Some Questions, if you have a minute or 2

[angelgirl]

Hi there..

I am wondering if you would please take a second, and answer some questions for me.. Please..

1. How long did you smoke?

2. How long have you been quit as of now?

3. What method did you use to quit? and do you feel this is the best method
for quitting? ( I know you quit if you are answering this, but maybe you feel that it could have been easier if....)

4. Your BEST advice for quitting..

5. The best advice you can give, other than candy or gum and far as things in your mouth..

Thanks so much.. I appreciate you taking time to do this,, I really do.

Love and prayers to you..


Becky

[PlanoTexican]

1 Thirty Five plus years.

2 One year and one month.

3 My wife and I both used the patch.

4 Stay busy busy busy. I can't say that enough.

5 Keep those fingers and mind busy. Change your schedule, do things you don't do enough.

Knitting helped my wife, myself, I built a new wooden boat.

Avoid doing anything that you do when you smoke.

Quit smoking and I will wager most of your breathing and other health problems will go away.

Mine did!

My wife had a complete check-up and her results came back NORMAL. God was she happy about that. No elevated white blood cell counts, blood pressure back to normal.

Quit for yourself, no one else. Same as you did with the other habit, you will be glad you did.

[angelgirl]

Oh thanks so much.. That was very kind of you to share
Made me laugh.. Well, the Senior moment did.. LOL.. Thanks..

Oh yes, I know that I do need, and ya know, I really do want to quit.
I AM going to. I have a date set for, May 1. I heard that it's best to start on a Monday, LOL..?? Well, ya know, I will do anything that might help.

I do very much appreciate the wisdom though. I had called a quit line before. So
I have info. from them. I also have their phone number.

I am also timing my cigs now, allowing myself one only every 45 minutes, at the most for now, and getting shorter all the time. That 45 minutes is not all the time, but occasionally, I was lighting one after another, without thinking. Now I am writing it down.

I hate cigs, I hate cig companies, I hate smoke, I hate everything that has to do with smoking, and I don't use the word "hate" lightly. But I do hate smoking. So I know it is time to quit.

I just wish my husband would quit along with me. That is going to make it harder. But I can't use that as an excuse. He still drinks and I don't.

I hope I can count on you for support when I do quit as well. I know I will need it.
I have had trouble, when I wanted a cig now, and it wasn't time.

Thanks for taking the time. I appreciate it very much,,

Prayers,
Becky

[historyteach]

Becky;

1. How long did you smoke?

Thirty six years

2. How long have you been quit as of now?

Four months, four weeks, one day, 23 hours, 49 minutes and 18 seconds. 5999 cigarettes not smoked, saving $1,649.92. Life saved: 2 weeks, 6 days, 19 hours, 55 minutes.

3. What method did you use to quit? and do you feel this is the best method
for quitting? ( I know you quit if you are answering this, but maybe you feel that it could have been easier if....)

I used everything available to end my addiction. I used zyban, the patch, nicotine gum, (only while driving, as that was a huge trigger for me.), and group cessation counseling. I sucked on cinnamon sticks and chewed cinnamon gum too. And I focused on behavior changes -- the key to quitting. I changed everything; furniture in the house, changing the seat in which I drink my morning coffee, drive a different way to work...I joined a gym and joined a chorus... in short, everything!

4. Your BEST advice for quitting..

Focus on short and long term behaviors. Use any and every method available if you need to in order to break the nicodemon's hold on you.

5. The best advice you can give, other than candy or gum and far as things in your mouth..

Continue to do the next right thing. It's all in the behaviors. We can also work on our internal state, after the physical addiction is ended and the behavioral changes are intact. Then, it's no longer physical, and we can work on the underlying issues that we've used the smokescreen to hide. For example, it's likely, I've been dealing with social anxiety and using nicotine breaks to deal with it. But, just do the next right thing over and over, choice after choice.

Shalom!

[jlo34]

1. How long did you smoke? 17+ years

2. How long have you been quit as of now? 5 weeks and 3.5 days

3. What method did you use to quit? and do you feel this is the best method
for quitting? ( I know you quit if you are answering this, but maybe you feel that it could have been easier if....) I started Wellbutrin several days before my quit date, I seriously binge smoked - so much that it made me very sick for 3 days prior to stopping, I applied the 12 steps of AA to my quitting, I prayed an awful lot and asked/begged God to take away these feelings, desires, cravings, thoughts, etc. I started positive chanting...I don't want to smoke today - over and over and over. I think I've actually convinced myself. Sounds like you are in a similar mindset that I was in when I decided to put an end to that insanity.

4. Your BEST advice for quitting.. see #3 and #5!!!

5. The best advice you can give, other than candy or gum and far as things in your mouth.. Oh and I use IceBreakers sours - eat them like candy (no sugar, no calories) and then after you eat enough of them you feel kinda nauseous therefore you don't pig out!!! If you can find someone else for support, someone who has already quit smoking as a "non-smoking" sponsor, really helped me too. Stay really busy...exercise, crafts, read, clean the house, garden, anything to keep your hands and your brain busy!!!


Good luck, Becky. If you REALLY want to do this, you can. Remember, the really tough moments are just that, moments. My worst days were 2, 7, 14. I've had some other tough days with moments, but not unbearable. Those days were the worst for me, but unbelievable, I GOT THROUGH IT, thanks to God. Anytime I started feeling consumed with thoughts, I prayed and turned it over. Has worked everytime. I've even learned to start doing it earlier instead of waiting until I couldn't take it anymore!!! (Sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly!!!).

You'll be ok. Keep up the great attitude!!
Jen

[Webbiecat]

1. How long did you smoke?

First time, 6 years. I quit for 10, then smoked again for 3.

2. How long have you been quit as of now?

4 months!!

3. What method did you use to quit? and do you feel this is the best method
for quitting? ( I know you quit if you are answering this, but maybe you feel that it could have been easier if....)

I used the patch for 2 days, but I'm allergic to the adhesive. So I pretty much went cold turkey. I don't think that was the best way, but it worked.

4. Your BEST advice for quitting..

Breathe. When you feel that craving, breathe, pace, swear...whatever until it goes away. For me, I also REFUSED to go and buy another pack. No matter how badly I wanted to smoke, I held on to that one resolve, and it helped.

5. The best advice you can give, other than candy or gum and far as things in your mouth..

Citrus fruit. Things like grapefruits, oranges, limes or lemons (if you can stand them). For me, personally, the citrus fruits helped dimish the cravings.

[angelgirl]

Thanks SO much.

I was SO excited, when I came here, and read all of these posts. What wonderful
inspiration, and information..

Thanks so much. I plan to use the info you all gave me here. I also think this is great info for others coming here, looking for hope, and experience.

Prayers to you,,
Becky

[NewYorkGirl]

1. How long did you smoke? I smoked for 17 years and loved it for a long time. Then, I began to think about what it was doing to my body and I started to quit several hundred times. Then my younger sister got lung disease (interstitial lung disease) and it wasn't related to smoking...not fair right? I realized how stupid it was to take my health for granted while my sister began the process of getting evaluated for a lung transplant. She's still doing poorly, no transplant in sight and on oxygen in her 30's....it's so very very sad.

2. How long have you been quit as of now? 4 years.

3. What method did you use to quit? and do you feel this is the best method
for quitting? ( I know you quit if you are answering this, but maybe you feel that it could have been easier if....) I read the book "The EasyWay to Quit Smoking" - a Godsend. I highly recommend that and raiki. Raiki helped me immensely.

4. Your BEST advice for quitting...When you feel the craving to smoke, think of something else immediately. If you indulge your feeling of craving and think about cigarettes, you'll suffer.

5. The best advice you can give, other than candy or gum and far as things in your mouth... You don't need anything in your mouth...break the habit completely. Get tough on yourself and realize that you need to do this...it's life or death my friend. YOU CAN DO IT!!! email me anytime with any questions...you need to quit and you will.

[margo]

1. How long did you smoke?

33 years.

2. How long have you been quit as of now?

1 month, 2 weeks, 2 days, 7 hours, 45 minutes, 58 seconds.

3. What method did you use to quit? and do you feel this is the best method for quitting?

Patch. It was the best method for me personally.

4. Your BEST advice for quitting..

Cravings are TEMPORARY!

5. The best advice you can give, other than candy or gum and far as things in your mouth..

Freezie pops.


Good luck to you Becky - if we can do it, you can too!

[Webbiecat]

Ooooh Margo!! I LOVE freezie pops!!! Mmmmm. I think I'll have to head to the store now!!

[jdenar]

There is a book out by Allen Carr called The easy way to quit smoking. I smoked 3 packs a day for 35 years. After reading the book I quit with no cravings at all. Its been 4 months

[brigid]

Originally Posted by angelgirl

1. How long did you smoke?

I was 11 years old when I had my first cigarette, 35 when I started quitting earnestly, now 43 and feel like this time it is done with for good!

Originally Posted by angelgirl

2. How long have you been quit as of now?

About 3-4 weeks, not really keeping count this time, it is just done with for me now.

Originally Posted by angelgirl

3. What method did you use to quit? and do you feel this is the best method
for quitting? ( I know you quit if you are answering this, but maybe you feel that it could have been easier if....)

You name it I have tried it:

• Drink a glass of water every urge instead of smoke
• Cut back by one cigarette a day until down to none
• Only smoke pot and no cigarettes
• Patches
• Lozenges
• Tell everyone that I am a non smoker
• Refuse to buy a packet (smoke other people's only - hate to ask)
• Stay busy, busy, busy
• Know that sleep is going to be up and down
• Hypnotherapy and stress management

Originally Posted by angelgirl

4. Your BEST advice for quitting..

KEEP TRYING ... LEARN FROM EVERY ATTEMPT

• Change any attitude to smoking to a negative attitude
• Start to hate the kick in the back of the throat ... it is burning, not exciting!
• Realise that smoking is no friend ... it will let you down bigger than the worst enemy you have ... start to hate it and visualise the smoke going down into the lungs and the black tissue in there and all the damage the smoke is doing
• Stress management ... smoking used to be one fail safe way to handle stress ... finding another way to manage those stressful moments was invaluable
• Loved hypnotherapy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• Split with my smoking partner ... a bit drastic maybe ... there were other issues as well
• Talk to a doctor and get the facts about how smokers usually die and how painful that is for them
• Talk to a doctor and find out how your body can heal and recover ... the news is all good
• Use lots of nice smelling soaps, sprays
• Clean teeth after every cigarette to get rid of the smell and taste
• Wash hands after every cigarette to get rid of the smell
• Shower regularly to get rid of the smell out of hair and clothes
• Lip exercises to get fuller lips back after getting thin smokers lips
• Lots of moisturiser to help get rid of wrinkles and lines caused by smoke
• Think of self as non-smoker
• Go for as long as possible in the day without a cigarette
• Realise that you CAN DO IT!!
• Cancel the compulsion!!

Originally Posted by angelgirl

5. The best advice you can give, other than candy or gum and far as things in your mouth..

WATER, FRESH JUICES, FRUIT, WARM LEMON AND HONEY DRINKS

Good luck Becky!!

love Brigid

[Kampar]

1. How long did you smoke?

7 years

2. How long have you been quit as of now?

6 months

3. What method did you use to quit? and do you feel this is the best method
for quitting? ( I know you quit if you are answering this, but maybe you feel that it could have been easier if....)

Nicotine gum at first

4. Your BEST advice for quitting..

Give nicotine gum a shot, find a hobby

5. The best advice you can give, other than candy or gum and far as things in your mouth..

Remember how trashy and dirty smoking is.