Tips for quitting smoking. UPDATE PAGE 2

[sweet angel]

My target quit date is Monday. I'm taking Wellbutrin, so hopefully it will take the edge off, but I want to be prepared.

I'm looking to ex-smokers to tell me how they made it through the first couple days/weeks. I've never had a craving for a cigarette. For me, it's always been more of a mental time waster than a physical thing -- at least I hope so! However, you never know!

I'm thinking instead of smoking, I'll exercise for 5-10 minutes. That'll be tough at work though.

Suggestions?

 

[pumba]

and we didn't quit with any help........(cause there was none 20 years ago).....First off ....you have the best attitude so that is in your favor....remember to NOT go to the places where you would normally lite up......stay away from the chair where you would smoke or when you finish eating........go and walk the block or something .......stay out of your usual smoking haunts.....I spent alot of time in the shower ....I was parboiled for a while......take some sugar free gum or some tic tacs with you at all times......good luck and I know you can do it......

 

[sweet angel]

Thanks! By your suggestions it looks like I won't be doing laundry for awhile. My washer and dryer are in the garage, which is where we normally smoke. I see that as a plus though!

I'm always chewing sugarless gum anyway (bad breath phobia!), so that's covered.

I'm trying not to say "I'm trying to quit", but rather, "I am quitting."

I also have a hypnosis CD that I got from the prior failed attempt, so may listen to that as well for a little added support!

 

[copper68]

well let's see.. i was never a smoker but my dad was.. he likes to say he used the CRO method.. and when people ask what that is he says the chest ripped open method.. he had open heart surgery last year.. his last smoke was the morning before surgery.. he smoked for 30+ years..

seriously tho, i have heard him echo the other posters words about just getting out of the habit.. like when you wake up, or on the phone, or done eating etc..

i have no real advice.. just good luck and thoughts for you!!

 

[lovethattink]

I've never been a smoker, but for continuing education for my profession, I had to take classes on how to counsel people who are quitting smoking. You might need to change your routine. For example, if your 1st cig of the day meant sitting at your kitchen table drinking coffee and smoking, then you would drink your coffee in another room without the cig. Be sure to have stress releasers thought of ahead of time. When my father quit smoking, he spent alot of time going for walks.

 

[Regina]

I quit 27 years ago by using the Smokenders program. The one thing they preached that stuck with me all these years is "if you smoke because you have a problem, you now have two problems."

The other piece of advice that I fall back on is to not take that first cigarette.

I haven't touched a cigarette since. Good luck!

 

[Pamlur]

I quit with the help of Wellbutrin, just over three years ago. It wasn't easy, but I kept telling myself "Self, if you smoke that cigarette, you are going to have to go through this again, soon". Then I'd hop on my Gazelle Glider. Or I'd go walk through my neighborhood. It worked for me, this was my fourth attempt to try.

I also thought I was more mentally addicted than physically; I still don't know which addiction was stronger, but they are both hard to beat.

But it CAN be done!

 

[mrsmom]

I quit 9 yrs ago, and i did it cold turkey, The best thing i can tell you is you have to change your routine , Like i would smoke after i ate , when i quit i would get up and do something to forget about smoking. Good luck !!! You can do it!!!
Kim

 

[Dan Murphy]

Good wishes, you can do it, you will do it.

I suggest breaking the day into thirds; not smoking for just the morning, then just the afternon, then the evening. With that, you have the first day behind you. Easy to not smoke for a few hours, then the hours become days. Over 30 years clean here. God wishes.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Good wishes, you can do it, you will do it.

I suggest breaking the day into thirds; not smoking for just the morning, then just the afternon, then the evening. With that, you have the first day behind you. Easy to not smoke for a few hours, then the hours become days. Over 30 years clean here. God wishes.

 

[sweet angel]

Thanks for all the replies so far, especially Dan (since it was twice! )

I know I can do it and I know I will do it. It really is a matter of wanting it badly enough and doing it when you're ready.

Hoping my thinking positive isn't coming across as cockiness!

 

[SherryNC]

Thanks for all the replies so far, especially Dan (since it was twice! )

I know I can do it and I know I will do it. It really is a matter of wanting it badly enough and doing it when you're ready.

Hoping my thinking positive isn't coming across as cockiness!

Hey, nothing wrong with some attitude if that is what will do it for you. Please come to us for support anytime you need it.

 

[DISshopkeeper]

Seek out others who are in the process of quitting. That's what I wished for when I was quitting, and I just never did anything about it.

And I used the patch and it worked. I quit on one full-strength box. I cut the patches on half at first, and then thirds and finally quarters. And leave them on at night! They provide a really interesting dream life!!!

And good luck!!!! You can do it!!!

 

[eclectics]

I smoked for 33 years (I started as a baby ) and tried to quit many, many times. This time I meant business and decided to find out why the previous attempts failed. Every attempt had me switching to a nicotine substitute like the gum or patch and even a pipe. Every time it led me back to the cigs. I was determined to get away from nicotine, period. What helped me through was the nicotine free cigs called Quest 3. Not a spec of nicotine but I was still able to smoke. Totally confused the heck out of my body! I was able to get through that "withdrawal" period while still smoking. Then I gradually stopped inhaling the fake cigs until I just didn't want them anymore. When I finally put them down for good, the withdrawal symptons weren't bad at all. I have 4 weeks under my belt and feel pretty good. I guess it's the "lazy man's" version of cold turkey, but it worked for me. I think if you really are determined to quit, it's half the battle. Whenever I got a craving, I pushed it out of my mind and got busy doing something. Believe me, it passes! Good luck and remember, you aren't alone!

 

[Briarmom]

Well, I quit when I got pregnant, would that work for ya?
Seriously though, I agree that you need to avoid places/things that make you smoke. Drinking was a big one for me, and as soon as I could drink again (after the baby was born) I craved smoking. Sometimes (VERY rarely) I still do. You will do it. We need you around here for a very long time!

 

[sweet angel]

Well, I quit when I got pregnant, would that work for ya?

Ummmm...no. Actually I did quit when I was pregnant, not by choice but it made me sick -- it was the only thing that made me sick.

I keep thinking of all those Adam Sandler movies with Rob Schneider (?) saying "YOU CAN DO IT!"

 

[Catzeyes]

When I quit I walked and sat around the house the those thin pretzel sticks in my hand. I treated those stupid pretzels like they really were a cig. It is weird to look back on it now but for me it really helped. Good luck to you I know how hard it is.

 

[sweet angel]

Well, it's been 8 days now. Don't know if it's the wellbutrin or not, but this has pretty much been a piece of cake. I'm counting myself as really lucky!

Thanks for the support!

 

[Pamlur]

Don't get over-confident. I remember going in to my dr's office after about 10 days or so and saying "This has been surprisingly easy". It takes about three weeks for the withdrawal to hit you hard. I don't want you to be surprised like I was.

 

[SillyMe]

Keep it up Sweet Angel. You can do it.