Quitting smoking, advice?
- Thread starter shadows5631
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I quit smoking in October, sorta by accident. I got sick and couldn't smoke without coughing up a lung, so quit for a week while I recovered. (Gotta love that swine flu!) After that, I decided that I'd see how long I could go without smokes, and it's been (with a couple of relapses while drinking) a successful endeavor.
The key, I think, is rewiring your expectations and finding a way to change your behavior. Think about what it is that makes you crave a cigarette, and change that behavior. For example, I crave cigarettes when I sit out on my back porch. It was where my wife (also quitting) and I used to relax in the evenings with a cigarette and a glass of wine. In order to avoid craving cigarettes, we don't sit out back and chat any more. We relax with our glass of wine in a different room in the house.
Good luck! It's a hard road, but worth it.
The key, I think, is rewiring your expectations and finding a way to change your behavior. Think about what it is that makes you crave a cigarette, and change that behavior. For example, I crave cigarettes when I sit out on my back porch. It was where my wife (also quitting) and I used to relax in the evenings with a cigarette and a glass of wine. In order to avoid craving cigarettes, we don't sit out back and chat any more. We relax with our glass of wine in a different room in the house.
Good luck! It's a hard road, but worth it.
There's a lot of controversy about the e-cigs also. I use it occasionally with nicotine lozenges just to get that feeling in my lungs and throat. Research is still out on whether it's any more or less healthy and they're not marketed as "stop smoking" aids.
Every other time I've quit, as soon as I went off the meds (tried chantex and welbutrin) I was back on the cigs. Been off for a month this time and still doing great.
I can vouch for that particular dealer though. Great prices and service!
Another tip: good old fashioned exercise is the best thing to kill a craving!
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I've been smoking for 2 years. I tend to smoke a lot when I'm on the computer. I've tried quitting but to no avail, due to stress. It's a tough habit to kick to the curb, although, if you believe in yourself, you can stop. You have to be the one who says no. I get cravings after eating but If I wanted to seriously quit, I would. I've just been very stressed so I haven't even bothered yet but everything is starting to settle down slowly. Hopefully, I'll be able to quit soon.
I wish you the best of luck.
I wish you the best of luck.
I quit smoking on December 31st. Smoked for about 20 years.
First step to quitting smoking is being mentally prepared to quit, if you do not want to quit, you won't quit.
Breaking routine. Like Flippy said, when he sits out on the porch he wants a cig because everytime he went out on the porch he smoked. You have to change up what you used to do to make it easier.
For the first few weeks, use some type of quitting smoking aid. ie gum, patch, nasal spray. I use gum and it curbs the graving.
The rest is will power. You have total control over yourself, not the cigs.
YOU CAN DO IT!!!
First step to quitting smoking is being mentally prepared to quit, if you do not want to quit, you won't quit.
Breaking routine. Like Flippy said, when he sits out on the porch he wants a cig because everytime he went out on the porch he smoked. You have to change up what you used to do to make it easier.
For the first few weeks, use some type of quitting smoking aid. ie gum, patch, nasal spray. I use gum and it curbs the graving.
The rest is will power. You have total control over yourself, not the cigs.
YOU CAN DO IT!!!
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I need to get around to quitting one of these days.
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I also find it's helpful to surround yourself with people you want to punch, so you can haul off and slug them when you want a cigarette.
No, not really, but it's a fun thought.
I do, however, keep a small tin of candies -- peppermints or those sour icebreakers -- in my pocket at all times. I also have one of those travel-sized things of gum in my car so that I can always take care of the oral fixation when it hits me.
No, not really, but it's a fun thought.
I do, however, keep a small tin of candies -- peppermints or those sour icebreakers -- in my pocket at all times. I also have one of those travel-sized things of gum in my car so that I can always take care of the oral fixation when it hits me.
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Darth if I find out your actually smoking. I will find you and beat the stupid out of you.
Nah, jk...But seriously, don't.
My aunt use to smoke for roughly 20 years with almost 20 a day, but as mentioned before, use gum or sweets instead of cigarettes in your routine and she has not touched a pack of smokes for almost 3 years! Though she is now hooked on chewing gum lol.
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Haha! Lol, if i do start smoking i do hope somebody starts beating me. I would never smoke...
and if somebody told me off for posting that i would say i was just referring to my sig
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It worked for me to!
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Well, I went to the doctors yesterday and he said to try the gum. I told him about my reactions to the pills and he said to definitely stay away from them, mainly because of my age I could have worse side affects then say a 30-40 year old. So, I got the gum and have cut down a little, but it is kind of like the patch (helping, but not much)
I would like to try e-cigs but I read they might get outlawed, and I would hate to lose that investment.
Now, I'm just trying to stay occupied and not pay attention to my shaky legs
I would like to try e-cigs but I read they might get outlawed, and I would hate to lose that investment.
Now, I'm just trying to stay occupied and not pay attention to my shaky legs
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Lol my mom pulled a trick on me when i was little i try alittle bit than she told me so swallow.Lol.That makes kids never try it again.Its funny xD.But it worked 
muhaha my birthday is lucky
but shadow. when i was a kid my dad smoked. but he quit when i was like 3 and i really don't know how he did it. but i can tell you this. few people i know and im a freshman in highchool already smoke. if you have a friends that smoke try to avoid them...maybe? and surround yourself with people that are "clean." becuase i dont know why but they smoke in groups and i think avoiding people like that will help. sorry if i'm not that much help but i haven't smoked in my life. best of luck quitting.
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Yeah when I was in High School people smoked outside in between classes and I tried to stay away from it then (even though I did smoke, but not at school). A few friends do but it's pretty easy to avoid by telling them not to smoke in my car
The worst thing is my dad does it, inside and all the time.
The worst thing is my dad does it, inside and all the time.
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Wow, ask your Dad to quit or at least try not to do it around you and tell him why. I smoked for 10yrs and have quit (mostly) for the last 15. Definitely for the last 5. Yeah, drinking with smoking co-workers is a bad idea.
I think all the advice so far is good to try, but I haven't heard anyone push exercise. Running helped me quit. I'd also do push-ups and sit-ups if I had cravings. I think the endorphins help mask the craving.
Also, drinking lots of water will help to flush residual nicotine from your body.
Set some goals like not smoking for a week, then a month.....
Lastly, I know this sounds tree hugger but keep a journal and make the first entry about why your quitting.
~GL
I think all the advice so far is good to try, but I haven't heard anyone push exercise. Running helped me quit. I'd also do push-ups and sit-ups if I had cravings. I think the endorphins help mask the craving.
Also, drinking lots of water will help to flush residual nicotine from your body.
Set some goals like not smoking for a week, then a month.....
Lastly, I know this sounds tree hugger but keep a journal and make the first entry about why your quitting.
~GL
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I previously mentioned that my wife is quitting smoking as well. It's harder for her, not because I'm a better person or anything, but because that's the way it is. What she's done is start exercising. If she is craving a cigarette, she goes for a walk around the block. Granted, it's not always possible to do so (craving a cigarette while taking a shower), but it helps.
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