smoking
Rodap9631
Posts: 38 Member
anyone got some good advise for a long term smoker and effective techiques to quit, I'm 50 now in great shape underweight love cycling etc. But havent been able to give up the dreaded cigarettes
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Replies
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I'm 40 and just quit in March. The only thing I can tell you is to just do it. When you have cravings, keep busy...and just do it.0
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I went from smoking 30 cigarettes a day to zero after reading "allan carr's easy way to stop smoking." Absolutely 100% recommended, and only the price of a packet of cigs!! I've been stopped since Feb 2008. Good luck with it!!0
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chew licorice root at the times when you would have lit up.
It is more habit than addiction.
i.e. "This is the time when I have a cigarette"
Expect to feel a temporary sense of bereavement and an equally temporary loss of "identity". The cigarette is so often a tool, a baton to emphasise a gesture or, lighting up gives thinking time - stalling for an answer.
Suddenly this 'prop' is gone - find others, take a deep breath in those situations where you would have taken a long drag. (and not having a coughing fit can only enhance the reputation for deep, contemplative wisdom)
good luck!0 -
My husband and I quit (again) today. We quit last year, but had a relapse. The patch really helps us keep the urges down and not kill one another. Good luck!!0
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I'm 40 and just quit in March. The only thing I can tell you is to just do it. When you have cravings, keep busy...and just do it.
This is pretty much it. All it is really is the willpower to keep saying "no" to them. As it says on my profile I cheated & took Champix from the doctor's, but if that makes you poorly maybe you could try the patches, the gum, or the lozenges or even a mix. I smoked for 11/12 years and didn't have any willpower to just throw the damn things away. There's also the vapour cigarettes; I had a tutor that used that & it worked wonders for him. Please bear in mind, you'll only quit (and stay quit) when you really want to.0 -
HI it is 1330 here and I am day 1 without a cigarette..... I have a patch on but still had a wave of??? dunno what, unpleasantness? need for a *kitten*? anyway it has passed, for the moment. I just did the 30 day shred and am looking forward to getting back into shape. Unlike you my fitness levels have gone too recently, I am giving myself two weeks then I plan to start running again, I think it would be disastrous at the mo. Have you quit the weed or about to? let's do it eh? the more the merrier I say. It stinks, is antisocial, winter is coming here and the thought of standing outside in the cold and rain to smoke is ludicrous, c'mon let us get rid of this nonsense.0
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im a struggling on again off again goodluck i know darn hard it is, I found some free hypnosis apps for my phone they help alot, and patches x I have cut down a lot and my new quit day is next monday, I now smoke about 5 a day 2 weeks ago it was 25 a day. Goodluck and keep trying xx0
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HI it is 1330 here and I am day 1 without a cigarette..... I have a patch on but still had a wave of??? dunno what, unpleasantness? need for a *kitten*? anyway it has passed, for the moment. I just did the 30 day shred and am looking forward to getting back into shape. Unlike you my fitness levels have gone too recently, I am giving myself two weeks then I plan to start running again, I think it would be disastrous at the mo. Have you quit the weed or about to? let's do it eh? the more the merrier I say. It stinks, is antisocial, winter is coming here and the thought of standing outside in the cold and rain to smoke is ludicrous, c'mon let us get rid of this nonsense.
Yes - let's do this. I'm with you! I don't want to stand out in the cold this winter either.0 -
I was a two pack a day smoker into my mid 30s when I quit. Number one, you must have a true reason to quick that means more to you than anything (me it was for making healthy children. could not quit for me, for my health or my wife but my unborn children was all I needed. been smoke free for 11 years). Two, use something for the withdraul symptoms, I usesd the patch which worked for me. three, if you are like me, you will want a smoke everyday for the rest of your life but you CHOOSE not to have one and the craving only last a minute or so. IF you quit, you can never have another smoke or you will have to start all over. If you quite, quite for life! Good Luck Sir and give it hell
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i smoked for 45 years
had a very mild heart attack
quit in 2007
not as hard as i thought it would be
mind over matter sure helps0 -
Chantix worked for me and I've been quit almost 3yrs. Not saying it works for everyone though. Between my mom, my brother and I only my mom and I have stayed away. But she also wen't back to it about 6mo after quitting before she quit for good the last time.0
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Smoked for 25 years . I quit in June of last year . I used the patch the first month.
I wish I would have found Allen Carrs book , several people I know used this to quit . From what I understand it really helps ! Good luck0 -
I gave up in Feb this year after so many attempts i do know this time will be the last time i try as at this moment i never want to smoke again, YOU HAVE TO BE READY IN YOUR MIND TO WANT TO GIVE UP FOR YOU ONLY i dont have cravings anymore.............lol I hate the smell of someone smoking also can even smell the people without a cigarette that smoke too.....to think i used to smell like that.... i have had great support from my Gp stop smoking clinic, i had help with patches and also at the same time i had an inhalator both these combined i found great, I used to stand with my friends who smoked and i had my inhalator at the beggining, i did get cravings for the first 2 months but not now and it is the best thing i have ever done, I have 2 granddaughter worth giving up to see them grow
Good luck to all who are trying.....if you are ready and really want to give up you can do it 0 -
Smoked for 25 years . I quit in June of last year . I used the patch the first month.
I wish I would have found Allen Carrs book , several people I know used this to quit . From what I understand it really helps ! Good luck
Fantastic book!!0 -
anyone got some good advise for a long term smoker and effective techiques to quit, I'm 50 now in great shape underweight love cycling etc. But havent been able to give up the dreaded cigarettes
I've never been a smoker, but someone I used to work with quit and part of his strategy was to go for a walk at the time he would usually have a cigarrette. Both my grandparents (who smoked for 40 years) just up and quit cold turkey.
My grandmother decided to quit and since she was the one who always bought the cigarrettes, when she stopped, my grandfather finished the carton they had and never had another.
Good luck!0 -
I went from smoking 30 cigarettes a day to zero after reading "allan carr's easy way to stop smoking." Absolutely 100% recommended, and only the price of a packet of cigs!! I've been stopped since Feb 2008. Good luck with it!!
This^^^^
I stopped smoking 1 1/2 years ago using the book's methods.0 -
Its a hard battle but it can be done. I wasn't a constant smoker but was a casual smoker and I hated the fact that I smoked. To be honest I found it easier to quit once I focus on eating healthy and hitting the Gym. My urges just went away. Also the fact that I eat every 2 hours or so. I had.......errr have an oral fixation hence why I think I had to urge to smoke. When you get the urge to smoke you should put gum or something in your mouth. After a while your brain will associate that oral fixation from smoking to gum or something else.0
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anyone got some good advise for a long term smoker and effective techiques to quit, I'm 50 now in great shape underweight love cycling etc. But havent been able to give up the dreaded cigarettes
Last December, I quit instantly by using the KGO e-cigarette and flavored e-liquid from myfreedomsmokes. You can get it with nicotine in varying strengths and completely without. All my blood tests show that I am a nonsmoker. It's literally saved my life.0 -
Great book referenced. There are so many stop smoking aids but it really comes down to the mental aspect of the addiction. U need to just do it and don't breakdown and have one. Soon that u becomes ur way of life. Good topic0
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quit back in 2007, use "chantix" meds from the dr... went through divorce from d-bag ex-husband, stated smoking agian but quit again with "chantix"...0
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Every state has a quitline, which assist with quiting smoking. Call 1-800 QUIT NOW, your state may even offer free nicotine replacement therapy.0
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I quit last year.
This is how I did it.
I was smoking a pack a day.
I set a quit day.. it was a process-- I set a date 90 days into the future.
Then I gradually decreased the amount I smoked.
20 cigarettes a day for 6 days
19 cigarettes a day for 6 days
18 cigarettes a day for 6 days
17 cigarettes a day for 5 days
16 cigarettes a day for 5 days
15 cigarettes a day for 5 days
14 cigarettes a day for 5 days
13 cigarettes a day for 5 days
12 cigarettes a day for 5 days
11 cigarettes a day for 4 days
10 cigarettes a day for 4 days
09 cigarettes a day for 4 days
08 cigarettes a day for 4 days
07 cigarettes a day for 4 days
06 cigarettes a day for 4 days
05 cigarettes a day for 4 days
04 cigarettes a day for 4 days
03 cigarettes a day for 3 days
02 cigarettes a day for 3 days
01 cigarettes a day for 3 days
You are essentially tapering the amount of nicotine and other addictive chemicals your body is getting. Slow and gradual so you do not kick the amount back up again.......The trick is to not bargain with yourself. You start the day with x number of cigarettes and you cannot BORROW from TOMORROW.
I dont miss it.. I like the money I am saving.. Use that for healthy things-- gym membership, magazines etc.
I can sit in a room full of smokers and not want one!!0 -
I would avoid Chantix. I am now 47 days in without a cigarette. I have been a pack and a half a day smoker for 16 years. I started the chantix..... it went well the first bit, then, suddenly, on week 7 of the meds, I lost my $#!7. I went nuts. I started having anxiety attacks, I started developing OCD behavior, I really went off my damn rocker. It was not fun. You CAN do it. Just fight each little craving one at a time. Eventually, they will get easier. Then, you will have other parts that you struggle with. How to be around your friends that still smoke? Who are you without the smokes? You will even question WHY you want to quit. Just don't smoke. You CAN do this!0
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anyone got some good advise for a long term smoker and effective techiques to quit, I'm 50 now in great shape underweight love cycling etc. But havent been able to give up the dreaded cigarettes
Do you really want to stop? If not, don't.
It won't work and it's only extremely depressing.
How heavy a smoker are you, is it really bad? Because if you're physically in good shape and smoking doesn't make you short of breath etc. (since you said you go cycling I'm assuming that), maybe it's just not that big a deal?
How many do you have? My boyfriend has like 1 every other day with an after-work-beer. Honestly, before THAT kills him, a lot of other things will (waiting to get stoned by loads of people... but sorry, I can't help seeing it that way).
If it's the same for you and you enjoy them, stop beating yourself up about it.
If it's a lot more and you really do want to quit, I can only tell you what worked for me (I am 29 now, started a few months before my 18th birthday and went in directly for 1 pack a day, average. Then smoked roughly 30 a day for ten years, always claiming (and honestly so!) that I enjoy smoking and don't intend to quit until I hit either 30 or a pregnancy.
Well, because of an operation last November I wasn't allowed to smoke. I was a rattlesnake for the nine days I lasted... I stuffed my face, was horribly moody and gained almost 10 pounds in a week (lying in hospital, not being allowed to move just enhanced the problem - and it was a private clinic, so the grub was delish!!!).
That scared me. I'd had no idea I was THAT addicted. And I came up with a game plan, because all of a sudden, I was very afraid that I wouldn't be able to quit.
So I finished my studies (I was right before my final exam at uni) and booked a huge trip across the U.S. - that was planned before, but I decided to use that as my chance at quitting.
I figured it was going to be too hard for me without breaking my daily pattern - because my routine was perfectly tuned to smoking.
Sort of: have a coffee and *kitten* in the morning while you write your to-do-list for the day. go through the list, every time you have done a task, sit down, have a ciggie and check the item on the list + decide what to tackle next etc. etc.
Was brilliant for my student life, but I wanted to end that phase of my life. I also knew I was going to move to another town and loved to picture myself in the pretty new flat, not having to hang a smelly jacket in the new painted hallway...
Little things like that.
Then went to the airport, had a quick last one, got on my plane. And that was that. Was a bit antsy at first every once in a while when the urge hit me, but I was lucky enough to be around my Daddy who still enjoys the odd one and just went outside with him and sniffed a bit "second hand". And realised it didn't exactly s´mell good (anymore).
So, if you have the time or have planned a vacation anytime soon, I can only recommend using that as a starting point - you do loads of things differently, so it takes your mind of smoking.
Oh, and anpother thing that helped me sooooooooooo much: I told hardly anyone.
Only my Mama and my boyfriend knew, and it motivated me no end to imagine what all my friends would say and when they would realise - funnily enough, it took them ages! Next party after coming home, I walk in and talk to everyone and her husband, most of them smoking away and only after 5-6 hours one of my mates noticed "something was different". I grinned and said, I thought so, too. She wanted to know what it was and I told her to guess. She ogles me and walks halfway around me and looks funny and all of a sudden she goes: "Your boobs are bigger!" I have honestly never laughed so hard in my life.
Well, as it happened she wasn't altogether wrong because the bigger boobs were a side effect of a few munchies-attacks from quitting which is the reason I joined MFP.
So, if you couldn't be bothered to read alllllllll of that:
1. Wait until you REALLY want to quit.
2. Choose a time when there is a change in your daily life - house move, new job, vacation... anything will do, really
3. Keep a good friend close by the first few weeks who will smoke "for you"
4. Don't run around telling everyone you're quitting. If you don't make it, it will make you feel even worse and if you do, it's much more fun if no one knew before
5. GOOD LUCK!
P.S.: For me, it's been exactly seven months today - and six months since I even missed it. This was cold turkey after more than ten years of 30+ a day...0 -
I'm 25 and quit 6 months ago yesterday. I had been smoking since I was 16 and gave it up almost cold turkey. I went 2 weeks of the 14mg patch, ran out for a whole weekend, by Monday when I got more, I felt incredibly sick to my stomach within 5 minutes of putting the patch on. I took it off and have gone cold turkey since then. I got back into my hobby of crocheting to keep my hands busy, chewed sugar free gum constantly to keep my mouth busy, and drank water or did deep breathing whenever a particularly bad craving hit. I still get small cravings from time to time but I feel much better. My lung function is so much better than it used to be and my heart is getting stronger.
The part that was the absolute WORST was the congestion and coughing immediately following the quit. I felt like I had a nasty head cold mixed with horrific allergies for about a month. A few months ago I managed to get off my addiction to medicated nasal spray as well and I had the same exact feeling.
You have to want to quit. Don't do it because other people tell you to. You have to do it for yourself and only when you're positive that you're ready.0 -
Hi I smoked about a pk a day Newport 100's for 10 years and in May I switched to vaping. I don't use an e cig that looks like a cigarette I use a personal vaporizer (it's colorful and cute) and I buy nicotine liquid from a great vendor in fun flavors like peach watermelon, caramel corn, etc. I have weaned down my nicotine and I feel infinitely better- I vape right before working out. My lungs feel awesome, I'm never sick, I smell great. If you'd like info feel free to message me about it. It may not be for everyone but it worked for me. I don't think I was ready to quit. I tried hypnosis, patches, gum, cold turkey. This has been the only thing that worked for me. Now if I take a drag off a cigarette it tastes like burnt plastic and car exhaust! I prefer my fruity flavors while my fiancé prefers camel tobacco flavored e liquid.0
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I want to thank all for the advise.
I have started using the cut down technique, so obvious that I don't know why I didn't use it before.
It has so far been working, the fact that my body is getting used to a smaller amount of nicotine every week plus the knowledge and ongoing mental aspect that I know I can get used to the smaller quantity seems to create an ongoing trend to continue with this technique.
Will keep you posted re this subject.0 -
+1 for Allen Carr.
I quit after 20+ years, cold turkey.
Read book, keep smoking (as it encourages you to), get to end of book, think 'Why do I smoke?' then don't do it anymore.
You can't crave what you don't want.
Magically bit of reprogramming.
Good luck 0 -
Allen Carr - The Easy Way to Quit is an excelent read!0
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I am also a smoker and I know I should quit but I still haven't. I still like smoking (which makes quitting difficult). I keep thinking when I lose the last 22lbs I will try Chantix (i've been told it makes smoking unpleasant which may work for me). Good luck ditching the habit!
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