past smokers - can i really quit?

Question

One of the gifts i am giving my wife, daughter and son this Christmas is to quit smoking. I am on day 5 without one. My nonsmoking buddies say its mind over matter but can someone help me on how to pass the gravings. Im on Nicatrol patches already.

Answer 1

patches are 22% effective, and gum is only 19% effective, so the patch is DEF the way to go..... When my husband quit, he always wanted something in his fingers or mouth, so He got cinamon flavored tooth picks and sucked on those. He quit over a yr ago and hasnt had one since. I dont know about mind over matter, nicotine is a VERY seriously addictive drug, so your body will want it. Just dont give in. Have faith and think of all the positive things. Another thing you may want to try is excersize... Not sure if you do it now, but research proves that combining excersize with another (patch or gum) will give you another 30% chance of quitting for good. Good luck!!

Answer 2

Quiting can be done. The best way to get over it is to do a lot of running and cardio vascular exercise. The reason this is, you need a lot of lung work to do this and when you smoke you can't do it for as long. (Plus you get in shape too, which helps with the wife.)

Also I found the hardest thing for me to be around when I was quitting smoking was, the bars. I always felt I needed a cigarette when I drank. Now I try to stay away from both. But when I do go out to a bar, I try the non-smoking bars.

So try to do that and keep the good fight up. Just make yourself always occupied so you are never bored. Smoking is usually because you are bored or you don't have something in your mouth, try gum or just chewing a straw.

Good Luck

Answer 3

They way it worked for me was I never told myself I had to quit. However whenever I had the urge I took the stance that I choose not to light up now.

I even kept a pack with me so I had the freedom to know it was a choice.

I found out that if I could delay gratification for just a few moments the urge to smoke would go away. Of course it would come back, but again I would just choose not to at that time.


After 3 weeks my urges had diminished to the point that it was almost a non-issue.

It's been over 12 years now, and now I have the same mind set that I had as a kid, before I had even tried smoking.

It is no longer an issue.

Just keep on keepin on.

Answer 4

The gum will work too. It taste alot better then the old stuff.

It'll improve with time but nicotene never really leaves you alone.

go for a replacement like the gum or always watch your guard-If you drink it's even tougher as your will power evaperates whith each round.

Cigarettes though will kill you or shorten your life. If you can't stay off them them try replacement products long term -All are far better then smoking -btw way the gum is available very cheap on Ebay Good luck

Answer 5

Good for you!!!!!!! I hope that your family keeps up the positive reinforcement.....I think that is whats most important for you. My husband just quit 2 months ago, he smoked for 9 years. (25 yrs now) He smoked a pack a day. Then now my mother just quit a few weeks ago. (she smoked for 30yrs. )
Okay you have not smoked for 5 days, that is just awesome! Try replacing the habbit. Do you like sunflower seeds, if so every time you want to go sit and smoke, go and take 5 minute break with a hand full of sunflower seeds. Or go chew on a straw for a few minutes. It's getting past those cravings. Once you get past it, it gets easier every time. Once you have quit for about 2 wks, you will get sick for a little while. It sounds grose, but you will get a cold in your chest. Then cough up flem for a few days. A doctor told us your lungs begin to clean themselves. You will them notice yourself breathing better, not losing your breath as fast, and you will be able to fight a cold much easier then if you smoked. You have alot to look forward to hun. My husband's guy friend's wife just died of lung cancer. She smoked, and the poor guy goes around trying to warn everyone of what his wife went through. So you have alot to look forward to, keep that in mind. It's not easy. But you can do it. As last resort, you will need to see a doctor and get on Zyban. It works wonders, although it sounds like you are doing really well so far. 5 days is awesome. Good luck :)

Answer 6

Sure you can dude, its all about will power. I have a relative that use to smoke like a freaking chimney, and he quit cold turkey. Try chewing a piece of gum each time you crave a cig, and I hear hypnosis works as well as acupuncture.

Answer 7

definately, I gave up 7 years ago. It only takes a couple of weeks to get over the hardest bit. Everytime you get a craving just wait for ten minutes for it to pass, I swear it gets easier.
Also sucking on ice cubes worked for me, I don't know why. Good luck and congratulations on your 5 days.

Answer 8

i was a smoker for about 10 years and one day i just decided i wasnt going to smoke again because i have three young children and i want to be around for them and i did it cold turkey without patches or anything. congratulations on quitting and good luck!!!

Answer 9

Hell yea, I have quit a couple of thousand time already. It's really easy

I have a friend that hasn't smoked for over 20 years and still gets cravings.

Nicotine addiction is worse than heroin addiction

Answer 10

Tooth picks help and the patches work great!! Its hard as I have stopped because of my kids and they keep me in line about it too!! Oh and pray for the strength!!!