I did something lile that in my penultimate attempt back in 97 or so. Walked across Olympic National Park sans cigarettes. Didn't have a smoke for about 3 years. It's been about the same amount of time this time around but this time I have zero desire to relapse.

I was really surprised at how easy it was for me to walk away from smoking this time around. I figured I would have had some cravings, but there has been nothing. After 36 years of smoking, and a lot of previous attempts, there wasn't even so much as a struggle with it. Not that I'm complaining, but given my lack of success before, I have been very surprised.

(July 1, 2018 at 11:39 pm)Joods Wrote: I was really surprised at how easy it was for me to walk away from smoking this time around. I figured I would have had some cravings, but there has been nothing. After 36 years of smoking, and a lot of previous attempts, there wasn't even so much as a struggle with it. Not that I'm complaining, but given my lack of success before, I have been very surprised.

I know that in my personal life, I put up with some things, to a point. Then, it's "fuck you", and I walk away...forever. I've cut off abusing "friends" in this fashion, in the past. Done. They call, I explain that their call isn't welcome, have a nice life...until I don't pick the phone up. Some people are as dense as osmium, I swear.

(July 1, 2018 at 11:39 pm)Joods Wrote: I was really surprised at how easy it was for me to walk away from smoking this time around. I figured I would have had some cravings, but there has been nothing. After 36 years of smoking, and a lot of previous attempts, there wasn't even so much as a struggle with it. Not that I'm complaining, but given my lack of success before, I have been very surprised.

Maybe it is like my losing some weight finally.  At some point it just seems clear that as we get older, ignoring health concerns is like texting on an icy road while driving at night .. i.e. risky as hell.  So do we want to live or meh whatever.  Eventually that feeling of invulnerability in youth wears off.

(July 1, 2018 at 11:55 pm)Fireball Wrote: I know that in my personal life, I put up with some things, to a point. Then, it's "fuck you", and I walk away...forever. I've cut off abusing "friends" in this fashion, in the past. Done. They call, I explain that their call isn't welcome, have a nice life...until I don't pick the phone up. Some people are as dense as osmium, I swear.

I had to do that with a number of people from my family. Their toxicity was just too much for my to deal with. It was affecting my health.

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(July 1, 2018 at 11:56 pm)Whateverist Wrote: Maybe it is like my losing some weight finally.  At some point it just seems clear that as we get older, ignoring health concerns is like texting on an icy road while driving at night .. i.e. risky as hell.  So do we want to live or meh whatever.  Eventually that feeling of invulnerability in youth wears off.

So.... This is what it's like getting old.

All this adulting stuff is harshing my youth.

What a badass! That right there takes some serious balls. Good for you, joods.

I went trough heroins withdrawals several times, eventually, got myself clean. Tobacco however hasn't been so easy. The availability doesn't help, but I am trying to muster the will to stop.

Kudos for your victory Joods.

(July 1, 2018 at 11:39 pm)Joods Wrote: I was really surprised at how easy it was for me to walk away from smoking this time around. I figured I would have had some cravings, but there has been nothing. After 36 years of smoking, and a lot of previous attempts, there wasn't even so much as a struggle with it. Not that I'm complaining, but given my lack of success before, I have been very surprised.

I must confess that my last two times quitting were similarly easy. The first was on Chantix, but the second time I more or less just walked away. I kept nicotine lozenges around to deal with the cravings, but seldom had to use them. I'm at a loss to explain the rather dramatic change. Surely the effect of multiple attempts is somewhat cumulative, but that doesn't seem to explain the sharp drop-off in desire.

Maybe we just have to mentally get to a point where we finally say enough is enough. I hear people say that in order to be successful, you have to want it and you have to be ready for it.

Well done! My husband gave up in one go as well. He says that you you can do it when the pain of continuing is worse than the pain of stopping.