Quitting smoking

MsJulielicious

Here goes attempt # 3 to quit smoking. The other 2 times I tried to quit and was successful for about 3 months or so. My downfall each time was a social cocktail. I would be out and have a cocktail, someone would lite up and My decision making process was hindered from alcohol and boom I was a smoker again. Obviously the answer is to stay away from booze longer (quite possibly permanetly if thats what it takes). Any other tips out there from ppl successful at kicking this long term?

leanne171717

Hi, I have 15 1/2 years off the cigs, 22 years with no booze. They go hand and hand, which you have already found out. I had to stay away from all cigarettes and smokers for a year to stay off the cigarettes. The book Quit and Stay Quit by Dr. Terry Ruskin was the only book I found that actually worked for me. I did all the writings in the book, it made a huge difference. Good luck and never stop quitting!

MsJulielicious

Thank you for your reply. Yes i do believe Its going to take no booze permanently to remain a non smoker. Thanks for the book idea!

MsJulielicious

Did you notice a real difference in your appearnce after a certain time as a non smoker like I have read online?

tmoelmoe2

I quit smoking 5 days ago and I do drink but I haven't had one since I quit smoking. It's only been 5 days and I feel really lazy, I thought I would have all of this extra energy and would be motivated to do other things but so far I'm just extremely tired!!!! I have thought about purchasing one of those electronic cigs but haven't actually done it. I really don't want to gain weight because I quit smoking that's my biggest challenge more than drinking. My true test will be tomorrow because it's my bff birthday and we will be out socially!!

MsJulielicious

I quit smoking 5 days ago and I do drink but I haven't had one since I quit smoking. It's only been 5 days and I feel really lazy, I thought I would have all of this extra energy and would be motivated to do other things but so far I'm just extremely tired!!!! I have thought about purchasing one of those electronic cigs but haven't actually done it. I really don't want to gain weight because I quit smoking that's my biggest challenge more than drinking. My true test will be tomorrow because it's my bff birthday and we will be out socially!!

The other 2 times I quit smoking i actually lost weight (probably bc i cut out booze then too) But i was also active and ate well... I think the ppl that gain from quitting dont calorie count most likely

MsJulielicious

Also have some nicoderm patches (7 mg bc i was a half a pack or less a day smoker) anyone use these or cold turkey?

jrhodo

I'm coming up on my 4 year quit aniversary. Five days is great and you are feeling just like you should. Have you tried Quit.net? It's what got me through. It's too soon to feel energy, but you will. Keep it up!!!

I used the patch.

oldernotwiser

I quit on 4/2/12 after 48 years of smoking. I used the patch and also got my doc to write a prescription for Zyban/Wellbutrin to help with the craving and/or anxiety. There was an improvement in my appearance and especially a healthier color in my face.

Situational cravings can be really difficult. For me it was driving my car and talking on the telephone. For you it's having a drink, socially. I replaced the smoking behavior with hard candies whenever I would get a bad craving.

I also found it useful to take several deep breaths when I would get a craving. Just the feeling of inhaling huge amounts of smoke free air into my lungs made me feel physically and mentally better about quitting.

lsmsrbls

Good luck!

I quit almost 2 years ago by switching to an electronic cigarette and then tapering down my nicotine levels. Then for a long while I'd use it with nicotineless liquid when I was drinking, because otherwise I'd have the urge to smoke.

It's hard not to want a cigarette when you've been drinking, especially if you're around other people who are smoking!

Good luck quitting! Avoiding alcohol does sound smart.

xilka

Have you tried Allen Carr's book "The Easy Way"
Millions swear by it - lots of celebrities included.

It helped me become free almost a year ago.

I smoked a pack a day for 20 years.

You can do this!

Just remember that you can NEVER go back, not even one puff.

MsJulielicious

Thanks for the responses. I just put my jackets and other clothing items that smell like ciggaretes in the laundry, and my husband cleaned out both vehicles and sprayd them down with febreeze. Off to a good start. Going to go running now to take my mind off it

Capt_Apollo

i have a lot of triggers, and drinking is definetly one of mine.

electronic cigarettes work pretty well for me.

ShreddedTweet

Get it done! It's a stinking habit and you really can't ever be truly fit if you smoke... For me, and it's years ago now, but I just gave up without any weight gain or trouble, it was just a decision that I wasn't going to do it again and I didn't. I think I took up coffee instead, skim milk, no sugar Best of luck, you can do it!

Capt_Apollo

you know, you have to think of it a little like weight loss.

you are going to mess up. you'll have a smoke or two or five. don't let the binges knock you off your plan.

try to recognize your triggers and avoid them. the ones you can't avoid, try to be strong.

QuietRain

I just passed my 4th year without cigarettes.
It was done on an impulse [ran out of cigarettes and thought "I wonder how long I can go without buying a pack?"]. After a week [normally when I'd relapse from my 'planned' quitting], I felt pretty good, like it was a done deal and I just kept going.
Chewed a lot of cinnamon gum.

I still miss the habit but, not enough to pick it up, ever again.

Good luck!

kokaneesailor

Have you tried Allen Carr's book "The Easy Way"
Millions swear by it - lots of celebrities included.

It helped me become free almost a year ago.

I smoked a pack a day for 20 years.

You can do this!

Just remember that you can NEVER go back, not even one puff.

This is true. I smoked like a trooper for 32 years and tried almost everything to quit. Finally reading Allen Carr's book made me quit. And this book made me be excited to quit. I quit drinking as well because I don't trust my self. My anniversary date is Feb 26. Almost 2 years without smoking and still loving it.

alexvr12

Not sure if this is what you want to hear - but I am one of those folks that has quit smoking about 4 times in his life. I am 62 now and began smoking when I was 17 and doing construction. My trigger was the cup of coffee in the morning with drinking being a secondary trigger. The first time I quit for about 13 years and then started up again when I was leading a team that was 90% smokers. The next time I quit for about 4 years and started up again when I joined a bowling team that was 100% smokers. I then quit for about 6 months and started up one night when I had been out drinking with a friend and came home to find my son and friend sharing beers and a cigarette. In any case what served as my motivation each time was the cost, smell, inconvenience and health aspects of smoking. I continued to focus on those items to keep me on the straight and narrow. I also found that stopping coffee in the morning and switching over to exercise helped a lot.

dawnsjourney

I quit smoking after 30 years! 2 1/2 years ago I decided I was quitting. I did. Luckily the bars around here are non-smoking.

You can do it!!!

MsJulielicious

Thanks for all of the positive responses. I decided to try cold turkey, bc well I have never tried that before and so far so good. I KNOW I have to quit for real. Heart disease runs on both sides of my family and even after 6 months of running my HR still gets up to 220 sometimes. That's scary... I'm literally killing myself daily

cesctheman

I have quit for over 50 days using my e-cig and I'm stronger than ever , even tho I feel like a cig every day. I have done it over the hardest time as well xmas,new year and loads of birthdays.. I'm really proud of myself and now just need to lose weight and be strong.
Well done to everyone that quit.

NCchar130

Enjoyed reading all the responses. Thanks for posting OP and good luck to you. Quitting for good is pretty much the top of my New Year's resolution list. I've quit like 5 times before, once for about 6 months. I really want it. I just lack the courage to try again. You'd think the bronchitis I've had the last 8 days would be enough, but it's only convinced me to reduce how many I smoke a day. :sad:

MsJulielicious

Enjoyed reading all the responses. Thanks for posting OP and good luck to you. Quitting for good is pretty much the top of my New Year's resolution list. I've quit like 5 times before, once for about 6 months. I really want it. I just lack the courage to try again. You'd think the bronchitis I've had the last 8 days would be enough, but it's only convinced me to reduce how many I smoke a day. :sad:

I understand that! I got sick about a week before Christmas and STILL haven't kicked the cough yet.. Good luck to you as well

c2111

hi there, im on day 7, cold turkey, Ive been a pack a day smoker on and off for 23 years. I just have had enough. The smokes do kill and I want to be here for my kids, the way I look at it is I may as well put a gun to my head if i have another cigerette, I know gloomy but this thought process is due to family member just diagnosed with lung cancer so yep cigs went in the bin. Goodluck just do it xx

makemewannadie

I smoked for 2 years and have quit for over 3 months now! I miss the routine rather than smoking, and you're right that having a drink/being out and socialising ups the temptation- but it's completely possible and you can do it! I LOVED smoking and didn't think i'd ever quit but it was easier than I thought once I got over the first week or two. (Also make sure your house is rid of all smoking paraphernalia... lighters, matches, rizlas, whatever, so where you live is a smoke free zone.)

Discipline is easier talked about than done, but try to tell yourself that you can't rather than you shouldn't... and instead of having a cigarette go out and get lungfuls of fresh air, go for a walk, have a piece of fruit, pat yourself on the back for being awesome and tell yourself you're better than all of the smokers who are still wasting money on cigarettes/not looking after themselves and their future etc.

MsJulielicious

24 hrs down cold turkey!

cesctheman

Well done mrs Jek. Just take it day by day.

rob1976

I smoked for almost 20 years and quit 3 years ago.

I used an e-cig and stepped down the nicotine levels in my cartridges until I was using 0.

One day, a few weeks after I got to 0, my e-cig went through the laundry and wouldn't charge anymore. I didn't buy a new one.

For the first year, I was very careful to only drink at non-smoking establishments. Now it isn't so much of an issue.

On a side note, I still crave them. I miss the flavor, the smell, and the cigarette breaks from work.

I had a Marlboro Ultra Light for Christmas 2011. I got nicotine poisoning and threw up Taco Bell nachos all over the bathroom floor.

I think it's safe to say that my smoking days are over...

besaro

my husband and I quit cold-turkey 20 years ago. When we decided to quit I had to stop doing everything around smoking, no more bars, no more crossword puzzles, no long phone calls, no parties at friends, no watching tv with smokers on it etc etc. I had a co-worker at the time that smoked who told me that after quitting for 10 years she started again. I freaked out!! I couldnt believe that after going through that there would be a chance I could start again. Now I am one of those terrible judgmental non-smokers who can go to bars, do crossword puzzles and the rest. idk how long it took, but it was a loooong time before I could rejoin humanity, lol.

You will quit when you are ready. if not this time, next time. Dont ever give up.

oh, and the judgmental thing was mostly a joke

holliesmith9484

Also have some nicoderm patches (7 mg bc i was a half a pack or less a day smoker) anyone use these or cold turkey?

I am using these now. They help ALOT!!! I don't get quite so edgy. I still have the urge, and have cheated a couple of times, but I am determined to quit.

Ben2118

You just need to make the decision you are no longer a smoker, after the first 3 weeks the nicotine cravings should be next to nothing and its just the habit or routine of smoking you crave.

I quit in 2011, I also quit drinking at the same time and lost about 40 lbs in 6 months. All because I wanted to, its not easy but it's doable! I didn't use anything to help me, no patches or e-cigs, stopped with 14 left in my pack. It's a mindset thing to me, may not be to others but I think the mindset has a big influence!

Trust me, I was in a few situations where i wanted to drink and smoke, but the feeling of been in control far our weighs the other feelings. Stick at it and every time you are in a situation where it may tempt you, just tell yourself you no longer smoke.

Good Luck!!