Smokers??

SharonBluntz
SharonBluntz Posts: 82 Member
in Motivation and Support
Is anyone else quitting smoking this new year? Today is my 3rd day and I had a pretty big slip up yesterday, but I can't beat myself up over just one day. How does everyone push through their cravings? After how many days has the cravings stopped for you? I'm in need of a little motivation and support. Help!

Feel free to add me :)

Replies

  • Healthydiner65
    Healthydiner65 Posts: 1,508 Member
    As a smoker for 45 years I can tell you it took a stay in the ICU with blood clots in my heart and legs to get me to quit. I quit Jan 26, 2012 and I can do so much more than I ever could. Just think what you could do if you didn't smoke.Don't wait until it's to late and you can't undo the damage done to your wonderful body! Love yourself totally! Good Luck!
  • bbgughj
    bbgughj Posts: 219 Member
    Smoker for 20 years ....... It's been 4 weeks as of this past Thursday that I have not lit one up ... I'm using the E Cigs ..... Vaping method .
  • SharonBluntz
    SharonBluntz Posts: 82 Member
    Thanks for your response, both of you! I've been smoking for 6 years but it feels like it's been my entire life. I've tried an E-cig and the taste is repulsing. I think I just need to stick with my cold-turkey method. Thanks for the support! :)
  • today6212
    today6212 Posts: 86 Member
    im trying the patch, it makes me nauseas tho. i literally dry heave at every food or smoke smell throughout the day. its working tho
  • timmemin
    timmemin Posts: 72 Member
    I have not smoked for a year and a half and I still have cravings. It's just will power. That is why we are all here though so just realize you are becoming better and try, try again. Do not give up. It will come when you are ready. I just woke up one day and quit cold turkey. I don't want to go back and for that reason alone, I haven't slipped up.
  • compumomma
    compumomma Posts: 24 Member
    I smoked for almost 20 years. I ended up in the hospital on a ventilator to jump start my smoke free life. It was hard because so many around me smoked and still do. I had to remove myself from people for a while to get past the cravings but can now hang out with them. Although the smell gets me now and I don't care to be in places where there are smokers, not because it makes me want to smoke, but because the smell is repulsive now.

    It is hard and I wish you luck. It does get easier to get through the cravings and in a couple weeks you will see a huge difference in how you feel. Good Luck!
  • kathyloving
    kathyloving Posts: 4 Member
    I too, use the ecigs... will be four years for me in April. I had lost 30 pounds when I started the ecig and was so afraid I would gain it back!! I didn't, and have lost 20 more pounds since I quit. I am a slow loser ... :(
  • ejyogafit
    ejyogafit Posts: 3
    Hang in there! My husband & I quit for 8 months now cold turkey and have had many times where i just couldn't figure out why but when i think straight i am so much better off. You just have to persever thru the cravings and yes they do lessen altho i doubt they will ever completly go away. I have had irritable bowel syndrome as long as i can remember and now i am 75% better i never would have realized that smoking could directly effect my system to that degree. That alone helps me not to smoke so keep on not smoking and if you slip quit again
  • lacurandera1
    lacurandera1 Posts: 8,083 Member
    my bf and I quit in September using e cigs. they sell flavored ones here and they're tolerable. but the tobacco flavored ones are gross. anyway, took about 2 weeks and was easier than I ever thought.
  • yaba77
    yaba77 Posts: 20
    I also use the e-cigs been over 2 months using them exclusively and have gotten down to a very low nicotine level. I did buy a good kit though, the gas station ones are blah. It's actually become a little hobby all kinds of of stuff out there. Thing that has made it easier for me was not looking at it as quitting but rather using something different and then just slowly lowering the percent of nicotine. They even make them with no nicotine at all if you find the physical habit harder to break. I recommend the V2 brand personally I've had the best luck with them. Feel free to send me a message if you have questions. and most of all good luck you can do it.
  • Nikki31104
    Nikki31104 Posts: 816 Member
    I quit cold turkey twice. The first time I had smoked for about two years when I found out I was pregnant. It was so easy. But being pregnant gave me the push I needed. That lasted 6 years. The second time I quit was in 2009. I had a terrible cold so it was already hard to breathe. After one week of no cigarettes I had a seizure and was in the hospital for 4 days. At that point I had been cigarette free for 11 days and I knew I would be angry with myself if I went back. That was 4 years ago and I still think (very rarely) that I want a cigarette but the craving only lasts seconds and it goes away. You just have to be stronger than the cravings.
  • campdawson
    campdawson Posts: 69 Member
    As a former smoker of 30 years I know what you're going through. Mine is a cautionary tale too, as I watched my mother, also a smoker, die from lung cancer at only 67 years of age. I quit cold turkey 8 years ago after learning about her prognosis; she was dead six weeks following the initial diagnosis. Sometimes it has to come to that extreme to see the damage that smoking wreaks on your health and well-being. Day three as a non smoker was the toughest day I had and seemingly when you're most vulnerable. Rather than cheat to satisfy that craving, fight through it. It will take time, but the cravings will subside to where you no longer want that nicotine fix. You can do it--stay strong.
  • Sandytoes71
    Sandytoes71 Posts: 463 Member
    I quit cold turkey this past Wednesday. Im doing a lot of praying especially when the urge hits. I miss it so much! But all it dies is harm our bodies. It stinks up our hair, breath, and clothes and vehicles. I dont want to be a slave to good nor cigarettes. We.can do thus!
  • Jnine25
    Jnine25 Posts: 126 Member
    I quit smoking 4 1/2 years ago. I had tried to quit many times before and wasn't even an everyday smoker which made me think I wouldn't have as hard a time quitting. I smoked for 20 years of my life, averaging about 4-5 packs a week. I tried auricular therapy twice. That didn't help.
    A few months later I started hanging around a few people that could not stand smoke, therefore I didn't want to smoke around them. I also have a child that I didn't want to smoke around and finally got it through my head that "enough is enough." I hated everything about smoking but the actual putting it in my mouth and smoking it part.
    I quit October 31, 2008. I've had a few slip ups after that and was scared to death that I'd go back to the habit... did not, thank GOD! My cravings were worse in the beginning and slowly decreased. I very rarely crave a cigarette now (like maybe twice a year) and it's only for a matter of split seconds, probably as long as the thought of wanting one. It does get easier! Don't fight it as one big monster, just go craving by craving. If you get through one (my sister used baby carrots to act like she was smoking... not in front of people of course... haha; I sometimes had to chew on a straw or go get a healthy snack or iced tea or something), the next one you can get through too. Wait out your craving using whatever works for you. Good luck and try to stay away from any triggers you know about. I had to stay away from gum for a while, as I would always chew gum when I smoked. You are stronger than your addiction. BELIEVE IT!!!
  • dlc27573
    dlc27573 Posts: 10
    From past experience (I quit for almost two years before picking up the habit again) the worst of the cravings are over after about a week. The change is subtle, and they will still hit you hard from time to time (making it feel like there's been no progress at all). Hang in there, be gentle with yourself, and remember why you want to quit every time you're tempted to pick one up! What you're doing is really hard, so be proud of yourself!
  • Nursey318
    Nursey318 Posts: 19 Member
    Is anyone else quitting smoking this new year? Today is my 3rd day and I had a pretty big slip up yesterday, but I can't beat myself up over just one day. How does everyone push through their cravings? After how many days has the cravings stopped for you? I'm in need of a little motivation and support. Help!

    Feel free to add me :)


    Drink water, water and more water!!! The cravings will be there for a while, but it is all in your head. Once the nicotine leaves your body, you have to break the habit. It's rough breaking up with someone. That's how you have to see it. Walking away from a bad relationship. Good luck and don't beat yourself up over the slip. Just don't give up!
  • TheVimFuego
    TheVimFuego Posts: 2,412 Member
    Allen Carr, Easy Way.

    You can't crave what you don't want.

    Quit after 20 years cold turkey.

    Good luck :)
  • acogg
    acogg Posts: 1,870 Member

    It's rough breaking up with someone. That's how you have to see it. Walking away from a bad relationship.

    I love this!
  • Guurl
    Guurl Posts: 28 Member
    You can do this! I quit cold turkey Aug 6, 2009. It wasn't easy - I thought about it - but after making it through each day - I knew if I went back I'd have to do that all over again! I'm not going to lie and say I still don't think about it - but now it's turned a corner - I'll never go back to doing that to my body or smelling like that again. I too was afraid of gaining weight - but lets face it - I was an over weight smoker as well !! Get on with it - a website I found useful is "Why Quit" - informative, supportive - all addicts like you and I.
    You can do this- take it one day at a time - one puff at a time "Never Take another Puff." - if you fall down today - quit again - keep at it until you have so many days behind yo that you never want to go back. Have a glass of water, go for a short walk. My personal opinion is cold turkey - no use replacing one craving with another - might as well "rip off the bandage" - but thats just me - I'm sure others have used nicotine replacement with success - what ever works as long as you don't stop trying.
    You CAN do this.
  • SGT_Reg
    SGT_Reg Posts: 186 Member
    Allen Carr, Easy Way.

    You can't crave what you don't want.

    Quit after 20 years cold turkey.

    Good luck :)


    This. My brother and his wife had great success with Allen Carr.
  • melly28
    melly28 Posts: 26
    Allen Carr, Easy Way.

    You can't crave what you don't want.


    I used the same way and it helped hugely! Good luck and keep up with it!
  • amills1152
    amills1152 Posts: 63 Member
    I myself and quitting for the new year as well - been smoking for the past 3 years or so. I've tried quitting a time or two over that time span, and actually did it for nearly a whole month last year, but here are things I've learned need to be avoided if you cave the minute temptation hits:

    1.) Hangin' with friends that are smokers - I'm not saying avoid them forever, but during the worst of the quitting process it's a must.

    2.) Drinking - I don't know about you, but the minute I have a sip of beer or booze, I INSTANTLY want a smoke.

    3.) Coffee - Same as above - sucks.

    I haven't gone a day without having at least one cigarette, usually after lunch because the only thing I can't avoid that makes me crave a cigarette, of course, is eating. I've recently resorted to a couple of little tricks to help me kick the habit, such as buying a pack of cigarettes I DETEST instead of my usuals. Makes me not wanna smoke quite so badly, especially the moment I take a drag and my first reaction is "ew." I've also started only smoking a half cigarette at a time - this might sound silly but when I get halfway through a smoke, say after lunch (or during coffee because while I say to avoid it, I don't follow my own advice on that one, boo-hiss!) I will take a pair of scissors and cut the cherry off and put the remainder back in the pack - that way I get the old gratification of having a smoke but don't smoke the whole thing and have a little halfsie for later if I can't control a craving. So far, this seems to be working, I've dramatically reduced my smoking since the new year this way, and I hope to be completely tobacco free by next month. Kudos and best of luck to everyone trying to quit <3
  • swanarae
    swanarae Posts: 52
    I smoked for 30 over years and I quit cold turkey 4 months ago. I LOVED smoking, & would smoke right now if not for a few things.
    1. I CAN BREATHE!!!
    2) My husband actually wants to be around me now that I no longer stink and I taste good (he quit 3 years ago)
    3. Physically I can do things I never would have believed possible for me in the shape I am in right now.....like jog for 30 min non-stop! or finish an 8.5 mile moderately difficult hike in just a few short hours.

    My situation is probably a bit different than most peoples. I actually did not want to quit smoking, but I made the decision to do so for my husband because my smoking was tearing our marriage apart. He quit 3 years ago and had turned into one of THOSE ex-smokers who absolutely despise anyone who smokes. (even tho he smoked for 20 years) but man am I reaping the benefits!!!
    Now that I no longer smoke
    My husband kisses me way more often because he now likes how I taste
    My husband actually prefers to sit beside me now that I do not smell bad.
    Our house and cars smell better
    I can get out and walk with him now that I can breathe
    I have actually lost weight instead of gained weight while quitting
    I have a better sense of smell.

    The first couple of weeks were actually easier for me than I ever would have believed. Week 3 was when I had my worst cravings.
    When I got an overwhelming craving for a cigarette I would close my eyes and so some deep breathing for a minute or two. That actually helped more than anything because I was inhaling strongly like I would when I would smoke, but without inhaling all of the bad stuff.

    I went to the grocery store and bought a package of straws and bought a bottle of cinnamon sticks.
    I cut the straws in half and would chew on them sometimes, and sometimes I would use a cinnamon stick for my cigarette.
    The cinnamon stick has the added benefit of making your breath smell good :)
    I also tried chewing on pens, but ended up getting a mouth full of ink when one of them burst on me because I did not take out the piece that had the ink in it.
    I also bought some sugar free jolly ranchers suck on and some gum to chew.

    I still have cravings when doing certain things that I normally smoke while doing them, when I get stressed out, or when I get mad at my kids or if I get bored. I just deal with them each craving as they come along. When the craving hits I grab a straw or a cinnamon stick. (I actually still keep some at my office, in my car and at home)

    I had tried several times before to quit and none of the ways worked.
    I tried the patch (it gave me hives and heart palpitations) tried the gum, tried zyban (twice) none of them worked for me. I obviously was just not quite ready to quit yet.

    When you are really ready you will be able to quit. Something will get to you and you will be able to make the transition to non-smoker. I just hope it is NOT like me and it is 30 years later when you have missed out on so much because you smoked.

    I wish you the best of luck on your endeavor and will be glad to be supportive of you while you attempt this wonderful thing. You will not regret the benefits you receive from quitting.
  • grillingirl
    grillingirl Posts: 81 Member
    I quit smoking just over 6 years ago after smoking for 33 years. It was the best thing I ever did for myself. Never felt better! But it took my husband passing away (from a heart problem) before I was able to do it. I used the patch and it really helped with the cravings. Good luck to you!!!

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