Hi. I quit smoking last week. My last cigarette was on Tuesday April 29th, 2008 at approximately 11:30pm. I am using the Chantix system. I’m going with the 10 week program. I don’t know if anyone else out there is quitting, has quit or is thinking about quitting, I have tried a million times before, but I feel like I really have a shot at it this time with the new Chantix Medication and support system.

I know smoking is bad for you, I know I’m being a bad influence on my kids (Teenagers), I know all the millions of reasons to quit, but had continued to smoke. What finally pushed me over the edge was I almost was admitted to the Hospital with bad breathing problems. I was coughing up blood (In addition to the horrible chest cold, sinus infection I already had for the previous week.) My Dr flat out said “If you do not quit smoking, you will DIE!” Needless to say, not only did that scare me, but terrified my Husband. I told him, there was no way I could quit and stay quit if he did not quit too. He agreed with me and that day we started the Chantix system and quit smoking. For the rest of that week I carried a half full pack around with me and even went outside at my usual smoke times at home, more out of habit than anything else. This weekend I spilled the beans to the rest of my Family.

I gave them my prepared speech when I tell them I’ve quit. My speech is basically saying that I am quitting for me and only because I want to. If I do decide to have a cigarette I want no arguments or dirty looks. I am not quitting for you, my husband, my baby, etc. I am quitting for myself. It is purely my decision and if I so decide to smoke again then so be it. I want no pressure. My Dad’s response was to tell me the rules of my smoking. He tried to interrupt my speech 3 times and I told him to just listen. Then right when I’m done he goes into the rules. It really upset me because the whole point of my speech is to not tell me what to do. That I am an adult and I make my own decisions. It really upset me that his first response is to try and take some of my power away from me. I did not get a I’m so glad you quit. I’m so proud of you, or anything, just straight into the rules. Rules which we had discussed a long time ago and I had been following for years (no smoking in the house, in the car with the kids, etc). That was the hardest point for me to not smoke. Whenever someone tells me I can’t do something, then all I think about is doing it. I can’t help it, it’s how I’m hard wired. I felt like he was taking away something great that I’ve done and taking a piece of it from me. Anyway, he cried and apologized to me. We had a long talk about why he feels the need to try and control me and my actions. all better now.

A few issues. I’ve been eating a lot of candy. Well, sucking on a lot of candy. My teeth have been hurting a bit. I’m working cutting down on that now and have switched to raw fruits and vegetables.

A side note. I’m amazed at how much people don’t really pay attention to you. I thought for sure everyone would notice I’m not smoking. I went out with my sister (one of my BFF’s) on Thursday. We were together for 4 hours. She didn’t notice. I thought for sure people would notice because every time I light up I hear a comment like, Another cigarette? etc. But nope. I thought for sure my kids would notice that I didn’t smell like or taste like a cigarette, but nope. They said that I could have probably not told them for a month and they wouldn’t have noticed (typical teens).