For those who smoke (and even those who don't), we have seen the warnings about giving up smoking. Quit packs, patches and a variety of other aides are advertised on television.

I'm on the band-wagon to quit and I am curious as to what methods people have found most effective to stick to it due to the fact that I have developed a serious desire to murder my cow-orker, maul stupid people and take to the headlights of bad drivers with a nine-iron. This are not ordinary impulses for me and need a few coping mechanisms. As it is, my voodoo doll currently has more pins in it than a Hellraiser movie and my coffee consumption is about to give me a minor coronary.

I have considered the fact that simply keeping smoking would be an effective way to stop these impulses, it will invariably be damaging to my health in the long term. Though I do honestly believe the bashing of my head against the filing cabinet to beat the current cravings could seriously damage my short-term health as well.

So, past smokers... what do you recommend? Patches? Gum? Medication? Homocide... oops... homicide? I'm open to suggestions (no, not offers - suggestions).

Timing on this post. I started patches yesterday and I'm kind of doing ok although have had some internal psychotic moments. I spent the whole weekend looking at pics of smoking related illnesses and kept telling myself if you continue smoking, you're going to DIE a HORRIBLE DEATH....

So day 2 is going ok.... I'm a runner (hard to believe I can run good long distances although I've smoked for 14 years!) so I'm rewarding my efforts with extra long runs and I can certainly feel the difference already..

Plenty of peeps are supporting me with suggestions such as:

* Brush your teeth regularly and think about how fresh your mouth and breath is. Repeat after me - Isn't it nice not smelling or tasting like an ash tray?
* Grab some peppermint oil - couple of dabs on the gums every couple of hours - feels like you've just had some horrible menthol ciggie
* give your hands something to play with - buy some pumpkin seeds, pistachios, just keep them busy
* sip water and deep breathes
* meditate - a few times a day for 2 minutes at a time - close your eyes and envision a healthier, stronger, sexier looking you.
* keep busy - crosswords, sudoko, reading - keep your mind away from boredom which normally leads to you wanting a ciggie
* and patches - cold turkey will drive you insane!

Best of luck...

Quote:

Originally Posted by robbie

* give your hands something to play with - buy some pumpkin seeds, pistachios, just keep them busy

Ok... so would a boyfriend count? It would be something to do with my hands... is there anyone out there who'd be game? Sarcastic, cynical attempting to quit smoking guy, 24 with dark blonde hair and green eyes is looking for a boyfriend while quitting smoking so that he has something to do with his hands. Warning: Goes for 0 to BITCH in under 5 seconds due to cravings.

LOL. It may work... I always feel like a ciggie after sex.. so maybe I sh0uld be celibate for a while...

No smoking, no sex... urgh... why can't it be something like no work?

I cut down from over a pack a day to four or five a day over the course of several months, then stuck there for about a year gradually getting down to one a day. Eighteen months ago i just stopped buying cigarettes and started scabbing off people every now and then when drunk. I'm still at that phase and i'm quite happy with it.

If you want try quit try this every time you smoke a cigarette: write it down and look at the counts at the end of the week. That already made me want to smoke less Try to knock just one off each day. You'll start seeing a pattern of when you smoke and i think it's pretty easy to get down to about 7-10 a day - that's when you get to those tough "ritual" cigarettes like the morning smoke, the coffee smoke, the lunch smoke etc. They're a lot harder to kick, but just go one at a time.

me and my friend quit smoking together years ago. it was all about using each other to maintain motivation.

then he had a bad car accident and lapsed into a coma for 2 weeks. and then was in hospital for a year.

needless to say, when it came to the crunch, i realised i didn't need it.

Somehow Taylor, I don't think I'll get my friend to be in a car accident just for the purpose of quitting smoking.

Alison, I'll try that starting today - thanks :-)

So, just thought I'd give you an update on my progress.. have not had a cigarette for 12 days now and going well.. day 4 - 6 was HELL, mini emotional breakdown, bad withdrawals but my workmates and flat mates have been great pillars of strength and support.. I've kept busy by:

* stretching, big deep breaths and walking around the office when I w0uld normally go outside for a smoke
* going to the gym at lunch with a workmate about 4 times each week - my heart rate has dropped around 20 bpm while running at my regular pace!
* Drinking lots of water
* Making big fruit smoothies for brekky
* brushing my teeth about 4 times a day to keep that minty fresh feeling!
* I've avoided 2 large social gatherings during this period, just to keep the evil urges at bay, although my good mate came over on Sunday and he smokes and I was proud to say "no thanks" and hold back..

I think I'm past the worst of it..

the patches have certainly helped and I'm going to stick to them for the entire 16 week program.

Give me 2 months and I think I'll be the in the healthiest shape of my 31 years to date!

I feel alive..

Quote:

Originally Posted by robbie

So, just thought I'd give you an update on my progress.. have not had a cigarette for 12 days now and going well.. day 4 - 6 was HELL, mini emotional breakdown, bad withdrawals but my workmates and flat mates have been great pillars of strength and support.. I've kept busy by:

* stretching, big deep breaths and walking around the office when I w0uld normally go outside for a smoke
* going to the gym at lunch with a workmate about 4 times each week - my heart rate has dropped around 20 bpm while running at my regular pace!
* Drinking lots of water
* Making big fruit smoothies for brekky
* brushing my teeth about 4 times a day to keep that minty fresh feeling!
* I've avoided 2 large social gatherings during this period, just to keep the evil urges at bay, although my good mate came over on Sunday and he smokes and I was proud to say "no thanks" and hold back..

I think I'm past the worst of it..

the patches have certainly helped and I'm going to stick to them for the entire 16 week program.

Give me 2 months and I think I'll be the in the healthiest shape of my 31 years to date!

I feel alive..

the main problem is getting past the psychological addiction (the physical addiction is relatively easy in a way - although you do continue the addiction through the patches - hence the gradual stepdown)

I quit last year
I was a smoker for 20 years
I'm 34
scary huh?
anyways I went on the patches I was fine with it
but as I staying over at the bf's one night (unexpectedly) I didn't have a spare patch and I was literally crawling out of my skin... I had to go home from work to get a patch because I was almost in tears - I was vague, disoriented, weepy... was quite a rude shock

anyways
it can work
just stick with
and I also suggest taking the patches off at night
think about it
when you smoke you are not giving your body a 24 hour supply of nicotine
the patches do give you that
so its probably better to sleep without them

Thanks Mindstar.. yep, definitely taking the patches off at night about an hour before bed actually.. and putting them on about an hour after I get up...

20 years - wow, I was 14 years.. how good do you feel now?

Quote:

Originally Posted by robbie

Thanks Mindstar.. yep, definitely taking the patches off at night about an hour before bed actually.. and putting them on about an hour after I get up...

20 years - wow, I was 14 years.. how good do you feel now?

I still want a cigarette >__<

I feel much better for it to be honest
I'm the healthiest I've been in ages
and my teeth look fantastic
getting the impressions done to get them bleached so it acts as another disincentive to smoke ever again

yep, I've booked my dental appointment too!

Smokers please go here....
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?s...ZpQNb5Dg_3d_3d

Ta very much

Can just give a HUGE huge public shout out to Robbie from Same Same here.

He gave up smoking 12 days ago (I think?) and I couldn't be more proud of him, I think it's a huge effort and you should be really proud. Onya Robbie!

Keep up the good work Robbie, it's hard work but you'll look back on it and think why didn't I give up sooner??
You're doing a fantastic job so far.
I smoked for 10 years, quite a heavy smoker towards the end, and I gave it up 7 years ago. Never looked back.
My reason was a sexy male that hated smoking, and I wanted to continue seeing him, and I still am seeing him !
But I also wanted to give up because I hated it.
The sexy male part sounds alot more interesting than the latter reason

Nice one Robbie.

I quit 12 months ago this tuesday so I am going to go out and buy myself something very expensive as a reward for saving all that money and adding years to my life. I reckon I've saved about $3,000 so thats one nice present.

Its the hardest thing I've had to do I would say. And every now and again I still feel like having a cigarette 12 months on. I know though that those sorts of cravings go pretty quickly so its like riding a mini storm. I shout or I sing out loud and just get rid of some of that excess energy and cravings that way.
For quitting I used patches for the first 4 months I think. I found they really helped especially in pubs when you are around other smokers. Obviously thats not such an issue now. Also I upped my exercise levels and I found that was a constant reminder on why I gave up.


Good luck with it dan.

My dad stopped smoking voer 30 years ago and still gets cravings even to this day. i wouldn't know as I've never started - dunno how you afford it anyway!

I heard reaching for a piece of chocolate instead of a ciggie can help, might give you acne but at least it won't destroy your lungs

Good luck!

how's the quitting going Dan? Don't be too hard on yourself. I smoked through my teens, then gave up for 5 years, then smoked AGAIN for another few years - I couldn't believe I went back to it

I haven't smoked for 2 years now, and let's just say there was some real rewarding going on in the first few months. Little things that boost how good you feel, like some new clothes or a great night out, a concert or a meal at a great restaurant... whatever is going to make you feel good, but not make you wish you were smoking!

And don't beat yourself up if you fall off the wagon... everyone's got a vice. There's plenty of room on the wagon as soon as you're ready to jump back on!

Hi Libby,
I think the best way to monitor my success is to say I fell off the wagon faster than Lindsay Lohan...

Thanks for all of your support guys and gals.. MUCH appreciated! Love your story EmSmith!