is there anyone out there with some tips on how to stay stopped it is not 2 bad so far i am using the chewing gum it is rank but is helping
2007-03-22 13:24:32 · 28 answers · asked by ? 5 in Health ➔ Other - Health
That is such an amazing thing you are doing, Daniel. This is not a small thing at all. You are going to get your health back. I quit drinking about twenty years ago because I got scared. It wasn't will power or courage or any of that noble stuff - I was scared witless, because of the way I felt inside. I have never had the desire to go back to that terrible lifestyle. I never have smoked, so I cannot know, first-hand, how hard this is for you, but I believe intuitively that it is harder than giving up alcohol. All I can think to write to you this evening is look how many people here on Yahoo! Answers are rooting for you! I mean, everyone is encouraging you to stay with it, no matter what, so allow me to add my name to that long list of people who are supporting you to quit. That is so amazing you are doing that, and those twelve hours are yours. No one can ever take them away from you. What I can do is send you positive energy to stay with it. That I know I can do, and you will feel it working inside you. Sent to you with hearty and heartfelt CONGRATULATIONS from Chris in South Portland, Maine, U.S.A. (I am 63 years old, and know something amazing when I read about it.)
2007-03-22 14:51:07 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yeah! Good for you! Hang in there, cuz it gets harder before it gets easier. I quit smoking twenty years ago and I am so glad I did, because I'd probably be in the hospital by now, otherwise.
So keep it up, because you're basically saving your own life.
Keep your mouth occupied if you need to, with the gum, carrot sticks, celery sticks, red licorice sticks (not the real kind, because that raises your blood pressure). When you crave a cig, go brush your teeth--it will make your mouth feel fresh and clean and you won't want to ruin that w/ a cig. Eat a mint.
Use the patch if you need to. I have a friend who uses it and it is working for him.
When you want a cigarette and you are able to fight the urge, reward yourself with some other kind of treat (dinner out or new shoes or whatever you can afford). Sure, it might get a little pricey for a while, but compared to what you're saving yourself in eventual medical costs, it's NOTHING.
And compared to what you're saving on the cost of cigs, it's not too bad either.
Take the money you would have spent on cigs and put it in a glass jar on your kitchen counter. As it fills up, plan on what you'll spend it on. Give yourself incentives to hang in there.
Don't fret about weight gain too much. People who quit smoking always gain a few lbs, regardless of how careful they are. Compensate with more exercise. That will also help you get past the cravings and feel better physically.
When the craving is at its worst, just keep reminding yourself that life is too sweet to spend hooked up to a ventilator. You CAN quit, if you hold out long enough. You just have to keep holding on until it's a habit to NOT smoke. I know you can do it. Best of luck!
2007-03-22 20:40:03 · answer #2 · answered by grrluknow 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
erm well heres some reinforcement on why to stop smoking...
90% of people who get emphysema are smokers (this is a giant build up of tar which leads to cancer)
and in the 1960's (i find this very morally wrong) they put masks over dogs, and put cigarette smoke in there. These dogs were tested with high tar cigarettes and low tar, the ones with high tar got lung cancer within the month, the low tar didn't but weren't really healthy. Its pretty certain that most people who smoke all their lives and never stop will die from it.
Erm what you could do also, is start some sort of charity sponsorship, where if you last a month everyone gives a quid or something along that lines, and if you smoke then you lose all the cash for charity ^ ^. If you do smoke people will think less of you so it'd be an incentive to not smoke.
2007-03-22 20:36:49 · answer #3 · answered by Captain Heinrich 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Congratulations! Take it one minute at a time! A day at a time is too long for cig smoking. I stopped over 7 years ago and gained weight though! LOL ( 45 poinds)... I must say also that I stopped working too! But I feel so good about that decision to stop before I had to! So many of my friends have cancer because of that horrible habit. Many died from it young too!
Good luck. This is the best thing you could do for yourself ! Bravo. Keep the good work.
2007-03-22 20:33:34 · answer #4 · answered by montralia 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Patches; if you really need a cigarette, use one of those and try to less and less.
Will power; force yourself to stay away from cigarettes, maybe put a penalty on yourself like £2 goes in a charity box every time you give in and smoke one. Tell other people to steal your cigarettes and throw them away if you have any.
Temptation; Don't buy cigarettes, throw away ones you have or get. It's easier to give in and open a box you already have, than give in and go all the way to the store to buy a pack.
Fear; every time you have a cigarette, remind yourself that smokers die of smoking related disease more than any other type of death. Coughing fluids and blood or cancer as an early death isn't a nice way to go.
2007-03-23 04:48:20 · answer #5 · answered by Eden 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Congrats, D!
Smoking is part physical and mostly mental.
The physical cravings will go away after 4 days. The psychological cravings will go away after 6 short weeks.
When you get a craving, take a deep breath. Do something to take your mind off of it.
Don't do any triggers (for me it was lattes or coffee). Can you imagine...I quit cigs and coffee at the same time. Can you say WITCH?!
Now would be a great time to start running. Runners' high is like a cigarette high. When you get that craving, go for a short run. It doesn't matter if you suck, you'll work your way up.
I'm proud of you!
2007-03-22 20:40:39 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Well done mate! keep it up. I gave up a week today! it's really hard, isn't it? BUT SO WORTH IT! I have just kept myself busy, washing the dishes after dinner when I would normally go out for a ciggie, walking the dog, chewing gum, lollipops. The scariest thing for me was realising just how addicted I was. Don't give in! you're not the only 1!!!
2007-03-22 20:54:24 · answer #7 · answered by masonv80 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Congratulations on your efforts. Try very hard not to pick up the habit again. Smoking has harmful effects on your body. I am a medical student, and was VERY surprised the first time I saw the lungs (of a cadaver) of a person who was a chain smoker. All the best.
2007-03-22 20:37:06 · answer #8 · answered by Andrew F 1 · 2⤊ 1⤋
congratulations! i quit last may myself cold turkey the first 2 weeks were rough but everyday it gets easier.you will still want one but just tell yourself you dont.you can quit i tried to smoke a cigarette a few months after i quit and it was awful i took 2 puffs and put it out and havent tried it since.if you dont like the nicotteine gum try hard candies like peppermint or butterscotch.you will do fine.good luck!
2007-03-22 20:34:55 · answer #9 · answered by dixie58 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
First of all - congratulations! Thats great! My tip? Try and stay calm and out of stressful situations at least until you are more used to doing without - its always my downfall...
The other thing is, if you fail, DON'T give in, stay giving up and think of the money you're saving. Good for you... :)
2007-03-22 20:32:11 · answer #10 · answered by JENNIFER 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋