How to quit?

jrh5249
jrh5249 Posts: 28
edited September 22 in Health and Weight Loss
I have been smoking for over three years now. It has mostly been a few a day, however i have gone weeks into monthes smoking a pack a day. I have tried to quit cold turkey at least 20 times. Nothing seems to work. Maybe i just dont have it in me to quit, or maybe there is just a smarter way to go about it than just cutting my body off. Any advice would be extremely helpful, however a) i am addicted, and b) i dont need reminded that cigarrettes will eventually kill me.... i know. That being said i would appreciate any suggestions or ideas that have worked for anyone in the past.

Replies

  • lilRicki
    lilRicki Posts: 4,555 Member
    I'm on champix...i've tried and tried to quit...although i'm not a heavy smoker...i still loved that one after work...or that one after supper...most people told me that i should be able to quit cold turkey because i only smoked 6 a day...but it doesn't matter how many you smoke, it's the fact that you're addicted...so i ate the gum, wore the patch, sucked on suckers, etc...nothing worked...then i took champix...no weight gain, no cravings, nothing...and when you do have a smoke, it's so horrid that you don't want to smoke again...i recommend going the full three months...but after that you seriously won't even think about smoking anymore...i liked it...little side effects (one or two lucid dreams, but not like the patch)...good luck my friend...it's tough
  • neasy23
    neasy23 Posts: 47
    I think you are talking about chantix. Definetely a big help, cuts your cravings down dramatically. Quitnet is a great site too!
  • millerll
    millerll Posts: 873 Member
    I used an electronic cigarette. I smoked heavy for 30 years, and I've been off tobacco for 15 months now. No cravings or withdrawals for me. It worked great. Don't buy the mall kiosk ones - they're poor quality and rip-offs. Same for the "free" ones advertised on the radio. The give you the cig for free, then over-charge your credit card for refill cartridges you can get yourself for a lot less.

    A good starter kit can be found on-line for $50 or less, plus shipping. A good quality one that is popular is the Joye 510 model. Goggle that and give it a try. Make sure you order some liquid to refill the cartridge with as the ones that come with it only last so long. Good luck!
  • Roxie65
    Roxie65 Posts: 155 Member
    My husband smoked for 31 years took started chantix last September getting ready to celebrate 1 year smoke free.
  • barryalanday
    barryalanday Posts: 1 Member
    For me, I quit cold turkey.It was not a process of "one day I woke up and no longer smoked". I hated being a smoker. It no longer fit the life I wanted to lead. I began to view it as an obsticle. I picked a day and stopped smoking. I used online resources, I called friends, whatever it takes not to take a puff for that day, hour, minute, split second. Once I made one day, I did the same thing I did before.

    DO NOT SMOKE TODAY.

    Gradually it gets easier and easier.

    Best of luck! You can do it. If you are willing to keep trying.
  • just4peachy
    just4peachy Posts: 594 Member
    I've heard really great things about Chantix BUT sometimes the side effects can be severe. My boyfriend had several of them(insane dreams, psychotic mood swings, insomnia) so badly that he had to quit taking it.
    I'm guessing it really depends on the person, a co-worker of mine used it and had zero side effects.

    No matter what you end up using, good luck!!
  • lilRicki
    lilRicki Posts: 4,555 Member
    lol it's champix in canada, but same thing...exact same drug...and yeah it works well
  • lina1131
    lina1131 Posts: 2,246 Member
    I quit cold turkey and have been smoke free for 15 months. I just got to the point where I hated it and it felt so nasty. I woke up and was like WTF I am so over this and just quit. There have been a couple of times where I thought a cigarette would be nice (with a cup of coffee or something) but I didn't want it bad enough to start up again. It's so worth it when you quit.
  • jrkingery
    jrkingery Posts: 107 Member
    I quit a little over 6 years ago using the Nicoderm CQ patch. But that was just to stave off the cravings of the first month or so. The real secret, like weight loss, is that you have to WANT to quit. It takes commitment and self discipline. I quit smoking for the same reasons that I'm now losing weight, because I want to be around for my wife and family for a very long time to come.
  • gambitsgurl
    gambitsgurl Posts: 632 Member
    I have a warped sense of humor so I'm going to try to post this screen cap I just got




    <img src="http://i569.photobucket.com/albums/ss139/gambitsgirl/lol.jpg?t=1286906958"&gt;
  • gambitsgurl
    gambitsgurl Posts: 632 Member
    dangit


    http://i569.photobucket.com/albums/ss139/gambitsgirl/lol.jpg?t=1286906958
  • gambitsgurl
    gambitsgurl Posts: 632 Member
    last test

    I give up

    :-(

    fail


    :embarassed:
  • bakergirl62
    bakergirl62 Posts: 248 Member
    Chantix worked wonders for me.
  • hill242
    hill242 Posts: 412 Member
    I don't know if this is a feasible option, but you can quit cold turkey much easier if you are not in your normal environment when you stop smoking. When I quit, I smoked my last cigarette the night before I left for vacation. I didn't take any cigarettes with me on the trip, and I just resolved not to break down and buy any. It helped that my vacation partner was a non smoker as well. I stayed so busy on the trip that I just didn't have any real weak moments. One week later we returned and I never went back to the ol' habit. Just a thought...
  • Sezmo83
    Sezmo83 Posts: 331 Member
    For me, I quit cold turkey.It was not a process of "one day I woke up and no longer smoked". I hated being a smoker. It no longer fit the life I wanted to lead. I began to view it as an obsticle. I picked a day and stopped smoking. I used online resources, I called friends, whatever it takes not to take a puff for that day, hour, minute, split second.
    Pretty much what I did. I went to the doctors and got patches and gum but forgot to put the patches on and the gum made me feel sick so I had something like 2 pieces and that was it. Cigarette free for 3 and a half years now. Finding something to do with my hands helped. Computer games, making friendship bracelets out of weird plasticy stuff, whatever I could.

    Good luck quitting.
  • BexC
    BexC Posts: 53
    Sorry, Im another one for cold turkey! I just stopped and I tell you what the first 2 weeks were near enough unbearable but its worked for me! What ever you do good luck giving up x
  • just4peachy
    just4peachy Posts: 594 Member
    last test

    I give up

    :-(

    fail


    :embarassed:

    Not a fail, the second is a copy/paste-able link :drinker:

    I saw the same thing and it made me giggle.
  • Fliegenschwein
    Fliegenschwein Posts: 232 Member
    Cold turkey for me too after 30 years. I`ve heard the patches are good, if you stick one on each eye you cant find your ciggies :laugh:

    Anyway , best of luck with giving up :smile:
  • monica2410
    monica2410 Posts: 124 Member
    I used Champix this time (they call it that here too). I have previously quit using group theraphy and even though I started smoking again after 2 years, this was definitely a personal choice (yes I was crazy!). The group theraphy was the best, our group leader was a psychologist using us as guinea pigs for his doctrate. This time with Champix I got vivid dreams, couldn't sleep and was beginning to become psychotic. But it did make it easier for me to quit though even though I only took the course for four weeks.
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