ONE YEAR AGO TODAY

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I quit smoking... wow I feel SO much better... and the bait monkey is VERY happy that I quit too the money I saved not smoking went for my fishing habit..

AL

[DEISWERTH]

Good for you 8-) congrats!! Wish my wife would!

[Glenn]

OUTSTANDING!  Congratulations!  

[Chug Bug]

Congrats.  I quit at least once a week.

[senile1]

That's great, SFC_AL.  When I was much younger I always said, "Why smoke something if it doesn't give you a buzz?"  Now that I'm older and much wiser, I've shortened that sentence to "Why smoke?"  I'm glad you've beaten the habit.  

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I don't know many smokers that have smoked for YEARS that say they are GLAD they started smoking... 99.99% of them say they wish they could quit... but they just haven't reached that point to where its like OK ENOUGH!!!! NOT ONE MORE PUFF!!!!

there were several factors that pushed me over the edge and made me quit... and whatever works I say!

1 my oldest daughter bugged me constantly to quit

2 wife lost her job and it turned into a financial burden to just buy the things

3 the coughing fits in the morning really sucked and the smokers hang over too!

4 I joined a bass club and I wouldn't want to smoke on a non-smokers boat.. and the cravings really sucked after a few hours hahahahah

5 The bait monkey said if you don't buy smokes at 3.50 a pack you can buy more bait at 3.50 a pack...

so it was an easy decision... just quitting wasn't quite as easy...I just had to make my mind up that TODAY WAS THE DAY... I did use a product called "smoke away" that I got at Wally World... not sure if it helped that much... I am sure it did.. .but between my will power and that stuff knocking the "edge" off the cravings... I was able to do it... the first Month was the hardest.. after that it was just "maintenance" but even NOW after a FULL YEAR... I still want one on occasion... like say when a friend has a fire in the fire pit... (live in Wisconsin and you will understand a fire pit)... but then all I say to myself is ... I didn't go a year without smoking to just give it all up for one night of drinking

AL

[Marty]

Congratulations. That's quite an accomplishment. I've been off them for a number of years, but it wasn't easy. It's been said, but I don't know one way or the other, that nicotine is as addictive as some of the strong illegal drugs.

[Chug Bug]

It really is an accomplishment.  Man I've tried to quit so many times...gum, patch, zyban, wellbutrin.  I need to just do it cold turkey I think.  I quit for two years in the 90's to prepare for, and make it through the Police Academy, and I was very proud of myself.  Two days on the street, and I've been smoking ever since.

[K_Mac]

Congratulations. For all of you guys that are still trying, let AL be an example to you. I'm here to tell you, you can do it, and it's worth the effort. It is NOT easy, and 10 years later I still reach for my shirt pocket once in a while, but the urge quickly goes away. Good luck.

[flippin4it.]

     I'm 2 years out as of October 1. I see it like alcohol, I'm a smoker that has been smoke free for 2 years. I still want to smoke at times,but I know just one and it's all over. I smoked for 23 yrs and smoked 2 packs a day for 20 of them. I was up to 3 pack the last 3 years. I quit cold turkey. It was harder that beating drugs and alcohol combined because 7-11 is your dealer,you can do it in front of people and even while driving......................and it is legal.

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yeah if I can do it ANYONE can... I am in the Army... while "officially" frowned upon... smoking in the Army is almost GI ISSUE

then throw in to the mix Iraq... wow.. *shrug* one day at a time... one day at a time ... I will be hurtin for certin if I go back...

[senko_77]

Way to go Al!!  I remember the thread last year when you were keeping track of how much money you were saving for the monkey.  Although I forgot about it I was really pulling for you and was hoping and knowing that it would work out for you and you would kick it.  When you move here, you let me know.  We gotta get out to varner asap.

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ohhh yeah Senko... it would be a blast to go fishing with you... unfortunately I don't have a boat ... even if I do get one it will only be a jon boat... I won't get a tournament boat till I retire... in THREE YEARS and a HALF hehehehehehe

[Alpster]

God bless you and congratulations. I was a 4 & 5 pack a day smoker for 22 years. I used to get on my knees and tell God how much I loved them and begged Him to help me quit. Well, He finally answered my prayer. In 1990 I got the chicken pox and got them in my lungs (it's called vericilla pneumonia), almost died, but three weeks on a respirator and 6 weeks in the hospital did the trick. I am 16 years quit and proud as a peacock. My 14 year old has never seen me smoke. My 22 year old remembers I always had one in my mouth. Keep on keeping on!  ;D

Ronnie