Any pointers on quitting smoking cold turkey...?

Answer 1

95% of people who quit cold turkey are smoking again within 6-12 months (same recidivism rate as heroin).

So good luck.

Smokefree for 2-1/2+ years.

Answer 2

The most important thing is, that you WANT to quit smoking. If you are just luke warm to the idea or if you are not fully committed to quitting... you won't be able to stop.

When I quit, about 30 years ago, I was a 4 pack a day smoker. I just got to the point where I hated it so much that I would rather suffer the withdrawl than put up with all the bad things that smoking is and does to you.

I just got up one morning... took a new package of cigarettes and tossed them into the trash... and that was it. I didn't do a countdown or some kind of special recognition... I just... quit.!

Now, I won''t say it was easy, because it wasn't,. What I did do was, if I fell off the wagon and had a couple of cigarettes when I was out bar hopping some night, I didn't use that as an excuse to start smoking again... I just told myself.. OK... you fell off the wagon... no big deal... now... get back to being tobacco free.

I think a lot of people use the excuse that they fell off the wagon and so, they would just keep smoking because they were looking for an excuse to smoke. DON'T DO IT... I can guarantee it get's easier... may take a while... but it does get better.

If you decide you need a shoulder to cry on, drop me an e-mail anytime and I'll prop you up. I'd do anything to help someone give up an expensive habit that will kill them.

Answer 3

You can do it.
I did cold turkey - 15 yrs ago, and still don't smoke. I used to smoke 1 1/2 pack a day, and if you WANT to stop, you can do it.

Remember that the nicotine (the addictive part) is out of your body in 3 (THREE) days. After, is just bad habits!!! keep your mind off cigarettes, see new friends for some time, don't drink (it is a pitfall) and avoid coffee (ahhh the first cigarette with the first cup!!!)
Give habits a rest for a month or so. Then, go back to your usual friends and coffee... but remember that to fully form new habits it takes a year - so you are on PROBATION.

best of luck

Answer 4

Well good on you!!!
What a wonderful thing you are doing for your body! Be happy and when you feel like a smoke just think about being a non-smoker. Being free of nicotine, Yahoo!! Having so much more time with friends and being able to go anywhere you want with out feeling that people are pointing at you.
It's not hard at all and you are not giving up anything, you are rewarding yourself by not smoking. Be proud of yourself for even thinking about not smoking. Be free of the dreaded nicotine devil and get your health back.
Don't think you are giving up something that you thought was pleasuable because it couldn't possibly have been. That that little nicotine devil is telling you lies.
What ever you do don't substitute patches or gum because you are just smoking in a different form and you could become addicted to them as well.
Hey good on you for wanting to try and I wish you the best of luck. Good health to you!!!!

Answer 5

If you can, start on a Friday or take a few days off work. You will be VERY irritable for the first 3-4 days, and anything that you can do to insulate yourself from people who won't be 100% supportive (like co-workers) is a good plan. Also, any other healthy lifestyle change, like eating a more well-balanced diet or adding exercise will help you kick the habit. Finally, remember that the nicotine will be out of your system after 4 days tops, so if you're craving cigarettes after that it's all in your head. You need to keep telling yourself that you are in charge of your life and you're not going to bow down and serve tobacco anymore. It CAN be done. You CAN do it. Best of luck to you.

Answer 6

Congratulations on quitting cold turkey.

Destroy all the cigarettes, all the packs and cartons. Take the garbage out of the house so you don't see it or smell it.

Get some hard candy peppermints or baby carrots or celery or whatever you like that you can munch on or hold in your mouth when you have a craving for a cigarette.

Think good thoughts. Find a support group on the web to help you through it.

Best of luck to you. You'll have a healthy new body. You'll look and smell great after quitting.'

Answer 7

Yeah, it's going to be tough, watch the trigger times when you first get up, after you eat, and a bunch of other times only you know about. Probably not a good idea to drink for a little while, lighting up and alcohol was the toughest for me... Drink as much water for the first 48 - 72 hours to try to clean out the nicotine, getting up and going to the john will be good exercise.. If you workout, keep it going, your going to be on a roller coaster, physically and mentally for a period time. Do what you can to keep yourself busy... It will come at your from 9 different angles and then some, if you fail, start over. Don't quit quitting.... Good luck

Answer 8

I wish you the best....I am considering quitting myself .....I've gone cold turkey before....a couple of times...........my advice isn't on how to go cold turkey...you're gonna need will power for that.........but I would say to watch out like a few months later because you're gonna be looking for an excuse to have a cigarette......my point is that you have got to have enough steam in the engine in order to make it through the long haul.

Answer 9

Pick a day a week from now..

When you wake up in the morning until your day comes, take a multi-vitamin and drink a glass of water.

Water will help filter out the nicotine in your system and after 3 days of cold turkey the nicotine will be out of your system.

It's all a mental process from there.. but cold turkey is the only way to do it... and eventually I will do it again.. :)

Answer 10

Get some carrots. Sugar free candies. Or sugar if you don't care. Only you put on a couple lbs. when you quit. Take a walk when you want a cig. And also breath in real deep. Tons of luck!!!!!! Also you might be a little moody so stay away from people you don't like.