Smoking and ME

settoloki

As I'm sure with anyone here to try and live a healthier lifestyle, if you are a smoker you are thinking of quitting. This is a battle I keep loosing.
I can last a few days and then the temptation takes over.

What tips and tricks do you use to help you keep the cigs off? And if you are a smoker trying to quit add me to friends we can spur each other on .

T

leannehoggdodd

I personally went t total about 5 years ago and it worked for me - but stopping smoking is the reason i am now on here - i put on 28 pounds.......

leannehoggdodd

Really sorry - i just realised how un motivational my comment actually was!

I stopped as a new years resoluation with a friend and it really worked for me, i do still have the odd one when i have had a drink but i have never been tempted to start again.

I think the first two weeks are the hardest, have you tried gum etc? its supposed to be really good but i think the main and only thing that can stop you smoking is yourself!

You can do it!

x

settoloki

Really sorry - i just realised how un motivational my comment actually was!

I stopped as a new years resoluation with a friend and it really worked for me, i do still have the odd one when i have had a drink but i have never been tempted to start again.

I think the first two weeks are the hardest, have you tried gum etc? its supposed to be really good but i think the main and only thing that can stop you smoking is yourself!

You can do it!

x

I will, I have my kids for a full week whilst their on their summer holidays from school, I have strict rules about smoking around my kids, so I am going to use this as my first week of not smoking.

I'm intent on doing it with willpower alone, I know there are many aids out there some more pricey than others - and others more pricey than smoking! but I don't want to swap the habit for another one, and a day without my patch makes me think I have to smoke.

I've heard changing a cig for a glass of water is a good substitution, and I probably need to drink more water anyway. So this time that will be the trade-off, I am however seriously worried about weight gain and eating more because I stop. Is why I started my healthier eating a few days ago, to try and get into the swing of that first then let the smoking follow.

When I quit it is usually after a night out or stressful work day that makes me but a pack again.

leannehoggdodd

Yeah I know the feeling, stressful days made me smoke more.

You have a big motivation to stop in your kids and even though I put weight on I still am healthier than I was before.

If eating a little packet of crisps here a.d there gets you through the first few hard weeks then I say let it happen, it will be better for you in the long run! Once you get past the craving stage you csn start concentrating on you diet again.

jtslim42

Hey there! I am on Day 57 of not smoking. It is extremely tough but you can do it! I paired mine with training for a 1/2 marathon so I really don't have a choice. I also tried to stay away from some of my triggers the first month. Good luck and feel free to add me. :drinker:

2manyhats

Yoga helps me, I think it is the focus on breathing. I quit ( FOR THE LAST TIME!) in June. I do drink tons of water, also once a week I chop bunches of veggies so that I always have a healthy choice to grab and munch-doubles by getting supper on the table faster too! Also jump rope or do crunches every time you feel like you are slipping. Just things that have helped me the past month!

malabaugh

I was a yo-yo smoker for ages! I would quit for months (and once for years) and then start again...no will power! Last August I found this book at the library and decided to give it a whirl.

http://www.amazon.com/Smoking-Today-Without-Gaining-Weight/dp/140276572X/ref=pd_sim_b_4/191-7453234-1310457

I have been smoke-free for a year now and I do not miss it. I do not crave it. I do not feel like I am missing out on anything (I loved smoking!) The smell bothers me now and I have no desire to ever go back.

Maybe see if your library has it. If now, it's worth every penny to buy it. It only costs 3 packs of cigarettes!

Good luck, I know it's hard, but so worth it to be smoke free!

TheVimFuego

I quit cold turkey after 20 years of smoking after reading Allen Carr's Easy Way book.

No willpower needed, after reading that it just de-programmed me and I didn't want to smoke.

It's not magic, you do want to have to stop, but it's very popular.

Good luck

settoloki

From a psychological point of view I can see how any quit smoking book will help. whilst making the concious decision to sit and read the book you are also programming yourself to not smoke.

The same way having friends and reading the forums regularly on here lead to a better success of weight loss - when you choose to actively do something positive to put off a negative you are programming yourself to work differently. The motivation it provides is enough to stamp out any urges. (think leaving the gym and craving and healthy meal instead of fatty)

I suppose reading the books would keep me motivated. Just wish I had time to read, going to buy two books and leave them in two places I spend prolonged time with not much else to do (you know where they are!)

I to love smoking, I love nipping for a smoke during the work day get myself out of the office for a few mins. I like the smokein the car on the way to work.

What I don't like is
the smell,
the expense,
the feeling of breathlessness,
waking up feeling gunky,
my inability to taste(something that improves just a few days after smoking),
it's not great for the air or interior of my car

When I have quit I have enjoyed all of these things and no idea why I keep going back. It's like there is an inner me telling me "gawan gawan one can't hurt" - I'm not sure why my inner me has the accent, need to stamp the little bugger out or bring him over to my way of thinking.

T


Edit: also, no I'm not insane the voices in my head tell me so!

apnovack

From a psychological point of view I can see how any quit smoking book will help. whilst making the concious decision to sit and read the book you are also programming yourself to not smoke.

The same way having friends and reading the forums regularly on here lead to a better success of weight loss - when you choose to actively do something positive to put off a negative you are programming yourself to work differently. The motivation it provides is enough to stamp out any urges. (think leaving the gym and craving and healthy meal instead of fatty)

I suppose reading the books would keep me motivated. Just wish I had time to read, going to buy two books and leave them in two places I spend prolonged time with not much else to do (you know where they are!)

I to love smoking, I love nipping for a smoke during the work day get myself out of the office for a few mins. I like the smokein the car on the way to work.

What I don't like is
the smell,
the expense,
the feeling of breathlessness,
waking up feeling gunky,
my inability to taste(something that improves just a few days after smoking),
it's not great for the air or interior of my car

I'm in the same boat. I think about quitting every single day. Good Luck!

apnovack

Has anyone tried and been successful with hypnotization?

RealWomenLovePitbulls

I have never smoked, so I don't know what it's like. But I do work in a nursing home and see people struggling every day to breathe, feeling like the are suffocating, even with oxygen on and I know that I would not want to end up that way. But it must be a strong addiction because lots of people who work with me smoke, and I just don't understand how they can, seeing what we see every day.

settoloki

Has anyone tried and been successful with hypnotization?

I would love to know this too.


Also they need to move the report post button I almost clicked that instead of quote....almost!

dstov

I quit a year or maybe more ago. I don't remember the date. I used the gum when I was feeling like I wanted to kill someone. You have to use it right or the gum is not effective - chomp it 2-3 times and then park it between your gum and lower lip to let the nicotine slowly enter the blood stream. Don't chomp it again until you need another infusion of nicotine.

I also made postcards/notes to look at when I felt that overwhelming urge to scream or yell. I would read them to remind myself how hard it is to quit, how much healthier I will be when I no longer smoke, how the world is not ganging up on me and trying to piss me off but instead that I have an addiction and I am going through withdraws.

And last and certainly not least, I ran. If I was feeling like I was going to explode, I would get on the treadmill and run or walk until the urge/anger was gone.

Presleyforpresident

i started smoking when i hit 15 (i'm almost 19 now) and i quit cold turkey the day after my 17th birthday.
i was smoking a pack a day and it was horrible.
i did all kinds of ill things to get myself to quit. one of the tamer ones was snapping a rubber band around my wrist whenever i got the urge.
i also didn't hide the facts of what the smoke was doing to my body.
i watched a lot of documentaries on throat/lung cancer and personal documentaries on people who tried to quit but didn't.
i basically had to 100% make up my mind that this was it.
it was hell, not going to lie.
but i did it and i'm free.
and it as worth it.

vtachycardia

I've tried everything, I mean everything, now after my twelvety attempt I have been stopped for4 months. This was patches, and the new mist spray and if you go to a local cessation clinic in the UK you get the products on one prescription so the cost is not prohibitive plus they give you CBT style help when you attend the sessions. Actually, I used the local chemist this time and not the cessation clinics.

Anyho', my top tip for either hunger craving or cigarette craving

---

drum roll









Frozen Grapes
Frozen Peas - only one at a time of grape or pea. No real reason for this, but myself and countless others think it works.

vtachycardia

And the other mantra for dealing with addiction

"I am not smoking today" or "sniffing glue" whatever.

WendyTerry420

Hubby and me are starting back on the patch next month. We love each other too much to go cold turkey.

20ever

At some point you just have to realize that the decision is yours and you want to stay with it. I used tobacco for years in all forms and was an addict. When I succumbed to the draw of a cigarette or a rub of snuff, I felt as though I was ashamed. I snuck around, well thought I was sneaking around - but my wife and kids knew, and one say last fall as I hid in my truck with a rub of snuff in my mouth, I realized it was complete BS to keep this habit up if all it did was give me a simple pleasure versus embarrassment, shame and potential health concerns.

As of September 15th 2011 I have been tobacco free. It's nothing more than a lifestyle decision or at least it was for me. You will make the decision when you are ready, but some people never make that decision.

Nicotine is a powerful drug, but I have managed to drop the habit for the past 10+ months.

Make the decision for yourself and for others who want you around for years to come.

You yourself are more important than any form of tobacco.

And if you fail to quit........quit again.

Good Luck and God Bless

danabrash

Rolled my first cigarette in '78 at 8 years old and started buying smokes regularly in 1982 at the age of 12. I was a pack a day by age 15. I quit Dec 30, 2011 (at 11:53 AM Pacific time), cold turkey and a supportive understanding family.

When the craving hit, I breathed deeply, said an affirmation and waited for it to pass. It always did. When the cravings started coming frequently, I'd go exercise. Nothing like a run uphill to remind you why you want to be smober.

Also, not sure if this is your thing or not, but shooting a quick prayer up helped me relieve the cravings as well.

hth, and best of luck to you. You can do it.

916lude

I quit smoking over a year ago... from two packs a day to none.. I finally wanted to commit to leading a healthier lifestyle so I dropped it cold turkey. Also, my BBQ tasted even more delicious a couple days after.

It also helped that my fiances family has had heart problems in the past and I wanted her to quit as well. We both quit cold turkey together and have never felt better. Usually when I drink is when I want to smoke the most. I ended up in Vegas two weeks after I quit and I was able to refrain from smoking there. I considered that a victory and never looked back since.

It's all up to you. If you really want it you can quit. It took me 7ish years to finally want to make a change and quit.

Good luck to you!

gavini

Yoga helps me, I think it is the focus on breathing. I quit ( FOR THE LAST TIME!) in June. I do drink tons of water, also once a week I chop bunches of veggies so that I always have a healthy choice to grab and munch-doubles by getting supper on the table faster too! Also jump rope or do crunches every time you feel like you are slipping. Just things that have helped me the past month!

yoga is not good for me since the focus on breathing makes me think of smoking and i would always have a cigarette the second i got out yoga class but everyone is different, you need to find what works for you.

isabellecmiranda

There is a really cool app that I used. its called quit now. and it is free. you input all your info, your stats and there is an online community that helps you resist the cravings.

hope it helps.

gavini

I can last a few days and then the temptation takes over.

you can last as long as you want to, dont ceed that power, your mind is in control, you just need to control your mind.

What tips and tricks do you use to help you keep the cigs off? And if you are a smoker trying to quit add me to friends we can spur each other on .

I quit 14 days, 5 hours, 15 minutes ago, That's 142 cigarettes i have skipped and $41.65 i have saved. Those stats are powerful, no one wants to start over at zero. you can get your stats at quitnet.com


my two cents on quitting. you have to decide if you really want to quit, not kind of want to, not quit because your family wants you to but that you dont want to be a smoker anymore. if you cant say that you want to quit then dont try, might as well enjoy it until you decide enough is enough and you want to give it up since the battle will be an inner one.

like most everything else in life, it is mostly if not all mental. the mind can tell or teach the body to do anything but the mind can work against you if you arent completely committed.

think ahead and think about what success will look like. for instance, you said the toughest time to not have a cigarette is in the car then have it detailed, that little extra incentive will help, you dont want to waste all the money you just spent making your car nice. if you feel like you cant afford to detail your car think about it this way. how many packs will you spend on detailing the car. lets say it is 20 and that you smoke a pack a day. put the detailing on the credit card and in 20 days you will be able to pay the credit card bill... as long as you dont buy cigarettes during that time (yet more motivation)

my toughest time to not have a smoke is right after a workout. think about that time and think about it smoke free. you will need something to occupy yourself then and peeling and eating an orange works great for me. it occupies my hands and something about the citrus and natural sugar helps dull the physical cravings and oranges are good for you. good combo

change your routines as much as possible. it helped me that i quit at the beginning of a camping trip and like you, i will never smoke around my kids so that was a few days where it wasnt an option and it rarely came to mind even though those are supposed to be the toughest days. look at your week with the kids that way.

who else either doesnt know you smoke or you wont smoke around them for one reason or another? schedule a bunch of time with them in the coming days and weeks.

i dont tell people good luck since luck has nothing to do with it (and if you think you need luck then dont try to stop), it is all about deciding for yourself, deep down, without reservation, that this is something you want to do, then thinking about what that means and what it will be like to not have a break at 10a to go outside work or to not sit on your front steps after a meal or whatever your rituals are.

sandhillsmom

I'm 8 days smoke free now. I'm taking Chantix and for me it has worked. The strongest part to being successful is a positive attitude that I can quit, I will quit, I am quit. If that makes sense. I do a lot of deep breathing exercises. I change up my routine. I was in the habit of smoking when I was at my desk on the laptop. I changed the location of the laptop. I was eating meals in front of the TV, I moved to eating at the table. Urges are less and less now. Of course focusing on my exercise and eating habits helps a lot too.

reyopo

One of my best friends had great luck quitting with acupuncture. Sounds like a nice, drug-free option.

I too, did it cold turkey, 12 years ago. It was like I just woke up one day DONE with it...realizing that it was the stupidest habit ever, and there was no point in adopting any HEALTHY habits along the way if smoking was still going to be a part of my life. Don't beat yourself up, it's HARD, it's an addiction, but it sounds to me like you are ready to kick it, you can do it! TENACITY!

settoloki

Thanks for all your input guys, There are 6 smokes left in the pack - They should last me until I pick up my kids this evening.

I will enjoy the last 6 and when I look at my kids next it will be as a non smoker (I realise I've spent all day smoking lol).

My official stop day will start on Thursday, but I'm not buying another packet.

hunter624

On the August 15th it will be 2 years, without cigs, cigars, roll-up or pipe after 53years of smoking, and tomorrow my wife and I are off on a short break paid for by the money I've saved.
Yes, my wife and I put the cost of the packet of cigs in a pickle jar and it pays for these short breaks we have.

By the way Ican walk 3miles in 55mins without breaking a sweat and last week I did an 11 mile country ramble in 4hours 30 mins.

Good luck, with giving up, now if only I could lose the weight I gained since giving up, I'd really be on a winner..... lol

:drinker:

jimmmer

Thanks for all your input guys, There are 6 smokes left in the pack - They should last me until I pick up my kids this evening.

I will enjoy the last 6 and when I look at my kids next it will be as a non smoker (I realise I've spent all day smoking lol).

My official stop day will start on Thursday, but I'm not buying another packet.

As a successful ex-smoker of 18 years, I'm going to tell you two things that you probably don't want to hear:

1) If you have 6 smokes left in that packet to get through before you quit, then you're not going to make it. Think about it! You want to stop smoking for ever, right? Then why are you going to finish that packet? Just chuck it out now and quit now. Man up! If you say things like "i'll quit after I've smoked 5 more *kitten*". Then you place the act of quitting at some unspecified, may-not-happen point in the future. Own it, and stop now in the present! Take those cigs, run them under the cold tap and throw them in the trash. Congratulations! You have now quit, proceed to step 2

2) So you've done (1)! Now you have to keep not smoking. The greatest threat to you is social. There are people in your life who smoke, they smoke around you. They carry smokes on their person. You are surrounded by smokes! You need smokes to be out of your reach when your will-power buckles. And it will buckle. You'll miss a train, someone will reverse into your car, you'll get dumped, your boss will be an arsehole, etc, etc, etc. Deal with the fact that relapse-causing stressful situations will be around you all the time. The first 3-4 weeks in particular are key whilst you're flushing that poison out of your body. This is where you have to be brutal - cut out all the smokers from your life for a month (at least - maybe up to 3 months for some people). Start to hang more with your healthier, non-smoking friends. Being in social situations with people who don't smoke gives you positive reinforcement. It also makes you realise that a massive component of smoking is actually social. You almost use that smoke as a prop in social situations. You need to train yourself out of this habit and that takes time and practice. And being immersed in social situations where this prop is not available to you is the fastest way to change your habits.

You may think "why should I listen to some w**nker on an internet forum who's telling me I need to cut people from my life?" Why indeed? All I would say is: "Do you REALLY want to quit? Or have a little play at quitting for 3 days?"

Restybaby2012

I quit almost a year ago. Recently Ive begun to refuse to allow any smoking in my home or car by ANYONE.....my adult children and fiance' included. I hate the smell but mostly hated spending $400 a month on the damn things (between fiance' and myself). Now Im using that money to eat healthy, to not smoke and to be more active. When I reach my first goal of 100 lbs, Im buying a new car....an INFERNO Red Chrysler 300 C (similar to the white one in my ticker)

How'd I quit? Id love to say I just did........I just walked away but its not quite that simple. I was diagnosed with severe asthma, then UARS and SDB then Chronic Oxygen deprivation (O2 drops into the 70-80s while awake and into the 50s while sleeping) I figured it was from smoking as did everyone else. Have just recently found out it's not but still...I figured I better quit while Im ahead so I did.

I dont want one, I dont miss them, Im not even remotely tempted to start up again. Not being able to breathe doing the simplest task is not fun. Its scary and it infiltrates every part of every day. I CAN reverse most of this right now by losing weight and getting active and by the absolute sheer grave of GOD I WILL.......

....................and you CAN too. Please? For your precious lil babies..........quit now before ________ because it CAN happen to you......you, like me, are not invincible.