Ex smokers...tips wanted

[Laura's Babies]

2006 is the year I have decided to try to quit smoking again.. Three prior attempts have failed due to gaining to much weight, to fast. At the company meeting in Nashville, they told us the company has a new policy, they will PAY for what ever it takes to get you off the cigarettes for however long it takes, what ever method you try.

This time I want to go into it prepared with as much information as I can get. I am TIRED of smoking and do not enjoy it at all and really want to quit. I plan to try to do it about in June so I can collect as much information as I can get and get educated on it.

1- What to do when the urge hits and you are having a fit for one...

2- How NOT to gain weight when I quit.

3-How to avoid shoving something in my mouth to compensate for that lack of "flavor" craveing..

Any hints? Anything you tried that worked, anything YOU would have done different?

I have been going to the Quit assist web sight and reading up and will keep going back and reading all I can to get my plan together but there is nothing like first hand information and what worked/didn't work for someone else.

[anna_66]

Well first off...Congratulations!

I personally think that knowing your going to quit and REALLY wanting it is the key.

For years Mark (husband) tried on and off with the patches but in reality he never wanted to quit bad enough to stop for good. He went on and off like this for many years.
But finally last year just out of the blue he decided he was going to quit. He used the patch (if you decide on this method, don't buy the cheap ones. He said they are definitely NOT as good) and chewed lots and lots of gum (orbit seems to last the longest and they have lots of good flavors).

I pretty much quit on my own. There were a couple of times where I was so mad, angry and upset so I bought some of the nicorette. Yes, it's nasty but if you have a bad craving and are moody like I was it really works. I think I only chewed about 5-10 pieces of the box of 100 I bought (I'll send them to you if you want). I also ate a lot of hard candy when I felt the need for a cigarette. Honestly doing something to get your mind off it works best (for me it was the computer and PT).

That is our success secrets. Hope I've helped a bit and again, good luck!

[catnapper]

I never smoked, but I want to congratulate you on trying to stop. I never tried to stop something I never started but I do know from friends just what a fight it is... and I know you can do it! You have a ton of support here! And just stop to think about how it affects your kitties, and how much they'll thank you for stopping!

GOOD LUCK! We're behind you!

[JenBKR]

I chewed lots of gum and bought sugar free hard candy (lifesavers are good, jolly ranchers too). I didn't gain a pound. Although, when I decided to quit I had a cold and the thought of a cigarette when I am stuffed up makes me sick, so it was a good time I guess

[Laura's Babies]

I am saving these hints so keep them coming! Anna66, I will take that gum.. I did quit using it before but quit the gum and packed on the pounds so I picked the habit up again to keep frpm getting fat!

[kuhio98]

Laura ~ Congratulations on deciding to quit. After watching my family and friends struggle to quit, I am so thankful I never picked up the habit. (My mother once had a boyfriend who was a recovering drug abuser. He said it was harder to stop smoking than it was to quit heroin! ) So, anything you can do to be prepared ahead of time will definitely help.

My father had success by cutting down gradually. He counted out his cigarettes for the day and cut down one cigarette per day until he had stopped. He chewed the gum for a while. My boss just quit cold turkey after going to 2 lung-cancer funerals in one week (one was a 40 year-old!) .

I know the weight gain isn't pleasant, but I have read that you would have to gain 100 pounds to replace the health risks associated with smoking. But, knowing that doesn't help when you're struggling to button your clothes. What I've heard is that you have to replace one habit with another. So, if you don't want to gain weight, you could take walks, ride a bike, etc. to get more exercise. You might also check out on-line support message boards. If your hands are busy typing, it will be harder to smoke. And your knitting will keep you busy. Good luck to you!

[buttercup132]

My parents both got hypnotysed it took 2 sesions well one but they went back just to make sure. Thye havnt smoked now for like 3-4 years! When ever they get the craving they feel sick because that what the hypnotist .made it. I think it's better then going cold turkey.

[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]

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.

[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!