Quitting smoking!

[dwayne]

:dance

I'm actually very excited to quit smoking, unlike the last time I quit cold turkey, and only lasted 3 weeks... this time it is for real! I am so excited to go to Disney in 2 weeks and NOT be addicted to smoking -- for anyone who has never been to Disney, it's getting increasingly more difficult to find a place to smoke there, you have to go waaayy out of the way to get to a designated smoking area.

I started taking Wellbutrin last Weds, took it for a week as per my doc, and had my last cigarette last night!! I will continue to take the wellbutrin for another 7 weeks, and then come off it. Doc said that that's how long (2mos) it takes for someone to get all the urges/physical cravings out of their body...

I am not craving an actual smoke right now, but I'm craving SOMETHING to keep me awake, and the feeling that if I go downstairs, bum a smoke from someone and have just a few puffs, I'll be awake and alert is pulling on my mind... can't overdo caffiene, because that only causes a crash later on in the day...

Has anyone ever quit smoking? How long did it take you to get over the physical cravings (tiredness seems to be my main one, I can get over the hand to mouth need by eating lollipops :) ) Any tips or suggestions for success?

Thanks in advance!!

~Tara

[OrionGirl]

I quit cold turkey--tried the gum, but that stuff has more nicotine that the half pack I smoke. My biggest problem was what to do on breaks. I used to smoke--what else was there? So pick something to do--something that isn't eating, like walking, or reading a book, etc. Keeping busy was my best defense against smoking--and not being around a smoker during 'down' time.

I lasted 9 months last time--couldn't resist when we went camping and my boyfriend smoked. Sigh. Good for you though--it's worth the effort!

[Watcher74]

I quit cold turkey one time and it took three days to quit craving a cigarette. Which is what the professionals say. About 72 hours.

Unfortunately I was on a ship in the Navy underway and was so bored I started back up. I knew people in the Navy that only smoked on the ship. And one guy who had quit for 5 years but started back up when he was sent to the ship.

I really need to quit. I'm tired of it.

[Timmain42]

<sigh>

I smoked for 12 years, pack a day of Marlboro Reds. I finally got tired of spending $3.50 a day, waking up coughing, reeking like an exhaust pipe, and not being able to smell or taste anything.

I'd tried to go ColdTurkey about 6 years before, but didn't do too well. I'd been reading about "memes," a useless name for an incredible idea: malevolent concepts that enveloped someone's mind. Funny in scifi, but applicable in real-life (for instance, "patriotism" is a meme. Think about it). So I decided I'd let someone "infect" me with an anti-smoking "meme." I was ready to quit.

I went to a highly successful psychotherapist here in Dallas. He waved his hand, said "You don't smoke anymore" to which I replied, "Yeah, I don't smoke anymore, do I?"

That was Oct. 2002. I haven't picked up a cigarette since. Part of the treatment was to make my mind think about something else when I wanted a smoke, so for the first three days, I pretty much forgot everything. But since I truly wanted to stop, I was able to stop. Cold turkey. Never again.

The only drawback I can find is that occassionaly I still dream about smoking. I'm so ingrained about NOT smoking that I wake up feeling guilty tho. :)

Congratulations to you, Tara. Keep up with it. And if you find you're having problems, drop me a line and I can hook you up with my therapist. He has a *98%* success rate.

[JSchmidt]

I used to smoke and quit. It was hard, especially for the first month or two. You have to really want to stop, and if you do, whatever helpers you can engage (nicotine gum, the patch, hypnosis, other therapy) only serve to increase your odds of success.

Sounds like you're ready to be done with smoking. It's a great feeling when you wake up in the morning and don't have ashtray mouth. It feels great to not have to run out at 11 pm to buy a pack of cigs because you don't have enough for the night. It definitely feels great to realize you are able to enjoy a cup of coffee, or dinner, or a movie without craving a cigarette.

Good luck! Keep coming back here for support if you need it!

Jim

[Alex]

I smoked for 21 years and quit cold turkey on 5/13/2001 (1207 days, not that I am counting) and it took a few days to not constantly crave them and a few months to not think about them every few minutes. Ever once in a while I do have a sudden urge for one or a dream about smoking but those are less and less frequent. No matter how you do it you really have to want to quit, the addiction hangs around a long time, maybe forever.

Alex

[happychem]

I never smoked, but growing up in Quebec (Canada's smoking section) I was around lots of them. I've also known a lot of people who've tried to quit. It ain't easy, it's the most addictive drug we've got. A good deal of that, I think, is society.

All I really have to say is congratulations on your decision (and congrats to everyone who has succeeded) Tara and good luck with your resolve.

[daveedka]

I used to smoke and quit. It was hard, especially for the first month or two. You have to really want to stop, and if you do, whatever helpers you can engage (nicotine gum, the patch, hypnosis, other therapy) only serve to increase your odds of success.


Good luck! Keep coming back here for support if you need it!

Jim


Fully agreed, the tools mentioned can be helpful but it still comes down to mindset, and perserverance. Trust me, I've quit 6 times in my life. one thing that will help with the chemical addiction is vitamin C (lots of vitamin C), it cleans the blood pretty well, and helps you get over the nicotine cravings sooner. IMO the physical addiction is the tough one. Mints and gum are OK. but they will replace your current addiction if you aren't careful. It may sound weird, but try something you don't like. I use candy in flavors I don't particularly enjoy, that way I'm less apt to keep eating them later. I've been 2 years this time, and love it. To me the most dangerous time is after you have succeded, your mind plays games with you and you end up trying one again because you know you can quit. And as other have mentioned, if you need support, ask for it. If you feel like screaming and cursing at someone send me a PM, It will be just like work for me and may help you.
dave

[dwayne]

Wow, thank you everyone so much for sharing your stories and offering support! I will probably take you all up on that offer. I think the difference is this time around I really want to quit, whereas last time I was kind of forced to. I read a tip somewhere, that a guy quit, and he started chewing on cinnamon sticks instead of smoking, and now he's never seen w/out a cinnamon stick in his mouth... odd, but not deadly!

Vitamin C, lots of water... I really want to flush out my system. I've taken 3 different online tests to see if my cravings are more physical than mental, and for me, they're mostly mental... which according to 1 site is easier to overcome, but according to the other 2 sites, it's harder than a mostly physical addiction... but either way, it's a tough road ahead!

Thanks again everyone (and CONGRATS Timmain, Jim, Alex and Dave for succeeding!! OG & Watcher - you'll try again when you're ready, and will win!!). You guys are awesome! :D

~Tara

[tomm10]

I smoked 1.5-2 packs of Marlboro Reds a day for about 7 years. I had my last one on January 8, 1999.

I used Zyban to quit. I had a doctors appointment where she said "Have you thought a bout quitting smoking?" I told her I liked it too much to put any real effort into quitting but if there was a magic pill that could make me quit I'd be all for it. She said "Actually, there sort of is." I planned my quitting in advance and told a bunch of people. Since you can't drink (or at least aren't supposed to) on Zyban I decided not to start taking them until January 2 (after New Years festivities :) ).

I didn't feel like smoking for the whole first day on the meds. I smoked anyway because you were supposed to but I didn't care for it. After a week I quit and never looked back. I continued to take the stuff for a week after quiting but then stopped because I had NO desire to smoke anymore and I don't care for taking any kind of drugs.

From the beginning I told myself that relapses happen but no matter what happened I would not buy a pack of cigarettes. I could bum them, I could steal drags but posessing a pack was absolutely off limits. I think that gave me enough flexibility so that I wouldn't feel like scrapping the whole thing just for a drunken screw up. Luckily it never came to that. I haven't had so much as a puff of a cigarette since I quit. I still have very vivd, very real dreams that I slipped up and smoked though.

I worked with smokers at the time. We used to all go out for butt breaks together. When I quit I decided to continue to go out with them so I wouldn't deny myself the social benefits. A weeks worth of trips outside just to watch others smoke was enough of that. It was important though that I got sick of going outside rather than thinking that not smoking was denying me something I enjoyed.

I took care of the oral fixation byt drinking water. I keep a 1l bottle of Poland Springs on my desk and refill it from the water cool. I drink any where between 1-2 gallons of water a day that way. I think this also helped flushing my system of nicotine to some extent too.

For me, the biggest thing was being ready to quit. I was done with it so the quitting was easy. I had tried several times before without the same convinction and failed miserably. You sound like you're ready to be done so you will be.

the first few months are easy in a way because you have constant cravings. They hit you all the time and remind you that you are still fighting. Its later, a year or two after you quit, that it gets harder because you really forget how much cigarettes had control over your life. It gets easier to rationalize having just one here or there or only smoking when you drink. After 5 years I STILL get cravings at times. You just have to remember why you quit.

Good luck, Tara! You can always PM me when you want a ciggy so bad you're ready to punch someone :D

Tom

[GoBlue]

Congrats to all the quitters. To those who have quit & relapsed, don't quit quitting.

From a doc's perspective, I've counseled hundreds of people to quit. How many actually sustained quitting I'll never know, but you all have touched on something that I tell everyone right up front. That is, you have to come up with something you're going to do instead of smoke, when you get the urge. If you have a plan in advance, you can do it. For some, the nicotine addiction is rough; that's where the patches, gum, inhalers, etc. will help. But, those can be tapered in a couple of weeks, and you're left with the psychological addiction/habit....that's where the going gets tough.

Some people just miss having something constantly in their hands/mouth. Get sugar-free suckers. Play with the stick. Go through 50 a day if you want; lots better than smoking.

Zyban (bupropion) helps some folks to fight the urge quite a bit, as some of you noticed, and after several months it can usually be tapered off easily. Granted, if you can do it "cold turkey," that's fantastic. I don't push drugs unless they're needed, but I'd certainly rather see someone use prescription drugs with minimal side effects for the next several months than to continue using cigarettes for the next several months....

Some smoke because of anxiety or depression. Be honest with yourself, and if that's why you smoke ("Just to take the edge off & relax..."), seek treatment for the anxiety/depression first, and then get yourself off the cigs.

If your S.O. smokes, you both need to quit. Having only one person quit in the household is nearly impossible.

I sincerely commend those of you who have quit. Without a doubt, it's the best thing you'll ever do for your health.

Jim

[125gJoe]

:dance ... ..I started taking Wellbutrin last Weds, took it for a week as per my doc, and had my last cigarette last night!! .....

Has anyone ever quit smoking? .... ...

~TaraCoNGrAtULaTiOnS !!!
Wellbutrin (to me..) was my miracle drug/prescription to help me change my life! It has worked so well, that now I completely despise the smell of cigs...

A few tips might be to stay away from smokers for now. Keep active and busy. Remember, quitting is now for good - and Wellbutrin will work with time. Don't dwell on "cravings", and the whole topic of quitting, do keep taking the Wellbutrin as prescribed.

My doctor said, "you will at one point wonder why you ever wanted a cigarrette!" That statement was so true!

I've been saving money for years now, instead of literally burning it....

Just for fun and watching how much you will save on $$, there are a few downloads that track this. Here's one site:

http://groups.msn.com/FreedomFromTobaccoQuitSmokingNow/freequitmeters.msnw

[OrionGirl]

If your S.O. smokes, you both need to quit. Having only one person quit in the household is nearly impossible.



Yep--this was my big problem. My boyfriend smokes, and even though he didn't smoke in my car anymore (we never smoke in the house), it was just tough being around him in other situations. I'm working on him, though! I've cut back my smoking a lot, as well, and when he's ready, we're quitting.

[dwayne]

Day 2... I bought some Vitamin C tablets yesterday... 1 per day. Tons of water (I've already drunk almost 34oz!). Feeling good!

Tom ~ I am SO ready to quit. And as much as I want to quit, I am still having cravings... it's so wierd. But I'm able to just tell myself that it's not worth it, and to let them pass... the last time I quit (cold turkey, 3 weeks), I used the same rule as you - no possessing a pack, bumming a smoke or a drag was ok... I didn't have so much as a drag for 3 weeks, then it snowballed from sharing a smoke w/ my brother to taking 3 ciggs from him, to buying my own pack and breaking my own rule!

Jim ~ I'm on a few rx drugs now anyways (prilosec, zyrtec, and bcp), and even though I know need them, I hate taking them. I told my doctor that I really wanted to quit, but didn't want to take the wellbutrin. She said to just take it, it's only for 2 months and since I want to quit, and my addiction is more mental than physical, it should work for me... I bought a bag of mini tootsie roll pops, just in case ;)

Joe ~ I visited that MSN group, and they are hardcore! I could never join a group like that... absolutely no forgiveness there. But there were some good tips and links there, so thanks!! I'm wondering if I'm not on strong enough wellbutrin... well, maybe I am, because the last time I quit I was feeling WAY worse than I do this time around. The cravings aren't nearly 1/2 as bad... still there, just nowhere near as bad.

I think I really chose a great time to quit, 10 days of cravings and having to fight the urge really bad to give in and smoke... then I'll be in Disney for the next 7 days, where there is practically NO temptation to smoke... I'm also lucky in that my husband doesn't smoke. OG, when you're ready, you'll kick the habit!! :)

~Tara

[tomm10]

Tara, IME the cravings are normal. Even though quitting on Zyban was really easy for me I still had mad cravings.

In the beginning the cravings were constant. Anything and everything that held any association for me with cigarettes would cause me to crave one. Waiting in line, driving, after eating, you name it. It all made me crave a cigarette. The cravings were't super strong, just constant and I found that I had the strength to push them aside.

As time went on the cravings grew less and less frequent but much stronger. I wouldn't think about smoking until I saw a tv show with someone smoking then I would crave one so bad I'd kick someone in the teeth to get one!

Be strong and find something else to do with that energy. Cigarettes are big time waster/diversion so without them you need to occupy your time another way. Walks are a good alternative even if its just from your cubicle to the water cooler. It will change things up and help occupy your mind.

[dwayne]

Tom (and anyone else who drinks 1-2 gallons of water a day!!) ... how long until your body is used to drinking so much water and cranberry juice?? So far today I've drunk 1 large mug of coffee and 2 34oz jugs of water, and 1 small glass of cranberry juice... been up since 6:00 and have peed 13 times (that's 13 times, in 6.5 hours).

I haven't peed this much since the end of my pregnancy... sorry if tmi, but it's driving me nuts!!

~Tara

[tomm10]

It doesn't take to long. Maybe a week or so if I remember right. Its been a while. I still have to hit the little boys room about once an hour if I'm drinking at my max of 1 liter an hour or so.

The bad part is that once your body gets used to so much water on such a regular basis it seems to not retain as much of it. The practical upshot of that being that you are left more vulnerable to dehydration (at least in its milder form characterized by thirst). I seldom get in my car, for example, without a bottle of water with me.

[JSchmidt]

Go Tara Go! Go Tara Go!

We're pulling for you!

Jim

[OrionGirl]

Are you drinking cold water, or room temp? The room temp water will go through you much quicker than cold. And hot--well, it's almost immediate for me. I can drink a liter of water and be fine for hours (well, miles--this is usually when I've driving somewhere!), but one itsy bitsy cup of anything hot, and I have to make a stop in about 30 minutes.

[JSchmidt]

Are you drinking cold water, or room temp? The room temp water will go through you much quicker than cold. And hot--well, it's almost immediate for me. I can drink a liter of water and be fine for hours (well, miles--this is usually when I've driving somewhere!), but one itsy bitsy cup of anything hot, and I have to make a stop in about 30 minutes.

That's interesting... I've never noticed that kind of a difference. I think I'm going to have to some experimentation...

Jim

[OrionGirl]

I never noticed until about 4 years ago when I started traveling for work. If I leave Cheyenne with a cold one liter soda, I can drink the whole thing and not need to stop until Casper (I-25, ~ 180 miles) or Rawlins (I-80, ~150 miles). If I would have just one cup of coffe, I could barely make it 45 miles--meaning a stop in Laramie or Wheatland was required. If I took room temperature water, I could make it further, but still not the same distance. Since most of my travels entail drives of at least 180 miles, and every stop added time to the trip, it was an inconvenience. I started looking into it, and it has to do with absorption rates. Liquids that are closer to our body temperature can be absorbed much quicker--the body doesn't have to spend calories/time changing the temperature of the liquid, so can start using it quicker. This is also the reason people exerting themself and sweating are advised to drink tepid water--it gets to work faster.

[JSchmidt]

I always thought the coffee thing was because it contains a lot more caffeine than soda, but your temperature shifting explanation makes sense to me... very interesting.

Jim

[125gJoe]

Go Tara Go! Go Tara Go!

We're pulling for you!

JimAgreed 100%. :cool:

[125gJoe]

Day 2..

Joe ~ I visited that MSN group, and they are hardcore! I could never join a group like that... absolutely no forgiveness there. But there were some good tips and links there, so thanks!! I'm wondering if I'm not on strong enough wellbutrin...~Tara

I'm sorry. I thought the link I sent was to download a simple "quit statistics" program. ---Not a hardcore stop smoking group! ..

Most likely your doctor prescribed the proper doseage of Wellbutrin. Don't be afraid to ask questions. This is your health - this is to benefit you.. Call your doctor and ask questions. Know what's going on, and that the Rx is the right dose. Most likely it is.

I can't emphasize how well the prescription worked!

PM me anytime on this... (of course fish topics too.. ) :)

[dwayne]

Tom ~ I have always been a frequent bathroom user, and before I started taking the wellbutrin (and getting the dry mouth, which causes me to drink all this water) I would go all day drinking only one large mug of coffee, 1 20oz diet coke at lunch time, and 1 or 2 smaller glasses of diet coke w/ dinner, and maybe the occassional cup of water (small), if I was thirsty from being outside in the heat/humidity smoking :) .

OG ~ I'm totally opposite of you!! I can drink an Dunkin Donuts Great One HOT coffee (um, about 25 or 30 oz I think - it's HUGE), and not have to pee for a couple of hours. But even a medium (15oz or so) ICE coffee, and I have to pee within 1/2 hour! My water is ice water, ice ice cold frosty water. The colder the water, the better it works on your metabolism!

Jim ~ Actually caffiene is a ... don't know the word, but it actually dehydrates you... it's definately the temperature thing that makes one have to pee... though obviously it's an individual thing, since OG and I are opposite!

Joe ~ That page had TONS of great stats and articles/tips. You cannot join the group until nicotine has been out of your system for 72 hours. But their rule is one puff and you are forever banned!! That's not very supportive, imho, and they don't accept any members who are using any form of nicotine replacement either. And as far as the Wellbutrin, I've done research and it seems the Wellbutrin XL is prescribed at 150mg once per day, but the Wellbutrin SR is prescribed at 150mg twice per day - they are totally different formulations, and the XL has much lower incidence of side effects. Every piece that I've read over the past 2 days about using Wellbutrin XL to quit smoking says that you're supposed to take it for 2 weeks, and then quit smoking - my doctor told me 1 week, but from what I've read, that's if you're on the SR... so I think I may have gotten jipped in that regard... oh well... :)

Thanks everyone for all of your support! It means so much to me!

~Tara

[jamzwayne]

Tara

I can only say - GREAT! I am VERY proud of you.

I smoked for about 12 years. I quite about a year ago, and havent had a smoke since. as a matter of fact, the smell of cigarette smoke makes me ill.

I used Smoke Away (http://www.smokeaway.org/) - the product works wonders, if you WANT to quite.

But

You have to WANT to quite.

[125gJoe]

.. ..

Joe ~ ...... ....Every piece that I've read over the past 2 days about using Wellbutrin XL to quit smoking says that you're supposed to take it for 2 weeks, and then quit smoking - my doctor told me 1 week, but from what I've read, that's if you're on the SR... so I think I may have gotten jipped in that regard.... .. ~Tara
You did not get jipped..
You can continue Wellbutrin for weeks after you quit.. I did. It works.
I hope you don't have one of those doctors that consider patients just another "$$ paycheck" ... Been to those - and honestly "fired" them. If your doctor does not seem to care about your 'quitting smoking' - go to another.. This is important.

[dwayne]

Joe ~ My doctor is the best and was psyched when I asked her for the RX!! I think she was just confused about 1 week on SR versus 2 weeks on the XL before you quit... she gave me 1 refill and said that most patients don't need it after 2 months, but if I feel I need another month to just give her a call.

6 days and counting!!!!! :dance

~Tara

[125gJoe]

Joe ~ My doctor is the best and was psyched when I asked her for the RX!! ... 6 days and counting!!!!! :dance

~Tara

That's great! Excellent..!

[GoBlue]

Tara-

Wellbutrin SR (sustained-release) is a twice daily formulation, and Wellbutrin XL (extended-release tablets) is a once-daily formulation. Same drug, just different delivery. Both can be used for smoking cessation, at the same doses, but the SR (if I remember correctly) just happens to be the formulation that was used in most clinical studies.

I like to use Wellbutrin SR 150mg, starting with once/day x 3 days & then stepping up to 150mg twice daily, (for most people....alter this regimen in certain circumstances). If the person hates taking twice daily drugs, I'd be willing to switch to Wellbutrin XL 300mg once daily (150mg XL = 150mg SR).

For both drugs, approximately 1 week is needed to reach steady state blood levels, so choosing a quit date at the 1-2 week timepoint is reasonable. So your doctor likes to start at the early end & others wait a bit longer. There's no science to picking between 1 or 2 weeks....just different practice patterns.

Enjoy the smoke-free life! I'm proud of you!

Jim

(Standard disclaimer that this is posted for educational use only applies. Before using any health information you find on the internet, consult with your personal physician who is familiar with your unique health history.)

[reiverix]

Man I need to quit real bad. I've had two collapsed lungs within the last 3 years and had to have a part of my right lung removed. The surgeon said it was genetic but obviously smoking isn't exactly the right thing to do.

I have a pack of gum in the kitchen and I'm just trying to get into the right frame of mind. It's a terrible addiction.

[125gJoe]

http://www.almeidacartoons.com/Med_pix/filthy%20habit.jpg

It is a terrible addiction, but it can be stopped... ;)

http://www.almeidacartoons.com/Med_pix/med.knowledge.jpg

:D

http://www.almeidacartoons.com/Med_pix/will%20kill%20you.jpg

[QCppg]

I smoked a little less than half a pack a day for about two years, and that was hard enough to quit. When I found out that I couldn't get insurance with the job I had at the time I decided that enough was enough.

What I did was three steps. The first step is to cut down to ultralight cigarettes to help attenuate your addiction, until the point when you just puff the cigarette (I got down to one cig a day this way). I then used the gum, but not according to their directions. I only chewed a piece when I would normally light up, and one piece would generally last for three or four of these cravings.

Mind you I will still puff a cigar on occasion, but even this is pretty rare. I don't plan to ever touch cigarettes again.

But the main thing is, as everyone else here has been saying, is you have to WANT to quit! Good luck.

[dwayne]

Well, today is day 19 and I'm feeling great! I honestly don't think I'll ever go back to being a smoker... I still have a craving or two during the day, but nowhere as intense as the first week and a half. Thanks again everyone for the encouragement and sharing your own stories!

[JSchmidt]

Way to go, Tara! You rock!

Jim

[125gJoe]

Very good!!!

I hope you were able to get one of those free programs that track how much you save in $$.....

You will be surprised! :)

[slipknottin]

hmm with all this speak of addictions, im thinking of marketing a product called 'aquaricontrol'. Its a patch shaped like a fish that you put on your arm. :idea2:

[dwayne]

LOL slip!! For some reason I don't think you'd make a lot of money with that patch... who wants to cure fishdiction???

Joe, according to quitnet.com, it's 307 cigarettes not smoked, and I've saved (only!) $83, and saved (only!) 2 days and 8 hours of my life. I shouldn't say "only", but for some reason I'd think it would be more...

[greeneyedlady]

Well, I've quit smoking probably 6 times over the years the last time I quit I did so because I had pneumonia and I told myself enough was enough. (I had smoked since the age of 15). Never had a big problem quitting but it was always too easy to start back up again. Always gave myself the same tired line of it's just one (yeah right) next thing I know I'm buying them and back to the same old habits....it is much easier to quit if no one else in the house smokes (my husband should be the national poster boy for never smoking--he hates it).
But as to the cravings, my dad quit smoking about 28 years ago and he says that there are still some days when he would kill for a cigarette. So don't think that that craving never rears it's ugly head because every once in a while it does.
On the up side, just think about how wonderful it is to be free from such a nasty dirty habit and how much better things taste than they did before. :p

[anonapersona]

When I finally quit smoking, it was as if I had a parrot on my shoulder, squawking into my ear " Get out of bed, smoke a cigarrette. Finish a meal, smoke a cigarette. Take a break, smoke a a cigarette!"

For the first few weeks, that parrot sat on my shoulder, squawking at me so loud sometimes I couldn't really hear what other people were saying. Later, it moved across the room, still squawking at me, but easier to ignore. It got further and further away. Sometimes I went for hours without noticing it.

Then, at about the 6 weeks mark, there was a block party. The neighbor who I used to bum cigarettes from all the other times I'd quit was lighting one up. I couldn't stand it, I wanted to grab it out of his hand. I stared at his hand, transfixed, and it was as if God himself rolled back the clouds and boomed, "SMOKE A CIGARETTE"

At that very moment, someone yelled, "Head's up!" and I saw a football hurtling toward the picnic table full of food dishes and surrounded by little kids. Now, I'm a small woman, totally unathletic, and I've never caught a football in my life. But, I reached up and neatly caught that ball with two hands, I simply snatched it from the air as it sailed near me.

I was convinced at that moment, that God was watching, and so I tossed the ball back and went home. I haven't ever wanted a cigarette since. At all. Ever. Never touched one.

[Watcher74]

As some of you might know, I'm currently a homeless bum in Tx trying to find a job in the computer industry at the moment.

My family is with the inlaws in NY and all of our belongings are in storage in VA.

Most of my job hunting has focused around Austin and it has become almost fanatical about healthy lifestyles. I started coming across companies with a policy of not hiring anyone who uses tobacco.

I thought to myself, "Ok, enough is enough. If this is getting in the way of me providing for my family then it is gone."

I told myself that last thursday was the last day.

Physical cravings lasted about 2, maybe 3 days. Psychological cravings I'm still dealing with.

Day 6, smoke free.

And still no job.

[Dangerdoll]

oh Watcher..... good luck to ya bud!

[Timmain42]

Day 6, smoke free.

And still no job.
Good deal. As you no doubt already know, you're saving yourself $3-4.50 a DAY by not smoking. Which is a lot when you're unemployed.

GL on the job hunt. I feel your pain. If you're REALLY hurting, I know of a place in North Dallas/Carrollton that hires aquarium service techs with great regularity. Since you're a fish fan, you've already got a jump on the situation. The pay isn't great, but it's better than starving.

[dwayne]

How's it going Watcher???