Ex-smokers! I need some advice to help me quit

LeBlanc2011

My husband just quit after 11 years in October. He used the patches

mndamon

I smoked for about 15 years. I started working out and realized I could get further if I'd quit smoking so I started using Chantix. I haven't had any side effects from it, although I took it differently than the prescribed way. Instead of one in the AM and on at night before bed I just take one in the morning and that's it. I haven't had a cigarette since last September and never feel the urge to have one. Could be a placebo, I don't know and don't much care because it's working. I do still struggle if I'm having drinks though, that's what probably took me the longest to adjust to.

Sabresgal63

This is said lovingly............................throw them away and let the chips or *****iness fall where it may.................you don't want to carry oxygen around with you when you are older...........good luck!:bigsmile:

tuffytuffy1

I quit smokikng a little over a year ago. Here are some of my tricks and tips:

1. Smoke your last cigarette right before you go to bed on a Sunday night. Have no cigarettes in your house after that.
2. When you wake up, you will already be 8 hours or so into not smoking. The physical addiction of the nicotine only lasts about 48 hours.
3. Go to work and do NOT leave the building for the entire day. At the end of the day, get in your car and go straight home.
4. Repeat Monday's routine all week for the most part until you start feeling confident that you can go out and not run into a store and buy a pack of cigarettes.
5. I chewed sugar free gum, coffee stirrers, and straws when I felt a craving hit hard.

You can do it!

Heaven71

Smoked many years, tried quitting a few times and about 1.3 years ago, I finally quit for good. COLD TURKEY. In my case, I changed my whole life. My route to and from work so I didn't pass the places that sold them. Don't go places where people smoke and I didn't and still don't spend time with smokers. It's just like eating and getting healthy, you have to change your whole life.

I just stopped doing what I was doing and did something else instead. Keep busy! Clean, organize, exercise just do anything to keep your mind off of it. Also I founf it helped to use something to replace it in my hand. I chewed on a pen for a few days and that helped A LOT!

Good Luck, you can do this, you just have to really want it!

jeffrodgers1

I accepted that I needed help for starters. Quitting smoking is in a sense more difficult than quitting cocaine or heroin. It is still mildly socially acceptable, and legal. It also has seriously addictive properties.

When I quit smoking, I needed the realization that it was a physical and a mental addiction.

I stopped doing things that triggered my cravings.

I started taking zyban AND the nicotine patch.

While on the patch, I weened myself off of Nicotine and was able to stop taking zyban shortly thereafter.

I then took several months to avoid the triggers (i.e. drinking beer, partying which lowered my willpower, stopped hanging around with people who smoked (sorry friends... if you were really my friend you wouldn't offer me one or blow it into my airspace).

I have now been smokeless for 16 years (and for you Canadian smokers out there... I was smoking 2 packs of Green Death or Players plain daily).

If I can do it.... so can you!

daphnegetnfit

My husband tried everything - someone on MFP recommended Allen Carr Easy Way to Quit Smoking, I ordered the book on Amazon for about $8 - he read it - he stopped smoking on July 4th - and has not smoked since

terriw1958

3years and going I wanted to be healthy , so I quit with the help of an electric cigarette, Knowing I could smoke it if I needed a
cigarette really did it for me, and knowing if I wanted to use it forever, I could did it for me, after abt 4months I didn't even need to
use the electric cigarette. I also, tried to break the cigarette with coffee, cigarette when driving a step at a time also

jeffazi

Best method ever. It got me off of them. However many cigarettes you smoke every day start there and smoke one less than that for a week. So, if you're a pack a day smoker, count out 19 cigarettes, put them in a pack and that's what you smoke each day for a week. The next week, 18 a day. The next week, 17 a day. All the way to none. It's a painless way to quit. No withdrawl, no suffering. By the time you get to 1 a day you won't even want that one. I stopped when I got to 3 per day and didn't miss it one bit.

Hope this helps.

katecoaches

i tried quitting so many times; it was finally the nicotine patches that really worked for me - starting with a high dose and slowly decreasing the patch dose every couple of weeks. they really made it doable for me & now i can't believe i smoked for so many, many years! good luck! you can do it!!!!

ladykaisa

I was smoking for almost 10 years, and though Zyban worked I went back to smoking. I finally broke down and got lazer treatment last August, and that's what finally did it for me. I've been "clean" for almost 6 months now, though it was by no means easy. The thing that really got me to 'stick quitted' was the fact I dropped almost $300 for someone to poke a tiny lazer all over my ear and say "You're cured!". I was going to be successful, and NOT waste that money this time!
Chantix (or Champix in Canada) gave me horrible nightmares, moodiness, and I actually full on planned how to kill my co-workers one night at work, where to hide the bodies, and then how to kill myself before the police got there. Not to mention the nausea!

welloiledmachine

It's obvious that there is no right or wrong way to quit. You just have to find what will work best for your situation. It might take several choices. Like others have said, you have to want this more than anything.
I smoked for 15 years and just hated how it made me feel. Another thing that got me on the road to being smoke-free is that I didn't want to turn out like my dad who has COPD. I also watched my aunt die from lung cancer. Those 2 things right there were enough for me, but along with that I kept asking myself......Give me one good reason to keep smoking. Never could come up with one and listed all the negative things that came along with it. That list was long.

Needless to say, I quit cold turkey.

Besides, who wants to kiss an ashtray. Your body will feel so much better once you quit.

Lisa_222

Www.whyquit.com. Helped me tremendously. Good luck.

jag18013

I smoked for 20+ years and quit in November. You have to want to stop smoking if there is any question in your mind as to why you should stop you will fail. Prepare for war, pick a date, throw on a patch and JUST STOP.... I lost almost 50 pounds and quit smoking at the same time so it can be done....

tamheath

I am coming up on 3 months of no smoking. Much easier now than in the beginning. You too can do this! I am using the patch and the electronic cigarette. I have been buying the disposable ciggies (like about $8 at Walgreen, etc.) but to do over again, I would go ahead and buy the rechargeable one.

My husband has been a non-smoker for 4 years, simply after reading Alan Carr's book "The Easy Way to Stop Smoking." He swears by it, but it didn't quite do the trick for me. Which leads me to believe it's true that YOU have to be ready and committed. You CAN do this. Friend me, too for support if you'd like. And congrats on your weight loss! :bigsmile:

EnEsMama

I've been cigarette free for 2 years now. It is extremely hard to quit. Use that same will power you had to lose 40 lbs into kicking the habit. Keep yourself busy and think of all the money you're saving not buying cigarettes. Every time you get a craving do some push ups or sit ups, whatever you prefer.

tamheath

Prepare for war, pick a date, throw on a patch and JUST STOP....

Pretty much that.

carolemack

My husband tried everything - someone on MFP recommended Allen Carr Easy Way to Quit Smoking, I ordered the book on Amazon for about $8 - he read it - he stopped smoking on July 4th - and has not smoked since

***This*** Any also a website www.quitnet.com
Using these two things I have been smoke free for 27 months after 50 years of smoking 2 packs a day!

sklivvz

I stopped using Nicorette Quickmist and the Nicorette free ActiveStop programme (https://www.nicorette.co.uk/your-profile/create-your-profile).

Basically it's a free programme that helps you day-by-day for two months or so. It gives you a week of psychological preparation, then it leads you throughout the quitting phases. It provides support via free SMS, an iPhone app, daily logins on the site (which give you stuff to do and to read daily). You also have a support telephone line.

I found it much easier to quit this way - it's actually very similar to this site, but with a different purpose :-)

ANewton401

This is a great thread, hoping I can quit soon! Going to look into Chantix...and the gum! Thanks everyone xo

Lotus1026

Personally for me I was scared into quitting due to medical/health reasons and I started smoking when I was 14 and just now quit at 24. Its very hard though because I’m around people that smoke and I get those cravings. The way that I have fought the temptation is by chewing gum, sucking on a lollipop or just doing thing to keep me preoccupied.

I’ve heard that people who have a desire to quit are switching to the electric cig to cut down and slowly wean off. Its just a though that might work.

JennyZD

I quit by setting a date and sticking to it. I promised myself that no matter how much craving I had, going to the gas station and buying that cigarette was NOT an option. Obviously its a lot easier said than done. The first week was VERY hard, since it's everything I thought about and my mood swings were horrible. I would cry in the middle of the store, etc. Fast forward three months I am SO happy I do this. I never have to think about when my next "cigarette break" is and it no longer takes control of my thoughts and actions.

What I did: worked out to replace my behavior of smoking, ignored cues to smoke (i.e. driving), closed my eyes and thought about a number for 1-3 minutes whenever cravings were really strong, counted the hours, days, and weeks I was smoke free. Seriously, cold turkey is the way to go! You can't "decrease" it gradually-- it's all or NOTHING.

Helenacabral1

This was one of my goals to quit for good..smoked for 31 years and tried to stop a million times..but nothing will help u quit unless u really want it!set a date and make a plan for what u need to quit!!!Good luck......I did it cold turkey!

brett1117

I have never smoked. Sorry but I do not understand why people smoke???? it says right on the carton "may lead to lung cancer" Lung cancer kills more than an other cancer, heart attacks, and car accidents COMBINED every year!!

FitSid

I'm in the same boat. I had quit cold turkey for 15 years and started again about 6 years ago. Worse this time around and it just makes me feel horrible. I just ordered and received an e-cigarette starter kit. I have 4 friends who used this tool to quit smoking and it worked! One was a 3 pack a day smoker and hasn't touched one in months. Just a thought.

amazing !! keep it up xxxxxxx

shinypinkpolish

I used the patch, and had lots of sugar free candies/gum around. I have tried cold turkey numerous times, but failed, and the patch really helped me get a little nicotine to keep me sane while I broke the physical habit. There is also a really good book called "The Easy Way Women Stop Smoking" I got it on Amazon and I found it helpful. When you get a strong craving you can replace it with the candy and if it's sugar free/low calorie stuff it's no harm done. Also I was chewing on straws sometimes, but that was just a weird habit that helped me personally lol

Feb 15th will be my one year quitting, and you can do it! Good Luck!

leomom72

im trying it right now..i havent smoked since yesterday morning @ 10 am..so 31 hours its killing me, but like weight loss, i keep reminding myself its healthier for me..very best of luck to you:drinker:

Miss_dannii

I never thought I would quit, ever... I am over a month off them now. I went for hypnosis, it was a special deal so I said I will just do it and if it doesn't work it's only a bit of money wasted.

I don't know if it worked, or if I've just tricked myself into thinking it worked, but I haven't touched a smoke since. Cravings come now and then, but pass very quickly

The first time I tried to quit, I made it 5 days and all I could think about every waking minute was smoking, All I ever did was try to distract myself. It is NOTHING like that this time, it's been......easy......

Worth checking out, 2 other people in my office had it too, successful on all 3 of us. And I am a very, very sceptikal person

x

Miss_dannii

I have never smoked. Sorry but I do not understand why people smoke???? it says right on the carton "may lead to lung cancer" Lung cancer kills more than an other cancer, heart attacks, and car accidents COMBINED every year!!

Come on now, that's nothing to do with the question.... you said you never smoked, well then you'll never understand how it is to be a smoker and how hard it is to quit! x

lproulx83

I have never smoked. Sorry but I do not understand why people smoke???? it says right on the carton "may lead to lung cancer" Lung cancer kills more than an other cancer, heart attacks, and car accidents COMBINED every year!!

And believe me, they absolutely cause lung cancer! My father smoked for probably 23 or so years. Quit at the age of 45. Was diagnosed with Lung Cancer a year ago at 57 years old. He has under-gone Chemo and Radiation treatments in the hopes of shrinking the tumor enough for surgery. Luckily it shrunk, and he had his entire lung removed in August. He has been in the hospital recovering ever since...now over 6 months. Believe me, seeing his daily struggles, being hooked up to machines and just trying to get out of the hospital will make me never ever touch a ciggarette. You don't want to put yourself, family and friends through what we've been going through this past year! I did smoke during college, and after, but quit cold turkey and am so glad I did, especially now watching what my dad is going through! I wish everyone luck in quitting!!!