Bear, I think there are a variety of things that happen, and as you say, the reasons are as varied as the quitters. Let's look at how we define "well into their quits." When I was new...I mean a week or two....anyone over two or three weeks, and certainly anyone who was counting by months seemed "well into their quits." I, being completely ignorant of the quitting process, thought that it should take a few days, and at the most a few weeks. Well, that is true for the nicotine being gone from your body (if you're not still putting it in.)
In reality, there are thousands of toxins in our bodies from smoking, not just niootine. Formaldehyde, arsenic, I'm sure you've seen the list. So for oh so many years (40 in my case) my brain, my heart, my lungs, have all adapted to all these poisons and now are having to de-tox from them as well. I truly believe this is a very overlooked part of the quitting process and one that I wish the "experts" would pay more attention to.
Also, overcoming an addiction itself is not a quick and easy process. Look at any alcoholic or food addict or drug addict that you know and see how hard they struggle. We oftentimes judge them and say "they could quit if they wanted to" or we see it as a moral issue, but in reality, addiction is not easy to overcome and takes incredible will power and daily concentration. It's exhausting.
I hope I'm not discouraging anyone. Because all of the hard work that we do is a daily exercise, some days harder, some days easier. But each stage that you struggle through and get to the other side makes you stronger for the next. The secret is to push through to the other side.
This is true for life, not just for quitting smoking. Each day that we succeed in being good to others, in building our stamina, in growing in wisdom and thought makes us better people and stronger for whatever might lie ahead.
Sorry for my longwindedness! I'm sure there will be others that will have additional thoughts. Good topic, Bear!
Rusty :)
[B]My Milage:[/B]
[B]My Quit Date: [/B]12/13/2004
[B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 920
[B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 25,760
[B]Amount Saved:[/B] $3,220.00
[B]Life Gained:[/B]
[B]Days:[/B] 129 [B]Hrs:[/B] 17 [B]Mins:[/B] 33 [B]Seconds:[/B] 35
-
Quit Meter
$57,480.80
Amount Saved
-
Quit Meter
Days: 691
Hours: 16
Minutes: 50
Seconds: 5
Life Gained
-
Quit Meter
5527
Smoke Free Days
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Quit Meter
221,080
Cigarettes Not Smoked