Ex Smokers, What tricks did you use to quit? Options

[JuJuagogo]

I quit smoking about a month ago for two days.... By the middle of the second day I felt like I was crawling out of my skin. I was using the patch. I really want to quit, but for some reason, this time is much harder than the last time which I was able to keep up for over two years until stupidly like an addict said "oh I can have just one" - Right.

I tried the chantix but was so sick after only two days into it, there was no way I could have continued using it. A girl in work was using it and puking everyday.

Sorry, but if I can't focus on work and school, then using something like Chantix isn't going to help.

What did you do when you quit smoking that helped you through the first few weeks?

I'm thinking maybe I should take a few days vacation and put myself into a vallium or sleeping pill coma till it wears off I'm so kidding.

[newfakename]

I'm currently smoking more than ever, but when I was successful, I found hard candy, blow-pops, & cinnamon sticks very helpful.

lots of rest, water & movement

[Dude]

a year and a half strong after initally taking chantix for ten days. the sickness, horror, insomnia and insanity that is instantly physically associated with smoking is why it works.

This post has been edited by Dude: Mar 30 2009, 12:49 AM

[Eggplant Semen]

Lung infection.

[drumdad]

I used a clock and a calendar.....I started cutting back by having one cigarette an hour, which immediately cut me back to less than a pack a day. I did that for about 3 months, then cut back to one every two hours, for another three months. After a while I was down to (basically) one after every meal. Then I quit for good.

That was about 25 years ago. Best thing I ever did.

[J_GuestNoMore]

Due to the board crash, you will never see all the great advice and will die, sorry.

[JodyThePig]

I can't help you with the physical elements of your addiction, but since the psychological aspect of a cigarette habit has much to do with oral fixation, I recommend that whenever you feel the urge to smoke, eat a chocolate eclair instead.

[Mister Shhh]

Day 1 for me. I have no tricks. I just stop. But I will end up eating more.

[lusting_kay]

Seems you need something to suck on...................

[Mister Shhh]

Saving about $100 a month is good motivation.

[Christóbal]

I'm not a smoker, but I remember when my Grandpa quit. His doctor told him he'd die (and soon) if he didn't. That was enough incentive for him to quit a 40 year, 2 packs a day habit. Cold turkey.

Of course, my grandpa was a tough old guy. He was a WWII vet and had lived a pretty rough and tumble life. I always had the impression there was nothing he couldn't do if he wanted to do it.

[ArtGuy]

I quit 20+ years ago (2 packs a day) cold turkey and never had another. I quit the moment I found out my dad had lung cancer. He died 2 years later at 52.

[JuJuagogo]

Due to the board crash, you will never see all the great advice and will die, sorry.

I can't help you with the physical elements of your addiction, but since the psychological aspect of a cigarette habit has much to do with oral fixation, I recommend that whenever you feel the urge to smoke, eat a chocolate eclair instead.

Uhm no, i'm trying to lose more weight, not gain it - I started reading this and thought you were going in another direction! Spring time - brings out the worst, sorry.

Saving about $100 a month is good motivation.

I smoke about a pack a day, thats more than $100 for me.

I've been smoking since I was 14, quit off and on for about a total of 3 years (over a two year stint at one point) I was stupid and thought like a typical addict I could have just one, and it was over after that.

I did congratulate all the ex smokers who were kind enough to leave me tips earlier, many of them good ones - except for Ian, i'm weak in comparison to the Dark Prince of Lower Allston, what can I say.

I'm going to buy a bike this week and brought extra sneakers to work when I get ancy i'll go walk around the building. Brought in Fruit and veggies to snack on, I figure its better than candy or gum since I don't like either. I figure if I put my energy into exercise in a few months i'll be feeling a hell of a lot better.

[mfk]

anyone taking chantix? Any side effects or problems going off the drug?

[cant go wrong with tha shocker]

the Gum
the patch

I quit for 3 months
now I'm back to smoking =(

and it's such a progressive thing! now I chew the gum during work (I work with kids can't smoke for 12 hours) and smoke at night.

I am so silly/dumb.

[JuJuagogo]

I quit 20+ years ago (2 packs a day) cold turkey and never had another. I quit the moment I found out my dad had lung cancer. He died 2 years later at 52.

I'm very Sorry about the loss of your Dad.

My Mom was recently diagnosed with Emphysema, that is what is giving me most of my desire to quit. After seeing her otherwise relatively healthy walking 5 + miles a day in fabulous shape self - sick and having a hard time breathing in the hospital. I think the thought of losing my Mom is probably more painful than anything else, the fact of knowing that i'm highly suseptible to getting this as well along with Cancer since half my fathers brothers and sisterd had it, I should have quit years ago.

anyone taking chantix? Any side effects or problems going off the drug?

Yes, read up. I tried it and was sick as a dog, I felt like I was going to puke for about 4 days after only taking it for two days. I know this is part of what it is supposed to do, but I think the distraction of wanting to curl up in a ball under my desk and cry from the sickness was worse than crawling out of my skin. A girl in work was throwing up from using it, but she stayed on it. A guy in work used it and had no issues, it worked for him. I think it just depends on your tolerance for the drug.

[Defbil]

Not sure if you saw what I posted earlier so I'm gonna ramble again....

For me, going cold turkley worked best. I used the patch for a couple of weeks and it helped a ton, then me kinda jittery so I stopped.

After the first day I reminded myself I may want a smoke, but it'll taste like crap since I'd gone a while without one, and I'd get dizzy. I'd remind myself that the idea of smoking may seem good to me, but I wouldn't actually enjoiy the smoke.

And, I prayed for the desire to smoke to be removed, for the strength to not smoke today or right now, for the some peace and calm, etc. It didn't really matter much who or what I prayed too, I found it extremely helpful- it helped me get out of my own head. There were times when I would just pray over and over for 10 minutes or longer if my craving was bad.

I just hit a year after having smoked a pack a day for 20 years, maybe a bit more. I swear, if I could do it anyone can- I was as hooked as anyone and have a leaning or whatever towards addiction. Good luck! It's completely worth it!



This post has been edited by Defbil: Mar 30 2009, 01:10 PM

[Jesus the 33rd]

Not sure if you saw what I posted earlier so I'm gonna ramble again....

For me, going cold turkley worked best. I used the patch for a couple of weeks and it helped a ton, then me kinda jittery so I stopped.

After the first day I reminded myself I may want a smoke, but it'll taste like crap since I'd gone a while without one, and I'd get dizzy. I'd remind myself that the idea of smoking may seem good to me, but I wouldn't actually enjoiy the smoke.

And, I prayed for the desire to smoke to be removed, for the strength to not smoke today or right now, for the some peace and calm, etc. It didn't really matter much who or what I prayed too, I found it extremely helpful- it helped me get out of my own head. There were times when I would just pray over and over for 10 minutes or longer if my craving was bad.

I just hit a year after having smoked a pack a day for 20 years, maybe a bit more. I swear, if I could do it anyone can- I was as hooked as anyone and have a leaning or whatever towards addiction. Good luck! It's completely worth it!

hey defbil,

not sure if you saw my post from earlier, either. i saw on a post last year that you had quit and used you as one of my inspirations. my one year anniversary of quitting cigarettes is this Wednesday (april 1st - but no joke). So... thanks for quitting around the same time. knowing there's someone else out there helps.

[Defbil]

hey defbil,

not sure if you saw my post from earlier, either. i saw on a post last year that you had quit and used you as one of my inspirations. my one year anniversary of quitting cigarettes is this Wednesday (april 1st - but no joke). So... thanks for quitting around the same time. knowing there's someone else out there helps.

I did see it- awesome, and congratulations man!

[Jesus the 33rd]

I did see it- awesome, and congratulations man!

thanks! same to you and all of the other success stories.

good luck to those of you who are quitting for the first or fifteenth time. Hopefully this will be the last time.

[J_GuestNoMore]

Hey you two get a room or I'm going to start smoking.

[JuJuagogo]

I did see it- awesome, and congratulations man!

thanks! same to you and all of the other success stories.

good luck to those of you who are quitting for the first or fifteenth time. Hopefully this will be the last time.

Congratulations to both of you, and thank you kindly for your support and kind words. You should be very proud of yourselves. So many people I know that have quit tell me they still crave it, its just telling yourself its over and you can never have another one. As soon as you get a craving it passes.

I think its time to think about learning boxing i've been wanting to for awhile

Hey you two get a room or I'm going to start smoking.

Wow, you're in an awful bratty mood today - must be spring

[Mister Shhh]

Coming up on 12 hours!

[Captain Stubing]

I quit cold turkey after 15 years of smoking more than a pack a day. Try to go an 15 minutes without one then take pride that you could do it. Then another 15 minutes. Keep counting how long it's been. Then count days. If you have a smoke then start counting back at zero. If you fall off the wagon, just keep trying. Internalize how bad it sucks, coughing and not being able to breathe. The stink, the money spent, asshole tobacco companies targeting children. Think about people you love who smoke and how they'll likely die early because of smoking. Day five cravings were the worst for me but if you can get through that then it gets much easier. Take pride in your success and don't give in. Every time I felt like having a butt I thought about how much time I was able to go without and that I didn't want to go back to zero. I used to think I'd always want to have one but after day 30 that goes away... just don't fall into the trap "oh I can have just one" when drinking or whatever

Nicotine only stays in your system for three days so the sooner you get it out the easier it will be. One other thing... instead of replacing it with food, when a craving hits go climb some stairs or go run as fast as you can for a minute

This post has been edited by Captain Stubing: Mar 30 2009, 01:53 PM

[lusting_kay]

she is 26.