Ex-smokers! I need some advice to help me quit

seeing my grandma dying for emphysema and my mother suffering with it also was my motivation and I seriously can't even stand to smell cigs now you can do it if you really want to

Quitting smoking is tough. But in all honesty it comes down to one thing; do you really want to quit?
If you still really enjoy it then it's gonna be very hard.
Personally I just decided one day I didn't want to smoke anymore. I hadn't really been enjoying it for a while and I had a check-up at the hospital and I came through with a clean bill of health so I thought I should just stop and I will have got away with it.
That was about 10 years ago. I certainly don't have any cravings to smoke. I'd been smoking since I was about 8. Smoking about 10-20 a day from about 13. I'm 44 now.
My wife was just the same. She just stopped one day and never said a thing. That was about 9 years ago. She has never touched a ciggie since.
But you have to want to. Don't stop because others tell you to. Forget patches, hypnotherapy and other nonsense. It's about you. Do it because you want to. Because you are strong.
Good luck. I tell you this, the world smells and tastes a whole lot better once you have knocked smoking on the head.

I tried the chantix, and it make me want to eat everything in sight. I then went to wellbutrin and the patch and it worked well for me.

I'm a huge advocate of the Cold Turkey Method. Smokers don't want to hear that because it's hard, but I think weaning yourself or using nic supplements just prolong the misery. I smoked for sixteen years and when I wanted to quit, there was nothing I wanted more. I just decided that was it and it was.
Now, just remember, the urges and the temptations are there and they stick around for several weeks, but each day gets easier. After about a week (a week of hell) you will never want to turn around and go back because your over a huge hurdle. The hurdles get smaller and easier after that. After about a month, you still may have a few urges here and there, but nothing like the first week or so. And then before you know it, the urges are gone, you feel great, your super proud of yourself and there's no turning back.

I am a patch baby!! I was up to 2 packs a day so I was too scared to quit cold turkey. I wasn't too proud to say "I need help".

I hate to say it but my number one drive to quite several years ago was $$!! I calculated how much I was spending on 2 packs a day for 15 years and felt so stupid!

What also helped me too was my surroundings. If you work or hang out with people that you are used to smoking with it will make things so difficult because your mind always will associate the two together. You will just have to offend some people and be selfish so that you can be strong...if they are friends they will understand and support you.

I am also not a "cut back" type of person...I'm either in or out. It takes 28 days to break a habit...so for those 28 days you have to avoid putting yourself in "weak" situations.

Wishing you the best of luck & stay strong...you won't regret it!

Hey there,
When I started this journey I told myself I'd lose the first 14lbs and then give up smoking. Well I've now lost 40lbs and I'm still smoking. I just can't seem to kick the habit.

Any advice on things I can do to make it a little easier?

I quit smoking 6mos ago with the help of Chantix. I agree - made things much easier! I also found the side effects I experienced (vivid and intense dreams, some AM nausea if I didn't eat before taking it) were mild considering a slow death by lung cancer and emphysema later in life.

Another thing that helped me when I had cravings... find something to occupy your hands. I crochet. I write. I do anything that requires my hands get busy! My husband had more problems with this, he kept suckers around for when his cravings would strike.

Good luck - remember: You can do this, you are stronger than you think, and if you WANT it, you WILL MAKE IT SO!!!

My last cigarette was Dec. 31st, 2005. A number of things "helped" me allow the cravings and urges to pass through me and beyond me, but there were only two things that "worked" for me to quit smoking.

1. I did not give myself the option to smoke another cigarette. I decided that, no matter how hellish it became, I was done. Period. Prior to making this decision, I would be a nervous wreck when I was having a strong craving. After making this decision, I simply treated myself as a small child having a temper tantrum. I spoke sternly to myself internally and said "We don't DO that anymore." and then stuck to it.

2. I did not hide my cigarettes from myself. I knew doing so would only prove that I could do without cigarettes so long as they were removed from my site or inaccessible. I wanted to be well and truly quit. I kept a nearly-full pack in my freezer for almost 2 years after I quit.

Things that really seemed to help me ride out the cravings included the scent of cinnamon and transferring my addictive behavior to a healthier one. I didn't do as well with the second as I did with the first, which is why I'm here trying to lose weight. If you can, though, every time you think you want a cigarette, inhale as if you were smoking one. Your body needs the oxygen and yet it's not used to getting as much as it is. That's one of the reasons you feel light-headed.

If you want a good community of people to quit with, I recommend QuitNet.

:-D

here are some facts from the aha. i went to a seminar the first time i quit and again several years later. these will give you immediate hope and encouragement. you don't have to wait until you get old to reap the benefits of kicking the habit

In 20 minutes your blood pressure will drop back down to normal.
In 8 hours the carbon monoxide (a toxic gas) levels in your blood stream will drop by half, and oxygen levels will return to normal
In 48 hours your chance of having a heart attack will have decreased. All nicotine will have left your body. Your sense of taste and smell will return to a normal level.
In 72 hours your bronchial tubes will relax, and your energy levels will increase.
In 2 weeks your circulation will increase, and it will continue to improve for the next 10 weeks.
In three to nine months coughs, wheezing and breathing problems will dissipate as your lung capacity improves by 10%.
In 1 year your risk of having a heart attack will have dropped by half.
In 5 years your risk of having a stroke returns to that of a non-smoker.
In 10 years your risk of lung cancer will have returned to that of a non-smoker.
In 15 years your risk of heart attack will have returned to that of a non-smoker.

yeah, i posted way back there but just thought this may help anyone trying to quit. the american heart association and american lung association both have nice websites to get info and help from

it's easy to say "if i can do it, you can do it"... with me it's pretty much true. EVERYONE had lost hope of me ever quitting.. until i did ... after, honestly, at least 100 attempts and after smoking for over 50 years :flowerforyou:

ps: for anyone planning on going to work for a non-smoking company (such as alaska airlines and many more) enough nicotine can remain in your blood for up to 2 weeks that it can be detected by a drug test

Meditate 3 min every day. I used to smoke 1 pack and a half per day. I have not smoked anymore ever since i tried meditation. Good luck!

Nine weeks of Chantix and running worked for me. And the absolute knowledge that this time I really, for real, wanted to quit. It's been almost a year. :bigsmile:

I quit Dec 31st, been using the patch and then gum occassionally... figure its better than smoking... I had been a closet smoker for 30+ years. Guess it took me a long time to 'be ready', I had to do alot of 'self talking', and avoid the family who smokes for the first 2 weeks... I guess the big thing helping me is, I'm showing people you can quit smoking and loose weight... just watch me : )
PS, if any of You need any support, I'm here for you, just friend me.

I have all sorts of advice, but I don't use it for myself.
I wish you the best. It's probably the hardest thing you can do in your life, but I am sure, for me, the obsession with food and feelings and boredom are all tied together with the nicotine thing.

I'm NOT an ex-smoker but I always admire and respect the courage for those who are successful in kicking that habit. One husband & wife couple, in recent years, told me they used CHANTIX. There are some risks in using that drug (prescription only) so you need to work closely with your physician and monitor side effects and interactions with presently used medications as well as medical conditions.

It is not a wise move to have MFP friends "play Doctor". Some of us are either active or retired health professionals but you are best advised and monitored by your own physician.

You have taken that first big step...the motivation to stop that behavior. You have my best wishes, support and prayers. I believe in your ability to succeed. And, you WILL succeed when you find the best program that you design that works for you.

yes down a glass of water when you feel the urge OR

put a elastic ban on your wrist and pull on it then let it go as many times as you wish

omg i am gonna use this when i crave really bad things like chocolate lol

I have been smoke free for a little over 1 year. I smoked myself sick, 3 cigarettes at a time, for a whole pack so that my body physically wouldnt want them and when i was done with the pack I didn't have cravings and used the exercise to divert my attention away from smoking.