Any tips to quit, or limit smoking?

drakonal

I've been a smoker for 12 years, and quite frankly despite the health worries associated with it, and a generalized regret of picking up the habit, i love smoking. Nothing is more realaxing after a long stressful day then a leisure smoke, other then excersing ofcourse!



Does anyone have any home remedies to quit, or limit smoking?

Don't like the gum, hate taking pills, not trying to substitute.


Any other MFP who excersise reguarly who smoke?

Ripcode

You are going to have a hard time quitting if you "love it".

drakonal

Well i also love oxygen, and having plenty of it when i work out lol.


Truth be told i feel like i'm more addicted to the habits then the nicotine itself.

Smuterella

Same boat here. I like to smoke, I like to drink. I ain't giving up my wine and that makes it even harder to give up my smokes. Sigh.

If you get an answer, let me know.

Ripcode

Same boat here. I like to smoke, I like to drink. I ain't giving up my wine and that makes it even harder to give up my smokes. Sigh.

If you get an answer, let me know.

I quit smoking cold turkey on a Friday was partying on Saturday. That was (9) years ago. If you REALLY want to quit you will.

Gums, the patch, hypnotism... none of that crap will work unless you TRULY, HONESTLY, desire to quit.

scottb81

I quit using an electronic cigarette last year. It was very easy. This brand is very good http://www.volcanoecigs.com/

stephkyp

okay you smokers - i quit after smoking for over 40 years!!! i loved it!!!!!! one day i ooked at my grandchildren and my kids and thought 'HOW COULD I HURT THEM??" it wasn't about me - it was about them!! i never had another one - it's been 2 years!! JUST DO IT! the first week is hard - i sucked on tootsie roll pops alllll day - then i chewed regular gum for another week or two - i was crabby and miserable for three weeks straight but. . . . then i started feeling better and better and richer and better and richer !!!!
do it - you will be so happy and proud of yourself!!!!

suemar74

I read Allan Carr's book, "The Easy Way to Quit Smoking". I borrowed it from the library so iI was only out a leisurely afternoon of reading if it didn't work.

After many attempts to quit and feeling like I was detoxing from a street drug, I was amazed at how easy it actually was with that book.

But I really wanted to be free from the addiction too. I was sick of funding some rich dude's yacht somewhere while I was always broke.

Plus, I had gotten to the point where I was coughing up ugly phlegm, and I promised myself I would quit when that happened.

dougii

[/quote]
Gums, the patch, hypnotism... not of that crap will work unless you TRULY, HONESTLY, desire to quit.
[/quote]
This is the total truth.... I have been a non smoker for the past 16.5 months, I used Chantix to help me get through the first 6 months and since it works on the brain and does not give you any nicotine your body starts to heal itself sooner. One of the reasons that you love to smoke and that you find it relaxing, even though it is not (just check your blood pressure), is because it is one of the only ways your body is currently able to emit endorphins....smoking and exercising. January 10th, 2011 I was smoking my third cigarette for the day, on the porch in the winter with a chest cold.....three drags, shook my head, put it out and have not smoked since - but then again for the first time I really wanted to stop. It takes three months nicotine free to get the endorphin system to start to function again.....good luck if you decide to try to quit. BTW - I smoked for 35 years.......

jgic2009

Gums, the patch, hypnotism... none of that crap will work unless you TRULY, HONESTLY, desire to quit.

So true.

RunHardBeStrong

Same boat here. I like to smoke, I like to drink. I ain't giving up my wine and that makes it even harder to give up my smokes. Sigh.

If you get an answer, let me know.

I quit smoking cold turkey on a Friday was partying on Saturday. That was (9) years ago. If you REALLY want to quit you will.

Gums, the patch, hypnotism... none of that crap will work unless you TRULY, HONESTLY, desire to quit.

I agree. When I quit 10+ yrs ago I would just tell myself to wait 5 minutes when I had a craving for one. In 5 minutes I usually had forgotten it. If not, I told myself to wait 5 more minutes. The key is willpower to not give into the cravings. They eventually become less and less till they almost go away. I still have a craving once or twice a year. I have given in and only 2-3 puffs into it I'm done because it tastes horrible and makes me ill. I haven't given in for a very long time now because I remember how awful it tasted and how ill it made me the last time I gave in. Good luck!!!

focus4fitness

Of course you love smoking, you're an addict lol I loved it too. I smoked for probably about 6 years at about a pack and a half a day. And I probably would have done it longer had not two different people in my family gotten lung cancer and emphysema around that time. One person made it and changed their life, the other didn't and I watched her die a horrible painful death that was painful for everyone around her.

I quit smoking about 6 months later. I put a date far out on the calendar and just did it. It took about three days before I felt normal again. After that it was cake. When I smell it now, I feel like barfing.

And yes, I did exercise when I smoked. Not too easy while you’re hacking crap out of your lungs the whole time though. Didn’t give me that great healthy feeling.

You can do this.

seamonkey789

I switched to an electronic cigarette. The manual 510 is a good starter one and tasty vapor has the best e liquid

rmarie1017

I smoked for about 10 years and quit on January 22nd this year. I also loved smoking, but I knew I should quit. The patch worked well for me. I pretty much told myself that if I missed smoking that much, I could always go back (which I haven't). I wanted to at least give being a non-smoker a real chance. Although I loved to smoke, I do not regret my decision to quit one bit. It hasn't been easy, but it's the best thing I have ever done for myself. I also found www.quitnet.com to be very helpful, particularly in the first month or so. You will quit when you are ready. Feel free to add me if you need some support.

bluefox9er

I've been a smoker for 12 years, and quite frankly despite the health worries associated with it, and a generalized regret of picking up the habit, i love smoking. Nothing is more realaxing after a long stressful day then a leisure smoke, other then excersing ofcourse!



Does anyone have any home remedies to quit, or limit smoking?

Don't like the gum, hate taking pills, not trying to substitute.


Any other MFP who excersise reguarly who smoke?

I gave up by starting to use those patches and smoked 2-3 a day, then eventually none whilst using patch for 2 weeks, then stopped using the patch all together. i don't know or believe if the patch had any real effect, but i do know that if you can get by week one smoke free, you are home and dry. good luck..it's one of the best decisions you will ever make :-)

EpiGaiaRepens

there is only one way to quit. make the decision to do it. and do it.

it's not easy.

but if i did it (and I did) so can you!

taunto

I've been a smoker for 12 years, and quite frankly despite the health worries associated with it, and a generalized regret of picking up the habit, i love smoking. Nothing is more realaxing after a long stressful day then a leisure smoke, other then excersing ofcourse!



Does anyone have any home remedies to quit, or limit smoking?

Don't like the gum, hate taking pills, not trying to substitute.


Any other MFP who excersise reguarly who smoke?

Everybody is different man. I started smoking when I was like 11-12 or something. I just kept trying again and again. I couldn't limit smoking, I had to go cold-turkey this much I knew but I was always surrounded by smokers and cigs.

Only tip I can offer is, keep on trying. If you fail, shrug it off and try again. The gimick tricks didn't worked for me. I had to try to figure out the triggers that made me quit (stress being the biggest) and once I realized that, I had to keep reminding myself that smoking won't eliminate the stress and that helped alot

flobee76

I am not a smoker but my dad was. One day, after over 20 years of being a smoker, he just quit. Cold turkey. He never looked back.

Astacia74

I was a smoker for 20 years and am now heading into my 5th month as a non-smoker. I LOVE it!!! Several people have already said this but, it is worth repeating, you really have to want to quit in order to be successful.

I found that the habit was more of the "addiction" than the nicotine was so I started changing my smoking habits several months prior to my quit date. First month, stopped smoking in my home; next, I cut out a smoke break during the work day, then, quit smoking in my car then, cut out one morning smoke. In addition, I started working out more as I was feeling so much better which kept me from gaining any weight. A really great site for tips and support from other quitters is: http://www.becomeanex.org

I wish you strength and success in your journey. :flowerforyou:

jenlyn37

i smoked for 20 years and i LOVED my cigarettes! i would plan my day around if i could smoke or not! 13 years ago i lost my mother to lung cancer and yet i stil continued to smoke! one year and 8 months ago i quit cold turkey and never looked back. i was just ready to do it. you have to be ready to quit or you will not. but if u r truely ready.....you can do it!!!!

exacerbe

From personal experience, you have to want to quit ... like really, really want to quit. Otherwise, you'll try and try and try. I quit 10-25 times before I was officially done with smoking.

Cold turkey is probably the easiest and cheapest solution. Nicotine gum sounds gross. The patch doesn't seem effective to me. I've heard horror stories about Chantix and other quit smoking pills.

Exercise is your best friend when you quit because it takes your mind off of it. Every time the craving was intense, I would run or ride my bike. Try to stay away from heavy drinking. Change up your morning routine and all other moments when you felt like smoking.

Try to eat healthy in the process.

spike90

I quit smoking both times I was pregnant during the pregnancy to shortly after the babies were born (couldn't handle the stress and lack of sleep I guess). I quit both times cold turkey because I knew how important it was for the babies health ( never smoked around them once they were born either). Then I quit for real in the summer of 2007 again cold turkey. Most of my friends don't smoke and the family I am around doesn't smoke and it was always a hassle when I was with them to get a quick smoke in and the cost of cigarettes were ridiculous (although not as bad as they are now). I quit using the dum dum suckers. You can get a huge bad really cheap and sucking on them with the stick hanging out of my mouth helped quit a bit. Had to take more bubble baths and punch more walls though to eliminate the stress. I am proud to say that I have only had 2 cigarettes since that summer of 2007 and that was because of a huge ordeal were someone almost got thrown out of a window and we were on the 21st floor during an executive meeting I was in.

suckers are junk food and sugar so they might not be the best means for this site but they are what I used and they did the trick.

natvanessa

I read Allan Carr's book, "The Easy Way to Quit Smoking". I borrowed it from the library so iI was only out a leisurely afternoon of reading if it didn't work.

After many attempts to quit and feeling like I was detoxing from a street drug, I was amazed at how easy it actually was with that book.

But I really wanted to be free from the addiction too. I was sick of funding some rich dude's yacht somewhere while I was always broke.

Plus, I had gotten to the point where I was coughing up ugly phlegm, and I promised myself I would quit when that happened.

I second that book. It's a miracle. You have to want it though. I quit in January cold turkey after 17 years of a pack a day. Haven't had a ciggy since and I don't want one!! Try the book....

Also, the other thing that helps is my iPhone app called MyLastCigarette. Trust me it works.

Good luck!

SteffieMark

I smoked for over 35 years. I really loved it. I still remember it with fondness. I know that sounds so stupid, just typing it. But, it's true. I loved the social aspect of it, I liked that it could calm me. I quit because I thought I had COPD! Lesson #1...Do not self-diagnose. I finally went to the doctor and found that I had asthma, nothing worse. And, for some reason, my lungs looked great, he couldn't even believe I was a regular smoker. Good genetics, I guess.

I had tried many things to quit, for many years. Nothing worked. Why? Because I loved smoking. I did not want to quit. Everyone else wanted me to quit and that just did not make it happen. When I finally decided that I wanted to stop, because I was worried it might actually kill me, I did. I did not take any chances though, I used Chantix. I had so many failures with everything else, I didn't want to take a chance on them again. Chantix worked wonders for me. I have not picked up a cigarette in almost 5 years.

I have friends and family that have had great results with the electronic cigarette too. Good luck with whatever you choose. If you want to quit, you will.

cmriverside

I smoked for a couple decades.

One day fifteen years ago, I realized that it was controlling me. I was in its grip and it would kill me. Yes, I knew all that before - and had made a couple half-a$sed efforts before . But it clicked this time.

You said it's more the habit. The psychological part never occured to me before I really decided to stop. The first week was tough, I had to deal with my emotions. Bored? Can't smoke. Frustrated? Too bad, cigarette. Angry? I guess deep breathing will have to do.

Really, it is more about the breathing if you are using it as a relaxant after work or whenever. Smoking causes you to regulate your breathing, and to breathe deeply. Just do the deep breathing. Without the smoking

coe28

I didn't read the other posts so forgive me if I repeat anyone. I too smoked for 12 years (I'm only 28, I started early!) and I am now on my 3rd round of chantix. It is the only thing that has been able to stop me from going out and buying another pack when I want a cigarette. The problem is, as soon as I quit taking the Chantix, I pick up smoking right where I left off. I love smoking too, and I seriously miss it. What I don't miss is the smell, how crappy it made me feel all the time, the incovenience, the cost and how it limited my work outs, and yet I would still smoke if the Chantix wasn't stopping me. Everyone says "you have to want it!" ok, but what about those of us who don't really want to quit but know we need to??

emren

I used to smoke for 25 years as chain smoker for 3-4 packs a day. Quittig is even easy compared to the difficulty of not starting again. The big trick is "not even a puff" policy after quitting. That sure works. Best luck with quitting smoking

stellcorb

I was a heavy smoker for about 10 years, then an on and off smoker for another 5. I used Chantix and quit for about a year but then started up again. The only thing that has really worked for me was Alan Car's book "the Easy Way to Stop Smoking". You smoke while you read it and quit "cold turkey" when you're done. It took me a REALLY long time to read that book for that reason. I have not had a single cigarette for over a year and haven't really been that tempted to smoke one (and most of my friends smoke, especially when we drink). I was very ready to quit though... as much as I enjoyed the action, I hated the hold it had on me and how I smelled after. The book really just helps you see smoking from a different perspective, but only if you're open to it in the first place.
May be worth a try anyway

WhitneyAnnabelle

While I don't like to promote the use of drugs for anything, Wellbutrin is often used for smoking cessation. I quit 'cold turkey,' like a lot of these folks. I know quite a few people who use electronic cigarettes, and that seems to help them. But yeah, I think the underlying message is that you really have to want it. It's a struggle (just like weight loss), but it is doable.

megleo818

I smoked for almost 20 years. What finally helped me quit was kind of a home-grown bit of psycho-babble that I invented for myself. First, I got rid of the cigarettes. Then, whenever I wanted one, I'd sit and fantasize about the whole process of getting myself a pack and smoking -- I'd think about where I'd go get my smokes (would I drive there? would I walk?), what kind I'd get (something expensive and imported? something light? maybe filterless?), where I'd smoke (in the car? on my back stoop?), etc. Often I could stretch out this thinking thing for quite a while -- and almost always long enough to get me over the immediate craving. Sometimes I would put a task in between my fantasy and the trip to the store. Like I'd tell myself, "Okay, that's a good plan. I'll just do the dishes first, then I'll go cig shopping." Again, that lag time could get me over the hump.

Yes, as we used to say in college, it was a giant mind-f***, but it worked. Stopped cold-turkey.

Oh, I also (temporarily) quit drinking alcohol and coffee at the same time, both of which actually felt harder because those things aren't restricted like smoking is.

kendrafallon

Bottom line is that you really have to want to give up.

I was a smoker for 15 years, at my most smoking 40 a day. I quit nearly 2 years ago using Champix; I had a few drags off a *kitten* in the first 3 months after 'stopping' but none since, and while I do still get a craving occasionally, after the first few whiffs of smoke, I'm completey nauseated.