What Happens After You Stop Smoking? Learn How to Quit Smoking The Natural Way

I stop smoking about 30 days ago.I have smoked for 50 years. Probably close to three packs a day. The cigarettes gave me COPD and that lead me to a heart attack. Now I'm on all kinds of prescriptions. My lungs are also in bad shape. I can now breathe a lot better. I forgot they put two stints in. I spent three days in ICU and two days in TCU. If you need someone to talk to I can help because I have been there.

After smoking for about ten years, I finally quit two and a half weeks ago, it was going better then expected until this morning. The urge to have a puff was stronger then me! I gave in. Although I only allowed myself three very small puffs, yes I inhaled, before discarding it. I feel like a failure now.

Hi Jessica, it will get better with time just go back to working on it and forgive yourself.

I just decided to quit today. I have tried before with out luck but this time seems different. I don't even have the urge to smoke! I just don't want a cigarette. The only problem that I am facing is that when I am doing anything at all I go to grab a cigarette to smoke while I am doing it. It seems that chewing a toothpick helps me a lot with that but it is only my first day of being smoke free.

Hi Jennifer, way to go. You are going to make if you just stick to it.

I just quit 5 days ago after smoking 20 years, keep it up guys, you are not alone.

Please give me some tips to quit smoking. I have been smoking from past 10 years, and an average of 10 cigarettes per day. But now I am feeling guilty for having started this habit. I tried to quit for 4 days, but gave up. Life seemed so miserable without a cigarette in my hand. But I think it's high time I quit this habit. Please help me.

After smoking for 20 years a pack a day, I quit 14 days ago due to catching the flu. I wasn't prepared to quit, but feeling miserable with the flu made me not desire to light one up. I've tried to quit in the past but always failed. This time I'm making a real effort and staying strong.

Hi Josh, it is great that you are working on giving up smoking. It is difficult to stop but worth the effort.

Life, who would of thought that cigarette at sixteen years old would have turned into a thirty-six year old and a two pack a day habit. I've been nicotine free for five days after a twenty year run. I'm done! If I can do it, you can too. The first week's the worst. Get some Tylenol for the headaches, some Robitussin for the cough, laxative for the constipation and some type of over the counter sleep aid for the insomnia. Force yourself to get through the withdrawal. It's worth it.

Good for your J. I decided to abstain from smoking 48 hours ago. Yesterday was the worst; today, the withdrawal symptoms are gone and the cravings kick in every couple of hours, but nothing too serious. After 15 years of smoking, I've had it with the bad breath, reeking clothes, and stained teeth. For everyone out there giving it a shot, keep with it; it's worth it!

I want to quit and I think that I have what it takes. Iv'e stopped for months before but I feel like cigarettes are a part of who I am. I tried the new electric cigarette and it just wasn't the same. I'm 20 and have been smoking since I was 13. My habit has been horrible sometimes and I need to quit while I still have my youth. I just put out my cigarette when reading this article and didn't give into that "last drag". Hopefully I can do it. I still have half a pack that is going to taunt me but I think I can do it!

This is my second whole day of not smoking after doing it for 52 years. I started coughing up brown mucus and my mouth is very dry. I don't have any taste in my mouth all of this started the second day after quitting. I think it is the new fire safe cigarettes that I was smoking. I stopped cold turkey and still have some carvings but my mind is made up.

I started smoking at 14 and am now 75 = 61 years. I gave myself a Christmas present and quit. I had the support of a prescription Chantix which has eased the stopping process. It is not as bad as I expected as we all know the cigarette companies load extra chemicals and nicotine into the product to keep you hooked. You have to be ready and I was.

I am on day 10 of not smoking. It's been hard. I am someone who smokes mostly at night. I have been in a habit of drinking beer and smoking about a half a pack at night. May not seem like much to some, but for me, it's a lot and a habit I've been in for a few years. Been smoking though for much longer. I did OK actually for the first few days. I drank about eight glasses of water as they suggest and it did help, though too many trips to the lady's room. Ugh. However, now on day or night ten, I'm craving it big time. I want a cigarette and a beer. I won't cave in, but man, I miss it. However, what comes with it, terrible breath, terrible skin, yellow teeth, smelly clothes and body is just awful. I don't want to be held captive by nicotine any longer. God help me. Wishing us all the best.

Well, I'm back again. I wrote the last message about being smoke free for ten days. Ain't the devil a funny thing. The day or two days after I wrote that, I had a breakdown and smoked cigarettes and drank two plus beers. I was feeling so stressed, more than usual and broke down. I of course, feel ashamed. I have to start all over again, ugh.

Thought I'd chime in. I am a 30 year smoker and am without even as much as a puff for 11 days now. I started at first feeling great, then tired, then sad, then terrible sore throat and now have a hacking cough that I never had as a smoker. Even with all that, I am happy with my progress and for the first time, I am no sneaking a cigarette or a puff on my quit. To the person who relapsed, no big deal, it'll just make you more determined.

I have been a smoker for 35 years, and I quit once about a year ago stayed quit for for months gained some much needed weight and just felt so good then out of the blue I said one day I wanted just one more cigarette. Well one turned into two then three. Well here I sit again, unable to breathe and spending lots of money on inhalers and breathing medication. I decided again, I am going to quit so I threw them down Sunday night and it's going to be hard I know, it is, but I want to do it. Any advice on how to "stay quit" please?

I was a pack a day smoker for almost thirty years and after getting chronic sinus infection every two months, which would also include a fever, I was so sick of getting sick that I quit cold turkey six days ago. I knew that I had to get so sick with this last episode before I could kick the habit. Now I have the smokers cough! Never had it when I smoked. But I know in time things will get better, and I made the right decision. Good luck everyone.

Been a smoker for fifteen years, half my life, and I quit last Sunday. When my cravings are "unbearable" I smoke but like a cigar. Just creating an illusion and feeding the habit. This way I am not miserable but having smoked twenty--five cigarettes per day, cold turkey is a no go for me. I have now reduced to two cigarettes per day. Since I say to myself, I will smoke when I go home at five, I wait for the time but not feed the cravings. Strange psychology, maybe this will help. It sure does help me.

I had my first cigarette at eight years old. My older cousins would let me light their cigarettes. They thought it was funny. My first time quitting was when I got pregnant with my first child. I stayed quit for over five years until my dad got sick with cancer. I had "just one" and here I am six years later still struggling with this demon. I quit for a while then just can't stand it anymore. I'm on day three and my lungs feel so tight and heavy. God please give me the strength to kick this for good. Part of me feels I will die from smoking because I just can't seem to stop. It's like quit now or quit because you have cancer. I hope it's not too late for me.

Hi, I have been smoking about ten years. I'm twenty-five and I'm coughing up massive amounts of phlegm lately because lately I smoke more and faster due to stress. Can someone tell me if I'm too young to catch lung cancer? I know smoking is bad but with stress sometimes its all that makes me feel better. Well I just wanted to know about the phlegm, and many pharmacist even doctors told me ten years and being age twenty-five that me getting lung cancer is very unlikely at this age. But I should quit well any thanks guys. I really would like an answer.

I smoked for twenty-five years, both cigarettes and marijuana. I started when I was sixteen and I am now forty-one. I stopped both of them two weeks ago. Cigarettes are much harder of the two to quit. But this is not the first time I attempted to quit. The last time I attempted to quit was three years ago. I used Nicorette gums but only used them when I had a craving. Within one week, I noticed my breathing was better at night, less congestion. I was dreaming a lot at night and getting better sleep. I started to work out with weights, twenty pound barbells to begin with. After three weeks of quitting I took up jogging whenever I had a craving. I was a slow jogger, but I didn't care about all those avid joggers that never smoked and passed me on the jogging path. I kept up with the weights and eventually increased them to thirty-five pound barbells. I continued with the jogging. Within one month my muscles were ripped and my breathing so much better, and my lungs were clearing out. My overall stress levels were decreasing. Yes cigarettes are the cause of most of your stress people. They do not help with the stress that is just the addiction making you think that the cigarette is helping with your stress. Once my body started to take on muscularity and with the combination of weight lifting and cardiovascular workouts, I no longer had stress. I was happier at work, and people noticed the difference. I was sure I had quit for good. Then the snowy winter came along, I live in Canada, and I found that I had nowhere to run anymore. I started to give up on the weights, because I couldn't use it in combination with the jogging. I started going to friends and relatives a lot during weekends and they all smoked. Eventually I became a smoker again. It is now summer again, and I have once again kicked the habit, because I remembered how good it felt when I had quit three years ago. I am reminded of all the negative things about smoking, bad breath, dry mouth, constant spitting, congestion, bronchitis, stress, tiredness, lack of energy, smelly clothes and apartment, having a monkey on my back, the expense of buying cigarettes takes away from all those other good things you could have bought with the money, friends and relatives dying too young from cancer etc. I should also mention that my chances of getting dates with women who don't smoke,that's right the healthy, sexy ones, was no chance. There are many more negatives, so many I would not have enough characters in this comment to write them all down. Please write all the negatives down on paper and add to them as you think of them. Hang the paper on the fridge and read the negatives when you have a craving. It will help. Bottom line, it is not worth it everyone. It was not cool when you started at the age of sixteen and it is not cool now. The people who do not smoke are the cool ones. Because they are happier and richer than you are. I plan to quit now for good and take up a winter sport to help me when winter arrives. A friend's mother got cancer last year and she quit as soon as she was diagnosed. Her first message was that she didn't realize how easy it was to quit, and that it was harder to quit the habit than the addiction. But her diagnosis with cancer caused her to quit immediately, scared straight so they say. Unfortunately for her, it was too late for her and she died of cancer. Let that be a message to everyone who smokes, you can quit as easily as she did. Don't wait until it is too late. I wish everyone the best with their quitting endeavors. And remember, you have to quit quitting, quit once and make that be the last time.

Hi Jason, you are so right! I am glad that you decided to quit and move on toward the life you wanted. You are very right about the women liking a guy that is not puffing on a cigarette every fifteen minutes.

I'm thirty years old. I was a smoker for seven years. I smoked ten a day. I never quit for more than a day. This time I quit for three days and I'm on the fourth day. The carving is strong and I'm having cold like symptoms. My breathing is getting better and over all I'm feeling like I'm getting cleansed. But it is a bit hard. My mind is the main problem. It keeps reminding me about the cigarettes.

Hang in there Prakash. The first couple of weeks can be hardest, but it will get easier and you can do it. I've now quit using the Nicorette Inhaler for first month, and for nearly five months after smoking nearly a pack a day for twenty years. It does get easier every day. Just taking it one day at a time and there's no more urge to smoke. I agree with Jason that non-smoking guys who look after themselves are way sexier.

Bill S, there is no age limit on lung cancer. You are not too young. If you are still concerned go see your doctor.

I am on day four of not smoking. I have been smoking since I was thirteen and I am twenty-seven now. I went on a product called Zyban. They ask you to give up ten days after starting the course. But I gave up on the 2nd Day of taking it. I have maybe three or four cravings a day. But it lasts about two minutes. Zyban kills the strength of the cigarette. All of a sudden there is no difference between smoking and breathing. And also subdues the cravings. On the 1st Day of taking Zyban at 6:30 AM and at 18:00 in the afternoon I realized I had not smoked. And I was a pack a day smoker. I keep reading the benefits of quitting smoking to keep me motivated and it works.

Good luck to all out there to anyone trying to quit the habit of smoking. I was a forty a day guy for many years. I started when I was eight. I have been off them now for eleven months. I don't feel much better with out them. I still am full of phlegm and I cough but I am hoping to feel the benefit very soon. Hang in there all of you and good luck.

I wanted to wish all of you, that have quit and are trying to quit smoking, the best of luck. I have been a smoker for about twenty years anywhere from one pack to a pack and a half. I watched my mother die from lung cancer at the young age of fifty-six, and I don't want that to happen to me. I have tried cold turkey and Chantex with no luck. I started using the patch two days ago. Today I did have a couple of cigarettes, like two to three, tomorrow I am going for none at all. I am really hoping this patch helps me quit.

After smoking for almost nine years, I finally decided to quit smoking three days ago. I was smoking 10 per day. But since I have decided, I have not even touched a cigarette. But sometimes I feel very lazy and sleepy. Can you guys please suggest for me something more than will power to quit smoking.

I'm Jerry I am 104 years old. I have smoked since I was thirteen. That's right I have been smoking for 91 years, but I recently gave them up and feel amazing. I feel 80 again and raring to go. If I can bloody do it anyone can. Be strong people.

I quit five days ago and the best way to get rid of an urge to smoke is to have a dirty ashtray in your shed, go sniff it, then think, that's how I smelt until now. EEEwwww gross. It certainly puts me off of ever smoking again.

Hi, I am 55 years young and love life. I have been asking God to please help me quit for a long time. I was coughing and felt so tired. I was really trying hard to quit and started cutting back as much as I could and started coughing even more. I was coughing up a lot of mucus and finally coughed it up and spit it in to my bathroom white sink, and there was blood. I now have been smoke free for twenty-two days and will never touch them again. They are little white sticks that we allow to control us and kill us. I thank God for making it so extreme that I will never forget why I quit, pray, as our God magnificent.

Tomorrow is day three of not smoking and back to work I know it will be hard because lunch and break times I'm with the smokers who are my friends. I just can't believe how much better I feel not smoking. I had quit for one whole year the year before, and I remember how great I felt and how much energy I had. Getting up in the morning was so much easier. I'm looking forward to that. My headaches have stopped although I'm constantly eating. I also started a lung cleanse I got from a health food store. A teaspoon a day to clear the lungs of the tars and all the gook. Tastes nasty but I'm on my way to clean my lungs and start over. Good luck everyone.

I have gone twenty two hours without a single ciggie for me. I am determined to go all the way to kick butt! Lets all kick it together guys.

Hi Abhishek, good job. Keep it up it is worth the effort to be free of the ciggies for good.

Three days back I gave up this bad habit after ten yrs of smoking. To handle cravings, I kept a smoked lungs photo with pink innocent lungs photo on my desk. It gives me the feeling that I have been so bad to my lungs.

It has been ten days and twenty hours since I quit smoking. I have saved $45 since I quit smoking. I would have smoked an extra 130 if I did not quit smoking. I haven't smoked any cigarettes at all since I quit. I know it is tough to quit. If you are serious about it start reading about the problems you will face when you quit smoking, and just tell yourself that you always like to be in control and you will decide what is next. Prove to yourself you have self esteem and that you are not a pathetic addict, and you are always in control. Smoking a cigarette makes us feel in control, but I say prove it by not smoking that you are in control not the cigarette. It is tough I know very tough, but I am sure I will never ever touch a cigarette. Let's see who wins the cigarette or me?

I am on my sixth day without a cigarette after thirty years. It's hard but I have to keep trying, and I hope this is my last attempt to quit for good.

Well, I am smoke free now for fifty-seven days now after smoking for twenty-four years. What an accomplishment. I am so proud of myself. Only one problem, I cannot stop eating sweets. Please help I do not want to become a balloon. I have started walking five Km. every morning. How cool is that?

I started smoking when I was fifteen. I am now twenty and stopped smoking cold turkey over two weeks ago with no relapses! I used to smoke one pack a day. I used to eat excessively when I smoked. I find that it is easier to stay quit if I eat a couple small meals that do not fill my stomach up and make me crave cigarettes, and I have lost six pounds since I quit smoking. Avoid any and all things that remind you of cigarettes, and I found that sleeping for almost three days straight helped me get over it. I also now make my husband smoke outside and not inside the car. Every-time I smell an ashtray I almost get sick. It gets easier to the point that you can tell that annoying little voice in your head to smoke that it is a loser and to leave you alone because you're not going to give in. You will know when you are going to stop smoking for real. It is an amazing feeling of determination you never knew you had. You will start feeling like "Hey I don't need a cigarette, and I don't want one." Take it day by day and good luck. Oh and I am coughing up so much phlegm. I coughed up so much ten minutes ago that I was amazed I was able to breathe with that much goo in my lungs! But I can now breathe even better by just coughing that up. I think I am going to get an oxygen high. I feel so much better. I can't believe I ever did this to myself. I am ashamed. I used to love to sing and it was something I did every day all day. I now can't sing well and it severely depresses me. I hope to regain my singing voice so I can be happy again. Good luck everyone.

Hello, I am twenty-eight years old and have smoked for fifteen years. The amount I would smoke everyday would vary over the years, but never over a pack a day. Towards the end I was smoking just about five or six a day. I finally decided time to kick the habit or kick the bucket. I've tried many times before but this time I have gone twelve days. It was so hard at first, but the cravings seem to be getting less intense. Last night, I decided that maybe I could handle drinking a beer, bad idea. I've never wanted one so bad, ever. Well, I managed to get through the agony, but I almost gave in. My advice to anyone is to stick with it. Don't say you are going to "try" to quit, say you "are going to quit." Toothpicks have helped me out tremendously, I just chew on one when I am having a terrible craving. And ice water is also a big help. Good luck to all.

Hi Sheep, wow I have to applaud your determination. Way to go girl!

Hi Mia, please be careful not to fall asleep with the toothpick in your mouth. A friend sucked on cinnamon flavored tooth picks to stop smoking but fell asleep and ended up in the emergency room after it got stuck in his airway.

Keep it up everyone. Break those chains of nicotine addiction. I am going on three months without smoking and the withdrawal symptoms are still bothering me, sinus. I should try a nasal rinse. I have a soar throat at times also tightness in my chest that may be my lungs cleaning the tar out. But it is a small price to pay compared to getting the diseases smoking causes. I have no cravings at all, but I did make big time life style changes like healthier diet with no fatty foods. I get more exercise like a 45 minute walk everyday and yoga every other, and meditation. I smoked off and on for twenty years and decided to quit cold turkey. It has been rough at times, but I feel I am getting better in body and mind. I just need to stay positive and control my stress. Keep strong everyone. You all can do it.

Ya the day has come, after twenty years of smoking. I crushed the last pack and threw it by the fireplace, and I am going to leave it there. A nasty crumpled little pack of the most controlling things in my life ever. So, here I go, day one. I put a patch on but am thinking I don't and just push through. any athoughts on this?

I have recently decided to quit smoking cigarettes and to stop drinking at the same time. For me the two go hand in hand. In order for me to quit one I must quit both. It has been 30 days and I know in my heart that I have really quit this time. I would just like to know if anyone else out there has tried this. I have felt extremely tired throughout the day. I have been exercising to help with anxiety, too.

I just quit four days ago after 45 yrs. I feel really ready to quit, not like before. I got a bad sinus cold and it went to my chest. I always have that mucus rattle, and I still cough from it. It is has been two months now. I have had it. I sound raspy when I smoke too much and feel bad. Wish me luck. I am walking and want to take herbs to help clear my lungs. Come on people, we can do it! Be strong. I have really turned disgusted with the ash tray and house smell too. I have had it. Best wishes to all, and happy holidays.

I have been off them for seven days now cold turkey. After twelve years of smoking 20 pack a day. I'm twenty-six and it's the best thing I've ever done. It has been hard though. I won't lie. I got the flu on day too, and I think that made it a bit easier because I didn't have the urge to smoke then anyway. Now my lungs feel very heavy and my asthma is quite bad. But I think this is all part and parcel of giving up. I just feel like I want to cough all the stuff out of my lungs. I'm hoping the coughing is going to start soon. Good luck guys. We can all do this.