So It's Been......

 a complete 7, yes 7, days since I quit smoking! And let me tell you, it has been rough! I wanted to do this on my own, without the help of "stop smoking" products......... I knew it would be hard, but I have done it! My hubby has been on his p&q's so as not to set me off.....my kids, the same! Heck, even my dogs have kind of shyed away from me this week! I have been a smoker since the age of 14.......eeehhhh, thats 22 years at almost a pack a day! And I have done it cold turkey! I am sooooo happy....... I have to admit tho, if it wasnt a requirement for surgery, I probably would not have chosen to quit........but at this point, I am glad I did!
I can see the difference when I walk, exercise, and climb stairs.......I dont pant as much! LOL.....
Just thought I would share this major milestone!
~heather

Wow You deserve a group hug. Thats a hard thing to give up. I hope you can keep up the good work... I know it will be better for you when you have surgery. I know alot of people who have stopped and they say thiungs taste much better and they can breathe...Good Luck congratulations....



                                                                         Julie

Yes, I can  notice differences! It is a good thing........ a very stressful thing, but definitely good! LOL.........thanx for the support!
~heather

Congratulations!  I fell of the wagon myself yesterday after being smoke free for 2 years.  I mentioned it as one of my things I was grateful for was that the pack of cigarettes was 6.98.  It is definitely the last pack I buy!

Ouch....... 6.98???????? Over here, we pay roughly $5 for a pack of newports! I guess they are varied throughout the state! It is hard as H***..... after each meal, I begin to look for the ashtray......when I get real stressed, I look for my lighter........there are all kind of triggers that I am noticing, and so far have been able to get around them! I swear tho, I have gained 5 pounds since I quit!
~heather

that is great!!! i had quit for 2 years and 2 months and then started back up again last summer like a fool. so now before the surgery i have to go through all that withdrawl and grumpy stuff again:) by day 21 you can say you have broken the habit!! day by day sometimes its hour by hour. i found that every time i wanted one i would go brush my teeth...my dentist loved me:)

WOOT WOOT! You rock Heather!

I don't care how bad anything gets, whatever happens just do NOT smoke!  It's "that simple."  After time, I promise you, you will 'forget' you ever smoked, it will seem very foreign.  Smoking will make NOTHING better.  And as far as gaining 5 lbs, that's okay, it would take a weight gain of 75 lbs to match the damage you were doing to your body by smoking.

Heather!!

You go, girl!!!  I KNOW it's hard, I've watched my parents try, succeed and pick the habit back up again (Dad).  PLEASE, for yourself, do this!!!

We're here to support you in this, too!!

Hugs & love,

Tia

Tia.......
    It is hard......but so far, honestly, it hasnt been as excruiating as I thought it would be! Well, at least I think so........my family may say different! HAHAHAHA! I think because I KNOW I have to quit for WLS, that is my driving force right now. Its sad because my lungs should be factor #1...... weird how our minds process things sometimes?
~heather

congratulations! That is awesome an to do it on your own, cold turkey like that, deserves extra congrats!