Just quit today....

[jackson123]

I have been taking Wellbutrin since last Wednesday. It's working so well for me. I was going to quit this Wednesday so the Wellbutrin had a week to work but I don't even want to buy a pack. I'm done. I just hope I stay this strong an confident. Smoking was my release. It was my reward for everything.

Maybe I'll just take a walk instead.

Lisa

[historyteach]

Congratulations, Jackson123!!!
You know, Lisa, that taking a walk is probably the best thing you can do for your quit success. Changing our behaviors is the single most important thing we can do to maintain our success rate.

If I may share with you the tips for my success, here they are....remember, take what you need and leave the rest. This is what got me to Seven months, two weeks, four days, 7 hours, 57 minutes and 24 seconds without a cigarette. That's 9213 cigarettes not smoked, saving $2,533.19. Life saved: 4 weeks, 3 days, 23 hours, 45 minutes.

Clean your house of all smoking stuff -- ashtrays, lighters...anything else associated with smoking. Visual reminders can cause a craving to come out of nowhere.

You've got to decide if you're going to use any help. I used patches. I also used the gum too --but, when I was driving only. That's when a craving would hit bad Are you going to use Zyban? It helped me. But, you've got to start it two weeks before your quit, so, plan ahead. I also went to group smoke cessation counseling and had telephone counseling from the American Cancer Society. I used any and all methods to get me through. So should you. There's no extra points given for suffering more than you have to!

Each state received funds from the tobacco settlement. They were supposed to use it for prevention and cessation programs, (though some have not.) You can call your town counsel or state representative to find out if your state has or not. (If not, find out what they did with the money ) If you live in RI or Mass, you can call 1 - 800 - trytostop. There's a website anyone can go to. It's www.trytostop.org . You'll find much help there too.

Also, call the American Cancer Society toll free at 1-800-ACS-2345 to request self help materials.

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/NWS/c...rs_Can_Quit.asp

They sent me materials and also hooked me up with phone counseling.

The biggest thing I learned with the group and telephone counseling is this: Focus on your behaviors. Choose to do the next right thing, choice by choice, no matter what. The urges WILL come. But you do not have to succumb to them.

Plan for the times you know you will want a cigarette. What will you do when you are on the phone? Having your morning coffee? Driving?
What about when you're in a situation where others are smoking? What will you do?
How about drinking? You need to assess your group of behaviors that will help you get through these times, and develop more behaviors too.

It helps to change things around too. For example, drive to work a different way. Move the furniture around in the house. Sit in a different chair for your coffee time and hold the phone in the opposite hand. Drink tea instead of coffee in the morning. All these changes help us with our quit. We are not doing things automatically anymore, but, consciously aware of our movements. That helps us remain conscious of our desire to smoke too. We no longer do things in an automatic manner. We remain mindful.

It is also important to develop new skills for yourself. For example, I joined the gym. I joined the chorus. These healthy behaviors helped me overcome the negative behaviors of smoking. And they serve as a good reminder for me. (Though I did have to quit chorus...I just didn't have the time.) They help me remember why I want to quit, (start of COPD), and if I DO slip, it will give me a really quick reminder by causing my symptoms to return. In both scenarios, I benefit from developing healthy, positive addictions to replace the negative ones.

You WILL have cravings. Some will be strong. But, the new behaviors that you adopt will help you get through them. It takes only six weeks for new behaviors to become habits. And one thing I've learned is that cravings became much easier for me to take; much less potent, when I accepted them. I watched them come and go. I laughed at them, recognizing them for what they really were -- the nicodemon calling me back to death.

Finally, when things were at the worst, I relied on a tip that my friend gave me to get through it. My own personalized mantra. I choose one that had spiritual meaning for me, but, it can be anything. Mine was Hebrew, “nais gadol haya po ” It means, “A great miracle is happening here ” And it WAS a miracle for me After 36 years of smoking, I was quitting one day at a time.

One last thing my smoke cessation counselor said. Cinnamon sticks help with cravings. Something in the cinnamon does it. As a side benefit, it also is a slight appetite suppressant If you're worried about weight, it can help. Now, personally, I didn't like the sticks. Reminded me too much of smoking. But, I now chew cinnamon gum on occasion.

I hope these things help you in your quit. Focus on behaviors is my main statement. That's what's gotten me to where I am in my quit.

Good luck. It also helps to have a daily check in with someone or on the thread here in the nicotine forum. That day to day support and accountability keeps me on track, for sure! :>)

I do hope this helps you.

Keep the quit and post before you puff! :>)

Shalom!

[jackson123]

Thank you so much!

[historyteach]

Yer Welcome!

Keep the quit and post before you puff!

Shalom!

[jlo34]

Good luck, Lisa. Keep up the great work. Day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute, second by second. You can do it!!! We are ALL here to help you, too!!

Free and Healing for Three Months, Twenty Eight Days, 2 Hours and 5 Minutes (119 days), while extending my life expectancy 12 Days and 9 Hours, by avoiding the use of 3573 nicotine delivery devices that would have cost me $635.46.

Jen