Can someone give me the best advice to giving up smoking?

Question

I have tryed to stop smoking a number of times, but always end up going back on it, what advice can you keep me to drop the horrible habit and stay stopped

Answer 1

There really is no one way to quit smoking. .. There are as many methods as there are smokers. ... (exaggerating a bit there). ... I have worked with many people over the years who were attempting to or accomplished quitting smoking. .. Some folks quit by way of prayer. ... Some folks quit by way of acupuncture. .. Some by way of hypnosis. ... Some by way of detoxification through the process of juice fasting to clean the nicotine out of the body for the purpose of alleviating the craving for nicotine. ......... Some folks quit by using a "Nicotine Replacement Tool",.. such as Nicorette Gum,... The Patch,.. or the nasal spray. ..... Others quit by having their doctor prescribe them Wellbutrin antidepressant medication to help them thru the struggle of initially abstaining from smoking.

There are many different ways to quit,.. but the most simple of course is to just do it,.. cold turkey. ... This can be very challenging,.... but statistics do show that going cold turkey as opposed to gradually cutting down,.. is the most successful approach. .......... It is important to know that the first 3 to 4 days is the real challenge. That is the period where your body is primarily detoxing from the nicotine and that is when the cravings are strongest. ... If you can make it through those first 3 days without smoking,.. you are likely to succeed at quitting.

There are alot of little things you can do to help yourself through the quitting process. ...

- Drink lots of water. .... this helps to flush the toxins out of your body and helps to alleviate the cravings. If you are experiencing a craving,.. drink a tall glass of water.

- Exercise every day. .. This helps with the detoxing process and also helps to alleviate alot of the tension that comes with the process of quitting. It also helps you to relax and sleep better at night.

- Utilise some form of relaxation practice,.. such as some basic deep breathing exercises,.. and or meditation practice.

- Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. This helps the body to detox and also helps you to feel better in general.

- Keep yourself busy or occupied and avoid idle time where the cravings can take hold of your thoughts. ... This is especially true durring the first few days of abstaining from smoking.

- There are some toll free telephone support lines available to help individuals who are wanting to quit or in the process of quitting. The operators are professionally trained and from what I have heard from folks who have used some of these support lines,.. they can be very helpful. ... One of the lines available to call is: ... 1-800 QUIT NOW ........ Another is: ... 1 866 END HABIT

- There are also some programs available that have been created by organisations such as The National Cancer Society that you might look into. .. Many hospitals in the states offer some of these programs for a fee. Check with your local hospitals on this.

... The bottom line is,.. quitting such an addiction as smoking is not something that a person either fails or succeeds at. ..... There is no such thing as "failure",.. there is only giving up,.. or not giving up. ... If you try to quit and you don't succeed,.... don't stop trying. ... It may take you many attempts before you succeed. Everyone's experience with this is different and for many different reasons. .... Just keep pursuing it. .. You will eventually make it. .......... As Mark Twain once said; "Quitting smoking is a piece of cake. I've done it a million times."
..... Don't give up!

Hopefully this information will be of some help to you.

Answer 2

Not easy but - just stop! 24 hours and you are already clearing your body out. The first 24 hours are very hard. Find something to do with your hands - write, crosswords, knit anything. When you crave a cigarette..pick up a carrot and eat it or a bit of apple.

Keep active - the main reason people fail after the first 24 hours is because they are doing nothing and bored! Go for a walk!

Most of all, stay away from people that do smoke (even friends)!

If you can get over the first two days..without smoking..it gets easier as your dependance on nicotine goes!

Go to your doctor and ask for help..they are geared up now to help..patches can be prescribed to ease the nicotine withdrawl..you will notice a difference in how your body behaves very quickly. Food tastes different.

I know..I did it - 20 yrs a smoker and gave up just like as above. Not touched one in 3 yrs now and don't want to.

Answer 3

hey, i just quit smoking. Look, I could tell you all the things like Nicorette patches and whatnot, but the NUMBER ONE thing is you have to truly, without a doubt undeniably WANT to stop for yourself. After that, pick a day to quit by (like when you finish your pack, realisticly). And stick with it. Make it like a game and say you'll go a certain amount of months without smoking. After those months are over, the cravings will be gone because the nicotene will be out of your system. Chewing gum helps when you have cravings. Get a big pack of big red for something to do with your mouth everytime you want a smoke. The KEY is to go so long as that it flushes all out your system so the cravings stop. After that, half the battle is won. Its then just pure willpower. You CAN quit cold turkey, don't believe the hype. I did it recently and I'm feeling great afterwards, GOOD LUCK you can do it!

Answer 4

Hi, I'm in the same situation. I'm desperate to give up too.
I saw "This Morning" the other day & they had 3 smokers on the programme who'd been given 3 different methods to help them to kick the habit.
Here's the link http://www.itv-thismorning.co.uk/HealthArticle.aspx?fid=1726&tid=2
The tablets are called Champix & I think this is my only solution to giving up for good.
So, I have my appointment at the doctors for next week & I really hope I can get them.

Answer 5

I've just signed up with Tesco pharmacy to stop. I've tried and failed before but the pharmacist is seeing me on Thursday, will do a lung function test and test for carbon monoxide. I then can choose 1 method of help (patches, lozenges, gum etc) which I get for £6.50 per week. I go back weekly for 6 weeks and in that time should give up completely. Like weight watchers for smokers really xxxx

Answer 6

Don't buy any. Worked for me. It was tough, though! Just stick with it, the only time you need to be strong is when you're passing a newsagents, but it takes the focus from not smoking to not buying. You're not giving up the fags, you're giving up buying them, which, to me, felt much easier.

It will depend on how many you smoke, though. If you smoke loads, seek advice from your doctor.

Good luck!

Answer 7

Well I have been where you are and today I am into my 7th day of my quit. The longest and most difficult so far. Cinnamon sticks are great for chewing on, they are also hallow so you can inhale and they fit in your hand like a smoke but smell sooooooo much better! Drink lots and lots of water! Cravings only last 1 to 3 minutes so deep breathing, drinking a bottle of water, distraction, walking, sit ups what ever it takes to get past the craving, one craving at a time, one hour at a time one day at a time......kind of like procrastination.....lol

I do have to tell you that I have cried for days, got angry like I didn't know I had it in me....finally went to the doctor who prescribed a mild sedative to help keep me on an even keel.....I wouldn't have stayed quit if I continued to lose control.....need a new frame for a door......eeks! No bad days since.....just very proud I have made it this far and know that this is the ONE!

Also it is interesting to know that on average a person attempts to quit 7 times before they are successful.

Usefull website.........whyquit.com......certainly motivating although I do not agree with their policy on NRT's

Wishing you the best of luck.......

Answer 8

I am currently taking a tablet called zyban which you get on perscription. I havent been taking it for very long so i don't know how effective it is yet but you are ment to take one tablet per day for a week or so whilst smoking, then after a week stop the ciggies and take two tablets per day for seven weeks. I've heard it can be very effective but you still need the will to stop, give that a try good luck.

Answer 9

I managed to stop my 40aday habit last November.Call the national stop smoking help line on 0800 2 4483 8 Between 9am and 9pm 7 days a week.They will supply you with all the necessary nicotine replacement for 6weeks at no cost to yourself .I used the patches and a nicotine inhalator after smoking for 35years i am now a non smoker.

Answer 10

Good that you have thought of giving up smoking.I have seen people trying various means including Nicotine chewing gums , nicotine skin patches etc but what really works is your will power.Ultimately It is your will power which will help-strengthen it and hold on to your decision to give up smoking, resist all initial urges to let it go and you can succeed.All the best!