Ex-smokers

luvmykids wrote: I'm trying to get psyched up to quit (again, for real )

Tell me how you quit, how long it's been, how you deal w/temptation now, how much better you feel, etc.

TIA.

MyBrownEyedBoy replied: I quit cold turkey, avoided my old friends for a while and stayed away from alcoholic beverages (they still make me crave on occasion).
I slowed way down from 1 pack a day to maybe 3 or 4 cigs a day about 5 years ago and quit finally about 2-1/2 years ago.
I don't go to bars anymore, that is the biggest temptation for me. And I don't drive in my friend's cars if they are smokers.
And I feel great, I don't get as sick anymore, I am sick for much less time if I do get sick. I feel better about myself and that I will be around for much longer for Logan. And I won't make him sick with his heart condition.
It is the best thing I ever did for myself. You can do it! It's not easy, but it is well worth it.

PrairieMom replied: You can totally do this.

The best thing I can tell you is that the niocotine leaves your body after 24 hours. That is the worst part. After that all you have to do is break the hand to mouth habbit. Where do you live? I'll see if I can get you the a local support #.

luvmykids replied:
NM. If you could get the # I would really appreciate it!

I forgot to say in the op that I've used the patch and it makes me hallucinate.

PrairieMom replied: The Quit line # is 1-800-Quit-Now
You can also try toll free 1-877-44-U-Quit


And here is a website I found that will hopefully have some usefull information for you.


http://www.health.state.nm.us/TheStink/Res.../NMDHreport.pdf

luvmykids replied: Thank you Tara!

kayla's mama replied: I just saw this....

We both just quit for good this year. Offically in Jan.

We used the patches. They worked really well but I always slept with mine on and I would have the craziest most bizzarre dreams. We don't drink as much as we used. We now rarely have any alcohol.

I looked at it like a mind game. The one thing that helped Jason was he used these things called STEMIDENTS. they are like a toothpick. He would chew on one of those if his cravings got to him.

C&K*s Mommie replied: BEST of WISHES, Monica!

amynicole21 replied: I have quit several times (hee hee) with the gum. I have been smoke-free for over 2 years now. Of course, pregnancy sort of forced my hand this last time, and the fact that DH finally quit has also helped. It's still a day-to-day struggle Going to Philly to visit my mom last week was hard. She smokes in the house and she was such a b**** that I wanted one so badly The smell of it made me want to throw up, though. Guess that helped

It's a matter of really wanting to do it and then not giving in. It's also one of the hardest things I've ever done (3 or 4 times!)

Good luck!

luvmykids replied: TY, everybody! I have to get a little more geared up and put a quit date on the calendar. I ran out of cigs yesterday and almost just quit right then, I wasn't going to the store with all 3 kids just for that. But then my mom came by and I ran out to the gas station ....

Mom2Boyz replied: I quit for about a year and a half, and just recently started again I just did it cold turkey, (and am going to do that again).

kit_kats_mom replied: I used the gum. Now I'm addicted to gum, both nicotine and regular chewing gum. I MUST have gum. It's horrid. I feel like a cow.

But I do feel so much better. It's been 4 years since I quit. I will have one or two if I'm drinking and out with a friend who smokes (which is about once a year) but the last time I did that I didn't really enjoy it and I woke up with an awful smoke hangover from just one. That was about 2 years ago. UGH I doubt I'll do it again.

PrairieMom replied: Good luck to you ladies! Just think of all the $ you will be saving! when my Dad quit he bought a hot tub!

luvmykids replied:
Thats DH, he quit chewing tobacco and smoking about 2 years ago but he can't quit the gum! Healthier I guess, but really expensive habit!

BAC'sMom replied: I have been wanting to FINALLY quit too. You & I are going to have to get together to be each others support. My husband quit cold turkey for New Year's 2 year ago, so did my sister. I can go for days and not smoke but then I will pick it up again.

I know it time to quit, just can't make myself do it. Maybe we can help each other.

luvmykids replied:
I'm gonna need all the help I can get! I've quit for both pg's and short periods after, but as soon as I was done BF the cravings were back like I'd never quit. Literally, the second I knew we were done, I was on my way to the store.

Anyone else want to quit?

JP&KJMOM replied: I really want to quit to. Maybe we need a smokers support on here like the weight loss group. Of course if I really quit I will need both groups. I am in so lets set a stop date.

luvmykids replied:
Oh geez, I hadn't even thought of that

PrairieMom replied: I think its a great idea! I'm a non smoker, but can try to support y-all the best I can!

luvmykids replied:
Ok, how about a week from the last Thursday of November? Just kidding. Someone else will have to pick a quit date or I'll keep postponing it. I'll warn you all now, I'm a weenie.

PrairieMom replied: I'm bumping this up again so y-all don't forget about it!

JP&KJMOM replied:

Don't look at me to set it either. I too am a weenie! We need to find someone else to set the quit date! Maybe a non smoker!

coasterqueen replied: I don't know if you want to hear my story because it's encouragement, but it's not. I think everyone who is going to quit should know this though, IMO it makes it easier to quit long term.

I quit YEARS ago for 2 years just using the patch. Then one day I got peeved off at Dh big time and to peeve him off I started smoking again...that's when he started smoking again and he's never quit.

I then quit right before I got pg with Kylie and have been smoke-free since (well except one minor weak moment I had one cigarette and I won't go into that, but that's IT). My reason to quit was for my babies and that was my pure motivation.

Now here's the tricky part, but I think once you know it and learn to just live with it, it makes it easier to quit for the long term. I, personally, want a cigarette every day, at least for one moment in my day. Now the feeling of wanting one is less than it was when I quit, but it's faint, still there. Smoking is an addiction that you will ALWAYS have to fight, IMO, BUT it's worth it. I just look at what I gave up and what I'm getting in return and it's all the motivation I need to continue being smoke-free.

YOU CAN do this!!!!!!

BTW, I've tried just about every trick out there to quit, lol, so has DH. What worked for him the 1st time he quit was Zyban. I tried the stuff and it almost put me in the hospital, no joke. That stuff is not for the weak, that's for sure.

BAC'sMom replied: How about the date of April 17th? That is in 7 weeks, plenty of time to get an exercise plan in the works.

Anyone?

PrairieMom replied: Okay for all you quiters out there...
are you wanting to go cold turkey or wean your selves off?

Here is a support #:

1-800-Quit-Now


decide what you want to do, and I will set a date.

lesliesmom replied: Count me in.. I have been slowing cutting back (I'm down to about 5 or 6 a day AND I usually don't smoke on the weekend) but I get to work on Monday and I'm back at it... I know I'm bad for smoking and want to quit. I currently use the gum for terrible cravings if I'm out with DH and some friends, but other than that... Let's do it girlS!!!!!!!!

BAC'sMom replied: Bum

Insanemomof3 replied: I am totally in. I want to quit too!!!! I have tried and tried to no avail. Maybe this time it will work!!!! I need lots of support though.

Sarah&Mackenzie replied: Good Luck everyone !!!