I'm going to quit smoking

[Mike Cavanaugh]

These were the steps that helped me to quit smoking 4 months ago. I will never smoke again.

1.) I anounced my stop smoking date to everyone I knew the day before quitting. Family members, friends, coworkers. I even told people at work I didn't know, but that I would often see outside when smoking. EVERYONE knew. Obviously I would have looked like a complete idiot if I broke out a cigarette in front of anyone I told.

2.) I was spending 4 dollars a day in cigarretts. I religiously instead put 4 dollars per day into a wood box screwed shut. It will be opened and spent at the Daytona show. It already has what, like 500 bucks in it (unless I have been robbed!)???!!!

3.) I promised my kids I would stop smoking for them.

For me, honestly, number 2 is what made me stick to my guns more then anything else. That, and the much better tasting food!

[dsirkle]

When I quit I told nobody because I found during previous attempts at quitting that people keep asking you about when you are trying not to think about it. One guy at work got angry at me and told me that I was rude because I kept chewing gum and didn't offer him any. So I said "Oh I'm sorry. Help yourself." He was too worried about his bad case of hiccups to feel indignant after that.

[ShawnT]

Good luck man. Both of my parents smoke and I can't stand it.

I always complain about the smoke, and they'll reply "it's not that bad".....pssshh, it's terrible

[bsd13]

When I finally quit smoking I had to go completely cold turkey. I tried the patch, some God awful tasting gum, chowing down on boxes of tooth picks, etc, etc, etc. In the end it came down to a simple determination to quit. I didn't quit for kids (don't have any), a girlfriend, a wife, my mom and dad, my teachers, or anyone else. I quit for me. And that's what your motivation needs to be. Yourself. Be self-centered this once and quit for you because quitting for other people doesn't work. So here's my advice take it for what it's worth, but I've been there.

1) Quit for yourself.

2) Don't set a date, just quit. Trust me it's not any easier setting a date. In fact it's worse because then you get to dread that date. Don't wait until your pack is gone. Slice open each smoke and dump it in the toilet and flush it. There, now it's gone. Congratulations! Your quit date is today!

3) Take 3 days off of work or make sure it coincides with a weekend. The first 3 days are the hardest. That's how long it takes the chemicals you are addicted to to get out of your body. Not 100% out, but out enough that you aren't craving so badly. And trust me cold turkey you don't want to be anywhere near work. Anything and everything will set you off. Don't risk getting set off at the wrong people. Meaning those who pay you.

4) Stock up on fresh fruits, juice, and plenty of water. The fruits because you're going to want to eat a lot. Trust me fruit is a much better choice than hot dogs and burritos.

The juice because one of the effects of cigarette smoke is that it actually causes your blood sugar to rise. Not sure how exactly that works, but drinking juice when you start getting light headed and/or a craving helps immensely to combat the craving.

Finally the water because you need to help in flushing the chemicals out. You should be drinking excessive amounts of water. Think in terms of about a gallon a day for the next week. Obviously don't try to drink it all at once, but space it out throughout the day

5) Take it one craving at a time. If you can stick it out for about 3 minutes you'll beat the craving. It might only be a 10 minute victory, or even 2 minutes but each time it gets easier.

6) You're never out of the woods. I've been quit 3 years and I still from time to time get cravings that almost make me want to cry.

7) Don't ever put another cigarette to your lips. You'll start again. The brain's receptors will go back to their addictive state as soon as you inhale. Again I don't know how it works I just know it does.

8) Finally I recommend prayer. To overcome your problem and for those around you have to deal with you while you're overcoming it.

Good luck, it's a hard but necessary choice.

[ev477]

These were the steps that helped me to quit smoking 4 months ago. I will never smoke again.
...
2.) I was spending 4 dollars a day in cigarretts. I religiously instead put 4 dollars per day into a wood box screwed shut. It will be opened and spent at the Daytona show. It already has what, like 500 bucks in it (unless I have been robbed!)???!!!
...
For me, honestly, number 2 is what made me stick to my guns more then anything else. That, and the much better tasting food!

When I finally quit smoking I had to go completely cold turkey. I tried the patch, some God awful tasting gum, chowing down on boxes of tooth picks, etc, etc, etc. In the end it came down to a simple determination to quit. I didn't quit for kids (don't have any), a girlfriend, a wife, my mom and dad, my teachers, or anyone else. I quit for me. And that's what your motivation needs to be. Yourself. Be self-centered this once and quit for you because quitting for other people doesn't work. So here's my advice take it for what it's worth, but I've been there.

1) Quit for yourself.

2) Don't set a date, just quit. Trust me it's not any easier setting a date. In fact it's worse because then you get to dread that date. Don't wait until your pack is gone. Slice open each smoke and dump it in the toilet and flush it. There, now it's gone. Congratulations! Your quit date is today!

3) Take 3 days off of work or make sure it coincides with a weekend. The first 3 days are the hardest. That's how long it takes the chemicals you are addicted to to get out of your body. Not 100% out, but out enough that you aren't craving so badly. And trust me cold turkey you don't want to be anywhere near work. Anything and everything will set you off. Don't risk getting set off at the wrong people. Meaning those who pay you.

4) Stock up on fresh fruits, juice, and plenty of water. The fruits because you're going to want to eat a lot. Trust me fruit is a much better choice than hot dogs and burritos.

The juice because one of the effects of cigarette smoke is that it actually causes your blood sugar to rise. Not sure how exactly that works, but drinking juice when you start getting light headed and/or a craving helps immensely to combat the craving.

Finally the water because you need to help in flushing the chemicals out. You should be drinking excessive amounts of water. Think in terms of about a gallon a day for the next week. Obviously don't try to drink it all at once, but space it out throughout the day

5) Take it one craving at a time. If you can stick it out for about 3 minutes you'll beat the craving. It might only be a 10 minute victory, or even 2 minutes but each time it gets easier.

6) You're never out of the woods. I've been quit 3 years and I still from time to time get cravings that almost make me want to cry.

7) Don't ever put another cigarette to your lips. You'll start again. The brain's receptors will go back to their addictive state as soon as you inhale. Again I don't know how it works I just know it does.

8) Finally I recommend prayer. To overcome your problem and for those around you have to deal with you while you're overcoming it.

Good luck, it's a hard but necessary choice.

I just quit smoking after a good 5 years. Pack a day.

I just stopped. Told myself its crazy to keep doing this to myself. I want to be around as long as i can. I went through 2 or 3 bags of Halls cough drops to curb the oral fixation.

The physical addiction got phased out afterwards.

I will admit. I caved and had a smoke 6 weeks into being finished with it. I about coughed up my lung. Said the hell with it. And im done for good.

You can do it. You just have to tell yourself you can do it. If your optimistic, and determined, your results will be much better.

HTH.

I am going to use this state of mind to quit. I am very glad I got all the advice and encouragement.
I know the mints/gum works for some people but I see it as a mental fixation on needing to do something rather than an oral fixation to need to do something. But hey, if I feel like going to get cigarettes, I will try gum instead.

One thing I need advice about is drinking beer and wanting a cigarette. That was the hardest to conquer last summer . I don't drink all night, just on the weekends, but I don't have any techniques that are suitable for those times.
Quitting drinking is the best thing I can do in the meantime, but I'm still going to drink if I am at a party with my friends.

Lots of good advice from everyone, I really appreciate it.

[Chuck]

I quit smoking 4 years ago I used the patch nicoderm CQ and I did the whole thing all the way through. It wasn't easy but I was ready, which I think is a big part of it. You have to be ready or at least of the right mind set. The other thing that helped me is to not drink at all for atleast the first month or so. I used to get three beers in me it was over, I can't tell you how many times drinking killed me trying to quit smoking . The thing that helped me keep it in perspective is I kept track of how much money I spend on the patch, and looked at it as if I smoked a cigarette it would be what ever I had spent to that point. For instance if you get to the third week on the patch the first cigarette you smoke will be a $150.00 cigarette. It just helped me keep it in perspective. My cousin is on the patch doing what I did and is a month and some change smoke free. Whatever you decide to do good luck. I have twin girls that were born three months ago, and I thank god every day that I quit because I want to be there for them and watch them grow up for as long as I can, Again Good luck if I can do it so can you.

Chuck

[Earl]

I quit smoking 4 years ago I used the patch nicoderm CQ and I did the whole thing all the way through. It wasn't easy but I was ready, which I think is a big part of it. You have to be ready or at least of the right mind set. The other thing that helped me is to not drink at all for atleast the first month or so. I used to get three beers in me it was over, I can't tell you how many times drinking killed me trying to quit smoking .

Yup that's right on the money Chuck! It was the same for me.

[Wh00h0069]

I smoked for nine years, and quit about two years ago. What I did was just told myself that if I don't have self control, then what do I have?. Anytime I thought about smoking, I said NO!! I am going to get through this. I have enough self control. And it worked. Once I told myself that I was not going to smoke anymore, I did not.

That is what worked for me. The only bad thing is that I got sick for about a week. I guess thats my bodys way of fighting for the nicotine. Anyway, hope this helps. And good luck!!

[littleindiangirl]

I didn't smoke for very long. I started because of partying, and I continued to smoke for only two years. Then I met Chris and I started to spend a lot of time with him...

For me, smoking was out of sight out of mind. Sometimes I would get really strong cravings, but if I never went to the Admiral station, or 7-11, and I didn't put myself around others smoking... I quickly lost the urge.

When you do quit though, it's like you've lost a friend. At least thats what it reminded me of. You'll get through it.

[adizziedoll]

I kind of agree that setting a date is just....daunting. You expect your pack to be gone, and it's not - and "HEY, that's a waste of money so we'll wait until tomorrow". And then the next day, and a week later, you're setting a new date.

Drinking will not be your friend. As sucky as it is, I would recommend just... avoiding it for at least a couple of weeks until you get that mentality that it's too late to go back.

Weaning just doesn't work either. It takes a whole lot more will power for weaning than cold turkey.Cold turkey, point blank - thats the only way.

I did a lot of cherry tomatos, grapes, cherries, lollypops, and things of that nature for the car - driving is your WORST enemy when trying to quit!!! The advice about fruits and whatnot is priceless - it helped me like crazy... well the second time around

I started smoking when I was 15 when a friend passed away. The FIRST time I quit was because I had become pregnant, so that was much easier than just giving up because you want to.

My falling-outs with cigarettes always involves some tragedy - so watch out for times of hardship. I quit for 3 years after becoming pregnant ( and YES! you still get cravings after 3 years!!!), and started again after a very messy, extremely hurtful break-up with my sons father (cheater! liar! lol)

I smoked again for less than a year, and woke up one morning and was like, "**** this" and just stopped that day.

I was good for quite a while, and then a dear friend, one that was part of that circle of "family" you've had since you were tweens, died in a car accident. That got me started again (including everyone else in the group that had quit).

So now Im back to square one - so im kind of glad this thread came up. I didnt know about the juice - that should prove to be useful. My boyfriend smokes too, and wants to quit, so Im not sure how that works ?