so, i'm quitting smoking today...

[Soylent Brice]

i had my first smoke when i was 11 years old. it was in the bathroom at a holiday inn. my stepbrother talked me into trying it. it was a marlboro light. it was AMAZING.

unlike a lot of other first time smoking stories i've heard, mine differed drastically. i didn't cough, and i didn't get dizzy or lightheaded. i had the advantage of having second-hand smoke from the time i can remember, due to living in a house with smokers.

it was an instant romance, nicotine and i.

by the time i was 14 years old i was smoking a solid pack a day. i was smoking lucky strikes unfiltered, and then eventually settled for the middle ground: marlboro reds. i had experienced insomnia for years so my evenings were spent staying up all night painting and smoking, or staring out the window listening to music.

fast forward. at 23 years old my firstborn daughter arrived. i swore i would quit. my wife had quit when we found out we were pregnant. i was so proud of her. i did not quit. instead i went through a ton of handwashing, hand sanitizer, and shirt changes, just to hold my baby. two more kids later i am doing the same thing. have i no willpower? am i truly "ADDICTED"? obviously so, in fact, and in no apparent hurry to curb my own inevitable bad health, or spare those around me from the stink i ooze.

here i am, 28 years old, will be 29 in august. and i can't continue like this. i have shortness of breath, extremely high blood pressure, and get tired playing something as simple as freeze tag with my kids. this is not what i want for them. this is not what i want for my wife. this is not what i want for me.

the sad thing is that i'm scared. i have ADHD. i have been on dozens of medications from the time i was 11 years old. i took myself off of meds when i was 19 years old. smoking, i convinced myself, was the only thing that was keeping me sane. smoking is my centering tool. smoking, so i have come to believe, is what makes me calm, focused, and attentive enough to appear "normal" to the rest of society. so i have this fear. enough so that it made me cry last night at the thought of quitting smoking.

but i am sure of myself that this is the best possible thing for me, and for the first time since i have been smoking i genuinely want to quit. for the first time it's not an influenced decision (as my wife has implored me to quit for years) and so i feel more ownership. i feel like i may have a chance. i might just pull this off.

so here i am, about to go to lunch. i'm going to talk sweetly and softly to my cancerous beauty. i will explain to her: "it's not you babe, it's me, i swear". in all seriousness, i will probably talk to my last few smokes.

i don't have any problem with other smokers. i will not ever, nor have i ever, try to convince someone else to quit. i have come to find that it is a personal choice. those who smoke should in no way be condemned. but for me, this particular road has taken an odd and unexpected turn. it is time. and i am ready.

i will be picking up a box of that nicotine gum, and my last cigarette will be at 7pm EST.

just seeing those words typed out scares the shit out of me.

so, wish me luck if you want, any luck or good vibes are welcomed!!

side note: if anyone else who has quit smoking has any tips about how they kept themselves from cheating and sneaking smokes in let me know please. my willpower is almost non-existent.

[Neecy]

1. good luck to you, and keep us posted on your progress

I need to kick the habit as well, so I'd love to hear how you're doing and what helped you along the way ---

[Soylent Brice]

13. sorry about the delay, i was outside smoking. lol

i will keep everyone posted. i imagine i'll be on here more frequently, taking out my agression on you guys. lol

thank you for the support!!!

[onehandle]

2. Good luck to you. It's a worthy action that will make you healthier. nt

[bemildred]

3. Good for you. It's worth it. And it can be done. nt

[TransitJohn]

4. I'm honestly quitting now too!

Started 3 days ago. Best of luck!

[Soylent Brice]

20. good luck to you too!!

out of curiosity, am i appearing to be a big baby about this? lol

it seems as much.

[left coaster]

30. No, not at all..

It's freaking scary to make such a significant lifestyle change as this.. all the more reason to give it your very best effort. :)


Good luck to everyone who's quitting!

[Soylent Brice]

32. i second that!!

[ZombieHorde]

5. I quit a few months ago.

I became very grumpy and hid in my computer room away from my family. I spent a lot of time on DU to take my mind off of the suffering and wrote some posts I am not proud of.

if anyone else who has quit smoking has any tips about how they kept themselves from cheating and sneaking smokes in let me know please. my willpower is almost non-existent.

After a few days I couldn't handle it so I bought a bag of weed. It helped me tremendously.


Good luck.

eta: Think about something you can buy with the money you save. I bought a whole bunch of zombie DVDs and a video game.

[Soylent Brice]

19. two things:

one: weed. i have thought about that A LOT.

but in the end, i'm not sure if i want to replace one habit with another old habit of mine. i LOVE weed, and ironically enough was able to quit smoking that with absolute ease, but at this point in my life i don't know if i'll ever smoke weed again.

excellent idea though.

two: the money i'll save is going to be ridiculous. i smoke a carton every week, and sometimes find myself running out sooner. even more ironic is that my wife bought me DEAD RISING: Chop Till You Drop for Wii recently as an incentive to quit. i can imagine i'll be up at night playing that. BTW, that is the most fun game i have played in years. never got to play the first for on Xbox (i think it was on Xbox). my dude is currently donning a flowered dress, his black tubes socks, high heels, a hockey mask, and a kitana. it's been a blast.

[ZombieHorde]

34. I got the same exact game for the Wii shortly after I quit.

It is really fun. I love the shopping carts, fast and deadly. Those birds are super annoying though.

It took me a while to figure out what "book +1" meant when I leveled up. It is weird that you gain the ability to hold more books before you can buy them.

i'm not sure if i want to replace one habit with another old habit of mine

I have not bought any in a while, but I am glad I had it my first month.

[Soylent Brice]

36. those birds are BASTARDS!

who the hell thought that birds dropping grenades would be entertaining on any level? the carts are awesome, but short lived. the bicycle seems to hold up longer.

i think i may wait to see how things go before i try that, but nonetheless is one of the more appealing ideas i've heard so far.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

61. I don't particularly like weed any more...

...on the other hand, I do very occasionally use it to recreate "the smoking experience." It works well for me, as I used to roll my own cigarettes, so the idea of going through the rolling procedure and then smoking is very similar to cigs. However, I don't like waking up the following day with a blinding case of lethargy.

[RaleighNCDUer]

6. Just remember - I'm not saying it WILL happen, but if it does -

if you slip, if you do break down and have one, you CAN keep it at only one.

I'm sad to say, it took me many many tries before I quit for good, after smoking for 35 years. I'm glad to say, it did finally take. It's been long enough now that I don't even remember exactly how long it's been - either 7 or 8 years.

[left coaster]

7. Best of luck to you..

I kicked a twenty year smoking habit back in February of 1994, and I've not looked back.. True, initially I substituted food for the cigs and gained 23 pounds (which I eventually shed!), but I can honestly tell you that I don't miss smoking at all.. I too have OCD tendencies, and I recognize that it was one of the reasons why smoking was so appealing to me.. I finally chose yoga as my cig replacement.. it calms me down when I get wound, and it only serves to reinforce my overall more healthy frame of being..

My hubby and kids were always on me to quit, but, it only happened when I finally decided to do it for myself..

Do I have any words of advice for you, SB? Not really.. just keep your eyes on the prize, so to speak, and keep pushing.. If you fall off of the wagon, just get the hell back on right away, don't let it defeat you.. lungs that work as advertised are nice things to have.. :)

Please post your progress, and good luck to you!

[Bennyboy]

8. 3 months for me.

it was easy a pie. Don't look at it as a long term thing,think of it as an hour by hour or even minute by minute thijgs.

"I can make it an hour without smoking"...

Another gret tip is learn to juggle. When you feel like smoking play with your balls!

[left coaster]

15. That's good advice..

Make your change minute by minute, Brice. It's do-able!

[Soylent Brice]

23. !!!!

:spray: :rofl:

[otohara]

9. Here's A Good Detox Nicotine

http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/How_To_Detoxify_From_Nicotine_And_Other_Toxins_Derived_From_Smoking.html

and Good luck!

[Soylent Brice]

25. thank you!

funny thing, the article mentioned that a healthy diet will help, especially by introducing more vegetables. oddly enough, i am a V8 addict, and recently discovered i actually like brocoli, so this shouldn't be too tough to incorporate.

thank you very much for the link!!!!

[Jazzgirl]

10. If you are feeling tired and short of breath...

QUIT!!! Yes, I shouted!!! I was a smoker for almost 40 years. It damn near killed me last year. Everybody thought I had quit but that's because I only smoked at home. I got to the point where I could barely breath and couldn't get out of bed. I forced myself to go to work one day and they took one look at me and the next thing I know I was in ICU. I have not had a cigarette since and haven't missed it either.

I have done irreperable damage to my lungs. Don't be like me and have to sleep with oxygen and take a ton of medication. Do it for yourself and your kids. :-)

[cherokeeprogressive]

11. Chewing gum, baby carrots, and GOOD LUCK! n/t

[Echo In Light]

12. 3+ yrs for me. Tell yourself you don't need to pay a mega-corp big $ to POISON yourself

I've got ten yrs on you, and I had quit before, but never as easily, nor for as long. Plus I still smoke pot (I'll never give that up! ;)) so that sotra helps since one isn't completely giving up the physicality of that 'smoking' sensation.

The older you get tho, the tougher it can be, so it's good to drop the cigs now if you can. Keep your mind busy. Best of luck to you.

[Tikki]

14. 29 sounds like a good age to quit...why wait until you're 40...

You've taken step one...Said it out loud. Like any good fortune..
visualize the prize. "Keep Your Eye On The Prize". Look
around you...so many people have quit...really quit. Some people
who have quit are goobers and you know it...but look, they did it..
they are nonsmokers.

Everyone of us who quit had a different approach. If your immediate
family are nonsmokers...great...it will make it easier. Having little
faces look up to you...helps, too.

I am not going to give you advice on which distraction to take..what
works for you will be what works for you..
My son used the patch, I went cold turkey..there are a myriad of products
out there...some sound too good to be true...you know the routine.

If you were set into a clear routine...mixing your routine up helps some as
you go through your days and nights. Wash all your clothes and if you smoke(ed)
in the house scrub down the walls...the scent doesn't need to be there, anymore.

You can do this...It starts out one day at a time and ends up being one day at
a time except years go by and you haven't smoked. You can do this.

P.S. I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the money saved and the health benefits.

Tikki & son...going on 6 years here.

[Soylent Brice]

26. the downside is that

none of my family live any where near me, but all my in-laws do, and they are ALL smokers. and they ALL comer over ALL THE DAMN TIME.

my dislike for them might prove enough to be a good deterrent though. lol!!

[Tikki]

28. Set the rule...they smoke where you tell them to...

when they come over all the damn time...

You never know your quitting may be the influence to
help one(or more) of them to quit smoking.

P.S. it is OK to be a nonsmoking snob..well, you'll figure out
how far to go with them...you need to quit...you can quit..

Tikki

[Soylent Brice]

31. fortunately we already have a designated smoking area outside.

i'm a smoking snob already in regards to anyone around my kids. no smoking in the house, car, or anywhere my kids will be.

they are already used to that.

it's watching them go out, watching them come back in, and the aroma.

that'll be what taunts me the most.

[Tikki]

39. Hose 'em down before they come back in...

:P

You'll see...the aroma won't be as brutal on you as you think...soon it will be stink.

Tikki

[biermeister]

16. good for you!! and everyone else who is trying to quit

I smoked from 15 through 32 and haven't had a cigarette since Dec 7th 1994. I forced myself to remember the date.

I quit by using patches and really helped a lot. Drink lot's of water and don't cheat. That terrible feeling will start to diminish a little bit every day.

Good luck to all!

[Subdivisions]

17. I quit 10 years ago. Just believe in yourself. Good luck. n/t

[Narkos]

18. Try Chantix if you're having trouble

I quit dipping several weeks and so far so good!

[Egnever]

38. Seconded

I am using it now myself and it has made it much easier.

[TuxedoKat]

21. I wish you luck

I've never quit smoking but I'm glad you are doing it for yourself and your family. Your kids are
probably too young to say anything to you about it now but someday they will if you don't quit. We pestered my dad to quit when we were kids years ago and he did -- cold turkey as you are doing.

Maybe some visualization CDs to listen to (on quitting smoking) would help? I started using one for weight loss and it is very helpful when I listen to it. You can download it for free on this website www.jongabriel.com -- I know it's for weight loss but you could probably substitute it for your goals while you are listening to it (if you can't find smoking-related visualization CDs), as it speaks to overall good health as well.

Good luck, prayers, good vibes, everything! :)

[lunatica]

22. When the craving gets bad inhale as if you were smoking

You'll feel the same hit in your lungs that you feel when you're really inhaling smoke and it helps with the physical withdrawal. Remember that you can keep quitting until it works. And if you sneak one smoke then immediately go back to quitting.

Tic tacs will help. Very low in calories and you can pop one in your mouth anytime.

I quit smoking 13 years ago and not a day goes by that I'm not glad I quit. Especially when I see others smoking. I thank myself for quitting.

[Soylent Brice]

27. i actually thought about tic tacs too, because i HATE checing gum.

i can see where the deep breaths would help, if not to at least calm myself.

[hisownpetard]

40. Necco Wafers. All chocolate. That, and Chantix did it for me. It's been three years but

I have to admit, I still yearn for a cigarette just about every day.
I loved smoking (everything but the after-smell) and still wish I could, but it's just
too stupid and harmful - and expensive! - a habit to continue.

Good luck! You can do it!!

[Politicalboi]

51. Sunflower seeds

If you can handle the salt.

[ljm2002]

24. It's going to be tough...

...especially with the background you describe. In other words, since you lived around smoking all your life, it may be harder for you to imagine life without cigarettes.

One day at a time.

Even with the nicotine gum, you will experience cravings. Remember to tell yourself, "This, too, will pass." And it will. You will feel SO good the first day you are able to say you really did not have strong cravings. And when you realize how clean you feel.

Warnings: (1) Your throat and lungs will feel worse, not better, to begin with. I've been told this is because the little surface cells are re-growing, and they are raw, and your body is actively throwing off the toxins. I don't know if it's true -- but I do know that they will feel worse at first, so don't fret about that. It's par for the course. (2) Keep the nicotine gum in a safe place where your children have no chance of getting to it. Nicotine is actually a very potent poison. There are cases of people who have died from wearing a nicotine patch and then smoking on top of it. So don't take any chances!

Finally, some more friendly advice. When the cravings come, don't fight it. Acknowledge it to yourself, and again, instead of trying to "resist", just roll with it and know it will pass. Trying to fight it keeps the desire in your head, even if you frame it negatively. Just accept that the desire is there, but don't act on it.

Good luck!!!

[Soylent Brice]

29. thanks for the warning about the throat and lungs.

i hadn't even thought of that. as far as the nicotine gum out of the reach of my children goes, it'll go the same place i stash my smokes and lighters, top shelf in my closet.

i've always been very paranoid about it where i keep stuff and where i smoke in general. when i was 7 years old my stepfather was drunk and we were sitting on the couch together. he went to put out his cigarette and instead slammed it down on my arm. the scar is still there, very visible. it was the first thought i had in my mind when my daughter was born. from the day my wife found out we were pregnant i have smoked outisde, and never in the car. the rule of thumb for me is to never smoke anywhere my kids will be. and i've always kept the smokes and lighters as far out of their reach as possible. if i'm correct they don't even know where i put them. they see me go into my room and close the door, then they see me leave my room, closing the door behind me and going outside. that's it.

i'm paranoid OCD.

i am hoping the gum will curb most of the craving, the rest i'll have to learn to deal with. i have no idea how i'm going to react to this, so it'll be interesting to say the least.

[lunatica]

54. I was going to advise you to have a smoke free area but you already do

Part of nicotine addiction is that your brain keeps time about smoking. You'll find that where and when you used to reach for a cigarette is imprinted in your brain as a synapse. You can be doing something that totally absorbs you and you'll find your mind will suddenly 'tell' you it's time for a smoke. This is just a habit which is a synaptic structure you have created between the some neurons in your braqin, but the brain can be re-trained. When this mental synapsis happens the best thing to do is go to those places where you never smoke, like around your kids, or in the house. The mental craving will subside.

The good thing is that after a few times of battling your brain it will give up and stops demanding a cigarette because you're literally starving the old synapse and creating new ones. So you'll find that the hard times are when you usually used to have a cigarette. For example if you smoke when having your first cup of coffee, or when you get into your car, or right after you eat, or when you have a beer it will be hard, but if you don't smoke the craving will diminish and it'll last for shorter and shorter spans of time.

I hope this makes sense to you. I found it helped me because I knew it wasn't just a random urge to smoke.

[Flabbergasted]

33. I quit last November. It was easier for me because I never told myself "you will not smoke

again." This is the part that really gets people imo. Tell yourself you're not going to smoke "today." Repeat for the rest of your life.

There will be hard days, weeks, months but you can do it. You have a compelling reason to quit. I felt like I was dying. My wife smoked from age 13 to 42 and quit January first. It's been tough but I think she is over it. Like you, she has a compelling reason. She actually didn't want to quit but she does athletic training and was taking showers between every class (3 or 4 times a day) to hide her smoking and in turn living a lie. It was tiring.

You can do it. But do it a day at a time. Even admit to yourself someday you may smoke again. It worked for me.

[iamthebandfanman]

35. i had been around smoke my entire life until i started too

but even i still choked on my first cigarette. lol.

i wish i had some good advice about staying away from them after youve stopped... but i dont... and i have to be honest with ya...


wanting a cigarette is something youll feel for the rest of ur life! you will ALWAYS have a slight urge to smoke one.

it seriously takes will power.

i only smoked for around 9 years (was up to around 2 packs a day tho) and the first two weeks of me quiting were HORRIBLE.

i literally felt like the vains in my arms were crawling. icky.

cigarettes(nicotine) are BY FAR the worst drug ive ever used.

good luck and the best thing to do is just keep your mind occupied on other things.

the real first test will be the first time you become stressed out over something ;)

goodluck!

[cbc5g]

37. Don't have any around and don't allow yourself to buy any

Even call the local gas stations and tell them to not allow you to buy cigarettes. IMO you should cold turkey. Just do it.

[Taitertots]

41. Smoked for 5 years, haven't had a cigarette in just over a year

Just remember if you cheat and smoke you will only have to feel that bad and worse later. It only gets easier and cheating only ensures that you stay in the worst part.


As much as it sucks you have to realize that the problems that seemed so far away when you started are now. If you don't quit smoking your children will start smoking. Your health will dramatically decrease and your loved ones are going to watch you whither away. Your children will be slaves to addiction just like you. They will suffer the same fate, stuck down too young by the dangers of smoking. You could quit now and live a long healthy life with them, growing old, having grand children, sharing a long life with your wife.


All the benefits you think you have from smoking are all addiction responses. How can you even tell if you would be more "normal" with smoking when you only know addiction? How can you be helping yourself by creating a constant cycle in your body of addiction and withdrawal? Eliminate the chemical imbalancer.

[Bluzmann57]

42. Ok a hint or two

First, take an hour and/or a day at a time. Think of it as embarking on a new adventure. You have been smoking for many years and now you are trying something new and exciting. Another thing which may help is to keep a list of pros and cons. Example, pro- nice to have a smoke after a meal or after sex. Cons- Breathing is not right and they stink up your clothes and house. Pro- "Cigarette smoke smells good". I think it stinks, but there are those who believe that it smells good. Burning leaves smell good too, but you aren't going to stick your head in the middle of a burning pile of leaves. That's essentially what you are doing when you smoke a cigarette. And I don't know your personality but when I quit, I loudly announced it to a lot of people, most of whom were skeptical. Then, after about two weeks, I looked some of them up and loudly announced that I was still off the cigs. Kind of stuck it up their collective asses. But that's me. Anyway, good luck and I am certain that you'll feel better in a few more days.

[Soylent Brice]

45. i'm actually trying an opposite technique.

my wife knows, and my boss knows. i'm not telling anyone else. i don't want to be reminded by umpteen people every day that i'm not smoking.

i could be wrong, but i think that would drive me more nuts.

of course, my strategy is up for revisement at any time. lol

[Bluzmann57]

70. Well as I said

or maybe I didn't, anyway, we are all different and what works for one may not work for another. I'm just enough of an a**hole that it worked for me. Once again, good luck to you.

[Flabbergasted]

71. Tell people and then ask them not to bring it up? nt

[MilesColtrane]

43. It's been just over 3 months since I had my last Winston.

And sometimes, still, every cigarette looks like it was made by God and rolled by Jesus, but having an amount of time under my belt helps. i.e. "I've made it this far. Why should I blow it now?"

Someone suggested that it's OK to just have one. That simply won't work for me. I can't give myself that out because, like any true addict, one is not enough, and once you've had one what's to stop you from having another? It's cold turkey or nothing.


Also, I had to stop drinking at the same time, or I could never have stopped smoking. Face it, booze and cigarettes go together like Mom and apple pie. And, once you've had a couple of pops your judgement and will power go out the window.

Good luck.

(P.S. You might see a doc about getting something for your ADHD symptoms. I have a friend who swears that the meds he was prescribed have made him feel normal for the first time in many years.)

[a la izquierda]

44. good luck...i just bought a road bike.

my husband swears that one ride with him will have me so winded i'll be tossing my cigarettes the second i walk in the door.




i believe him.

[omega minimo]

46. You said it yourself

You will do it. You said it yourself. You are there.

"....but i am sure of myself that this is the best possible thing for me, and for the first time since i have been smoking i genuinely want to quit. for the first time it's not an influenced decision (as my wife has implored me to quit for years) and so i feel more ownership. i feel like i may have a chance. i might just pull this off."




:applause:



So don't tell yourself this: "my willpower is almost non-existent." Your decision has more power. Here's some

(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((( vibes )))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))) :grouphug:

[Exultant Democracy]

47. Good for you Brice, 2 tips 1. you are on the right track with the gum it helps, 2. exercise exercise

exercise. I didn't succeed until I added exercise to the equation I can't even express how much it helps. Take your kids for a hike in the woods, go for a run, use your smoke break to pop some gum and walk the stair for a while. Best of luck Brice, my thoughts will be with you.

[Soylent Brice]

60. me an the wife already have a exrcise regiment we will be strictly adhering to.

all part of the deal.

i dug my free weights out of the garage last night.

thanks for the luck!!!!!

[madmom]

48. I quit about 20 years ago. The biggest thing is keep your hands busy. If you,

like a lot of people, smoke out of habit, light one up and mostly let it burn, keeping your hands busy will be a tremendous help. I learned how to crochet. I made the world's biggest afghan. My kids loved it and often fought over it. Hope this helps and GOOD LUCK!!!:thumbsup:

[NoSheep]

49. Good luck to you!

:hug:

[Pharaoh]

50. I'm at 7 months smoke free!

Great man,

Not gonna tell you it was easy. I've quit a million times.

I would go with the lozenges over the gum. Those you can suck on for 20 minutes. The gum you can chew the nicotine out of in 2 minutes.

It is a mental thing as much or more as a physical thing.

Good luck feel free to chat if you need resolve.

[madamesilverspurs]

52. Been there, done that.

Best to take it one day at a time. Or one hour at a time. Whatever it takes.

I, too, started at age 11, snitched my brother's Camels. By the time I hit college it was Pall Malls; and that was back in the day when we could smoke in class, so if I was awake I was smoking. Fast forward through what became a 4-pack-a-day habit unfiltered to a 2-pack-a-day filtered generic habit, tapering down by putting myself in places where smoking wasn't allowed (libraries, grocery stores, etc.). I had my last smoke in 2001, and yes, I cried like a baby; cigs had been a constant companion for 40 years, so saying goodbye was hard. After drying the tears I gathered up all the paraphernalia - lighters, ashtrays, matches - put it all in the trash and threw it in the dumpster.

One of my tricks - I got a box of drinking straws and cut them in half. Seriously. It was amazing that just having that shape in my hand helped. And I'd toss one in my mouth sometimes, especially when sitting at the computer. There's probably a clinical term for that kind of thing. I'm not too enamored of the 'weed' idea; for me that would have been a case of switching to a different deck chair on the Titanic.

And please don't beat yourself up over the willpower thing. You're dealing with an addiction, and willpower works as well on addiction as it does on diarrhea. Hanging out with people in similar situations could be a good thing, something to be said for mutual support. And focus on doing the good stuff - if you're like me you can't be in two places at the same time, and if you're doing what you're supposed to do you can't be doing what you're not supposed to do.

One of my biggest concerns was that I'd turn into the kind of FORMER SMOKER that my dad and brother became. They exuded so much self-righteousness that some people asked them to please start smoking again. So, I asked my friends to keep an eye on me, and if they noticed that happening to please strangle me with my own halo.

It ain't gonna be easy, but hang in there. Spend as much time as you possibly can with things that are healthy for you - like holding your wife and kids. Be patient with yourself, you're worth the effort.

[EarlG]

53. Good luck

I smoked a pack a day for years, quit two years ago. I used Chantix, it worked like a charm for me.

The physical addiction doesn't take long to go away, the psychological aspects are worse. Right now you're feeling like you're about to say a final goodbye to an old, dear friend. You're making a major life change. Later you will notice things that you never noticed before: for example, you no longer have a built-in excuse to step outside and be by yourself for a while. Sounds weird but you'll really notice that one. It can be confusing and annoying.

But I promise: if you stick with it you will one day suddenly notice that all the things you are worried about today were completely inconsequential. What you once viewed as an old dear friend, you'll discover really *was* a complete waste of time and money, was slowly killing you, and made you smell. Just as you always suspected.

Unfortunately it's impossible for you to appreciate at the moment. When you're a smoker you know all the downsides but somehow they just don't "compute." You know what I mean. But when you successfully quit, it will all come into focus.

So good luck and I hope you make it to that day when you realize that quitting was the best thing you ever did.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

59. The "built-in excuse" thing was awful for me.

I tend to be a rather introverted person in some respects, and I've always needed a certain amount of time to myself (even when I wasn't smoking.) So I substituted short walks when I normally would have had a cig. Maybe just around the car park at work, nothing more, but it did wonders. I think the fundamental idea is that you need to *replace* smoking with something that gives you some of the same benefits, without the obvious detriments to your health.

[Soylent Brice]

62. saying goodbye to an old friend is by far the best

analogy EVER.

that IS how i feel.

and the built-in excuse to be outside by myself, it's really weird you mentioned that. i've been thinking about that in terms of being at work. i've already decided i will still go outside for breaks, but instead walk around the building or something.

at home, i'll have my kids so it'll be nice to increase my time with them as much as possible. even if it is only an extra 3-4 minutes 4-5 times a night.


you all have been so helpful!!! THANK YOU!!!

[EarlG]

69. My wife and I quit at the same time

We wanted to have a baby and new we would have to quit if that was going to happen so we went on Chantix and it worked for both of us. In addition we moved about six months before we tried to quit, and we agreed that we would not smoke inside the new place, which helped.

Every day when we got home from work we used to go outside and sit on the steps outside our kitchen door and smoke a cig, and talk about our day. What was weird was that after we quit, we found that for about a week or so we would still automatically go out and sit on the steps and talk about our day, even though we weren't smoking. It was just a natural reaction. So I think it definitely helps to take breaks and do the things you used to do when you were smoking - just without a cigarette. :)

I think one of the hardest things for me was sort of staring into the void and not knowing what lay beyond - not knowing what life would be like without cigarettes. But trust me after a while you'll find that you stop feeling the need to do the stuff you did when you were smoking - you'll even forget that you used to need to do it. Life without cigarettes seems completely normal to me now.

[SalviaBlue]

55. BREATHE DEEP - Replace nicotine with OXYGEN - its addictive.

That is what finally worked for me. The last time I quit, after 10,000 tries, and 20+ years, it was so easy, it was ridiculous.

The breathing was the trick. Every time I wanted to smoke, I would take as deep a breath as I could. At first it was not all that pleasant, but really quickly I became "hooked" on this new breathing thing. It was amazing to realize how shallow my breaths had been before. I felt like I was really detoxing quickly, the cravings did not last for very long at all.

Good Luck to you!!

:fistbump:

[TheUnspeakable]

56. have you thought about e cigs?

tomorrow will be 2 weeks since i smoked a "real" cig. with electronic cigarettes, it simulates
smoking, but you're inhaling vapor-not smoke. I'm sorta feeling like it's a miracle, because i've tried before, but this time Im not going to smoke again. My plan is to wean myself from these, (you start with high nicotine, gradually taper down to no nicotine). there was a thread here a few weeks ago and quite a few DU'ers were vaping! I'ts a great substitute-i actually am starting to prefer it to smoking.

[Soylent Brice]

58. my closest friend has recommended them,

to me it seems to kind of enable the behavior though. i'd like to be done with inhaling anything all together.

i might try it out of curiosity though.

thanks for the advice!! i'll probably end up trying a lot of different things depending on how tonight goes. lol

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

57. My best tip for not cheating:

When I got together with my now ex-girlfriend (who was a friend of mine) we made a deal: If I ever smoke again, she was allowed to shave all of the hair off my head. I promised that I would be completely truthful to her about whether or not I smoked, and during the time we were together I never once cheated - not even a puff.

I've now made a similar deal with a friend of mine (we were both smokers) and so far I haven't cheated. For me, the main thing was to provide an tangible incentive (other than my own health) to help me through the tough times. I don't want to lose the hair on my head, and I don't want to lie to my friend. Therefore, I don't smoke. It's hard as hell some days, believe me. And it doesn't get any easier for months.

Several other tips, based on my own experience:

1) Drink massive quantities of water. For some reason this really diminishes my urge to smoke.

2) Avoid alcohol or coffee. These things seem to go hand in hand with smoking.

3) Develop a routine for dealing with cravings. Maybe it's a walk around the block, or reading a newspaper article. Develop something that you use as an alternative to smoking on a daily basis.

[Evoman]

63. Ha....two of my buddies did something similar. But way worse.

Everytime one of them smoked, the other would get a free kick to the balls.

Neither of them has smoked for about 2 years!

[Trailrider1951]

64. Brice, here are some things I learned when I quit smoking

I smoked for 20 years, from age 19 until 39. 1 and 1/2 packs a day. I had to quit 3 times before I finally made it. I was TRULY addicted.

#1. The nicotine gum comes in two dosages. Get the higher dose gum to begin with. Later, you can switch to the lower dose. And, for the first week, ignore the pieces per day number. Chew ALL that you need, even if it is one right after the other. You will probably find that the first two or three days are the worst.

#2. Recognize that you will have cravings for the cigs even with the gum. They usually pass in 5 to 10 minutes. Embrace them, knowing that they don't last long, and use them to remind yourself that they are a sign that you are getting healthy.

#3. This is the most important info I can pass on to you: Once you have succeeded in going a week or so without cigs, you must NEVER touch them again. Never become complacent as I did. That's why it took me 3 times to quit. I told myself a lie: Just one cig (or one pack, or ONE PUFF!)won't hurt. TOTAL BS! I know now that ONE PUFF is enough to addict me again. So, I never gave into another craving after quitting for the 3rd time. I'm now smoke free for 13 years. Best of Luck to you!

[LNM]

65. Just about 15 months for me

I used Nicorette and it really helped. I couldn't quit in the evening so when I decided to quit I smoked like a chimney the night before and then started on the gum the next morning. Not that I'm suggesting you do the same. I was just less than a pack-a-day smoker and popped one of the 2mg pieces of gum in my mouth when I got my first bad cravings. Wow! What a blast of nicotine! I got a huge buzz and got nauseous. After that I chewed half a piece at a time. I was also able to get by with less than the recommended daily dosage.

The two tips I have for you, besides what others have posted above, is never let yourself get by with the "aw, I can have just one". I did that numerous times when I tried to quit and almost immediately was back up to my typical number of smokes.

The other thing is that when you get a bad craving, or even if you don't, don't go to the area of your yard where you smoke. That is, don't think it's okay to sit in a lawn chair in your "smoking area". Stay away from places where you typically smoked.

Good Luck!

[Arugula Latte]

66. Good luck. Your kids will thank you. Your wife will thank you. You will thank yourself.

And the general public will thank you.

Honestly, I am sometimes just about knocked over by the smell that comes off heavy smokers, even if they aren't smoking at the time. One time my husband let a handyman into our house to do some work. I was upstairs in our bedroom, and I thought someone was smoking in the house. The odor coming off his clothes and hair traveled through the house, up the steps and into my nostrils. It is unbelievably strong.

Again, best of luck. :hi:

[Paul_D]

67. Good Luck!

After lurking for a long time, I'll come out of the shadows to say good luck with quitting. I did it 18 months ago and I can say with certainty that it was pure hell. Probably not what you wanted to hear, but something you’ll always get from me is the truth. I had smoked at least a pack a day or more for the last 20 years. Right before Christmas ’07 I started having trouble breathing. It happened just about every time I had a smoke. It got so bad I ended up at the emergency room. After the second trip there in a week with docs saying they don’t know what’s wrong, my doctor said it could be COPD or mild emphysema. On the way out of the office, my cigs went into the trash and once home I got rid of everything in the house – ashtrays, lighters, matches, etc and began a trip I will never repeat. The first couple days were not fun, but it got worse. I just wanted to crawl into a corner and die. I eventually got online and did some research on why this was happening. As it turns out, nicotine addiction can be as hard to break as heroin addiction for some. After a week, I went back to the doc and got a prescription for Chantix. It was expensive, but right away things became easier to deal with. It didn’t take away all the cravings, but made them just a bit less severe so I could get on with my day and not be nuts for a smoke every 15 min. I took Chantix for about a month, and then slowly stopped so I wouldn’t become addicted to it. If you take it, be ready for some crazy dreams. Dreams so vivid you’ll swear they were real and you might even talk to someone about an event that they have no idea of.

Go ahead and get pretzel sticks, celery, carrots, and toothpicks – whatever you think you might want to have around to stick in your mouth because you’ll want something and it doesn’t need to be another smoke. If you have friends that smoke, you might want to tell them you’ll be dropping out for a while. All my friends smoke, and I didn’t see most of them for almost 6 months. I couldn’t stand to be around it without having one. People smoke at work on the other end of the warehouse, with the bay doors open. I can tell you within about 30 seconds of them lighting up that someone is smoking. I can handle it now, but in the beginning it sucked.
Like I said, it’s been 18 months – if I had found a pack of smokes last Wednesday I would have lit one. Just a stressful day and even after so long I went to my shirt pocket looking for some.

Get ready to gain some weight. Not everyone does, and it didn’t happen to me for about 8 months. In fact, I lost weight initially because I didn’t want to do much of anything including eat properly. In the end, you’ll start smelling and tasting things that you haven’t for a long time. You’ll eventually stop coughing up lung biscuits and the cravings will subside.

If you’re quitting tonight, do yourself – and those that have to spend time around you – a favor and go get that Chantix scrip. You’ll thank me later :)

Again – Good luck…

[LNM]

73. Great post Paul_D and welcome to DU

I agree with the friends that smoke comment. I meant to add that myself. My friends don't smoke but it has to make it that much more difficult to quit if you have friends that smoke.

[woofless]

68. There is no time. There is only right now.

I refused to let myself smoke right now. Going on five years free of tobacco. Herbs help.

Woof

Remember, "Right this minute I will not smoke a cigarette.".

[DCKit]

72. After 30 years, I was finally taxed out of smoking. Just can't afford them anymore.

Especially not when I spend less per day on food. It would just seem crazy to spend more on cigs than food, even from the perspective of an addict.

Things that have helped me quit:
1) Get angry. The nicotine is controlling you, not the other way around.
2) Quick showers and tooth brushing. Cigs are nasty and dirty. Do the opposite.
3) Sleep when you're tired and anxious.
4) Walk, work, whatever makes you physically tired. Tell the wife and kids you need their help and support and you'll get it.
5) Reasonable amounts of hot drinks. I found I missed the smoke and hot tea helped.
6) Lots of low-calorie food. Celery and carrot sticks as a substitute for both the holding and the mouth action of a cigarette.
7) Wash all your clothes. Even stuff you haven't worn in a long time is going to have that comforting stench.
8) Change your routine. Get OUT and stay out of the house or any other place where you created regular smoking habits.

Anyway, it's been ~ six weeks and I still want one, but I'm even getting my singing voice back. Oh, and my allergies, sinus issues, sore throats and just generally feeling like shit are all gone too. I'm on the verge of maniac energy and kind of like it.

[Paul_D]

74. Status?

How did it go? You've got a lot of people here that have gone through the same thing you probably are right now. Use them as your support group. Anything to get past that craving.

Oh - and thanks for the welcome!

:hi:

[Cass]

75. You have all my best vibes headed your way...you can do it!

I quit 2 1/2 years ago after smoking for 25 years and never looked back.

Whenever a craving hit I kept telling myself that it had been xxx amount of time without a smoke and that I would be throwing so much hard work away if I caved in now. That's what kept me going.

Good luck to you!

:toast:

[workinclasszero]

76. Good luck, you can do it!

I started smoking at 13, up to a pack and a half a day 20 years later. It is now 20 years since I quit so I've been smoke free now as much as long as I was a smoker, thank God.

What helped me has realizing that I was a drug addict, a nicotine junkie. You are in a fight for your life and your drug of choice will kill you in the end and leave your loved ones weeping at your grave.

What sane person would choose this fate for themselves?

I don't know if you are religious or not but I was on my knees praying for deliverance from the dirty habit that was strangling the life out of me.

I hate cigs now with every fiber of my being. It is the dirtiest most vile, disgusting, stinking habit there is. And now you get the extra added value of paying 5 bucks or so a pack for your cancer sticks!

WOW!

When I quit I was paying a buck a pack and I thought that was high! LOL

The first three days are the worst then its just a mental game that you can win. It took me three good try's to finally quit for good so keep trying if this attempt fails.

Do it for the ones who love you if nothing else. I quit cold turkey, they didn't have any quit smoking help back in the day like they do now so your chances of quitting should be even better.

After a while you will wonder WTF was I thinking ever smoking one lousy stinking cigarette!

YOU CAN DO THIS!!!!!!!:fistbump:

[bigwillq]

77. Good Luck!

:hug: