kicking the habit...

[tommy]

fellow lgcers, i come asking for help/advice this afternoon.

so i haven't really broadcast this too much before, but i've been smoking for 3+ years now (i'm one month shy of 21) and in the past year or so, i've tried many times, unsuccessfully, to quit. within the past few months i've gotten to the point two or three times where i've managed to cut down to two or three cigs a day. at the moment, though, i'm back up to where i'd been for a while, at about a pack a day, maybe a little less.

has anyone here successfully quit before? i don't really have the funds right now to buy expensive nicotine gum or get those shots that kill your cravings, etc. at the same time, though, cold turkey and gradually cutting down have, like i said, been relatively mediocre alternatives. anybody have either any good experiences with the gum or things of that nature, or solid advice for quitting without those materials?

thanks to anyone who has input...

[Guyute]

April will be 4 years for me. I'm way past the point of wanting one. They pretty much disgust me now. Can't stand the smell of 'em.

My method (and I had quit a couple of times, once was when I was around 20, I quit for a year, then Decided to start up again)... is to psyche yourself up to quit. Set a date a few weeks out (or whatever) and keep happily smoking each day, but constantly knowing/thinking about the night before your "Quit day"... and how that last smoke before you go to bed will be your last. Ever.
The first few days are pretty maddening, and the first few weeks are pretty tough. Stay with it though. Remember, once you stop, you'll be more attractive to the wimmin, your breath won't smell like ass, and you'll have tons of cash to spend on something else.
Plus, you'll be able to break your arm patting yourself on the back... because there's not a lot that's harder than quitting that nasty habit.

Best of luck to you man.

[nccanes]

Good luck Tommy. I've never been a smoker, but I know how hard it is just from watching good friends.

In fact a good friend of mine did exactly what Guy talked about. She decided she'd quit when she turned 40...or before she turned 41, lol. She did talk about it to anyone and everyone so that people knew and could pat her on the back. She tapered off as she approached her cutoff. She did have the money and resources to use cessation stuff,but she actually didn't like or end up using any of it.

Good luck, keep us posted so we can give you those atta boys along the way!

[kermelbar]

I'm not a smoker and never have been, so take my advice for what it's worth. But the people I know who relapse tend to do so at times of stress -- for them, a cigarette is the only way they know to relieve stress. One of those friends once said to me, "But I had a really stressful week!" And I said, "I have stressful weeks, too, but I don't smoke. B--- has stressful weeks and she doesn't smoke." And she said, "But you run!" Yeah, but I haven't run in about 8 months -- I still get through.

If you got down to two or three a day, but went back up, I'm guessing that something triggered the going back up -- stress, boredom, etc. You can't necessarily get rid of those things, but you can plan for how to deal with them, so come up with an alternative to a smoke break.

If you're stressed at work, go for a 5-minute walk around the building or up and down the stairs. (I know a lot of people would say they don't have time for that, but there's pretty much nowhere you can smoke indoors and every smoke break I see my co-workers take takes more than 5 minutes.)

If you're bored at home, it could be that you devote a little more time to a favorite hobby or take up a new one. (Some people who are dieting, for example, take up needlepoint or knitting so that their hands are busy and they're not tempted to eat something and get their project dirty with food particles.)

Hope that's helpful! Best of luck!

[SouthernHockeyChick]

I quit pretty much the way Guyute suggests. I really didn't have too hard a time of it, though, so I don't think I'm one to go by.

What I can offer is that my hospital recently made the campus completely smoke-free. You can't even smoke in the parking lot anymore. That meant a TON of nurses had to quit. The thing I hear them talking about over and over is a drug called Chantix. If you have prescription insurance it would probably be covered. So far, it seems to be really safe and extremely effective. Most of the nurses I know quit within a month and not only had no problem but never even have a craving anymore. And you want to talk about stress....nurses know all about it.

However you choose to go, good luck!! I wish I'd never touched the things.

[svandijk1]

I never smoked but both my parents did. When I was about 7 or 8, my Dad worked at Duke. He once told me that what made him stop smoking was when he saw what a lung diseased by years of smoking looked like. Just seeing it did it for him.
My Mom was a tougher cookie to crack. Basically my sister and I guilted her into quitting. In the car or wherever we might be, when she lit up, we both just started hacking. We must have annoyed her into quitting. Reverse peer pressure I guess.

[Alicia]

I agree w/Guyute, & 59 pretty much alluded to my other thought of occupying your time, keeping busy.

[Shattered]

Guyute is right (write that down) - psyching yourself up is key. You're over the physical addiction after a few days, after that it's mental and that's your battle. I had to get to the point where the smell of smoke disgusted me; I also made a point of noticing all the nasty flabby white trash women driving around with cigs-a-danglin', and kept those images in mind whenever I wanted one. (Maybe that would be less effective for a guy as the male alternative isn't quite as off-putting.)

Kudos and best of luck to you. Three years isn't a lot of damage to undo - you can do it!

[StormShaman]

Do what I did--

Tell your doctor that you'll quit when the Hurricanes win the Stanley Cup.



Whaaaat? IT WORKED, DIDN'T IT?

[caneshockeychick]

Tommy, I'm right there with ya buddy...I'm tapering off. I swear I bought my last carton today. One good thing that's working out for me, is having 2 jobs although that may not be for you as a college student.

I've tried many ways to quit over the years, some have worked some haven't. I know stress and depression are big triggers for me (which will make it hard for me to do this during this time of year. I swear I have that SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) because most of my worst moments in my life have been during the winter.

I've moved away from a big stress in my life (although trying to go thru what I'm going thru now is tough).

I've been smoking for 20 yrs now, off and on...more on than off of course.

As for the Chantix, I'd try it but, I have heard of some issues with it if you have any kind of depression. It's worked well for my mother who quit last year but her doctor put her on an anti depressant at the same time. My sis has also started Chantix but she too is on an anti depressant. While I was on an anti depressant, I currently am not and I'm trying hard not to be. But as someone who has been diagnosed w/a depressive disorder, I'm kinda scared to take the Chantix w/o getting back on an anti depressant.

Good luck!!

PS...I already know what I want when I get through the first 6 months...its flat and its got something called "HD" in its name :lol:

[brindyfan]

okay..now that the game is over and Cam has his shutout, I can post this....I was too worried I would jinx it if I posted it until after the game.

anyway, I had he weirdest dream Sunday night. I dreamed I ran into Cam at the store and made a bet with him. The bet was I would quit smoking if he would get a shutout. Guess I have to keep my end of the bargain now.

don't know if it means anything, but last night I dreamed I made a bet with LaRose that I would give up caffeine if he got a hat trick.

good luck to all who are trying (like me) to kick the habit.

***I really am too emotionally vested in this team*** :lol:

[SC06]

I quit smoking when I met my future husband. I knew he wouldn't stand for it and he was the one worth quitting for. I just went to the doctor and got a prescription for Zyban. I took it for three months and that was it. I had been smoking for about 15 years and I was smoking about a pack a day at the time and I didn't have any real trouble quitting. The only real challenge was fighting the urge when I drank. I loved to smoke while I got my drink on and it was tough so eventually I just quit drinking also.

Now the smell of smoke on somebody grosses me out and I don't know how I lived like that.

Lots of insurance companies will not pay for Zyban so some people use depression as a way to get a script for Wellbutrin, which is the same thing and is usually covered by insurance.

Good luck!

[caneshockeychick]

Well, I'll get to pick up my script for Chantix after work today and start on it tomorrow. I'm sooooo excited.

BTW, sccanesfan is doing great on it.

[caniac369]

***I really am too emotionally vested in this team*** :lol:

You are by far not the only one...

Tommy, good luck to you. I have an Aunt and Uncle both former smokers (they quit 2 years ago after 40+ years each) and both were diagnosed last year with lung cancer. The only reason either has any sort of life expectancy is because they quit when they did.

Carrots, my man. They are cheap and good for the fidget/hunger/munchy thing.

[nccanes]

We've got some recent very bad news about my Mom-in-law who was a 40+ year smoker and the state of her lung cancer. If you can quit......do. :(

[Alicia]

We've got some recent very bad news about my Mom-in-law who was a 40+ year smoker and the state of her lung cancer. If you can quit......do. :(
I lost a family member to lung cancer right before Christmas. She had just been diagnosed in September...never smoked a day in her life. Sorry about your MIL, E.

[nccanes]

I lost a friend that way last summer Alicia. Less than a year from diagnosis. :(

[magnolia_mer]

My dad is quitting for the 4th time. He started on Chantix for a few weeks, but the dreams freaked him out. On the other hand, it did make him quit. He said they made cigarrettes tasted "as if they'd been washed in dirty sock water." As far as I know he's still smoke free since October.

[caneshockeychick]

So, I'm on my 3rd week of Chantix. Now, my DR had me take it differently for some reason than from how I've heard others taking it.

I had to take the .5 mg once a day for 2 weeks. I've just jumped to 1 mg twice a day this week.

I have to say, I really don't want a cigarette. I think when I do smoke, I tend to finish only about 1/4 to 1/2 of it. I'm realizing what my triggers are so that's the good thing.

What's hard for me is that I have routines. Breaks, Lunches, Driving in a Car. I don't smoke much at all at home. Maybe 1 or 2 from 4:45 to whenever I go to bed (10, 11, 12) on nights that I'm not at my PT job. I do keep myself busy when I'm home though because that way I don't have the urge to sit and smoke.

Mornings are the hardest so far. But the Chantix is making me feel sick when I do smoke so, again, I don't smoke the whole cigarette.

I'm glad I'm doing this though.

[Mona2006]

Good luck to all you guys trying to quit. I smoked in my 20's only when I drank because it was just the thing to do... but thank goodness I never got anything out of it..even though I inhaled. I grew up with parents that smoked but never got completely hooked. I have terrible allergies to cigarette smoke now and couldn't smoke if I wanted to. I had a supervisor that was hypnotized to stop..and she stopped cold turkey. Never smoked again. Just try to stop before your health is compromised. My brother had to have surgery last year to clean out his carotid that was 99% blocked because of years of smoking. Thank goodness he laid those cigs down and hasn't touched one since.

and svan I can understand about your dad. I grew up in Winston Salem and we had an assembly at school and Bowman Gray School of Medicine employees were our guests. They brought lungs from people that had died and were smokers. The lungs were black. :sick:

[puck_it]

some new motivation... (saw this posted elsewhere)

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1113/1247193038_f6a86cf990.jpg

[caneshockeychick]

some new motivation... (saw this posted elsewhere)

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1113/1247193038_f6a86cf990.jpg

Hmmm, I'll need to print this out on the color printer at home :evil:

[SouthernHockeyChick]

Why is he wearing a cowboy hat?

[Guyute]

He's in Chicago. Aka, Wild Wild West. Right? No? Um... I don't know then.

[nccanes]

Not all cowboys smoke? :huh:

[livinthedream]

Marlboro Man?

[puck_it]

they need someone like scarlett johansson to do a camel impression then. :smoke:

[nccanes]

I have no idea where that's going. Camels where no clothes? :lol:

[puck_it]

camel toes

[caneshockeychick]

As mentioned in the Diet Thread, I've quit smoking. Technically,it's been exactly 4 days since my last cigarette. I thought this weekend would be the hardest but due to my HT schedule, I really didn't have an issue.

Before this time, I was probably down to one or one half cigarette a day. They tasted absolutely horrible.

The worst moment was coming home Thursday night and finding my parking space so much occupied by my upstairs neighbor that I could hardly get my door open. I really wanted one that night but being home won out. A trip to apt. mgmt on Fri. during lunch fixed that and so far, they haven't pissed me off again...yet.

Digression...Although they did give me a huge laugh yesterday when I left to do grocery shopping and heard them doing the wild thing. They do this alot in the Liv. Room of the apartment and who knows, maybe they made it on to the kitchen counter (ewww) yesterday. They always leave the windows open so everyone can hear them. Yes, they are butt ugly so I guess they want people to know know that yes, even butt ugly people have sex not that I hadn't figured that out anywyay. But I laughed.

Anyway...I've learned a few things

1. I can't drink Beer. This sucks but drinking beer I feel like I need a cigarette. I've had to pour out 2 beers in the past 3 nights (I forced last nights beer down my throat :lol:)

2. I have to keep myself busy when I'm not working. If I sit down, I fidget and this is not a good thing.

3. I have to tell myself "NO!!" every day, every store that sells them. I am not allowed to stop. I shop at the HT only right now because they (on my advice) have been told that they can't sell me cigarettes and they won't. Seriously.

4. I've finally learned how bad it stinks. Oh. My. God. I can tell every customer who has come into contact w/ a cigarette the minute they get in my line and this is not a good thing. I'm so lucky that I did not smoke inside my apt (that much anyway) or else I would probably be sick every day. Yes smokers, we stink (hey, once a smoker, always a smoker...just like an alcoholic I'm sure ;) )!!

5. But, I'm not going to be that person that goes off on anyone who smokes. And I will get cigarettes w/o saying anything for any customer who so desires them. Hey, I was once in their shoes and maybe one day, they'll get smart too.

6. Lastly, Health issues that have nothing to do with food. Here's the thing...for me, Coffee and Cigarettes in the morn = laxative. Take away 1 of those...trouble. Currently, my pharmacist and I are working on this.

Anyway, just wanted to give an update. I'm excited that some more chains in my life are being removed. :yippee:

[puck_it]

I've had to pour out 2 beers in the past 3 nights
:cry::cry::cry:

in seriousness--- way to go! keep it up!

[caneshockeychick]

Thanks and yes, it was sad...Blue Moon's Spring Ale, Rising Moon. I was in love with that stuff last year :(

[StormShaman]

OMG YOU SHOULD HAVE CALLED ME I LOVE THAT STUFF :eek2:

[TheMadCap]

After trying for several years to quit, I have been smoke free for nearly 2 years now. It was, by far, one of the hardest things I have ever done.

I think you really have to try and quit a few times before it takes. The other times I "quit" I always wanted another. The last time I never did. Here's what was different the last time.

I really think it has to do with this pool hall I hang out in here in Richmond. One of those places where it gets so smokey that you can barely see, the smoke is like a fog in there. I got completely grossed out trying to sleep unless I took a shower, I would have to wash my hair, literally, like three or four times to get the stench out. I could barely breath after a night out in that place, so that really convinced me that something had to change.

And I know all about what stress does to you, try playing in pool competetions for stress! But it can be done.

the other things that helped were trying to be more active outside walking and hiking. If you smoke you run out of gas so fast it's incredible. Also, I work for PMUSA so I see firsthand some of the nastiness. For example, there are machines that smoke like 20 cigarettes at a time onto a big filter pad, which is then tested. You would not believe how vile that pad is afterwards, and the smell. Oh. MY. GOD!

Anyways, having support from friends and loved ones helps too. Also, it helps not to watch sports, LOL! In all seriousness, DON'T Buy or bum any cigarettes and your half the way there.

Good luck!

[Guyute]

Keep up the good work chc! (And all those others working on quitting. Including Shell, who's also managing to hold it together. hehe)

April is 4 years since I quit. I love the fact that I'm not a smoker anymore. If I get into a car of a smoker that smokes with the windows up, it just about kills me. That crap is so disgusting it's unreal. Yet at the same time, impossible to see until you're away from it for a little bit. But, once it "clicks", it makes being a non-smoker SO much easier.

[caneshockeychick]

I slipped. :(

Not real bad but, still I slipped.

I thought I had gotten through all of my triggers and then, this past weekend happened and I found one more...family stress.

I don't have any more cigarettes now but driving home from SC at 9:30 pm on Sunday night, I stopped and got a pack. It was like the anger was dissapating with each inhale and exhale.

I stayed pissed all through Monday. I finally got out what I needed to get out with those members of my family (at least I think I did) and I'm back on track.

I feel bad though :(