What did you do to help you quit smoking.?

Question

I know its easy to say just stop smoking. But we as smokers no its just not that simple. I would love to quit for the benifit of my childen and ofcorse my own health. Just wanting some helpfull hints in what others did to kick the habbit. Im not into patches and chewing gum but will only try these as a last resort. Thank-you.

Answer 1

I found that smoking, for me, was as much a mental habit as it was a physical addiction. When I first got up in the morning, I would have a smoke. When I finished a meal, I would have a smoke. When I got in the car, I would light up. I found that, many times, I was lighting up out of routine & habit more so than because of a physical craving at some points in time. When I decided to quit smoking, I decided I needed to spend the first couple of days in a completly different routine. I started over a 3 day weekend (no "car time" to & from work - no time at my desk smoking & talking on the phone). I needed something to keep my hands busy, so I got a wooden ship model kit and spent the weekend building it. I even altered my meal times just to avoid the routine I had been following for so many years. The first couple of days are the hardest but, if you can get through 3 days, the physical addiction should be pretty much stemmed. The psychological addiction, however, is more devious than you might think and lasts a long time. Even after 10 years there are times (sitting around a camp fire, for example) when the memory of how satisfying a smoke was still tempts me.

PS - When I finally quit, I didn't tell anybody about it right away. In previous attempts my family was trying to be supportive but, for me, it just added more pressure - not wanting to let them down if I failed. You can't quit for someone else - you can only quit for yourself - because it is what you want to do, for your reasons and on your terms.

Answer 2

Natural Quit Smoking Magic

Answer 3

I saw an ad on TV that scared the h*ll out of me and made me quit. It was about a woman with mouth cancer and she did look in extremely bad shape, and with her cancer ridden mouth the last line she said was 'Quitting is hard, not quitting is even harder'.
It just got to me. Every time you feel like a cigarette, go and give your kids a cuddle. Imagine that you are around long enough to see your grandchildren grow up and see great grandchildren. I don't know how much you smoke or the times in which you smoke e.g. after meals, talking on the telephone, having a coffee, but you might recognise these triggers and have some kind of plan. Take nice deep breaths, slowly drink a glass of water and look at those kids. Another thing is have you thought about some medications that curb the cravings? Apparently they work ok. Have a chat to your doctor. If you do slip up and have a smoke, don't beat yourself up over it. Just start again. Don't give up on giving up. I sincerely wish you all the best. Just keep telling yourself 'I CAN do this'.

Answer 4

my dad smoked my husband smoked my girl friends smoke so I guess I was just lucky not to be addicted I smoked and still do but only on odd occasions as it is becoming so difficult to do and so expensive. When I do smoke the odd occasional one it's like a kick in the head so I can't smoke more than one however even that is such a pleasant reminder of my misspent youth. The true reason that I have not continued is the expense. I am forever budgeting and saving for holidays, for antiques,for a new lap top, the list is endless and my income is very limiting. If you have not considered the importance of the cost perhaps that can be a start to motivating yourself in the right direction as it is no longer an accepted habit and is detrimental to your health. Why take any risks? The children will need you for as long as you live and they need you to be at your best health and also to set a really good example.............

Answer 5

Hi nzmade, I tried 6 times to stop smoking, from smoking nicorette plastic pipes, patches, reading a book, etc, but I always made one mistake, when desperate I would smoke one, and in a few days another, big mistake I was back to them in no time, even after stopping for 6 months.
Hypnotherapy's helped me and the realisation that if I smoke one it was the end, plus the encouragement of my 11 years old daughter and ... when I was very desperated I would smoke nicotine free or they call them "herbal cigarettes" as well, which they are not like cigarettes but personally they helped me a lot without getting the nicotine in my body.
Now I can proudly say that I have been a non smoker for 25 months. All the best.

Answer 6

I quit smoking on the 3rd of October 2005 (cold turkey from 1-1 1/2 packs a day or 40-50 cigarettes)

I bought myself an MP3 player from ebay and I started running

I now go to the gym very regularly and I dont even think about it anymore

The worst thing for me now is the smell of my clothes when I come home from the pub/club (enough to turn anyone off smoking)

good luck on quitting

hope this helps dude

Answer 7

I have been cigarette free for 12 days now. This time it's cold turkey.

Tried patches, completed the 12 week course then started smoking on my second day off the patches!

My theory is why prolong the withdrawals by slowly weaning yourself off nicotine? For me, this time, the fourth day was the worst. By the twelth day (today!) life doesn't suck without cigarettes as it did this time last week.

My doctor (who I may add has never been a smoker) looked at me and told me, "You know it's only will power". And you know what? He was right.

The best thing for me has been to lift two fingers to my mouth, breathe in a big breath of fresh air (pretending to smoke without the smoke!). It looks silly, but it's proved helpful to me. And lolly-pops in the car (held like a smoke between my fingers!). Slowly sipping water after eating helped (and continues to). I think once you've smoked your always susceptable to resume, however I also believe the more practice you have with quitting, the better you'll get at it.

Another thing that's helped me is taking up sport. I really feel the benefits of not smoking (I can actually breathe in without it hurting this week!).

Plus I think the government gets enough money from all the tobacco I bought. Why the hell would I want to give them anymore with the purchases of 'quit smoking aids' and the GST on them? If the government really cared, they wouldn't sell tobacco. Guess they must be making more money from the sale of tobacco than they are spending on the cost smoking related illnesses in our health system.

Good luck - set a date and off you go!!! And yes, I felt life sucked without cigarettes, but that's the addiction. It doesn't last long. Don't feel deprived, just keep thinking your body's recovering (and you'll hopefully live longer which is always handy when you have kids, I have 4 myself!).

Whatever works hey! Plus a lot of will power! Good luck, and remember..the cravings soon pass! And you'll probably find, like I did, that you get a lot more done in your day - I used smoking as a form of procrastination.

That's it for me now! I wish you well...

Angela

Answer 8

Unlike, many smokers, it isn't just that simple. I have tried the patches which worked for a little while, but they kept falling off.
I am on my fifth attempt. My friends have all given up cold turkey. When the cravings came, they went for a walk which alleviated their cravings. I, myself have just purchased, Allen Carr's - Easy Way to STOP SMOKING. Which includes 2 C.D.'s. I have to say --- not bad. No wise cracks and very impressive. He is now an ex-smoker. You continue smoking while reading and before you know it you are smoking less.
Havn't finished the book yet, but I think by the time I have finished, I will be an ex-smoker.
Its probally some sublingual text hidden. Don't care if it works.
So simple. Try it. In most bookstores.

Answer 9

It is good that you are thinking of quiting smoking. I have smoked for more than 15 years and am smoke free for the last 6 months.

If you do not want to use nicotine patches and gums you might try hypnosis or a natural remedy or a combination of both. I used a natural remedy 'Crave-RX'. This helps in reducing nicotine craving and withdrawal symptoms.

People react differently to different methods of treatment. It worked for me. No harm in trying since it is harmless but effective.

For further information visit the following source.

Answer 10

Go to the doctors and get Zyban - they're an anti-depressant that has a side effect that effects your taste when it comes to smoking. They're a pill.

They don't work with everyone but they are fantastic - I was a hardened smoker who just loved a long drag. Now because I no longer have the receptor than makes them taste good, I would throw up if I had a smoke. That's after 20 plus years of smoking.

You go for it!