I know there is all sorts of methods to quit smoking, ie; the patch, gum, hypnosis, etc. What was YOUR method?

Question

For anyone who quit smoking, I need some help with this one. I have the desire to quit for health reasons. I would like to be able to run again someday without buckeling over after twenty feet. Problem is, I enjoy smoking. After sex, while drinking coffee, it is basically intergrated into everything I do. Bordem is the worse smoking trigger.
I would like to know any effective method of quitting smoking that YOU used, so I have a frame of reference to base my efforts off of.

Answer 1

eat gummi bears, thats what my mom did so she could do something with her hands and chew on something to cut the cravings. i hope you can quit, god bless you!

Answer 2

I have tried many things to stop. I smoked 3 packs a day. I smoked so much it was more than my car payments every month. The best program I have used is the "quit smoking right now program" http://tinyurl.com/yag6v4
They helped me go cold turkey and never look back. In fact, I can have a cigarette now and not want another one. That's how great it works.
I used the patch as well, and didn't smoked for 2 months but had headaches every day. the mental part is hell, no question. what worked for me is chewing big red gum, (no other flavor helped, kinda strange), and changing your habits. if you normally wake up and smoke while drinking coffee, take a walk instead and have coffee when you get back. you really have to do something totally different at those times when you would normally be smoking. it's hard to do, but someone told me that the mental craving of a cigarette only lasts for 7 minutes, so, if you can get past that 7 minutes, it'll be easier! I suggest you invest in yourself and then put the money you are saving into a jar and watch it grow, then buy yourself a nice reward for quitting. good luck to you!

Answer 3

Don't quit completely at first. Just cut down gradually. When you get to a point that you are down to 3 or 4 a day, you can probably break the habit, I did. Now I can not smoke at all for months at a time, and have a cigar or cigarette when I feel like it occasionally, without the risk of starting up again, and without any real health risks because I don't have any cravings. Try making them inconvenient, like leaving the one pack you have locked in the safe in the garage, or the trunk of your car. Sometimes, by the time you get up and dressed to go out and get one, the urge might pass. When you have only a couple a day, the cravings are EZ to resist

Answer 4

I quit 18 years ago, after 20 years of being a heavy smoker. It can be done.

My doctor prescribed a tranquilizer that I took in low dose for four months. Be sure to work with your doctor on this if you decide you need medication; don't self-medicate.

I took the American Lung Association Freedom From Smoking Class. They had us make a list of the five reasons we wanted to quit -- really think about the reasons you want to quit smoking; it really does help to hold on to that. My list included breathing easier and that I wanted the new car I was getting not to stink! They had us set a date to quit smoking -- I think my date was about three weeks after the start of the class. Before that date, we were supposed to decide on ONE PLACE where we would smoke, and only smoke there. That was to get us started being used to not smoking everywhere we were.

Think about what you're going to do when you aren't smoking anymore. When I got bored and wanted to smoke, I'd grab my camera and go for a walk and take pictures of cats. It gave me something to think about besides smoking, and it got me away from the place that I associated with smoking.

When you're at work or someplace you can't just walk away, remember that cravings only last about 5 - 10 minutes. Try to concentrate on your work and remember you are stronger than your cravings.

Spend as much time as possible with people who don't smoke. Being around people who don't smoke makes it easier not to light up.

One of the things that draws people back in is when they get stressed, they feel like they have to have a cigarette.

If you find yourself in that kind of situation, ask yourself, "Exactly how is having a smoke going to change this situation?"

The honest answer is, "The only change it will make is I'll feel worse about myself for smoking. And that won't help the situation."

Some people find they can have a cigarette now and then after they have quit -- but that doesn't work for most people. Like my Freedom From Smoking Class instructor's wife puts it, "I'm just a puff away from a pack a day." Unless you want to risk having to go through the quitting again, it's best to say goodbye for good.

Answer 5

its a hard thing to do but if you really want to quit you can. what i did was i tried to stay as busy as i could. also i would go to places where you couldnt smoke. first week is going to be the hardest but after that cravings will start to decrease. good luck