I am going to quit smoking.. any tips??

[Kristy]

Ok, March 1st is the day! My birthday is Feb.28th and this is my birthday present to myself. I am excited, but scared at the same time.

I have set my date! Found my triggers, and found the reasons why I want to quit!
We have some major changes coming up in our life. My husband (who quit 4 days ago cold turkey) is going to become a police officer! I am so proud of him, he has will power I have never seen in a person! I have seen the positive changes in him in only 4 days. I WANT to feel those changes myself.

I started smoking at only 15 years old. This Sat. I will have been smoking for 10 years! Its time to quit. I want my health back.

I want to be able to chase my children around. Play with them. I want to be able to go hiking without having to stop every 5 seconds. I want so many things back that smoking has taken away! I will get them back.

Anyone have any good tips for me? Oh and I am sure when I am having a really bad craving this is the place I am coming to. So you guys can all drill me about how I don't need that smoke. Main reason, most of my extended family smokes, and my mom especially is not the best person to talk to about quitting. Last time I tried, she managed to talk me into coming over and smoking

Wish me luck! Do I sound ready to quit?

[angie7]

I quit 46 days ago cold turkey after nearly 15 years of smoking (I'm only 29 y/o) One of my main reasons was my kids. I wanted to be here for them and I wanted to make sure that I did everything on my part to be here to watch them grow up. The cravings are rough, especially when stress hits. But I just keep chanting to myself "it isn't worth it, look at your precious babies, they are worth it, DO NOT SMOKE!" I also say to myself "if you have one, it will kill you but by not having one, it won't kill me" Basically, you can make it through the stress without one, you will not die if you don't smoke but you will if you do. These are just some things I say to myself. Keep your goals in mind and remember why you want to quit. And repeat it as often as you have to to get through the craving. GL

[Kristy]

Nice Job

There are so many reasons why I want to quit that have to do directly with my children. They are my constant reminder of why I shouldn't smoke.

[Darkice]

Carry a box with you at all times. Fill it with gum. You will get the comfort of having the pack with you but when you reach in all you will find is the gum.
If that's too hard put in 3 cigarettes and the rest gum. But try to save the cigarettes for certain times of the day. Work yourself down to one. But always keep the cigarette box full of gum. After a while you will wonder why you are carrying around a cigarette box full of gum then toss it. Then and only then will you be free.

[kellysballs]

When I quit I used the patches. They worked for me, along with gum to chew and I drank a big glass of ice water really fast every time I had a craving. I also would take breaths through my fingers like I was smoking when I would get a super bad craving.

But everyone is different. Good Luck!

[Lateralus_Love]

I've never smoked, but my dad quit about seven or eight years ago after having smoked since he was 11 (he's 43 now). He went out and bought alot of sugar/fat free candies, and also the patches and some chewing gum. Alot of people do put on weight after they quit, because they're so used to putting something to their mouth all the time, hence all the sugar free candies. Worked out for him, but every now and then if he's hanging out with people smoking he says he gets a lil craving. I'd say the gum in the cig box is a great idea. Maybs don't quit cold turkey, try to work yourself down to one a day and then one every few days, wean yourself off the addiction. But yea, I've never smoked, so I'm not too much help. Good luck with it though! I really hope you to manage to quit and I respect the fact that you've got the willpower to put your foot down! And chewing gum will def be your friend. Gum keeps me sane I'm usually chewing a piece the entire day.