Now I haven't smoked for 5.5 hours

[Mizmoon]

but I'm getting ready to leave work. I plan to stop at the diner and stuff my face while I read stories I printed out off of the web about people who have emphysema. They are all pleas that readers quit smoking before it's too late.

The hard part will be going home to that chiminy I married. Oy vey. I'm going to have to demand that he smoke outside from now on. He's not going to like it! I'll have to use my birthday girl powers to make it happen.

Thanks for tolerating me and expect some odd posts for the next few days ...

[LisaLynne]

1. Hang in there!

And if you just can't stand it and want to fight, there's always GD! :)

[LynzM]

2. Good for you!!

:hug: Whatever it takes for you to quit! Your chimney should respect your decision to make yourself and your home healthier!

[drubytue]

3. Deep breathing and relaxation

It takes a few weeks, so pace yourself. You can do it.

[wryter2000]

6. Welcome to DU

:hi:

[Beware the Beast Man]

4. Heheh...I love how you have it down to the decimal point!

Congratulations! I know how that first day feels. I've had plenty of first days this year. Keep it up! :hi:

[wryter2000]

5. You can do this

Just think of how much $$$ they've been charging you to kill you and ruin your health. :mad:

[Frogtutor]

7. Awesome! I've been there, and you can do it!

I smoked for about 17 years until April, 2003. It is hard to quit, but it gets a little better each day. What spurred me to finally quit was I noticed that I was short of breath after doing hardly anything, and since I was 35, they wouldn't let me take oral contraceptives that contained estrogen anymore! I had some help though, I was taking Wellbutrin, and using the nicotine patch. I ate lots of sugarless candy, and even chewed on stick cinnamon! Since I've never quit before, I can't say whether or not they helped, or how much. Luckily, I don't live with a smoker, but almost everyone else I know and spend time with is one. Sometimes I think the only thing that keeps me from going back is that I DO NOT EVER WANT TO HAVE TO QUIT AGAIN!!! Besides, I think my husband and son would kill me...
Anyway, I hope your husband supports you in this, and I'm rooting for you!

Frogtutor

[NJ_Lib]

8. Wow, I'm impressed...

... with your courage and determination...

I too am DYING to quit... By the way, you mentioned people who are sick warning to quit before it's too late... I'm curious, where can I find those warnings... Maybe that will give me the shake I need...

[Mizmoon]

9. http://www.emphysema.net/my.html

It's very interesting especially how most of them say they never thought it would happen to them ... just like neither one of us thinks it will happen to us.

I'm home now. Ate lots at the diner. Hubby and his cigarettes are home too having taken a 1/2 day off. God, give me strength.

BTW, it has now been almost 7 hours.

[motely36]

10. Hey Mizmoon

You are doing great. I quit over two years ago and I am so happy I did it. Granted there are still times when I want one, but I don't think anything could make me go back now!

[YellowRubberDuckie]

11. Maybe you can get him to quit with you.

And you guys can have a few more years together. And even if you quit, you'll be getting more harmful fumes from him than you were getting from yourself. He's got a filter. You do not.
Duckie

[hollywood926]

12. Mizmoon, check out this site...

This one really helped me because the guy who runs it pulls no punches and there is an article on there for every single possible situation you will confront as a new non-smoker. Check it out!

www.whyquit.com

Oh and you can't join the message board until you have quit for 72 hours. They want to know you are serious.

[sadinred]

13. Happy Birthday.

You know I have been thinking about quitting too. Nothing new there, but I have read that tobacco co.s (especially Marlboro, my brand) give A LOT of $$$$$ to GOP. Yet another really good reason to quit.
I was actually wondering about a quit smoking discussion here at DU. I don't know how to start that though.

Good luck. It is the best thing to do. I will be following shortly.

And Happy Bday!:toast:

[Mizmoon]

14. Thanks and welcome to DU!

:toast: