Smoking! Help!

BoogiesMom10

I'm hoping this is the right forum to post this!

I want to quit smoking completely. I have been smoking for 18 years and through those years I've been able to put down cigarettes for pregnancies and have occasionally just stopped for months at a time, but I am sick of spending the money and setting this terrible example for my daughter. My problem is that it's so extremely hard, especially with stress at work.

What did you do to help get past the first week? (I want to do it without patches and gums).

Need2Exerc1se

Talk to your doctor. There are many aids that can help.

mbaker566

I e-cigged for two weeks and when that died I stopped too.
bf stopped cold turkey because he decided he was done.
Make the decision, deep down. and the rest will follow

_benjammin

E-cig

MistyBlue9

I did it with lozenges for a little while then will power. But an e-cig might work for you. Good luck, you'll do it if you really want to! x

dubird

E-cig or patches. Yeah, it'll cost for now, but you can use the money you were buying cigs with for them, and then taper off. I know several people that have quit using e-cigs.

Twolfe57

I too need to quit smoking. I said "need", not necessarily want. I've smoked for about 8 years. Have quit a couple times for a few months, then go back. I do have e-cig and Vape. That's the only way I could try it again. You can taper off on the nicotine in the e-cigs and Vapes until you're nicotine free.

cwolfman13

I used an e-cig. I started with the highest nicotine and weened myself down over about 6 months or so. I still use the e-cig at parties and whatnot, but I don't vape all day, everyday anymore...but I've never been able to get past the party thing and just hanging out with friends...

jhmomofmany

I quit cold turkey. It absolutely sucked at times. I mean, I was digging through my garage hoping to find a butt I could get a couple of drags off of. After about a month I stopped really craving it, after three or four months I felt like I could turn one down if it was offered. If you really have to quit cold turkey (no replacements or aids) you absolutely can do it if you have realistic expectations of how hard it can be. Good luck!

KeepGood

I find patches take away my urge to smoke, it's the habit the bothers me more. I'm fine if I fill up my time but when I'm bored that's when it would get to me.

ninerbuff

There's wishing to and committed to. Make a COMMITMENT to stop and you will. I quit over 11 years ago because I promised my wife I would when we got pregnant. That's after smoking for 20 years. Quit cold turkey and never went back.
I wrote down all the good reasons and stuck it on my bathroom mirror, refrigerator, and visor on my car. Constant reminder.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

rainbowbow

I am also a vaper and have been vaping for about 5 years. I vape no-nic now but only on occasion where i would otherwise smoke.

I didn't switch to vaping to "quit". I did it because i wanted another option because i genuinely enjoy the act of smoking and i didn't like the idea of getting cancer.

ano463s

The habit is killer, and that's what gets you smoking again during times of stress--you use that instead of a different habit/coping mechanism to deal with the stress. Patches and gum can minimize the nicotine withdrawal, but really think about what you're going to do for the habits. Some things you can eliminate for a while (don't go to the places that really elicit it, try doing the activities that you pair with smoking less, etc), but other things are harder (the car ride to/from work, etc). I leaned hard on drinking water through a straw. Lots and lots of water. Another thing I learned was that some of it was the breathing. So, when the urge is too strong, try smoking an invisible one. Just lift your fingers to your lips, and breathe in deeply, the way you would if you were smoking. Do that a few times, and the deep breathing will calm you down, while the action fulfills the habit urge. Also, there are a lot of resources out there to help (I used one that's since been renamed QuitNet.com). And finally, remember the reasons for your quit. You have to be dedicated, and sometimes you need help. But even if you mess up here or there, just start again immediately by reaffirming your goals and you will make it if you really want to quit. It does get easier.

6502programmer

Wellbutrin and a fake cigarette called EZ-quit worked for me. Wellbutrin killed the need for nicotine, and the ez-quit did in the psychological addiction.

Kelleygirl79

I was able to quit smoking exactly 10 years ago [after smoking for 26+ years]. It was the single hardest thing I've ever done and I wouldn't have been successful without online support. I lived on Quitnet.com every single day. It got me through the first week, then the next. And all the weeks after. I still log in there from time-to-time. I'll never forget how hard it was to stop. I quit cold-turkey and it took me over a year to feel "normal" again. But because I read so much material on Quitnet, I understood how my entire wiring had to disconnect from the nicotine, tar and chemicals and that process takes time!

Every person's quit path is different. Some have an easier time moving on in their smoke-free life. But the successful people NEVER GIVE IN. The urge to smoke will ONLY go away if you never take another puff. Ever.

I urge you to check out Quitnet. If you are truly committed to putting the smokes down, their sage advice will help you over the rough spots.

It's also why I'm living on these MFP forums. The advice and support I find HERE for learning to manage my weight resembles the Quitnet support I gained for quitting smoking (and STAYING QUIT!)