Rooting for you - you've got this!

Excellent!!! So happy for you - stick with it - you'll be SO glad you did, I promise!

You’re on your way! Keep it up.!

Congratulations on your accomplishment! Here's hoping every day becomes easier.

That's wonderful! You are on the right path for sure. Hang tough!

Good luck Judy!

Karen - For all the quitters I’ve known, including myself, I never heard of the aches and pains. Googling, I do see it’s a thing though. But from what I’m seeing, six weeks sounds like a really long time. How much did you smoke? I might see a doctor to be sure nothing else is going on, and possibly get a prescription to help relieve it if it’s impacting your quality of life.

Good luck Judy!

So much is mind set. My father tried to quit many times over the years but never could...until he got lung cancer. Then he quit without issue. I asked him if quitting was hard and he said no, not really. It sure was before he had the right incentive!

Judy -- GO for it! Keep us posted, and we'll cheer you on!

This 'smokers flu' is a new one on me. Maybe check with your primary? Something else could be causing the ickies. Meanwhile, keep hydrated. You're doing so well!

Congratulations to both you and Judy!

Karen, I also quit after 40 years, but did not have any aches or flu-like symptoms. That must be discouraging!

Please go to your pcp asap...good luck finding a quick answer.

(I threw myself into exercise, including lots of 2-mile walks, that helped me).

I wish there were a way for teens to hear of your 42 days. It's terrible how easily they are drawn to vaping and nicotine. It's hurting sooo many kids.

Judy congratulations on starting the journey. We will give you all the support you need. It was kinda easy in a way. I didn't get the craving like I thought I would. Perhaps because I felt it was time to quit. Don't give up cuz we are here for you.

I don't have the aches everyday and it's much better than 2 weeks ago. I struggled to get out of bed at that point. But having smoked over a pack a day for 46 years I know my body is just going through nicotine withdrawal. On the plus side I finished the Quit Smoking program on our insurance today! Was told my deduction will go down to non-smoking .

Good for both of you!!

Once you get through the withdrawal, you will feel sooo much better, I promise! Your entire body will be getting more oxygen.

May every quitter avoid a diagnosis of COPD in the future.

arcy -- Kids think they are indestructible. A tour of the pulmonary floor in a hospital would make an impression. Maybe there's a cancer society film? Remember the ghastly one with the man speaking through his throat after surgery?

This is wonderful news! One hour at a time. Keep it up!

Judy, good for you! You can get on top of this addictive beast.

I am wishing the best to both you and Karen. Do not let up. Yay for the two of you!

Thanks for the encouragement. The benefits department told me today they updated my information and I am now paying $18 Less on my insurance weekly.

Yay for 42 days! Congrats to you. Judy, rooting for you.

Add that to what you were spending on tobacco and got yourself some spending money. Congrats!

^^^ Excellent point!

And your health will benefit. Your mouth and teeth also. Your car and house too.

My great aunt was a lifelong smoker, even when in later years she was on oxygen!

I inherited a vintage Singer sewing machine from her. It took me many hours and a lot of terrycloths and Q-tips to get the odor and the nicotine stain off the shiny black japaned sewing machine and the cabinet. Then I made a small simple quilt on it — my first one, only about 30 square inches with half-square triangles. I didn’t know anything about quilting or piecing, and had to figure it out as I went along. It came out nicely and is on the back of a wing chair now.

It is so horrible that cigarettes and smoking are so fiercly addictive. Nothing nice about what it can do to one’s body. If anyone thinks of starting or wants to procrastinate quitting, they can look up images of lung tissue or read medical reports.

I recall an elderly looking man, thin, waiting in a queue for radiation therapy. He was still smoking. This was way back and even big medical centers allowed smoking. There were even cigarette vending machines. It used to drive me near bonkers to see.

In the US, things have really changed. I don’t know how things are elsewhere? Italy — I suspect there are still a lot of smokers. England? Baltics? Russia? South America (big continent)? Asia?

Only around 13% of the population of the UK smokes. I don't know the figure for England. I don't know anyone personally who smokes.

Congratulations! Keep going!

I never smoked much, but quit 37 years ago. Doctor gave me a choice: quit smoking or quit birth control bills. LOL-easy choice.

Good for you, cyn!,

I was going to say that I don’t know any smokers, except for a colleague of my husband. He wants to quit, he says, but has not found any helpfulp resources.

And I recall the daughter of my friend a d her friends smoke. I think they at

re in their late 20s. I so hate to see that — it’s a social thing; their posture….

They smoke outdoors, so that is good, but it pains me to witness such destructive behavior. I don’t think they have a clue.

Well with me I just felt the time was right. I learned you have to want to quit. I have break with my best friend at work and she smokes. I just told her she will know when she wants to quit. Great thing is the smoke doesn't bother me and I have no urge to have one.

Never quit quitting!