Topic : Trying to Quit Smoking?

Good job Bev I'm really encouraged by you!  Your struggles sound the same as mine I can really relate to you.  I react to my husband the same way and he responds with the same as yours.  Thank god I found somebody that can encourge me and I would like to do the same for you.  I think it would be much harder for me to deal socially if all  my friends were smokers, but that just shows me You Got the Power! Good Job.  I want to pick a quit day but I wonder if just quitting today would be the thing to do, why prolong it I guess.  How do you program yourself to not take the smoke?  Remember Dr. Phil says you have to replace one habit with another, what did you do? Did you stop doing certain things or going certain places in order not to pressure yourself.  And I don't think you're crazy for talking to yourself, when there's no one else to "pat your back", you have to rely on yourself. I'm going on a 2 week holiday at the end of June and because I usually don't make it past the 3 week mark I'd like to stop smoking so that when I'm on holidays I'll be on my 3rd week and hopefully be too busy having fun that I won't think about that smoke.  Plus the couple we're going with doesn't smoke so it would just be my husband puffing away! I don't know, I just need a game plan.  Thanks Bev for your reply and keep up the good work you're doing great!!!  I can't believe how anxious I feel, CRAZY! 

Darcey 

Hi Darcey. Thank you. I can't explain in words how you make me feel by saying that I have encouraged you. Quitting smoking is a hard road and everyone here knows. And it is wonderful all the support that is here. It is so hard to deal socially with so many people you know smoke. They say to pick a quit day but not to pick a day to far in the future. I have programmed myself with just that smoking is just killing me. I feel it in my chest. And I want to be around for my kids. Linda has told me just say N.O.P.E not one puff ever and it has stayed with me. So I just say nope, nope, nope in my head. Nope don't want one. For my habit I have picked up chewing lots of gum. All the times I would want a smoke crave for it I would just grab a piece of gum and take really deep breaths. The deep breaths really works you know, you would usually take that deep breath of smoke instead you have replaced it with just plain ol air. And I know exercise daily every morning after I drop the kids off to school. I avoided my friends who smoke for about 3 weeks. The first week was bad not so bad. The second or third week not sure why got a little harder fought threw it hard. And now it's not so bad. I know smell cigarette smoke everywhere and it is a bit gross. Especially when you smell it on people. Really gross. Your plan on quitting smoking sounds like it may be good time to quit for you. As long as you can think ahead if there will be a lot of temptation that will make you want to smoke. Especially when your husband will be smoking. Good luck to you. Hope to hear from you on when your quit day. I know that anxious feeling that was how I felt this time. Determined to do it. You can download a silk quit meter on www.silkquit.org. Good luck to you.  

Beverly 

One month, one day, 7 hours, 17 minutes and 23 seconds. 438 cigarettes not smoked, saving $157.77. Life saved: 1 day, 12 hours, 30 minutes.
 

Hello Everyone, 

    I haven't done this message board thing very often so bare with me please. We ( MY Husband and I ) have tried to quit smoking so many times it's unreal. We always end up back where we started. We've tried cold turkey, and cutting down. The longest time i have went is two weeks I think i had it beat but i started eating more and gaining weight so back i went. We have tried the patches but that didn't work either. What can I do to train myself to stop this nasty habit? 

                                      HELP!!! 

                                     Loretta 

Hi Everyone,  

I am also new to this. I've been smoking since I was 11 or 12 now I am 40. I want to quit so badly. I am glad to find a place for support like this. My father died of a heart attack, my sister and grandmother died of cancer and another sister had a heart attack last year. It's time to get serious about  it.  

I know that quitting is the hardest thing that you can possibly do.  I quit in 1982 - pitched the pack into a creek and said, "I quit." 

That was not the end of it, it was the beging of a difficult battle. 

1 - Mind set.  You MUST have the midset that you have and will continue to be a non-smoker.  All battles are won and lost in the mind. 

2 - Keep busy and change your habits.  I used to really love to "light one up" after a meal.  Get up from the table and do something active.  Walk, chew gum, take up a new hobby . . . change your patterns. 

3 - If you associate smoking with alcohol, taper off or quit drinking for awhile.  It is hard but do-able. 

4 - Drink plenty of water.  Water will help flush you system of the effects of nicotine. 

5 - Do not worry if you gain weight.  Take care of this situation AFTER you have quit for several months. 

6 - Keep the mindset.  Years after you have stopped, you may still get an urge.  It is easily passed off. 

Good Luck, 

Radnor 

Hi Loretta, 

Welcome. I definitely agree with everything that Radnor says. I don't want to repeat what he says. But that is exactly what I am doing currently. It is hard so hard nothing easy about it. Take it one day at a time. Just with the weight gain. What I decided to do was work out daily and I do it religiously just incase. Instead of food I have been replacing it with gum and water. After I eat drink a full glass of water and chew a piece of gum. It has been a little over a month for me. The longest for me ever and I think this time I have definitely retrained myself. I would do the exercising it definitely does something for your mind and body. You begin to feel strong that your not smoking and that your exercising. Good luck to you. There is great support here. 

Beverly 

One month, six days, 6 hours, 51 minutes and 57 seconds. 507 cigarettes not smoked, saving $182.88. Life saved: 1 day, 18 hours, 15 minutes.
 

Hello Linda, 

I haven't seen any postings from you in a while. I do hope your well. I am constantly on here almost daily reading postings. It helps me. You helped me. Hope to hear from you soon. 

Beverly 

One month, six days, 6 hours, 57 minutes and 15 seconds. 508 cigarettes not smoked, saving $182.90. Life saved: 1 day, 18 hours, 20 minutes.
 

Radnor, Thank you so much for your response. I'm glad someone is listening.  

* * * 

Beverly, I read your advice to someone about the silk quest counter. Thank you so much for that. I've downloaded it. The website is great too. You don't know what an inspiration you are. I'm planning on quitting on June 1st. But I've lost my job in March and planning on going back to school June 5th. Haven't been to school in around 20 years. I'm worried I won't be able to concentrate without nicotine. I've become such a chain smoker since I've been home. Especially when I'm on the computer. Ironically that's what I'll be studying at school. Computers. I plan to graduate next spring. Maybe I should try to quit after school. 

That website was www.silkquit.org. It has such great advice and information. 

I will quit smoking in 1 weeks, 1 days, 4 hours, 25 minutes and 18 seconds. 

Jewelly
 

Hi Beverly, 

It has been a while since I have posted last. Our daughter just graduated with her Masters in Business. The month of May has been too much going on.  

I read the posts, you have done wonderfully at encouraging others in their quitting process.....Kudos to you girlfriend. 

The breathing exercises you wrote about are the best when an urge hits. I too chew a lot of gum, and that also helps me. At times, it's like I have never smoked at all. But when the urge hits, I remember it well. But for the most, this is the longest I've ever went without.  

Had my 6 month chest Xray, to see if any of the lung cancer has came back, will find out results next week. So far it has been 2 1/2 years cancer free. Another reminder of what cigarettes can do... 

Your at one month and one week...... good for you... you should be so proud....a little late but balloons off to you for your one month anniversary************************Congratulations !!!!!!!! 

Linda 

One year, one month, three weeks, two days, 20 hours, 56 minutes and 4 seconds. 12596 cigarettes not smoked, saving $2,437.12. Life saved: 6 weeks, 1 day, 17 hours, 40 minutes.