Hey, ex-smokers!

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

When you were quitting smoking was there anything at all your non-smoking friends could do to support you? Did you get tired or annoyed at the "How's it going? How long has it been? Are you still having trouble at coffee time?" type questions?

My friend is on day16 of quitting and I really, really want him to succeed. So far, he seems to like to talk about it, but I thought maybe at some point a smoker might want to not have to talk about it anymore.

How about--are there things I probably should not offer do for him? or say to him?

I already told him he smells one heck of a lot better! Of course, I never had told him how awful he smelled, so that might have been kind of rude to mention it at all. I was just excited about it, I guess. I didn't mean to be hurtful , though.

And oh, he is asking about getting the smell out of his house. I don't know. My last apartment and this house were both occupied by smokers before I moved in. I had to wash and wash the walls over and over to get that nicotine stain off. Only then did I paint. But I figure the smoke has penetrated everything in his house--carpets, curtains, clothes in the closet, books. All those things in my apartment and house left along with the previous occupants.

[Ima saver]

What helped me is that I put away the money I would spend on a daily basis, buying packs of cigarettes and saved it. Suggest that to him. It will really add up fast, especially at todays prices. I quit in 1990 after over 30 years of smoking.

[PrincessPerky]

Actually I cheated, I moved out of state, I didn't even hang out with my former smoking friends any more...8 hours is a long drive to bum a cigg!

Though for a short time I lived in my old apartment. I rewashed lots of things, and burned candles..or incense..it sortof smothers the smell a bit. Not a full solution. re carpeting and repainting would be better, but not cheap. Also ditch all ashtrays and ashtray like containers, I cleaned the surface they sat on with bleach..and NEVER allow anyone else to smoke in your house!

As to what to say..I liked having the situation ignored..But I am not everyone. Though I could not manage to drink without smoking for a loooong time, so if there is a major trigger you might try to avoid it..but not all smokers are like that.

Don't worry about the smell comment, it is good for him to know how much better non smoking is

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

I asked him what his savings would be and how he might use it. He said he that if he can kick these things he will be putting an extra $2300/year into his retire investments!

[simpleyme]

as of Jan 2 I will be a former smoker for 14 years! I smoked for 10 ,thank god I quit or I would now have been smoking for 24 years ;-0

take him out to lunch as congrats buy him a present that gives him something to do with his hands, buy him an assortment of gums .


16 days is huge congrats to your friend

[Tree0164]

My DH quit smoking last week (let's hope it lasts this time) I can't mention it to him at all.

[Snowgirl]

A close work friend stopped smoking 2-3 years ago. As a vocal non-smoker, I felt a responsibility toward him. I mainly gave him moral support: he dropped by when he felt an "urge", and we just chatted for 10-15 minutes until he felt better. I welcomed him at home for a "smoke-free" evening. I didn't much probe, but asked general open "How are you doing?" questions, so he could talk about it. I feel the listen and be there for him was the most important thing.

[Kirbycruiser]

I quite about 6 months ago and so far so good. I like it when my friends and family and ask how my quiting is going. It makes me feel proud to tell them how long it has been and how great I feel.
As long as your friend is talking about it he must want and neede someone to talk to about it.
Keep encouraging him and be supportive.

[ceejay74]

It's hard to quit--sometimes you want to talk about it but sometimes the best way is to try not to think about it. I would let him know that you're pulling for him and that he should call you or come see you if he ever feels a strong-enough craving that he might cave in. Also let him know that if he wants to celebrate milestones, you'd love to be the one he tells.

If not talking about it works best for him, he won't say anything. But it gets lonely when it's been a while and no one congratulates you or sympathizes with your cravings, so knowing he has someone to talk to might help. I'm on 11 months now, so I know the cravings can come up even after a while.

[Hot dog]

they just went up $2 a pack in Maryland along with the sales tax going up to %6

[Ima saver]

How much is a pack of cigarettes now??

[Hot dog]

They are now $6 I think

[simpleyme]

the store I work at sell cigarettes for 3.75 they make 15 cents off each pack , the one making the most money off of cigs is the state their tax is a couple dollars per pack

[librarylady]

When I quit smoking (the last time, it took me many attempts) six years ago. Yea! That was all that was on my mind, but I didn't want to talk about it all the time.
I remember one of my friends said how important it was to them that I quit, and that made me feel so good!
Tell him that you are proud of him, because I know he is proud of himself. That is a huge accomplishment!
I think the smell will just have to fade. Toward the end of my smoking years I wasn't smoking in the house anymore so I didn't face that problem.
You are so great to be such a supportive friend.

[msnln]

I quit about four years ago after 19 years of smoking (Yuck!). Though I had attempted to quit many times, I had failed so when I decided it was time, I told myself that I would stop smoking, not quit. Not smoking one day led to two days, weeks, months, etc. Though I had been tempted many times to pick up, I would count number of days I had been smoke free and told myself I could not break to streak and held out.

Another major change I made was to ask office smoke buddies not to invite me out when they go out for a smoke and they were pretty cool with it.