...and I am talking about cigarettes to all you "Cheech and Chong" types .

The evil seductress known as Marlboro Lights led me back into her lair here recently. It all started innocently enough. I was at a function (ok...ok...a party) and I was having a few Guinnesses and talking to some friends. A young woman that I used to casually date came up to say hello. The last time that we spoke I was a pack-a-day smoker. Well, when she lit up I didn't flinch. Months of not smoking had given me that much will-power. That turned out to be my downfall, however.

While we were talking she remarked that she had never seen me with a beer in my hand without a cigarette in the other. I immediately went into this gloating spiel about how I quit, that I feel so much better that I had, and, basically, how awesome my will power was. She congratulated me and immediately proceded to offer me one of hers. I took it. Like an idiot, I figured that one wouldn't hurt. I figured that I had been away long enough that I could be a "social smoker." Oh, how very wrong I was.

For the rest of the night while drinking I would bum smokes from her. On the way to another party, I told the designated driver to stop at a convenience store and bought a pack. The next morning when I woke up, I had about 12 left in it. "Might as well finish 'em," I thought to myself. I have been back to about 3/4 a pack a day for a couple of months now.

I slipped and slipped bad. Today was my "Quit Day" to kick the habit again. I am armed with the Commit Lozenge, a recent book purchase (" 21 Days to Stop Smoking "), and more gum than any grown man should be allowed to carry at any given time. I am confident that I will be able to quit again. That is not the problem. The real kicker is how cocky I had become. I realized that once you quit, there is no going back. Once a smoker, always a smoker. I will never be able to be a "casual smoker." I have learned my lesson. Now, I just hope that my fat-headedness will not get in the way anymore.

Has anyone else gone through this? Slip up at more than 3 or so months after quitting? I'd like to know that I am not the only one succeptible out there.

Smoking is a hell of a thing. We know its horrible for us, yet society still deems it so acceptable (within waining limits, of course). I think that is the sole reason that it is so difficult to quit (other than the obvious mental, psychological, and physical addictive properties). If it were not so easy and legal to obtain then it would be infinitely easier to quit.

Don't get me wrong, I am not out to start a "ban smoking" campaign. Far from it. I used to hate it when I would be smoking OUTSIDE and someone would scowl at me for it. Basically, it just took me this long to realize the mental affect that the habit has on you.

/end rant. Anyone else have any input on this? I figured it would make for some good discussion.

-Robert

__________________
------------------------------

Check out the results of my surgical hair restoration performed by Dr. Jerry Cooley by visiting my Hair Loss Weblog

...and I am talking about cigarettes to all you "Cheech and Chong" types .

The evil seductress known as Marlboro Lights led me back into her lair here recently. It all started innocently enough. I was at a function (ok...ok...a party) and I was having a few Guinnesses and talking to some friends. A young woman that I used to casually date came up to say hello. The last time that we spoke I was a pack-a-day smoker. Well, when she lit up I didn't flinch. Months of not smoking had given me that much will-power. That turned out to be my downfall, however.

While we were talking she remarked that she had never seen me with a beer in my hand without a cigarette in the other. I immediately went into this gloating spiel about how I quit, that I feel so much better that I had, and, basically, how awesome my will power was. She congratulated me and immediately proceded to offer me one of hers. I took it. Like an idiot, I figured that one wouldn't hurt. I figured that I had been away long enough that I could be a "social smoker." Oh, how very wrong I was.

For the rest of the night while drinking I would bum smokes from her. On the way to another party, I told the designated driver to stop at a convenience store and bought a pack. The next morning when I woke up, I had about 12 left in it. "Might as well finish 'em," I thought to myself. I have been back to about 3/4 a pack a day for a couple of months now.

I slipped and slipped bad. Today was my "Quit Day" to kick the habit again. I am armed with the Commit Lozenge, a recent book purchase (" 21 Days to Stop Smoking "), and more gum than any grown man should be allowed to carry at any given time. I am confident that I will be able to quit again. That is not the problem. The real kicker is how cocky I had become. I realized that once you quit, there is no going back. Once a smoker, always a smoker. I will never be able to be a "casual smoker." I have learned my lesson. Now, I just hope that my fat-headedness will not get in the way anymore.

Has anyone else gone through this? Slip up at more than 3 or so months after quitting? I'd like to know that I am not the only one succeptible out there.

Smoking is a hell of a thing. We know its horrible for us, yet society still deems it so acceptable (within waining limits, of course). I think that is the sole reason that it is so difficult to quit (other than the obvious mental, psychological, and physical addictive properties). If it were not so easy and legal to obtain then it would be infinitely easier to quit.

Don't get me wrong, I am not out to start a "ban smoking" campaign. Far from it. I used to hate it when I would be smoking OUTSIDE and someone would scowl at me for it. Basically, it just took me this long to realize the mental affect that the habit has on you.

/end rant. Anyone else have any input on this? I figured it would make for some good discussion.

-Robert

__________________
------------------------------

Check out the results of my surgical hair restoration performed by Dr. Jerry Cooley by visiting my Hair Loss Weblog

smoke a tampon!

Ah, I love intelligent replies.

-Robert

__________________
------------------------------

Check out the results of my surgical hair restoration performed by Dr. Jerry Cooley by visiting my Hair Loss Weblog

I am dumb in the off topic forums.. Please revert to the vomit photo I posted....

Robert

You did not finish the story, what happened to that little female!!!

TMAN

The Pope smokes! (dope)

Robert,

YES, I have had that experience. Granted, I hadn't made it as far in quitting as you had.

Over a three year period I must've 'quit smoking' 20 times. It was starting to drive me crazy.

And I discovered, I can't go out drinking with people who smoke. Period.

I've now successfully *knock wood* quit again, this time cold turkey. It's been 18+ weeks.

I CAN drink. I avoided it entirely for weeks, but then allowed myself to have a glass of wine with dinner and a non-smoking companion. Then worked my way up to be able to have cocktails with non-smokers.

Now I've even gone out and had cocktails with smokers BUT, when they go out to have their cigarette, I stay inside!

I'm sorry for your lapse, but glad to hear you've not given up hope. Just think of it one step in the struggle.

And it will be a life-long thing. I know I'll always be a smoker and always be at risk for going back.

One day at a time.


This is my first post! I am SO happy to have found this site.

Just started doing research this week. Probably over a year away from surgery.

Thanks guys!

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Thanks a lot for sharing your time and energy.
-
Julien

Forgot to say: that ABSOLUTELY there are others out there with stories like yours, with several months or more of smoking sobriety and then went back. A co-worker here in the office said he quit for six months before and went back. (And he's now at 8 months yet again.)

And a guy I knew a few years ago said he'd quit for TEN YEARS only to start again.

It REALLY is an addiction, like alcoholism.

You need to talk about it, confront it, and just don't loose sight of the goal.

And ignore all these people that make light of it - it's A BIG DEAL! Ugh. HUGE.

I tried patches, I tried gum. I was prepared to try hypnosis, therapy - ALL of it. And if I relapse I shall continue those efforts.

I go through phases of snacking - nuts with no salt, dried cranberries this week, CARROTS have been really useful - try to snack on healthy stuff.

Good luck, Sir!

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Thanks a lot for sharing your time and energy.
-
Julien

7 years , 2 marathons, daily running, weight lifting, fitness guru and model of every aspect of healthy living. Health was my identity (even my job.) Survived very bad things in life - you name it. Never had the urge. Then the loss of jobs, self esteem with the change to my appearance -still OK for years. I could hang around bars, dated smokers (ick, then) Hated the smell by then but even let people smoke in my house sometimes. Finally, snapped and felt hopeless about my situation and started picking one up here and there and now I'm making up for those 7 years. Ugh.