It's Never Too Late To Quit Smoking!

SeaBreeze

SeaBreeze

Endlessly Groovin'
Location
USA
I quit smoking many, many moons ago and it was one of the smartest things I've ever done. I know some of us seniors are still struggling to put down the smokes, even though negative side effects are prevalent. I'd like to encourage anyone with a smoking habit to give quitting another try, it's never too late to stop and you'll feel so much better before you know it.

Never too late to quit: protective cells could cut risk of lung cancer for ex-smokers
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Ex-smokers have four times more genetically healthy cells than smokers, helping to protect them against lung cancer

The study shows that quitting smoking could do much more than just stopping further damage to the lungs. Researchers believe it could also allow new, healthy cells to actively replenish the lining of our airways. This shift in proportion of healthy to damaged cells could help protect against cancer.

These results highlight the benefits of stopping smoking completely, at any age.
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https://www.sanger.ac.uk/news/view/...e-cells-could-cut-risk-lung-cancer-ex-smokers
 

Actually, Seabreeze, I not only quit smoking, I also quit using smokeless tobacco (as in Red Man, Copenhagen and Skoal). I only smoked about a pack and a half a week and some folks said to me "don't call yourself a smoker, I can go thru a pack in one day." When I got involved in rodeo, around 1989, I stopped smoking and started "dipping" (Cope/Skoal Straight). Sometimes I'd even use Red Man Chew. It wasn't hard for me to stop smoking. Didn't bother my wife that I "dipped". She knew, for some rodeo cowboys, it was just a part of rodeo. I knew a number of guys that "dipped".

But, in Oct 2005, right before having a hip replacement, I noticed a "tingling" sensation inside my lower lip after having some "dip" there for a minute. We both decided that I should quit using "dip". I missed it and bought a can of Skoal in Spring of 2006. Put a "dip" inside my lower lip, while fishing on a lake. It stayed in for less than a minute. I took it out, threw away the can when we got home.

Since then, nothing. No cigs or "dip". So, that's been almost 14 years ago I quit using Skoal Straight.
 
My father quit cold-turkey when he was about 60 after being a chain smoker all his life. Why? The doctor found some "white spots'' at the back of his throat. That scared him plenty. I've never smoked, took one puff when I was 11, coughed, and never tried it again.
 

Four Weeks for me tomorrow... This time around was the easiest quit... Normally I would count the days, the hours... But had to think about it... Might have it licked... If any of my friends say, oh you are quitting again... I say, nope taking a rest from it... II don't feel it is as much pressure... Good Luck to all who are doing it, or thinking about it...
 
I smoked from when I was 15 to when I had my first child. Quit through all my child bearing years. Started up again towards the tail end of my marriage when things got really really bad. Tried three times to quit Between 2004 and 2008, and actually did stop smoking each time for weeks or months, but kidded myself that since I'd quit, I could have one now and again....and soon I was back to smoking a pack a day. It took me those three quits to realize that for me, I'm an all or nothing smoker, and it really is an addiction.

I quit, hopefully for good this time, in May 2008. I got over the worst cravings using the nicotine lozenges in those first, very difficult weeks, and tapered off those completely after about 6 months. Since then I've been nicotine free. I toyed with the idea a time or two of using a vape, but nah. I'm clean, I'll stay that way.

My mother and my brother both smoked, and both died from complications of emphysema. I don't want that same fate. Struggling to watch them breathe was heart-rending and it was my motivation to begin my own long and difficult quitting process. So glad I did it!!! I feel so much better physically, but emotionally too. Proud of myself for being able to best something that had such a hold on me.
 
I gave up smoking cigarettes in 1997 after years of smoking cigs since the age of about 16 I think. Reason I quit was because my consultant at my hospital said that I have mild emphasema and in about 5 years it will become worse and destroy my lungs.

From the moment I walked from the clinic I decided to quit. I had half a packet of Players Super Kings in my bag and these cost then about £2.20 per 10 packet if I recall. They are very much more expensive now

I got to my last cig and through the empty box away and vowed that's it...no more. I did this and it was very hard but as time elapsed the thought that Id achieved it so far encouraged me to keep going and I did. Lady Willpower was in command and as time went by the yen for nicotine faded. Ive not smoked a cig from 1997 to the present day.

A WARNING! Anyone attempting to give up smoking cigs be very careful about your weight gain. I did not take this into consideration and gradully got from 10stone3lbs to 13 stones. I was getting obese and didnt think much about it. There were no warnings or help from my clinic or help offerred so I just did what I had done for years...pigged out on rich foods and unhealthy eating habits hence paid the heavy price.

I was diagnosed as with Diabetes2 and this was in about 2004 approx. Im on meds but not insulin.

Not everyone is aware that stopping smoking cigs weight gain is a possibility. I learnt a hard lesson the hard way.
 
Actually, for some, it is too late to quit smoking. It is one of those ugly truths, & not very popular.
I was watching an interview with Patrick Swayze a few months before he died of cancer. He was asked if he quit smoking. He replied, "No, but I've cut back."
"Swayze had been a heavy smoker for forty years, and he once admitted to smoking 60 cigarettes a day.[47] He stated that his chain smoking probably "had something to do with" the development of his disease. Photos taken of a gaunt Swayze in the months before his death showed him continuing to smoke.[48][49]
I think he knew it wouldn't have made any difference.
 
SeaBreeze said:
it's never too late to stop and you'll feel so much better before you know it.
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I quit 3 years ago...like the TV add 'slow turkey' but not with any Rx just on my own, gradually cutting one cigarette a day out of my life. IT worked but the results for me at 73 are not what they tell you.. for some reason my breathing is just as bad if not worse only now I have to contend with the added 45 pounds of fat I gained caused when I stopped putting those cigarettes in my mouth and replaced it with (snacks).
Do I think it is worth it....definitely my latest chest x-ray is still clear so the stopping did have some positive results.
 
.I started smoking in my teens,took me usually 2-3 days to finish a pack
When I started,a pk cost $.35 when I quit 'cold turkey'in '90 they were $1
The nictotine patch or gum wasn't on the market yet.
I know its difficult to quit,but if you don't think about it you will succeed
 
I wasn't forced to quit or anything, but I know I smoked more in the winter... I would sit here on the computer, and it would be one after another because I could not remember when I had my last one... Price wasn't a concern either... think they were $140 for a Canadian carton... But we bought native smokes, and it was like maybe 15 minutes down the road, and it is or was $20 a carton.

I have quit many times, and like a lot of smokers, I would say, I'll have only one, well one never happened... I quit once for a year and a half... and yup, smoke smelled so good, out having a few beers with Lorie and friends of ours... and I thought well ya know it's been a year and some... I've got this beat... had a smoke, and bought a pack before the night was over...

Bought a vape, and tried that a few times, and that didn't work, didn't like the vape at all... Did the smoking aids to quit, the patch, still smoked with a patch... didn't like the gum, it was too hard to chew with no teeth.

Then I broke my leg, and they gave me meds to help me quit, they were worried about al the infections I was having in my leg, that smoking would make it worse, at least they had me convinced, that it wouldn't be too good to smoke while fighting these infections, and 6 surgeries after the main 3 surgeries to fight infection from the steel rods and 16 screws they put in my leg. But once home after all the surgeries, I was back to smoking before I knew it... Probably from boredom...

But back to this time... I just stopped smoking without even thinking about it...and haven't thought of smoking since January 3rd...Right now it's one day at a time... but it helps not thinking about it, or writing it on the calendar... Just carry on like any other day, but without a smoke...

For the weight stuff, fortunately, I am on the Ozempic for diabetes, so that fools the brain, and stomach that they are full, so not eating any more food than I already was...

If anyone else is trying to quit, we can probably help each other out... So "way to go for the ones that quit!!!" and "we can do it, for the ones who are quitting now"
 
Ronni said:
I smoked from when I was 15 to when I had my first child. Quit through all my child bearing years. Started up again towards the tail end of my marriage when things got really really bad. Tried three times to quit Between 2004 and 2008, and actually did stop smoking each time for weeks or months, but kidded myself that since I'd quit, I could have one now and again....and soon I was back to smoking a pack a day. It took me those three quits to realize that for me, I'm an all or nothing smoker, and it really is an addiction.

I quit, hopefully for good this time, in May 2008. I got over the worst cravings using the nicotine lozenges in those first, very difficult weeks, and tapered off those completely after about 6 months. Since then I've been nicotine free. I toyed with the idea a time or two of using a vape, but nah. I'm clean, I'll stay that way.

My mother and my brother both smoked, and both died from complications of emphysema. I don't want that same fate. Struggling to watch them breathe was heart-rending and it was my motivation to begin my own long and difficult quitting process. So glad I did it!!! I feel so much better physically, but emotionally too. Proud of myself for being able to best something that had such a hold on me.
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I quit using those Commit lozenges. And lots & lots of prayer.
 
I quit in the mid 90s after decades of smoking 3 packs of Camels a day. I have mild COPD and some Emphysema but not O/2 deprived. I do have a node on each lung about 1 cm in size that may be pre-cancerous or a very slow growing cancer. So far no symptoms. They were found quite by accident when I had a CT scan for something else. My Pulmonologist will see me in Dec. and order another scan at that time.
 
I quit 11 years ago June. “When did you quit? Right before the ambulance came for my heart attack. “ It has lasted. Had a few times before then some crisis came & it was back to it. Finally realized that after the cig was out, the crisis, whatever it was, was still there.
 
win231 said:
Actually, for some, it is too late to quit smoking. It is one of those ugly truths, & not very popular.
I was watching an interview with Patrick Swayze a few months before he died of cancer. He was asked if he quit smoking. He replied, "No, but I've cut back."
"Swayze had been a heavy smoker for forty years, and he once admitted to smoking 60 cigarettes a day.[47] He stated that his chain smoking probably "had something to do with" the development of his disease. Photos taken of a gaunt Swayze in the months before his death showed him continuing to smoke.[48][49]
I think he knew it wouldn't have made any difference.
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Sadly, you're right. My husband was a lifelong smoker. He tried many times to quit, but always went back. During his second (and last) bout of cancer, I asked the doctor to tell him treatment would go better if he didn't smoke. The doctor told me, "At this point, it won't make any difference. He's going through enough right now. We'll just leave the cigarettes alone."

I've never smoked in my life, so I can't pretend to understand what the addiction is like. But I respect and admire anyone who can quit.
 
I smoke

Not heavy

Maybe 6-8 a day
After meals and during coffee...or a nip with friends

Once or twice a week, of an evening, I'll roll a can full

QER6xVb.jpg
That'll last maybe three days, maybe more

I'm considering quitting
No breathing probs.....jus' don't wish to ever have them

Hate to give up what I like, but that's one of the ones I best do
 
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mike4lorie said:
Sounds Good Gary, Let me know when YOU might like to start...
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OK
We're gonna do this

Gonna be in a very few days
I've got enough rollies left for 4-5 days

Then

That's it

I'll PM you the day before, so you can prepare (git rid of the stuff that calls.... like a female coyote calling a male dog)

We'll do this
I'm hard line on this type of shit


Please tell me folks around you (wife, kids, friends) don't smoke
 
Yup and I did it for six months... and was doing good, and then got all stressed about life, sitting in my shop... then walked out to the truck, grabbed Lorie's smokes, walked back to the garage, sparked one up... and Wow, tasted good, and I could feel the stress leaving... but I wanna do this again... So Mate... let's do it again @Gary O'

Most of my friends don't know I started again... specially Kelsie, my oldest... she would have a fit if she knew I started again...
 

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