So I've decided to quit smoking...

[Norwegianwood]

...and if you really can´t manage without the nicotine (there´s a small percentage who doesn´t manage to quit cold), go ahead and order some of our scandinavian speciality:
Invalid Link Removed

Still not gonna turn you into an athlete over night, but at least it doesn´t kill you.

 

[Lady Kayri]

Two avenues that might work.
1) Buy one pack. Smoke one cig a day until they're gone. If necessary, have someone else dole them out for you. When they're gone, no more smokes. Worked for my Nana, who'd smoked almost 50 years at that point...
2) Buy a pack, leave the cellephane / plastic seals on. Keep it with you, but don't open it. Sometimes just knowing it's there can help stop the craving, and if you get a really bad craving, ask yourself if it's worth opening it up. One of my better friends at work quit cold turkey, but kept that unopened pack in her purse for almost 2 years before she threw it out.
Obviously,YMMV; with any addiction, different things work for different people. At least you've DECIDED it's time to quit. Husband tried lots of methods (he's smoked since 12 or so...he's now on high side of 50...) and hasn't been able to; his problem is that he doesn't really WANT to quit....
Best wishes and good luck; and as has been said, if you fall off the wagon, don't spend too much time beating yourself up, just climb back on. It's a long road with lots of switch backs for most people.

 

[warwick.hoy]

When I quit smoking, I quit ALL my favorite vices. Decided to stop drinking and other soft recreations for a year, to help support my efforts to quit tobacco. When imbibing in these activities was when cigarette usage went way up. Actually didn't drink or **** for nearly two years. I know a lot of ppl who can smoke ONLY when they're drinking -- but don't trust myself enough to try this. Seems like a slippery slope. YMMV

I can drink a beer or two and not succumb to cravings. I've never had a problem with alcohol...I know when to stop...etc. I gave up on one of my other vices as well (that green stuff). The one vice I absolutely will not give up however; is coffee. I'm going to have at least one vice.

The other times I really enjoyed smoking was after meals - but ya can't sop eating. Just had to gut it out

This was the routine for me too. No way around it. It is nice to not be in that sort of a routine. Especially if I take my wife out to dinner...I don't have to leave her by herself at the table; between finishing our meal and paying the check, while I'm out smoking.

<snip>

Also still get cravings every once in awhile, but they pass quickly.
Two side notes: now it looks weird to me when I see ppl smoking!
When smokers sit next to me, they really do smell like ashtrays.

All the same for me as well. I try not to be smug about it though.

 

[sowder]

That's one of the best things you can ever do for yourself. I quit cold turkey after smoking 1-2 packs of menthols for 15 years. Best way to get through the urges is when you think about picking up a smoke, you have to consciously look at it and make your brain realize that is does nothing but damage to you and your body. That there is no good that will come from it and every puff from it will hurt you and make you weak for breaking down your willpower.

Sounds silly but it worked for me. It conditioned me to never come near another cigarette because my brain finally associated it with harm. It's how I started eating much better and lost the weight too. You have to just realize and remember that IT'S BAD FOR YOU AND YOUR HEALTH IS EVERYTHING IN THIS WORLD.

Good luck man...contact me if you have trouble.

 

[mike_v_s]

What worked for you?

Chantix. A little over a year now.

Mike

 

[ErebusBass]

Thanks for the support guys.

So I've (sort of) got a plan, and I want some opinions:
Tomorrow is the day. I picked that date months ago, partially because there's gonna be a huge tax hike, and I'm going to stick to it.

For the oral fixation I'm gonna pick up some gum and sugar-free candy/mints.

At the end of the day today, I'm going to take the rest of my pack and give it to my brother.

I've got a little bit of support. My guitarist/good friend quit smoking about a month or two ago, and he's been hassling me ever since, and will continue to do so.

What am I missing?


Also, in the past I've found that my biggest hurdle is day one. Any suggestions to help me get through those first 24 hours? I feel like if I get over that hump I'll be home free.

 

[warwick.hoy]

Thanks for the support guys.

So I've (sort of) got a plan, and I want some opinions:
Tomorrow is the day. I picked that date months ago, partially because there's gonna be a huge tax hike, and I'm going to stick to it.

For the oral fixation I'm gonna pick up some gum and sugar-free candy/mints.

I did the gum thing even though I'm not a gum chewer. It helps but also consider some healthier options such as carrot sticks (seems oddly appropriate).

At the end of the day today, I'm going to take the rest of my pack and give it to my brother.

It helped me to start the day fresh. I smoked the last cigarette of the pack a few hours before going to bed. Before that I would smoke "the days last cigarette" then immediately brush my teeth and go to bad. Starting the day without a cigarette helps because the nicotine levels in your body are at their lowest. A lot of the addiction is about maintaining the level of nicotine in you body.

I've got a little bit of support. My guitarist/good friend quit smoking about a month or two ago, and he's been hassling me ever since, and will continue to do so.

Let this guy be rude to you and don't take it personally, he is trying to help you and his support will go a long way towards getting you through it. Let him give you positive reinforcement and realize that if you relapse you'll be letting him down.

What am I missing?

Learn to breath deep. They say that the stress relieving properties of smoking have a lot to do with the fact that you inhale deeply to get the smoke to your lungs. Why not do this without the cigarette. There were times where I was at work...getting stressed out by the extreme work load. I took 30 seconds to do a deep breathing exercise that I learned on the Wii Fit (cheesy I know, but it works). That went a long way to refocusing myself to the task at hand and relieving that stress.

Also, in the past I've found that my biggest hurdle is day one. Any suggestions to help me get through those first 24 hours? I feel like if I get over that hump I'll be home free.

The first day is the biggest test...rely on your support mechanisms. Keep yourself occupied...bring this thread back up and keep us posted, someone is sure to chime in and help you out. Tell yourself that the craving will pass. I've heard that the craving only lasts as long as it takes to smoke a cigarette. A lot of it is mental...be proud of yourself for kicking the habit. Once you get through a day...relapsing will put a lot of hard work down the drain. If you do relapse...dust yourself off and get right back to your plan.

Do not buy any cigarettes. Think of the money that you'll be saving...I justified it by telling myself that my half pack a day habit equated to a new effects pedal a month.

If this jives with the type of person you are (I'm very skeptical/cynical of corporate America) tell yourself that all smoking is is corporate assisted suicide.

Hang tough buddy...we are here for you.

 

[mike_v_s]

Also, in the past I've found that my biggest hurdle is day one. Any suggestions to help me get through those first 24 hours?

Don't stifle the bad mood that withdrawl might bring. Embrace it. Look at those 2-3 days as a liberating experience where the filter between your mind and your mouth takes a break.

Mike

 

[ErebusBass]

I'm smoking my last cigarette right now.

I had a half of a pack left, I snapped them all in half and threw them in the trash. Tomorrow I'm gonna go through the house and the car and throw anything cigarette-related away. Empty packs, any butts laying around, ashtrays, rolling papers, that half pouch or rolling tobacco I never smoked, filters, everything. All gone.

I can't wait until I can breathe again. It's been six years.

 

[rcarraher]

and god $^%# if it isn't so much harder than I remembered it being.

My fellow TB'ers: I'm 19 years old and I can already feel myself dying. I've been smoking about a pack a day since I was 14 (~6 years), and I've had asthma since I was three years old. This needs to stop.

I've tried everything in the past; those patches, the gum, lozenges, even a nicotine inhaler, and nothing works. I've decided that cold turkey is the way for me, but I keep getting tripped up.

I have officially decided 100% that I am going to quit, but I just keep getting discouraged.

What worked for you?

There is a drug called Chantix, been out a couple years now. You take a small dose for like three days, then a larger dose. You continue to smokeif yo9u want to, but you set a date about two weeks out when you are going to quit. If you take the pill everyday as you are supposed to, I guarantee you you will have cut way down on smoking before your day gets there. It takes away the pleasure of smoking, blocks some receptor in your brain. It works so well, you know that little high you get for a few seconds in the morning when yo have that first smoke.You don't get that anymore. I had tried everything, including hypnosis, and Chantix worked.

Down side is that most insurance doesn't pay for it, but ask your doc, he'll perscribe it along with a support system. Up side is that if you have to pay for it yourself, it costs about the same every month for the script that you pay for a pack a day habbit. The stuff literlly cuts your craving for nicotene, and even if you do cheat, the cigs won't give you any pleasure.

 

[warwick.hoy]

I'm smoking my last cigarette right now.

I had a half of a pack left, I snapped them all in half and threw them in the trash. Tomorrow I'm gonna go through the house and the car and throw anything cigarette-related away. Empty packs, any butts laying around, ashtrays, rolling papers, that half pouch or rolling tobacco I never smoked, filters, everything. All gone.

I can't wait until I can breathe again. It's been six years.

Stay strong man...if I can do it...you can do it.

 

[Solarmist]

The hardest part of quitting is constantly thinking about quitting while your quitting. I used the patches, and almost rolled them up, and smoked them. I drank a lot of beer, and smoked the other stuff [crutches], but got through it. The 1st week is the hardest, but you will slowly get used to not doing it rather than doing it. It gets easier as time goes by - like only 3 weeks! Remember ..... you CAN do it - you can.

 

[BassGirl1122]

yeah, I know what you mean. I am currently in process of trying to quit myself. I went like 5 days, and then snuck them. I only do it now and then now. What makes it hard is going to the club. I am there about 5 nights a week. If I want one, I will get one but so far today I have been okay. BTW, I started the quitting process on May 16th. I was gonna try for May 15th, cause it was my father's b-day. He had lung cancer. He passed this past Dec but from a blood clot. He would of been 60. I am scared to death of smoking now cause I believe it runs in my family on his side.
But anyways, it IS hard cause this is like the zillionth time quitting! Good luck!!!

 

[D Rokk]

i guess from what i've read that "cold turkey" statistcly has the highest success rate

thats how i did it..

 

[MJ5150]

Keep up the fight. There are WAY too many people in the world who have died premature deaths from smoking, and FAR too many of us who have had to live on after seeing a loved one die from smoking related issues.

YOU CAN DO IT!!! Run Forrest, Run!

-Mike

 

[ErebusBass]

i guess from what i've read that "cold turkey" statistcly has the highest success rate

thats how i did it..

That's the plan. I've tried the patches, the gum, those lozenges, a nicotine inhaler, and several medications. None of that stuff helped me. I think it's best to just suffer through the withdrawals and get them over with, rather than draw them out.

I've heard of chantix, but a friend of a friend tried that about a year ago. She went crazy and tried to kill herself, so I think I'm gonna steer clear of the chantix.

Well... 10 hours, still strong.

 

[machine gewehr]

ErebusBass,I wish you the best man.Having asthma and smoking is terrible.

First my mother,who was 30~ years of a smoker quit cold turkey.
After a year,my father who was a 2 to 3 pack a day smoker for 30+ years said **** this and threw 'em away.

He was going berserk on "nothing",they had a hard time,really hard time but now they both say "how the heck could I smoke that thing for all those years???".

You're young,you have asthma,if you have the will nothing is going to stop you.
Hit the gym,go to a pool and swim 3-4 days a week,buy yourself a bike etc,sports can help too.I know I smoke a lot less when I do sports.

Best of luck man,kick its ***.

 

[Solarmist]

Stay strong man...if I can do it...you can do it.

I remember you were going to quit 2/3 months ago - did you make it?

 

[warwick.hoy]

I remember you were going to quit 2/3 months ago - did you make it?

I had one relapse (1/2 a cigarette) on the 2nd of May at a bonfire/Taurus Party (Lot's of Tauruses in my circle of friends). I was drinking and hanging out with a lot of smokers. I fought the craving for about 9 hours before caving. I felt fine until I smoked that cigarette...then the spins kicked in and I went home to sleep it off.

Other than that I've been smoke free since the 2nd week of April.

 

[Deluge Of Sound]

Good to hear it, James.


I'm sick as a dog today, so I'm going to circumvent the smoking with some niccorette.