SMOKERS... LETS KICK the HABIT!!

[Lady Pamela]

Originally Posted by mustangjeano

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

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

[Lady Pamela]

Originally Posted by DapperButch

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

Actually checking in, good, bad or ugly..is keeping me honest to myself..And keeping me to a point of being raw and haonest to those outward of me...And that is usually something I do not do.

[Nat]

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.

[spritzerJ]

Originally Posted by Nat

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.

[DamonK]

I wanted.
I probably could have killed for one.
I wanted.

I stood up, cut my break short, went back to work.

I don't want quite so much now.

[Lady Pamela]

I smoked only 3 1/2 smokes all day...I am super suprised in myself.

Will try to keep getting lower than 5-7...but today I am saying..,.IT ROCKED! aND i AM PROUD OF TODAY!

[spritzerJ]

Originally Posted by Lady Pamela

I smoked only 3 1/2 smokes all day...I am super suprised in myself.

Will try to keep getting lower than 5-7...but today I am saying..,.IT ROCKED! aND i AM PROUD OF TODAY!

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

[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

[OS Butch]

Day 2 for me and boy do I want a pizza! I hope everyone is doing well with cutting back or how ever you are using to quit! Have a grand evening.

[spritzerJ]

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

[uniquetobeme]

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!!

[spritzerJ]

Originally Posted by uniquetobeme

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.

[uniquetobeme]

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

[Butterbean]

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!!!

[Lady Pamela]

Yesterday I had 2 smokes in the morning.

Today so far none..still stayin on track where I am supose to be with my plan...The way I have done it has really truely helped me to stay strong.


Congrats to everyone else taking this ride...we can do it!!!