Serious answers-how to stop smoking?

Question

I'm wanting to hear from people who have quit smoking and how they did it please....

Answer 1

I have wanted to quit for years and have watched many friends try all the patches, pills, shots, cold laser, you name it, I've seen it tried. And guess what....they all still smoke.

I have a simple theory to quit and I am gonna do it this year myself. You started to smoke slowly and then increased as you got use to it. Well quit the same way but in reverse.

Say you smoke a pack a day. First week take 1 cig out of the pack and go bout your day. Each day that week take 1 cig out so you only have 19 to smoke instead of 20.

The following week take out 2 each day for that week. The next week 3, then 4, 5...you get the picture.

20 weeks you should be down to 1 a day if you haven't already quit cause its just a smelly problem now.

Exercise helps a lot too. I picked up speed skating again just to keep myself active a few nights a week and those are hours that I am away from a cig. Feel so much more alive when I come out as well. Sweating is a great way to get the nicotine out of your blood.

Answer 2

My husband and I both recently quit smoking after more than 25 years of being heavy smokers, I wish I could tell you there is an easy way, but to be 100% honest, there isn't. The patches and gum only work for about 10% of people who use them, we were not part of that lucky 10%. So we filled the house with gum, healthy, semi-healthy and not-so-healthy snacks, had our last cigarette on a Friday night, got up the next morning and quit cold turkey. The first 10 days are the hardest, the longer you've smoked the harder those days are, but once you get passed them, you've won as long as you don't live with other smokers or allow anyone to smoke in your home. We have been cigarette free for 6 months now, you can do it hon. I wish you all the best, and God Bless.

Answer 3

You will need all your will-power.

Choose a day to quit and mark it on your calendar. Make sure you tell everybody about that day - because you are going to need their support.

Throw all your ashtrays and cigarette lighters away on that day.

Clean your house from top to bottom and get rid of all those old stinky smoke smells. Make everything fresh.

Get a big glass jar and throw into it all the money that you used to spend on cigarettes each day - and enjoy watching how it all builds up over time. Imagine something nice that you would like to buy with it.

DO NOT allow other people to come into your house and smoke around you. To become a non-smoker, you have to start thinking like one.

And do not go into other homes or places that you know a lot of other people are going to be smoking in. Bars, etc.

Carry some chewing gum around with you at all times, and whenever you feel like a cigarette - unwrap some gum instead and chew on that until the craving goes away - (even if that means chewing through the entire packet).

It takes a lot of effort, but you CAN do it. And just imagine how amazing it will feel when you finally do succeed.

Good luck! ;-)

Answer 4

Natural Quit Smoking Magic

Answer 5

I can give you some different ways that have worked for me in the past! I have quit smoking three times and am in need of quitting again now, hopefully for the last time!
The first time I quit smoking, I got pneumonia and just quit becuase it hurt to breathe! Not something I reccomend! Several months after I was well, I started smoking again!
The second time I quit smoking, I had started running and getting into shape. I felt better without smoking, so I just quit-cold turkey! But the running and excercising, made me feel better than the cigarette ever did! I started smoking again little by little! I went out alot during college, so I would smoke one or two when drinking and eventually, I was smoking all of the time again!
The third time I quit smoking because I had a boyfriend that hated it! Odd because he himself smoked, but didn't want to date soemone who did! So, I quit cold turkey! I told all of our friends that no matter how much I begged or bothered them, I didn't want them to give in and let me have one, or even a drag off of theirs! It worked. It was hard for a while, especially when we went out or were drinking, but we worked out our own little routine of rewards for each day that I went without one! then when we broke up, I started again, like I was punishing him! Yea right! Now I am thinking of quitting for a final time! Just haven't become motivated enough yet! I don't thik that the gum or a patch would work for me though! It's more the habit of doing it than anything! Like when I'm driving for a long distance, or drinking with friends!

Answer 6

I have a friend at work who is also quitting ! And she asked the exact same question!
I gave her 3 options that she considered:

1. Cold turkey
2. cut all your cigarettes in half and put them back in the boxes and smoke as usual....don't smoke any more packs than you normally would in one day. (hence the phrase "cutting down")
3. First day, take one cigarette out of the supply and flush it; second day remove 2...etc.

She has chosen to try the self control cut-back. She waits until she is unbearably grumpy and jittery to have a smoke so she can reeeeleeee enjoy it...she also says, that way, she notices all the situations she would normally just thoughtlessly grab a smoke and figures out a more constructive way of dealing with the time (i.e. chew gum, crossword puzzles, drink of water, etc.)

Hope I helped! I don't know you but, I am proud of you!
GOOD LUCK!

P.S. I did the cold turkey....12 yrs ago and still smoke free.

Answer 7

for me....what I did was to stop cold turkey! I smoked for over thirty years and I realized that I wasn't even enjoying smoking. It was a habit, an expensive one too. I smoked a pack or more a day. I quit about 6 or so years ago and have never picked up another cigarette.

Answer 8

I think its different for everyone. What worked for me was having my doctor scare me with the consequences (yeah, somehow we smokers have a hard time figuring that out). Then, he prescribed Wellbutrin, which apparently is really helpful for 1 out of 6 smokers. Well, it worked for me. It totally took away the skin-crawling feeling I've gotten in short-lived past attempts. You only take it for two months. I used the nicotine gum (Fruit chill flavor tasted good). I also had a friend quitting at the same time. It is now 3 months since my last cigarette. I can't say I don't miss them sometimes, but not enough to start again.

Long story short, I think you have to want it, REALLY want it. If you go in to your attempt half-hearted, you won't be able to get it done.

Answer 9

I am not a smoker but I have a daughter that I love very much that is and she and I have been round and round over this very subject. The answer to your question is very clear and simple and that is you must want to quit. I know you have herd this many times and you think you want to quit or you would not have asked this question. However, why does it always take someone close to us hooked up to an oxygen tank dieing of lung cancer before we finely get it and even then many wait till it is to late. Who is stronger, you or that cigarette? Only you know the answer to that question and know the final answer to your stop smoking question.

Last, if you really want this, then get help from an organized No Smoking group and they will help you stay strong.

Answer 10

I started at 13 and quit at 19. I just stopped one day after having smoked 1 pack per day. If you really want to quit, you will.