Finally trying to kick the habit...

Grimster74

Well, I finally made a decision to try and kick the habit of smoking. I have like 8 smokes left in this pack and thats it for me, at least I hope. My main reason to quit is for my health, the thought of cancer scares the crap out of me, it just pisses me off that it took as long as it did to make me realize it. Not only that, I have to young kids at home, ages 8 and 9 (soon to be 10) that I don't every want to see them pick up a cigarette but I can't really tell them not to when I'm doing it. I've been smoking for over 18 years so I know it's not going to be an easy task so any suggestions to what other people have done to quit would be greatly appreciated.

zombie boy 2000

Start by tossing those 8 smokes.

And congratulations...

Ricardo

Good for you; the first step to quitting is making the decision; I'm smoke free for a little over a month now, after 30+ years smoking. The first week is the toughest; after that, you start feeling so good that it's easier.

Go for it.

Systems

Good Luck Grimster. I had a pretty easy time quitting...well maybe not. But I did seek all the help I could get. I developed coping skills for when the urge hit. Kept busy with stuff to keep my mind preoccupied and hands busy. I got a load of stuff done that was in need of attention. I talked to everyone I could for support. And the biggest help was staying aware of the triggers and avoiding them. i.e. coffee, booze, sex (NOT), seeing them, smelling them, other smokers and so on. Biggest thing for me was I was ready to quit. Made my mind up and set goals to reach. I stumbled a few times but kept on trying. I'm not going to tell you how to quit, I'll just tell you how I did it. I can remember that the first 2 weeks were rough but it got a load easier after that. I only smoked for 30 years. My doctor actually did help a little. She told me that after quitting my sex life would be turbo charged like I was taking Viagra. She was right.

bobman1235

Good luck man.

You'll be amazed at how much more you can smell / taste after a few weeks. Try and remember how much better everything is WITHOUT smoking when you get the urge.

ledhed

My dad smoked but quit cold turkey not too many years ago. He switched to bubble gum and chews it instead (at first he chewed it all the time but I think he uses like 1 piece a day now at lunch) but hey, kinda fresh breath, a stronger jaw and the stuff is like $1 a bag.

Also, tell your kids to make sure you stick to it. This is probably one of the reasons Dad quit - we would ride him if he even acted like he was going to smoke.

Anyway, good luck! It'll be one of the best decisions you ever make.

madmax

If you were really going to quit you would have already tossed those 8 smokes.
madmax

Maurice

I'm with ya Grim, I'm waging the same battle myself. We will both win!!!!;)

apc

Good for you and your family! Now, tell everyone else what your plans are. Your cyber friends will not be around 24/7 to pat you on the back or have to put up with your bad mood for a while. It'll be tough without a doubt. If you are sincere about this make sure and set up your support network including your online communities, family, friends, coworkers, doctor (script for patches if you wish), and I'm sure there are more. Send your wife flowers and do something nice for her cause the next week or two will be touch and go mood-wise for you. When you get a craving remember it only lasts about 3 minutes. Have gum or something to occupy your mouth and hands handy for a while. I'm very proud to say I quit cold turkey 8 1/2 years ago and you will be too.

halo

I quit over six years ago. The only way it works is if you want to quit. Sounds like stupid advice but a lot of people try to quit for other reasons and it just doesn't happen.

I used Nicorette gum briefly. Jolly Ranchers and Worther's Original worked better for me.

Good luck! You CAN do it!

polrbehr

Halo wrote:

I quit over six years ago. The only way it works is if you want to quit. Sounds like stupid advice but a lot of people try to quit for other reasons and it just doesn't happen.

I used Nicorette gum briefly. Jolly Ranchers and Worther's Original worked better for me.

Good luck! You CAN do it!

Four years (almost) for me. You DO have to want to. Impossible to quit cause someone else wants you to, IMO.

Gum, patches, nicotine candy, anything... whatever you need. I believe they can be just as addictive as the **** you're giving up, but get off the cancer sticks whatever the cost. FWIW, wintergreen Altoids for me.


EDIT: I stand corrected vvvvv

read-alot

22 years ago my daughter hopped up in my lap and said

"daddy I don't want you to die I want you to stop smoking"

needless to say I quit cold.

dudeinaroom

zombie boy 2000 wrote:

Start by tossing those 8 smokes.

And congratulations...

Best way to go. I keep saying"after this pack." I just need to quit and I'll be set, easier said than done!

Good luck

ahorvitz

Congrats and good luck!

I've been smoke free since Jan 1. It hasn't been easy, but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I've been on the patch and it's been quite helpful.

Stay strong. It gets easier every day.

Shizelbs

Talk to your physician and see if some meds might be appropriate for you. They aren't a magic bullet for a cure, but they will slightly increase your odds of quitting succesfully. There is also a new one on the market that is supposed to work fairly well.

Anyways, best of luck to you. The health impact of quitting is substantial and will come to you sooner than you probably realize.

tommyboy

I know we had a thread like this not too long ago(don't remember threads name, or who it was)... There were quite a few on there though that were trying to quit, you guys still smoke free?

dudeinaroom

Shizelbs wrote:

Talk to your physician and see if some meds might be appropriate for you. They aren't a magic bullet for a cure, but they will slightly increase your odds of quitting succesfully. There is also a new one on the market that is supposed to work fairly well.

Anyways, best of luck to you. The health impact of quitting is substantial and will come to you sooner than you probably realize.

Good advise to anyone trying to quit, but I hate the take a pill for this take a pill for this and for that oh yeah buy the way some side effects may include fingers falling off, uncontrollable bladder syndrome, bleeding for the eyes, heart burn, indigestion, and profuse diarrhea . Try something herbal, you might be able to find something online. I think it would be a lot better than a pill, just my 2 cents,not trying to bash ya shizelbs

steveinaz

Rock on buddy, it's a nasty, expensive habit. Figure out the money you save, and buy yourself something cool.

daboyz

I've been smoke free almost 4 1/2 years. Had a medical issue and spent a week in the hospital. Trust me, that will scare you smokeless. Cash the last 8 and be done, you really have to want to to make it work. It gets better over time. Best of luck!

jawhog

I smoked for 10 years and it's been 8 years since. As opposed to a few other responses here, I definitely planned it out and enjoyed that one last smoke. I don't know, it worked for me. The key thing for me was to avoid the trigger situations for a few months. No bars, limited drinking, etc. After I got a few months under my belt, it got easier and easier because I never wanted to throw away that streak. Now I'm just disappointed that I wasted all that money and time, hopefully the consequences won't show up later in life. But a cliche as it sounds, you can't change the past, only the future, might as well start now!

MSALLA

Put that smoke money in a jar and at the end of the year you'll be able to treat yourself to a nice expensive gift with that money. My wife quite when they were around 2.50 per pack and it was like just under 3,000.00 at the end of the year.

jflail2

I would have to agree with jawhog. It was careful planning that got me through. I enoyed every drag of that last smoke...

To reiterate what everyone else has said by now:

1.) You HAVE to want to quit. It can't be the wife telling you to, or a passing fancy. You have to want it like the last mile of a marathon....that "I'm going to succeed or I'm going to die trying" mentality.

2.) Find a quitting aid and use it. I had a million people tell me "the patch doesn't work, you just need to quit cold turkey." Horsesh!t. That patch was my saving grace for the 1st 3 weeks. I would put it on my arm, right over my veins, and could literally feel the nicotine entering my system. The neat part was, 1/2 way through week 3 I'd realize about 9pm that I had forgotten to put my 4pm patch on. That was a sign that things were turning for the better. Maybe you can do it cold turkey (my uncle did), but if you can't, don't be ashamed of the gum/patch/hard candy/whatever.

3.) HTRook is right; the 1st week is HELL, the 2nd week is borderline hell, and the 3rd week is kind of a weird awakening. By the 4th week you should be *gasp* tasting and smelling things again. Stick it out man. If you can get to the 3rd week, you're golden. I used the thought of my (then newly born) nephew having to see me drown in my own lung fluids to keep me from breaking..........funny how well that worked.

4.) Like jawhog said, once you're quit, avoid those tough situations. No bars, no alcohol and no friends smoking around you for a while. It's nice to test your will power, but I wouldn't test it at 1:45 am, 3 sheets in the wind at your favorite watering hole...



Dudeinaroom: **** was actually talking about wellbutrin, which was an unsuccessful anti-depressant, but reduced peoples' urges to smoke. I am not a believer in the "throw a pill at everything" mentality, but in this case, by all means, throw a pill at it!!!!

I smoked Kools for 10+ years at a rate of 1 1/2 to 2 packs a day. I now enjoy a cigar or 2 on Sunday, and that's it. I don't inhale, and I don't want for them when I can't have them. I have replaced a habit with a treat, and am much better for it. The smoking **** will tell you I am well on my way to a cancerous grave thanks to just the cigars. Maybe, but I enjoy them enough to take the risk I guess. Either way, good luck and stick to it. You CAN do it.

Shizelbs

dudeinaroom wrote:

Good advise to anyone trying to quit, but I hate the take a pill for this take a pill for this and for that oh yeah buy the way some side effects may include fingers falling off, uncontrollable bladder syndrome, bleeding for the eyes, heart burn, indigestion, and profuse diarrhea . Try something herbal, you might be able to find something online. I think it would be a lot better than a pill, just my 2 cents,not trying to bash ya shizelbs

Have an herb in mind? Regardless, if its an herb (besides tobacco) it hasn't been studied and no conclusions regarding its efficacy can be made.

One of the meds I had in mind was Zyban/Wellbutrin. IIRC, it increases the overall success rate by about 7-14%. Nothing amazing, but it showed statistical significance in helping.

There is a new one called Chantrix. Its the one that is getting a lot of buzz in the medical community. IIRC, it prevents the brain from getting the typical pleasure out of smoking a cig. I may have to review my pharmacology on that one. I believe it has superior success rates to Zyban for quitting.

Anyways, studies have shown that if you do lifestyle modification, pick a quit date, have a health care professional that holds you accountable, some sort of support group, even family counts, get your car and house cleaned, use some sort of nicotine replacement product and another Rx med, that will create the best possible scenario for you to quit.

Mike Reeter

Haven't had a puff since 09/23/06...I used Commit to get me through the first 2 months.

The head games is what always killed my spirit in the past.

I am like a recovering alcoholic when it comes the smoking...1 is too many and a 100 is not enough.

So,hang tough,grit your teeth,and get ready to feel a whole lot better about yourself.

I smoked for 38 years,and I enjoyed every cigarette I ever had...that's what makes quitting soo difficult.

BTW,sex is MUCH better now:D

hearingimpared

Just do it Brother!!! Next month will be one year for me and I smoked for 41 years and heavily the last 20. If any of you guys that are quiting want my phone number shoot me a PM. If you feel like you are going to pick up a smoke call me instead I'll talk ya down. . . .anytime 24x7. . .call me.

I can tell you this booze and quiting smoking don't mix so don't drink if you don't have a drinking problem too, stay off the booze until you get a month or two smoke free. If you do have a problem with booze then you should definetely get my number, I can help you with that too.

Fireman32

tommyboy wrote:

I know we had a thread like this not too long ago(don't remember threads name, or who it was)... There were quite a few on there though that were trying to quit, you guys still smoke free?

That was me.
I quit just over a month ago. The first two weeks were the roughest but now I dont even want a smoke. I was at a fire dept meeting a couple of weeks ago and the guys were smoking and smelled terrible. I thought is that what i smelled like. Trust me it will be the best thing you ever did. I feel much better then I ever have and i'm saving a boatload of money in the process. If you have any questions or need some support feel free to PM me and I will give you me phone number. Oh yea get rid of those last 8 smokes.

Dave

Midnite Mick

I don't have a smoking story but just wanted to comment anyway:

Grimster I wish you the best in the battle.

I would also like to congratulate those that have done it and are currently battling as well. I have many family members that have made the attempt but have never made it permanently unfortunately.

Joe (hearingimpaired) your just awesome for reaching out. You the best.

Mike

cfrizz

Best of luck. I'm rooting for you!

Dennis Gardner

I heard a nice incentive to quitting just yesterday. Put the actual $$$ that you would have spent into a jar and make deposits into an investment plan each month with that money. When smokes go up each year, the amount you require yourself to invest does too. You would be surprised how, quickly it builds into quite a nestegg painlessly.

Good luck!!

beardog03

yeah, I tried to kick the rabbit..

just made me smoke more...!


good luck to you, and all who choose to kick the rabbits

hearingimpared

beardog03 wrote:

yeah, I tried to kick the rabbit..

just made me smoke more...!


good luck to you, and all who choose to kick the rabbits

The same thing happened to me BD I just started smoking more and getting sicker. It took me 2 1/2 years to quit but once I did the anxiety of wanting to quit, but can't, disappeared.