Decided to quit smoking...whose with me?!? Tips WELCOME!!

[silkydragon]

my mom has quit several times for 3months at a time the only tips she ever wanted where cigerret tips

 

[Katy]

I quit almost 36 years ago. I quit cold turkey from 2 packs a day to none. It wasn't easy and even today if I had one I'd probably be right back to smoking. I really don't have any good tips or advice other than just keep looking at the end result.....remind yourself how much better you'll feel and the money you'll save.

 

[Cindiloohoo]

Fowltemptress Good to see you have something to brag about! Congrats to mom!! Good idea about the money too...instant gratification for doing what I should do anyway

Equus That's great you two are together on this! I wish my DH would with me!

silkydragon Maybe one day she'll actually DO IT!

Katy Thanks for the encouragement! The end result is it's own reward!

 

[Hillbilly Hen]

Years ago when my mom tried to quit thru a program, she was advised to increase her vitamin C, eating orances, or drinking orange juice,that it would help. It did help but she later went back to smoking. Many years later she found out that she had lung cancer and had part of her lung removed. That helped her to quit for good, along with the nicotine gum. Less than a year later she passed away, she was only 56.
Good luck to those trying to quit, I pray that you are successful.

 

[seismic wonder2]

I've helped a few people quit.

The first four days, you have nicotein dependant cravings, mood swings, anger, frustration, nervousness,etc... so warn friends and family to steer clear. From then on it's NOT the chemicals making you crave a smoke, it's a habit thing. You MUST break the habit chain.
You have to figure out WHAT makes you grab a smoke.

Is it driving?
Is it drinking?
bored at work so grab a smoke?
For me it was the smell of a Zippo flame and the "ting" the lid makes.
For some it's the "after a meal smoke"
Do your friends smoke?-you may have to ditch them for a while.
What ever your trigger is, avoid it like the plague!!! at least for a month.

The day you decide to quit, WASH ALL YOUR CLOTHES. Even the clean ones. right now, since you smoke you can't smell it, but everything you own smells like smoke. Even your kids' stuff.
If you don't believe me, ask one of your REAL friends (that are non-smokers) to be completely honest with you.
A REAL friend will tell you you reek. The OTHERS will just say "Oh no! you can hardly tell at all."

Buy 5 or 6 bottles of fabreeze and de-scent EVERYTHING in your house AND CAR!!! Don't forget the closets and any storage spaces you have...trust me, they stink too.

Buy mass quantities of fruits and veggies that can be munched on raw... You'll need a "hand to mouth" substitution for smoking.
Get a good qulaity multivitamin and take one at breakfast and one at lunch.

Next., you are going to cough. A LOT. You probably have several years of crud built up in your lungs and it has to get out.
ALSO your lungs will be beginning to heal themselves, that means a build up of mucus. You be coughing up grabage for three or four months.
Just remember you'll be better for it so let the phlem fly!

Finally and most important....EXERCISE!!!

Get out and enjoy your new non-smoking lifestyle!
Go for long walks at first. You have to build up your new lung power.
Play with the kids.
Walk the dog.
go running,
enter a race.

Then go visit a lung cancer patient. And Be thankful you quit.

 

[Joz]

When I started skating in the roller derby, I was still smoking (10 years, pack a day). Started working out, and it was difficult to breathe. At a 4th of July party (2006), one of my teammates told me "You don't need that...", and so I put it down and have been good ever since. I do have cravings occasionally, tho they're easy to ignore, unless I'm drunk and partying with a smoker. Then I *might* bum one (have cheated 3 times in almost 4 years)

And I hate being in smoky bars or clubs, I hate smelling like smoke when I get home from the same, and I can smell a smoker ten feet away. I love that I wake up in the morning and DON'T feel like I was licking an ashtray all night.

I was unemployed between October and January, 12 weeks after having purchased my first house. Unemployment was insufficient, I was declined for foodstamps, my first-time homebuyer tax credit wasn't due to come in until March (came day after xmas; whew!)... I was really, really stressed. And spending a lot of time at home. Alone. And I'd get restless, pace back and forth, not be able to settle to read or whatever. Fidgety. Took me a week of this to realize what I was craving. But I never WANTED a cigarette. I thought that was pretty funny, when I figured it out.

 

[TriciaHowe]

GOOD LUCK!!!!!! I am routing for you!!!! I quite 7 yrs ago. It wasn't very hard at the time, I just found out I was pg with our 2nd child and never picked up another cig. I did have dreams about it though and still to this day if I have a beer I really want one.... I quit for my kids and it was the best decision I could ever make. If I don't want them to grow up to be smokers than I had better set a good example! Dh was never a smoker so that made it a bit easier I think....

 

[6chickens in St. Charles]

Quote:
I have a Dr friend that may give me a freebie pass on this one. I can't afford to pay anything right now. I am otherwise a very healthy 33 yr old. I just worry about my heartrate being as high as it is, probably FROM smoking. I've gotten up to a pack and a half a day again..

Stresses of unemployment...GRR! But, if I can quit now when things are rough I know I can STAY QUIT and won't have any luxury of excuses down the line for starting back if the thought ever crossed my mind!

Do you normally have a heart rate above 90? Maybe you're one of those rare birds who self medicates to get back to "normal". Maybe one visit with an endocrinologist would end your woes? I wonder if your Dr friend would be willing to check you out?

Could be you're onto something waaaay easier than nicotine addiction

...and I always wonder where does the money come from to get cigarettes when people can't afford a doctor(or house payment, or food...)? Is it satan? Throwing little bags of money through the window to keep buying you things that hurt? That's true evil.

Probably disguised as a Silkie.

 

[SunshineSilkies]

Last Friday marked 6 months since I quit!!!!!! I have not cheated one time...I know that if I do, I will be back smoking again..I can breathe soooo much better. I didn't realize how I must have smelled until I smell a smoker now. I took Chantix for 2 weeks. It is a 3 mnth program, but I guess I felt strong enough to not use the medicine. That was the 2nd time using it..If you want a medicine that helps you quit, Chantix is the one. I told my doctor that I was having weird dreams every now and then, and he said, "What's worse, a few bad dreams or emphysema?"

I feel very proud of myself after being a slave to cigarettes for 32 years!!! The devil tries to tempt me but I just cuss him out!!!

Good luck to you!

 

[Cindiloohoo]

6chickens in St. Charles :

Quote:
I have a Dr friend that may give me a freebie pass on this one. I can't afford to pay anything right now. I am otherwise a very healthy 33 yr old. I just worry about my heartrate being as high as it is, probably FROM smoking. I've gotten up to a pack and a half a day again..

Stresses of unemployment...GRR! But, if I can quit now when things are rough I know I can STAY QUIT and won't have any luxury of excuses down the line for starting back if the thought ever crossed my mind!

Do you normally have a heart rate above 90? Maybe you're one of those rare birds who self medicates to get back to "normal". Maybe one visit with an endocrinologist would end your woes? I wonder if your Dr friend would be willing to check you out?

Could be you're onto something waaaay easier than nicotine addiction

...and I always wonder where does the money come from to get cigarettes when people can't afford a doctor(or house payment, or food...)? Is it satan? Throwing little bags of money through the window to keep buying you things that hurt? That's true evil.

Probably disguised as a Silkie.​

WHOA How did you know about the Silkie?!?!?!

ETA: And to answer your question, I afford it the same way others afford things when they don't have money. People buy a lot of things when they can't afford it such as alcohol, a night on the slots, chickens, craft supplies, COFFEE...whatever their habit of choice, let's not start bashing people's decisions, that isn't very helpful...just saying. Not everyone has addictions, but they are real, and some folks just can NOT break them. It doesn't make them less financially responsible. Try eating nothing but the foods you hate for a year. It's about the equivalent IMO. This is going to be hard, I don't really need people being judgemental. I AM seeking help. And yes ny heartrate is normally that high...dunno why, just always has been high even before I smoked, but more so when smoking. When I quit for a week it still stayed around 80. Not sure but I thought 60-70 was more normal range? Anybody know?