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G’day NOPE .....Not One Puff Ever.

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NOPE for today!

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"I've become convinced that while I absolutely quit for a better life, I also quit for a better death." This was my bottom line motivation for quitting. I absolutely did not want to be in active addiction at the end of my life, especially if I found myself in a care situation due to a stroke or heart attack. Couldn't imagine any facility or family member supplying & babysitting me while I smoked. Absolutely didn't want to go through withdrawal (physically, emotionally, psychologically) while bed or wheel chair bound. Etc. etc. As a former QuitNet member I remember reading your personal profile page when I joined there at six months quit. It definitely had a impact on me to stay the course. Thanks for sharing. Sorry for your personal life circumstances. Hope we have both done enough (quit smoking & took steps to regain better health) to change our end. Best Wishes.

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N.O.P.E. 🙏

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N O P E ! ! !

so I saw a smoker this weekend she worked in a store and was outside on the side of the building out of view of the immediate public, I was thinking how smoking has become so taboo that the smokers are now hiding in the shadows. I remember myself being like that and don't ever want to go back to that. Stay strong like you are dvs51

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I haven’t been on in a few days and I came back to see a few new encouraging posts. I’m still having some difficulty with boredom but I’m staying strong! @Alexander it’s true. When I was a kid, it seemed like all the adults smoked and they did it everywhere. My parents and all of my friends’ parents smoked in their houses and cars with the kids around. People smoked while they worked. Now smoking is something you do behind the building in a designated area far from any other people.

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Me … Smoke Today … NOPE 🐸

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Hello! I put my last cigarette out on August 29, 2025. I really did think I was going to fail on the first day but I didn't. Or the second day. Or the third week. Here I am, five weeks plus later, still nicotine-free. My reasons for quitting were all of the normal ones: - After decades of doing it, I physically felt like garbage on a near-daily basis. - Aside from feeling weak and unhealthy, I was lethargic and tired all the time - I hated the way I smelled. My car stunk so bad of cigarettes it even bothered me, the guy who was smoking in it. - I was embarrassed to be a smoker. - I was tired of spending so much money on cigarettes. They average about $14 to $15 a pack in my area. At a pack and a half a day, I was spending $21 to $22 a day. My inspiration to quit was... a bit shallow, perhaps, but it worked. I'm a single, middle-aged man and I've been using dating sites. I hid my smoking status on my profile right from the start. I didn't claim to be a non-smoker, I just left that part blank. Kick the can down the road... give her time to get to know me and then drop that bomb, right? The right girl will understand... That felt dishonest, but it's what I did. And then I found that I was having trouble bringing it up to women I matched with at all. I'm sure the ones I met in person could tell anyway. That telltale spot on my index and middle fingers were stained yellow on both hands and even though I hadn't smoked for hours before any date, that's a smell that lingers. How do you hide that? I met a very nice lady and we began chatting. We met up and I told her the truth that first night. I had decided that I wasn't going to try to hide it from my dates from now on. She, surprisingly, told me it was not a deal breaker. And then a funny thing happened to me... I realized that it kind of was a deal breaker for me. I realized that I didn't want to subject any potential partner to the smell, the constant breaks for me to step outside, the coughing, the lethargy, the deteriorating health that is sure to set in soon, the waste of money - all of the crap I'd subjected my ex-wife to for years, stuff I now feel bad about subjecting her to. A week before our second date, I decided to quit. I didn't quit for her, but for the idea of having to go through the entire thing over and over again with the next woman, and the next vs. resigning myself to the idea that I could find a woman who didn't mind it, and possibly even one who smoked herself, which meant I could remain complacent and never stop. I didn't quit for this nice lady. She was just the trigger. Our second date was pleasant, but there was no real spark. We agreed not to pursue anything. When I got home, I thought about buying cigarettes. I wasn't upset that there was no future with this lady. We barely knew each other and we're both old enough to just be honest up front rather than dragging it out. It had been a week since I'd quit smoking, though, and maybe, I thought, dating just wasn't for me. Maybe it would be better to just stick to myself for a while and enjoy the things I enjoy, like smoking... And THAT was when I knew that I had truly quit for myself. Because when I had that thought, I laughed at it. I recognized it for exactly what it was. My addiction was trying to make excuses for me to go back to smoking because smoking is a lot easier than not smoking when you're addicted. But the fact that I recognized what was happening gave me strength NOT to buy them. It showed me that I was serious about quitting. That was all a month ago, and I'm still breathing free. I suspect I'll be breathing free in a year, too. I'm sharing because, well, I had a long and very boring day at work, and boredom has been my worst enemy through all of this. I've come closest to giving in when I've had long stretches of boredom. Writing about how and why I quit helps to remind me why I don't want to go back, so I thought I'd introduce myself with my story on here. An hour ago, I wasn't feeling so confident in myself and my ability to stick with this. Right now I feel like I can conquer the world. If anyone is still reading this far, thanks for listening to my story.

I've been smoking for the past 17 years, and I've watched my life spiral downhill because of it—health issues piling up, relationships straining, and opportunities slipping away. In 2024, I finally committed to quitting, drawing on every bit of willpower I had; my personal best streak lasted 57 days, during which I relied on nicotine gum for the first seven to ease the cravings. Today marks my second day in this new attempt, and while the urge is strong, I'm determined to push through and rebuild what I've lost, one smoke-free day at a time.

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N.O.P.E. 🙏

Some of the old timers around here know my story, but I thought I'd share it for those who are relatively new. Also, it's definitely on my mind, as my "anniversary" is impending, on 10/13. Seventeen years ago, my 42 y/o brother died of lung cancer. It was a terrible, grueling death, exacerbated quite dramatically by his shame and guilt for his smoking, which he was unable to quit even after the diagnosis and many treatments. Indeed, after he lost consciousness for the last time, he was still making smoking motions with his hands, bringing imaginary cigarettes to his lips. Thankfully, I was able to visit him to say goodbye on the day before his death, though I had to leave to get back to work the next day, four hours away. I don't have much memory of that next day, October 13, though I did go to work and teach my classes; then, as was typical those days, I went to the gym after work. In the locker room, I collapsed with a major (so called "Widowmaker") heart attack and cardiac arrest--strangers found me (blue and not breathing) and some emergency CPR and AED were administered as they waited for the ambulance to arrive. Unconscious, I was taken to hospital, where I remained in critical condition for three days with very low chances of survival and even lower of surviving without significant cognitive impairments. My crisis occurred at 5PM; at about 9PM, Mark died. Two hours later, given the horror she had experienced, his wife took her own life. I would learn these facts only several days later after I had regained consciousness, and I'm told that they needed to be repeated to me dozens of times because of my initial cognitive and memory challenges. Shortly after I was told, I'd ask again, "How is Mark?" I imagine that it was incredibly frightening and sad for my parents and wife to hear this. I share this story not for pity, but as a testament to the ravages of smoking. Mark was a heavy smoker, and his wife smoked even more. My own emergency was caused in part by my thirteen years of heavy smoking, from 18-33. I had been quit for seven years before this health catastrophe, but it definitely played a role. On the other hand, every doctor with whom I've worked since has told me that I had absolutely no chance of survival had a still been a smoker. Zero. So quitting smoking literally saved my life at age 40. Given what I saw with my brother, I've become convinced that while I absolutely quit for a better life, I also quit for a better death. Thanks for listening (sorry for the "trauma porn"), and keep the quit everyone! Christian99 Nearing 24 Years Quit

+1 on the “better end” motivation. Not wanting to be a care burden to my loved ones (at least not for preventable reasons) was one of my goals, as well. No knowing what the future holds, but I rest a bit easier knowing that I’m taking positive steps to get healthier and avoid the anguish and resentment that I might have imposed on my family. I’m lucky to have a great spouse/mate and want to hold up my end of that bargain.

Village People

I am Lola. quit smoking on 10/1/25 cold turkey and seems to be going smoothly so far. Much easier than I ever imagined it would be. It's my first quit and my last. But I refuse to let my guard down no matter how easy this journey has been so far because that's when it gets you. I heart many many of you who I met in the very beginning of my quit that were there for me. <3. I heart the others too I have met recently. Love and peace to all :)

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NOPE for today!

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N.O.P.E. 🙏

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you go Lola, so good that you took the challenge, I too am pretty new at this and together we all can accomplish the impossible lol !! Well at least the simple things of not smoking lol. I started at 1 Sept but yes almost the same as you, I think that one month is a significant date for me anyways. I plan on other little accomplishments for each month. Think of the money saved and the health benifits you get. I was getting winded going up stairs and walking. It already seems a bit better in that regard. Reach out if you need any support

@dvs51 You are doing great and I definitely couldn't keep up my quit without the wonderful people on this board!

You’re doing great … This is why we say …Stay Close to the Train Here is a well earned Pat on the Back 😁🐸

Thank you Cristian for this honest post I am sorry for all the trauma smoking has caused in your life Thank you for sharing this , please if your sitting on the fence wondering whether you should Quit , there is no happy ending with smoking Quit today 🐸

So very sorry for your loss, and I am very glad that you quit when you did! Definitely moving and motivating! Smoking does so much damage in so many ways! I honestly don't think I could have quit without everyone's help on here. I am so grateful for all the support I have gotten the last couple of years.

Such a moving - and motivating - story. Smoking has stolen so much from us, giving us nothing but bondage in return. I am deeply sorry for your losses, Christian… and deeply grateful that you quit “in time” and found us here!

The boredom you experience after quitting may be at least partially because once we quit we actually end up with so much more time to fill in our daily lives. Add up how many cigs you smoked per day and multiply that by the average time it took to smoke each one. That's the empty time you need to fill now that you've quit with more productive things to do in your daily life. It takes time to learn how to best fill that void but you will do it all in good time and once you do, it will seem like a seamless transition and you'll feel a lot more "normal" just going about your day to day life. Keep at it @dvs51; you'll get there!

Hi @dvs51. Welcome aboard the Quit Train. Thanks for this great post! Sharing our quitting stories is a great way to reclaim power over the addiction - like opening a window to let in fresh air. Who needs the self consciousness, the secrecy, the stinkies? NOPE! Bring on the daylight. It sounds like you’ve got a solid start to your quit. Remember to go back and read your wonderful quitting story the next time you’re temped to smoke. Your candor and clarity will be helpful when your quit is tested. Keep us posted on how things go for you. We’re here to support you - and your notes can help others along the way, too. See you around!

Offhand i don’t recall my quit date but it’s been some years. Living my life without smoking is just normal now, of course, but to be honest, over the years there have been times where the demons reappear and i need to fight the urge to smoke. I’ve realized through my last quit that i’m an addict and cigarettes are my drug of choice. Living by the motto of Not One Puff Ever really means something. Once an addict always an addict, and although i won the fight it’s a lifelong battle to make the right choice. I’ve dropped in on occasion over the years when times were tough and these posts really help. Thanks to those that post. NOPE

Nice to see you @AceWhite! I, too, need to fend off the occasional longing to smoke. So irritating! My addiction is always there, always ready to pounce. Like the dragon Smaug in The Hobbit… my addiction’s eyes may be closed and it may be pretending to snore, but it’s actually wide awake and could consume me in a flash. The Quit Train definitely fortifies my quit. I’m grateful for fellow quitters who help keep me sane and accountable. And it’s helpful to recall how truly gruesome withdrawal was. Go thru that mess again? No thanks! NOPE!

Hi Ace great to see you, I think your Quit date was 2/7/2021 Sooooo a big Congratulations to you We are addicts your right and we do get thoughts now and again It’s what you do with those thoughts that matter Keep reminding yourself , you’re a fabulous non smoker and be thankful your free from those chains … Its great you keep popping back , your seat is always here 🐸