K11 Owners Group

[Off the grid]

Over a month now without a cigarette.

I smoked about 2 packs a day off and on for 20+ years. (quit from 90-99)
Pretty much non-stop smoker from 2002.

I am not one of those people who smoked because I had to.

I smoked because I loved it. Every cig, every drag I loved.
I loved the fact that people thought it was gross. I was a very unapologetic smoker.

Smoking was my little piece of "bad". I gave up drugs, drinking and loose women, smoking in my mind was the only vice I had left.

I was thinking of quitting for a few weeks but was fearful about how hard it was going to be. Then my MD recommended Chantix.

I started taking it and planned to quit the day I came back from Brazil. (Nov 5th) I was taking it from Oct 31th. (5 +/- days)

Well I ran out of smokes in Brazil a day earlier and quit on the 4th.

Conclusion:

1. No physical cravings at all Not even a twinge. Nothing. Just calmness. No freaking out because I am not putting something in my mouth, no "trigger events" nada.

2. It speeds me out a bit. Not much, but it's noticeable. I really don't consider this a bad thing.


3. Had 2 bad dreams in the beginning. Not wake up sweaty types, but disturbing.

4. It's not cheap ($130) a month, and many insurance companies do not cover it. (which is a travesty imo, but that's for another thread) But given the fact I was spending 350-400 a month on cigarettes, I have no problem shelling out the dough.

I plan on staying on it another 2 months or so.

It was a pretty bizarre and strange experience. In one day I went from a 2-pack a day smoker to a non-smoker.

I do not regret it one bit. People (wife especially) notice a change in me, and she constantly tells me how good I smell.

In retrospect cigarettes were a major part of my life. I planned my money around having enough cigarettes, planned my events and dinners and such with how many smoke breaks I could take, and made sure I could escape every 90 mins or so at work to have a smoke.

I am not here to preach to smokers, nor am I a rep for Chantix.
(the drug blocks nicotine receptors in your brain btw)

I am just posting so that maybe someone else can be helped like I was.

Because this drug is as close to a magic bullet as I have ever seen.

-Dave
_________________
Bane of your existence since July 2006
2007 Triumph Tiger ABS. "Sabertooth"
2009 Husqvarna TE610. "The dirty Italian mistress"

[BlackHoof]

+1 to you Dave for taking the plunge, I too have had various bad
habits & it's always nice to see someone making the effort to improve
themselves.

Here's to another month smoke free!!
_________________
Kent

'93 K1100LT- Blurple Colored
Lucky # 887
'27 Bugatti Replica/Kit Car-Dark Purple
'05 Suzuki Brugman/Russell Seat...

[Phil Marvin]

Hi, Dave,
Congratulations on kicking the habit. I was a heavy smoker for years (3+ packs per day at the end) and so wanted to quit. I was living and working in Ireland when, one night, I had dinner in a hotel restaurant. I got a good case of food poisoning, having to pray to the white, porcelain god every few minutes all night and most of the next day. The day after that, I was ready to light a cigarette but thought, "You idiot. You've been wanting to quit for some time and here is the perfect time." That day was hard, but every day after was easier. After a couple of weeks I started in cigars and a pipe, but quit those after a year or two. I haven't smoked anything for over 20 years, the last cigarette being in 1978 and the last cigar in 1986. Keep up the good work. Use the money formerly spent on cigarettes to take your wife back to Brazil once a year, for farkles, gas and maintenance on your bike or for whatever!
Ride Safe,
_________________
Ride Safe,
Phil Marvin in El Paso, TX
'94 K75A/3
'95 K75RTP

[rydor]

Good job, man . I've heard nothing but good things about Chantix. I've been working with my health insurance for the past week, sounds like they are going to pay for mine contingent on my enrollment in their stop-smoking program. This will involve having a caseworker assigned to me, weekly call-ins for moral support. I've smoked for 17 years and am ready to quit. Plus my job is going smoke free on property starting 1 Jan.
Good luck for continual success, buddy

[owrstrich]

that is fabulous otg...

way to go...

owrstrich
_________________
yeeeeeehaaaaaaa...

[John Clauss]

I was a pack a day smoker for close to 20 years. I quit cold turkey on my own. My father was in the ICU after major heart surgery. While we were "chatting" he pantomimed that he wanted a cigarette, he had quit 6 months before. I decided right there that I needed to be done. I am very glad I did.

I can not believe how badly they smell now. The only time one smells good to me is if I get just a slight wiff, but it has to be very slight. The other thing I can not believe is the expense. Here in PA its about $42 for a carton. I would go through a carton a week, thats close to $2200 a year, which pays for the medication many times over.

Great decision keep it up!
_________________
1997 K1100LT
1975 R75/6

It will bring you so close to nausea, it will make you sick! - Big Al

[michaelcurrin]

Good job Dave,

At one time I had a three pack a day habit, have been quit for over 20 years now. (One of the engineers here smokes, some days when I go out the door I can smell the smoke, and to me, it still smells good.)

I cut way back on drinking when the kids came along,and have since cut it out completely, there's enough alcoholics on both sides of the family.

My only remaining vices are coffee, food, and motorcycles, and my doctor is trying to get me to cut back on the food.

Anyhow,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Keep it up.

Mike
_________________
Mike Currin
20 BMW R1250RS
93 BMW K1100RS / EML Speed 2000
06 Ducati ST3
67 Triumph 650 chopper

[Off the grid]

[owrstrich]

i didnt have authorization to make that commentary...

crazy aint it...

owrstrich
_________________
yeeeeeehaaaaaaa...

[Off the grid]

/cracks whip
_________________
Bane of your existence since July 2006
2007 Triumph Tiger ABS. "Sabertooth"
2009 Husqvarna TE610. "The dirty Italian mistress"

[Mystic Red]

And for all you hicks that live in Idaho, Chantix works on smokeless tobacco also. Oh, I guess that would be me.
_________________
Scott Hespelt, '94 K11LT
K11 OG #466

[john laban]

"What doesn't kill you outright only makes you stronger." No, what you do to strengthen yourself makes you stronger. What you men are have done and are doing makes one hell of a difference in the way others see you and the way you see yourselves. Do it. Be proud, you should be.
_________________
John
94 K1100RS

[Jim]

- you guys keep it up and I'll have to quit!!!
_________________
Jim
1997 K1100LTSE 94,000 - still has gremlins!
1995 R100RT Classic 16,650 crashed - repaired!
1992 K75RTP 46,000

"We shall not all die, but we shall all be changed."

[Dave Townsend]

I smoked a pack a day from Nov. 2002 until July of this year. What would make a man pick up smoking at the age of 44? Why, an ex-girlfriend, what else? Long story (a drop-dead gorgeous redhead), but I found cigs took the edge off. When I took up riding a couple years later, it was natural to get off and light up. Cigs and riding went hand in hand. Tried to quit several times with no luck. Tried most everything. Then one day last July I ran out at work around lunchtime, and it just hit me out of the blue. I thought, "That's it. I'm done." I went cold turkey and never lit up again. I dunno, maybe it was my time. Don't even have cravings now.

Got a great new gal (and bride-to-be) who smoked alot longer than I did. She did the patch briefly before going cold turkey...but unlike me, she struggled...got downright pissed off and surly there for awhile (!) Now she's lost the craving, too.

So congrats to all you out there that have kicked the habit. There's better ways to die, Bro.
_________________
"Some things I know, some things I don't"

08 R1200GSA (found 6th gear)
93 K1100RS (on the lift)

[old guy old bike]

I was also a heavy smoker. 3 packs a day was the norm. One day I came home and my SO handed me a $100 bill and an ad to be hypnotized. I said OK it's your money I am going to waste. Well that was over 14 years ago and I am still off the cigs.

Well almost. Now I only smoke after intercourse, but I think it's only steam
_________________
1993 K1100LT
2003 K1200GT Gone but not forgotten
2014 Victory Crossraods

[Jim]

TMI!
_________________
Jim
1997 K1100LTSE 94,000 - still has gremlins!
1995 R100RT Classic 16,650 crashed - repaired!
1992 K75RTP 46,000

"We shall not all die, but we shall all be changed."

[Off the grid]

Just an update on my 1 year anniversary from the date when I put down cigarettes for good.

(stats courtesy of QuitKeeper)

I have been quit for 1 Year, 2 Days, 3 hours, 49 minutes and 6 seconds (368 days).

I have saved $3,727.60 by not smoking 16,567 cigarettes.

I have saved 1 Month, 3 Weeks, 6 Days, 12 hours and 35 minutes of my life.

My Quit Date: 11/3/2007 10:16 PM



Once in a blue moon (like once every 3 months) I will get a thought to smoke, mostly out of boredom. It passes very fast.
__________________
_________________
Bane of your existence since July 2006
2007 Triumph Tiger ABS. "Sabertooth"
2009 Husqvarna TE610. "The dirty Italian mistress"

[Scott_Anderson]

Good for you there Dave,

Now just think of all the Bling you can get for your wife, or the trip to Brazil with the money you saved.

BTW, did their money saved tip account for the inflated price of cigs now?
_________________
Ride safe.



1995 K1100LT 0302044
2017 FLHTK Ultra Limited
Garmin StreetPilot 2820
Garmin Zumo 550
Garmin Zumo XT
"One who does not ask questions is ashamed to learn" Danish proverb
1997 K1100LT 0302488(R.I.P.)
1997 R1100RT ZC62149(sold)

[drmalacarne]

Cagratulations for that, Dave!
Guilherme.
_________________
1994 K1100LT SE n° 0267
1998 HD Heritage Springer 95th anniversary
Yes, a Hog and a Beemer can live together!

[Off the grid]