Hey mamas,
I have been a pack a day smoker for many years now. I no longer have the money to afford my dirty habit. Also, my family hates it. I feel so horrible! I need help! Can any of you ladies give me some advice to make quitting not so horrible. I have the gum, but it only makes me feel worse! This is my first day of quitting, and I've heard it only get worse.
Thanks Ladies!
I quit about 6 years ago and its tough but not too bad. If you can hold on it gets much easier after the 3rd day. I never bothered with the gum or patchs I quit cold turkey. Every time I wanted a ciggerette I would put a piece of lifesaver candy in my mouth. It really did help. After 3 days and about my body weight in candy I was fine and have never touched one again. Good luck praying for you. :)
Get the book "the easy way to quit smoking" by Alan Carr I know it sounds hokey, but my husband had been a smoker since he was 14. He tried everything--gum, pills, patches etc. A friend of his told him about the book. He got it the next day at the library. Smoked while reading it. Finished the last page, and that was it. He hasnt smoked since. He swears by it and 3 of his friends have also quit from reading it.
Good Luck!
Well, I don't have any unique tips you haven't already heard. I'd just like to say, if you make it I will be your NUMBER ONE FAN. Furthermore, until then, I will be your loudest cheerleader!
Lots and lots of strength to you!
:)
Good luck to you! I quit cold turkey. Yes it was hard but well worth it! It has been 3yrs and I couldn't have made a better choice! I feel so much better. I can actually breath again. I really just tried to make myself as busy as possible so I wouldn't think about it as much. You can do it!
i quit the day i found out i was preggo with our oldest. it sucked, i had been a pack a day, sometimes 2 packs a day, for about 10 years.....about a month or so after i went back to work I started back up. but just a few cigarettes a day, one before work, one at lunch and one after work. then, i got preggo a 2nd times and same thing quit the day i found out. didnt go back to them since and the twins are 9 months old.
but i will tell you that every single day I want a cigarette. it isnt overwhelming by any means and i usually only think about it maybe once a day....but every day I crave a cigarette. and to be honest, if we had the money and my husband didnt care I would be a smoker still. I woulnt smoke in the house or car or around my kids, but i would probably still have probably one in the morning with my coffee before the kids got up and then another 1 or 2 after they went to bed......okay, now I really want one..LOL. I'd say that the best way to do it is to just go cold turkey. the first week really wasnt that hard for me, it was weeks 2-3 that were the worst for me. it gets better after that.
Just about everything worth doing is hard. Think about your family and the favor you are doing for them.
My parents smoked, so I get to have to battle lung cancer! You don't want that for your children.
Hang in there! And let us know how you are doing. WE CARE!
Stay as busy as you can to not think about it.
Good luck and God bless.
Go You!! Go You!! Rah Rah Siss Boom Bah
No advice just a cheering section from Up North!!
I quit 3 yrs ago in October and it was definitely tough (I know, not what you want to hear). I think its different for everyone though. I quit because I was planning on trying to get pregnant in the coming months and I wanted to have a clean slate and a real haven for my baby when I did get pregnant. I hate to say it but I think you will have a harder time quitting because you are being forced to do so because of money issues and not because you WANT to. This doesnt mean you cant I just think it will take a lot more of a fight on your end to stay smoke free. I found the first 6 months very difficult but as soon as I became pregnant I almost lost all interest and actually became disgusted with the habit. Its a really tough thing to do but I believe you can and trust me you will feel better soon and just keep reminding yourself that its the best choice for everyone
Good Luck
It takes 3 days for the nicotine to clear your system. Drink lots of water and get some lollypops for the oral fixation thing. I quit from 2 packs a day to nothing in one day. It has been 14 years. Remember that each time you feel like having a smoke, just breath and craving will pass.
one day at a time and each day brings you farther away from your last cigarette!!
My Mom smoked and I always heard that nicotine is one of the hardest things to quit. This in NO Way is meant to discourage you, it's to validate that IT IS HARD but you CAN DO IT. Follow the advice from the caring Moms who know this first hand and also know I'm rooting for you amoung other caring people here! You are giving yourself, your body and your family such a great gift! It means a happy healthier you and family and can very well mean several more years of quality time together! Godspeed!
I've never been a smoker, but my husband was when we first met. He quit cole turkey (he used the gum though). It was hard for him, but it does get better. Try Googling smokers lung or lung cancer when you really feel like you need a smoke. The photographs of the reality of what you are doing to your lungs may help deter you. I wish you all the best - it is a great thing you are doing for yourself and your family.
I quit cold turkey 3 almost 4 years ago. Once its time , its time. I know how you feel right now, lost, like you are missing a part of your hand. Dont worry, every day it gets easier. First of dont say "im "trYng" to quit'....rephrase that , Im on my first day of being a non-smoker. It really is how you phrase it.
Skip the gum if its bothering you.its not really about the nicotine anyway , find something to keep you busy during moments you'd normally smoke, this is different for everyone. I ate fruit and did aerobics. Also id recommend a good multi with antioxidants to help your lungs heal during this process.
Take the vow of N.O.P.E (not one puff ever) and vow to never puff one again, its simplistic, but it works. Everybody starts again because they want "one puff". YOU CANT HAVE JUST A PUFF!reamember that if you have another puff you will either 1. start back up again 2. have to re quit and ruin all your progress. But you WILL regret it.
Take it one day at a time. Enjoy your lung capacity returning, your sense of smell getting better, whiten your teeth and invest in a nice perfume you will actually smell like. The best way to quit a habit is to replace it with another habit. It is up to you to decide what that will be. Try yoga, or a sauna, or sewing,or making candles......something positive. Too many people eat or drink to replace smoking and thats not good.
Join a support group for the weeks and months ahead. I recommend about.com. They have a smoking cessation forum full of support and little surprises for milestones. They have groups to join about how and when you quit and a plethora of info about smoking and what to expect during your quit. Remember, cold turkey has the biggest success rate. Rely on your body and never forget the reason you want to quit. Remember that smoking is awful and serves no other purpose than to kill you.
YOu can do it, and you WILL....right? after the first few weeks its actually really easy. I smoked for 14 years a pack a day also i dont even think of them anymore. I havent for a long time.
You can do it!!!!!! Good for you for adding years to your life and life to your years by giving up this habit. I'm proud of you! Just take one day at a time. It will be okay. My friends that have quit agree that the first couple of days is the hardest. Give your body a chance to adjust. Hang in there and know that we are cheering for you! :)
Hi jackie!
Ii wouldn't try to do it cold turkey. I would wean my self off a little at a time. When I used to work and actually had alone time I smoked a pack every 2 days. Now that im home all the time I smoke 2 a day max. Instead of a pack a day lay out 4 cigarettes for you and say this is it for the day (give the rest to chris so you wont be tempted :) and just work your way down. Your gonna feel like crap at first. Your gonna cough and you chest will hurt that's why I say work yourself down. Now if I could just get rid of the 2 I have to have.....
Oh honey, I've BEEN there! Fifteen years ago. My problem was that I loved to smoke! But I wanted to start a family and I knew it was time. Didn't wanna quit, but I did.
Hang in there, drink lots of water, and yes, YOU CAN DO THIS!
Okay cheerleading mamas- Give me "B"...
We are all cheering for you! Good luck and please post in a few days to let us know how you are doing.
I was never a smoker but my BIL sure WAS. I remember having conversations with him and when he'd get the urge, he'd do something productive like take a long walk, go get the tires rotated, take the dog to the dog park etc... He often said that his triggers for wanting a smoke were the same (after a good meal, stress at work, people who talk too much, the subway etc...) so he started to recognize this more and more and changed his daily habits to avoid his triggers. He ended up eating better and learned to eat less carbs, he started facing the stress at work head on instead of "taking a bad breather", when people talked too much he learned ways of cutting conversations short w/o being rude and he rode his bike to work vs. taking the subway. You can do this! Take it moment by moment, day by day. If you slip up, dust yourself off and try again but the next time, make a better choice so you can avoid the trigger. I wish you much luck, it is possible to quit, you just need to write down your daily goal of what you feel you can do and go from there. Stick to your daily goals too:) Thank you for putting your family first before your smoking, I'm sure that means a lot to your significant others that you are ready to quit:)
21 Days. To break any habit--good or bad.
Just hang in there and inspire me to quit as well! (no pressure! LOL)
Good luck! You can do it!
I smoked for eight years. I was up to about a pack a day for the last few years. I quit cold turkey the day I found out I was pregnant with my first son. I haven't had a single cigarette since- that was over 6 years ago. I had tried to quit in the past, unsuccessfully. For me, the ONLY way was to go cold turkey. It was hard for about the first month or so and then it got a lot easier. The hardest times were after meals and when I got in the car. Those were my big "cues" to light up. Hang in there- you CAN do it!! Now I don't know how I ever had such a disgusting habit...AND I am so glad that I will be healthy enough to watch my children and their children grow up! Good luck!
I recommend, NOT trying to quit, when you are PMS'ing.
Wrong timing for quitting. It will be harder when PMS'ing.
Do it when you are not PMS'ing.
Its all mental.....
Instead of telling your head "I need a smoke..." tell yourself "I don't need it.... it is only a hallucination... " then go do something else. You have to self-talk yourself...and re-wire your 'need' for it. Mentally.
Or just try and smoke less... have a 'quota' for yourself.
Then from there, go less and less.
Don't replace the urges with food or things in your mouth. Otherwise, feeding your mouth will be the next 'bad' habit. Replace the urges with other things... exercise... blowing in and out of your mouth using DEEP breaths etc.
Try "deep breathing" techniques. Google search it. It is very good. Used for stress and many health problems too.
Also you might try meditating. Really. It helps many and has actual results in changing the brain waves... helping relaxation/stress etc.
You may get moody. Probably will.
Go to Whole Foods, and ask them for things you can take to relieve stress etc. They are very helpful and knowledgeable.
Good luck.
I used to smoke.
I just drink coffee now.
LOL