Quiting Smoking

Cold turkey. Just decided I didn't like the icky cough every morning, so I finished my last cigarette and that was it. That was in 1989. I had one cigarette the day my brother passed away (1996) and one the day my sister was in having a double mastectomy.

It's so awesome that you've decided to quit. You'll never regret it and never look back:)
 
I have never ever smoked.

However, here's an incentive to stop:

My father lived many of his remaining years in a miserable, incompacitated state hooked to an oxygen tank with no ability to participate in any enjoyable life activities and then died a slow miserable gasping death due to emphysema from smoking.

My MIL worked her entire life in offices filled with smokers yet never smoked a day in her life. She died from lung cancer and many doctors would agree the second hand smoke was a factor as noone in her family before or after has ever had cancer. This was a very painful and ugly death. Imagine what can happen to actual smokers.

Please do whatever it takes to stop smoking. And I say all of the above with true concern and love.:)

EDIT TO ADD: When my father did stop smoking, albeit too late, it was cold turkey when one of my DS, age 3 at the time, said "Granddaddy, smoking is bad for you and I don't want you to die. Please don't smoke anymore." The man never picked up another cigarette. Wish I had had that DS earlier.
 
I did it Shelley's way. I was lucky though. I wasn't a heavy smoker and had only smoked for a year or two, so it wasn't all that difficult. My Dad used nicorette gum when he found out I was pregnant. He said he wanted to be around to see his grandchildren. He would chew a piece of that stuff for all it was worth. Then one day he said this is crazy and gave up the gum. I was so pround of him. Unfortunately, he died of pancreatic cancer about 10 years later.
 
I agree with Shelley, cold turkey. May 9th it will be one year smoke free for me :D I tried everything from the patch,gum etc. and the only thing that worked was the determination and mindset to just do it because it was a nasty habit. Cngrats on your decision to quit and the best of luck ;)
 
Cold Turkey. It is the only way to go, imho.

Try to avoid places/situation's that you know you will want to smoke in...i.e. bars, talking on the telephone at length, long drives in the car....those were all my worst times to chain smoke.

When I quit I didn't go in a bar for 2 months...I knew I didn't have the willpower to make it all night. Even now...20 years later...when I sit next to someone who is smoking it makes me want to because the smell of the cigarette will trigger the taste for nicotine. It stinks, and there have been times I literally had to remove myself from a situation or I would have grabbed the cigarette out of the person's mouth and smoked it myself.

Any addiction is hard to kick. And once you have an addiction, you will live with it for the rest of your life. BUT...taking control of your health and your future is well worth the struggle.

GOODLUCK!:D
 
I quit in 1991. Before I made the Cold Turkey decision, on December 24, 1991, I broke all or as many as I could find, habits or routines dealing with cigarettes and smoking. I would not smoke after eating or during driving/commuting. I thought of all the reasons why I should not smoke including paying for the privilege of killing myself and supporting the CEO and other officers of the tobacco companies by paying their salaries with my addiction. Then I also put alot of social pressure on myself about the smoking stigma. I was lucky that I did not like the smell of that habit and I really don't like it at all now. Hang in there. Do it and don't look back. I so enjoy not having to go buy a pack of cigarettes at a convenience store when I run out! There are many advantages to quitting smoking. I have not smoked in my house ever; I purchased it 6 months later in 1992 which is when my DH joined me and quit smoking. He smoked for the first 6 months of my quitting the habit.

Sheila
 
I used the patch. It'll be 2 years for me come May. Although I'd been exercising since I was 21, I'd been smoking since I was 13 so it was an ongoing battle. I tried to quit probably 15 times before it finally "took."

The patch is great for the physical cravings (oh & here's a tip--Nicoderm step 1, 2 & 3 all cost the same, so I just kept buying step 1 & cutting them until I got off them entirely). But nothing works for the "habitual" cravings (morning cup of coffee, after meals, walking out the door after a long day at work) except willpower.

Basically you have to get in the right mindset. Don't decide to quit & just do it--set yourself a date & reduce your cigarette intake day by day until you reach that date, then go on the patch & off the cigs. Also there are some great online support resources out there--check out www.quitnet.com.

Most importantly, it has to be something you really want to do. If you're saying to yourself "I really love to smoke but it's bad for my health," you likely will not be successful. You're mindset HAS to be "smoking sucks, it's disgusting, it gives me bad breath, it makes my clothes stink, it makes my workouts lame, it's shameful, I can't do it anywhere anymore except my car, my house & the great outdoors, and oh, BTW, it'll kill me." You have to have the determination to do it or you'll fail--trust me, I've been there a zillion times.

If you want a quit buddy PL me, or use one of your friends who's available 24/7. Whenever you get a craving send an email or make a phone call.

And remember, cravings only last an average of 10 minutes. If you survive those 10 minutes it'll go away.

Good luck! :)
 
I have never smoked, but my father and step-mother quit about 15 years ago. Both had smoked since they were teenagers, so it was very hard for them. They used the patch. I know what motivated them was that they made a promise with myself and my sister and step-siblings that if we didn't smoke, they would never smoke again. I was a teenager at the time, and they knew they were setting a bad example for us. I kept up my end of the bargain, and so did they (as far as I know). When the motivation is something other than yourself, that probably helps a lot. It also helps to be accountable - to have friends or family that are there to support you and there to tell you NO! Also, my parents found a hobby, exercise, to get them thinking about something else. They knew they would gain weight from not smoking, so they just got really serious about fitness for one of the first times in their lives. It was a big change.

Anyway, good luck and we are here for you!
 
I used Smoke Away. I used the DELUXE set! ;) I also used the fact that I wanted to get pregnant and (ofcourse) DH refused unless I stopped smoking. :)

I was hooked big time but now have been off of them just over 2 years...

I can't be sure which helped more...the Smoke Away or wanting to be a mom but I don't think I could have done it w/o that "help". I quit cold turkey in that I picked a day to quit, smoked my last cigarette and started using the Smoke Away system as instructed and never turned back.

IT WAS THE TOUGHEST THING I HAVE EVER DONE IN MY LIFE!!!!

I had tried and failed several times before...the longest I had ever gone w/o smoking was MAYBE 2 weeks at best.

I wish you all of the luck in the world! Pick a method that you are comfortable w/and go for it! If it doesn't work...take a break...decide a new plan of attack and try again. You deserve major kudos just for being willing to TRY!:+
 
I collapsed a lung when I was 21. Seriously.

So cold turkey it was, and I think it is probably far easier to do on one's own than in a hospital bed with a bunch of tubes running into your body!

Good luck! What a positive life decision you are making!

Marie

PS: It does take a long time for the urge to go away, and it's normal to have dreams about smoking for years afterwards. I still have these occasionally - I wake up in a cold sweat and think, did I just throw away all of those years?!!!! :eek: I only mention that because some people think this means they are "meant" to smoke forever. It's just your body and mind getting past the addiction.
 
Thank you all for you encouraging words:) I am going to print this off and keep it with me so that I will always have your ideas. I just have one other question, my SO smokes-how did you handle it when someone close to you smoked?

Thanks,
Shan
 
Hi Shan,

I quit 3 weeks ago and it's going good. I'm chewing Nicorette. It works for me, about 4 years ago I quite for 1 1/2 years (chewing Nicorette for about the first two months of it). Stupidly, I started again, but I'm determined to make it this time. My Mom quit 17 years ago using Nicorette and hasn't looked back. I think it's a good way to gradually ween yourself off of it. Plus, if you are around smokers and your tempted, you chew the gum and you will not want one. Everyone is different but it works for me.

I ran a whole hour on my treadmill this morning without being out of breath. That's moviting for me.

However you decide to do it, good luck!!
 
I quit a loooong time ago. Like Shelley, I just decided one day that I'd had enough and never lit up again. I smoked about 1 1/2 to 2 packs a day and it wasn't easy but my determination to quit was stronger than my desire to smoke.

I can't stand it now. Being around smokers gives me a headache. And I can't believe how much it stinks up your clothes. My entire family smokes and the odor clings to my hair and clothes--ICK! They won't come to my house becaue I won't allow them to smoke here.

Finally, I've recently had 3 relatives die the most painful deaths. They all smoked and died within days (one uncle died a week to the day after his diagnosis), to a few short months (another uncle was diagnosed in August and died in October; an aunt was diagnosed in April and died in May).

Michele
 
First of all, congratulations on your decision to quit! It is the hardest thing I ever did and also the most rewarding.I smoked from the time I was 16 until 23. I attempted to quit twice before it actually "worked". The frst time I tried the patch and successfully quit for a year. The 2nd time I did the gum and that was so nasty tasting that I just decided to go cold turkey (I really could not stand that awful gum...it was like punishment for smoking!!!) It's been over 2 years and I've had a few slip ups, but we're all human, right? I used to leave the gym and immediately light a cigarette, kinda messed up, huh?!? Now, I relish being able to breathe better, not smelling like an ashtray and not getting that terrible cough every time I got a cold!!! Good luck and congratulations once again! Your body will thank you for your decision!!!
 
I am on day six of being smoke free. I have on a Nicoderm patch. This is about the eighth time I've quit. I hope it's for good this time. I'm hoping it will help me make it through one of Cathe's really tough, long cardio sessions. I'm here for ya if you need any help. The patch really helps me. I hope I can do as well when I take it off.
 
My DH smokes about two packs a day too, which has always made it hard when I quit. Smoking is not allowed in our house and as long as he doesn't leave a pack laying around like a beacon in the night, I'm ok. :)
 
I had to think to remember how I handled the cravings. I think I kept plenty of raw veggies around...and chewing gum. I chewed a lot of gum! Oh, and brush your teeth every time you eat. And drop and do 20!

Michele
 
Shan,

I'm applauding you, and all others, who have made the healthy, life-altering decision to quit smoking. Hang tough - you can do this!:)
 
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