Smoke on the Horizon, Quitting Smoking, Part 1

Smoking is by far the single largest, preventable cause of health issues and death worldwide. About 5.4 million deaths are attributed to tobacco each year. Cancer and it's associated symptoms cause more destruction to families than car accidents and other forms of ailment. While they are many reasons, after 12 years, I decided to quit. This series will chronicle objective and helpful lessons learned that others can use as a guide to quit smoking.

My quit date was January 11, 2012. I started that day like normal. Woke up, took the dogs out, made some coffee, and headed out to the garage for a smoke. I counted, and I had 6 cigarettes left. Normally, that meant stopping on the way to work for a new pack. But not today. My wife went to Florida to visit family, and had quit smoking for about a week already. Behind the curve, I knew it was my time.

The Lesson:
Pick a date, and quit on that date. Morning, noon, or night does not matter, as long as you stop on that date. Detail your reasons, and carry them with you. Now is a good time to start thinking about how much money you'll save. Money is a motivator!

It as like I WANTED to be rid of them, but couldn't bear to throw them away. So I finished them that morning. I tried to look for a buddy at work to share my last two, but couldn't find him. I finished one, and only had one left. When I went back inside, the gang already knew I was quitting. They had already written my stopdate and time, 11:00AM, on the big whiteboard. They took my last cigarette from me, destroyed it, and threw out my lighter. It was now or never.

The Lesson:

Smoke your last cigarettes. Don't deny yourself closure. Put it in your mind as you are smoking those last ones of all the negative things about them; how much you smell like them, or how much everything you own smells like them. Tell your support system you are quitting and need their help. If you have decent friends, they will help you. If you don't, find some!

I had an ample supply of Nicorette gum, which is working just fine, and was a little jittery that first day. My wife was not back from Florida yet, so the first night without a cigarette, I had no support system, except for a few friends on Facebook. Still, I persevered and did not give in. I survived the night, and could actually breath a little better the next morning. No wheezing, no coughing. I had two cups of coffee that morning, to make up for my "lost" breakfast buddy.

The Lesson:

Patches, gums, Chantix, whatever it takes to get you to stop smoking, do it. It may take a combination of strategies. Don't try just one and then give up. Decide that "come hell or high water," you are done! Focus your mind and do things. Idle hands are truly dangerous for smokers trying to quit. Don't give in, just get through it.

I still feel like I am missing something. After a large meal, when I'm bored, I should be having a cigarette. But then I think about what I am actually doing. The short of it is, MORE. I have been using that time to keep me busy, doing things I used to blow off. I've started exercising some, and counting the money I am saving by quitting.

The Lesson:

Replacement. You have to replace the smoking with positive, hopefully healthy, things that promote why smoking is worse than what you choose to do. That doesn't mean order an entire pizza or a dozen donuts! Sure, you may gain some weight, just be mindful of it. A good exercise I found was chopping wood. I was tense and wanted to hit something, so I did. Without a lawsuit.

I don't really miss it, but it's awkward. I have to get used to not smoking, and I think I can. This is a hard undertaking for anyone. Ex-smokers earn the respect of non-smokers because they were able to kick that habit, one that is so addictive. I'm tired of not being able to breathe, and I'm done. Stay tuned for the next update on Day 10!