Quitting smoking

shellebelle87
shellebelle87 Posts: 291 Member
in Motivation and Support
I want to quit smoking, but I find it so hard! I usually go a week without one, then it hits the weekend and I want one so bad :mad: and I get cranky as well without them but so far havnt started eating to replace cigarettes. I really want to quit but find it incredibly difficult,, even with the Nicabate patches. If anyone has advice please let me know!!!

Replies

  • chuckles217
    chuckles217 Posts: 123 Member
    Look into prescription chantix to help. It has some odd side effects but overall is very successful in those with an intent to stop.

    Most people I know just snap one day and quit cold turkey. Cravings are bad, but once you get over the hump its manageable.
  • shellebelle87
    shellebelle87 Posts: 291 Member
    I cant have Champix unfortunately, it messes with your moods and I'm a moody ***** now lol so it wouldnt be a good option for me :(

    I just need someone to stand there and yell at me if I try to have a cigarette lol I dont know if i can make it longer then a week on my own.
  • xraychick77
    xraychick77 Posts: 1,775 Member
    i found it was all about will power. i did however use wellbutrin for about a month after i quit.

    i set a date, about a month out..i reduced my smoking every day until i reached my offical quit date, after that i have never picked another up. i didnt find it particularly hard to quit. i think society puts into our heads its soooo hard to quit so we already have it preprogramed to fail.

    if you want it, really want it you find a way.
  • kiwigal7
    kiwigal7 Posts: 13 Member
    I quit, a week ago today actually. But I used hypnotherapy. I feel great, not even a single craving. Its awesome. Maybe see if someone near you does it, its worth it for sure.
  • solskinnzombie
    solskinnzombie Posts: 122 Member
    I quit cold turkey 5 months ago. It was very hard. Continue to take smoke breaks without smoking, it is subconsciously a period of meditation and relaxation. Color, clean, craft, keep your hands and mind busy while chewiing gum or suckig hard candy. Have supportive people to talk with under high pressure but dont beat yourself up if you giv3 in, just pick up where you left off and remember you are a strong happy nonsmoker. ;)
  • solskinnzombie
    solskinnzombie Posts: 122 Member
    Also..n the first week is the hardest. It gets considerably easier once you make it over the hump.
  • deadgirl81
    deadgirl81 Posts: 412 Member
    I know I should give up smoking, but I want to - but don't at the same time. I am trying to cut down though, so thats a start :) but well done to all of you who have given up or are in the process of giving up (Worse thing is I went on holiday last year for 2 weeks, and didnt smoke at all in that time - soon as I got back to England and to work, back on them :( )
  • deniserenee_02
    deniserenee_02 Posts: 158 Member
    E-Cigarette works
  • taunto
    taunto Posts: 6,420 Member
    Allow me to share how I quit.

    I got sick, regular fever and cough and cold and what not but this lasted for about a month. When I get sick, I dont like to smoke. So for about a month I didnt smoked. When I got better, I just never really bothered buying anymore packs. There were temptations but not enough to make me go outside and buy a pack.

    Forward 4 years, I got hit by some major life altering stressful situations. FOUR FREAKING YEARS later I picked up cigerrettes again. I smoked for about 4-5 months and then one day I just said "screw it, time to quit again" and I have been cig free sinec last summer.

    Moral of the story, its easy to quit, but very hard to quit forever. Keep attempting and you will endup doing it for a long time atleast.
    No method is better than other. Just keep trying, keep putting it down. I told all my friends that I'm quitting and they tried to honor it and the one who was a pain in the *kitten* and would offer cigs to me just made me mad at him and I would just yell at him for being childish
  • tami101
    tami101 Posts: 617 Member
    I quit smoking on October 14, 2011. I used an electronic cigarette whenever the cravings got too bad. Now I don't even need it anymore. I also chewed lots of gum and sucked on peppermints. I hope this helps you. I am so happy to be a non-smoker and i feel so much better! Good Luck!
  • yogibella
    yogibella Posts: 321 Member
    If you can already go a week without one, then you are on your way to quitting for good. What triggers you on the weekends? Drinking? Partying? Relaxing with other smokers? Stress relief? Etc? Look into that and see if changing the behaviors or the scene helps. Also how much do you smoke on the weekends now? When I quit years ago, I didn't go cold turkey--I tapered off with fewer and fewer until like you, I could go a several days, a week, then longer until I gave in to a craving. But that last resort craving was also at first a couple, then fewer, then one...until none altogether. For some reason, sipping on seltzer water with lemon helped! (and diet pepsi which is the only time I ever really drank the stuff) Instead of beating yourself up about it or feeling guilty for giving in, just keep working on a plan and keep trying. Eat healthy. Exercise. And eventually you'll be able to shake it off for good. Good luck!!
  • gemiwing
    gemiwing Posts: 1,525 Member
    It took five tries to get over smoking. Sometimes it's still rough- a pretty Summer day and a table of friends outside a restaurant- those were my favorite times to smoke. It is easier now because I've built up time as a non-smoker. I've been through horrible days, great days, touching moments- even boredom- all without a cig.

    I used nicorette gum (patches weren't enough for this 2.5 pack a day smoker! lol) AND used their online program which helped immensely.

    There are several factors at play when stopping smoking. Nicotine cravings stop at around 48 hours- the sweating, nausea and diarrhea are over by the third day for most folks. What's next is the craving for the action- for me it was while being online. Computer equaled cig to me. If I got tired and wanted a break- cig. If I was happy- cig. If I was sad- cig. You get the idea. So I moved things around. Stood at the computer instead. Stopped coffee for a month (no caffeine at all) because it triggered my cravings. Water and mints and tons of nicorette gum.

    Strange thing is around a month 'clean' I got worse cravings for something I couldn't name. I didn't want the nicotine high I wanted the inhalation of the smoke. Now I don't know what all is in ciggs -but I'm betting there's more addictive things in ciggs than just nicotine. I was craving the smoke of a cig- not the nicotine because I was getting nicotine from my gum.

    I have asthma now from smoking and when I'm having trouble breathing I also crave a smoke- not the nicotine again- but the smoke. Something about how it temporarily opened up my lungs. I take Singulair (when we can afford it :grumble: anyway) and that helps keep my cravings down MUCH more than gum and mints.

    I smoked 2.5 packs a day for 15 years. You can quit- it's hard but it does get easier. :)
  • DarrellHodge
    DarrellHodge Posts: 71
    I quit over a year ago. I was a cigar smoker and the habit was costing me about $400.00 a month. I know everybody is different but I just woke up one day ad decided that I was done with smoking(I did the same thing with drinking a few years ago) When I first stopped, I had a setback two weeks later during the holidays. Try your best to not smoke for two weeks, wash all the clothes in your closet and anthing else with the smell of smoke. You will start to become very sensitive to the smell and get disgusted by it. I still keep acking people why they didn't tell me that I had that horrible smeel following me around. If you decide to try medication, beware of the depression side affects; many have had thoughts of suicide. Some have commited suicide because of the drug.


    Good luck on your quest. I believe that if you truly want to stop, then you will. You have to want it, set your goal and do not take your eye off of the prize!
  • shellebelle87
    shellebelle87 Posts: 291 Member
    Thank you all for your advice!

    My trigger is usually sitting down on a weekend and my partner will have a cigarette so I'think there's no harm in one, then two, and I go like that for a few days until I just give in and buy a pack. I have cut down quite a bit from what I used to smoke so hopefully if i keep cutting down then eventually I will stop and not want to go back. It will just be hard if I go out for drinks, because drinks = smoking, something very soothing about the two of them together lol but I want to cut down on drinking - and have - so maybe being on here and changing my life around will do the trick this time.
  • dreamzvt
    dreamzvt Posts: 96
    Great post, I need to save this. I have a date in mind. April 7, 2012.

    2012 is my year of change. April 7th happens to be a very significant ending date in my life. So I figure it's the best possible date to end another significant cycle.


    And my son will be watching me from above. (and my boyfriend) They were both buried on that day. It was the end...

    For me not the death itself was the end, but for a few days I thought it was a nightmare, literally. The end was when they were in the ground and I had to walk away.

    BTW, 1996 was when that happening, healing is imminent. Forgetting is never.
  • PrincessLou71186
    PrincessLou71186 Posts: 741 Member
    I was quite lucky, I decided I was not going to smoke again on November 15th 2011 and had my last cigarette then. I haven't craved/wanted/desired one since.

    My hubby on the other hand, I tried getting him to quit, (for anyone who will say "he needs to do it in his own time", he needs to quit soon or we won't be able to continue with fertility treatments) and it simply wasn't working. We both heard good things about Allen Carrs Easy Way To Quit Smoking. Hubby is reading it at the moment. Many people have had success with it. You can get in on Amazon for £5.52/$11.55.

    Good luck. X
  • StrawberrySt
    StrawberrySt Posts: 235
    I've quit smoking recently (1st February 2012) YAY!

    Previously I had tried patches, Zyban, cold turkey, Allen Car's book etc etc. And I always went back to smoking again...

    This time I went to my Dr and we cam up with a plan that would keep me on track. I am using Champix and they say it can trigger depression if you have previously suffered but I am monitoring it and it has worked for me.

    I think the most important thing is being at a stage in your life where you have the determination and the willpower to keep at it no matter what. I did find Allen Car's bok very helpful and would recommend it as it makes you look at your smoking in a different way. You have to be accountable for your smoking.

    My first week quitting I drove to the shops to by a packet. Then I sat in my car and drove home. I was so close to giving in but I pushed through it.

    One thing you could do is when you crave a cigarette, go for a 5/10 minute walk instead. You will still be doing something which can help with distractions and stress and then afterwards decide if you still want that cigarette. Best of all, you can log your exercise into MFP!

    Good Luck!!

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