day 7 cutting down
 

WooooHoooo Congratulations! May I ask if you cut down in steps or picked a number of cigs and cut down to that number all at once? Me thinking about trying your technique....

Here is how I am doing it. My daughter is as well to and so far its working.
In the morning, wait to smoke your first one 1/2 hour later than normal..then time them every hour..smoke a half smoke every hour.

it also helps to change your style of smoking..I chose to role a smoke.
one rolled one equals half a full one btw so you can smoke the entire smoke..they are small.

Don't kick your butt if you mess up..just get back up and keep going.

Also..use supports like here.

they also have smoking coaches if you need them..free

1 888 the truth ..if that is wrong ask and i will get number.

they help and also get patches or gum etc.. if you cant afford em. try to cut down before you use em though.

try not to substitue food for the craving.


sugar free candies are good..toothpicks..cinnomin
cinnomin gum, greatfruit juice is great too..and any detox teas

ask me if ya have a question..all i can say is what i am doing


and good for you btw..smiles

Ok, was doing great for a while, now I'm back up there to about a pack a day. on days off. This is really important, I am getting little lines around my lips, and that is NOT acceptable...

What's working? E-smokes? Lozenges work for me at work, not so much at home, though. What to do while driving, or riding in the car, that's a big one, because I ALWAYS smoke while driving. What about after eating? Thinking my whole routine needs to completely change!

Haven't smoked in the house in years, so that is not a trigger. Take the dog out every morning while coffee is brewing...that's a big trigger, but he does need to go, lol.

Suggestions welcome---where the heck is Dapper? Hy always has a list of stuff!

Change all your triggrs..do not smoke when you normally do or where you normally would.

Good job! Keep letting us know how you are doing. Sometimes, knowing you are going to "report in", helps people stay on track.

Hey, buddy. I was thinking about you the last couple of days after this thread came back to life, but I was afraid to ask...

Things I did:

*Stopped drinking coffee and drank hot tea instead

*Stopped drinking beer

*Avoided italian foods for a while (tomato based foods), as this is what kicked off my "after cig delight" the most.

*Bought a bunch of those red skinny coffee stir straws (not the ones that are half closed, but instead look like regular straws, just skinnier...softer than the half closed ones...sorry, don't know how us to explain it). Cut them down to like 3 inches. Always had one in my mouth. Would chew on them.

You had gotten to a point where you were only having a couple a day. Can you go back to doing whatever it is you did then to get there?

*How about a mint after eating? The taste of a mint has never fueled me to want a cig like eating did.

Ok, that is my list!

Get your ass back in gear, woman!

Day 10 of cutting down
 

say 11 cutting down.
 

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4DsWjPqOgh...g_hair_out.jpg

NEED I SAY MORE...LOL


Todays stressers have me on the edge...but still holding strong.

This to shall pass..this to shall pass....lol

Ya all are probably getting sick of my posts by now huh..lol
But it helps to atleast say it..even though in real time..I pace and try to be quiet..as to not advance my emotions .

evening of day 11 cutting down
 

last day tomorrow. My daughter said what if you can't quit? Oh honey, then I'll keep quitting.

Way awesome! You can do it!

Keep us updated on how you are..smiles

Thank you Lady Pamela! I will be back around as it will get hard. Smoking was when I gave myself a break, permission to step out and think before. I have a feeling I will stepping out and trying to count the stars so I still take that break.

I think you are doing great and right not to rush it.Maybe stay at 5 -7 until it is really easy to do that and then cut one a day out. Jean

***me 2
day one again... i get the urge when i go out for a drink... or around other smokers

I most definately and staying with my program..smiles

However today..I streched my limits and have only smoked 3 1/2 so far...so yes I am still hangin on..smiles

Thanks for the support


BTW
This is day 13...cutting down.


Smiles

I ran out of cigs at noon today and just really want to quit. Right now I'm getting by on e-cigs. God knows what chemicals are in them, but at least they don't smell and don't need an ash tray.

This weekend I bought some really nice dry-clean only blazers and vests, and I don't want them smelling like old cigarettes.

So even if I'm cheating with the e-cigs, at least it is breaking me away from the whole ritual of it. I think I like smoking so much partially because it's an excuse to go outside and just be. Maybe I could just burn some incense and be outside instead. Maybe with a book. I definitely like smoke and fire.

<3 Best of luck to y'all. It's a freaking hard habit to kick.

It is a mess to quit. Ugh...all the reasons in the world. and then damn! ggrr...
I know what you mean about just going outside and still be.

On day 13 of cutting down
 

Way to go Lady Pamela... a good inspiration for my day. Thank you!

When I quit, I stayed away from smokers, stopped drinking beer, and stopped drinking coffee. If I drank any alcohol, I drank wine and I drank tea in place of coffee.

It is figuring out your triggers and avoiding them until they no longer trigger you.

I now can be around people who smoke (but if I did it often, I think it would be harder for me), I drink beer and I drink coffee. The stuff no longer triggers me.

I think it is great how many people are joining this thread and quitting. You all WILL get there. I know that it is hard to believe now, but you WILL get to the other side.

I LOVED smoking. LOVED it. Smoked 2 packs a day for 19 years. If I can do it, anyone can.

DON'T GIVE UP!!!!

One other thing....
 

The key is being truly commited. If you are not completely and utterly commited, you will have a much harder time getting there.

Remind yourself DAILY why you are quitting.

It does get hard but then quitting anything is hard isn't it? I'm about to quit my other 'poison' next week.

When I quit smoking I carried on going outside with my smoking buddies for a while until the need to just stopped. I did wash up dishes an awful lot in that period too :cheesy:...Just recently, whilst writing an essay, my time outs were about keeping my fingers busy so I chatted on Yahoo with my virtual desk buddy (another Planeteer), I also did step outside and sat on the wall for some lungs full of oxygen which seemed to help too.


Good to see you come back to the fold OSB. You can do it. Boredom is a killer I know. Keep yer fingers busy mate. There must be loads of things you can do at home instead of smoking. It only takes 10mins distraction and the craving is gone. Get one of the inhalator thingies for your drive. When a craving hits in the car distract yourself...sing along to the radio at the top of your lungs...have a drink of water...anything to distract. Develop a positive self talk. You're doing something good for yourself...it's a positive choice not to smoke. Most of all, keep the fingers busy!

Welcome back tazz. As someone who is sooooo fitness oriented you can keep yerself busy. Do some crunches or bicep curls when a craving hits you and you're at home. have a run around for 10mins if you're out having a pint with buddies...distract...distract...distract. Oddly being around smokers makes me more determined to stay given up.


Like Dapper, I loved smoking and was a purty heavy smoker for a lot of years. I smoked for 34 years and as they say, if I can do it anyone can :cheesy:

cold turkey yesterday didn't work. pains me to admit it. so 2 a day for a week and then I will be sufficiently distracted. so I am trying again. Thank you all for all the suggestions. keeping fingers busy will be good. I will get better prepared. I am grateful for the cig. length tubing to chew on and blow through. since I am allergic to gum i am finding the oral thing tricky.

sob... i am moody too. I need strategies for handling big feelings.
Thank you again.

I had a tooth pulled yesterday and I am no longer smoking. I am quitting now, but relying on nicotine lozenges. I have quit and restarted so many times. This time has been difficult...but I hate smoking. I hate being owned by a substance. Can't wait to not have the cravings and to be able to get back to the gym and take the stairs without feeling out of breath.
Great job everyone! I know I will feel so much better soon!

Thank you Incubus for sharing again many more reasons to quit. I am still working my way through the old posts.

It's been a little over 24 hours since the last time I smoked and minute by minute I'm getting through. Luckily, none of the smokers are home...there were times today I would have given almost anything for a ciggarete. Glad I didn't! I've been taking the nicotine lozenges hoping it will ease my mood swings. I seem to have no patience when I'm going through withdrawals. By have been a little snappy, but not as bad as I have been when I quit without anything. OMG! I don't know how anyone could have stranded to be around me those 3 days. I'm glad my kids still love me :-). LOL
We can do it!!

Wahoo! way to go! I hear you on the mood swings and the sappy! Good to know the lozenges are helping. Yes, your kids love you very much. I am sure they will be happy to put up with non smoking mom (eventually :)). Shows them how tough you really are. And what kid doesn't need a reminder how tough mom really is.

Still haven't smoked...but still having the cravings :-(. Determined not to do it...emptied my trash that had ashes in it and cigarettes smell so nasty! Ewwww. Trying to stay strong...made it this long, it would be silly to have to start over...telling that voice inside that says 'Just one...it will be ok.' to shut up! It's hard to reason with addiction. LOL

I quit smoking in April of 2011. People told me I'd be glad I did it and so far I really have been. Besides the health and money issue, I'm just glad not to have the stink on me, in my house, or in my car.

One of my biggest triggers was the smell of stale smoke in the car so I decided my lungs were worth the investment. I had the car wash shampoo it from top and bottom and my trigger vanished.

That is my advice. Get rid of your own triggers.

Good luck to all of you working so hard to stop smoking!!!

Day 15 cutting down