Continuing on TwitterStars.com, I’m publishing a series of guest posts with stories authored by several of my Twitter followers on how they quit smoking. I quit smoking just about two months ago and thought featuring stories from other people about how they quit cigarettes would be a fun project for the blog.
Guest Blog Post by Virginia, @Cars4Causes
On December 3rd, I tweeted a comment of encouragement to @markdavidson on his efforts to stop smoking, and he responded with an invitation for me to write a guest post on how I quit. I agreed to write the post, but then I had to try to remember how I did it. I thought that first I should tell you about how I came to start before I say how I came to quit.
At one time in my life everyone I knew and almost everyone in my family were smokers. I come from several generations of addicts, and certainly am one myself. For me, cigarettes have been a long-term addiction, both in length of time and in quantities consumed. I believe I started stealing cigs from Mom and Dad around age 9 or 10. My sister was four years older, and I had already busted her doing it, and hiding out on the side of the house in the backyard smoking with friends. I swore under penalty of death that I wouldn’t tell, but I also wanted to try it.
By the time I was 14, I was a full-time smoker, it was easy to obtain them, from my parents or older friends. I was up to a pack-and-a-half by my twenties.
I quit immediately and cold-turkey upon learning I was pregnant, but started again in the “terrible two’s”, citing stress as the cause. I still had many friends who were smokers. I had another child four years later, and this time I quit for several years. When I started again, it was worse and I was topping 2 packs a day.
One day I woke up with my smoker’s cough and trouble breathing, and realized I had been smoking over half my life! They had just come out with the nicotine gum, but the patch had not yet hit the market. I couldn’t stand the gum, so I decided to trick myself into being able to quit. You know those “essential” cigarettes? The first one you need in the morning. The one you smoke after lunch, or dinner, or sex. Well, I started by cutting out 2 a week from the “other” category, and relishing the essential smokes. I skipped the one in the car on the way to the office. I skipped the one in the car on the way back from the office. I replaced my oral fixation by eating sugar free mints, and munching on rice crackers. Each week I reduced by 2 non-essential smokes until I had only three a day that I was still smoking. Once I had reduced from around 20 a day to 3, I came to the realization that I didn’t really need those 3, I only thought I did, I was hanging on to them for dear life, but it was all mental at that point. I gave up the last three, and would like to say that was the end. It wasn’t quite.
I continued to be what I called a “social smoker” who would bum one here and there from friends when we were hanging out. The last time that happened I became physically ill from it, and that really was the end. I haven’t smoked since, and am so glad!
My overall health has improved, and I can breathe easily now. I bike for exercise, and am able to exert myself physically without getting terribly winded as I used to. I was so addicted to cigarettes, looking back now, I can’t believe it. I know that if I can quit, anyone can! So keep at it, and don’t give up.
Guest post for Twitter Stars by Virginia, @Cars4Causes
Virginia is the real-life human being behind the Cars 4 Causes Twitter account. We are “The Charity That Gives to Charities”. Also on the web at http://www.cars4causes.net.
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Tags: addiction, cigarette, Cold turkey, health, Nicotine gum, smoking cessation, substance abuse, The Nicotine Asylum, tobacco
Huge congrats on quitting smoking! Its a great achievement to do and wish you the best on your new found lungs!
JustinSMVs last blog post..Are You A Twitter ReTweet Thief ?
Well done on giving up smoiking. I used the electronic cigarette and it helped me to.
Heres to good health.
Congrats on quiting…For any fellow smokers thinking to quit and not being able to do so,i will suggest electronic cigarettes as a very efficient tool
Make that 3 for e-cigs…..
Electronic cigarettes are definitely the way to go. I am such a fan, I joined their team
I teamed up with Bloog cause I loved their product so much.
Anyway, congrats on quitting. Keep it up!
Jason
Brilliant, I applaud anyone who quits smoking
congrats on quitting, and you even made it sound so simple that makes me want to quit smoking. I wish I could do, I don’t know if I have the strength
congratz on quitting and of course every one can quit smoking !it kills ur health and look anyway
Haifas last blog post..?????? ????????? ???? ????? ??????? ??????? ???????
I too am finally off the cancer sticks. I feel better than I have in 25 years. I remember the days when cigarettes were so common on TV and movies and in restaurants that nobody thought twice. Nowadays, I was starting to feel like a criminal every time I lit up. Now I just use my electronic cigarette (from Instead…..thanks to Lacey from the forum) and I do still get some looks, but most find it interesting rather than offensive. No matter how you do it, get off the cancer sticks!
Electronic Cigarettes 4 Mes last blog post..Comparing Electronic Cigarettes To Tobacco Cigarettes
it is really hard to Quit Smoking. currently, i am using Nicotine Patches to curb may addiction to smoking and nicotine.
Greatings, Interesting, I try to quit and I phink it helped me to.
Thank you
For any fellow smokers thinking to quit and not being able to do so,i will suggest http://smoking-quit.info/
Great story! Congrats on quitting.
Quitting is also hard because smoking is a big part of your life. You enjoy holding cigarettes and puffing on them. You may smoke when you are stressed, bored, or angry. After months and years of lighting up, smoking becomes part of your daily routine. You may light up without even thinking about it.
Electronic Cigarettes are the way to go. No other method compares to Ecigs as a quit smoking product.
They’re much safer than traditional cigarettes, and they’re electronic!
I believe e-cigs are going to be the next big thing. I personally switched to an e-cig last month and love it. Anybody who smokes should quickly understand the benefits of electronic cigarettes. Vape On…
Great Tips. I found “Some smokers have quit successfully by cutting down gradually, e.g cutting down to five cigarettes a day or less or delaying the first cigarette by an hour each day. Eventually however a point must be reached where smoking is stopped altogether (as in the cold turkey method above).”
I would not say I have given up. I swapped from the normal cigarette to the e-cigarette and it has done the job for me. I applaud any smoker who is able to give the full cold Turkey as I just can not do it.