visit you need to mention it,  he also said you notice anything since I was visiting?  he told me he stopped smoking, I said that is great inside I was happy but I was also worry why?  that his doctor appointment is in two weeks.  I return back to Thailand, thereafter I got a call from the family that during his doctor appointment he was diagnosed with stage 4, throat and lung cancer. 

I was the trustee of his estate and after 9 months of treatment and care it had render him a vegetable and speechless. I got a call from his doctor one day to come home your brother wants to see you.  The visit he had written down his wishes etc.. although he couldn't talk I remember the look on his face it said it all about the conversation we had in the past and thank me for everything I was doing. 

We pull the plug that night. The downside and I don't wish this on any smokers is although it is you that take in the smoke because when things like this happen it is others who have to clean up the mess.

Good luck and health because the hardest part is yet to come and that is staying off it.

[Billy Bloggs]

Like so many others I took a lot of tries to eventually give it up, it has been years now dont know how many as Im a non smoker and thats the end, my wife gave up in one try(we were supposed to together an early fail) and still remembers the time and date.

What helped this time and the OP has done something similar, is I put that money aside and every so often bought myself something I really wanted but wouldnt have had the money for, this lasted a while but eventually I didnt need that reinforcement.

So good luck and good fortune to those who have succeeded and best wishes to those who will try in the future, it really is a waste of time but especially money.  

[Mike GC]

WELL DONE - Great achievement. I stopped almost 8 months ago after 43 years of smoking. I used the App " Cessation Nation"  and found it good in assisting me to keep track of days and benefits. Yes, Yes the health and taste benefits are very surprising. 

[maximillian]

I was never a smoker, only smoked when I was drunk in my young days.

Now at 68 I am thinking of STARTING to smoke, should the use of recreational

cannabis become legal. Well, smoking for the last, say 20 years, what harm can it do ?

[Andrew Dwyer]

Like many on here I started early while still at school, maybe 13 or 14 . Smoked maybe 20 a day for many years, stopped for 10 years and started again ( I know, I know, what a fool !! ). Smoked for another couple of years and then finally decided to quit for good !!
15 years since I stopped, no patches, no gum , only will power .
Stopped drinking 2 years ago and bicycle between 15 and 20 km a day, never felt better !!

The food tastes a lot better when you stop but if you’re not careful you will pile the weight on !!

Well done SB !! Keep it up !!

[White Christmas13]

Well I gave up many times I started when I was about 13 I guess I gave up when I turned 67 I guess

But it has not helped me with my health, yes money wise but now I have shortness of breath

again it will be linked to smoking I guess

[GBK]

On 1/19/2018 at 6:05 PM, Samui Bodoh said:

Hi All

 

Wah! You are all very kind to give messages of support; it is greatly appreciated! Honestly, I never expected much of a response; I assumed that there were one or two people out there who were struggling with a New Year Resolution. That's all.

 

Worgeordie. That is good advice re: the money saved; for the first two weeks I kept a jar on my desk, and every day put in what I would have spent on ciggies. I was too lazy to get to the bank one day and used it, but at eye level on the wall I keep a running, daily total of how much money I would have spent. 

 

Opalred: Er... Ahem... if you stop touching it for a while, the redness will go away.  

(Er... Sorry...)

 

Golden Triangle: You are correct that quitting is sometimes temporary. However, this is the longest that I have gone since my teens, so... no matter what I am ahead of the game. And I am adamantly determined to stay off the damn things!

 

Csabo: I quit drinking a few years back or this would be much more difficult.

 

Lacessit and Aussieroaming: Already feel the lungs improving on my morning ride, and breathing that pure Koh Samui sea breeze.

 

Thanks again everyone!

 

And if there is someone out there reading this wondering if you can quit, you can. It is not easy, but VERY well worth it.

 

Cheers

 

I stopped in the first of January and have had a relapse and been smoking again about a week now. Yes, I went out drinking with a friend, so that will be a no no for a while now. 

 

Your post has given me the strength to stop again on Monday. I did need the gum, but any quit is better than none, eh?

[Andrew Dwyer]

I stopped in the first of January and have had a relapse and been smoking again about a week now. Yes, I went out drinking with a friend, so that will be a no no for a while now. 
 
Your post has given me the strength to stop again on Monday. I did need the gum, but any quit is better than none, eh?

If you’re thinking about stopping ( again ) now is the time ! don’t wait till Monday !!

It’s all psychological, just set your mind to it !!

I know, it can be very hard to stop but you need to start off with a positive attitude and not create excuses.

You can do it !!

[GBK]

You’re right.

 

Tomorrow it is then.

 

Thanks