SMOKERS... LETS KICK the HABIT!!

Originally Posted by jenna8987

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

Congrats on making the decision jenna.

That's exactly the way to think about it. Don't give up giving up. If you fall then just get right back on that tobacco free wagon again.


We're here as cheerleaders.......If you read through the thread you'll find loads of handy hints and tips that may or may not help. We all find the coping strategies that work for us.

May the force be with you

[OS Butch]

I'm bacccckkk!

Day one, again. I find when I get bored is the worst time....I just wanna run down to the store and buy a pack. Now that I am laid off for the next couple of months it is going to really be hard. I have a trip to Hampton, Va in a couple of weeks and driving and smoking is a big trigger, so I need to have some success!

I am glad to see you still cheering folks on Incubus.

[tazz]

Originally Posted by OS Butch

I'm bacccckkk!

Day one, again. I find when I get bored is the worst time....I just wanna run down to the store and buy a pack. Now that I am laid off for the next couple of months it is going to really be hard. I have a trip to Hampton, Va in a couple of weeks and driving and smoking is a big trigger, so I need to have some success!

I am glad to see you still cheering folks on Incubus.

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

[DapperButch]

Originally Posted by tazz

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

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!!!!

[DapperButch]

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.

Originally Posted by jenna8987

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.

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 ...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.

Originally Posted by OS Butch

I'm bacccckkk!

Day one, again. I find when I get bored is the worst time....I just wanna run down to the store and buy a pack. Now that I am laid off for the next couple of months it is going to really be hard. I have a trip to Hampton, Va in a couple of weeks and driving and smoking is a big trigger, so I need to have some success!

I am glad to see you still cheering folks on Incubus.

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!

Originally Posted by tazz

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

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

[spritzerJ]

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.

[uniquetobeme]

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!

Ok folks. I feel I should repeat this for those who don't look at the whole thread.

I am what happens if you don't give up. I'm 48 and have 48% lung function - I lost 2% in the last year, probably due to still smoking a bong; I do try mitigate against further damage by smoking through cool water as my COPD nurse suggested but I'm looking into ingesting in other ways for the future.

You really do not wanna end up where I am, it sucks great big salty balls! (to paraphrase South Park)

I didn't quit tobacco until it was too late. You can save yourselves from the possibility of same fate. I can barely walk anywhere, it's easier to cycle because there's 'coasting' time that one doesn't get with walking. I've been at pulmonary rehab where I was the youngest by 15yrs...that wasn't a wholly positive experience for me.

I'm rooting for y'all...it is possible....just don't wait until you have the 'fear factor' element that I only had after a near fatal chest infection.

There are no reasons to smoke, only excuses.

May the force be with you