i"m an ex-smoking!! 206 days smoke free! I smoked for over 30 years while in the U.S. Navy. Started smoking about my first year and smoked pretty much my entire career until I retired in 2012. Why did I quit? I really don't have a canned answer. Most have a quick "for my wife and kids" or "doctors orders" etc - but I can't really nail one of those down. So my answer is - I just really got sick and tired of smoking.
I knew my battle was going to be difficult. So to cut down on the full body shock of cold turkey, which I have a worlds record of those failed attempts. I pulled out some quitting smoking tips booket that I picked up somewhere - I believe I stole from my sons dentist office - ok so what I'm busted . Anyway - as you see I'm starting to suffer from ADD as well.
I started my process December 31, 2014 - my quest, my news years resolution, I'm going kick this smoking thing butt! I awoke the next morning, put on my sweats, got a cup of joe - drum roll - hell yeah I grabbed my smokes, lighter and out the door I went to go smoke in subzero weather. Fail,.
I started by not smoking in my truck. Which was very difficult. Smoking and driving was like smoking and tea/coffee. After about month of that I started to notice my truck wasn't stinking like an ashtray. But not smoking in my truck didn't mean I smoked any less. I'd power puff a smoke walking up to the store or stand beside the truck and burn one.
The next goal was to just not take smokes with me when driving around running errands . It's the little things I had to cut out. Like after eating. I'd go brush my teeth immediately after meals or if out at a restaurant I'd use a toothpick for that hand to mouth muscle memory. I still brush my teeth probably way more than what's required by the dental association, but for a 52 year old I have to admit I have some fine shiny choppers.
This was a couple months of putting off smoking, opting just wait till later or let the urge pass. I had an appointment with my doctor for my annual sack grab and cough - finger probe he asks was I interested in quitting smoking. I told him I was. I started with 21mg nico-derm cc - can't remember how many is in a box but I was on that dosage for one month. With these patches, I was like this is so easy I'm not having any urges - just that hand mouth thing.
The next month doc put me on 14mg. Okay - I get it now. The 21mg was I know how way more nicotine than I was taking in - but my body was loving it. It took about 3-4 days for my body to adjust to its new nico-derm CQ dosage. I adjusted, fought the urges and temptations . I stayed on the 14mgs for two months before dropping down to 7mg.
The drop down dosage effects were identical. Took 3-4 days for my body to adjust - and honestly I never felt the "satisfied" feeling I was getting from 21mg or the 14mg. I was on 7mg for like 2 weeks. My daughter had returned from overseas after service at a U.S. Medical center, we planned a weekend up in the smokey mountains. after the first day I notice I didn't wear a patch. I didn't even notice.
206 days later- I'm still smoke free -
Interesting email from my brother...
Do Patches just prolong the symptoms?
My quiting history in one thread
Me and my weight/eating.
nicotine playing with my mind
