Crawling the Walls...

Like I stated in your status I quit smoking 2 years ago after an 11 year pack a day habit. I quit cold turkey because I would try to smoke on top of the patch (lol) which ya know isn't good. To successfully quit I gave up drinking alcohol for a while because as you know drinking and smoking seem to go hand in hand, and I kept things like sugar free gum and sugar free candy around to keep my mouth busy when I felt the urge for a smoke. Nicotine IS addictive but the habit of smoking (like first thing in the morning with coffee, after meals etc..) is harder to break at least IMO. During those moments I'd chew gum, drink water,or suck on ice, or do something active (like going for a walk) in an attempt to fight the craving/break the habit. The first few days are always difficult but once you make it past the first 2 weeks it should get easier. Having supportive friends (who don't smoke or are trying to quit with you) help a lot as well.

Good luck girly! :flowerforyou:

I gave up smoking by going cold turkey 3 years + ago. I found staying away from other smokers helped. Once you get through the first few days, it gets easier.

Good luck.

I smoked 2 packs a day and quit cold turkey. I went crazy for 2 days then it got easier. I just had to want it bad enough. Prayed alot.!that was 25 years ago.

I have not had a cig since the night of Feb 13th .... I cant do the patch due to being allergic to it ... I tried the gum in the past and that didnt work so now I am doing it COLD TURKEY ...so far so good ...GOOD LUCK to you :happy:

I quit a 20-30 ciggies a day habit, 12 years ago by going cold turkey.

The hardest thing for me was breaking the habit of stopping my mind planning the next cigarette break (ie. Walk to bus-stop (have a cigarette), catch bus, get off at work bus-stop (have a cigarette), tea break (have a cigarette), lunchbreak (have a cigarette) etc etc) Most of those cigarettes, I didn't even enjoy, I just did it because I knew it would be an hour or two until my next opportunity. There were, of course, many cigarettes I did enjoy after dinner, with coffee etc.

My mindset changed when I realised that I planned my whole life literally round these blasted bits of paper, foam and leaves. I just didn't want my life ruled by the damn things anymore. Plus, the cost was going up and up and I really couldn't justify it anymore.

I had to wait for a day when I realised that was IT! No more. And I did it. I had to still go out for a break but instead of smoking, I ate a piece of fruit as it takes roughly the same amount of time. So I ate 5lbs of fruit a day (probably :laugh: ) but I guess that was better than smoking and I also still had a 'break'. Overtime, I are less fruit, stopped for breaks less often and started to hate, I mean, really HATE the smell of cigarette smoke :sick: .

Now I can smell it at 100 paces and feel completely sick. My kids will never be able to smoke and try and get away with it! (I will kill them if they ever do!! :mad: )

Anyway, good luck with your no smoking. However you give up, (with gum, patches) etc if it helps you not to smoke, that's great. If they aren't working for you, don't use them. What is important is that every hour, every day, every month, your body will thank you that you are not smoking.

Take care. x

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I just joined MFP this week... Quit smoking 30 yrs ago, cold turkey, after trying various methods of the day to quit. Being ready was number 1 motivator to quit and you can do it! I am working on improving my eating habits and quitting the bad ones I have developed which have become addictions. Hope this community will help me with support! It's nice to see so many large number weight losses! Good luck to all.

I applaud you for trying. Perhaps try a lower level of patch. I smoked for the most part since I was 12. I was 45 when I decided I really had to quit because as a diabetic it is a really good way to become an amputee. I did fairly good that first 6 months. I used chantix and it was pretty painless. Almost all of my friends smoke and my husband smokes. Eventually, I would have just a drag here and a drag there and then something bad happened in life and I started full blown smoking again. After a couple months I decided I really had to do it this time. I went cold turkey. I just woke up one morning with no plan in mind and decided it was now.

The one thing I did different this time was I had a stern talk with myself. I realized I was a drug addict and as a nicotine junkie I was allowing a drug to control my life and slowly killing myself with my drug. I can never have just one drag anymore than a heroin addict can shoot up once in a while.

It was really hard the first week but I kept picturing myself in a wheel chair with no legs. I thought of all the people I've met in life who have severe health problems from smoking and yet continued to smoke despite the amputations, oxy tank, having tongues or lips removed due to cancer of the mouth. Ya, I really wanted to be like that.

Changing patterns is important. Figure out your smoking times and find something else to do. Don't drink, that seems to be the universal trigger for everyone. Start a good exercise program. I have found that if I do serious, lung burning stuff like high impact aerobics or running it makes me want to smoke less.

To top off my struggles with quitting you have to imagine what it is like to live with a guy who smokes in the house and car. He has never quit and continues to smoke around me yet somehow I still quit.

You have to be determined. You have to pick yourself up if you fail. You have to accept that it is likely you will gain a few pounds when you first quit but a good exercise program will really help with that and will give you something else to do. It has been nearly 1.5 yrs since I quit. After about 30 years of smoking I feel wonderful. I run 5 miles several times a week which isn't too shabby being I'm 47 and haven't run since I was in my 20s. You can do it, you just need to keep trying until you succeed. Realize that the physical craving will go away in a few days, it is the habit part you have to break.