I Quit

Took chantix, been smoke free for over a year now..

Congratulations!! I quit smoking 2.5 years ago, and it is the best/hardest life change I have ever made. It is so worth it for the health reasons, your sense of smell and taste will improve drastically, lung capacity, and just feeling better over all. I did put on weight as most people do, but I wasn't active at the time. I kept a pen or pencil around, a tooth pick, anything I could hold. suckers satisfy the oral and hand fixation. Whenever I was in the car (when I smoked the most) I kept the windows rolled up and sang really, obnoxiously loud to keep my mind off it. It's hard at first, but every day that goes by you think of it less and less. Staying active will really help with keeping off those pounds, and keeping your mind off it. Think about it, it's a lot harder to run and work out if you can't breath!! Great job, keep it up. It is so worth the hardship!!

Good for you for making the decision to quit! I quit two and a half years ago. I took Chantix for about 12 days to aid in quitting.

I carried twizzlers with me everywhere I went! And dranks lots and lots of water!!!!

Best of luck to you!

I quit July 24, 2009. I did it cold turkey. At first, I sucked on candy but after a coupe months, I was fine.

Dumb Dumbs!!!! I'm not calling you one....I'm saying to go get a bag of dumb dumb suckers! Probably not the best for calories but it's perfect for that hand movement addiction. You suck on the dumb dumb when you get a craving. Eventually you are going to start pulling the sucker of and just putting the stick in you mouth and hands.....then eventually you will get tired of having a slimy grose stick in your hand and you are basically over the addiction at that point. I quit cold turkey and used this method. It also gives you a different taste to expect. So when you actually smoke again and it doesn't taste like a dumb dumb it really makes you wanna irk!

Good luck!

And for those of you who don't know what dumb dumbs are, it's a sucker (lollipop).

I used Chantix for 30 days to quit....it was the only thing that actually CHANGED my habits. It forces you to actually....and picked up knitting and beadwork to keep my hands busy. I still use the knitting and beadwork to keep my hands and head busy at night to keep myself from snacking, I haven't touched a cigarette since and it's been over 3 years. (I smoked for over 15 years)

I quit smoking almost 6 years ago. It was the hardest thing I ever did. I did chew nicotine gum, but only when I really wanted a cigarette.
And, I want to say, Good for you!
My advice, and it's different for everyone, but you know, be nice to yourself. If you smoked for a long time it became a coping mechanism and you'll learn new ways of coping with everyday stress but then something will happen and you have a cigarette, just give yourself a break, you slipped up, you don't have to start smoking again, just learn from it and move on.
Some people suggest avoiding your triggers but I don't think that you have to. for instance, I always had a cigarette when I got into my car after work, but after two weeks of not smoking, I got all the way home and I hadn't thought about a cigarette, the brain forms new associations. so drinking, I drank alcohol, but after awhile, it didn't remind me of smoking, the brain forms new associations.
So take some time for yourself and manage stress and take it one day at a time:flowerforyou:

chewed copious amounts of Thrive gum (way better than nicorette) 3 years now smoke free... I worked out like a mad woman, and was heavily into whitewater kayaking so I literally couldn't smoke, and when I was off the water my lungs burned from the work so smoking just hurt like hell. Biking also was key. SO really just heavy excercise that makes your lungs burn. lol.

i guit almost 5 years ago using the nicorette inhilator... took less than to weeks to fully quit... although the cravings were worst for first 4 days i found it pretty easy as i could almost use it like a real cgarette so my hands always had something to do... the downside was to replace the cravings i ate myself 6 stone heavier... took me 18 months to work it off.. wish i knew about this site then to have kept me on track... good luck to you in whatever you decide

Chantix and chewing gum, stride usually since it lasts longer. I also started the couch to 5k running app, which at first was hard due to the lack of breath!!! But you work your way up, I am motivated to stay not smoking through eating well and the exercise is a bonus because I dont want to smoke because it drains me, and i want to exercise because it helps me lose weight rather than gain. Hope that helps. Good luck

I just quit in November!!! yay! Congrats on one of the best choices that you will ever make in your LIFE. I am so happy that I did I gaine about 15lbs though, but now it is easier for me to work out for longer at the gym with out getting out of breath so soon into an hour routine Good luck and keep up the good work!!!!!!!

I kept a list of all the reasons I wanted to quit and kept it with me, always. When a craving struck, I would look at the list. I also seriously threw myself in to exercise. I needed to replace my triggers for smoking with something else (used to smoke when I was bored, sad, mad, etc)....so I turned to exercise. Instead of reaching for a cigarette when I had my triggers, I would exercise instead. That will help with any weight gain. I quit cold turkey, and it worked for me after a 16 year, pack a day habit.