I'm thinking of quitting

Good job. I'm happy the nicotine gum is working for you.

Noooooooooooooooooo!!! That was one of the classic Buckeye comebacks of all time!!! At least you didn't smoke over changing the channel!

I hope you're still smoke-free & feeling less "jumpy" about it. I also hope you were able to decrease your intake of nicotine gum, but that's a more minor issue, I guess. Your lungs are healing a little bit more each day! Keep on!

I did "bum" a couple cigarettes tonight. But I must admit, after not smoking for a week they tasted just horrible. I really have no desire to pick it back up as a regular habit.

I'm starting to need the gum slightly less it seems. Next week I'm going to get one with less nicotine.

Ain't it the truth, though?! I found the same thing. They say that when you stop smoking your sense of taste is heightened. I'm not certain I experienced that, but I sure noticed how nasty cigarettes tasted when I "bummed" one after quitting.

I know that's disgusting! Here's worse. I had to taste them on my now ex for six years after I quit. She stopped kissing me instead of trying to brush her teeth, saying "I never really liked kissing." 19 years to tell this? This was another part of her control strategies and a huge sign for me. I refuse to date a smoker. I don't care either way about pot, but that tobacco smell and taste, barf.

When I was in high school, I remember telling a girlfriend that kissing her was like licking out an ashtray. Rather than quitting her, however, I took up smoking...& didn't quit for over 30 years! My ex-wife didn't smoke either, so I can only imagine how foul I must have tasted.

It sticks to skin too. Kissing her neck even was a difficult thing. I started putting little dabs of toothpaste inside my nose and brushing my own teeth before even trying to make out, after two years of no physical contact whatsoever. Menthols are even worse, because that oozes out of the skin. Yuck!

1 month for me I think to myself "how did i smoke for so many years"?, the smell on clothes, hair and my car...ugh...
not to mention smokes in B.C are $ 12 to 14 bucks a pack here!

It sounds like smoking almost ruined your relationship altogether, SorryShaped! Sorry about that!

Congrats on the month! That's a huge accomplishment. Oh, the smell! I'd almost forgotten how bad my car & clothes smelled after I quit. I feel really bad that people had to ride with my stink when in my car. As for $$$...You've saved a ton. Keep it up!

No, her becoming a controlling mentally and emotionally abusive a-hole ruined the relationship. "Everything's your fault" and "I don't need you here. I don't want you here" and "if anything's going to be fixed, it's going to be all you. I'm not going to try" ended the relationship.

That would do it, too...

Though I'm alone, I'm not nearly as lonely as I was when I was married. It's worse to have and can't use than to simply have not.
But we've digressed.

You're doing great, except for the minor slips. You can make it through without tobacco! You see the differences already. You're in my thoughts

Funny thing is, I didn't smoke in my car. I did, however, keep an ashtray so if I smoked outside my car somewhere, I could put my butts in it instead of littering. I was driving home from work today and sure did smell that nasty ****.

Congrats on one month!

I know things can get stressful, scatterbrained. How has quitting been going? Stress is the big trigger when you're trying to quit.

I'm still not smoking, but the last couple days there have had a lot of emotional/anxiety/stress related triggers, no doubt.

Seem to be having less cravings overall though. Not chewing as much of the gum.

Yay, scatterbrained!!! Yep. There will continue to be triggers now & then, but it's fantastic that the urges are decreasing. It's also got to be helpful not to be using so much nicotine gum now. I know that stuff is pretty pricey...but it's necessary since you're having luck with cravings while chewing it. Keep it up! Your progress is amazing!

Progress!

It's been a little over 2 weeks now. Not missing it too much. Down to like one piece of gum per day.

Your rocking this

Wow, scatterbrained!!! I was reading on another forum of your recent stressors & of feeling overwhelmed. The fact that you're still smoke-free is really amazing! Way to go!

Thank you guys for your encouragement.

I think the the big struggle for me is going to be not picking it up again many months or years from now. (This ain't my first go round).

How do you guys combat the urges and triggers that pop up later??

I can already think of some situations that I know will trigger urges.

"Just keep passing the open window!" That's the only advice I can give. I just know how much more money I have now that I stopped. I was smoking 3-4 cartons a month...which REALLY added up. I figue I've got about $150-$200 more a month in the budget. That's a big incentive.

That stated, I still smell cigarette smoke sometimes & it "tickles my nose." It's only been three years since I stopped, & I still find myself smoking in my dreams sometimes. My urges aren't as great now, but I still have momentary urges sometimes.

Freedom is a big issue with me, too. I can go out with my girlfriend & not have to think, "How long until this damned movie is over?" because I'm jonesing for nicotine. It was the same in other situations...I always had to plan an exit route every two-three hours, or go out in sub-zero weather to smoke when at friends' or relatives' houses. Looking back, that's crazy stuff!
I'm free now.

I might have mentioned it before, but when I was first trying to quit I'd wear a rubberband around my wrist. I'd snap it any time I startedf to get the urge. Something about that distracted me.

Anyways, I'm glad you're doing so well! I'm especially impressed with how well you're doing with the stress in your life. Keep it up, kiddo!

How's it going? Encourage some folks!