Any smokers or Ex-smokers out there???

kskye82

Hey guys,

I am a smoker :smokin: (i know, it's awful!) and have been for years.....I am active in workout programs, but still smoke! I am looking for any advice that could help me stop smoking.....I want to do it without any patches or medications....I'm just scared of what to do without it (and yes I know the millions of reasons it's bad for you) and afraid of weight gain!

Any advice is appreciated!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :flowerforyou:

AnAbsoluteDiva

I am a smoker too and quitting very soon.

Cold turkey. Wanna join me?

You'll know I've quit when my sentences ramble forever, I use no punctuation, and I'm eating 800 calories worth of Jolly Ranchers.

Seriously, if you want to do it with someone, I'm game!

kskirk15

I smoked for 30 years. About 15 cigs a day. Quit cold turkey on Jan 1,2010. I tried many of the gimmics to include RX meds but none worked. I may not have been ready? Soon it will be 1 year. I still think about it and crave it every now and then. After about 2 minutes the craving goes away. I find that exercise really helps me get over the hump.

janna674

i did the medication zyban it worked and i did WW and lost tons of weight and everything as soone as the 6months of zyban were done i was back smoking. i have quit 2 other times with the patches...I think this time it has been for good its been 5 years...they worked for me ...but my friend niki went to hypnosis ...there was a class advertised in out local paper..i think its like 2 sessions and it worked for her

grlaurie

Well I quit last September 8, 2009! I may have gained 35 pounds but it is the best thing I have ever done for me and now I have lost that weight that igained. I used Quitnet.com an incrediable website

gatedialer

I'm an ex-smoker and quit cold turkey three years ago. I just couldn't afford it anymore and really had no choice. I don't miss it at all. It wasn't easy but I got through it. I focused on other things and chewed a lot of gum. I won't lie, sometimes I get wicked cravings (due to stress) but I just deal with it. lol Today, I can't stand gum or cigarette smoke. I wish you the best of luck.

mamaturner

Hi there, first off.. you have to REALLY want to do it. I had tried several times to quit before eventually getting to where I am now. I can't tell you how, or what can help other than will power. After the first 2 weeks.. it's a lot easier... does that help? lol. I think what really helped me is my daughter.. when I first really tried to quit she was almost 1 year old.. of course I quit during the pregnancy but picked it back up after I was done nursing.. all of that together probably helped.. the cost probably helped too...

All I can do is be there for you.. honestly from what I've seen it differs from person to person with they're personal stories to what helps them quit... I seemed to have replaced that addiction with exercise... maybe you can find a positive addiction to fill it's place?

lyngoode

I am a smoker too and quitting very soon.

Cold turkey. Wanna join me?

You'll know I've quit when my sentences ramble forever, I use no punctuation, and I'm eating 800 calories worth of Jolly Ranchers.

Seriously, if you want to do it with someone, I'm game!

Let me know when and I will attempt to quit too

carebear1983

Hi! I totally understand your wanting to do it "on your own" but I am a big advocate for Chantax. I smoked for 8 years my husband for almost 20 years both of us quit with chantax within a month. I know that people like to use some possible side effects as excuses for taking the meds and quiting but for those people I think that they are looking for any excuse and are just not ready you really have to want it. So enough of my preaching I will be here to support anyone who is going through the tough but oh so worthy process to quit..

buckeyereavis

Hey guys,

I am a smoker :smokin: (i know, it's awful!) and have been for years.....I am active in workout programs, but still smoke! I am looking for any advice that could help me stop smoking.....I want to do it without any patches or medications....I'm just scared of what to do without it (and yes I know the millions of reasons it's bad for you) and afraid of weight gain!

Any advice is appreciated!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :flowerforyou:

i just quit... and gained 20 lbs... but hey i dont smoke!

the weights coming off easier...and i dont smell, i look better my teeth r whiter!!!

scottbhf

Not a smoker, but used chewing tobacco for 25 years. Quit on October 10, 2007.
There's no silver bullet, no magic elixir. You have to decide to quit, and quit. The first 3 days are a blur. You'll be an absolute wreck, and you'll think about nothing else. The next 10 days really suck. But the craves weaken and get farther apart. After 100 days, you'll gain confidence, and that's where the danger is - you'll think you can have one, or you'll buy a pack when you go out and you'll tell yourself that you'll throw it away tomorrow. But you won't.

When you have a crave... wait it out. FIGHT it. Do NOT give in. It's vital that you let everyone know, too. Tell your friends, family, everyone - that you're quitting. It's imperative that you have accountability.

Here's the thing - you'll never be prouder of yourself. Your smoking friends will try the whole time to sabotage you, because you're making them look bad. If it was easy, no one would smoke. It's hard, very hard, and you have to be ready for it, or you'll fail. Have a plan. Search the web - there are support groups all over the place. You CAN do it.

Chipperoo23

I am an ex-smoker. I just made the decision. And that was that. Have it in your heart, and do it. You're going to have to want it bad enough to do it cold turkey. If you can't do it for yourself, then do it for someone else.

megsta21

CHAMPIX helped me quit. I know people who used Zyban too!!

This is the second time... the first time i "Missed" smoking after 9 months and started to "Social Smoke" which lead to me being a full blown pack a day smoker once again!!! :laugh:

And this is how i Stay Motivated to continue the Non Smoking!!!

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/megsta21/view/quit-smoking-motivation-44941

This here is why i will never smoke again... Cause i already "Spent my Smokin money"

(I cant put photo on here... =( Ahhh well a photo of Suz is on my blog...)

mascony

Hello, I quit smoking for 4 years and then about 2 1/2 years ago have been smoking on and off. My husband hates it and I am going to stop smoking again at the end of this week. Saturday will be my last day of smoking!!!!!!!!!!!! If you want to join me I will be here for you. Before I quit with the gum chewed it for 2 years, but I know I can quit without nothing cuz that is what I have been doing. Lets do it, all in favor say I!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:bigsmile: :drinker:

oats4breakfast

I smoked a pack+ a day for about the last 10 years. Chain smoked when drinking and playing golf, and had smoked for about 15 years total. My wife thought I was a lifer and would never quit ..... even though I tried about 500 times. I used/listened to an iphone app called "quit smoking b max kirtsen" (for about 1 month religiously). I was actually just trying it to see what it was all about and didn't actually start out to quit. I just started listening to it every night and I stopped smoking within a week.
Kind of a crazy thing to listen too, but I have absolutely no desire or cravings to smoke.
It's different than the other times I managed to stop smoking for extended periods of time - when I "quit" before. Previously, say I had stopped smoking for 3 months - well those 3 months felt like I was walking a knife edge. Always wanting a smoke and it never left my mind (in fact, I was probably still bumming smokes every now and then anyway).
This time, it feels like I never actually ever smoked before (at 99.99% of the time anyway). I didn't stop smoking when I started to listen to it, but my cigarette consumption stopped within a week. It just became a chore to smoke, I was forcing myself to smoke after about 2 days then just stopped a few days bought some OJ and then stopped all together. I also followed all the apps advice on cravings, nicotine withdrawls etc too. So if you listen to it, you'll know the OJ reference. When nicotine leaves your bloodstream, it dops your blood sugar levels and makes the cravings worse, so for those 2-3 days as the nicotine leaves your body, you drink OJ to spike your blood sugar and prevent from going too crazy.
Best $7.99 ever spent in january. That was about 34 pounds and 300 days ago. (yes, I also started loosing weight at the same time - gaining weight won't happen if you're strong and work on the MFP diary properly).

Also, I can drink to excess, hang out in bars and other places where smoking was the norm, I can wait, be bored, argue etc etc and not need to smoke. magic.
The trick now is to simply never take another puff. Just like this website says - which is also a good resource (I started reading it during my quit phase).
www.whyquit.com

Good luck. When you're ready, it becomes easier.

The one thing I never do is vocalize how good a cigarette would be right now. I just don't acknowledge that fact. Sometimes I do smell the smoke and think dam that's nice, but within a few seconds I shut that response down, and never say out loud how good it may be .... because it isn't and I don't want to lie to myself.

dietcokaholic2

I smoked between 2 and 4 Packs of cigarettes for over 25 years! At the age of 38 I had a heart attack, 99% blockage in one of my arteries! The doctor told me if I didn't stop smoking I wouldn't live to see 40! I have been smokefree for 5 months today! It's not easy doing it alone but ya know what?? You have all of us on here so you're not alone! Oh, I've lost 17 pounds instead of gaining weight. Where theres a will there's a way and you just posting that you want to quit is the first step I a smokefree world! I can breathe now! My hair and skin smell soo good! I can taste my food and best of all to me... I can maybe help smokers ! When you're ready, I'm here!

megano_d

Ex-Smoker here (since July 16th 2002) and have some controversial opinions on quitting but its what worked for me and maybe it will work for you.
The first thing to know about quitting smoking is that its easier than anyone wants you to know. Sadly, most folks wont want to see you succeed and they'll empower your desires to 'have just one' because it lets them off the hook for all the places in their lives where they fail (folks who are losing weight know this all too well, dont we?) But that is all a rouse and since I quit cold turkey, I feel like I can say that confidently.

Here is the great thing about quitting - you have no reason to smoke (unlike eating for instance) so all you have to do is simply never have one again. I know it sounds trite, but if intellectually you can really internalize that concept you'll be way ahead of the game. It takes some effort - to demand you be your word and quit because you said you would - but there is literally no reason to smoke again that is valid. When I would want a smoke I would ask myself 'Did you quit smoking?' the answer of course was 'Yes' which means that you cant have another cigarette and quit smoking. The two dont go together, trying to be both will make you liar.

I actually bought Nicorette when I quit. The game I played with myself was that instead of trying not to smoke, I was trying to not open the Nicorette. So every time I wanted to smoke I would look at the box and ask myself if I could resist opening the box and would focus solely on trying not to break down and open the box. (Eventually I gave the unopened box to someone who already used Nicorette and had run out.) I also kept tiny jawbreakers with me to nosh on when I wanted one.

And here is the other thing, and I swear if you can get this, like really get it mentally, you'll do stellar. The urge to smoke is like any other urge which means it doesnt mean anything that you have it. You have urges all the time that you dont honor - the urge to go off on the person in front of you in line who insists on giving exact change even though they cant find it, going off on someone at work, (insert your version here). Smoking is just another of those urges that we, as people, give weight and relevance to when none is inherent. It doesnt mean anything that you want to smoke. You dont have to do anything about the thought that says 'but I REALLY want a smoke right now.' LIterally. There is no reason to honor that thought, and any reason you come up with is a lie. What is true is that you said you quit and having a cigarette would mean you havent.

And yes, I still think about it. Folks still talk about how much I loved it (I was an unapologetic smoker who said they would never quit). My best friend still talks about how good I looked doing it. And I know I wont have another. Why? Because I love it. I love the way it tastes. I had a pretty impressive inhale that I miss doing. And like all smokers, the whole thing will almost certainly go downhill after just one. Dont believe you can, for a second, have another one ever. But thats what makes it easy, that's all you have to do. Just never smoke again.

Anyway, I could talk about this forever. Best of luck to you!

yalisa0424

I just joing MFP myself and quit smoking about a month ago. My entire immediate family smokes and I have been smoking for about 8 years. I have been working out and trying to watch what I eat consistently for about 9 months now. I was smoking a pack a day and sometimes more. My fiancee quit while I was on a work trip to Texas for a month. He used Chantix and besides the bad gas it gave him he said it helped. There are also a lot of studies that say Chantix causes depression and suicidal thoughts. Not worth it if you ask me. I quit cold turkey. It was hard and you constantly want to eat at first, but I feel great now. The cravings come but have gotten a lot better. Now, I can smell it a mile away and am grossed out by it. My fiancee has actually lost weight after quitting but most people gain. Don't let it discourage you. Quitting is the best thing I could have done.

toothfairy016

Honeslty, if you only do one thing from these posts go out and get yourself the book written by Allan Carr titled "The easy way to quit smoking."

I know it sounds ridiculous, and self help books are silly and whatever.
It will be the best $20 you've ever spent.

azlady7

And yes, I still think about it. Folks still talk about how much I loved it (I was an unapologetic smoker who said they would never quit). My best friend still talks about how good I looked doing it. And I know I wont have another. Why? Because I love it. I love the way it tastes. I had a pretty impressive inhale that I miss doing. And like all smokers, the whole thing will almost certainly go downhill after just one. Dont believe you can, for a second, have another one ever. But thats what makes it easy, that's all you have to do. Just never smoke again.

Anyway, I could talk about this forever. Best of luck to you!

wow I can really relate to that. I am an unapologetic smoker. you have really put this into terms and broke it down for me. now I need to quit. thank you!

rjadams

I am almost to my 1 year anniversary of quitting. I did jumping jacks (10 of them) every time I wanted a smoke. Breathing deep and refocusing your mind helps the cravings and being uncoordinated made jumping jacks something that got me focused and obvioulsy I would breath deeply after I did them. I quit cold turkey and I am doing great. occasionally I have an urge but I then I think about all the healthy things I have done for my self since I quit and I don't want to ruin it. Good luck.

MassiveDelta

This my opinion only and based on my experience:

I quit smoking cold turkey on Dec 25th 2006. I quit because I wanted to get healthy. I knew there was no reason for me to try to lose weight or exercise if I continued to poison myself everyday. It was fake to me to pretend to get healthy if I kept killing myself. So before I started getting healthy I quit. IT wasn't easy. It took me a good 2 months to feel like I was not addicted anymore and I still sometimes crave in certain situations. I have not taken a single drag since the day I quit. Its not worth it to me anymore.

In addition to the poison I am now paying the price for the years of smoking. It has taken me longer to build up endurance and cardio than it should have. I am struggling with swimming training and being able to breath properly because of the damage I did to my lungs.

Not a single smoke was worth it.

Quit now and dont whine about it just do it! : )

EightDMB

Hi,
I have smoked off and on for years. I quit for both pregancies and nursing. I also quit for another 1.5 years. I don't smoke in my home, car or work. I do smoke when I'm drinking (which is not much). However, I had to have two a day or I went insane.

I am working from home now and the temptation to end up on my back porch, puffing away, was too strong for me. I'm now smoking e-cigs for awhile, which has helped me tremendously. I haven't wanted or craved a cig in 2 weeks. I love mine. Ihope to not be using it forever, but it's working for me right now. If you are interested, do a ton of research (U tube really offers the most legit reviews). I got a JOYE510 and love it.

Tracie

kuhnkathy

Actually yesterday was my 1 year anniversary of becoming smoke free. I used Chantix three different times. It actually worked every time but the first two times I would gain a few pounds and then panic and start smoking again. Finally after watching my mother on oxygen I realized that was where I was headed. I had smoked for 32 years. I use to panic when I would try to quit. I would get rid of my cigerettes and then panic. This time I decided to make it my choice. I still have a pack in my car. I'm choosing not to smoke.
As long as I feel like I'm in control of them and not them in control of me, I can quit. My choice. Now I need to work on the 30 pounds I have gained!!

kskye82

WOW!!!!!!!!!! I really can't thank you all enough for the advice and personal stories and triumphs!!!!!! All of you really make me feel like this is a battle that I CAN win!
There are a lot of you that I would love to be friends with on here for support and motivation! If you would like, please feel free to send me a friend request!


I am truly humbled by all the feedback here....thank you all again SO much!

alska

i'm an ex smoker .. wahoo lol

i quit this past May!! I couldn't have done it without the nicoderm patch (and tons of gum .. haha) .. i did each step (3 steps all together) for 2 weeks (1 box each) .. all in all it was kinda easy .. till i stopped the patch .. first few days after stopping the patch was a lil hard but it wasn't so bad. when i got the urge to smoke .. i cleaned lolol or went for a walk

i smoked for prob 10 or 12 years!

PJilly

Ex-smoker here too. I quit May 23, 1996, after 20+ years. Yes, I remember the date. It was THAT big of a deal. My inspiration was my almost-4-year-old daughter (now 18), who picked up a crayon, stuck it in her mouth, and said, "When I grow up, I can smoke real cigarettes like Mom." She doesn't remember that, but she is very proud to take the credit for my quitting. I am very happy to say she did not grow up to smoke cigarettes, real or otherwise.

LotusF1ower

Hey guys,

I am a smoker :smokin: (i know, it's awful!) and have been for years.....I am active in workout programs, but still smoke! I am looking for any advice that could help me stop smoking.....I want to do it without any patches or medications....I'm just scared of what to do without it (and yes I know the millions of reasons it's bad for you) and afraid of weight gain!

Any advice is appreciated!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :flowerforyou:

Two things made me give up smoking my 50 per day two years ago, one was thinking I coughed up blood the second was curiosity to see just how well I could run after training whilst being a heavy smoker and then not smoking at all.

I took one day at a time to give up and during the first 72 hours, I was taking it at an hour at a time.

Always give yourself goals, my first goal was to set a personal best with no ciggies, that personal best would have to be more hours without than I had done so on a long-haul flight (which in total was 12 hours), therefore, when I got to 13 hours, I thought, "right, a PB lets see if I can get to 18 hours" and then it was a full 24 hours. After that, 48 hours and then 72 and then I wanted to go for a week, the rest is history for me now.

You see, once I had gotten to 72 hours, I vividly remember thinking to myself "it would be a damn shame to have one now, after all the hard work it takes to go cold turkey" - that thought I kept in my head permanently.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed smoking and I still, periodically miss it, but now, I am not coughing up blood and I can run further and faster than I ever did (even when I was at school and a fit little thing), so I won on all counts.

So OP, get yourself goals and keep focussed at all times. Oh and tell everybody you are giving up so they do not inadvertently offer you a ciggie or smoke in front of you.

Good luck! :flowerforyou:

diverdi

I'm an ex-smoker too, stopped about 3.5 year ago. I'd given up a few times, including during pregnancy and breast feeding, but always gone back to it. The last time I used Alan Carr's The Only Way to Stop Smoking Permanently book, which just highlighted how much I'd been deceiving myself.
I didn't use anything, and I don't remember the exact date, I just decided I didn't want to smoke anymore and then it was easy. As long as you are stopping because you want to, and not because you feel you must it's easy. I also didn't gain much weight on giving up, my weight gain came from starting work and having children.

purple1butterfly

I'm a ex smoker & i'm proud to say it has been 10yrs now. I gave up when i found out i was pregnant with my 2nd child, that gave me the reason to keep me off them + the smell made me feel sick. Sorry don't have much advice to help.

renae5

Smoked a pack a day for almost 17 years. Quit using Chantix back in May 2010. Yes, I gained 10 pounds right off the bat but weight gain was one of my absolute biggest fears so I used exercise to battle the cravings (not that there was many with the Chantix, made my ciggy taste like a dirty ash tray) but if I wanted a cigarette, I'd jump on the treamill or go outside and take a walk or bike ride. Now, after a couple months I had lost the ten pounds and feel better than I have in YEARS!!! I wish you all the luck in the World and would Gladly be a support buddy if you need it!!
Cindy