anyone quitting smoking?

BrendonsMummy
BrendonsMummy Posts: 29
in Getting Started
I'm diving in the deep end, diet starts tomorrow, also exercise/toning up, and I am cold turkey quitting.

Anyone else quitting smoking? Would love some ex smokers or currently quitting peoples to talk too!
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Replies

  • TheVimFuego
    TheVimFuego Posts: 2,412 Member
    Good luck, I am duty bound to mention Allen Carr's Easy Way book as my recommendation.

    I quit cold turkey after 20 years thanks to that... You can't crave what you don't want, no willpower required. :)
  • bridgie101
    bridgie101 Posts: 817 Member
    Good luck, I am duty bound to mention Allen Carr's Easy Way book as my recommendation.

    I quit cold turkey after 20 years thanks to that... You can't crave what you don't want, no willpower required. :)

    Definitely this book. Get it.

    Other than that, I'm a ex smoker of 3 years, don't miss it a bit, smoked for 20 years and look back and think 'what an idiot I was.' :D

    You can do it. It'll take you a few weeks to get out of the trap, but you can definitely do it. :)
  • BrendonsMummy
    BrendonsMummy Posts: 29
    Added you both, hope that's okay. I'll see if the book is in library! X
  • bridgie101
    bridgie101 Posts: 817 Member
    Added you both, hope that's okay. I'll see if the book is in library! X

    If you ever want to bleat about smoking I'm online every day. But the two Allen Carr books have to be the most insightful books I've read on the topic and I've known so many people who just stop on a dime after reading and never look back. And don't resent it, and don't feel like they're missing out. :)
  • Smuterella
    Smuterella Posts: 1,623 Member
    Me. I'm two weeks into this attempt - I've had 6 cigarettes in these two weeks instead of the usual 140 - so that's pretty good I think.
  • 123janea
    123janea Posts: 36 Member
    I quit the day after Easter cold turkey. I am 32 and had smoked for 16 years. I have quit twice in that time for a year each during my pregnancies. Never before just for me. I have gained 20 pounds but am now committed to loosing those. Feel free to friend me if you need any support.
  • BrendonsMummy
    BrendonsMummy Posts: 29
    Just taken the ''Allen Carr The Only Way To Stop Smoking Permenantly'' book out of the library :D Thanks people.
  • alc212
    alc212 Posts: 124 Member
    I quit about 2 years ago now :)

    My method certainly wasn't something I'd recommend, nor was it intentional! I got a bad bout of food poisoning - couldn't eat, drink or smoke for 2 weeks... once I got better, I was over the cravings - tried to have one out of habit, and nearly threw up from the horrible taste!

    One BIG plus (as well as the usual benefits from quitting) was that without the smokes, I no longer 'needed' the sugary drinks and now drink water and lots of it instead of V, Red Bull, Coke and coffee with 3 sugars! So I lost fat instead of gained, as much as I probably ate more for a while; I'd given up one of the worst things for the waistline.
  • markiend
    markiend Posts: 461 Member
    My plan was to get in much better shape with the ultimate goal of quitting smoking too. Every other attempt has failed within 2 weeks and I get extremely grumpy when I go without especially first thing in the morning

    I too will have a look at the books , i'll probably give the patches / spray a whirl as my will power isn't the greatest with the smoking

    good luck to you , I'll post when I stop
  • 1546mel
    1546mel Posts: 191
    I quit cold turkey almost 3 years ago and started exercising 5 days a week at the same time. After a few days it got easier, and then every day it got easier. No more cravings, i feel healthy as a horse, and i dont stink anymore ;) Stick to it! The benefits over time far outweigh the hardship in quiting, and it is possible. Cold turkey is the best way in my opinion, and i tried 6 times using different methods.
    Oh, and i lost most of my weight during that time.
  • 1546mel
    1546mel Posts: 191
    This too! i do not need the carbonated sugary drinks to sooth my throat anymore. I may have a soda once a week now, and dont miss it.
  • alc212
    alc212 Posts: 124 Member
    Yep! So many side benefits other than the obvious - healthier food and drink choices (no longer need to wash down the smoke), better cardio/athletic performance and ability (just by being able to breathe!) and much, much better smelling clothes and house!

    Another one... everything tastes better. I like so many more foods now that I can taste them properly!
  • floop1207
    floop1207 Posts: 194 Member
    i last smoked a cigarette 6 months ago. can't say that i feel majorly different but the money i have saved is paying for a last minute holiday :happy:
  • FindingSkinnyPaige
    FindingSkinnyPaige Posts: 10 Member
    I quit 15 months ago. The first couple of weeks will be difficult, but stick with it. You will feel so much better - it is worth every minute. Be good to yourself while you are going through this. Do things that you know you love (other than smoking). Try to relax and focus on being calm as much as possible. Please let me know if you need to talk...and I truly wish you the best of luck!!
  • Cazco29
    Cazco29 Posts: 20 Member
    Morning!

    I'm stopping tomorrow as well. I've done it before and stopped for over 6 years but was stupid enough to restart :embarassed:

    Two colleagues and I are doing Stoptober https://stoptober.smokefree.nhs.uk/ . I've already got an e-cigarette and will definately check out the Alan Carr books.

    I joined MFP to take control of my health and that's given me the push I needed to stop smoking. I want to be able to breathe properly when I exercise and enjoy the taste of my food again.

    Feel free to add me, and let's support each other :drinker:
  • emshim
    emshim Posts: 17 Member
    Good luck, I am duty bound to mention Allen Carr's Easy Way book as my recommendation.

    I quit cold turkey after 20 years thanks to that... You can't crave what you don't want, no willpower required. :)

    This is what me and my partner read and both quit as of the day we stopped reading it. I also have 8 friends who have read it. 7 of whom have quit completely and never felt so good.

    I'd really recommend, and you don't have to quit before reading it, it's actually better that you don't. I couldn't recommend this book more and I don't know why it is not prescribed far before nicotene patches and all that.
  • BrendonsMummy
    BrendonsMummy Posts: 29
    Added you all!
  • HelllYeaHH
    HelllYeaHH Posts: 56 Member
    I'm almost smoke free. Thanks for the tips on the book. I'll give it a read :)
  • mkmitch3
    mkmitch3 Posts: 19 Member
    It will be 3 years this December after smoking off and on since 1966. Not even going to add up the years LOL. Cold turkey was the only way I could stop. Also dropped sugary beverages. I still want to take just a few puffs but I know what a few will turn into. Feel free to add me if you like. Oh and good luck.
  • kcasey155
    kcasey155 Posts: 968 Member
    I read Allen Carr's Easy Way twice a year or so before I was ready to give up. I quit in June 2012 and had my last cig on 07/07/2012. I set a date and stuck to it. I didn't quit cold turkey and tried every nicotine replacement therapy going, but was determined! I weaned myself off nicotine over about 2 months, after 20 years of being a smoker. So if you slip a couple of times over the next few weeks don't think of it as failure, just put it out and carry on quitting. It is a process and you don't necessarily have to do it instantly, cold turkey. Wishing you luck!
  • rhibhi
    rhibhi Posts: 22 Member
    Me! I stopped smoking on August 14th. I used Champix which is a medication. So this is my personal best for not smoking, I'm feeling healthy and a lot better than I did when I was smoking! Still getting cravings here and there but on the whole doing well - haven't slipped up at all.
  • HefferSprint
    HefferSprint Posts: 124 Member
    Yep. July 23rd, I quit smoking and started dieting. I think it's a great combo actually. Either of them is going to be an adjustment. Might as well do both at the same time. Also, you'll be so focused on your health, that not smoking will make you feel better quicker. You won't feel like you're just halfway doing it.

    You'll also be able to actually breathe when you're working out and that is an added bonus.

    Don't forget that you'll actually be able to taste the good food you are going to start eating.

    And new habits are formed after only 3 weeks. So your desire to smoke will be gone, you'll be used to exercise, and you'll be watching what you eat in less than one month.

    I don't miss it. Seriously, when I see heavy people smoke (not judging, because that was also me), I just think they are killing themselves.

    In the first week, I really wanted to smoke. For the next few weeks after that, the thought would randomly come into my head and I'd just refocus. Then after that, it was done. And that part is a pain in the butt, so get through it this time, and stick to it after that.
  • Nanadena
    Nanadena Posts: 739 Member
    I quit 7 years ago after 37 years of smoking. It is not easy but worth it 10 fold! I will never go back.♥♥♥
  • FindingSkinnyPaige
    FindingSkinnyPaige Posts: 10 Member
    Wanted to add something that I read this morning...

    When you are stressed or anxious (and you will be with the quitting smoking thing...) reading something that is enjoyable quietly for at least 6 minutes reduces your stress level by 70%. Not the news or anything work related, just something you love.
  • RunsSober
    RunsSober Posts: 38
    I quit smoking 17 days ago a few days after joining MFP. I knew it would be hard to quit AND start eating better, but I wanted to make a total commitment toward a healthy lifestyle. Drinking tons of water, exercising, and healthy snacks are all things that helped me get through the cravings and now they only crop up occasionally. Good luck!
  • Cyclingbonnie
    Cyclingbonnie Posts: 413 Member
    Eight years free of cigarettes. I had tried to quit many times before ... never successful till this last time. I used the Commit Lozengers to help wean me off the nicotine while stopping immediately with the smoking. I think the biggest reason I was successful this time is I wanted to do something that was really important to me, and smoking would have really cut down on my chances of making it. I decided that I wanted to do a triathlon, and I couldn't do it smoking. So I started training for the tri and quit smoking simultaneously. It was hard, but I achieved both.
  • BrendonsMummy
    BrendonsMummy Posts: 29
    Added you all :D
  • NyssaDuck
    NyssaDuck Posts: 50
    I quit smoking on the 14th June. So I'm 108 days in. I quit cold turkey. Food and fitness goals helped keep me distracted after a little while (I quit smoking about 1.5 months before). What I found was any time I craved, I did something that needed my attention intensely for a few minutes (I play games a lot so that was one of the things I did to distract myself).

    Has been completely worth it!

    Oh, and to add that I used an Android app called QuitNow! (not sure if it's on iOS) which keeps track of my days, cigarettes not smoked, money saved etc. That has also been great motivation.
  • waynestratton
    waynestratton Posts: 4
    I quit a couple years back cold turkey. It really is not as hard as everyone makes it seem. I had smoked for about 6-7 year prior. Best advice I can give you.. Give yourself 21 days straight with no cigs. After that you will noo longer have a physical dependency to nictotine. Do not go to bars or places that allow smoking for at least 60-90 days. Follow those simple rules and you will do great. Make sure to start a diet/fitness program because coming of smoking your appetite will increase. Good luck!
  • merilung
    merilung Posts: 2 Member
    I quit smoking at the beginning of July when I did a Whole30 and I've been almost three months smoke-free! Like others said, Alan Carr's book helped me a lot, as did this post from the Zen Habits blog: http://zenhabits.net/discomfort-ruin/

    When I craved a cigarette, I held my breath for as long as I could and then took some deep breaths - it really helped.

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