I have 29 cigarettes left...
 

...and a brand new box of Nicorette. I don't know if it's going to happen, but I thought I'd post about it.

I normally skip over all the 'quitting smoking' threads on forums. Never cared to read any of them. Now I'm starting one. {mawds, please merge if necessary}

Friends and family would be thrilled if I quit, mainly my parents. They've been begging me for years. I know I need to do it for me though. I know I'd save money. I know I'll smell better. I guess 'ignorant' may be the word for me, as I'm not really concerned enough about my health to say this is the reason I'd like to quit. But cigarettes have been there for me for 18 years'ish. If I'm happy, light up. If I'm sad, light up. If I just woke up, light up. Going to bed, light up one more time. I can't imagine my life without them. But I think I'm ready to try.

If anyone has input, post it plz. :o

I'm actually tired of this thread already - the thought about attempting to quit again exhausts me.

good for you. I quit over 10 years ago. I don't even remember the date. I just remember quitting because the cost of cigarette in NYC rose again. I quit cold turkey.

A few years ago I picked up a pack, and smoked a pack a day for about a month. I quit again cold turkey. I have the last of that pack sitting in view from my desk.

good luck.

BTW cigarettes in NYC are almost $10 a pack.

I quit smoking about 15 years ago. I had a bad cold. The cigarette tasted awful. I quit cold turkey as well. I still have a cigarette every now and then. Good luck!

Wow! That's outrageous!

Thanks guys.

I would LOVE to just be a social smoker, indulging every now and then. But I don't think I'll be strong enough for that.

When I've attempted quitting in the past (twice,) I thought I was going to die. I'm not exaggerating. I was so damn anxious, I couldn't think straight. I'd start back up by hitting a few butts I stashed away 'just in case.' That was stupid I guess - and nasty lol. But maybe I'll be better with the gum? And I do have a script for xanax that I don't take often. Maybe this will help me as well.

Fuck that re: $10 / pack lol. I think they're around $4.00 here but I buy by the carton. Hopefully not anymore.

Thank you for the words of encouragement. :)

---------- Post added at 12:45 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:44 PM ----------

Oh - and I've heard of people quitting because they were sick and it just tasted bad. When I'm sick, I actually force myself to smoke so I feel normal, regardless of taste. How messed up is that?

Just wanted to tack that on lol.

I used the Nicorette Inhaler when I quit
NICORETTE® Inhaler ? Stop smoking with NICORETTE® nicotine inhaler
and it really really helped. The nice thing I found about the inhaler was it still gave me the hand to mouth action thats part of the addiction to cigarettes so instead of trying to break both habits I broke the one habit first then the other.
I actually stopped using the nicotine cartridges for the inhaler after about a week and just used the empty inhaler to get that hand to mouth action.
One word of warning though, the nicotine you inhale from the cartridge tastes like ass. I wish someone had warned me about this lol.

Good luck if you do try to quit. A couple other things. Get help. Believe me your non-smoking friends will probably gladly help you quit. Ask your smoking friends to not mention it/smoke around you for a little while.

**EDIT** One more thing, and I can't believe I forgot this. When you quit, if you slip up and let yourself have a cigarette DON'T BEAT YOURSELF UP OVER IT. I'm sure you know quitting is hard, slipping doesn't mean failing. The important thing is if you slip and have one, don't have another.
Also remember for most people Day 3 is the hardest day of all. Focus on getting past day one, then day two, then past Day 3 and know that it starts to get easier after that.

Excuse the long post, but . . .

I see myself as a smoker who chooses not to smoke. For going on 5 years, last count. Before that I had quit sometime in my early 40's for a few years but picked the habit up again around the time of my separation. Probably spent close to 25 years smoking 15 - 20 cigarettes a day. More or less.

Smoking I see as a series of choices. Said this elsewhere a time or two. Every cigarette is a choice. What you do is become aware of and present to the choice each time you make it. Don't let the habit take control, you take control by choosing to either pull out a cigarette and light up, or to leave the pack in your pocket, in the car, or to not even buy it. That being said, the first time I quit I would have a social cigarette once every month or few, just to say yes I can. Because at the end of the day I enjoyed smoking. I never wanted to be one of those born-again asshats who ride smokers because they themselves once quit - and it is easy to avoid that attitude if you have a smoke now and again. But my Lady would find me smoking an occasional cigarette a deal breaker, so with no pain but the occasional urge to light up I have left them alone for going on 5 years now.

It is easier to make the choice not to smoke stronger than the smoking habit by changing your patterns. If you have a habit of lighting up before your first coffee - don't have a coffee. Have ice water and go for a walk around the block. Actually water helps flush some of the crap built up in your system, and eases the transition to nicotine-free a bit. Avoid social situations where cigarettes are part of the culture. I would take work breaks by myself for the first few weeks after I quit. Just make it easier, is all. Actually didn't have a coffee for about 3 or 4 weeks as well :eek:

Things I noticed - I had greasy sweat that I wanted to shower off 2 or 3 times a day for the first few days. Also I started to break wind almost continuously for a couple of days. So I would be sweating and greasy and windy and my chest was gurgling and my hands were on a mission to pick up a smoke all the time. I spent a lot of time thinking about not having a cigarette. Sometimes I was making the choice to not smoke every 30 seconds for hours on end.

Thing is, that passes. Time passes. Eventually you notice you don't smell. Your car and your house don't smell. You have more free cash in your pocket for the little things. You stop budgeting time for smokes, for buying and smoking and cleaning up and messing around with them. No worries about how long till the next smoke break, or will you run out before the next smoke run, or will the fellow beside you bum yet another one of your cigarettes. Smokes become something other people deal with.

Good luck :)

edit to add: Carry tissues. Carry them for about 4 months. It is amazing how long the lungs hang on to the crap you suck into them. I was coughing up tar stained muck for a long time after I quit. Big wads of gross, clotted, foamy, grey-brown goo. Having a tissue handy to catch and clean up and dispose of your excreta is a social plus for you and those around you. Sorry to be so explicit, but it is a consideration I felt ought to be shared.

I have an Aunt who got lung cancer and she made the decision to quit after smoking for like, 86 years or some shit. Her issue was also the hand-to-mouth deal. She got a hold of some fake cigarettes. It's just a plastic cigarette, basically. She sent me one, swearing if she didn't have that, she'd still be smoking. I'll definitely try it out. I actually think I'm going to need it especially while I'm killing time on the internetz. I sometimes chain smoke when doing this. I feel 'weird' if I'm not smoking and on the computer at home.

Wow, I'm actually ashamed to admit this lol.

Thanks :)
:eek:

Now that's just silly talk right there!

I know this is something I might have to give up for a little while. Or at least moderate. Coffee is just supposed to go with cigarettes in the morning lol. My routine - get up, feed dog, fix coffee, let dog out, wait for coffee with mug in hand, pour coffee, sit in front of computer and light up. Maybe instead of spending those couple hours online before taking a shower and what not, I'll shower first thing. Then walk the dog or something. I have no clue. I am worried though.
Greasy sweat huh? :/ I heard about the phlegm thing. Not looking forward to the whole detox part at all.

I have issues with addiction period. And funnily enough, cigarettes were with me through all of it lol. Now I'm giving them up. But shit, if so many other people can do it, why can't I? Most of my friends have actually quit smoking so that'll be a plus.

And I look forward to being smoke-free. No more midnight trips to the gas station. No more smelling like an ashtray (I hate it when I can actually smell it on myself.) Cleaner house, etc.

Thanks for the post. I appreciate it! :o

When I quit last year I went thru a program with the American Cancer Society (it was free thru work) Their way of doing things REALLY helped both me and Dave. The day I called to set up, they had me set a quit date at least 2 weeks out. During that two weeks this is what we had to do

(we were both two pack a dayers and between the time I got up at 430 til I got to work at 630 I'd already had 6)
Each day cut out one smoke, our goal was to be at 15 smokes a day on our quit day
changes brands to a generic, we went from Marlboro lights to Doral lights

we also had things we had to plan for..mental stuff, what would we do if we got stressed, what would we do while on the PC (that was my biggest thing at home). What did we plan to do about being more hungry? Make sure to wash and get rid of all ashtrays, matches and lighters AND cigs, dont stash any away. They sent us workbooks full of that kind of planning.

We didnt use nicroette, neither of use really enjoys gum. They provided us with 6 weeks of nicotine lozenges (each of us) for free. I can say that the biggest help we had was the first 2 things I said, Our quit day was Aug 15th of last year and we were both down to 10 smokes a day by then, and it was really easy to cut those 10 out cold turkey with the lozenges. We had both already cut out the first thing in the morning ones, and smoking in our cars.

Some people can do cold turkey...we knew we couldnt. Im one of those that smoked thru 3 bouts of double pneumonia lol

I'll quit smoking the day after I die.

I quit after 4 years. I wasn't even out of high school yet. Of course, cold turkey for me. That was 15 years ago.

I quit two years ago. I picked up the ciggarrette, took a long puff, then choked like hell!! Was my first and last time.

you're not tokin' unless you're chokin'

wait.. wrong smoke..

I'm with WK on this one.

best of luck to you though. :)

Think? Can't imagine? C'mon now. You must know you're ready and be able to imagine being a nonsmoker. Convince yourself -- your brain is in complete control.

DISCLAIMER: Yes, I'm still smoking. But the one time I did quit for more than a week or two, my head was in that strong place where I knew I could and would do it.

Which brings me to my second point. Find a new stress response. I had quit for over three months and was feeling great. As an emotional response to a very trying situation, I just wanted a quick hit. So I must remind you (and me :p ) that smoking is akin to alcoholism. Don't touch another one once you've decided you're ready.

YOU CAN do this if you want it bad enough. :thumbsup:

I like all of this.
But I know there are plenty out there (including my father lol,) who'd say 'oh just quit ffs! Don't prolong it!'

Imma sleep on this.
NO!! Hug me, pet my head and tell me it'll be alright!!! Don't you pep talk me all soldier-like! :p

Yeah, I know. It's all in the mind. Needless to say, I have less than 29 now. And I'm already getting anxious :/.

Thanks everyone.

kramus, great post. Although I was only a casual smoker at best in my life, smoke free now for 7 years or so now I understand now what a smoker goes through and appreciate it more.

We have several people in my office who recently quit smoking and it was interesting to see the changes in them behavioral wise too, so much more happy. plus they no longer smelled...

nicotine withdrawal isnt a pretty thing, or it wasnt for me when I tried to quit for a surgery I had in 2006. It was so bad all of my teeth hurt thru to the roots. Tapering off was WAY easier for me

if you really want to quit (and it's all in your head anyway) you don't need any aids or pills or such; just do it! i did it four years ago and never looked back, although i do puff on a cigar now and again...

Yeah that's the poopy part.

I love smoking. But I don't want to be an old hag with sharpei skin smoking thru her tracheotomy either. Plus I'm tired of the nagging from my parents lol. Not to mention the dirty looks in public. Smelling like an ashtray. Dumping out ashtrays. I want to stop...

But oh, that smooooth tobacco refreshment! lol

I'm leaning towards Shani's method. Which means I will be buying more later today. But it just seems to make the most sense to me instead of having to go through withdrawals. I'm not in a great place at work right now. So this is one of my biggest fears - my mouth is my enemy. And if I'm irritable, I have been known to tell my boss (at various jobs,) to go fuck herself / himself, more or less. For those of you who say 'it's all in your head,' you're right. And I think the weaning method seems less harsh to me so it will probably work better than cold turkey. I know... I'm so weak, etc. lol

Thanks again kiddos. Keep the advice coming if you have it!

I quit cold turkey about 16 years ago. At one point, I was up to 3 packs a day but got down to a about 2 when I had enough. The cost was one factor, it just breached $1.25/pack at the time (when I was a teen, I got them 3/$1 at a local gas station). The major factor was I was tired of the coughing fits when I woke up in the morning.

I was chewing on plastic coffee stirrers for about 3 months till the taste of plastic started to gag me.

I had the same problem only I substituted a pen (one with a cap, never a clicky pen). I still always have a pen nearby. Not so much the hand-to-mouth issue, but just something to do with my hands. When I smoked, I was always "playing" with the cigarette. Never bothered to try and stop doing that till recently as my co-workers like to rib me about it occasionally. Never noticed how bad it was till they started pointing it out to me.

Good luck with the quitting.

Interesting re: coffee stirrers and pens.

Yeah that's something I wish I had - the coughing up of junk. I know that leads a lot of people to quit. I just never had that though. I guess it's just all in a nice thick layer in mah lungs lol.

Here's another question - *sigh*...

I stare at the clock for when it's smoke break time. Anyone have suggestions for this for when I'm quitting?

Shani - what did you do to change your internet habits? I think you said you smoked a lot while online, like me.

...and thanks Fotzlid :)

Do something, ANYTHING, else when it's smoke break time. I started reading books on my breaks at work just to try and get my mind off smoking.

BTW I personally didn't give up coffee when I quit. I make no bones about the fact that I'm a coffee addict and the idea of no coffee and no cigarettes was just too much.

honestly...between the tapering down and using the lozenges I had little desire to have one while online. If I did want one, I used a lozenge and the thought went right out of my head

My worst thing was driving. Dave and I are known for just waking up on a Saturday morning, getting in the car and ending up god knows where and smoking and driving went hand and hand with me. That part was difficult, but after the first trip we managed without smoking (it was 3 hours each way) it wasnt hard anymore

I didnt give up coffee either, I just cut my intake down. Instead of 3 cups in the morning I went to one, and only during the week, none at home on the weekends.

Last time I quit I did this. For me, it's all about the oral fixation. I need something to have in my hands and put in my mouth. Stirry straws helped ALOT and after 2 weeks I didn't need them anymore. I've never felt that I was addicted to cigs (even when I got up to a pack and a half a day), more just smoking all together. Right now, I haven't smoked in almost a year, but I do smoke cigars when I drink. Sometimes that's everyday, but this weekend proved I was ok with that. I drank all weekend and never smoked one cigar.

Also, when I was at parties was the worst for quitting smoking. During a quitting period I went to a party with a sneak-a-toke. A one hit pipe (for the good stuff) that looked like a cig. I carried that around and when the need to smoke hit me really hard, I'll pack it up and take a toke. The placebo effect helped get me through the night.

Good Luck Woods, it's fucking hard to do.

Hm. Getting nervous. But I know I'm just thinking about it too hard. I'm a woman. I do this lol.

Thanks folks. :o

for smoke break time, just go outside and take in some fresh air.

That sounds great in text version, but the temperature here is over 90 degrees most of the time, not to mention the exhaust from traffic and noise of some construction going on across the parking lot. But when it gets cooler, that'd definitely work.

you would have gone outside for the cigarette, braving the heat, exhaust, construction, why not go out just because you aren't smoking?

Im pretty sure she meant it wouldnt be fresh air lol

Well I had said earlier, I'm an idiot as I'm not really that concerned about my health to make it a reason to quit. But yah, if I worked in an evergreen forest with a babbling brook nearby, I'd definitely take a break outside for some me-time lol.

But as of now, I suffer through the heat and exhaust for a smoke. It's not even enjoyable really, yet I still do it. Now THAT, is definitely a head thing.

The book idea is a possibility. I'll hide in the bathroom if I have to just so I can disconnect for 15 minutes. I need those breaks, I tell ya.

Cinnamon sticks! Real cinnamon sticks. A friend who had quit had told me about this. Kinda allows you to emulate the smoking thing and if you start feeling really stressed, you can chew on them.

My friend Steve made cinnamon toothpicks and that helped him kick. I used a few and kept some in my car when I quit, but eventually I too just had to "white knuckle it" and go cold turkey it took me over ayear to totally quit! It was the toughest thing I ever did but I'm SO GLAD I did kick it.

Even after 14 years, I still want to smoke esp. when I've been out with several smokers and we have a few drinks. The few times I've bummed a smoke, it didn't taste very good and I knew I wasn't going to go buy a pack and start again. I hated coming home and stinking after so many years of smelling good. Plus I do know too many people who have died from lung cancer. They always said it wouldn't kill them, but it did - and they died smelling dreadful and looking gray and so sick that they knew it was too late and they had regrets and said so.

Plus cigs are so expensive & in truth, I'd rather spend the money on nice perfumes and clothes. Not something that'll kill me.

Say wha?? Weird! I'd think it'd be too much of the spice?
All of my grandparents died of cancer. And various Aunts and Uncles have had it - breast, lung, prostate, etc. It's rampant. Yet my dumbass still smokes.

Maybe if I had direct contact with them when they were at their worst, I'd have a different outlook on smoking and my health. It took my Dad's parents dying to make him quit cold turkey. Dunno.

Nahhh. You'd have to be chomping all day to disintegrate one. I think I used maybe two or three in a week. Those suckers are tough.

http://img.alibaba.com/photo/1116995...mon_Sticks.jpg

so how many cigs are left?

Oh I had forgotten to mention, I didn't smoke my last one. I had always turned one over in my pack, it always ensured I had one saved and no one was ever interested in that cigarette.

But the last one, I kept in my pack, in my pocket for about 1 year. It was supposed to be the last one I smoked. That helped my head case alot since I kept thinking I'd be saving it for another day when I really really wanted it.

:(

I'm about to start over again at 40. I bought 2 packs.

Not that this thread is useless!!! {and plz don't make me feel any more guilty than I already feel lol} I think I'm going to go with Shani's method. I have to work all day at the office this Sunday, so I think that might be a good day to start limiting what I smoke.

:o

woods..you need to start a thread countdown..

i have 40 left
i have 39 left
i have 38 left....

until you get to zero. maybe that'd make you think about how many you are smoking?

dunno, but the way i see it, smokers dont heed attention to how many smokes they light up per day. those 29 didnt last long either.

That might just work out.

Not necessarily 40, 39, 38, 37, etc., as I can't be online constantly. But I can update once I get home from being out or what not.

Still shooting for Shani's method though lol. I can post like, 'today I'm only allowing myself 'x' amount of cigarettes,' etc. And at night, 'I have 'x' amount of cigarettes left' or what not.

hm...

if you have an iphone you could!

You'd be surprised how many of us want you to succeed!!!!

And we know that you CAN!

Be prepared to be a "bitch anna half" after you smoke the last or next to last one! And tell all your friends to be prepared too. My hub almost had to leave town on the next train - I was so nasty & upset when I knew I had smoked the last one. I cried like I had lost a friend. It was so weird and ugly.

Then every day it was less bad as I started to feel & smell better! Yeehaw! I felt a lot better after only a week off smokes. It really was noticeable. My skin looked better too.

Good luck wooÐs! We know you can do it.

Good point.

How about we start a fundraiser so I can get one to keep everyone updated? lol
Aw, that's sweet!

And I know what you mean about crying. The first and only 2x's I tried quitting, I did cry. I was indeed losing my best friend. That'll probably happen this time too. bleh :/
Thank you lg :o. Very sweet of you.

did you see how long it took to raise our TFP money for the month this month?

Well yeah but this would be for something important.
















































http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/7164/giggler.gif

Strong emotional attachments, addictions are.
It's akin to breaking free from an abusive lover.

I had no such luck with the tapering method.

I used the gum. It's not like chewing regular gum, you just chew it a few times
till you feel the peppery tingle, and then park it between cheek and gum.

It truly helped with my ballistic rageful anger.

I was working a 'custom window covering' job where I spent two to three hours
dealing with sometimes arguing couples who were trying to find the 'right' shade of green,
to match their fourth bathroom.

And then I would go home and exercise till I was gasping for healthy air.

When a craving would hit, I would breathe very deeply for a few minutes,
and within five minutes, the craving would ease.

Exercise was the perfect exorcism. Oh yes, crying happens.

Giving up a loved one hurts, even though we know they are bad for us.

You can do this, you feisty fighter.

Thanks ring. I appreciate it. :)

this thread is somewhat inspirational.

ive quit a few times, but always came crawling back to my beloved mentholated buddies. with prices at almost 5 bucks a pack, i think i'll try to kick this habit again.


good luck, woods.

Thanks.

Back atcha. :o

I tried cutting back and while I didn't end up quitting that way it did end up helping my eventual quit. At one point I was in the range of 25-30 cigarettes a day, I got down to 20 but then shot back up to 25. I tried it again and got down to 12-13 a day but again bumped back up but this time to 20 or so a day.

A good way to start is to break just one of those habit smokes. Spend a few days keeping track of your habits, although you probably know them already, and decide which habit smoke would be easiest to break.
For me the first time it was taking away one of my lunchtime smokes. I was smoking 3 every lunchbreak and really cutting it down to 2 was way easier than I thought it would be. Alot of when I was down to a dozen or so was cutting away the extra cigarettes I was chain smoking.

That's a really good suggestion.

I need to go ahead and portion my smokes in a Ziplock bag I guess. For starters, anyways.

So then, how many cigs left? I otherwise think that since the beginning of this thread you have made no progress whatsoever. The point is to reduce to quitting. You haven't reported any progress.

lol

If you kept up with the thread, you'd see that I've purchased packs since the original post. You'd also see that I'm opting for Shani's method, which involves tapering. I also mentioned something about how Sunday would be a good day to start.

There's my progress report for you Xerxys.

stop saying lol.

wut

^^ OK! I ain't talkin' to you till Sunday!

I highly recommend you talk to me now while I'm fairly pleasant.

Nah, shouldn't be bad - like I said, I'll take one away every day... ok, day'ish lol. Probably till I hit 7 (lucky number.) Then I'll stop altogether and start the gum.

So whats the first cig to go? Decided yet?

Do you mean when?

Tomorrow. I have to actually be at the office tomorrow so I can't chain smoke at the computer like I do at home. Currently, I'm at 1 1/2 packs a day, give or take. I'm going to allow myself only one pack tomorrow. I'm normally mechanical about it all - pulling out a cigarette and lighting up, opening a new pack, etc. But I'll only have that one pack tomorrow that'll be opened as soon as I wake up. And that'll last me till I hit the bed. It'll be tough when I get home.

I shall post my progress tomorrow evening.

Hey - anyone out there wanna do this with me? I'll be more than happy to exchange phone #'s and we can text thru the day if need be. I can be nice if I have to. :o

Update? How did it go?

Well I ended up crashing around 8:00 last night. Woke up at 1:00 this afternoon. Guess I had to catch up on sleep. So I just finished off my pack from yesterday this morning. If I stayed awake last night, I would have definitely broken into another pack. So i guess I didn't do that good. Maybe I did - I mean, I normally go thru 1 1/2 packs a day... I dunno.

I guess the bottom line is yes, I did smoke less than I normally do.

Captain's log - 09/01/09

Didn't finish my pack from yesterday. I have 5 left. That's really good. But I went to bed around 12:00 last night and woke up at 4:00 this morning. And I plan on being home all day today. Not so sure how I'll do.

Just remember, the main goal is cut out ONE or TWO a day. If you smoke 40 a day, today you smoke 38 or 39, tomorrow you smoke 36 or 37. If you cut two a day by the end of two weeks you're down to 12 on your quit day

Also another thing they had us do was keep a log of every cig we smoked. Date, Time and what we were doing when we lit up.

oooh - that log thing could be intimidating.

Before Sunday, I experimented with burning various herbs for anxiety and what not. Didn't really notice a difference but I choose to think I did lol.

Was thinking earlier - if I quit smoking in my car, that would be a huge step. But I'm not close to quitting in the morning yet. I love my cigs and coffee way too much.

One of the things that helped me was...I would have two as soon as I got up, and I do mean the minute I opened my eyes, so after a couple of days of cutting one out, I waited 10 minutes after I woke up before I lit up, and had two back to back, the next day I waited 15 minutes and had two, next day I waited 20 minutes and only had one. Also, I had it timed that in 10 miles I chained smoked three in my car on the way to work. I started not lighting up as soon as I got in the car, I'd wait til I got to my first red light...same on the way home... you get the idea I'm sure. I seemed to always smoke 2 cigs back to back so when I was cutting out my one or two for the day I would only have one.

I was a horrible chain smoker lol

Hm. Yeah I see what you're saying. Start making yourself wait and what not. I'll think on this lol.

I disagree, Shani - that's like cutting off a leg an inch at a time so the patient doesn't suffer the whole loss at once.

Quitting is quitting. Period. Slowing down is torture. Leave the slowing down to the patch or gum.

wooÐs - if you're going to quit, you've got to smoke your last cigarette NOW, and when you stub out the last of it in your ashtray, you've got to know in your mind that it was the last cigarette you'll ever smoke. If you're not committed to that, don't even bother trying - you'll just be torturing yourself for a few days for no good reason.

90% of quitting smoking is simply wanting to. It really is. Most people who successfully quit smoking agree that the reason they were finally successful is because they finally really wanted to stop smoking. Again - if you're not 100% sure you want to quit, then you're not going to succeed.

In my case (27 years smoking; quit 11 years ago) I found the nicotine patch to be an immense help - it really cut down on the physical cravings. In fact, I even remember thinking "This is too easy - when is the other shoe gonna drop?" It never did.

Psychologically, you'll still want cigarettes for a long time - way after the physical addiction is over. Whatever you do, don't fall into the "reward myself" trap. No matter how long you've gone without a cigarette, you don't "deserve" to smoke "just one."

'Cause it's never just one.

I used to describe the psychological cravings as a mental game of Whack-A-Mole - you never know when or where they'll pop up, but you've got to smash them in the head and force them back into their hole . . . until the next one pops up.

Please be encouraged by the fact that every day will get easier, and the cravings will get weaker and the time between them longer. Soon enough, you'll actually be able to look at a smoker and think, "Ugh! I'm glad I stopped doing that!"

You'll start to feel healthier in only a few weeks. Your stamina will increase, you'll breathe easier, and smell and taste food better. You'll even notice that when you catch a cold it won't affect you as badly as they used to.

You can do it - as long as you really want to. All it takes is being totally committed to being an ex-smoker.

Good luck!!

Thanks for that post.

I have decreased. No question about that. But I'm scared to try again all at once. It was way rough on me before.

So far, I'm really good on planning on 'the day after tomorrow' to up and quit. But then I decide to ween myself. I don't know wth I'm doing.

I need a long hot bath. lol

I don't know of anyone who quit on their first try. I forget the exact number, but I read a long time ago that the average success was on the 8th try - or something like that.

The most important thing is that you really, really want to quit. If you're just doing it to please someone else, don't even try.

In my case, I was re-landscaping our 1/4 acre yard. Not only was I cutting down large shrubs, digging out the roots, and digging trenches for irrigation lines; but since I'm in Arizona, I also had to move and rake into place - one wheelbarrowful at a time - over 25 tons of decomposed granite. I got so tired of having to stop to rest, bent over with my hands on my knees, wheezing and gasping for air. That's when I realized that the physical consequences of smoking were no longer something "down the road" - they had arrived.

I also ate lunch a lot at a Denny's right down the street from work. I noticed two things about that restaurant - One, there were dozens of very senior citizens who ate there; and two, I never saw any of them sit in the smoking section. All those people in their 70s, and 80s; and not one of them was a smoker. I think that's when the light bulb finally clicked on.

Those two things are what made me determined to become an ex-smoker. Until then, I never really had the necessary motivation to succeed. Looking back on it, it was easier than any other attempt. I credit both my motivation and the (then relatively new) nicotine patches. But I'd be lying if I said it was easy. The thing is though, every day gets easier than the day before. It's a reachable goal.

Again - good luck.

Oh - and if your schedule allows, join a gym - you're about to pack on some pounds - might as well kill two birds at once. Besides - as pointed out earlier - your friends and family will appreciate an extra hour away from you. The irritability will fade in a month or so, though :)

I've been in the car a lot today. After an appointment with my therapist, I decided around 2:00 that I'm no longer smoking in my car. I drove a good bit since then and didn't light up. Next plan of action is to clean out the car to try and lose the smoke smell. Therapist helped me a good bit to create a sort of plan. As well as more 'deep' stuff involving the addiction itself.

I have other steps I plan to take, but I think it's pointless to list them until they're checked off. Physically, I'll be working to not smoke in the house at all. That'll be a huge step, not to mention losing smoking altogether while online at home.

And I do have the nicotine gum that I'll use later down the road when I'm definitely smoking considerably less. I feel better about this now. I feel this just may be do'able.

Thanks to all of you. :)

---------- Post added at 03:30 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:28 PM ----------

Oh - and I'm not telling my Mother that I'm trying to quit this time. Otherwise, like before, she'll stress the fuck out of me with 'Well, how'd you do today? You failed??? OH GAWD {insert name here,} WHY????"

Woods Babe, don't tell anyone anything about quitting. That's like "borrowing trouble..."

It's all up to YOU. Do YOU want to really kick smokes and get healthy...or do YOU want to keep making lame excuses and pretend that life without cancer or an early death doesn't matter. Use the patch or gum. Be bitchy. Friends will understand. Mine promised not to smoke around me (better for them!). But remember - that this WILL PASS. And once you're on the other side where you quit buying or stashing cigs,you are
stronger than the addiction.

Then you celebrate and get a manicure or whatever makes you reinforce this healthy behavior.

wooÐs,

You're still thinking of "quitting" as part of your future.
Make it part of your past.

If you absolutely can't do it today, that's okay. But you've got to set a date and time and stick to it. And it won't mean a thing if it's more than a week away - that will just give you more time to postpone it.

ps - tell your Mom about it when you do it. That little bit of extra motivation might just put you over the top. Ask her to keep her questions and comments to herself, though - tell her you'll give her progress reports. Just think how good it will feel to call her up and say, "Not a single cigarette in 10 days."

Which, BTW, you could be saying today if you had quit when you started this thread :)

I agree with yournamehere. Cutting back is great but if you are serious about quitting you need to set a date.

bleh. Setting a date makes my stomach bubble lol.

I did slip up and tell my Mother tonight on the phone. I was actually telling a story and it came up but I followed up with 'DO NOT ask me how I'm doing - do not ask questions - don't talk to me about it, just let me do this, etc.' Her reply was 'Ok, I'll just pray for you.' aw, momz <3.

She's been all over me since Tuesday - well, for years, but especially since Tuesday. My Father had a surprise quadruple bypass almost a month ago. The doctor agreed with them on Tuesday that yes, it probably was from him smoking, even though he's now 64 yet quit at 35. Apparently the lungs can heal themselves when a smoker quits. But the heart is still riddled with plaque. So they're both on my ass.

Imma sleep on this 'quit date' deal. Don't wanna think about it anymore tonight.

You guys rock. I never imagined this much support from strangers itt. :o

Just stop, its willpower you need, not nicorette.

Hi Woods,
How's it going? Have you decided to just stop buying the packs yet? That's the big one from the "get go".

We aren't going to give up on you. Don't give up either. Just see how long you can go. Stay busy with other stuff, esp. things using your hands. When I quite my house was cleaner than ever before. And I even did stuff like needlepoint and repainted a few rooms. (The paint smell was nicer that the butts in an ashtray in the living room.)

I just found out the other day that I'm losing my job. I haven't bought a carton, but I did buy 3 packs last night. I'm a little stressed. And pissed.

/update

Hope you can do it!

thanks :)

I'm sorry about the job. I can relate - I've been laid off for 10 months now.
But if you're waiting for a "good time to quit," let me assure you there is no such thing.

Use the financial aspects of smoking to motivate you. My wife's (who still smokes) mail-order cigs were late this week because of Labor Day, so I had to go buy a $73 carton to tide her over. SEVENTY-FUCKING-THREE DOLLARS. And neither of us are working.

Talk about pissed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Holy crap.

I think I found my solution. Fucking move up north. That's ridiculous!

You just have to stop buying the packs. Plain & hardly easy! Prepare to be without.

Don't buy them, and don't make excuses about why you had to get 'em.

This past Thursday, I went all day without smoking. I also slept most of the day. Folks, I was miserable. Extremely irritable and my head was just so 'off.' *sigh,* I take quite a few meds for depression and what not and I felt like I hadn't taken them for a week. It was awful. Made it through till about 3:00PM the next day and then I went and bought a couple packs.

My problem was I didn't use the damn nicotine gum that I have. I must. If I don't, I will feel crazy, as all it takes is one slight trigger to send me into a tailspin. So this was my own fault. But I tried. A measly attempt but meh.

So that's the most recent update. Next attempt will involve the gum. When - don't know. But it'll happen.

phew!

i read that as GUN...glad im wrong!

didnt think it was THAT serious

a gallant effort...the first of many battles. just dont bring the guns

LOL

Yeah. I've been trying to avoid bringing up the head part, but it's a pretty big issue when out of control. :shame: But this is just a forum and obviously, I'm pretty determined to remain somewhat anonymous lol.

Thanks for the acknowledgment. I will indeed do this. Hopefully soon.

A day and a half isn't a "measly attempt". It's a good start. They say that some people have to practice quitting, consider it a practice run for the real thing.

Thanks m0rph :o. And yeah, that makes total sense too.

I did lose my job today. But I feel good. I'm not stressing, chain smoking or anything. Actually, I seem to be smoking less for some reason. I'm just very calm and collected. I'll just let myself flow wiv it and see how things pan out.

i didnt want to derails MM's smoking appreciation thread..though this would be the best place to put this

Yeah well if I put a ribeye steak or a head of lettuce in a pot and boiled it, the results wouldn't be too appetizing either!!!











































:/

Still working your way towards defeating cigarettes (quitting sounds so negative)?

Honestly, not as hard as I was. I was laid off Friday and really haven't been responsible with anything since. Yeah - no excuses, I know.

Man you guys keep bumping this damn thread and all... :o