Dr. Phil.com - Messageboards - Trying to Quit Smoking?

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January 4, 2006, 6:22 pm PST

Hello Newcomers

Wow, the New Year started, and this board really picked up. I'm been on this board for a while now, trying to help when I can. This is what I discovered from this board.

1. Get a prescription of Wellbrutrin or Zyban; this takes the edge off of quitting, you have to be on it 1 to 2 weeks before you actually give them up.

2. Pick a QUIT date.

3. Get one of these; nicotine gum, inhaler or patch, to get you through the day, I personally used the inhaler.

4. Post often on the message board of how you are coming along.

5. Find something to keep hands busy.

6. Get yourself a meter, www.silkquit.com , it is an incentive to keep going, once your meter is going on how long you have quit.

7. Read some of the old postings on this board, to see what worked for others, also the "archives".

Nicotine is one drug that will tell you "just one more time", and if you do, you are hooked again.

I really believe everyone that has smoked, has tried many times to put them down, hopefully this will be the right time for you !!!!!

I, myself smoked 34 years, a pack a day. I am also a Lung Cancer survivor, minus a left lung now.

Linda

Nine months, five days, 7 minutes and 45 seconds. 6720 cigarettes not smoked, saving $1,270.10. Life saved: 3 weeks, 2 days, 8 hours, 0 minutes.

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amyec22

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January 4, 2006, 6:52 pm PST

How do I get a meter?

Quote From: linda12k

Wow, the New Year started, and this board really picked up. I'm been on this board for a while now, trying to help when I can. This is what I discovered from this board.

1. Get a prescription of Wellbrutrin or Zyban; this takes the edge off of quitting, you have to be on it 1 to 2 weeks before you actually give them up.

2. Pick a QUIT date.

3. Get one of these; nicotine gum, inhaler or patch, to get you through the day, I personally used the inhaler.

4. Post often on the message board of how you are coming along.

5. Find something to keep hands busy.

6. Get yourself a meter, www.silkquit.com , it is an incentive to keep going, once your meter is going on how long you have quit.

7. Read some of the old postings on this board, to see what worked for others, also the "archives".

Nicotine is one drug that will tell you "just one more time", and if you do, you are hooked again.

I really believe everyone that has smoked, has tried many times to put them down, hopefully this will be the right time for you !!!!!

I, myself smoked 34 years, a pack a day. I am also a Lung Cancer survivor, minus a left lung now.

Linda

Nine months, five days, 7 minutes and 45 seconds. 6720 cigarettes not smoked, saving $1,270.10. Life saved: 3 weeks, 2 days, 8 hours, 0 minutes.

I went to the web address above, but I couldn't figure out how to get the meter that calculates all that stuff. How do I do it? Thanks in advance!

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akaara

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January 5, 2006, 5:41 am PST

smoker

I am turning 40 in April!

YIKES

At my last doctors visit (just an annual check-up) she told me I really needed to stop smoking. In fact she never said much in my 20's or my 30's except to stop smoking but this time she was adament about it, she said you're almost 40 and you WILL start having problems if you continue to smoke. She also told me that smoking has NO redeeming qualities what-so-ever.

Now I can stop smoking for a few days but I start again, mostly out of boredom with my job and my life. I was thinking I really need to hit the gym and that might solve my boredom and my fear of gaining weight when I quit smoking.

The problem is getting started... and sticking with it. How can discipline myself enough to follow through on stopping altogether and going to the gym? Right now boredom is my worst enemy. It is winter here in NH and I am not bored in the summer (I do agility, and go to powwows and gatherings), its these long winter months that make feel ho-hum and slightly withdrawn.

My news years resolution was to get a backbone and self discipline... neither are happening yet. LOL

Any ideas for staying motivated to do the right thing?

almost 40... and not looking forward to it.

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croweman

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January 5, 2006, 5:53 am PST

Thanks

Quote From: amyec22

I don't personally chew tobacco, but my dad has since he was about 12. He still does, but I think it is more about he doesn't really want to quit than the idea that it can't be done. I don't think that he has even tried to quit or even to cut back. I personally write on this message board because of my struggles with smoking. I have been smoking about a pack a day since I was 15. I have quit a few times in the past, twice for pregnancies and once last year, but I can't seem to give it up for good. I am hoping this will be the last time. I am only 23 and figure the longer I wait, the harder it will be. Although I can not imagine it being any harder than what I have gone through the last few days. I have not smoked since 9am on new year's day. Anyway, i think if it were me, I would try those lozenges or the gum to try to quit chewing tobacco because they give the oral aspect of it unlike the patches and pills and so forth and the nicotine is also absorbed through the inside of your mouth. Just give it a try and see how it goes and if it doesn't work, then don't beat yourself up. Pick another date that is near in the future and try again. Never quit trying to quit.

Thank you for your reply. I have started to cut back and today will be my last can of tobacco that I have at the house. I just hope it works. Thanks again.

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dragontail

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January 5, 2006, 10:54 am PST

helpful tips

Quote From: akaara

I am turning 40 in April!

YIKES

At my last doctors visit (just an annual check-up) she told me I really needed to stop smoking. In fact she never said much in my 20's or my 30's except to stop smoking but this time she was adament about it, she said you're almost 40 and you WILL start having problems if you continue to smoke. She also told me that smoking has NO redeeming qualities what-so-ever.

Now I can stop smoking for a few days but I start again, mostly out of boredom with my job and my life. I was thinking I really need to hit the gym and that might solve my boredom and my fear of gaining weight when I quit smoking.

The problem is getting started... and sticking with it. How can discipline myself enough to follow through on stopping altogether and going to the gym? Right now boredom is my worst enemy. It is winter here in NH and I am not bored in the summer (I do agility, and go to powwows and gatherings), its these long winter months that make feel ho-hum and slightly withdrawn.

My news years resolution was to get a backbone and self discipline... neither are happening yet. LOL

Any ideas for staying motivated to do the right thing?

almost 40... and not looking forward to it.

My advice to you and to anyone that is trying to quit smoking is this: the first thing you need to do is sit down and make a list of reasons why you want to quit smoking. Things like health, the smell and such. I rolled my own cigarettes for a long time because the price of tobacco went up so high. I usually only smoked half or less and saved the rest for later. One day I was outside playing with my 2 year old and he found my half and put it in his mouth and was trying to pretend to smoke it. Whenever I want to pick up a cigarette that is definetly one thing I think about. Another thing that help my mother quit smoking was she figured out how much money she spent every day to smoke. And at the end of each day that she went without smoking she put that exact amount of money in a jar. When she aquired enough to get something that she wanted, she went out and bought it. It works out well because if you were still smoking you would have spent the money anyways. Oh and if you make a list, put it somewhere you will see it if you try to have a cigarette. Even make extra copies to put on your refigerator, table, whereever you will see it most.

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akaara

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January 5, 2006, 1:20 pm PST

Trying to Quit Smoking?

Quote From: dragontail

My advice to you and to anyone that is trying to quit smoking is this: the first thing you need to do is sit down and make a list of reasons why you want to quit smoking. Things like health, the smell and such. I rolled my own cigarettes for a long time because the price of tobacco went up so high. I usually only smoked half or less and saved the rest for later. One day I was outside playing with my 2 year old and he found my half and put it in his mouth and was trying to pretend to smoke it. Whenever I want to pick up a cigarette that is definetly one thing I think about. Another thing that help my mother quit smoking was she figured out how much money she spent every day to smoke. And at the end of each day that she went without smoking she put that exact amount of money in a jar. When she aquired enough to get something that she wanted, she went out and bought it. It works out well because if you were still smoking you would have spent the money anyways. Oh and if you make a list, put it somewhere you will see it if you try to have a cigarette. Even make extra copies to put on your refigerator, table, whereever you will see it most.

I'm going to try that with the notes... and saving money in a jar. My hairdresser told me the same thing about putting money in a jar :)

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linda12k

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January 5, 2006, 7:44 pm PST

Meter

Quote From: amyec22

I went to the web address above, but I couldn't figure out how to get the meter that calculates all that stuff. How do I do it? Thanks in advance!

here is the link for the meter:
www.silkquit.org/meter.html
click on the dlownload silkquit 02.60 for windows. Save to your desktop and then install the software. The first time you run it, it will ask for your quit date, how many cigs a day you smoked and the price of a pack of cigs

Linda

Nine months, six days, 1 hour, 49 minutes and 7 seconds. 6745 cigarettes not smoked, saving $1,274.96. Life saved: 3 weeks, 2 days, 10 hours, 5 minutes.

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amyec22

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January 6, 2006, 12:14 pm PST

Thank you

Quote From: linda12k

here is the link for the meter:
www.silkquit.org/meter.html
click on the dlownload silkquit 02.60 for windows. Save to your desktop and then install the software. The first time you run it, it will ask for your quit date, how many cigs a day you smoked and the price of a pack of cigs

Linda

Nine months, six days, 1 hour, 49 minutes and 7 seconds. 6745 cigarettes not smoked, saving $1,274.96. Life saved: 3 weeks, 2 days, 10 hours, 5 minutes.

Thank you for the link. I think I was putting .com instead of .org at the end of the address.

-Amy

Five days, 5 hours, 16 minutes and 30 seconds. 104 cigarettes not smoked, saving $19.19. Life saved: 8 hours, 40 minutes.

I am so proud of myself!! And my husband also quit with me and hasn't smoked since the 1st !!!

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linda12k

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January 7, 2006, 6:37 am PST

Trying to Quit Smoking?

Hi Amy

I think the meter is great, it is such an incentive.

Linda

Nine months, one week, 12 hours, 41 minutes and 41 seconds. 6780 cigarettes not smoked, saving $1,281.55. Life saved: 3 weeks, 2 days, 13 hours, 0 minutes.

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step36