How to stop smoking?

[oranger]

I have found that i'm smoking already about 2 packs/day..
Are there any smokers who have stopped smoking?
Can you give any advice? It woluld be really interesting to listen..

[Useless]

I don't smoke, never have, but I wish I had the words to properly relay to you the image of my mother-in-law struggling with her last bits of strength to kiss my son, her only grandson, for the last time, the day before she passed. It still pains me when I think about it.

[HC-Majick]

i quit just over a year ago after smoking for 16 years. I bought the patch, but only used it the first day, after that i stopped cold turkey. the key is getting thru the first 3-4 days. after that the cravings are easier to manage. i quit on a thursday, wore the patch thurs evening-friday evening. then slept every bit i could over the weekend (no cravings if your asleep). I havent had a cigarette since

[ronnie]

I've been smoking too long myself. Month or so ago, tried cutting down, only smoking in one room in the house ect. Worked for a while, cut down to about 1/4 of what I was smoking. But started smoking in the office again and getting close to the same thing again. I find it hard to sit in front of the pc all day without smoking. Or getting up to smoke in the smoking room and losing working time.

Though i have yet to do it, seems going cold turkey as majick said is one of the best ways. You can't have a couple around just in case, just gotta get rid of them completely. Now if i can just follow that myself...

Did the patch help at all majick?

ronnie

[HC-Majick]

the patch took the edge off the first day for me, but it definately doesn't get rid of all the cravings. as they say, it just made the cravings manageable.
a good motivational tool is to sit and watch and really listen to what they are saying in the anti-smoking commercials.

[airdick]

Originally Posted by ronnie

I've been smoking too long myself. Month or so ago, tried cutting down, only smoking in one room in the house ect. Worked for a while, cut down to about 1/4 of what I was smoking. But started smoking in the office again and getting close to the same thing again. I find it hard to sit in front of the pc all day without smoking. Or getting up to smoke in the smoking room and losing working time.

Though i have yet to do it, seems going cold turkey as majick said is one of the best ways. You can't have a couple around just in case, just gotta get rid of them completely. Now if i can just follow that myself...

Did the patch help at all majick?

ronnie

The patch worked for me. I bought the stong patch and used full strength for the first few days, and then used half-patches, and then quarter patchs until they were all gone. Slap the patch on first thing in the morning, as soon as you get out of the shower.

Get some vitamins, juice, fruit, candy, gum, etc. Go ahead and give yourself permission to do whatever you need to do to get past the first couple of weeks without picking up that first cigarette. You can worry about going on a diet once you've got the smoking beat.

[Joe]

I'm not a smoker myself, but my friend was, and he always had something to replace the cig in his mouth. Usually it was like a lollipop, cinnamon stick, etc.

That might help.

[RawAlex]

Having had family members die of the evil weed, I can tell you it ain't easy to quit.

However, smoking for most people is less to do with the drug, and more to do with the habit. One of the most important steps to quitting smoking is to stop "auto-smoking", that automatic smoke you have at the end of the meal, with your coffee, when you sit down to work, etc. Remove all the smoking stuff from those areas. Don't leave yourself ANY excuse to smoke. Don't have any in the house. Don't ever buy any at the store.

If you feel that you need to "smoke when you drink" or whatever, then work to change the situation, especially for the first few weeks. You are not so worried about the physical habit as the mental one. The patch can take care of the physical, it is up to you to overcome the mental game. Improve your chances by removing tempation, and staying away from situations that can make you stray.

Spend a little time working on your self confidence and finding things to do with your hands and mind on the times that use to be your smoke time, and you will find yourself doing MUCH better.

Alex

[ronnie]

I agree it is more a mental habit than a physical one. You can see all the pictures of black lungs and of people dying, ect, just dont kick in enough. Least for me.

It does'nt help that my wife smokes too. And she seems to have less willpower than me, not that I have much when it comes to smoking..lol

Gotta do it and do it cold turkey it seems.

ronnie

[Agent]

I smoked for a few years in my early and mid teens. I went a whole month without a cigarette because my supplier got a girl friend (and wouldn't hang around me anymore). I finally coaxed someone into giving me one, smoked it, felt like shit, and haven't had a puff since. It's been maybe 7 years since my last one. I can't explain why I'd stopped. But my coffee intake is becomming a problem. I get to sleep around 3, 4, sometimes 5 in the AM. I'm fine if I dont drink it (very seldom does this happen).

But hey, coffee is better than cigarettes.

[Certifiedbitch]

i smoked once but when i felt i was slowly getting into it..i stopped it.

some menthol candies or something you can munch might help you.

[Roby]

Try do not think about smoking and make more sex for relax

[hyperspace]

I stopped smoking cold turkey 5 weeks ago after smoking all my life (from age 8). Not having an office job or routine helped; apart from being away from temptation, I was free to go for a walk at any time of the day or night during the first two days.The most positive thing I did was make http://whyquit.com/joel/ my start page for a few days, it has all the resources you need. Another thing that might help is if you go out and have some children or borrow somebody else's, and tell them you've given up smoking. The instant respect and admiration you earn will stop you from backsliding!

[Thumbler]

I stopped smoking last May after smoking around 30 cigarettes a day for 35 years. It wasn't something I'd planned to do, but I'd woken up one morning paralysed on the right side of my body due to a stroke, caused by high blood pressure and in no small part the smoking. I spent 4 days in intensive care where of course I couldn't smoke and when I came out of hospital I just had no inclination to smoke at all.

Now I can't even stand the smell of smoke, and food tastes so much different it's not true. I very occasionally have the urge to have a cigarette, but it only lasts for a few seconds. The only downside is that since I stopped smoking I've put on nearly 40 pounds, but most days I go for a two mile walk and some of that is dropping off now.

[Rocco]

was also smoking about 2 packs/day - but I found a trick to only smoke about 2-3 cigs/day:

everytime I got the feeling to smoke I eat a mozarella stick and I'm able to work without a cig in my mouth

[Robbo]

I quit almost three months ago after smoking a pack a day for about 25 years. I used the nicorette gum. I tried not knowing what to expect and it did enough to take the physical cravings away. The rest is all mental and changing habits and thinking. You do need to truly want to quit. I was hardcore too as far as being a smoker. I still smoke herb but that is so much easier to stop I sat from experience! I still had a few tough days even chewing the nicotine gum in the second month but I was home alot!. Being winter and I stay home taking care of two kids under 4. Probably not the best time to quit but if I did it unde those circumstances I should have a good shot at staying off them.

[Dr Bizzaro]

Cold Turkey. Jan 1st, 1998.

After that, I packed on about 50-60 lbs, I am currently still trying to get rid of.

I can eventually drop the fat. Getting rid of lung cancer is a bit more difficult.

I do smoke cigars when I drink or play poker.

[Verbal]

I know several people who took Wellbutrin and that made quitting much easier with no cravings.

You have to *really* want to quit though, not just think it's a good idea to get around to "someday". It might be easier to do right after a nasty cold when you haven't smoked for a day or two... gives you a headstart. Good luck. The tobacco companies are rich enough, keep your money.

[dareutwo]

The patch does work -
Quit for 6 months, but packed on 40 lbs.
(when you start at 160 - 40 is a lot)
When they invent the smoking/weight loss patch I'll promote it forever.
Quit for 5 years.
Smoked for 2.
Quit for 10 months, back to smoking, though at about 10 cigs a day.

[Verbal]

So, is there a real scientific reason for gaining weight, or does food just taste beter when you quit?

[dareutwo]

I haven't researched it, but from personal experience, smoking is replaced by snacking.

[ronnie]

Originally Posted by dareutwo

I haven't researched it, but from personal experience, smoking is replaced by snacking.

I think so. Gotta have something to do besides smoking, food seems like it.

ronnie

[Robbo]

That`s why I liked the gum too. Keeps the mouth busy so your less likely to be snacking as much. Having or adopting better eating habits along with helps too. Good foods to rid the body of toxins to lessen withdrawl. Keeping healthier snack foods handy. The effort is all encompassing of behaviors and routines as well as way of thinking. Thankfully my stomach is still flat. I`ve been trying to keep on a little weight routine and not ignore my stomach. I do have a high metabolism though which helps. But it does`nt help in the boredom or figety areas.

[amadman]

Cold turkey about 5 years ago now. Was smoking 2 packs a day and had smoked for over 15 years. Like others have said you just really have to want to quit. And if you do slip then just start over and dont quit quiting.

Its true you have to work around all the mental habits but I can't downplay the physical side. It is a pretty mean monkey on both sides. While I was quiting and had not smoked for a few days my cravings would mellow some. But just taking a single drag off a cig would send my cravings right back to ground zero. You can easily fall right back into old habits. I had once quit for around a year and a half and was back to 2 packs/day within days of bumming a smoke.

Now I do not smoke or have any desire to do such. People can smoke around me and it does not bother me. When I see people smoking now I kind of feel for them and I realize that I am just one drag away from being in the same boat again.

[GeorgeTH]

Originally Posted by Rocco

was also smoking about 2 packs/day - but I found a trick to only smoke about 2-3 cigs/day:

everytime I got the feeling to smoke I eat a mozarella stick and I'm able to work without a cig in my mouth

Is that a healthy alternative?

What does it do to the 'buttom line'?


I'm a smoker myself, but by far not as heavy!

A few tricks to reduce it:
- never smoke indoors! That way you'll have to take concious steps to light up, and the house and all furniture smell a lot better...
- I roll... So the spontanous grab for a quick ciggy takes a lot longer (= time of rolling it)
- I quite often question myself if I really want a cigarette, or if it's not only a sign of something different, like HUNGER, or lack of FRESH AIR, or the desire to have a BREAK = all things a cigarette won't cure (only cover for a short time).
- don't buy spare packs = they disappear quicker!

A good friend of mine is the perfect smoker (in my eyes): he only smokes 2 or 3 at evening, usually really strong ones (which even make my hardened lungs caugh) like Gitanes, or sometimes a Cigar = he basically manages to smoke only for enjoyment! I have witnessed him two or three times (over years!) asking for a cigarette when he was totally stressed during the day, but otherwise he sticks to the 2 or 3 at evening...