gonna quit smoking...how did YOU do it ?
gonna quit smoking...how did YOU do it ?
Hi ,I've popped over here from the newcomers board. I find it really interesting that a lot of people who 've just given up the booze also give up the cigarettes. and I am at that stage myself now. I've been looking into e cigs because I think they will work for me, as it will still give me a "ritual" in the initial stages.
Don't do gum, sweets, or lollipops or anything like that. That will not work for me.
I've been smoking about 20 a day, give or take, for 40 years, oh my, that's a long time :-(
Gave up weed about three months ago, no desire at all to go back to that ,and loving being sober too.
So I wondered if any of you had and advice on e cigs or other distractions that I may not have thought of ?
How did you do it ?
Don't do gum, sweets, or lollipops or anything like that. That will not work for me.
I've been smoking about 20 a day, give or take, for 40 years, oh my, that's a long time :-(
Gave up weed about three months ago, no desire at all to go back to that ,and loving being sober too.
So I wondered if any of you had and advice on e cigs or other distractions that I may not have thought of ?
How did you do it ?
Recently at AA meetings it cracked me up to see people with eCigs. They just looked silly. Some even had them on a strap around their neck.
I smoked for 25 years. Tried to quit a couple times, when I was drinking. The two were to be used together in my mind. I cut down to only-when-at-work. I worked in a bar, so drink/smoke - well, you get the picture. I actually quit both while still working there. Just quit. No substitutes, just did it. I did gain quite a lot of weight, though. I guess I subbed hot fudge sundaes and French fries. Lost the weight seven years ago. It's always something.
I stopped drinking. Then I just stopped smoking. It was interesting to me that it was pretty easy, except at the two week point when I had a "But, I'm stressed!" moment. A friend who was in AA pointed out that I used smoking to deal with emotions. That was the "click" I needed.
Haven't looked back. 20 years quit now.
I smoked for 25 years. Tried to quit a couple times, when I was drinking. The two were to be used together in my mind. I cut down to only-when-at-work. I worked in a bar, so drink/smoke - well, you get the picture. I actually quit both while still working there. Just quit. No substitutes, just did it. I did gain quite a lot of weight, though. I guess I subbed hot fudge sundaes and French fries. Lost the weight seven years ago. It's always something.
I stopped drinking. Then I just stopped smoking. It was interesting to me that it was pretty easy, except at the two week point when I had a "But, I'm stressed!" moment. A friend who was in AA pointed out that I used smoking to deal with emotions. That was the "click" I needed.
Haven't looked back. 20 years quit now.
Anything I can do with my hands (save biting my nails, I'm planning to do some sewing......
Lots and lots of sewing!
And drawing, writing
Walking the dogs, exercise
Cleaning, lots of cleaning to be done
Plenty of diy & decorating
Puzzles
Studying
Reading
The list is endless
So much time to do anything I like
Driving my wagon of hope through beautiful views on my road to myself
Lots and lots of sewing!
And drawing, writing
Walking the dogs, exercise
Cleaning, lots of cleaning to be done
Plenty of diy & decorating
Puzzles
Studying
Reading
The list is endless
So much time to do anything I like
Driving my wagon of hope through beautiful views on my road to myself
I was ready to quit. I used patches only to save my husband from my starving the demon as he was in a horrible accident and I was his care taker. Once onto the second step, I just quit using them because I'd wake up n forget to put them on and I was like, why bother? DONE!
I changed my lifestyle. After dinner, I went for a walk or hurried up to do dishes. While driving, I sat on my smoking hand. I quit drinking coffee. I sucked on candy. I gained weight but I'll lose it. I changed my mindset from, Oh.... 1 smoke won't hurt! To I can not have 1 puff!
I'm 14 months smoke free and I wonder why I didn't do it sooner?!!! Oh that's right... I wasn't ready to kill off the addiction.
Nothing against vapors but if you want to quit and are really, really tired of feeding the addiction, I'd advise to stay away from vaping and just stop using. First 2 weeks are the worst and once through it, you never have to do it again!
I changed my lifestyle. After dinner, I went for a walk or hurried up to do dishes. While driving, I sat on my smoking hand. I quit drinking coffee. I sucked on candy. I gained weight but I'll lose it. I changed my mindset from, Oh.... 1 smoke won't hurt! To I can not have 1 puff!
I'm 14 months smoke free and I wonder why I didn't do it sooner?!!! Oh that's right... I wasn't ready to kill off the addiction.
Nothing against vapors but if you want to quit and are really, really tired of feeding the addiction, I'd advise to stay away from vaping and just stop using. First 2 weeks are the worst and once through it, you never have to do it again!
I quit cold turkey.
what helped me was reading and understanding the physiological aspects of cravings.
The hardest part about quitting (for me) was the physical sensation of craving.
After I understood the cycle of craving, I could objectively see each one as it came along and say, "okay, I know this is a craving and it can only last x-amount of minutes before it begins subsiding."
I'd watch the clock and the craving would go away just as the literature said it would.
And so on, until the next craving which usually presented as, "I want a cigarette." Ah, another craving; I'll time it.
I can't remember now, but isn't each craving something like 5 minutes duration? If you can get through those 5 minutes, you're good to go until the next craving....Eventually the cravings subside and then disappear altogether.
Good luck to you!
what helped me was reading and understanding the physiological aspects of cravings.
The hardest part about quitting (for me) was the physical sensation of craving.
After I understood the cycle of craving, I could objectively see each one as it came along and say, "okay, I know this is a craving and it can only last x-amount of minutes before it begins subsiding."
I'd watch the clock and the craving would go away just as the literature said it would.
And so on, until the next craving which usually presented as, "I want a cigarette." Ah, another craving; I'll time it.
I can't remember now, but isn't each craving something like 5 minutes duration? If you can get through those 5 minutes, you're good to go until the next craving....Eventually the cravings subside and then disappear altogether.
Good luck to you!
I smoked for almost 20 years. I was ready to quit but I personally did not want to deal with nicotine withdrawal at this stage of my sobriety (I was a few weeks past my first year when I bought my last pack). So I went to vape shop with 50 bucks and an open mind. It's worked for me for almost 3 months. Now I won't dissuade you from what others have said. I'm still using nicotine and there is some maintenance involved. But I do feel physically bette. And I am lowering my nicotine dose gradually with the goal of being nicotine free in the future. If you are interested I encourage you to visit the sober vapers thread.
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