Quitting Smoking

[MsCoyoteKatie]

Any advice on how to quit smoking? :confused: I started a year ago (I know, it was a stupid thing to do--don't ask) and need to quit to get my cardio back on track for the Academy in January. I figure the sooner I do this the better. I have Aug. 11 as my quit date.

I smoke about 3/4 pack a day, mostly in the car on my 1.5 hour commute to and from work. Unfortunately, I've come to enjoy the disgusting little habit.

Any advice would be great, thanks!

[Junkyard Dawg]

In my opinion, the best thing to do is go cold turkey, just stop. Take the cigs in your latest pack, tear them all in half, throw them away, and begin. It will be exceptionally hard the first two weeks, after that, it gets easier. The cravings will feel immediate and necessary, but you can persevere through them and they will recede. When they do come, concentrate on finding other things to think about and do. It's not easy, but I know of nothing better.

[Cam]

Willpower/self-discipline

[mmagoo]

I agree cold turkey is the best way to go. And now is definitely the time to quit. It's a lot harder to quit after smoking for 10 or 20 years than after 1 year. Your lungs will recover quicker too.

I'm sure you realize this already but the hardest part I think is going to be that time you are in the car. That's when you are used to a smoke, and when you are in the car, there isn't a whole lot to do. For me, my favorite cigarette was always after a meal. I started chewing gum after meals instead (regular, not nicotine). It helped with the oral fixation. Perhaps having a favorite beverage to sip on when you get the urge (non-alcoholic of course). Drinking lots of water will help get it out of your system. Maybe one of those squishy stress balls. If you can exercise in the morning, that would really help. You can get an endorphine high instead of a nicotine high before you even get in the car.

Whatever you do, just stick with it. It's not easy but it does get better. I never even think about smoking anymore. Granted it has been 7 years since I quit. But do it now or those cigs are going to be an albatross around your neck forever.

Good luck!

[jrzylaw77]

First of all you have to really want to quit. I actually just quit for the last time about 4 weeks ago. After about 10 years of smoking I've quit at least a hand full of times but I know it's different now because I finally want to quit. The last times that I tried quiting it was because I knew I had to (health, job, etc) but the desire was still there. This time, with a lot of help from my girlfriend, I did a lot of self exploration and decided that I hate cigarettes and don't want them running my life any more. These are the things that I keep reminding myself whenever an urge kicks in. 1. All told, I pay over a thousand dollars a year for a huge corporation to help kill myself. 2. I want to have control over everything in my life and I don't want an object controlling me. 3. It truly is disgusting. 4. I can't breathe any more. 5. Quiting sucks, and I don't want to have to go through it again.

As far as helpfull hints, I went on the patch and it worked really well. In order to quit you need to not only defeat the physical addiction but also the mental addiction. Going on the patch lets you concentrate solely on the mental addiction and then once that's kicked, slowly remove yourself from the patch and you're done. But remember you have to really want to quit. Acknowledging that at some point you have to just won't do it, make yourself want to and you'll succeed.

good luck.

[DSFREP]

The first step is to identify the problem and know you need to quit.

Keep in mind though, NO ONE LIKE A QUITER.........

All kidding aside, I personally quit cold turkey.
I picked a datye 2 weeks from now and said, I am going to stop on this day.
I smoked my brains out for 2 weeks.
Oh the joy!!!

Then, I walked on my porch, smoked my last cig as the Sopranos ended and have not look back.

I was a mean SOB for about 2 weeks.
I chewed gum ... A LOT!!!

I took the money I was saving and bought a gym membership and started working out which help.

2 1/2 years later, NO MORE SMOKING.

It is difficult and cold turkey is not for everyone BUT you really want to quit for YOURSELF

Did I mention the GUM??

Good Luck

If you need an aid of somekind, there are many good over the counter items you can use.

[Paul E. Nunis]

Not as easily said as done, but you have a couple of plusses...you are relatively new to smoking, and it is associated with driving, which is an environment you can control. Make the car a no smoking zone with no lighter, ashtrays, matches, etc, and don't let anyone else smoke in it.

As already suggested, make a total break, and substitute something else, like gum, a book on tape, hand exerciser, origami (just kidding) etc.

[Jdiablo]

I agree with the Cold Turkey ideas.
Just stop now, and find something else to do in the car or whenever else you usually smoke. If you wait a day or two to quit then you will just put if off. For years I always said I was going to start going to the gym to work out. The problem was I always said "I'll start on Monday" or "I'll start as soon as I get back from vacation" Well I said that for a long time because I kept putting it off. The same applies for smoking. Just Do it and don't do it again, not even one time, becuase one time eventually will turn into once a day and so on....

It is all about Will Power.

[Jdiablo]

Damn that sounded like a commercial...

[Birky]

I am gonna have to disagree here. I think that you should go out and buy the nicotine patch. I chewed tobacco for ten years and I have tried the cold turkey approach but when time got stressful I would go and buy a can of dip. I used the patch for like three weeks and I quit and haven't used dip in six months.

[DoD NucE]

All of the above sound like good ideas, though I can't say from first hand experience as I am a non smoker. However, I know that my old chief was a big smoker and when he quit, he chewed on coctail straws as a replacement for something to keep his mouth busy. It really worked for him, so maybe it will work for you. Good luck.

[Brindle]

Originally posted by mmagoo
If you can exercise in the morning, that would really help. You can get an endorphine high instead of a nicotine high before you even get in the car.I heard that also singing releases endorphins. Roll up them car windows, turn-up the A/C and tone deft or not holler away with your favorite tunes. Seriously, though, I have always enjoyed singing while driving to and from work. Well, that and conservative talk radio, but I don’t think conservative talk radio releases endorphins.

[Badge11]

I quit smoking a little over four years ago and I know how hard it is to kick the habit. I smoked cigarettes for almost ten years before quitting. I really picked it up in the military during those long and tedious 12-hour watches. I quit numerous times only to pick it up again. Personally, smoking was the worst thing I’ve ever started in my life.
Going cold turkey really never worked for me, it was too easy to pick it back up and saying I’ll try to quit again when I’m ready.
What worked for me was the nicotine gum. Although, I’ve heard quite a few people stating that the gum did not work for them, it worked for me. The gum seemed to satisfy my nicotine fix as well as keep my mouth and mind busy. I think smoking is almost as psychologically addicting as it is physically. Plus, dropping $25-30 on a 40 pack of nasty gum that makes you gag really helps with the motivation. I then threw away anything that was associated with smoking, ashtrays, lighters, matches, etc. Starting and religiously maintaining a physical fitness routine really helps kick the habit. Once you start witnessing your body and health improving, it’s easier to say “No”. Most importantly, you must really want to quit in order to kick the habit. If you slip, don’t get down on yourself and go out and buy another pack, just try again. It took me long time and frequent attempts to finally quit smoking.

Good luck!

[2Bthefinest]

i quit a little over 2 weeks ago and the only thing that is keeping me sane is toothpicks. when i'm at work, i constantly chew on them and especially when i am driving, they save me. the only time i am truly tempted is when i go out to a bar and have a drink but i'm not about to give in now that i've made it this far along. good luck to you, i know it's hard as hell to do but you'll be glad you did once you start running after quitting.

[SecretNY]

Originally posted by Birky
I am gonna have to disagree here. I think that you should go out and buy the nicotine patch. I chewed tobacco for ten years and I have tried the cold turkey approach but when time got stressful I would go and buy a can of dip. I used the patch for like three weeks and I quit and haven't used dip in six months.

This would explain your responses to some posts I've read :)

SecretNY

[DJOHNSON954]

Quitting is easy to do, I have done it hundreds of times.

Seriously, I quit 2 x long term. The first time I stopped smoking for a year by using the patch. I felt that it did help me. However, I think it depends on the person. The second and final time I quit smoking was October 19th of last year after a golf tournament, but who's keeping track? This time I quit cold turkey. The hardest part is being around others who smoke. Hopefully your friends will respect the fact that you are trying to quit. DO IT. It is so nice to wake up and not have that heavy chest feeling. Now all I have to do is quit dipping. Good luck and stay disciplined!!!!!