Ex smokers...tips wanted

[davidpizzica]

Laura's babies, I believe in another thread that I said that January 31st will be my 24th anniversary of quitting smoking. I quit the roughest way possible, cold turkey. In 1982 when I quit, cigarettes were 65 cents a pack, which was one of the reasons. Secondly, I was getting so out of breath walking up hills. While I don't recommend cold turkey, that's the way I quit.

[Logan]

All I can say is "good for you", Laura. I'm so glad that you are considering quitting. I've never been a smoker, but I have had to deal with weight issues, so I feel your pain. Hang in there and deal with what you need to in order to offset the weight gain issues. Stopping smoking will be the absolute best thing you've ever done for yourself.

If you didn't deal with the month long work ventures, I would say, "get a dog", and walk yourself crazy. I have 3 Golden Retrievers that would keep you busy! But I know this is not a solution for your current lifestyle.

Best of luck, my friend.

Logan

[Corinna]

Ask Sue( Lv4dogs) She'll say just have our Gina"'s Ark come visit for a day . You'll qiut. She just has a way of getting you to stop.

[lv4dogs]

Ask Sue( Lv4dogs) She'll say just have our Gina"'s Ark come visit for a day . You'll qiut. She just has a way of getting you to stop.

Yes she does.

She said to me that I should stop killing myself. I always knew smoking was killing me but I never had anyone say that to me. It really made me wake up. And as odd as it may seem, it really had an impact coming from someone that I didn't know all that well. To think that Gina cared that much about a "stranger" to actually tell me to stop killing myself really made me open my eyes.

Have you seen the smoking commercials with the blood clot in the aorta and the one where they show the lung tissue dying and the one where they squeeze the whitish/yellowis stuff out of some other artery (or some kind of vessel type thing). Boy oh boy those are just so gross. I think those would make any smoker quit!

[Felix]

It will be a year for me in March

First of all one thing at a time.First you stop smoking than you worry about the weight later.I got the no smoking down pat,now I started today to loose the weight.Be patient.

A craving usually only lasts for about 5 minutes.Once I got a craving I would occupy myself and drink down a glass of water.(Lots of water will flush out all the bad toxins)This will get the craving off your mind and water will sastisfy you.They say to go and brush your teeth when a craving comes along as well.

When I was stressed.I would walk it off.

Reward yourself with the money you no longer waste on smokes.Buy something just for you.You deserve it.

In just a week you will notice an increase of flavor on food,increased sence of smell.Its just wonderful.You will truley be amazed.

Dont let that cigerette control you.Good luck with it.

Hope these tips are of some use to you.

Here is what they say happens to your body just after quitting for 20minutes than throughout the years....

Within 20 minutes after you smoke that last cigarette, your body begins a series of changes that continue for years.


20 Minutes After Quitting
Your heart rate drops.

12 hours After Quitting
Carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal.

2 Weeks to 3 Months After Quitting
Your heart attack risk begins to drop.
Your lung function begins to improve.

1 to 9 Months After Quitting
Your Coughing and shortness of breath decrease.

1 Year After Quitting
Your added risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker’s.

5 Years After Quitting
Your stroke risk is reduced to that of a nonsmoker’s 5-15 years after quitting.

10 Years After Quitting
Your lung cancer death rate is about half that of a smoker’s.
Your risk of cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney, and pancreas decreases.

15 Years After Quitting
Your risk of coronary heart disease is back to that of a nonsmoker’s.

[jenluckenbach]

I never smoked so I am of no help with hints for you, but I will give you a hearty congratulation!!!!!!

My mom quit smoking (cold turkey) after it was already too late. she was dying of lung cancer. But even in her sad physical state, she could feel the difference after stopping. She could breathe better and it was the first time in my life that I had ever heard her NOT coughing.

I do know that the gum or hard candies are right on (especially peppermint).

Wishing you the very best of luck! {{{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}}}}

[G535]

I also quit "cold turkey", never used patches or gum and didn't gain weight. You really have to want to quit for it to work, if you're only half-hearted about it then you will fail. As for the weight gain, that's just a myth, if you don't eat any more than you did as a smoker then you won't gain weight. The reason most people gain weight is that they eat more after giving up the smokes.

Good luck with it, you really can do it!

[Crazy-Cat-Lover]

I am a smoker and totally hate doing this to my body. My only advice is, you have to want to quit to be successful, thats why I couldnt!

Good luck!

[poofy]

I prayed for the desire to be taken from me 7 years ago and it was, but i chewed gum and sugar free gum, and still gained lots , n lots of weight, so im sure no help

[Pawsitive Thinking]

You're there already because you want to stop - that is all I needed. Good luck

[lv4dogs]

Laura that is great news! I wish you only the very best of luck!

I did it the hard way, quit cold turkey. I'm still going strong though.

I chew lots of gum & eat lots of hard candy.

I have found that I actually have more time in the day. Not a LOT but enough to notice. Since I didn't smoke in my house I always went outside & did nothing, just sat there & smoked a cig. When I smoked I was busy all night or on the weekends all day, doing chores, taking care of the critters, smoking outside, etc.... Now that I quit I actually have extra time at night to watch tv, take a longer walk, go to bed earlier. Its amazing & I didn't even smoke a lot to begin with.

I just heard this on the radio this morning & it makes a lot of sense.
They say to look at your habits. Like for instance if you sit in the same spot every morning and drink your coffee & smoke a cig, move to a different spot drink your coffee & look out the window instead enjoying the outdoors & nature. If you smoke while you sit & watch TV try laying down instead or sit in a different chair. Instead of reading the paper & smoking a cig. take a brief walk. Etc....
I did that at work today, re-arranged some "habits" and boy not one craving so far.