Stopped Smoking Today!

[GobBluth]

Any reformed smokes out there want to give some tips on dealing with the urges, anxiety, side effects, etc.

I'm using a 21mg patch and am committed to this but, geez, I get insane cravings and heartburn.

How did you battle this monster?

-GB

 

[BoT]

i am trying to quite. been trying for some time now but still no success.
i have doing pretty good with the smoking less and less method. i was down to 4-5 cigs a day a few times. i now support it with e-cigs but i am not impressed with it.

what patch are you using?

 

[GobBluth]

I also tried e-cigs... Just doesn't do the trick. A waste of money as far as im concerned. I'm using Nicoderm. Felt great today aside from a massive craving that I had to literally talk myself out of at around 3:00 this afternoon.

 

[Auric]

Simples: build a time machine and have your elderly neighbour/uncle allow you to try smoking whilst still in short pants. You will never have the desire again! Worked for me.

 

[BoT]

Simples: build a time machine and have your elderly neighbour/uncle allow you to try smoking whilst still in short pants. You will never have the desire again! Worked for me.

if it could be that simple man

the e-cigs allow me to take longer breaks between smokes which is kinda neat but not enough.
i never tried a patch.
so if you still have cravings does that mean the patch was wearing off or what?

 

[bhagan]

One of my coworkers from when I worked retail suggested setting a date in the future to quit so you have ample time to prepare for it. I did that this time and so far I've been smoke free for 2 months, in the last 3 I've only had what I used to put away in a day. I think one of the biggest things would be to stay away from alcohol for the first few weeks, or at least stay away from drinking with friends when they all smoke, drinking with friends caused all the occasions where I caved in. It would also probably be a good idea to run through all of the improvements since quitting whenever you get a craving. For me that would be that my running has really improved, I cough less, I'm saving money, and I don't expel huge dark brown chunks of sputum every morning. I'd say that quitting sucks, but once you get through a week/week and a half it should start to get a lot easier, and not smoking is awesome. Keep with it!

 

[Bulldog13]

Chantix, used it to quit smoking. Only thing is you can't use it if you are already on anti-depressants.

 

[Kaido]

Any reformed smokes out there want to give some tips on dealing with the urges, anxiety, side effects, etc.

I'm using a 21mg patch and am committed to this but, geez, I get insane cravings and heartburn.

How did you battle this monster?

-GB

There was a program available awhile back that had an advertised 100% success rate. Same idea as the Pavlovian dogs - ring the bell, they started drooling. The idea was that you remap the craving from smoking to something nasty (8 ounces of unsweetened white grapefruit juice). Helped a friend do it, he never wanted to smoke again after 3 days on that :biggrin:

If I remember the steps right:

1. Throw away all cigarettes & paraphernalia (ash trays etc.)
2. Buy a few gallons of unsweetened white grapefruit juice
3. Keep one handy with a cup at all times. When you get a craving, chug a whole cup.
4. Do this for 3 weeks.

Worked pretty well when my buddy did it, fwiw. Helps to have a friend keep you in line if you're serious about it!

 

[pauldun170]

Stop spending time with other smokers. Stick to phone calls for the next 3 months.
Start paying attention to smokers older than 30 and note how much older they look than there peers who don't smoke.
Start running on a regular basis and track your times.
Completely clean your car or other areas that may retain cigarette smell. Find whatever tricks you can to get rid of the stink.
Smokers that you deal with on regular basis, take note of how they stink and how bad their breath smells after a smoke.

Get the flu...stay away from other smokers (friends, family) for 2 months. Pay attention to how other smokers are prematurely aging and how old smokers look in general.

 

[MarkHunt]

I stopped smoking 9 years ago, and I am still convinced that the only solution is within you. You need to find the right motivation and discipline inside yourself.

 

[BoT]

I stopped smoking 9 years ago, and I am still convinced that the only solution is within you. You need to find the right motivation and discipline inside yourself.

i absolutely agree with that. all the other stuff helps or can help but you have to be ready mentally or get yourself mentally ready.

 

[lotus503]

Chantix helped me quit years ago.

Coworker uses ecigs and hasn't smoked in about a year, claims he never went through real withdrawals, is however still hooked on nicotine.

 

[Dee67]

I'm 7 years clean from a 20+ year habit.

There are plenty of ways to do things, here's MY take.

How bad do you want it? That matters more than anything else.

Don't use a crutch, pills, fake cigs, gums, whatever.. Just QUIT it - not only are you not trading one addiction for another but then YOU get all the credit for doing it yourself. Not bad.

Make no mistake.. it's a drug.. the detox isn't pleasant.. drink a good amount of water every day and tough it out. It WILL end. It's just gonna take longer than you think it should. Just keep reminding yourself, it IS detoxing and it WILL end. Small price to pay for you freedom back.

Ever quit before? Did you feel like a loser when you went back? REMEMBER that! Don't go through it again. How far did you make it? Did you suffer? Do you want to go through THAT again?

Give yourself some leverage.. line up EVERY good thing you can for quitting, feelings, etc and EVERY bad thing too.. killed your loved ones, etc, etc.. there are PLENTY for both.. list them out and dwell on them. DAILY. Don't let your mind lose focus why you're doing this for the good and avoiding the bad.

Addiction is slavery. Slavery to a plant, slavery to a rolled up piece of paper and a bunch of old, rich guys in suits making their fortune off YOUR pain. WORK for your freedom!

You're doing it, just keep going.. one foot in front of the other.. When things get tough, just make it through a minute, then five then a half hour, an hour a day, a week.. you can do ANYTHING for such a short period of time, if you take the hard times in such small pieces it'll become so much more tolerable than "quitting for life".

Congratulations! Keep it up. Be proud and don't sell yourself short.. This is a hell of an accomplishment that MANY people die before getting to do.

 

[happysmiles]

absolutely right, your desire to quit must be greater than your body wanting it.



Remember that there was a time when you didn't smoke and it's only your body telling you. your mind is stronger than your body

 

[davel]

I had my last cigarette 6 days ago, but not by choice, I came down with the flu, first time I been this long without a smoke...I guess at this point I can quit huh? At the moment I have no desire to smoke not sure what will happen when this flu is gone.

 

[Dude111]

Congrats!

I have heard its QUITE HARD to stop!!


Good for you!!

 

[pauldun170]

I had my last cigarette 6 days ago, but not by choice, I came down with the flu, first time I been this long without a smoke...I guess at this point I can quit huh? At the moment I have no desire to smoke not sure what will happen when this flu is gone.

The Flu (or any respiratory illness that knocks you on your ass)is awesome for quitting smoking.

 

[Sephire]

My dad smoked for 40 years and he quit. Cold turkey. He is almost 70 now. I don't know how he did it.

 

[Dkcode]

Simples: build a time machine and have your elderly neighbour/uncle allow you to try smoking whilst still in short pants. You will never have the desire again! Worked for me.

If i had a time machine i'd have gone back to summer 1999 - PC gaming and late 90's Gatecrasher and fingering girls on the swings at the park.

What a time to be around.

OP: You thought about joining a gym or running?