Quitting smoking...

kristie874
kristie874 Posts: 774 Member
edited September 18 in Health and Weight Loss
Okay, so I've decided that it's time for me to quit smoking. I've cut down to 4-5 cigarettes a day to start weaning myself off of the nicotine slowly. I've contacted my doctor about starting the prescription, Chantix, to help me as well. I know I can do it...if I can find the willpower to exercise and count 1200 calories a day I can do anything! I was just wondering if anyone out there has gone through this and may know of a website for quitting smoking that is similar to MFP. Any good hints and suggestions would be helpful, too. Thanks!

Replies

  • kristie874
    kristie874 Posts: 774 Member
    Okay, so I've decided that it's time for me to quit smoking. I've cut down to 4-5 cigarettes a day to start weaning myself off of the nicotine slowly. I've contacted my doctor about starting the prescription, Chantix, to help me as well. I know I can do it...if I can find the willpower to exercise and count 1200 calories a day I can do anything! I was just wondering if anyone out there has gone through this and may know of a website for quitting smoking that is similar to MFP. Any good hints and suggestions would be helpful, too. Thanks!
  • Great decision! I am 16 months quit and it was the best decision of my life!
    My girlfriend and I are doing things opposite... she recently dropped 30 pounds or so by eating clean and I quit smoking... now I am dropping pounds and she is quitting smoking!
    She is on Chantix! And today was her quit date, she is doing good so far!
    When I quit I used www.quitnet.com it is an awesome website, it tracks how many smokes you haven't smoked, how much money you are saving and how much of your life you are saving as well.
    It really helped for me, and they send you milestone certificates... which I hung on my wall at work for motiviation! I quit using the laser therapy and found it helped tons!
    But everyone is different! Its just finding what works right for you!
    Best of luck to you! And keep at it!
  • jessneill
    jessneill Posts: 380 Member
    I'm not sure if this is much help but when I quit smoking I just told myself "I'm no longer a smoker"

    I didn't give myself the option of even thinking about smoking. When I saw someone else smoking I just thought how really disgusting it was and didn't think about how much I wanted one. If my thoughts even started going there I just stopped them and thought about something else. The other thing that motivated me is thinking about how lung material regenerates. Every day you don't smoke you gain back some of that healthy tissue.

    ...and just think about how much harder you'll be able to workout when your lung capactiy is back to normal.
  • Hope this helps try having sugar free lollipops and chewing gum on hand at all times try carrot sticks and even cinnamon sticks if you get cravings pop one in your mouth it would keep your hand and mouth busy tricking your mind and without adding tons of calories if your stressed try going for a walk and take deep breaths try keeping yourself busy and remind yourself that its mind over matter..
    GOOD LUCK YOU CAN DO IT!!:smile:
  • NurseBarb
    NurseBarb Posts: 183 Member
    I quit recently and I have found that after the first two weeks it's not the "smoking" that I missed it was the "hand to mouth" activity that had been going on for 25 years. I'm trying to replace that with healthy snacks like baby carrots and nuts etc. I snack way more now that I ever did so be careful and make those snacks healthy but they sure help with that instinct.
  • kistinbee
    kistinbee Posts: 3,688 Member
    I had smoked a pack and a half a day for 10 years and I have not smoked once since I quit this past August. I did it cold turkey. It is seriously a mental thing. I just kept myself extremely busy! And let me tell you...I can now breathe better and run longer and on...and on....and on... It was seriously the best thing I've ever done. My husband followed shortly after me as well. So, we have a smoke free household now and it's AWESOME! So, good luck to you! This will be a great thing! And YOU CAN DO IT!!!!!!:bigsmile:

    :smokin: <--Yucky!!!!!

    *Kistinbee*
  • dhayes
    dhayes Posts: 216 Member
    I quit smoking cigarettes (cold turkey) over 20 years ago, baby carrots and celery sticks did the trick for me. I was smoking 3 packs a day the day I quit.
  • dawn66
    dawn66 Posts: 166
    I quit 21 weeks ago today. Its hard, but oh so worth it. It is so nice to breathe,and not cough. I used the patch and it did the trick for me. I still find gum the best thing for me.
    Good luck you CAN do it!!!!:drinker: :flowerforyou:
  • brendab
    brendab Posts: 78
    The best part of all is...... my clothes, my hair, my home.... no longer smell of tobacco. I't was 4 years ago yesterday!!!! Happy Anniversary to me! Now if I can just wean myself off M&M's :laugh: :drinker:
  • yoginimary
    yoginimary Posts: 6,788 Member
    I quit a while ago, now I'm addicted to exercise. :bigsmile:
  • icandoit
    icandoit Posts: 4,163 Member
    Good for you. I wish you all the luck.:drinker:
  • kristie874
    kristie874 Posts: 774 Member
    Thank you all for all of your support! Quick question...does anyone have a problem staying quit while out for drinks with friends? A lot of my friends smoke and, in Oregon, it's still legal to smoke in bars. I think that's going to be the hardest part for me. :frown:
  • jessneill
    jessneill Posts: 380 Member
    Thank you all for all of your support! Quick question...does anyone have a problem staying quit while out for drinks with friends? A lot of my friends smoke and, in Oregon, it's still legal to smoke in bars. I think that's going to be the hardest part for me. :frown:

    Yeah, that was when I would crave one the most. We're lucky here in Washington, smoking is illegal in all buildings. So I just have to have the willpower not to go outside with my friends and that stops me from taking a drag.

    Again, all I can say is you just have to say "I'm not a smoker!"

    I didn't use gum or patches so I can't speak to how those may help in that situation. But I'd think that chewing some gum might help the whole need to put something in your mouth. :smile:
  • when i first started this site, just after new year, i had tacked losing weight and quitting smoking as well.

    the snack attacks were very hard for me. and my weight went up and down the first two weeks, cause i figured having a snack was better than giving into a cigarette.

    i'm proud to say as of today, i'm 29 days cigarette free, and i've lost 5 pounds this month despite the hard start!!!

    you can do it!!!!
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