any tips to quit smoking?

Question

i've tried to quit smoking quite a few times, but each time i break down and have a cigarette. i'm afraid that i'll put on a bunch of weight. anyone got any good tips to help me through this?

Answer 1

Quitting smoking is a great opportunity to learn about ourselves, as you have already observed.
Congratulations on completing the first week - you are over the worst, but still need to maintain your resolve. It's just so easy to start thinking that just one won't hurt, but it does. Just one achieves nothing except feeling the need for another. Whatever you do, don't have just one.
Here's a few home-brewed tips that might be useful.
It's not just nicotine addiction - there are 50+ chemicals in cigarettes. Also the main problem is habit.
We have been used to having body sensations which we translate as 'my body needs something', which we have attempted to satisfy by having a cigarette.
When we try to stop smoking, we still get these 'my body needs something' sensations, and we still feel that we want a cigarette. We have to train our body to be more selective. When we feel we need something, we have to work out what it is that we actually need.
A glass of water is an excellent substitute if nothing else comes to mind, as it helps with the clearance of the toxic substances in our body. Another good substitute is a bag of salted peanuts, used in combination with the water.
Another thing to do is to find an activity which occupies the mind or body. Go swimming - nobody wants to smoke while they are swimming. Slowly, as our body adjusts and translates the 'want something' feelings into something other than cigarettes, then the feelings begin to go away. We know its not a cigarette that the body really needs, because as soon as we've had one we still have the feeling, and want another!
We will have a few bouts of feeling or even being short tempered. We must try to bite our lip, and control; ourselves. Recognise the short temper as being the removal of toxins which are trying to find a way out. They went in through the mouth, and they try to get out that way to. We must learn to keep our mouth closed, and force the toxins out the other way.

Answer 2

Hearing the decision to quit from you, yourself is very rewarding and could warrant a higher rate of success if you would not fall into temptation to smoke again. However, quitting does not happen overtime. It takes time-days, weeks, or perhaps even months. First of all I would suggest that you get rid of any cigarettes that is still in your possession and stay away from it. Also it is advisable to chew on something like a gum for instance to keep your mouth busy especially when you have these cravings for nicotine. Moreover, involve your family in your decision to stop smoking for they are the ones who can help you manage your problem and keep track of you whenever temptations knocks at your door. Try to keep yourself busy like focus more on your hobbies and things that you enjoy aside from smoking. By the way, have you tried nicotine patches?If no, you might wanna check on that. I hear it works. If the day would pass without you touching that cigar then you should always congratulate yourself. Good luck and hoping the best for you...

Answer 3

first of all well done you have asked for help that is the first step... OK I'm a stop smoking adviser in a chemist and i hope these tips help..
OK first of all the weight you put on when you quit smoking is your natural weight see when you start smoking it speeds up your metabolism so you loose weight so when you quit as your metabolism slows down you gain the weight you lost. apparently sips of water help, chewing sugar free gum, and the best one Ive heard of is deep breathing you see when you are stressed you think smoking calms you down.. it doesn't smoking increases your adrenaline so it is the deep breathing like you would if you were taking a puff on a cigarette inhale hold for 3 seconds then exhale. most of my customers say the nicotine patch is the best way to help however it doesn't work for everyone but from my experience it is the best thing. i wish you the best of luck in quitting xxx

Answer 4

don't try to just quit, try to cut back little by little. If you smoke a pack a day, then work on only 1/2 a pack a day, then only 1/3...and so on and so forth... Another tip i've heard also is that you can try keeping the cigarettes in a different place from your lighter or matches. that way it's extra work to have one, say if you're sitting down watching TV you don't want to get up or something. And try walking or jogging every day...start little...and work your way up. maybe at 10 min for a few days, then 15 min. maybe switch a minute of work out for one cigarette??? i dunno. be creative!! good luck!

Answer 5

I successfully quit smoking using a drug prescribed called Zyban, it help reduces the urge to smoke. I have been a non-smoker now coming up on 5 years next month.
Have a lot of small healthy snacks including, watermelon, carrot sticks, celery, cucumber. Suck on sugar free lollies.
Each time you find yourself craving a smoke, change what your doing immediately!! By doing that your breaking the thought process.
Good Luck.

Answer 6

I quit smoking 5 yrs ago cold turkey. I tried the patches several times. Patches worked good . till i ran out of the patches and no money to buy them. I finally told myself either quit or die. so i quit. the weight gain you can control that. exercise not eating as much. When you have some free time go to www.whyquit.com it is a great site and it has all your answers on quittting. i have an article in there. You see in august 11th 2001 they took out my right lung , i had lung cancer in the top lobe and middle lobe. I had already been trying to quit when i was diagnosed with cancer, and this just made me more determined to quit. i celebrated 5 yrs cancer free back in august and i pray that i stay like that. but seriously check out this site. it is very helpful. also good luck to you.

Answer 7

This method works for me and is the only money back guaranteed.
I quit smoking 2 years ago


Get the Facts
Easyway, founded by Allen Carr in 1983, has the highest independently verified 12-month success rate (75.8% for a smoker completing the program) of any quit smoking technique and a 90% satisfaction rating.

Compare Easyway to other methods and see for yourself why Easyway is called “The Cadillac of quit smoking methods.”

The Allen Carr Method
HOW THE METHOD WORKS

Using psychotherapy, the method works in the opposite way to the “willpower” method. It does not concentrate on the reasons the smoker should not smoke : the money, the slavery, the health risks and the stigma. Smokers know all that already. Instead it focuses on why smokers continue to smoke in spite of the obvious disadvantages.

It is fear that keeps smokers hooked!

Fear the smoker will have to give up their pleasure or crutch. Fear the smoker will be unable to enjoy life or handle stress. Fear the smoker will have to go through an awful trauma to get free. Fear the smoker will never get completely free from the craving.

The Method removes these fears
Smokers quit with the Allen Carr Method as happy non-smokers, not feeling deprived but with a huge sense of relief and elation that they have finally achieved what they always wanted….

TO BE FREE!

What about the terrible withdrawal pangs from nicotine?

The physical withdrawal from nicotine is so slight that most smokers don’t realise that they are addicts. What smokers suffer when they try and quit using other methods is the misery and depression caused by the belief that they are being deprived of a pleasure or a crutch.

The Allen Carr Method removes this feeling of deprivation.
It removes the need and desire to smoke. Once the smoker is in the right frame of mind and they follow the simple instructions, the physical withdrawal from nicotine is hardly noticeable.

No Gimmicks!

The Method does not use any gimmicks, useless aids or substitutes. No nicotine gum, patches, lozenges, tabs, inhilators or nasal sprays! No needles! No lasers! No drugs! No herbs! No shock treatment!

The Allen Carr Method is successful because:

It removes the smokers’ conflict of will.
There are no bad withdrawal pangs.
It is instantaneous and easy.
It is equally effective for long-term heavy smokers and light smokers.
You need not gain weight.
You will not miss smoking.

Medical Endorsements

A personal view from Professor Judith Mackay MBE, JP, FRCO (Edin), FRCP (Lon), World Health Organisation Advisory Panel on Tobacco and Health

“I have no hesitation in supporting Allen Carr’s work. Many clinics use some of his techniques but it would appear that few do it in quite such a successful package.”

Carole Johnson, Coronary Heart Disease Prevention Unit, Tyne Tees

“his success rate was such that, when budgets allow, we continue to use Easyway for work with specific groups and individuals.”

Dr Anil Visa BSc, MBBch., FRCA, Consultant – Royal Hospitals NHS Trust – Royal London Hospital

“I have observed the Allen Carr method at first hand and have found it to be very successful and I wholeheartedly support it as an effective way to quit smoking.”

Dr William Green, Head of Psychiatric Dept, Matilda Hospital, Hong Kong

“It is a remarkable fact that Allen Carr, on his own admission a non-professional in behaviour modification, should have succeeded where countless psychologists and psychiatrists holding postgraduate qualifications have failed, in formulating a simple and effective way to stop smoking.”

Dr Martin Jarvis, Principle Scientist, Imperial Cancer Research
Fund and Reader in Health Psychology, University College London

”...I am more than happy to testify to Allen Carr’s enduring involvement and to recognise the value of the kind of behavioural and cognitive support he provides.”

Dr PM Bray MB CH.b., MRCGP

“I was really impressed by the method. In spite of the Allen Carr organisation’s success and fame, there were no gimmicks and the professional approach was something a GP could readily respect. I would be happy to give a medical endorsement of the method to anyone.”

Celebrity Endorsements

"His method is absolutely unique, removing the dependence on cigarettes, while you are actually smoking. I’m pleased to say it has worked for many of my friends and staff.”
Sir Richard Branson

“Some friends of mine who had stopped using Allen Carr’s method suggested I tried it. I did. It was such a revelation that instantly I was freed from my addiction. Like those friends of mine, I found it not only easy but unbelievably enjoyable to stay stopped.”
Sir Anthony Hopkins

GOOD LUCK

Answer 8

I have a friend who smoked for over twenty years. He now takes Welbutrine (not sure how to spell it), he says he hasn't wanted a smoke in eight weeks. However, it's not working as good for his wife.. she's having to take a stronger dose for the same results

Answer 9

Most of it is down to will power, but there are some methods that can help. Have a look at http://smoking.hammocksurvivalguide.com/
It contains articles about smoking.

Answer 10

a temporary fix to curb a nicotine fit: take a cold wash cloth and rub it on your forearms - that stimulates your bloodflow apparently.

As far as long term, I know a lot of people who used to gum/patch - but they became reliant on those after a while.


Most of the people I know who quit and stayed "quit" just went cold turkey. Good luck!