Quitting smoking

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!!

MsJulielicious

Over 48 hrs cold turkey down. 3 days ago my peak heart rate (while running at higgest incline for me and resistance) was 225 SCARY. Today I peaked at 192. Not so scary!

pevansk47

My husband stop smoking 12/14/2012. I told him that he was spending close to $700.00 dollars or more a year. We want new things and we love traveling! I told him we had to give up our bad habits. His was smoking. We both love eating out. My bad habit was buying DVD's every month which was costing me $300.00 a year! Eating out probably was costing us over $1000.00 or more a year! Go figure! Times had to get hard around here for us to stop our bad habits!

jenmarie2012

Bump! Love all these responses going to be starting chantex this weekend and great to look back at! You all so motivating!

LK0321

Congratz on quitting. The 2nd time quitting was way easier for me. I smoked for over 15 yrs I think, my bf 15 also. I used herbal cigs for social situations to stave off cravings and my bf used an e-cig. They really helped him for social situations like drinking, eventually he didnt need them. Wait till you can really taste everything again, so wonderful.

pwnderosa

Great job MrsJEK & all the quitters around here! I quit last year with the electronic cigarette also and it definitely helped with cravings in party/bar situations a lot, in fact I plan to take one with me with the non-nicotine liquid any time I hit the bar from now til the end of time, just cuz I don't want to get drunk and mess up 10 years from now or something, as I have seen happen to so many people. I keep an app on my phone that tracks the time since I've quit and money saved, that is so motivating and even though I really don't crave anymore, I still open it up from time to time to pat myself on the back!

Lesalala

I quite 3 yrs ago after smoking a pack a day for 20yrs. I tried several times and each time I learned something new. 1. I am not a social smoker and so just 1 cigarette will have me back to a pack a day. 2. Write a list of the reasons you want to quit with pics if needed, make copies and place one anywhere you may have a trigger. For example, I had one on my dashboard in the car, in my locker at work, on the bathroom mirror, on the outside table, and by the telephone. 3. write a list of your personal triggers and how you plan on dealing with them. You can't avoid your triggers forever, so you need another plan. I ate tootsie pops in the car and kept phone conversations short and sweet. I waited a few months before going to a bar and made a deal with myself that I would leave before smoking.. 4. Except the fact you have quite, not others and there will be times you will be around it. You will have to get over it! 5.There isn't anything wrong with getting help to quite. It isn't just willpower, your body is addicted and your brain will remind you over and over again that you want a cigarette, especially for the first 3 days. 6.It will get easier wit time. 7.Like everyone one else on the planet, you will get angry, bored, sad, angry again, tired, frustrated and down right pissed of! These are not excuses for you to smoke and if they are you will never quite, because these emotions will always happen. Find a constructive way to deal with these emotions. Work out, stay busy, take deep breathes, whatever, but find another way to deal. 8. If at first you don't succeed try and try again...

Debutante55

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.

^^^ THIS!!!
I have several relatives and friends for whom this book has worked well, over the long-term too. It changes the way you think about your "relationship" with nicotine. Why not give it a try? You have nothing to lose except a few hours of reading time.

Wishing you GREAT success... this is something that is within your power to do.

MsJulielicious

Over 72 hrs down!

pwnderosa

Over 72 hrs down!

Hooray!! The hardest part is over now, great job!!! :-)

MsJulielicious

Over 72 hrs down!

Hooray!! The hardest part is over now, great job!!! :-)

Thanks! Yesterday was rough! Today seems better already. I have turned into quite the coffee fiend past cpl days though LOL