I never believed nor felt I'd get lung cancer or any other type of cancer for that matter. And I still don't.
But it did make me cough and wheeze a lot.
Weight... I think it depends where you are before quitting. If you don't already have extra weight on you, then a few extra pounds may not be nice but then it's not such a big deal really.
For me, however, I had already put on a little bit of weight when I got into peri-menopause and I'd just started to try and lose weight when I quit. Since I already had too much on me I would've started smoking again if I'd put on 4-5 kilos.
That would put me on a weight that really is not acceptable to me, stops me from wearing the clothes that make me feel 'me' etc etc. The implications of that are quite substantial for my sense of happiness & well-being.
I have been there before when I was in a shite relationship and no matter what I did, I didn't lose a thing, not even an ounce. Nothing.
I have never been more miserable in my life than I was then. Never will I go back there!
Even quitting isn't worth that for me.

So everyone's story is different... That's why I am SO happy to not put on weight :D

Today I reached the 10 weeks with quitting smoking. I still find it difficult at times so I assume that this will continue for a while.
I've also smoked a little bit a few times over the past 10 weeks, if I really go mental, hihi. And not all day or whole cigs, just a few puffs.
But I'm still a quitter because it's just really gross now, and it smells awful. It's crazy that you never notice that when you smoke how yukkie it is.

It was funny to notice with the Ohm chanting during the Samhain celebration that I can now do that for a long time. That was different in the past!

I have been walking every day for 10 weeks now, and I also do my fitness 3-4x a week. So I keep that up really well.
Didn't gain weight either, and in fact I would love to stop having that before-sleep tea that helps burn calories. It's not exactly delicious to drink lemon juice & apple cider vinegar with cinnamon & chamomile.

But since the season of the 'banketstaaf' (Dutch almond pastry ---> has started...
I cannot not have a piece every now and then, hihi. So I'm going to continue with the tea for another while!

Forgetting to take a nicotine patch off before going to sleep is also not recommended. Happened to me twice and had nightmares both times. Tonight as well. Very violent nightmares this time. Not very pleasant.
Funny because you can actually leave it on at night. Not favourable for me.
And let's face it, I didn't smoke at night either.
So ... I will continue!

PS that picture below 🤣
Could I be doing that wrong? Hmm

You are still winning the battle. A few puffs haven't changed your mind about it being disgusting.

You got this....

OMG I had missed your reaction, my sincere apologies!!
And I think you're right :)

It continues to be difficult, somehow my inspiration and drive dipped. Even the thought of going to Scotland seemed to suddenly fade and I couldn't get my enthusiasm back.
But I'm getting the biotch back by the tail, haha. And I'll tie her up (the smoke-biotch that is).
I've come this far, almost 13 weeks now, which is 3 months, if I managed to get this far -albeit with a few smoking moments here and there- I can just keep going, right?!

https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1103920/success-stories-quitting-smoking-without-weight-gain

Smoking results in the release of a lot of dopamine. It seems like other activities that release a lot of dopamine could replace the rhythm.

People were designed to be without nicotine and work quite well without it.

Disclaimer

I think body fat, and losing body fat, is sexy. But I’m not going to get weird on you.

You got it! Just keep on, don't let stepbacks cause you to chuck it. ( Lol yes Chuck it Not f....k it). But in a way I to am feeling unmotivated , went to my sister's for 10 days, gym shut down for covid ( opening back up this
Wednesday thank you Jaysus) so not been to gym for at least two weeks don't even want to do my at home workout so feeling kind of bummed out. But reading your post gives me a real kick in the pants cause I think wow! and you are whining about the gym ? Stay strong, lots of people here have fought the battle and won, we're with you girl!

Thanks LS!
It is quite the thing. I may decide to quit but the body doesn't agree and just keeps screaming for another smoke.

I'll keep at it, tomorrow it's 13 weeks!

Thank you, Ibaceltic!
Happy my post put things in perspective a bit for you. I'll keep my fingers crossed you can go to the gym again!

Perhaps the act of quitting could be like an expression of love to the universe.

Exercise should be all the easier with clean lungs. Lungs take about 15 years to completely renew their tissues, and only several months to clear out particulate matter.

LS, have you been a smoker?

It is good to occasionally read about how my health has already improved. A number of things are very clear and have been for a while:
- no more coughing
- not really out of breath when physically active anymore, including when cycling to the supermarket
- my voice has improved
- my lung capacity has improved: during the workshop a month ago I could chant "Ohm" really long! Longer than most of the rest even. That was a new experience entirely, haha.
- my 1-mile walk is much easier to do

And allegedly my fertility should have improved. But at 54 who cares, hihi.

I must say it's amazing how much the ego/body keeps kicking up a fuss in attempts to get me to smoke again.
Currently not having sneaky puffs here and there anymore. And it's fine. Basically the physical addiction of nicotine and the other addictive substances in tobacco have no effect on me anymore.
It now is the other part, the habit, and overcoming the ego/body that doesn't like this big change.
I'm surprised that even after all this time that still plays a part. In a way it's the things that made me smoke, or what I got out of it. Like tending to smoke when stressed OR very enthusiastic about something. Or being in company and it being nice.
Especially that last part is what I'm struggling with: it's nice at certain moments. There's no English word for what I mean, so it's difficult to explain. We call it "gezellig", the Germans "Gemütlich". There is no accurate translation in English. Cozy, nice, but saying it's cozy to smoke? That's weird, haha.

Anywho, I'm implementing a specific visualisation and it works a treat, but still finding it hard.
Just now leaving the hair dresser's, me automatically thinking, "I'm going to have a nice smoke now!" That's what I used to do once in the car again.
And yes, I was narked cos I now missed out on that nice moment of smoking. The glorious feeling of filling my lungs with it and blowing it out...

I'd almost go back to smoking again just for that nice, cozy feeling and moments, not cos of substance addiction. The other part of the addiction.
But then I remember what Joe Dispenza says, and I know to be true: whenever you change something about yourself and step out of your comfort-zone you are going to feel uncomfortable. But THAT IS THE WQRK!

The true test is when you can be in a room with someone smoking and care not for one yourself.
When you can have a pack at home or in your car and not even be 'tempted' to light one up.

After addiction, smoking is a compulsion.
To truly rid your patterns from compulsion take care not to get trapped into a substitute compulsion. Figure out the root cause of the compulsion and fix that and you will not be self-tricked into a relapse later down the line.

Many people will tell you shopping is better than smoking or sex is better than smoking or drinking alcohol is better than smoking or eating food is better than smoking but its all just a substitute compulsion. Find and fix the triggers and the compulsion will stop.

I can handle having tobacco in the house. (I do have a packet.)
I know people tend to seek compensation, I don't think I have. I have picked up new things and a different routine like walking every day -whether it rains and storms or not-, using a step counter which is inspiring. And my fitness 3-4x a week. That gives me something to hold on to. I've been able to do both regardless of my back & neck (knock on wood!!!)
I don't care for alcohol at all, nor do I want to stuff my face hihi, and I haven't. If I'd put on serious weight I'd be so miserable about that I'd start smoking again and NOT regret it. Not putting on a lot of weight is higher priority to me as my sense of self and happiness is directly related to that and buggered if I'm gonna let that go out the window. Then I'd rather smoke.

But you are right, at the moment I am struggling with that part, the pleasure and time filled with smoking.

As it is I don't want to smoke because then all is lost and I've come so far now. Plus it tastes horrible and the idea of smoking isn't appealing because of that. As it is that packet of rolling tobacco isn't bothering me.
Fingers crossed!!

Too funny! Nice :)

Today it's been 16 weeks! It's still odd.
But... so far already E528 (almost the same in $) that has NOT gone up in smoke! I've saved E400 so far for my holiday to Scotland :)

Now that holiday is still far away but I have been thinking about how to get there when the time comes. No way am I going on a ferry for hours on end, not with my head (vertigo). Flying can also be quite the thing although much shorter. But landing has always been problematic for me, even when I hadn't sustained 2 accidents. So it is a risk and scary to me.

Then I was talking to this guy on a dating site and he mentioned the other option I had totally not thought of: the train.
I can take the train to London and there get on the night train to Scotland!
So... when I go to Scotland it's going to be by train. I'm excited about that, and the fact I can stay on the ground, haha.

As it is it seems yonks away, but the way time seems to fly at the mo... It's going to be May, June before we know it.
It's wait and see of course how things go with the pandemic.

PS it would be tempting to get off the train in London only to buy something with Scottish pounds. Just to have the opportunity to tell 'em "That's legal tender!!"

I smoked over Christmas. Not nearly as much as I used to but still too much.
And after 3 days got reminded why it was that I wanted to quit: My chest hurt a bit again, I was wheezing and a little out of breath and so on.
To be honest I couldn't believe this happened after a few days of smoking!
So now it's back to no smoking.

Christmas can be a bit stressful, especially with family, so a minor relapse isn't so bad. At least it reminded you why you wanted to quit in the first place. Keep on keeping on .

Thank you, Seamus! I will :D