stopped smoking by cold turkey, any tips please?

Question

Hello. both hubby and i have stopped smoking since last night. we had planned it for a while and last night felt the right time.

we have decided to go 'cold turkey'. has anybody done this and have you any tips please?

Answer 1

I stopped smoking, cold turkey, 4 months ago.
It's not hard if you just think that you have joined the many people who now don't smoke and how much money you'll be saving plus how good you are going to eventually feel. Be happy about what you are doing and don't think of it as something you are denying yourself but that you are doing yourself such a great favour by quitting.
Tell yourselves that you have finally stopped poisoning your body and you are free, you've been unchained.
Don't use patches or gum etc because you are still using nicotine that your body is addicted to and eventually you'll have to get off that too making it twice the job.
You'll find a lot of voids in your life for a while. Those moments you sat and smoked, the after dinner smoke etc. Find something else to do instead, go for a walk or do something outside. Catch up on all those things you put aside.
Most of all celebrate your freedom from a most destructive and addictive drug of all.
Congratulate yourself for making this decision and taking the first step to living a little longer and enjoying your life more.
Good on the pair of you non smokers.
You can do it, it's not as hard as you think.

Answer 2

WELL DONE!!!!!!

I sit here in shame smoking because I did it and undid it just a month ago because I was a little stressed BUT you have kicked me into restart and I am going cold turkey again and this time it will be for good, in every sense of the word..

I did it cold turkey a few years ago, at a time when someone very near and dear to me was dieing. I managed without cigarettes all through the bereavement and the following years. I had tried before that with the gum and another time with the little holder that takes the place of a cigarette. Both times I became ill and I put it down, right or wrong, to the little helpers. When I went cold turkey I had no trouble at all.

A friend did the same five or six years ago and he did it through the breakup of a relationship. He said at the time he was tempted to smoke but, because the first week or two without cigarettes is the worst, there was no way he was going there again. He told me he used TicTacs so I did the same. The strong mint in the blue case are the best. but are hard to find as the shops seldom get them. There is a new one on sale now in a yellow case which arent too bad...not as sweet as the white ones. He also told me to drink a glass of water when I wanted to smoke. That was a help to him. I just went with the TicTacs and they worked a treat. I didn't gain weight because I made sure not to eat any more than I always did. And wait 'till you see how the money piles up. I put the money I would usually spend on cigarettes in a drawer in my jewellery box and couldn't believe how much I had wasted over the years.

So I wish you well. You will do it ...no problem. Actually I think you have the worst over you.

Answer 3

That's how I did it but I left it until just before Christmas when Tesco's mince pies were on a BOGOF.

It's actually quite easy to go cold turkey and even to get the nicotine out of your system. The problem is that you will eventually encounter a circumstance which calls for a cigarette: a good meal, a knotty problem or boring company.

That's where the mince pies come in. They are much better than patches but are a swine to stick on and they make a hell of a mess in the bed.

How you give up smoking is a personal thing and cold turkey won't work for everybody but if it works for you, you will feel so superior over lesser mortals who spend large sums of money on patches and gum - have a good jeer at the poor souls in the Niquitine adverts! One thing that did help me though: I put the money I spent on cigarettes every day into a jar. When I was weakening, I sat down and counted it. It's amazing how quickly it builds up and by the time the two of you are 'in the clear' you'll have enough for a damned good weekend away.

Good luck

Answer 4

Will power is the best way and if both of you are committed to stopping then helping eachother out is the best way. Try to forget that you are giving up, be positive about the benefits such as more money, fresh breath, plus clothes and house that doesn't stink!

When I did it, I worked out why I was smoking and then worked to overcome that rather than the smoking itself. Having stopped and started again several times in my life, by working to overcome the reason why I smoked I succeeded nearly four years ago and no longer have the desire to smoke.

Answer 5

First & formost admit that your an addict, no not a harion or coke addict but you are addicted to nicotine ~ that's why quiting is so hard.Once you have adimited that to yourself, recovery will be easier. Next thing to do is to get rid of all the ash trays & lighters. This way there aren't any reminders of that OLD habit. Then you want to keep your self busy, mostly your hands & for those cravings I used dum-dum lolly pops & tootie pops for about the first week. Everytime I thought "oh how I want a cigarette" I'd pop one of those into my mouth, then after awhlie I went to gum & lots of it (I used Trident Cinnamon) Stay away from SMOKERS they are bad for your recovery & know that you can NEVER & I mean NEVER just smoke one even if it's for old time sake.

Answer 6

I and my husband stopped in March this year by going Cold Turkey. The first 2 weeks were hell, but now it is very rare that I think of the nasty sticks. What keeps me off them is the thought of the hell I went through in the beginning. Try and keep your hands occupied and have a fruit or a glass of water when you feel the urge! Good luck to you both and well done for making the decision.

Answer 7

Just don't buy any more smokes. If you find yourself about to buy any, some really chewy sweets and get them instead. that way you don't have anything to smoke.
Also, if you feel the need to have a cigarette, just stuff 3 or 4 chewy sweets in your mouth. By the time you have finished chewing them, you have forgotten about smoking.

I worked for me. I found rowntrees fruit gums to be the best. Fruit pastells also work.

Oh, watch your filling don't come out.

Answer 8

I think you should turn the b*tching into love. Every time one of you wants a cig, keep your hands busy on each other and have a little kiss and cuddle :-)

Also, I think the hardest thing is getting out of the routine of smoking, i.e. one with your morning coffee, after lunch, etc etc. If you can change your routine so that the old ways aren't wanting you to smoke, then you will benefit immensely.

Answer 9

Yep, chewing gum are my cigarettes. Gave up 2 yr ago, having smoked 25 a day for 40 years. I have put weight on but my bank balance is a lot healthier. Do not eat between meals.

Answer 10

Like going off drugs, it's the best way. I know a couple who put the money they would have spent each day in a jar and at the end of the year, the wife bought her self a mink coat. Suck on a leamon drop or peppermint when you feel like smoking. Think to your self how your saving money and getting healthier each time you want a smoke.