quit smoking tips

[zeebs]

I have decided to quit smoking cold turkey after researching the various options. Has anybody else done this and if so, do you have tips? If a moderator wants to merge this with the diet thread, that's okay with me, but it seemed like a separate topic from diet/exercise.

Oh - I usually smoke between 3-7 cigarettes per day. It's pretty easy for me to cut down to 3/day but any less than that and I get wicked cravings and irritability.

TIA.

[ladycattat]

Good for you,Zeebs!!
I smoked for 19 years before quitting in January of 98. I quit cold turkey since there weren't really that many other options back then. I varied from half a pack to two packs a day....depending on my mood.
For me, what ended up helping me along in this whole thing was that ALSO in January of 98 it became illegal in my state to smoke almost ANYWHERE inside except your home. No restaurants, bars, theaters, shops or anything. Since I rarely smoked at home anymore since DH quit it became a challange to find places (and people) to smoke with/in.
I also spent a little bit of money to get my teeth whitened, so I wasn't about to *yeller'm up again*!
It wasn't easy. I think all those years for me were more habit than absolute addiction; at least that s what I tell myself.
I was also changing my eating habits(actually EATING instead of smoking) since I was starting to try to get pregnant. I gained weight(about 15 lbs when I quit)
But it became easier to walk longer distances without huffin and puffin. My breathe smelled better and my hair and clothes didn't stink.
I also found out that if your friends smoke it's better to do things with them where you CANNOT smoke. That way you can spend time with them, without them smoking(and tempting you).
Save the money that you didn't spend for cigarettes in a jar. Every other Friday reward yourself with the money that's in the jar. Get a yourself a bouquet of flowers, a pedicure, a blouse, or some more SN.
But the most important thing is to realize that you're human. You are going to relapse at least once, and if it happens....it
is not the end of the world. Forgive yourself and play Scarlett O'Hara......*tomorrow is another day...*
I will be thinking about you ad cheering you on!

Best of Luck!!!!
Laurie

[ladycattat]

I just realized that I sounded kind of Holier than Thou, and that totally wasn't what I meant.
Laurie

[zeebs]

I just realized that I sounded kind of Holier than Thou, and that totally wasn't what I meant.
Laurie

Haha, no, thank you!! A lot of those things I hadn't thought of, or thought of in that way. And I know you're not the type to judge or preach

[karen]

Congrats! It's a big step, but such a great one!!! When I quit (I was a fiend- 2 packs a day at times) I sorta used hypnosis...not too bad. Eating apples or drinking some cold water seemed to help- it at least gave me something healthy to do and the craving passed in a few minutes- if it was really bad I imagined my husband as a widower, or marrying someone else (terrible thought, but it worked). The one that I had the hardest time giving up was that first one in the morning... a glass of OJ helped. The first week was miserable- mainly because I was tired all the time, but after that I felt great.

The other thing they say is to avoid caffeine while you're trying to quit- I think that's hooey. I think they say it because a lot of the time it's a linked behavior- coffee and a cigarette- but you're going to get cravings- don't make yourself miserable by going off all stimulants. That's MHO at least.

[ladycattat]

Zeebs, how's it going???

Hang in there!
Laurie

[zeebs]

Uck, it's not going. I only behaved myself for like... two days. I'm getting ready to go again, but when I fall off the wagon, it takes me a couple of days to screw up the courage to get back on again.

[JenW]

Hugs, Zeebs. I know what you mean about plucking up the courage to try again. This is the umpteenth time I have been trying to make a serious change.

I don't have problems with smoking, for me it is over-eating and inactivity. Kind of the same addiction problem, but in different clothes, so to speak. I really had a moment of clarity shortly after my cousin who is my age passed. It was really hard on me mentally. The thing that keeps me going is that I am approaching my weightloss this time like my life depends on it. I also like Karen's motivator that she could not bear someone else married to her hubby. I feel the same about my hubby, and I want to be around for my kids, too. My mother died from cancer at 48 just over 10 years ago (not smoking related). It has been a rough road for me without her and she completely missed getting to know her grandkids.

Hang in there. Just don't give up. Keep trying until something sticks. You know what to expect, now. It will not be easy, but the benefits are too numerous to give up.

[ladycattat]

Zeebs. don't beat yourself up. You'll ge there when you're ready.
I have all the faith in the world in you!

Laurie

[zeebs]

trying again today. went out to the bars last night and smoked the rest of my pack. seems like a good day to start again!