Quit smoking with Nicoderm CQ - Day 14

Day 14 - Well I made it, 2 full weeks completed.  Yesterday put me to a test because it was the first day my family and I have been on vacation.  There are so many people where we are at that are smoking, but again, it does not bother me.  When I set out 2 weeks ago to quit smoking, I meant it.  Nothing is going to change my thought process of being a non-smoker. 

The patch is doing what it was meant to do, curve the urge of smoking allowing me to overcome the physical side of having a cigarette.  After being a smoker that has tried to quit using all other options available out there, I have to give my full recommendation to anyone trying to quit, to use the patch.

The one nice part of the patch is, after a couple of days of getting used to the patch, other than the time you put it on in the morning, you really forget you are wearing it.  I feel so good to have made it to two full weeks of being a non-smoker and I honestly believe I wouldn't have been able to get this far without the patch.

I would also like to thank the people, your comments and views, help me to push forward and continue to be a non-smoker.  Thank You Everyone.

I am not advertising for Nicoderm CQ, but I am advertising for what has worked for me and what I believe in.

Quit smoking with Nicoderm CQ - Day 13

Day 13 - Yesterday was the 13th day of not smoking and almost the end of two full completed weeks of being a non-smoker.  I am already seeing some of the perks of not spending the money on cigarettes everyday.  But I am sure the full perks of not spending money on cigarettes will be seen after one year of being a non-smoker.

Yesterday my wife and I went to a wedding reception and this was the first time I have actually been next to people that were smoking since I quit.  I have tried to avoid people that are smoking so I didn't get the urge to ask for on.  Well, I think it went very well.  I was able to be around people who were smoking and I didn't even give it a second thought of needing a cigarette.  I think this was a very successful test I passed even if I was the only one with knowledge that it was a test. LOL

For anyone trying to quit, read my whole blog, even if you don't want to try the patch, I think just being able to see what someone has to go through on a day to day basis when trying to quit smoking is very helpful to know.

Quit smoking with Nicoderm CQ - Day 12

Day 12 - I am finding that each day is starting to become more and more of a normal day.  What do I mean by normal?  It just seems normal to go throughout my day without a cigarette.  It is kind of weird to be able to say that after so many years of smoking.  After yesterday, I started my vacation and this will be the first time my family and I have gone on a vacation with my wife and I as non-smokers.  We will just focus on enjoying our time and not cigarettes.  We are still on the patch and we will be for another 8 weeks as the program requires, so I feel we will be just fine on our vacation.  My wife and I chose not to put ourselves in a position where we are surrounded by people smoking.  That time may come someday where we can tolerate it, but it is still to early for that.  I would just prefer to never go around smokers again, but I am not going to alienate my friends and family if they smoke because I used to do the same to them.

If anyone who reads my posts has any questions, please feel free to let me know, I would be happy to answer them.

Quit smoking with Nicoderm CQ - Day 11

Day 11 - Each day becomes a new milestone.  How do I get through it?  I take each day as a new day, there are times throughout each day where I do get small urges for a cigarette, but as each day passes, the urges get less frequent.

I find that this blog in the long run will help me because if I ever feel a lapse come on, I can turn to this Blog and remind myself why I quit smoking.  I am doing this Blog for me, but I certainly hope that it can help others in their journey to quit smoking.

I also found that when you need a smoke, listen to music, sing along, just do something to get your mind off the cigarette.  Each day I drive to work, I see people smoking and I can honestly say, it does not bother me anymore.  I know that quitting has been the best thing for me and my family and I will continue on with my healthier life and if others want to smoke, so be it.  I will never turn into a martyr just because I stopped.  I was a smoker for 25 years and I know what people who smoke are going through.  Today's Blog, I have include a music video that is just fun to listen to.  Hope you enjoy.

Quit smoking with Nicoderm CQ - Day 10

Day 10 - Another day closer to being healthier.  One thing throughout this quitting smoking I have learned is that you will lead to food as a way to curve the smoking urge.  My wife and I have turned to vegetables and fruits to curve the appetite and to provide a healthy snack when needed.  One thing we don't want is the quitting smoking to turn into weight gain.  We have done a lot more exercising now such as walking and soon we plan on buying some new bicycles to get even more exercise.

Now, not to steer away from the health aspect, but I was asked yesterday, have you tried the e-cigarette?  The answer is yes, but I found that if you truly want to quit smoking, the e-cigarette is not the way to go.  Let me explain my thought on this.  When you want to quit and you decide to use the e-cigarette, you can never get over the physical side of not smoking, you will also be still inhaling nicotine and this urge will never go away.  With the patch, yes you are getting nicotine, but over the step process you are weening yourself off of nicotine and also, getting over the physical side of holding a cigarette like you do with an e-cigarette.  I personally feel that if you use the e-cigarette as an alternative to smoking, you are only fooling yourself to think you will ever become a non-smoker.

Researchers have studied the affect of nicotine and the news is not good.  I would rather ween myself completely away from nicotine use then to switch to an alternative that will never be out of my system.  This is in fact my opinion but read the facts.  I have provide a link below:

Nicotine and your body

Don't get me wrong, I know some studies have found some benefits to using nicotine, but I personally feel the benefits don't outweigh the negatives.

I am just voicing my opinion here in my journey to quit smoking and I don't want anyone to take offense to what I say, as I am only trying to help.

Quit smoking with Nicoderm CQ - Day 9

Day 9 - Today I would like to discuss the patch.  I have read other post about the patch before I started it and even today I have read some others posts about the patch and how it does and does not work.  Let's discuss my success with the patch and how I am making it work:

1. First, you have to want to quit, this is the most important part of quitting.  Nothing will help you if you don't want to quit.
2. My choice was I wanted to quit, but I tried the pills, gum, and cold turkey and nothing worked so my last resort was the patch, and here we are after 9 days and going strong.  Decide what will work best for you to quit.
3. When using the patch follow the instructions.  One complaint I was reading about was the patch doesn't stay on.  The instructions clearly state put the patch on a hairless part of the body.  I actually shave a part of each of my arms for the patch, the area is not big and is between the elbow and the shoulder. 
4. Where do I put the patch?  There are many different places you can put the patch, but I choose to rotate between my arms.  This has worked for me.
5. Should I sleep with the patch on?  I started out sleeping with the patch on, but I was having weird dreams and I was also having trouble sleeping, so I have since day 3, stopped wearing the patch at bedtime.  This has worked well for me.

I have found that after being a smoker for 9 days now, it is getting easier each day.  I have made a commitment to continue the patch till the end of the program which is:

1. Step 1 - 6 weeks
2. Step 2 - 2 weeks
3. Step 3 - 2 weeks

Some people have complained about the cost of the patches, but if you look at what you spend on cigarettes, the cost of the patch should not be an issue.  I hope all that I post in my Blog is helpful to all that read and if I can help just one person to quit smoking, then this Blog was all worth it.  I am very excited about quitting and therefore I post on other sites about it and I just hope people don't think I am spamming, I am just excited on this new lease on life.

I don't read my previous posts because I want each day to be logged as what I am going through and not a run from the previous day.  Comments are welcome and I will read those.

Quit smoking with Nicoderm CQ - Day 8

Day 8 - Since I am on a new week and the thought of smoking is starting to diminish, I thought I would talk about some of the benefits I am starting to see since quitting smoking.

1. Health - Each day it is getting easier and easier to do things without running out of breath.  I know have a long way to go, but I am already feeling better.
2. Money - It was costing $14.83 a day for my wife and I to smoke.  Lets do some math shall we: $14.83 per day x 365 days a year =  $5412.95.  If for nothing else, this amount of money would make a fantastic vacation or would be a lot to build up your savings.  Even when I didn't have the money, I always found a way to get cigarettes.  WOW, this one was a true reality check.
3. Energy - I feel like I have more energy.  I wake up each day feeling good and go to bed feeling good.  My day is not thinking about when am I going to have that next cigarette.
4. Family - My kids (young adults) are very happy that my wife and I quit and I hope for great times in the future with them.  I also hope my kids, who don't smoke, see that smoking is not the way to go.

I can now look back and honestly just say WHY, why did I ever start smoking.  It is not cool, it smells bad, people don't want to be around you when you smoke, you are just killing yourself.  There is no good reason to start smoking and no good reason to continue smoking.

Quit smoking with Nicoderm CQ - Day 7

Day 7 - At the end of yesterday marked the one week completion of being a non-smoker.  Because both my wife and I quit at the same time we are both celebrating now.  I have to say that anyone in a relationship where you and your partner smokes, it is probably best that you both try to quit at the same time.  Not only will this make you both healthy, but you will have someone to support you and someone you can support.  This has been very helpful.  I am finding that because I am now a non-smoker, I am trying to find new ways to change my routine so that smoking is out of the mind and the new routine is in.  My wife and I take daily walks which has help keeping our minds off of smoking, but we have also decided that we are going to buy some bicycles and starting biking and we also are considering buying a canoe and start canoeing.  I feel so happy to want to do some of these activities that we are going to do that just did not have any interest when we smoked.  My biggest regret is ever starting smoking, I missed doing things with my kids as they grew up because it was hard for me, such as throwing the ball around, going for bike rides, etc. and I am starting to feel a little guilty about that.  But, it is never to late to make changes and for me enjoy some time with my kids doing things they want to do.  It is weird but as a smoker, these are some of the things I never even thought about, but now I am seeing things more clearly and I can and will make things better.  Wow what a journey this has been so far and I look forward to great times ahead.

Quit smoking with Nicoderm CQ - Day 6

Day 6 - This was my first weekend day home since quitting smoking and I have to say I believe starting the patch on Monday was a great idea, because I had work all week to keep my mind on other things other than smoking.  I think this helped to build up to the weekend where my cravings have been less and I just was able to enjoy my weekend without spending it smoking.  I have to say that I am starting to enjoy not smoking, I just feel better in the mornings, I have more energy, and it feels a little easier to breath.  I know over time of not smoking, my lungs will get clearer and clearer so that I may be able to not run out of breath doing minor things.  I would like to add to anyone who may read this, keep your eye on the prize, not smoking is a choice and a health one to me.  When you started smoking it was a choice and now to quit it is a choice.  I thought I would never be able to stop smoking, this is how addictive smoking is, but with the mind set that I am done smoking and the patch I have been successful in my quest so far.

I urge anyone trying to quit smoking to even take up writing about it in a Blog, this also has really helped me to stay focused, even if nobody else reads it.

Quit smoking with Nicoderm CQ - Day 5

Day 5 - Yesterday seemed to go smooth.  I can say as each day passes, the urge for a cigarette seems to diminish.  I find that writing this blog helps me to concentrate on the main goal, quit smoking.  I do have to honestly say that, I don't think quitting without the patch would have worked.  The patch has been the only thing that has worked for me so far and I am thankful that I actually found something to help me quit smoking.  Last night I did take the patch off before I went to bed and I slept really good with no dreams, so from now on, I will not sleep with the patch on.

Quit smoking with Nicoderm CQ - Day 4

Day 4 - I am a day late in this post, but yesterday was another milestone for me as I completed 4 days of not smoking.  I have found that I have a little more thoughts of having a cigarette as the days go on, but I remain strong and continue not to smoke.  Anyone considering using the patch, one thing to keep in mind is you really have to want to quit smoking.  The patch does curve the cravings, but it does not completely remove the feeling of needing a cigarette.  When I start thinking that I really need a cigarette, I start thinking of the benefits of not smoking and by the time I am done thinking about that, I no longer feel the need for a cigarette.  That state on the box that if you wear the patch to bed as I do, you may have weird dreams.  This is true, I haven't decided yet, but I may stop wearing the patch when sleeping.  The dreams are pretty intense and beyond weird that it just may cause loss of sleep and that is not worth it because it will put you in stress mode which may in turn make you start smoking again.

One thing I have taken up is walking every evening with my wife for a mile and a half each night to help not thinking about smoking.  This has helped a lot in providing me fresh air and keeping my mind off of smoking.

Quit smoking with Nicoderm CQ - Day 3

Day 3 - I am finding it a little easier each day to not smoke.  I still have my urges, but they go away faster know and I go on with my day.  Last night I had another weird dream, but I forgot what it was about after 5 minutes of being awake.  I thought there would be no way that I would be able to make it this long, but when you want something bad enough, you work for it.  I want to be a non-smoker, I want to be healthier, and I want to be able to do more with my family without getting winded because I smoke.  So far so good and we are working closer to another non-smoking day.

Quit smoking with Nicoderm CQ - Day 2

Day 2 - Last night was a stormy night and was the first night I wore the patch while sleeping.  I had a weird dream, but it wasn't to bad.  Today was kinda harder then day one because I had more times throughout the day that I had the urge for a cigarette.  I just set my mind to I don't need it and I began to focus on something else and it got me through.  My wife and I both started the patch yesterday, so it is good to have someone doing this with me.  We went for a walk this evening to pass time and I think this will become a regular nightly thing, to take a walk.  This will help to keep us in shape while we work on quitting and so we don't have an issue with weight gain.  I am proud of myself as this is the longest I have ever gone without a cigarette since I started smoking.  Each day is a new record for me.  I can't wait till I am counting weeks and not days of not smoking.  My motivation is health and my family.  I want to live to see grand kids and be healthy enough to be able to play with them, take them for walks, the zoo, ball games, etc..  If that isn't motivation enough I don't know what is.

Quit smoking with Nicoderm CQ - Day 1

Today is day one of me quitting smoking after smoking for 24 years.  I have tried Chantex, Nicotine Gum, and Cold Turkey and all have failed.  I finally decided to use Nicoderm CQ patch starting with Step 1 and I have made it through the day which I have never been able to do before.  Follow my blog and my journey to becoming a non-smoker.  I will add a new post on my journey to explain what the affects of quitting is having on me.

Day 1 - It started off great, I got up at 6AM and took my shower to get ready for work.  At 7AM I put on my first patch.  I can honestly say, even up to now, I have not had much of a cigarette craving, but at around 2PM I was getting antsy.  I decided to chew on some gum at 2PM and that help decrease my anxiety of physically wanting a cigarette.  I believe the patch is doing as intended, because the craving for a cigarette is not there, but the physical side I will need to work on.  I will work hard each day to change my routine as a smoker to a non-smoker.

Update:  I wanted to come back and add this so you realize this is normal.  Any one starting to use the patch, do realize that where you place the patch may itch or burn a little when you first apply it.  This itch and/or minor burn goes away after about 5 to 10 minutes.  This will happen everyday you put a new patch on.  Also, make sure to follow the instructions and apply the patch to a hairless area.