Quitting smoking . . . is it bad if you have one a day?

12-3Princess Posted: Feb 09, 2005 02:53 PM

Quitting smoking . . . is it bad if you have one a day?

When you really kick the habit, does anyone know if it's really bad for you to have one a day? Like what is the effect on your lungs?

I could so live with just one after work cigarette every day, but if it's still really bad like fully smoking, I would give it up.

anyone know?

Kriss2c Posted: Feb 09, 2005 02:55 PM

Re: Quitting smoking . . . is it bad if you have one a day?

Well, it's just like the adds say, THERE IS NO SAFE CIGARETTE!

I quit a little over a year ago and while I still will get a craving here and there - I feel a lot better.

ETA: some factoids:

It takes 72 hours for nicotine to fully leave your system.

The actual urge to smoke only lasts a few minutes

If you are paying $7 for a pack of cigarettes and have a pack per day habit, you will save $2,548 in one year, by quitting.

12-3Princess Posted: Feb 09, 2005 02:56 PM

Re: Quitting smoking . . . is it bad if you have one a day?

thanks! i hear you about still having cravings sometimes. I actually quit for 6 months but now i'm wondering if it's REALLY so bad to have one a day.

i'm sure it's not great for me..> I should probably never smoke.

12-3Princess Posted: Feb 09, 2005 02:56 PM

Re: Quitting smoking . . . is it bad if you have one a day?

Posted by Kriss2c

Well, it's just like the adds say, THERE IS NO SAFE CIGARETTE!

I quit a little over a year ago and while I still will get a craving here and there - I feel a lot better.

PS CONGRATS ON THE FULL YEAR!

Sassyz75 Posted: Feb 09, 2005 02:59 PM

Re: Quitting smoking . . . is it bad if you have one a day?

i quit about 3 years ago.
but sometimes I do have the occassional smoke when I'm out..
even if I smoke say a pack in the whole year my dentist can tell- so I'm sure it does something to your lungs.

heidla Posted: Feb 09, 2005 03:06 PM

Re: Quitting smoking . . . is it bad if you have one a day?

I always look at it this way.... If a recovering drug addict or alcoholic asked me if one shot of heroin or one drink a day was bad for the what would I say. I would say yes. Just like drugs and alcohol, smoking is an addiction and you never know when that one might tigger a backslide. Why risk it?

Kriss2c Posted: Feb 09, 2005 03:07 PM

Re: Quitting smoking . . . is it bad if you have one a day?

Posted by 12-3Princess

Posted by Kriss2c

Well, it's just like the adds say, THERE IS NO SAFE CIGARETTE!

I quit a little over a year ago and while I still will get a craving here and there - I feel a lot better.

PS CONGRATS ON THE FULL YEAR!

Thanks and the same to you... you are half way there!!!

Believe me, I contemplated being an 'occasional smoker.' I even cheated once and had a drag from a friend's cigarette one night at a party. It literally made me sick. I guess I just lost the taste for it.

jozieb0925 Posted: Feb 09, 2005 03:15 PM

Re: Quitting smoking . . . is it bad if you have one a day?

I agree with you. I quit on New Years Eve. I get cravings all of the time..but, I would die for just one a day..I keep pushing myself to say no because I feel once you have one..it's down hill (at least for me it is)..I will have two, three, ect...I would say, just try to kick the habit completely.

Oh and back to your question, I am not sure if one a day is bad for your health..I am pretty certain it has some type of effect though..

12-3Princess Posted: Feb 09, 2005 03:19 PM

Re: Quitting smoking . . . is it bad if you have one a day?

ahhh , you girls are the best - you tell it like it is without giving me a full out lecture!

YOU ALL RULE! lol

dammit, i can't smoke one a day. I had a feeling this would be the answer . .. .

Eireann Posted: Feb 09, 2005 03:45 PM

Re: Quitting smoking . . . is it bad if you have one a day?

Well, I used to smoke about a pack a day (out of habit rather than real addiction I think), but then I got married. My DH hates smoke, so I went down to about 3 cigarettes a day. I was happy with that. I then went for my first visit with my new gyn. and she asked if I smoked and I told her the situation and she asked me when I quit. So I probably took that as 'it's not so terrible.' Anyway, now I'm pregnant and I haven't smoked at all since Christmas Eve. You know what, it's really not that bad. If you can go down to 1, then you'll definitely be able to do 0! Good luck!!!!!!!

JimmysBride Posted: Feb 09, 2005 04:00 PM

Re: Quitting smoking . . . is it bad if you have one a day?

One a day is how I got started again after being quit for 6 months! Actually I was only having one every other day or so and it caught up with me before I knew it! Then I had to quit again when I found I was PG. Don't blow all your hard work... you can do it! And congrats on getting this far!!!

tray831 Posted: Feb 09, 2005 04:18 PM

Re: Quitting smoking . . . is it bad if you have one a day?

I was actually able to convince my FH and my MOH to agree on going if I made them an appointment to quit smoking.......and they agreed to go.

It's a form of accupuncture but no needles, just an electrode that the doctor sticks in your ear--kills the addiction........to most people it works, so once their appointment in March comes around--I will be praying that it works for them.......

SeptWed Posted: Feb 09, 2005 10:26 PM

Re: Quitting smoking . . . is it bad if you have one a day?

Okay am the expert in this area

I smoked about a half a pack to a pack a day through college and into my early 20's.

I quit cold turkey New Years Day when i was 24 and it lasted for two years. I had an urge when i would be out with girlfriends, but if it got bad i would just ask them to blow it in my face and i would get through it.

Then i started back random night out, i was around someone who smoked and asked for one to see how it would feel....then i went back.

Around three years ago i decided i would be a social smoker....which to me means smoke when i go out or have a glass of wine.

Since then i smoke when i drink. I have no urge for it at anytime during the day (the way i use to)....but give me a glass of wine and i am so into one. On a bad night out (i.e. Bachelorette Party i have about 5-10, but i hurt the next day).

I realized i am only going to stop when i get preggo and my DH is fine with me smoking the way i do now. I know every cigarette takes off minutes but i enjoy it then and i don't feel like i abuse it.

I can't stand it during the day or at night....

But then again i am a weird case...

I believe you can do it....and i think if you want to quit the best way to cut down is to say that you will only smoke when you are out.......JMO....