Quitting Smoking

[Kamaione]

I wonder if anyone is in the process of doing this or already has quit. I could use someone to talk to when the urge is particularly strong. I also don't mind links or references to resources dealing with it. Thanks!

 

[user 188685]

I'm so proud of you for deciding to quit smoking,I know it won't be easy,but I believe that you can do it my friend.

 

[Claudia1794]

I have seen where several people on here have quit and for like years. I quit once and it was easy but It was because I was pregnant. Didn't start back until after I quit breastfeeding. 14 years ago. Sometimes I want to quit but the best I can do is cut back. Im married to my marlboros...til death do us part. Best of luck to you. You will feel amazing!

 

[Kamaione]

I'm so proud of you for deciding to quit smoking,I know it won't be easy,but I believe that you can do it my friend.

Thanks! It's going to be hard when my brother visits, he's a smoker too.

 

[user 188685]

Thanks! It's going to be hard when my brother visits, he's a smoker too.

very welcome,just don't give up.

 

[Claudia1794]

Thanks! It's going to be hard when my brother visits, he's a smoker too.

I had an art professor that would just walk around holding one when we took breaks. He'd talk to us and linger around with that cigarette between his fingers but never light it. You'll come up with something. It was the oral thing for me. I chewed on straws.

 

[Kamaione]

I had an art professor that would just walk around holding one when we took breaks. He'd talk to us and linger around with that cigarette between his fingers but never light it. You'll come up with something. It was the oral thing for me. I chewed on straws.

Thank you, Claudia! I have already bought some sugar free lollipops...

 

[ringwood]

My hubby and I quit cold turkey 10 years ago this year, We were pack-a-day smokers for over 20 years. Best thing we ever did!

I think the number one thing that leads to success is to KNOW you’re ready to quit and are committed to doing it. We both tried many times over the years to quit, but if you aren’t ready to do it, you won’t succeed. There’s no shame in failure. If you don’t succeed this time, keep trying. Obviously, having a strong motivation helps - our motivation was our then 3-year old son.

Quitting is HARD! Take it day-by-day (minute-by-minute sometimes!). Some things that helped to get over the hardest cravings: having a drink of water every time a craving hits, go for a brisk walk, suck on a candy, have a nap. We quit around Easter and I remember eating a ****-ton of mini chocolate eggs to get through the first few days, haha.

Celebrate the little steps. At first it will be, “Holy ****! I haven’t had a smoke in an hour!” and before you know it, it will be a day, a week, a month. Try to focus on how you feel without smoking - I remember realizing after the first couple of days that I could take a deep breath without feeling tight in my chest and it acted as motivation to keep going. At the same time, go easy on yourself - you’re going to be irritable and grumpy, so don’t beat yourself up if you’re a little bitchy with your family or friends. Let others know you’re trying to quit - hopefully they can encourage you.

Anyway, feel free to message me anytime. I know how hard it is to quit, it helps to have people rooting for you. Cheers and good luck! You can do it.

 

[Anarchic Torchic]

Not currently in the process of quitting right now, but i did thrice before. For me it was always just a sudden decision to quit when in the right mindset i guess.

Definitely avoid alcohol aswell early on, cause two out of three the reason i started again involved alcohol.

 

[StarDust]

Every time I had an urge for a smoke, I would drink a large glass of water. Not sure it there are any sciences behind it - but that is what worked for me. Strangely, after drinking the water, I lost my urge for a smoke and moved on with my day. Good luck to you

 

[user 135671]

I've been trying to quit for the last two weeks, it's bloody hard man. I've kinda realised I use cigarettes to ' reward ' myself.

If I'm teaching a yoga class I'll ' reward ' myself with a smoke straight after, I love yoga but have never really brought into the whole don't smoke, drink or eat onions and you'll live forever nonsense. It's the same with music, if I'm working on a song I'll ' reward ' myself at various stages of the process.

In the UK we have a free quit smoking service, provided by the wonderful NHS, I've booked an appointment with them this week.

Good luck and feel free to message me if you need to talk or just vent.

 

[9006]

Never smoked, but my uncle managed to quit using some kind of medication, and he even stopped taking that after a while because he said it was giving him dry mouth.

But I imagine it's like most addictions, and certainly in the beginning it helps to replace it with something else... distractions, until it becomes less of an issue. Easier said than done of course!

 

[user15010]

I finally quit three years ago with the help of all kind of nicotine replacement products. Good luck Kamaione!

 

[user 188685]

I finally quit three years ago with the help of all kind of nicotine replacement products. Good luck Kamaione!

Rivermaze that is so great,congrats

 

[Lonelyroad]

I wonder if anyone is in the process of doing this or already has quit. I could use someone to talk to when the urge is particularly strong. I also don't mind links or references to resources dealing with it. Thanks!

I've tried many times to quit smoking and for me the one thing I always struggled with was the not having something to do instead of smoking. I totally believe if you 100% want to give smoking up then uou can do it bit find something to do with your hands. A new hobby or do an old hobby but find something and always be positive and you will do this!

 

[Lonelyroad]

Not currently in the process of quitting right now, but i did thrice before. For me it was always just a sudden decision to quit when in the right mindset i guess.

Definitely avoid alcohol aswell early on, cause two out of three the reason i started again involved alcohol.

Yeah I've known folk who have been off ciggies for years but still have the odd one when drinking alcohol. Some of them have Bern ciggie free for like 30 years and easily will smoke a pack in a night out. It shows how easy it is to fall back into old ways while intoxicated.

 

[Kamaione]

I want to add something before all of this goes too far! I have not quit yet, but my quit date is September 1st. I am planning on using nicotine replacement at first (I am lucky in this way also to be a veteran, because it doesn't cost me anything).

I've been trying to quit for the last two weeks, it's bloody hard man. I've kinda realised I use cigarettes to ' reward ' myself.

If I'm teaching a yoga class I'll ' reward ' myself with a smoke straight after, I love yoga but have never really brought into the whole don't smoke, drink or eat onions and you'll live forever nonsense. It's the same with music, if I'm working on a song I'll ' reward ' myself at various stages of the process.

In the UK we have a free quit smoking service, provided by the wonderful NHS, I've booked an appointment with them this week.

Good luck and feel free to message me if you need to talk or just vent.

I wish you every success, randomguy. I hope the NHS offers something that can really help! And yes, I am sure I will be venting...too late to wish I had never started, right?

 

[Kamaione]

Let me clarify things here before there are too many more posts! I thank each and every one of you that has contributed, and I will get back to each and every one of you individually...might even help, because I can't type and smoke at the same time . I have not quit quite yet. My quit date is September 1st. I am planning on using nicotine replacement. I started using the lozenges today, and since waking up at 4 am this morning, I have had 3 cigarettes today (so far, I haven't had dinner yet). That in itself is encouraging, because I usually smoke about a pack and half a day, or more if things are extra stressful. On the first, I will add the patches I have and go from there. In 2019, I was able to use nicotine replacement and not smoke for a total of 8 weeks, it is the longest I have gone without a cigarette since I started smoking. During my last health checkup, by some miracle, my lungs were clear...I don't want to take that for granted, so I am going to try again. I am sure I will be praying even more than normal, lol! <3

 

[Kamaione]

See how my synapses are malfunctioning already, lol! I didn't realize I started posting on my comment back to randomguy. Oy!

 

[Kamaione]

My hubby and I quit cold turkey 10 years ago this year, We were pack-a-day smokers for over 20 years. Best thing we ever did!

I think the number one thing that leads to success is to KNOW you’re ready to quit and are committed to doing it. We both tried many times over the years to quit, but if you aren’t ready to do it, you won’t succeed. There’s no shame in failure. If you don’t succeed this time, keep trying. Obviously, having a strong motivation helps - our motivation was our then 3-year old son.

Quitting is HARD! Take it day-by-day (minute-by-minute sometimes!). Some things that helped to get over the hardest cravings: having a drink of water every time a craving hits, go for a brisk walk, suck on a candy, have a nap. We quit around Easter and I remember eating a ****-ton of mini chocolate eggs to get through the first few days, haha.

Celebrate the little steps. At first it will be, “Holy ****! I haven’t had a smoke in an hour!” and before you know it, it will be a day, a week, a month. Try to focus on how you feel without smoking - I remember realizing after the first couple of days that I could take a deep breath without feeling tight in my chest and it acted as motivation to keep going. At the same time, go easy on yourself - you’re going to be irritable and grumpy, so don’t beat yourself up if you’re a little bitchy with your family or friends. Let others know you’re trying to quit - hopefully they can encourage you.

Anyway, feel free to message me anytime. I know how hard it is to quit, it helps to have people rooting for you. Cheers and good luck! You can do it.

This is quite a message, thank you for both the tips and support. My problem is not stopping, it's staying stopped.