Qutting Smoking Today 1/22/07

[*julez* 124]

Good luck Michelle!!! I quit smoking last year (July) and it feels so good to be free of cigarettes!! Its funny, last weekend I was in bars in Chicago, where smoking is allowed (its not here in Buffalo) and I was sickened by the smell of the smoke! Thats when I knew I really had turned the corner!!!

You can do this! It won't be easy, but it will be well worth it!!!! And all the money you'll save!!!!!! Just pop in here for support when you feel like smoking - you know there's always someone here to lean on!!

Again, best of luck!!!!!

[irishgirl73 0]

Good for you & good luck to ya! I swore I was going to quit after we got approved for the K-1, but I am STILL smoking.

I AM going to quit soon-very soon

[Minfay 0]

Congratulations!!

I have been smoke free since April 30, 2005 at 6:20am I smoked my last one before I went into the airport to get on a plane to Cancun for a week long vacation. I smoked a little over a pack a day for 30 years......this was the first time I "really" tried to quit. It wasn't easy but wasn't so hard either.

For me, going on a vacation seemed to be the best choice -- to get me out of my environment for the first week. And it worked. I also went to my doctor and got a three month prescription for Wellbutrin (which made me less "jittery" -- I guess) and I sucked on the nicotine thingies (Commit).

I still want one.....I still have a pack in my car.....but I haven't taken a puff since that last one. The temptation is always there.....try to stay strong and know that there are a lot of people who have gone through what you are and we will all be here to help!!

[broma25 2]

Good Luck Michelle....I quit a couple of times before, it is time for me to quit again soon.

I used some tablets in England (Zyban) which did help alot so I may go and see the doctor and see if he will prescribe me some (Chanix - I think thats what they are called), if not I will be on the Commit lozenges.

Anyone had any experiences with Chanix???

[KiKi 0]

Michelle,

check out www.whyquit.com

It's a little scary but that actually worked for me!

Good luck, you can do it. If you can make it 72 hours you've got it made.....

[bostonparis 0]

Good luck from a fellow QUITTER!!

I quit smoking on August 28, 1996. I kept a pack of cigarettes around for a while, and never touched 'em.

Gum, veggies, brush your teeth A LOT (that really worked for me), keep fresh clothes, towels, sheets (the nice smell will remind you how CLEAN everything is!).

[MichelleandCraig 1]

Thanks a lot everyone, for your comments and advice...now **** ***!!!! J/k of course. I haven't had any yet,but *already* I want to. No, not gonna, but WANNA! GRRRRRRRRRRRRR. Can't wait until after supper when I realllllllllly want one!

The support and good ideas help..thanks a lot. Another message board I go to has a complete board on quitting, so I have read everything there as well....it does help to know what it's doing to our bodies (*very scary!) and how much things can improve in a relatively short amount of time. Am trying the 'brush your teeth' right after eating instead of smoking thing, as I always, always have one then (don't we all pretty much??) and chewing on straws, etc.... It's always been the mental part for me...when I'm used to smoking..., *more* than the nicotine...not that that doesn't have a factor.

Anyway, I'm sticking to it this time. The other times I quit for a while I felt this way too, so I'm hopeful. Only difference is that I'm going to keep quitting this time! Thanks again all! M.

[Minfay 0]

It will get easier......take it one minute at a time.....do what you need to do to take your mind off of it. I swear, it does get easier. I never believed anyone when they said that to me but it does.

[broma25 2]

I went to a smoking cessation group and they advise that you say for this moment you are going to choose not to smoke. It makes it easier than thinking that you are never gonna smoke again.

[doodlebug 3]

wellbutrin worked for me. I think it's been about three or four years now, I can't remember. Before that I quit for five years but had started up when my husband left me. Then I'd quit for a few months and start again. What did it for me was a dream I had of my two daughters crying over my death bed. The thought of me dying and leaving them without a mom just got to me,...especially over something that I could have prevented.

That being said I really could use a Marlboro light now and since I left Cairo I've wanted to smoke every freakin' day of the week.

[devblt 0]

I think it's about that time of day for a mid-afternoon ciggy.. care to join me? Just kidding.. good luck with it.. i'm rooting for ya!

[Mary Lou 682]

Wishing you luck and much success with quitting Michelle!!! I quit back in Nov, after i had my surgery, but of course once i started to feel better, i started again But i realize i have to get in the frame of mind you are in and really decide to do it. It helps to do some deep breathing when the urge comes over you, it helped me anyway. I am considering having the laser thing done the next time i decide to quit. Just stay positive and i know you can do it

Mary Lou

[cheeky^Wolf 0]

We're both quitting this Saturday! Dave's having laser treatment, I'm going cold turkey, as I can go months without one.

We're scared but excited about it. Dave drives a truck 10 hours a day so I'm planning to get lots of different things to keep his hands and mouth occupied. I've discovered I don't smoke when watching TV but do when I sit at the computer.. so guess what I'm doing next week!

Good luck all of those trying to quit and well done to all the success stories, it's great to hear it can be done.

Helen

[de_sjiem 0]

Good luck Michelle!! I know you can do it!!

[RaspberrySwirl 20]

Michelle, I have all the faith in the world in you - you CAN do this. I've been smoke free now for roughly 10 months after having a 25 year, pack a day habit.

I won't lie, it wasn't easy. Give the hubby and son ample warning that you might become a different person for a little while...lol.

My biggest problem was how b!tchy I got haha My poor hubby and daughter got the brunt of it too. But it didn't last and got better after about a week or so. (now I'm just a nicotine-free natural b!tch...lol). And yes, my appetite did increase a bit but you know what? You are much better off carrying a few extra pounds and being smoke-free rather than weighing less but smoking cigarettes. I did gain about an extra 15 lbs. but I was able to get rid of it after about 6 months. So don't get discouraged if you gain some extra weight - and not everyone does gain weight, either.

I drank a lot of water. Every time I wanted a smoke, I'd pop a sugar free candy in my mouth (a lot of them aren't bad, really!) and/or drank a glass of water and/or brushed my teeth/swished some mouthwash around my mouth. At times when I had been in the habit of grabbing a smoke (after eating, for example) I'd just jump right up and get busy clearing and doing dishes or something. Taking nice, deep, long breaths helped at times. As did going for a walk at times. Keeping busy was important. Something to take my mind off of the fact that I was craving a cigarette. And after awhile, the cravings become less and less until one day you realize that you hadn't had ANY cravings at all and you'll know you conquered the beast!

Good Luck, Michelle!

And feel free to contact me on this if you like!

YOU CAN DO IT!!

Awesome advice, pretty much what I did.

Good luck, Michelle. I know how hard it is.

If you want, you can sign up on quitnet.com and get emails regularly. Check out their gadget that'll calculate how much money you'd save. It helps to keep me motivated. I'm saving about 200 a month now.