When you quit smoking, what do YOU use to fight your cravings? I need more creative ideas..?

Question

I am on day 7 of no smoking and the cravings are starting to get tough..

FYI.. no nicotine patches, no zyban, no nicotine gum.. Tried and failed on them all. This time just made the choice and quit with my wife.

Answer 1

I'm gonna quit Sunday after smoking 36yrs,i have a book that the cancer society about craving and it says to take a walk or go shower or whatever,,the craving last 1minute so if you can get thru that your almost there,,,congrats for 7days,,,it;s tough i know..i quit 1time for 4days but with patches,,,i hope you have some help also,,,it also said to throw all ashtrays and lighters away,,anything that reminds you gotta go...good luck and buy gum and candies that you can suck like lifesavers,,,they also said to take a straw and cut it in 3pieces and put cotton in the top...if you need a drag drag the cotton filled straw,,,i;m going ti need them all and more,,,,,Shelly in Seattle

Answer 2

first of all you need to be sure that you are really ready to quit smoking. when you know that you are ready to quit, talk to your local pharmacist, doctor, or health care provider. they can work with you and help you to come up with the best type of therapy for you.

below is a list of a few treatments available to help you quit:

1) nicotine replacement products (like nicotrol) - they come in a variety of different forms. you can even use the patch and use a lozenge or a gum at times when your cravings become unbearable. however, i really want to stress that you TALK TO A DOCTOR OR PHARMACIST ABOUT PROPER DOSAGES!!! some medications and conditions could interact with these nicotine replacement products.
-patches
-gums
-lozenges
-nasal sprays
- inhalers

2) a quit key - this is a little device that will help to slowly taper you off of smoking. it beeps everytime you can have a cigarette and slowly increases the intervals between the times you can smoke.

3) prescription medication - if all else fails, talk to your doctor. he/she will be able to prescribe you medication to help you with your cravings.

other tips to help you cope with the cravings include:

1) get rid of all of your cigarettes, ashtrays, and anything else that would tempt you to smoke a cig

2) change up your daily routine
- if you usually smoke a cig while drinking your morning coffee, drink orange juice
-if you usually smoke a cig while driving, try taking a different route or singing to some music (it'll keep you thinking more about your new route and less on smoking)
-if you smoke a cig as soon as you wake up, try popping a nicotrol lozenge/gum or jump in the shower asap

3) find a friend that wants to quit too... it's always easier when you have someone else going through the same thing

4) make sure that your friends and family knows that you are quitting - it'll give you moral support and more of a motivation to quit

5) keep a quit log - log each time you smoke so that you can actually see the number of cigarettes you are smoking

i wish you the best of luck. i know how hard it is to quit smoking... but if i can quit smoking then seriously anyone can!

Answer 3

I quit a year ago and my cravings are gone. Sunflower seeds or gum are great to help the cravings at first though. Also, reading books (keeps your hand busy) and typing on the comp will keep your hands busy too.

Just think abour your smoke-free lungs and never coughing from cigarette smoke! It's a much better life! Plus you will save like a whole ton of money!

Answer 4

I quit smoking 12 months ago and it is tough but you can do it!! I still get cravings now sometimes so I just have a lollie pop or some gum. You could also try carrot and celery sticks with a nice dip. I would also get rid of all your ashtrays, lighters etc cause seeing those will remind you of it. Good Luck!

Answer 5

coffee or hot tea and dont set it down this will give your mouth and hands something to do instead of holding a butt also the stimulation from the caffeine will replace the stimulation your used to from nicotine i quit 10 months ago i never thought i was going to make it more than a week or two also i hope your on nic patches good luck

Answer 6

Good on you keeping off the drugs - they just lengthen your withdrawal time.

Your physical nicotine cravings will have gone by now, but your emotional attachment, your mind, your habitual cravings, all need to be zapped. Actually, not zapped, but re-programmed so that you have the mind and habits of a non-smoker. You are not missing something, you are gaining a new way of living - tell yourself that and believe it, think it, say it, meditate on it.

There are 101 creative ideas to stay smoke-free, all proven by former smokers, here:
http://www.quitguide.com/101-terrific-quit-smoking-tips.html

Answer 7

I just asked myself "can I make it two more minutes" without a smoke. Then increase the time, so on and so forth. It's the old "one day at a time" thing. It works even if you have to break it down by minutes. Good luck, hang in there it's worth it!

Answer 8

I am an acupuncturists and I've helped my clients reduce their cravings with the use of acupuncture. Acupuncture involved the insertion of small hair-thin needles into energy meridians to help balance and harmonize the body - craving is seen as an imbalance of our digestive system because of smoker's withdrawal. Your in need of some balance!

Answer 9

Eat! Lollipops, breathing in deeply. If you have made it 7 days without a cigarette, your cravings are emotional. You have to find something to do with the time you used to spend smoking.

Answer 10

GUM!!! the craving will never really go away I quit a couple years ago and still everytime I smell a cig. I go crazy! good luck! It's the smartest move you'll make!