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DPChallenge Forums >> General Discussion >> I am going to Quit Smoking - PERMANENTLY
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 05/14/2009 08:46:30 PM · #26
Your journey has inspired an idea!
 05/16/2009 05:13:14 PM · #27
This is day 97 of not smoking for me. The road has been long and rough but I am walking it and doing fine. I have gained 20lbs on a old body that didn't need more weight added to it. I'm now working on that. It would be so much easier to lose weight if you could just stop eating like you stop smoking. AmeedEl-Ghoul keep up the fight. A year from now you will remember this and know that you improved your life.
 05/17/2009 02:14:17 AM · #28
Ameed,
How did day 4 and 5th go? We are all waiting to hear about your battle. And it's day 6, a nice smoke-free Sunday to take your daughter to the park :).

Keep us posted, you have inspired many but your decision.

05/17/2009 02:31:59 PM · #29
Antonio and all :)
I am still on, didn't slip for a second, passed two tests already :)
I am waiting till tomorrow so I can post WEEK 1,
after that It will be weekly post for 3 months, then monthly till one year, or that what I think :)

Wish you all a wonderful Sunday, I am taking Sarah to the swimming pool today :)
05/17/2009 02:40:38 PM · #30
Congrats mate you are doing really well, coming from someone who started smoking at 12 and ended up smoking 50 - 60 a day I know how hard it is to give up, it's been 16 years now and I can tell you from experience you are so close to the best part! Give it another 2 - 3 weeks and then buy the most tasty food you can think of (for me it was fresh strawberries) if you go through a similar experience to me you will have a mouth full of flavour that almost knocks your head off, I have no idea why this happens but I have heard from other people who have given up that they experienced very similar things with food tasting amazing (maybe that's why we all put on so much weight) :)
 05/18/2009 09:38:47 AM · #31
Week 1,
I thought it is really boring to keep posting on daily bases, Iâll be posting on weekly bases from now on unless something happens that Iâd really like to share or discuss with you all.

Thanks for all your support and the PMs Iâve been receiving, honestly when I first started, I was hesitant to post in here, I was afraid from the reactions, as it is a personal matter, start smoking or quite smoking .. why should we care, why using the site bandwidth for such things .. but I am really glad I did, the support Iâve been getting from DPC is huge, more than the support I am getting from family and friends.

Day 4 .. I got busted, My wifeâs suspicious got confirmed, she monitored the cigarettes holder and lighter for couple of days now and they didnât leave their place, beside being empty. She said she didnât want to ask in case I am trying to reduce smoking, she didnât want to add more pressure. We watched a movie that night, I usually go out in the movie break to have a smoke, this time she asked me if I am going to have a smoke, I told her not really, just drink some water .. she gave me that look ââ are you for real look!! ââ and we continued watching the movie till the end, then she asked me again, are you going for a smoke? I was .. not really, just more water. She couldnât contain herself this time and asked me,
Are you reducing cigarettes? I .. Yes
Happily: How many did you smoke today? I .. none
Eyes getting bigger in a way I thought it is impossible for humans: When was the last time you had a cigarette? I .. 3 days ago.
Now the metamorphous that happened after my answer was really scary, I never thought happiness can do that!! just kidding ..

She was like .. no way, I canât believe this .. why? How? What? When? Tell me all about it ?! My answer: well you can read about it in my blog at DPC :) - You have a blog? No way .. I brought the threadâs page and she started reading, I went downstairs for a snack ââ Yeah yeah I know .. Iâll put weight for sure ââ.

By the time I was done she was almost done reading, and the following were the first words she said:
-Oh my GOD, so you wonât stink any more :)
-Weâll be able to watch a movie without you going to smoke in the middle of it and get back with this stinky smell.
- I am so proud of you :)

I didnât know I smelled that much.

Test 1:
My wife invited me with one of my closes friends and his wife for dinner at a local resturant, he is one of the top anti smokers persons in the world, he is sports man to the bone and a good friend, the much that he had a fight with my wife over the bell, he wanted to pay, but poor him, he didnât know it doesnât matter if he was a bodybuilder or Karate expert, he stood no chance :)
We ordered dinner, I had a bear with it, the first sip and all the craving demons starting jumping and burning in my head, brain and lungs. Second bear, and I started acting funny, they were looking at me and talking to each other, no way he is drunk, it has to be the cigarettes craving with alcohol. I took my stake rare, added no salt at all, the taste was amazing, for the first time I didnât need to add salt.
Day 4 ended with a wonderful meal, good company, no smoke.

Test 2:
Day 5, I had a very close friend calling from outside Montreal, from a city called Kingston He is dropping by Montreal for one night only, then he is leaving Canada in a military peace keeping mission that might take weeks or months. He already called all the group and arranged that we meet at Arabisque so we can have an oriental meal while smoking Shisha and Cigar. I was totally busted, either I donât go, stick to my plan, and ruin the day for all my group, and miss seeing my friend whom we get to meet only once every few months. Or go and keep watching everyone smoking cigar and shisha and resist the smoking temptation. Would you be able to resist?
What would you do if you were in my place? Knowing that my friendâs job at the military is critical and every time we see him might be the last time. God forbid.

Any way I went. We were total of 12, most of them smokers, regular smokers, occasional smokers, cigars only smokers, Shisha only smokers. We know the owner of the place he came to greet us and had a seat with us, called the waiter, started to take orders, and when it was my turn, ââ Orange Juice .. Fresh please ââ, every one stared at me in immediate silence in disbelieve, expecting me to laugh and order my usual, the sudden silent was intense the much that tables around us started to go into silent and stare at me wondering why this group got all of sudden so quiet and looking at me!!, To confirm that I was .. That would be all for now .. Please.
They started asking me if I am kidding, what about my double espresso with shisha, I answered them, Not any more, Iâve quite smoking. ââ Yep .. they didnât know till then that I became a Nicotine free person ââ.
Seriously .. the human face has a strange metamorphous ability that I am experiencing allot lately, it is really scary, I didnât know that I was the last person on earth expected to quit smoking!!

Got bombarded by questions as usual, answered them quietly while my blood pressure is rising, my heart beats are getting stronger that I thought for some time I was hearing them, I might .. every cell in my body was screaming for smoke, cigar, shisha, and many many double espresso, and this was the real test. It was time to practise self discipline to the maximum, put the well power to the test, almost like Yoga ..
There is no Spoon :) I was in the same condition, there is no smoke, I will never do it, lâll get out of here without slipping .. there is no spoon.

2 Orange Juice Fresh, one plate of Shish Taouk sandwich with all the sides, Another dish of Shrimp with all the sides an hour latter, one regular coffee and 3 big bottles of water are my total consumption in that night :) I couldnât breathe from the amount of food I consumed. Still catching few side glances at me, with all these question marks in the eyes, few intended buffs of smoke in my way, which I received with a a poker face smile ââ there is no smoke ââ .. at the end they knew it is for real, and smoke no more is my aim, they started asking me about the reason, I gave them the reasons mentioned in here at Day1.
Honestly, I felt so proud of myself from their reaction, all of them kind of stated they thought Iâd never stop, or I would have to be the last one to stop smoking in the entire world.

We had a 2 hours walk after that in Down Town Montreal, from 1am to 3am, the streets were still crowded, my craving was 100% now under control, and I did it :)

Symptoms: Craving attacks every now and then, sometimes they are severe, sometimes they just fade quickly, when it is sever, I have to do any kind of physical activities, clean, move stuff, and yesterday it was raining in the afternoon, when it the craving really hit me, no amount of water was able to stop it, I took a nice walk under the rain, slow .. deep breathing, marvel the beauty of nature, and breath pure oxygen.
My mood swings started to get less and less, more under control, unless I smell smoke, then I really lose it.

Expectations: Based on all the advices, guidance and PMs I am receiving, I am expecting to start tasting food in a different way. I am still waiting for that, I already stopped the salt, as any amount of salt I apply makes the food really salty.
I am approaching the comfort zone, which inside of me I know I can resist any temptation now. I have to contain my self and not fall for ââ I totally stopped smoking now and I proved it .. a cigar here and there wont change a thing ââ. No .. No smoking ever ever ever again, not any kind, not any place, thatâs it .. period.

If you ââ which I hope this journey inspires others ââ quit smoking, by this time people around you will realize you are serious. Some will be extremely happy for you, others will be jealous .. yes jealous, all the serious smokers and people who have been smoking for a long time wants to quit, all of them without exception, for hundreds of general and personal reasons. The most difficult kind of smokers, are who enjoy smoking ââ like I used to ââ. This kind of people has smoking associated with happy minutes, hours, events and habits. Like Having the first morning smoke with an espresso, listening to your favourite orchestra play while having a cigar with scotch, and the list doesnât stop. All of these people wants to stop, either because they started to feel the smoking effect on their health, or because they are aware the world is becoming more and more a place for non-smokers. Leading by examples, family, health, cancer, you know it all.
All my friends are having bets on me now, some wishing Iâll stop smoking for good, others donât believe I can make it, they are not aware of the new me. The time frame is one month, which is 3 weeks from now.

Sorry for the long post, my prediction for next weekly post will be static, week2 ,3 ,4 .. I am still not smoking ââ hopefully ââ, this is why I took my time writing this week, as it is the most intense week for sure.

Important notice: do you remember when I mentioned in day 3, how rude I was leaving comments to some DPCiers in recent challenges? I am already feeling bad enough about it, when I received a PM from toddster45, politely stating how impolitely my comments was. He is one the kind persons that unconsciously touches you with his well being, and in his special kind way, made me feel more as an A$$ that I already felt, I left him the comment in private, but I am apologizing in public, I am really sorry for my rudeness, and I wish there is a way I can make it up to you, I know apologize is like sunrise after a tornado, warm .. but the damage is already done. I honestly apologize for my rudeness .. I am sorry.

Special thanks to: jotaga, BAMartin, iamwoman, cosprenks, aneyra, and Mark-A

I am going out for few hours, will be answering your questions and PMs as soon as I am back,
love you all,

Message edited by author 2009-05-18 09:46:37.
 05/18/2009 10:17:47 AM · #32


This image is for you..... just a reminder what we as human beings do to nature. Best of luck, you can do it!
 05/18/2009 10:26:22 AM · #33
Way to go! You know, with all the money you will be saving, you might just get that Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L that you want.
 05/18/2009 10:40:58 AM · #34
Wow, 1 week is huge. I'm very proud of you. I tried like HELL to quit last Monday. By 10:00 I was literally in tears. EVERYTHING was irritating the piss out of me. I couldn't breathe, my heart was racing. I ended up smoking one before bed. I don't know what was worse, the withdrawal symptoms or the guilt for smoking after my husband was so excited and proud of me.

1 on Monday, 2 on Tuesday, 3 on Wednesday,... a whole pack this weekend.

Don't ever let yourself or anyone tell you it's OK to just smoke 1.

Hubby's gone until Thursday and I haven't had one yet today, so maybe while he's out of town I'll give it another go.

Hang in there!!
05/18/2009 12:00:28 PM · #35
Every smoker quits smoking permanently, one way or another.
 05/18/2009 01:43:32 PM · #36
I have nothing but cheers for people trying to stop smoking. I deal with the ramifications at work nearly every day. I remember hearing something startling on ABC news once. Their medical correspondent Tim Johnson (an alum from my medical school) was talking about smoking and said if you smoke you can forget about all other things you do to maintain health because their benefit will matter nothing. Wow. I'm not sure I completely agree with that, but it does give us some perspective about the health risks.

Anyway, I also encourage people to get some sort of medical help. It is very hard to quit on your own and using Chantix or a patch or gum or something will make your chances of success much higher. Also if you fail the first time, don't quit trying. It's like pushing over a soda vending machine. You gotta rock it first. :)
 05/18/2009 05:33:26 PM · #37
Loved the update. As a non smoker all my life, you've given me a real insight into how it must feel.

I'm thinking you should write a novel - GRIN!

KEEP IT UP - you have a cheer squad with you at all times!
 05/18/2009 05:45:18 PM · #38
A smoker never knows how bad the smell is until they quit.

Congrats and keep it up! I had quit for over 10 years, then went through a rough time and started again and was quickly back to nearly a pack a day, then quit again. Then started again a year later, then quit again. :/ Stess is my achilles heel. I think I finally realized smoking only doubled tripled my stress. I've been urge-free (but far from stress-free) now for several years.
 05/18/2009 05:49:13 PM · #39
Today marks my 8-week anniversary of quitting smoking. That's right, 8 weeks. It also marks 8 weeks since I had major spinal surgery. My surgery was at 12:00 noon and I had my last cigarette at 10:00 am, 2 hours before the knife. While I still crave a cigarette EVERYDAY, especially those trigger times for me (like driving, after dinner, in the morning with my coffee, when I'm stressed, etc.), I have noticed my health has improved --- I breathe easier, my lungs don't hurt, I don't hack-up-a-lung (cough) every morning, I have more stamina.....I also have better sense of taste and smell....and I don't STINK like cigarettes, my breath, my hair, my clothes.

Yeah, I miss cigarettes....I always will....and it's only been 8 weeks....a mere 56 days....but I am proud of my accomplishment...every second that goes by!

I'm with you in support. YOU CAN DO IT!!
 05/18/2009 07:05:09 PM · #40
Originally posted by elizadeb:
Yeah, I miss cigarettes....I always will....and it's only been 8 weeks....a mere 56 days....but I am proud of my accomplishment...every second that goes by!


Bottom line. If you can go 8 weeks, you can go forever.
 05/18/2009 08:33:47 PM · #41
The hardest part for me, and where I've failed to quit several times is between week 2 and 3.... be careful during that section of time. It's so so easy to say, well one wouldn't hurt at this point. If you do that, it wont be only one. good luck and keep it up!
 05/18/2009 08:40:52 PM · #42
AmeedEl-Ghoul First of all â you took a ribbon while in the very first week of withdrawal.

How sweet is that!

The sky is the limit from here on out.

Now, sure itâs tough. A bunch of us have been there. I quit in 1985 â yeah 25 years ago â and I can tell you stories. Others can tell you their stories. But they are not YOUR stories. Yours are being written now. You are doing the right thing â save your stories and memories for the next people in need.

One (mild-mannered) person told me he hated every person he met during withdrawal. Many years later, he was still not amused at his wayward thoughts.

Think of Ecce Signum who has just gone through another tough patch. He quit a few years ago with great agony, not just from cigarettes, and if you are a better searcher than I am, you can find the thread where he sought and received help from this community.

So, congratulations on your ribbon, and I am proud of you âand everyone else who has been âhookedâ who says âno more!â âenough!â

05/18/2009 09:13:22 PM · #43
I have to admit, I've been watching this thread with interest, and jealousy. I quit twice, for 8 years both times, and am stuck back there again - hating it. I'm trying to summon up the courage to do the same as you, but I've tried several times over the last year with no success, and wondering if it just gets worse with age, or with the added chemicals they're pouring into the stupid things. I'm going to use you as my inspiration, and trying to stop again (but with patches, cold turkey doesn't work for me) this week, so you can't possibly let me down now!! lol.
Congratulations on your ribbon this week, thats brilliant and giving up is obviously giving you a new lease on life in more than one way.
Whatever you do though, even 8 years down the track, NEVER have another one, not even a puff! You're free, you're very lucky, and I really hope you stay that way :-)
 05/18/2009 09:44:05 PM · #44
You CAN do this! That little girl in your ribbon winning image needs you to do this.
YOU need you to do this!! And you've gotten through it, a whole week!! Way to go! Keep it up.
 05/19/2009 12:02:41 PM · #45
AmeedEl-Ghoul today is my 100 days of not smoking. I never thought that I would have made it this far. Goes to show you what you can do when you put your mind to it.
 05/19/2009 11:01:22 PM · #46
Day 8:

I thought I wonât be updating before another week, but I have an idea that I would like to share with you all.

First a quick update: My smell sense became a super K9. Really super, I think it improved even above the average, not that because I partly gained it back I think it is super, not at all, because I can smell things not even non-smoker can smell it, till they concentrate enough.

We had a Dr appointment today to follow up on my wifeâs pregnancy, while we were getting into the elevator the Drâs assistant was going out of it, she was on her break. The elevator was full of perfume smell which my wife liked and commented about, which also didnât fool me, this smell was to mask the cigarettes smoke, she was smoking and put perfume and had gum to hide it, I am sure she is not afraid of anyone, but it will not look professional when her Dr receives complains from his patients about how his assistant smell like cigarettes. Conclusion, I was able to smell the smoke, which my wife didnât detect till she concentrated, I smelled the gum as well ââ Scary ââ. Now I can smell which flavour is your coffee 10 feet away, yesterday night I opened the bedroom window as it was a bet hot, and almost immediately I was able to smell the fresh cool air, usually I used only to feel the temperature drop, but now I can smell air!!!
Thats all.

Now the idea I am thinking off and would like to share with you all, is a side challenge .. 6 month side challenge.

We have seen tons of wonderful posts about people who are 80 days through their quitting smoke journey, 100 days and even 200 days. I am no better than them you are all heroes, so this invitation goes in specific to you and in general to whoever wants to join our side challenge.

Quite Smoking â Weight loss side challenge, Duration 6 months, we start at the first of June, till the 31st of December.
Put a target to yourself, about me, I want to lose 20 Kilos, this will be my target, I might not achieve it all, I might lose 15 .. I might lose 5, but any loss in here is a gain : )
You are the judge, you set the target to yourself.

Instead of having Advance Editing, this challenge will going to be really Advance editing, expert editing if youâd like to call it.
In order for your to join, you have to be non smoker, to qualify to join our weight loss challenge, if you do smoke .. well too bad for you, youâll have to quite .. yep, you have 10 days till the end of the month to quite, subscribe to the gym, buy your grocery, get your running chose from the unexplored part of the basement. 10 days to get ready, to quit smoking, if you already did, then continue quite smoking, and lose weight. Btw, The most important thing is to take your Before pictures : ) donât worry you donât have to submit it .. now :P but I find it one of the most important thing in any weight loss program : )

You have 10 days to sort your life, take the decision and make the move.
About me .. of yeah Iâll do it, nothing can stop me, and I believe I can lose 20 kilos in 6 months, around 45 pounds in 6 months, and the best way to do it, is to take the decision and lose it one kilo at the time, pound after pound.
I will do it. But Iâd love you guys to join me, Iâll open another thread soon to announce this 6 months side quitting smoking and weight loss challenge, please show your interest and let me know if you would like to join .. weâll start this challenge if we reached 5 participant or more.
My ideas for now.

Blue Ribbon ââ for achieving 100% of your objectives, Red for 80-90%, yellow for 70-80, Iâll designee the new ribbons, or if anyone would like to volunteer I donât mind at all, actually I would love to have as much people involved as possible. The best thing is .. everyone who achieves their targets .. gets ribbons, not only the first 3. The reward will be better health, longer life, and people cheering for you from all over the world ..

Are you in?

docpjv Thank you for the picture :)
BAMartin I already started saving, I've saved the first 50$ :)
cynthiann These symptoms I go through them many times a day, I take a walk, drink lots of water, or bang my head against the wall till the symptoms are gone '' just kidding ''. This is why I have to join the GYM, to diffuse my negative energy, and keep going. It is not too late .. You have another chance to join us. Are you in?
Spazmo99 How true.
DrAchoo Thank you so much for sharing with us. Highly appreciated.
iamwomanNovel :) I'd love to show you my writing without the spelling check '' even after it '', I am far away from that. But thankful for your continues support. I am happy to know you never smoked, this makes you qualified to join the second part of the challenge ;)
Art Roflmao Totally agree, also agree that mostly stress will never end in out life till retirement, even then we might be stressed over things we can't think of. Thanks for sharing Arti, wanna join us for the 6 months side challenge, it might relieve the stress a bit, I hope so :)
elizadeb People like you who give hope to people like me, I am proud of you, 8 weeks sounds impossible, but taking it a day at a time makes things easier, 1 day at a time. Sorry to hear about your back, I hope it is better now.
Ristyz Thanks for sharing with us, we value the advice, wanna give it another go with us? in 10 days? Are you IN?
sfalice Thanks for your encouragement, It is highly appreciated. I am happy to take a Ribbon, but honestly, I am much happier by all the comments in here, all the PMs I am receiving and spending hours daily answering them, this is the real winning and the big Ribbon. It seems it is time to sort life and get things done, and I'd love to do it as a team work with whoever wants to join me, thanks Alice for your kind encouragement, I'll dig Andi for sure. Thanks
jettyimages Thanks for the advice I've sent you a PM.
PennyStreet Can't thank you enough, you are the best, thank you,
cosprenks Congratulation on your 100 days smoke free, you are amazing have reached that far, I hope I'll keep posting till I am that far. Thanks for sharing :)

Oh Man, I have to find a way to cut on blogging in here :)
Thank you all and awaiting for your replies .. keep em coming,

Message edited by author 2009-05-19 23:01:59.
 05/19/2009 11:13:37 PM · #47
Ameed this is a great idea - I was thinking how it would have been good to know others who are doing it at the same time, we can all keep each other going. Count me in (she says with fear and trepidation - but if there's ever going to be a time to do it, this is it!). I have no excuses any more, lol.
You're an inspiration Ameed, thank you for suggesting this, I suspect it may help a lot of people.
 05/19/2009 11:26:26 PM · #48
Originally posted by jettyimages:
Ameed this is a great idea - I was thinking how it would have been good to know others who are doing it at the same time, we can all keep each other going. Count me in (she says with fear and trepidation - but if there's ever going to be a time to do it, this is it!). I have no excuses any more, lol.
You're an inspiration Ameed, thank you for suggesting this, I suspect it may help a lot of people.


Count me in the princess said, challenging all the nicotine's demons in her, Count me in .. I'll draw my sword, join the light forces, and fight the demons in me.

Ladies and Gentlemen we have a winner, Trish jettyimages is our first team member :)
Congratulation for taking the decision ..
Who is next?

P.S, It took me all day long, now it is 11:25PM, I am going to bed, will see ya all tomorrow morning.
All the best,
05/19/2009 11:35:34 PM · #49
I´m in!!
99Kg - 1,90m high
Goal 89Kg.

PS.: about 40 days being a non smoker...

Message edited by author 2009-05-19 23:36:44.
 05/20/2009 04:27:03 AM · #50
Yeah I fancy a go at this, I am long time non smoker but I have suffered the weight increases and never really took advantage of the fact I could truly get fit since I quit.

Weight: Too heavy ;) - Oh ok about 13.5 stone (roughly 190 lb I think?)
Target: Anything around 12 stone (168 lb) would be great for my height / frame

Recently cleaned out my shed (for the tables shot - which took 9 hours to get ready btw ;)) and found my mountain bike so will use that as my means of exercise and try and eat more regularly and healthily. One of my main problems is I tend to eat just one large meal a day and quite late in the day as well.

Good luck all :)
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