help me stop smoking

[diablo]

Originally posted by don code
I decided to do whatever it took to give up smoking. I have now been clean for almost 2 weeks on sunday.

Awesome job. I remember when I first quit smoking, I counted the days for practically a month. Believe me when I tell you that the first week or two is definitely the hardest - when you make it to Sunday the rest is going to be so much easier... keep up the good work, and keep us informed!

 

[jakethasnake]

I haven't smoked in 5 weeks. I used to thru a half-pack a day - never was a heavy smoker, but it was regular. It really interferes with your ability to keep up your intensity when lifting weights, and it yellows your teeth. I hope to keep this up - I'm scared because just reading this thread makes me want to light up.


But I've noticed that once these cravings come (they're moderate for me) and I do pick up a cig and light it, only the first drag is sublime. Then the rest of the cigarette pales in comparision (the Law of Diminishing Returns in motion, right there), and as I go deeper and deeper into my pack of 20 smokes, my lungs just hurt and I get short of breath. It's a ****ty feeling, and I'm glad I took my first steps to quit. The problem is that at school, people are ALWAYS smoking. Outside cafes, outside bars, etc. Even my roommates smoke, which is a bummer. Hopefully I can stay away from them even though they're within reach all the time (my roomies leave their packs lying around the house).

 

[I-am-someone]

If you're counting the days you're doing something wrong anyway. It means you still want to smoke, but have to use your willpower not to.
When I quit smoking, I wanted to. I actually haven't got a clue when I quit or how long it's been, I just know I quit one day. I smoked an entire pack yesterday because I felt like it, and I'm not even thinking of picking it back up like I used to. I smoked that pack because I wanted to, but I also know I don't want to smoke anymore.

Like with a lot of things in life, you should do what you WANT, not what you "should". We've all learned that society brainwashed us into doing a lot of things because we "should" do them, this is another one of those things: We all "should" stop smoking. Most of the people that quit because they should only keep it up for so long.
The people that want to quit smoking, just quit.

My advice to all of you:
Learn to want to do things instead of feeling like you "should."

 

[Snatchmaster]

How I quit smoking during Mardi Gras

I used to smoke a pack or two a day - heavy smoker for several years. One night I ran out of cigs before I went to bed.

When I went to the drugstore the next morning I bought the nicotine gum. Thought I would see if I could get through the day just chewing the gum. I did the next several weeks that way.

Here's the key to quitting using the nicotine gum: ignore the instructions on how much to chew. Chew as many pieces per day as you want. If you limit yourself to the prescribed number of pieces you will find yourself with cravings you will fulfill with cigs.

Now, when I quit it was carnival season in New Orleans 4 years ago. I was going out until 3 or 4 in the morning for about two weeks, beginning the day after I started on the gum. I was chewing the nicorette while drinking beer and other booze. I was chewing a pack a day!

At times, I would run out late at night while getting drunk. I was also hanging out with smokers. When I ran out of gum, I would smoke 3 or 4 or 5 borrowed cigs before getting home. But I never bought a pack of smokes, and the next morning I went back on the gum.

It's fair to say I quit several times non-stop over my quitting period.

About a month of chewing the gum had broken the cig ritual, but I was still addicted to the gum. But being addicted to the gum is different than everything involved in smoking. After I was over the smoking, I started cutting back on the nicotine gum and started swapping it out for Wrigleys. This took perhaps another month.

Finally, I was off cigs and off nicotine. But I kept having dreams of smoking and sometimes the desire to smoke was strong. I was afraid to smoke cigars for the first 2 years, because I though it might get me back on the camel. But now I smoke cigars every once in a while, and my addiction is under control.

 

[George Gordon]

Re: How I quit smoking during Mardi Gras

Originally posted by Snatchmaster
I used to smoke a pack or two a day - heavy smoker for several years. One night I ran out of cigs before I went to bed.

When I went to the drugstore the next morning I bought the nicotine gum. Thought I would see if I could get through the day just chewing the gum. I did the next several weeks that way.

Here's the key to quitting using the nicotine gum: ignore the instructions on how much to chew. Chew as many pieces per day as you want. If you limit yourself to the prescribed number of pieces you will find yourself with cravings you will fulfill with cigs.

Now, when I quit it was carnival season in New Orleans 4 years ago. I was going out until 3 or 4 in the morning for about two weeks, beginning the day after I started on the gum. I was chewing the nicorette while drinking beer and other booze. I was chewing a pack a day!

At times, I would run out late at night while getting drunk. I was also hanging out with smokers. When I ran out of gum, I would smoke 3 or 4 or 5 borrowed cigs before getting home. But I never bought a pack of smokes, and the next morning I went back on the gum.

It's fair to say I quit several times non-stop over my quitting period.

About a month of chewing the gum had broken the cig ritual, but I was still addicted to the gum. But being addicted to the gum is different than everything involved in smoking. After I was over the smoking, I started cutting back on the nicotine gum and started swapping it out for Wrigleys. This took perhaps another month.

Finally, I was off cigs and off nicotine. But I kept having dreams of smoking and sometimes the desire to smoke was strong. I was afraid to smoke cigars for the first 2 years, because I though it might get me back on the camel. But now I smoke cigars every once in a while, and my addiction is under control.

Snatchmaster,

That sounds like long, hard, and tedious process. Why not just equip yourself with the right mindset. Stop smoking, and never have a craving and never smoke a cigarette again from the moment you butt out that last cigarette? Why continue to torment and aggravate yourself for months when you could be completely free in a one moment?

!GEORGE!

 

[Levex]

I know someone who's son was just diagnosed with lung cancer. The guy is a heavy smoker in his 40's and cancer is in the advanced stage so he'll live no more than 1-2 years, during which he'll practically have to live in the doctor's office.

messed up sh1t like this really makes you think about what you're doing.