Stop It!!! (Smoking)

[Chipfo]

I want to stop smoking. There is a few very nice people here on Zaar that want to see me quit, err I mean stop. Leggy Peggy mentioned in another thread that she STOPPED a couple years ago, she said she is not a quitter, so she said stopped. I think that is a good term for it, to try and stop.

I know there was a support thread called Quitters, that was about this same thing, I don't know what happened to it but let's do it again!

This is MY plan, to go to the Doctor, get a script for Chantix and maybe even order the book Allen Carr's Easy way to Stop Smoking.

I have tried the patches beforen they do help, I would also carry around those little lolypops, called Dum Dums, it gave my mouth and hands something to do while not smoking, it helped along with the patches.

But I still smoke. So I am going to try the pill this time.

ejmatl, suzycrue, Deely, Terese, I am ready to STOP!!!!!!!!!! Are ya'll still in?!!

Quincy, I won't pester you about it, but you are more than welcome to come and join in to, we all need to stop smoking! We all need support doing it as well. Please join us!

Velvetinenut, THANK YOU! For getting on my butt to stop, you are so sweet! I've been wanting to for a long time, have tried several times. Bella, sweety, thank you for encouraging this!

A couple helpful links -

Chantix

Allen Carr's Easy way to Stop Smoking

Nicoderm Patches

[Suzycrue]

Thanks Chip!
I started back on Chantix today. My stop date is Monday the 26th. Good luck to everyone and everyone wish me luck!!

[ejmatl]

If things with my asthma attack progress the way they have been over the course of the past day and a half, I'll be at the doctor next week to get the prescription.

ellie

[mikeyp]

I became a nonsmoker a few years back, not by quitting but by becoming a nonsmoker. Every time the urge came about, I reminded myself that I was a nonsmoker. The urge would go away...for awhile...a little longer each time. The constant reaffirmation that I was a nonsmoker ultimately prevailed. The urge only comes to me in my sleep now. Try this method as well...it couldn't hurt!

[Terese]

mikeyp wrote:
I became a nonsmoker a few years back, not by quitting but by becoming a nonsmoker. Every time the urge came about, I reminded myself that I was a nonsmoker. The urge would go away...for awhile...a little longer each time. The constant reaffirmation that I was a nonsmoker ultimately prevailed. The urge only comes to me in my sleep now. Try this method as well...it couldn't hurt!

That's the exact mindset you have to have. Some people when they give up think of themselves as a smoker who chooses not to smoke.

Count me in Chip, I'm ready to quit.

[Terese]

You will feel the benefits of quitting straight away as your body repairs itself. Depending on the number of cigarettes you smoke, typical benefits of stopping are:

After twelve hours almost all of the nicotine is out of your system.
After twenty-four hours the level of carbon monoxide in your blood has dropped dramatically. You now have more oxygen in your bloodstream.
After five days most nicotine by-products have gone.
Within days your sense of taste and smell improves.
Within a month your blood pressure returns to its normal level and your immune system begins to show signs of recovery.
Within two months your lungs will no longer be producing extra phlegm caused by smoking.
After twelve months your increased risk of dying from heart disease is half that of a continuing smoker.
Stopping smoking reduces the incidence and progression of lung disease including chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
After ten years of stopping your risk of lung cancer is less than half that of a continuing smoker and continues to decline (provided the disease is not already present).
After fifteen years your risk of heart attack and stroke is almost the same as that of a person who has never smoked.

[Leggy Peggy]

Go! Go! Go! I'm so glad this thread got started.

In early 2006 a friend, who was going through a very ugly time/relationship,
called and said she was going to stop smoking. She asked if I would join her.
In the end, three of us joined her. We did it for ourselves,
but every night we were on the phone asking, 'You still hanging in there?'

The moral support is wonderful, so I'm going to remind everyone here not
to pour guilt on anyone who falters. I smoked for 39 years before I really stopped.
Some little tricks helped me a lot, and I'll pass them on over time. Too soon yet.

Today I can't imagine myself ever smoking again.
I still love the smell of a just-lit cigarette, and also love the fact it's not in my mouth.

Thinking of you all and knowing what a challenge it is.

[Leggy Peggy]

mikeyp wrote:
I became a nonsmoker a few years back, not by quitting but by becoming a nonsmoker. Every time the urge came about, I reminded myself that I was a nonsmoker. The urge would go away...for awhile...a little longer each time. The constant reaffirmation that I was a nonsmoker ultimately prevailed. The urge only comes to me in my sleep now. Try this method as well...it couldn't hurt!

Those smoking dreams are so nasty.
You're puffing away, and even in the dream you are so darn angry with yourself
and then you wake up and are so relieved it was just a dream.
I haven't had a dream like that for at least six months.

[Leggy Peggy]

Terese wrote:

Within a month your blood pressure returns to its normal level.

Actually your blood pressure can rise again -- can even be quite high --
a while after you stop smoking, but it settles down again.
I only know this because I went to give blood and my pressure was high
(this was six months after stopping).
They said that was normal, but it would settle soon.

[Bellamarie.]

Congratulations!!!! & I wish EVERYONE success.

I picked up this pamphlet today.
How to beat cravings the 4 D's.
Delay - the urge passes
Deep Breathe
Drink Water
Do something else

[Shani Banani]

Good luck Chip and Suzycrue! I tried a month or so ago and it didn't work but I'm thinking about giving it another go here pretty soon!

[Amberngriffinco]

I stopped.. twice.

First time was moments before my tonsillectomy 11/7/87.. an entire year. The next NYE, I smoked ONE with a glass of wine and became a smoker again - 5 pk/day.

Then I used Nicorette, and became addicted to those for a year.. finally, just cold turkey.

That was about 22 yrs ago.

SO addicting, I still want one today............

[Tea Jenny]

Chip you have to set your mind to it and be so determined that you wont be able to stand the humiliation of starting again. I have been a non smoker for 34 years, I started very young and was the biggest mistake of my life, when I stopped I was on 50 a day and had chronic bronchitis and so ill that I could not go up a flight of stairs without stopping for a break half way. I think it must be like being a alcoholic. If I get a whiff of a cigarette I find I am sniffing after it. Once a smoker always a smoker but if you stop dont be tempted to even have one little puff or you will be hooked again. This is just my personal opinion and how I feel you might be different. I went cold turkey and didn't use any thing to help just will power and it was hard but I was so ill I didn't have a choice. Be strong you can do it.

[glitter]

I certainly wish you much luck in doing so. I know it's easy to say quit than it is to do it. However, the long run for a smoker is not something you want to look at. Here's to your health and you able to make a good decision for yourself. We are in your corner. My dad chewed on toothpicks and stopped cold turkey on Thanksgiving. No pun intended! However he held onto his toothpick till the day he died. God Bless his heart.

[Terese]

I started reading Allen Carr's Easyway to Stop Smoking today and it really is amazing. It completely goes in the psychology of smoking, but from a smoker's point of view. It is totally against the usual scare tactics that you see on TV but makes you understand why you won't give up smoking, which is FEAR.

He is also against any types of nicotene replacement therapies, such as patches and gum. While these may work for some but they didn't work for me. Last time I gave up smoking I became addicted to nicotene gum for 5 years, in fact I almost spent as much money on the gum as I did on cigarettes.

Chip, you MUST buy this book.