How had smoking come to effect you physically, emotionally and psychologically, just prior to quitting smoking? What has changed since then, if anything?

Physcially:......I never noticed many smoking symptoms. A little tightness in the chest if I smoked too much... and I was just beginning to get some phlegm. I never had a cough. emotionally:........I am much calmer. Even if I had a few emotional days here and there.... they were calm cries. I feel a little lost at times. Like I don't know me as well....but the new me I am getting to know...I LIKE very much. Psychologically:.... I did not respect myself before. Self respect is huge for everyone. I also lived in constant fear of cancer!! Every cigarette I smoked I thought about cancer. What a relief to know I am doing something positive about that. Any craves are worth the freedom. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 1/21/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 52 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,055 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $232.44 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 6 [B]Hrs:[/B] 20 [B]Mins:[/B] 14 [B]Seconds:[/B] 12

I feel better, and I think I look better too. I was a closet smoker so I don't have to sneak around any more! [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 1/8/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 64 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 966 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $268.8 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 5 [B]Hrs:[/B] 23 [B]Mins:[/B] 3 [B]Seconds:[/B] 39

Ugh, I apologize in advance if there's anyone here working at a truck stop and wears those dangly pineapple earrings. I love you guys!! :blush: Tutti [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 2/18/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 25 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,127 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $89.75 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 2 [B]Hrs:[/B] 15 [B]Mins:[/B] 38 [B]Seconds:[/B] 36

Wow, where do I start? Physically - Before I Quit I was starting to get short of breath and had just started coughing at night. That night cough was waking me from a deep sleep. Cigarettes were beginning to effect my voice as well, keeping me from hitting notes and throwing my timing off with my breathing. As soon as I quit, I mean the very day, my cough was gone. I can breathe much better but I can tell there's still room for improvment there. My voice is much clearer, I can reach most of the notes I reached before I quit and my voice is a lot stronger again. Emotionally - I know that when I was nervous, upset, etc. I would light up. I'm still waiting to see the difference in my emotions now that I've quit. I'm still so early in my quit and I believe I'm still healing. I too feel a little lost at times but I'll have to get to know the new me. Psychologically - I was so embarrassed to be a smoker. I felt like I should have flaming red hair piled up in a bun on top of my head, wearing a short pink waitress dress with fish net hose, wearing cat eye glasses and bright red lip stick while chewing gum really fast, wearing long dangly pineapple earrings while working at a truck stop, smoking one of those 120 cigarettes, and saying, "What's your pleasure sugar?". Stop laughing now, I'm being serious here. You know, that trashy appearance. That's how I felt the world looked at a female smoker and I was sooo embarrassed. I think I saw myself that way so I had no self respect. Needless to say, I don't see myself that way anymore and no one else does either. Thank God!!! I feel clean, strong, and proud to be a Non Smoker. Real important here, as a smoker I was so scared of cancer and heart disease. I thought about it every time I lit up. Cancer runs in my family on my Dad's side and heart disease runs on my Mom's side of the family. Cancer and heart disease is less of worry now that I'm a Non Smoker. I realize that I smoked so much and long enough that I have to go for regular check ups but I've definitely improved my odds. Peace of mind is real good medicine. The list can go on and on. Tutti [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 2/18/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 25 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,125 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $89.

Very BIG ? Prior to quiting smoking I had become almost immobile. Emphysema was becoming worse. Felt as if I could do nothing that did not allow me to smoke. I am improving daily with my breathing. Walking one hour a day. And maybe now will not need a tank. I can go places that do not allow smoking. That is only a couple of things. There is way to many for me to type. [IMG]http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p178/Trailbum/horse-ontrail.gif[/IMG] Pat [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 9/22/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 172 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 8,602 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1720 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 24 [B]Hrs:[/B] 20 [B]Mins:[/B] 29 [B]Seconds:[/B] 25

Looking Join me in IM when you have an hout to spare! SO much has changed! Phil [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 8/8/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 217 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 4,560 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] �1139.25 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 43 [B]Hrs:[/B] 10 [B]Mins:[/B] 23 [B]Seconds:[/B] 42

Hey LookingGlass - WELL -- I was tired of STINKING ! Tired of letting smoking run my life. Telling me when to go outside, when to stop playing with my kids, and taking time away from my life span. Emotionally - think about it smoking takes away more loved ones than anything else. I was disgusted and WANTED to quit more than anything else. AND... here I am - with my guard still up - always. CobenFan [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 3/25/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 354 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 7,097 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1239 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 33 [B]Hrs:[/B] 16 [B]Mins:[/B] 18 [B]Seconds:[/B] 46

No energy laying around. When something needed to be done, I would say, I'll do it after this cigarette, then 1/2 way through take a smoke break, then 3/4, smoke break etc.., then when done, smoke break. Now projects are taking about half the time to finish. Since working out, feel great, now I actually get depressed when I miss a workout instead of missing cigs. Love this feeling Freebird ~'~ [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 9/24/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 170 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 5,113 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $714 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 24 [B]Hrs:[/B] 3 [B]Mins:[/B] 37 [B]Seconds:[/B] 37

Scared and ashamed ! I was so worried about my health. I knew that I was doing serious damage to myself. I knew smoking would kill me, yet I kept on doing it. I was embarrased to go into a shop and buy cigarettes. I felt like such a loser. I hated myself for smoking. My self esteem was very low. I had tried to stop so many times before but everytime I failed I would sink lower. I resigned my fate to the tobacco companies. Physically I would experience tightness in the chest. That awful smokers cough in the morning and yet I couldnt wait to get downstairs and light one up. I was short of breath. I thought my singing voice was o.k, everyone said i was a very good singer. You should hear my voice now that I have stopped, There has been a huge improvement. I wish I had recorded the CD now instead of 2 years ago. Stopping smoking has been the single best thing I have ever done for myself. I am proud of my accomplishment and wish I had been able to do it years ago. KiwiKeith [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 9/29/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 166 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 4,174 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1925.6 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 25 [B]Hrs:[/B] 1 [B]Mins:[/B] 8 [B]Seconds:[/B] 10