Ex-Smokers???????

How did u finally kick the habit?

Re: Ex-Smokers???????

The website Quitnet really helped me. I joined a group for people who quit at the same time as me and it was great getting and giving support to and from people going thru the same thing as me.
The site also helped me motivate me because it kept stats on how long I was smoke free, how many cigarettes I didn't smoke, how much time I added on to my life AND how much money I had saved.

Re: Ex-Smokers???????

Welbutrin helped the first time I quit. The 2nd time, I just weaned myself down to no cigarettes slowly over the course of about 2 weeks. For me personally, nicotine replacement therapy (gums, patches, inhalers - tried them all!) doesn't work. They keep the nicotine in your system far too long so you are addicted longer. It only takes 4 days to flush out the nicotine from your bloodstream, so I rather get it out sooner than later.

ETA: I liked Quitnet at first, but after awhile I found it actually made quitting harder because everybody's always talking about quitting and smoking and how they are craving, etc. Too much attention on it. I felt it helped more to talk about and think about other things.

Working out helps immensely too.

Message edited 1/9/2006 10:23:53 AM.

Re: Ex-Smokers???????

Just cold turkey. I had 3 left in my pack and just said that's it when those are done I'm done and not buying anymore.

To me it's been more of a mental challenge than physical - I was a social smoker and just had to break some habits, smoking while on th phone, breaks with my co-workers, etc.

Good luck!!

Re: Ex-Smokers???????

I did the same thing as Donna...I finished a pack and never bought another one. The first two weeks were rough, really rough but after that it was very managable.

Re: Ex-Smokers???????

I did the cold turkey method also. I guess it was just my time to quit!!

Re: Ex-Smokers???????

Posted by Lisa

I did the cold turkey method also. I guess it was just my time to quit!!

Re: Ex-Smokers???????

The day i met DH, he asked if i was a smoker and i said no, and i just quit cold turkey from then on ( well it took a few days before we were inseperable so i did cheat a LITTLE bit)

Re: Ex-Smokers???????

mom, dad, serveral relatives and friends all went cold turkey.

Re: Ex-Smokers???????

the day i got my BFP with Danielle, I threw out my pack.

my mom & step-dad, both went cold turkey also.

Re: Ex-Smokers???????

Cold turkey as well. I finished a pack and decided not to buy a new one. I had been feeling horrible from it for a while and when, at 26 years of age, I was so out of breath from climbing 10 stairs, I knew it was time.

It was so hard for the first month or so but I kept telling myself that I could do it and thought about how disappointed in myself I would be if I had one. Here I am 5 years later and still no cigarettes. It is a great feeling knowing what an accomplishment it is that I quit.

Re: Ex-Smokers???????

Cold Turkey. I was leaving a bar on a Friday night almost 2 years ago and as I finished a cigarette I said that was my last one.

That weekend I kept myself really busy. I changed as much as I could about my route to work and daily routine so triggers like the corner where I usually lit a cigarette and other landmarks were changed.

I continued to take "smoke breaks" at work but I brought a bottle of water or a piece of gum outside with me. I ALWAYS had a bottle of water with me as a substitute.

I did have to curb hanging out with smoking friends for a month or so but after that it was easy.

As it went on I really began to appreciate being able to smell things better and my hair and hands and clothes not smelling. You really don't realize how bad/strong it smells until you quit. It got easier each week. By week 4 or 5 I'd realize that I hadn't even thought about it for a couple of days.

One trick that really helped was no cheating. I used to quit for a few weeks then say well, it's ok if I have one while I'm drinking, but I'd always go back to smoking again when I did that.

In mid Feb it will be 2 years. Good Luck!

Re: Ex-Smokers???????

Thanks everyone I am trying it Cold turkey...i am starting today. I tried last week too but by Friday I was smoking again. So I told myself that I would just try again on Monday - and here I am. I have to say that so far this has been one of the hardest things for me to do, it makes me wish I never started. This has been my millionth try to stop...lets hope this time works!

My plan is to stay away from smokers...and alcohal for about a month....work out and maybe even start knitting again.

Re: Ex-Smokers???????

Good luck!!!!!!!!

Re: Ex-Smokers???????

Re: Ex-Smokers???????

I quit during law school which was next to impossible because everyone seems to smoke. I used to smoke about a pack a day.]

I tried about 3 times to quit and just couldn't do it - tried the patch, etc.

Finally, I got a bad cold/bronchitis/sinus infection in Sept/Oct of 03 and stopped cold turkey.

It was VERY hard BUT I found since I had it out of my system for a few days I worked hard to stay away from smokers as much as possible and that helps - bars were a problem for a while since drinking I often wanted a smoke so I kind of stayed away until I was sure I didn't want another cig.

I occasionally had a break down day where stress would say ok give me ONE - but it tasted nasty by this time and I smelled horrible all day and just wasn't interested anymore. I still occasionally want one but the ssmell reminds me why I quit.

You can do it - but you I couldn't quit before b/c I was around too many smokers. That makes it really hard to do

Good luck

Re: Ex-Smokers???????

Posted by Lisa

I did the cold turkey method also. I guess it was just my time to quit!!