Wish me luck......

[Lindsey]

Good luck Paula! My mom hasn't had a smoke since September and I think she still struggles with it sometimes but I am SO SO SO proud of her! It can be done and I'm sure you're a strong enough woman to get through it I was looking for things to encourage my mom to stay on the right track, so I thought I'd share them with you too

Smoking cessation timeline – the health benefits over time

* In 20 minutes, your blood pressure and pulse rate decrease, and the body temperature of your hands and feet increase.
* Carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke reduces the blood’s ability to carry oxygen. At 8 hours, the carbon monoxide level in your blood decreases to normal. With the decrease in carbon monoxide, your blood oxygen level increases to normal.
* At 24 hours, your risk of having a heart attack decreases.
* At 48 hours, nerve endings start to regrow and the ability to smell and taste is enhanced.
* Between 2 weeks and 3 months, your circulation improves, walking becomes easier and you don’t cough or wheeze as often. Phlegm production decreases. Within several months, you have significant improvement in lung function.
* In 1 to 9 months, coughs, sinus congestion, fatigue and shortness of breath decrease as you continue to see significant improvement in lung function. Cilia, tiny hair-like structures that move mucus out of the lungs, regain normal function.
* In 1 year, risk of coronary heart disease and heart attack is reduced to half that of a smoker.
* Between 5 and 15 years after quitting, your risk of having a stroke returns to that of a non-smoker.
* In 10 years, your risk of lung cancer drops. Additionally, your risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney and pancreas decrease. Even after a decade of not smoking however, your risk of lung cancer remains higher than in people who have never smoked. Your risk of ulcer also decreases.
* In 15 years, your risk of coronary heart disease and heart attack in similar to that of people who have never smoked. The risk of death returns to nearly the level of a non-smoker.

[paula1961]

Originally Posted by Lindsey

Good luck Paula! My mom hasn't had a smoke since September and I think she still struggles with it sometimes but I am SO SO SO proud of her! It can be done and I'm sure you're a strong enough woman to get through it I was looking for things to encourage my mom to stay on the right track, so I thought I'd share them with you too

Smoking cessation timeline – the health benefits over time

* In 20 minutes, your blood pressure and pulse rate decrease, and the body temperature of your hands and feet increase.
* Carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke reduces the blood’s ability to carry oxygen. At 8 hours, the carbon monoxide level in your blood decreases to normal. With the decrease in carbon monoxide, your blood oxygen level increases to normal.
* At 24 hours, your risk of having a heart attack decreases.
* At 48 hours, nerve endings start to regrow and the ability to smell and taste is enhanced.
* Between 2 weeks and 3 months, your circulation improves, walking becomes easier and you don’t cough or wheeze as often. Phlegm production decreases. Within several months, you have significant improvement in lung function.
* In 1 to 9 months, coughs, sinus congestion, fatigue and shortness of breath decrease as you continue to see significant improvement in lung function. Cilia, tiny hair-like structures that move mucus out of the lungs, regain normal function.
* In 1 year, risk of coronary heart disease and heart attack is reduced to half that of a smoker.
* Between 5 and 15 years after quitting, your risk of having a stroke returns to that of a non-smoker.
* In 10 years, your risk of lung cancer drops. Additionally, your risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney and pancreas decrease. Even after a decade of not smoking however, your risk of lung cancer remains higher than in people who have never smoked. Your risk of ulcer also decreases.
* In 15 years, your risk of coronary heart disease and heart attack in similar to that of people who have never smoked. The risk of death returns to nearly the level of a non-smoker.

Thank you so much Lynsey! It means alot to me for you to encourage me like this! Reading that gives me even more incentive to quit. Thanks again

[paula1961]

Today I have lit 4 cigarettes. I don't smoke all of them and I don't inhale them either.
Janet and Kat, how long did it take for you to completely never light another after you started the chantix? I know that Janet said she ended up using the patches.
My sister has a friend that quit after the first week, but I know of another girl that smoked for 3 months. I have been on the Chantix for 3 weeks. And by the way, I eat everything in sight My sister's friend has gained 20 pounds!! But I'd rather be overweight than smoke. How did you guys do with eating? The dr said on average........you gain about 10 pounds and then lose 5 of it I don't believe him LOL!

[MaddieBoo]

You can do it! You are doing it the right way and for all the right reasons!
I don't have much advice since I haven't smoked, but I know it takes a lot of strength that you definitely have!!!
I also heard that smoking burns up to 300 calories per day for heavy smokers (!!!) and that is the reason for weight gain with many people (also the urge to have your mouth doing something). Just something to think about I suppose! I'm positive everything you are experiencing is totally normal.

[Janet]

Originally Posted by paula1961

Today I have lit 4 cigarettes. I don't smoke all of them and I don't inhale them either.
Janet and Kat, how long did it take for you to completely never light another after you started the chantix? I know that Janet said she ended up using the patches.
My sister has a friend that quit after the first week, but I know of another girl that smoked for 3 months. I have been on the Chantix for 3 weeks. And by the way, I eat everything in sight My sister's friend has gained 20 pounds!! But I'd rather be overweight than smoke. How did you guys do with eating? The dr said on average........you gain about 10 pounds and then lose 5 of it I don't believe him LOL!

If I remember right Paula, I was only on the Chantix for about a week, maybe a few days more. I just couldn't stand being sick in my stomach all the time. Like I said I had 2 patches left that I found. Once I put that first patch on I didn't smoke, of course I didn't have any in the house either to cheat with. I just made up my mind I wasn't going to smoke anymore and I wasn't driving all the way to town to buy some. I kept Tic Tacs on hand ALL the time and when I started thinking about it, I got up and did something to take my mind off of it.

There are times to this day that I wish I had one to smoke, but I never will do that again..EVER. I gained...don't know how much for sure, but I've always been heavy so I didn't keep track. It will help if you keep lots of cut up veggies ready to snack on.

[judy]

You are doing so well Paula! I am so happy for you. Your health will become a non issue in so many ways once you stop!

I stopped about 15 years ago, when my ex had a heart attack and had to stop smoking. I used the patch, and cut down slowly for 3 months. (It wasn't known then that smoking with the patch is harmful). My skin began to react to the patch, and that's when I decided to stop altogether. It was one of the best things I ever did for myself!

Don't worry about weight gain. Weight Watchers or any healthy diet can be very helpful for that. I gradually stopped thinking about smoking, and when I did crave one in the beginning, I would remember how hard it was to smoke, and knew I never would go through that again!

You can do it Paula!

HURRAY PAULA!!!

[DianaB]

How's it going, Paula? We need an update!!!! Go, Paula!!! Go, Paula!!!

[Janet]

Yes Paula...how are you doing? Just remember.....if you have a set back....just start over, don't get discouraged.