Ex smokers...tips wanted

[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!

[RedHedd]

I used the Nicorette gum and a 12-step Program - Smokers Anonymous - to help me quit. That was 18 years ago.

As for not gaining weight, I made it a priority. I watched what I ate like a hawk - even went to Weight Watchers which taught me how to eat healthy AND, most importantly, I worked out regularly. In fact I started working out like a fiend and ended up in better shape than before I quit smoking. It IS possible to quit smoking and not gain weight. Like others have said, you have to want to quit and want to do what's healthy and right for your body. Focus on the positive aspects and don't think of it as deprivation - what you're doing is a GOOD thing.

When a craving came up, initially the Nicorette gum worked and then I switched to sugarless Cinnamon gum. There's something about the cinnamon that helps cut the cravings, but be careful! I chewed so much cinnamon that I burned my mouth! Sucking on Cinnamon sticks also works for some people.

[Laura's Babies]

Gee whiz! I never expected so many responses and so much advice! THANK you ALL and anybody else wanting to add to it, go on and do it!

The thing that REALLY made me decide that this is the year is, this year, I turn the big 6-0... Soon to be loking at retirement and I don't think I could afford it on retirement income. #2 reason is my son Eddie and the stuff that I saw coming out of him while in a coma, just in breathing. He was a light smoker when that explosion happened. His breath made the tape holding the ventalotor in his mouth, brown for about 10 days.. Needless to say, after 9 months in the hospital, he is a non smoker now and I would like to surprise him with my quitting the habit myself. His wife has also quit since his accident.

It is just the right time to do it, I have wanted to for years... (lets see if I still feel like this when my quit time draws nearer!)

[G535]

You're starting off on the wrong foot already! You have to think positive even before you quit!

[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

[Grace]

I was lucky. 7 years ago I got pneumonia. By the time I even thought about smoking, the physical cravings had pretty much disappeared. For about a year I had the occasional itch to smoke. Now I don't even think about it.

I think doing it when the weather is nice makes it easier - you can keep busy outdoors.

My b-i-l used the nicotine lollipops and they seemed to work well for him.

GOOD LUCK!!

[catland]

Quitting is hard. I've been there. But it is one of the smartest decisions that I have ever made (starting smoking was one of the dumbest ones).

What helped me included:

Sugarless gum. I purchased Trident by the multi-pack.

A "cigarette" pacifier. I just took a small piece of paper and rolled it into the shape of a cigarette and put a piece of tape on it. A straw cut in two might work also. I could then go through the motions of holding, or even taking a drag off of a cigarette and this would look silly, but get me through a craving and help calm me down.

Throwing out any remaining cigarettes so that I wouldn't be tempted.

I think though, that the mental part of it is most important. You have to QUIT smoking - you can't delude yourself into "quitting" smoking. Either you are a smoker or you are not. The people that I've seen be the most successful are the ones who quit and don't look back. They don't bum a drag or a smoke from a friend or just cut down to one or two a day.

To paraphrase Yoda "Smoke or don't smoke - there is no try"

[AbbyMom]

Quitting is hard

I disagree! Quitting is easy. I've done it at least a hundred times!

Seriously, I have not had a cigarette for 2-1/2 years. This time it's sticking. And the reason why is just what Catland says:

I think though, that the mental part of it is most important. You have to QUIT smoking - you can't delude yourself into "quitting" smoking. Either you are a smoker or you are not. The people that I've seen be the most successful are the ones who quit and don't look back. They don't bum a drag or a smoke from a friend or just cut down to one or two a day.

Once I said NO MORE NO MORE EVER! I was on the road to being smoke-free.

Laura, some people have a really, really, difficult time quitting because for them the addiction is part of their psyche...the physical part isn't the problem, it's the mental. It took at least a year for me to stop thinking about "having just one cigarette" especially when I was under stress.

When you're ready, put down that cigarette and say NO MORE EVER and mean it! NO cheating! No bumming! EVER!

Good luck to you. Sorry I can't help with the weight gain issue except to agree with the others that exercise is your best option.

[Edwina's Secretary]

Next month will be five years since my husband and I quit. He used the gum... I used Zyban. It worked for me. I stopped wanting a cigarette in about two weeks. It was still VERY difficult but what a godsend for me!

[Karen]

When is the "quit date?"

I have never smoked. I'm an asthmatic, have been since childhood, so always knew that for me, smoking would be a really painful, prolonged and stupid way to die!

I have watched and tried to be helpful when others quit.

One friend's doctor told her to throw away her lighter and any matches in the house. Then she could hold a cigarette in her mouth when she had a strong craving, but would have nothing to light it with.

Lollipops worked for another freind - they're cheap, and are vaguely similar in that you can hold the stem in your fingers like a cigarette if you want.

For everyone - diversion diversions, diversions. In your case, maybe buy a journal, and every time a strong craving hits, make yourself sit down and write out a page or story for your descendants to read someday - things you want great-great-grandbabies to know.

You also have an advantage - Pet Talk! We're all pulling for you!

[sandragonfly]

first, I'm glad you are even thinking about quitting again instead of quit trying ((hugs)) ..

second, ! ...later in june?? really, what's difference from now and in june if, like catland, statisics said, and I strongly believe too, mentally quit is the biggest part of quitting? what would I have done different? how about YOU?

always remember, don't let a ciggy control over you! throw ALL matches, lighters, ciggies, ashtrays away..everything that attempts you out of your sight. NOW. (?) you can say carvings/headaches *are killing* you no matter how much you're trying to keep your mouth/hands busy or chewing (gums/candies), but it won't *kill* you. oh for the best, to keep our dear laura live longer! and would you be honored to promise all of us, if you walk and happen to see a puff/ciggy in sight, walk away immediately before even thinking about it, repeatly say "NO".."NO".."NO".., pull gum/squeezeball/mini-journal/cellphone and talk to a friend/a pretty picture of me? out of your purse (and think dearly about pet talk )...have you tried that? JUST SAY NO & JUST DO IT? if you haven't, I guess you don't really want as much as you thought so yet.

other methods you could think of, zillions of gums a day - one after another, smoke last not more than five ciggies, put them in a glass of water, leave them for seven days then take ciggies out and DRINK the whole. (yes, gross but what's worst are already in your lungs) or patches, they are expensive but some said cut them in half and works better than the whole one. once you accomplished, nicotine wouldn't be messing up your efforts of trying and lose weight.. the second importance?

laura, I know you can beat this, all I want to wish you the best and try! if it's impossible for you to start with NO, can you start at least set up a date? draw a down by one calender, five smokes a week down to four...three... two .. weekly? or set up meeting times regularly with your friends. you just gotta have to do something and look at to stick with!

one thing though, bothers me a lot is that not a lot of smokers realize when they're smoking are killing the others too.

laura - see my PM, please.

[Laura's Babies]

Hi Gina, I had been waiting for your post. I had things to do last night and forgot to check this thread... Why June and not today?.. To better ARM myself through knolage. Get as informed as I CAN! A lot has been learned since the last time I tried to quit. I have even talked to a lung doctor since the last time about what method he sees the most sucess with. The one thing I have already learned is before, I was NOT armed or educated enough to know what I was doing and how to do it and be sucessful. There is so much more information out there now than there was just a few years ago. What worked for one, may not work for the other so I want as many options as I can get.

I want to get into some kind of fitness program BEFORE my quit date to make my odds even better and to keep the weight down afterwards. I am very limitted already as to what I can eat (IBS) to do the diet thing so I will have to go at that from a different angle.


If I seem skeptic to some it is because of my attempts before where I failed. That is why I am asking for hints and what someone else tried. When they time draws near, I am also going to ask for prayers and start asking God for help myself. I will ask him to guide me and keep me strong. Through HIM, all things are possiable!

[Rachel]

Quote:

Watch your thoughts; they become words.
Watch your words; they become actions.
Watch your actions; they become habits.
Watch your habits; they become character.
Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.

Frank Outlaw

This quote was presented to me the other day (thank's to a dear friend's husband). I think it is very applicable in this situation. Your thoughts right now are somewhat negative. You need to be positive about your ability to do this and know that you can do it today, if you really want it bad enough.

Looking for strategies is a good idea. I have two which I used.
1. When you get the urge, think of all the negative aspects of smoking - that disgusting dirty feeling in your mouth, how your breath and clothing stink, all the damage that you are doing to your lungs, etc.

2. I replaced one habit with another. Everytime I wanted a cigarette, I got a cup of coffee instead. (not a good choice for me because it got my heart racing, but now I drink decaffinated tea instead). The process of boiling the water, steeping the tea and relishing the hot *cuppa* is comparable to the routine of lighting up a cigarette, except it is good for you! Plus it is not fattening.

I commend you for your intent to quit. I disagree with your discision to wait one more day. You must have faith in the Lord's willingness to help you and your own ability. You must make this a priority in your life. You must want the good that will come from it.

[Pawsitive Thinking]

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

[Laura's Babies]

LOL! I have been researching and found the perfect sight that is loaded with information of all kinds on quitting They state there that the first thing to do is to educate yourself and in looking around, I discovered something already that I think few people know..

Blood sugar plummets in many people when first quitting. The most common side effects felt during the first three days can often be traced back to blood sugar issues

That is why you CRAVE things so bad.. Anyone wanting to check out this sight it is here..

http://whyquit.com/joel/Joel_Index_0...g_Smoking.html

I think everything I need in in there. They are addressing everything in there. There is a TON of material there to read.