quit 8 years ago after 30 years my tips

used to think cigs were my friends- smoked marlboro for 30 years loved them and towards the end I also hated them for the hold they had on me and for the terrible cough I was getting(which i havent since the 2ed week after quitting) i had tried many times to quit and even went a month or more different times then went back to it. but I finally did it 8 years ago and now you couldnt even pay me to smoke. I picked a quit day, stocked up on the gum, and lots of pretzel rods, and hard candy and quit I had always smoked in the car so I cut the end off a pencil to make it cigarette size and held it like a cigarette and even puffed on it a lot those first few days. I only used the gum for 3 days and i slept a lot and stayed away from everyone else that smoked. and i prayed and prayed.for the first weeks i went to places i never smoked in like church and libraries etc, and didnt drink for months I took lots of bubble baths and loved how good my sense of smell got and how good food tasted shortly after quitting. i also didnt tell my self this was forever i couldnt handle that i did the just for today i wont smoke and i never allowed myself to take another puff. and it got easier and easier every day, and here i am eight years later. remember cigarettes are your enemy.......not your friend. God bless

I am so glad I clicked onto this area of calorie count.  I am 49 years old and began smoking when I was around 31!  Divorce will do that to you.  My mother smoked, my sisters smoked and most of my friends did, so it wasn't foreign to me...anyway I have tried to quit (seriously quit) about two or three times.  I did do it cold turkey (with God's help) for about 6 months.  I thought of myself as a social smoker but realized not only is it a behavioral habit but also a crutch.  I began smoking again after six months the night my mother died (unexpectedly)!  I had gained 25 pounds after I quit smoking and I felt like crap!  I decided to quit again and that lasted two months- until my husband had a heart problem and had to have open heart surgey- the smokes came out again!- Then three months later my father passed away!  Well needless to say I kept on smoking.  It was comfort to me.  Now I am on this web site- determined to lose weight and get myself healthy again (after a long bout of depression over the loss of my parents).  I have lost around 20 pounds - but 20 more to go!!!!!!! (the depression added another 20 to my frame).  NOW the point of all this is I am so fearful that if I quit now I will gain the weight back!  I know- stupid but- that is the reality.  I need someone to give me the reassurance that I will not gain weight if I quit again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I will buy the book...but honestly...I am skeptical....Any encouraging words from fellow stress smokers???

Nothing is ever guaranteed but ... we can all only keep trying and trying and trying. 

I am going to the Dr tomorrow for a follow up visit after showing up at the ER last week thinking I was having a heart attack.  OUCH.  I'm 49 and going to be a Grandma soon.  I wasn't so worried about my mortality until now.  I'd really like to see and get to know this little critter!  I think I'd like to stick around for awhile and not be a smokin Grandma .. maybe a smokin hot Grandma!  but not just smokin!

I have set a quit date of April 15th and have been telling everyone what that quit date is even some people who didn't even know I smoked.  I'm hoping that eating a REALLY healthy plant based diet will help my stress levels stay down.  I'm also trying to cut back on the caffeine and other stimulants such as alcohol.

I have a prescription for Chantix but haven't decided if I want to take that or not.  I'm using my time between now and my quit date as practice time.  If I get to my quit date and I still haven't quit on my own, I plan to go pick up the Chantix.  I've heard from more than one person that it works but it kind of scares me .. but I guess not as much as the smoking.

Hopefully, I'm on the verge of a healthy, hopefully 2nd half of my life.  (I hope I live  long enough to be able to say 49 was the first half!)

Take care of you .. you're the only one you got!

21 days until quit date!

spunkyjammin, next to accepting Jesus as my Lord and Savior, quitting smoking was one of the top 4 decisions I have ever made(marrying my great husband , having 2 kids and adopting 2 special needs kids, as the other ones).  It is amazing how much better you will feel , and in just a very short time. You also have the added feeling of better self esteem as a former smoker. You will breath so much better in under a month, your sense of smell gets intense and is wonderful ,and your sense of taste gets incredible--I remember tasting pretzels after about a week and couldn't  believe how good they tasted-(warning!!)  Putting on a few pounds which you can take off later is nothing compared to the benefits you will get from quitting smoking. I think you should use any and all of the aids that are available out there if needed. My friends husband, who was a long distance truck driver, and smoked for 45 years,successfully quit (over a year now) using chanix. I think he took it over a month before his quit date though. Keep us informed of your progress. I quit 8 years ago. After you do quit, and you experience a craving, tell yourself--"i am not going to smoke today-i may tomorrow- but just not today. The thought of never smoking again while you are having a craving is too much some times, but just don't  take that first puff. not today, maybe tomorrow, and before you know it you will finally lose all the cravings and you will get to the point where you actually quit thinking of smoking, and when others around you are  smoking it stinks and actually grosses you out. But that does take time.  God Bless You and keep it touch.

Just have to say I am so appreciative of the posts and replies that have been going on.  I am in Day 3 now of quitting.  I haven't smoked since Wednesday evening, and I it has been easier this time, BY FAR.  The last times I was successful at quitting, it was PURE misery.  This time (giving it over the my Savior, having a quit date, lozenges, a list of why I want to quit, the list of benefits your body gets from not smoking, a free phone counselor through smoker's helpline, and a web of support from family and friends, PLUS a plan to manage my intense cravings or just the moments when I simply want to smoke) has been much more positive.  I can't say it has been easy, but it hasn't been torture either. 

Today is the hardest so far.  I miss them--like patandtodd88 said, I feel like I lost a friend even though they are my enemy.  Sometimes it is hard to think that one day I won't miss it, but these posts have been just what I needed to read to help me remember that "this too shall pass".

While I am wrestling with it a bit, like I said, I am thankful for the Lord and how much easier it is this time.

You Rock!! someone once told me the cravings last less that ten minutes so if you can do something to get past that , you can be okay until the next one. I always thought it was silly when they suggested things to do when you are craving one-like you always can just quit what you are doing and go take a walk or a bubble bath-lol! but if you do keep telling your self' i"I will not smoke this time--maybe later- but not now," and puff on that pencil or whatever, the cravings do get less and less often and further apart. and truly they finally quit all together, and before you know it you will be going hours and hours without thinking of them or wanting them. Then days will go by and eventually it will be months and years. right now i am craving anything fattning- like any junk food, and I am not even hungry- so your post actually helped me. Just for today, I will not eat anything harmful to my body or weight loss efforts--just for today. Write me back tomorrow and let me know how you did today. Thanks Patti  and I will write back and let you know how I did. the local ice cream shop opened and every one wants to go later today, but I will resist . Just for today

Day 4 is almost OUT THE DOOR--meaning passed by without a slip up!  I still can't believe it, but that's God for ya, right???  He does what I simply find impossible all the time!  I totally think what they suggest to get through cravings are silly too--usually.  Taking a bath or walk doesn't do it for me.  I have to do something that uses my brain and hands.  I think it's personalized, really, but maybe they could give a person just a few more suggestions!  I have chosen to post on here and my online NICA group and to scrapbook or organize and clean something.  Anyway...

YOU can do it with regards to food!  Shoot, I think we can all do it with regard to ANYTHING addictive, right?  I mean, I am also doing it with food.  That has been even tougher since I am not smoking, but I am just keeping my house stocked with fruit, veggies, and other low cal but totally awesome food (Fiber One Bars get me through intense "I need something bad for me" cravings). 

Let's do this thang!

I quit smoking in January.  I live with my husband and adult son who both smoke.  It is harder to quit when you are bombarded with smoke all the time.  My husband finally put them down in Feb. and now we just have the son.  My husband still lets him smoke in the house, which I do not like, but he does not want to appear like a reformed smoker.

Now, the biggest challenge is when we go out for a drink which is not a surprise to anyone in this room.   I also got laid off work when when I quit so my whole like has been shaken up this year.  I have only gained 3 or 5 pounds but I need to get in shape.  They are not kidding when they say that it is hard to lose after 50.

I used Chantix for 3 weeks and did not refill the prescription.  I wish I would have continued with it because it takes away alot of anxiety.  I don't think there is anything that really helps when the craving hits you except the memory of when you got through one before.  I used to smoke part time and never smoked at work.  People at work did not know I smoked (so I thought).  Now that I don't smoke I know I stunk like cigarettes from head to foot.  My lunch bag stunk and Christmas gifts and birthday cards.  We sure do alot to kid ourselves. 

Anyway, even if I wanted to still smoke, I can't afford all the taxes that are being put on them.  I think that it is a shame to tax addicts, but the government sees it as an easy way out.

Next task, starting today is to loose 10 pounds so I can golf without huffing and puffing.  Keep the faith.  This is day 1 of the weight loss.  When I quit I tried to keep healthier foods around so I didn't do too bad, but I am ready to tackle my "menopot".

Good Luck all......

well, when i quit, the state had just caught up with my online cigarette shopping at a NY reservation and i was too happy to tell them i quit, after paying back tax to them of course.  reward yourself for the money not spent on smokes! another bonus was my larynx healed and i can sing again!  what scared me into quitting was spring allergies whic h made my breathing hard etc...thinking of emphesyma, oxygen tanks and so forth conflicted with my love for dancing! 

Hi Marygrace,I am 34 and will be 35 in July. My name is Angie.I have been smoking since 1993. Me and my husband had seperated and he would come visit our son on the weekends and he left a pack of cigs with about 8 or 9 in it,and I don't know why nut I picked up one ,lit it and smoked it and been smoking ever since. I have tried to quit several times,even quit for about 6 to 8 months,but started back. I also had quit once for about 2 or 3 months then my Dad died with lung cancer and i picked them up once again! I bought the patch about 4 months ago and put it on for one day and the next day didn't put one on and lit a cig. I NEED to quit because I have high bp,high chol,and I have Fibrmyalgia and I am over weight. So I need some encouragement and support to help me quit. I may try to use the gum,or may try the patch again. I need help bad.I want to see my 17 year old and my 3 year old grow up and spend my life with them.I had alot of realitives that have had lung cancer and died.I thought my dad getting lung cancer and dieing would of scared me eough to quit but here I am still smoking,almost a pack a day!  Angie

Hi Angie,

I am so sorry for the loss of your father.  It is a devastaing thing to go through.  I was very close to both of my parents but had a special relationahip with my Dad.  We did everything together when I was a kid and also golfed together as I grew older.  It is so hard to go through grief and also to quit a bad habit that "appears" to give us some relief!  I am so proud of you that you really want to quit smoking.  Although I appreciate you wanting to do it for your children...we really have to do it for ourselves.  I have kind of a funny story...after I quit smoking for 6 months- I gained 25 pounds or so...as I said before, when my mom died I started again and I had to go to the Dr.s for a bad cold...he asked me if I was still smoking and I started crying and said- "I quit and gained 25 lbs and then started again...now I am FAT AND SMOKING...whaaaa!"  The Dr. gigled at my response and said..."give yourself a break and take one thing at a time...get through your grief...then quit smoking...then you can lose the weight..."  He is a great guy.  Well anyway- the time that I quit for 6 months- I was riding in the car and started praying and crying and said "God, please help me to quit!...I can't do this on my own!"  I threw the pack of cigarettes out of the car window (sorry for litering..), and didn't pick one up again (until mom died).  Anyway- anything is possible with God's help and strength!  You can do this!  My husband quit and did a combination of the patch and a pill - I think it was called Zoban or something (it is actually a pill that addresses compulsive behavior-which smoking is...).  This worked for him like a charm.  I will pray for you- just take one day at a time...or ten minutes at a time....

Marygrace