SMOKERS... LETS KICK the HABIT!!

[scootebaby]

i had been a smoker since i was 16...4 weeks before Mothers Day 2008 i started taking Chantix...2 days AFTER Mothers Day i smoked my last cigarette....up till recently i would get cravings--really bad when highly stressed--but they passed pretty quickly. I didnt have any bad side effects,i.e bad dreams,suicidal thoughts or things they warn about Chantix.....prior to that i had tried everything...patches,pills,hynotherapy,even nicotine suckers,but they didnt help for very long.

i dont endorse many things but Chantix really worked for me!

Good luck to everyone trying to kick the habit!

[Strappie]

Originally Posted by scootebaby

i had been a smoker since i was 16...4 weeks before Mothers Day 2008 i started taking Chantix...2 days AFTER Mothers Day i smoked my last cigarette....up till recently i would get cravings--really bad when highly stressed--but they passed pretty quickly. I didnt have any bad side effects,i.e bad dreams,suicidal thoughts or things they warn about Chantix.....prior to that i had tried everything...patches,pills,hynotherapy,even nicotine suckers,but they didnt help for very long.

i dont endorse many things but Chantix really worked for me!

Good luck to everyone trying to kick the habit!

I have a few friends taking "Chantix" and they swear by it... You are right about the side effects. They all experience them in some way or another. I personally don't and have never liked taking "pills" of any kind not even for a headache. I am super happy for you that you are on your way to a healthier life.... KEEP IT UP!!!

[Strappie]

So everyone's asking about my update...

Well as I told you all before I am gradually doing this with the help of the e-cigarette mine is by ProSmoke.

It's an alternative to smoking. E-cigarettes are electronic devices that vaporize nicotine, water, and flavor to simulate the feel and look of cigarettes. Unlike nicotine gum or the nicotine patch, the e-cigarette actually functions much like a regular cigarette. The nicotine is still delivered to the lungs, but in vapor form, rather than smoke which contains carcinogens and tar. ProSmoke E-cigarettes do not burn like a typical cigarette, yet feel the same and contain nicotine. And btw nicotine is OPTIONAL. You can get them without the nicotine.

So any ways.... back to my update. I had been doing very well on Sunday and had smoked only 4 cigs on Sunday till it broke.. lol well it didn't break the charger I had was not functioning properly. So I have a replacement in the mail. Thankfully they guarantee these things and are sending me an entirely new Kit. They pay shipping and handling to me and for the old kit I had to send back, nice customer service! Anyways... I broke down and bought cigs, Yikes... so I am waiting for them to show up in the mail. I should have it Friday or Monday.

I will give you another update when I get the Kit again!!

[Just_G]

Day 5, operation Cold Turkey: I paced on my deck last night...trying to talk myself out of going to buy a pack. I succeeded! I actually went in the house, went to bed, and slept for 11 hours straight!! I have to say that it is really nice not to be coughing and hacking when I wake up and roll out of bed in the morning. I didn't know I would notice such a difference so fast!

True test is this weekend....being around friends that smoke and drink....and when I don't smoke and drink with one in particular, she is almost offended. I am going to do my best to say no...to the beer and smokes! I just have to remember how wonderful I feel when I wake up every day!

God give me the strength!!! (please)

[girl_dee]

Yay for you G !!!!

maybe that feeling will be stronger than any smoking urge...

[justkim]

In January it will be 4 years for me... I told myself I would quit before I turned 40... did it! I would like to say that since that time I have craved and caved only once... I only took a drag and that was enough for me... I realized that they really do taste like poop... My sense of smell is crazy now... I am usually the first one to say, "Can you smell that?" then I get the weird looks from those around me... You will notice the difference in how things taste, something you use to enjoy may not be so pleasing now these are just a couple of things you will notice... Good luck everyone! You can do it!

[Strappie]

Originally Posted by Sam

i hope it works out for you and everyone else.

i stopped cold turkey 8 weeks ago, so i could have top surgery.

i smoked since i was 12, 31 years. i quit once for 8 months with zyban, then again in 2007 before my son was born for 4 months.

i hate to say it, my graphs are healed and after confirmation tmo, i will probably start smoking again.

i didnt want to quit, but now nearly 9 weeks and 9 lbs later, i still feel that maybe i should stay smoke free.

i dunno, but good luck everyone!!!

AWESOME Sam... I do wish you all the luck and I do hope you remain a NON Smoker after surgery. My mom and sister both took zyban. My sister did very well while my mom had to stop taking it. I did something to the inner lining of her stomach which now she has to take meds for the rest of her life. Zyban has so bad side effects in my opinion.

GOOD LUCK Sam!!! Good luck with surgery too!!

[Sam]

Originally Posted by Strappie

AWESOME Sam... I do wish you all the luck and I do hope you remain a NON Smoker after surgery. My mom and sister both took zyban. My sister did very well while my mom had to stop taking it. I did something to the inner lining of her stomach which now she has to take meds for the rest of her life. Zyban has so bad side effects in my opinion.

GOOD LUCK Sam!!! Good luck with surgery too!!

thanks. i am 6 weeks post op today

and my graphs are healed.

and the pack is sitting on the coffee table un opened still.

i wish you all the best.

[girl_dee]

hang in there.. its worth it in the end!!

[CherryFemme]

I've tried many things, the patch, that nasty gum, and even cold turkey. OMG I nearly killed myself.

What is your remedy??? Or Your Game plan?

What a great thread!

I am not an addicted smoker, but I am an addict-- to the gum.

Before you laugh or think I am kidding, I would like to state my case:

My ex bought the gum in 1999 in order to stop smoking. She hated it and said she was going to throw it out. I was horrified because the gum was $75.00. I decided to chew the gum rather than to waste it. (Yes, I am very cheap) Now, 10 years later, I have a full blown addiction to the gum and if I do not chew it in the AM with coffee or after a meal or when I am stressed out-- I fall apart. Seriously. This is a nicotine addiction and I have shame I cannot stop. I wish I could say I did not like the taste, but I rather like burnt toast and when I chew it, the gum reminds me of my cooking.

Now that I am out about my "problem"-- I would like to stop. The gum is expensive and I know that I should stop.

I have tried the fake e-cig that Strappie mentioned, but I have never smoked cigarettes, so it did not help. I have tried the patch once and it was useless.

What scares me is the new information about how the gum increases oral cancers. I am also concerned about stomach cancer since I do not spit the gum out; I always end up swallowing it. (oh the horror!)

Thank you for Just G and Sam for their stories of "cold turkey". I have only tried to do that twice-- but perhapse it is time for me to try again.

I also like Wonder Woman's suggestion of hypnotherapy. I never thought about that as an option. (I have tried to get chantix, but the non-smoking clinic did not take me seriously...even when I explained to them I chew + swallow up to 20 squares of 4mg nicotine chews a day.)

Great idea for a thread, Strappie--
Thank you all for the great suggestions and I look forward to watching everyone's progress!

~CF

[politicalboi]

I used an e-cigarette and found if you also get some Root Beer tasty puff it helps with the taste.. Just a few drops in the filter will make it taste better.

[jac]

I laid them down "again" yesterday. Only the umpteenth time in the last 30 years.

Let this time be for good...

[DapperButch]

Originally Posted by stone4play

I laid them down "again" yesterday. Only the umpteenth time in the last 30 years.

Let this time be for good...

Yee Haw! You can do it! Post here and post often!!!!

[Lady Pamela]

Originally Posted by stone4play

I laid them down "again" yesterday. Only the umpteenth time in the last 30 years.

Let this time be for good...

Took me a lot of tries before I was able to do it.
Point is, just keep trying and fake it till you make it!
Seriously.
Way cool.

[Lady Pamela]

Just thought I would stop in and tell everyone hello...smiles

Also wanted to share a few smoking facts as food for thought.
Below is the link...seriously check it out.

BTW, Whale vomit and urine are in the smokes we all have been smoking ..just to give you a couple of things.

Take a look.


Keep it up to those of you who are still smoke free!


http://facts.randomhistory.com/2009/02/17_smoking.html



.

[GraffitiBoi]

I'm still struggling with quitting. I use an ecig and occasionally I will use a patch instead... but neither breaks the habit. It's not really the nicotine that is making it hard... it's what I do to pass time when I'm on a break or driving and it's what I do when I need to think... pace and smoke... and so I pick up a cigarette... I think I may be done with them completely this weekend though. It feels like it's time. Plus, the money I'm saving by not buying cigs is awesome! ($5.50 per day)

[macele]

you know i still don't want to go to a place that doesn't allow smoking LOL. like say to a hospital. i smoked for so long, ... i still think i'm going to have to do without one for a long time or find a place to hide and smoke. and that "don't shut me up" feeling.

smoke-free 179 days.

[Lady Pamela]

Originally Posted by GraffitiBoi

I'm still struggling with quitting. I use an ecig and occasionally I will use a patch instead... but neither breaks the habit. It's not really the nicotine that is making it hard... it's what I do to pass time when I'm on a break or driving and it's what I do when I need to think... pace and smoke... and so I pick up a cigarette... I think I may be done with them completely this weekend though. It feels like it's time. Plus, the money I'm saving by not buying cigs is awesome! ($5.50 per day)

I suggest doing thhing diffrent like I did. At first atleast.

Cut down 2 at a time untill your down to 8 or less smokes.
Smoke when your not craving only.
Don't smoke where or when you feel the need.
Smoke against the habit times.

Use the strong patches.
Use cinnomon sticks for the hand to mouth.
Chew cinnomon gum to clean the pallet
drink non sweetened greatfruit juice..hold in mouth for a bit when craving is bad.

don't forget to take your normal 5 minute breaks..just do them breathing etc
they help you to adjust and re ground yourself.

also changing to a brand you really do not care for helps.

[Kimpooh]

I too have smoked since I was 12!! I try to quit several times a year and also have tried everything but e-cigarette. That's up next! Cancer, in all it's ugly forms, has taken from me many friends and it runs heavily in my family, including myself (skin cancer twice) so I really am quite the idiot for smoking. Problem is, while everyone is really good at lecturing me that I should quit, the same people get super irritated at me when the bitchiness & mood swings of withdrawal hits!! So I have a distinct lack of support... I had quite the little drug habit years ago but I can honestly say quitting doing dope was easier than stopping smoking!!!
Any tips, pointers, suggestions for success would be greatly appreciated!!

[Redsunflower]

I'm now approaching 7 months nicotine free.
I'm so delighted with myself I could happy dance all over the place.
Maybe this will do...



Congrats to everyone else still going strong. We are the greatest.