Any Smokers Here?????

[robing0110]

I have been working so very hard to get healthy and am really beating myself up about smoking. Seems so counter productive and I just hate myself for it. I really want to quit but can't seem to find that motivation I need. DH says don't do everything at once but I know that smoking is holding me back from exercising to my full potential. I don't want to get thin and then find out I have lung cancer from smoking. I don't want my kids to see me smoking and my granddaughter will be here in 2 days. I don't want her to see me smoking either. I am so frustrated. Is anone else going through this. I really wanna quit and maybe I need an accountability buddy or some good advice. Please help if you can!

Thanks so much,
Robin

[daisyHair]

Robin..

Just keep trying, if you really want to quit you will get there.

It took me like 15 times to really quit.
I finally have been smoke free for over a year.

I used to keep cinnamon sticks in the house.. you know the real spice kind -rolled up bark and use them for my oral "fix".. they are rolled up and have a hole in the center and you can sort of "draw" thru them. I kept one in my purse for a long time. People would look at me in the car with a cinnamon stick in my mouth, like I was crazy..

It was interesting how much they helped.
Just keep on trying.

[fawn]

Hi Robin
I quit while low carbing. Though, I was not motivated to quit unfortunately while losing weight. You're right, cigarettes are the number one cause of cancer and sometimes it does seem counter productive. However, steps might just be the best thing for you. Grandaughter is coming to the house or being born in 2 days? We do know that the babies skin can absorb many things so maybe this will be one of your steps! Don't smoke while visiting with baby so you can hold her without guilt, try to smoke a few less today than you did yesterday, and the same with tomorrow........

Try to cut back on the habitual smoking. For me, it was at night when I got on the phone. See what I'm saying? If your habitual smoking time is in the car, try not to smoke in the car. You sound stressed about both the smoking and the need to quit. Take it slow, and tell yourself it will be permanent. We need to be able to want to quit and with some weening techniques, I find that it's easier. I tried to quit every year for 6 years then one day I just threw a half carton away I had brought home from a cruise. What was my final? My husband had a red ring around his throat and it scared the bajeebers outta me. That was it. I've never looked back and despise the smell now. I was one of those smokers who loved my cigarettes too. I never tired of them until the end of a long smoking night then the next day was a fresh new day for more smokes!

It's a hard one.......be easy on yourself and know that with the intention, comes the resolve.

[KajunDC]

I know it sounds easy to say but, just quit. Decide you don't want it anymore and simply put them down.

I decided I was done with cigarettes 18 years ago after smoking for many years like a chimney. I woke up one morning and decided - that's it. I haven't even considered putting one in my mouth since.

[robing0110]

Thanks so very much everyone. All of your words really mean alot. My granddaughter will be born on Tuesday!
I am gonna try really hard on this. I will keep you posted.
Thanks a Million Buddies,

Robin

[Mindy5936]

Hi, Quitting was really hard and I tried many times, cold turkey never worked for me but the patch did. I haven't smoked in seven years. And I really liked to smoke.-Mindy

[Jayelgee]

I quit for two weeks last month. I was doing so good and then I thought I'd take a puff on my husbands cigarette for old times sake. One puff turned into two, then 1/2 a cigarette, then a whole cigarette, etc etc.

It's such a frustrating piece of donkey doo habit. I've lost 7 of the 15 lbs I gained from not smoking and then I'm going to quit again. FOR REAL

I'm so angry at myself. Next time: NO PUFFS!

[Hazelsmrf]

Aww I know how tough it can be to get over a cigarette addiction. I quit 3 years ago though and I really did love smoking so it can be done. What helped me was reading Allen Carr's Easy way to quit smoking. Really, read that book. What do you have to lose, like 10 bucks? Keep smoking while you read it. Let it really sink in. I read it all in an evening and haven't smoked since. And I did *not* want to quit, but a switch went off in my mind and after reading that book I knew I'd not be able to enjoy smoking anymore.

[amiga74]

i quit many times before i finally quit 8 years ago on my birthday. i am still very proud of that accomplishment!
don't be so hard on yourself Robin! you can do this!
congrats to you and your family with your new granddaughter!

[klawrence34]

Read Alan Carr's book, "The Easy Way to Stop Smoking". It's an entirely different approach than just using scare tactics (which actually makes people smoke more) and willpower.

I hear you - I smoke, too. I actually quit by following Alan Carr's book for 4 months, but unfortunately I started again about 2 years ago. That's my next goal - to quit for good!! Good luck!!

[Sahrablue]

I quite 3 years ago in May. Never looked back. Cold turkey is actually the best way because nicotine patches and stuff just keep the body dependent on some form of nicotine longer. I read up a lot on WhyQuit - the Internet's leading cold turkey quit smoking resource, educated myself on how the addiction is really just triggers that your brain gets used to feeding with nicotine. I found something to replace those triggers, my choice was regular gum. I also looked at the horrible pictures on the site of mouth cancer, lung cancer and such.

Much like the low carb forum has helped me with this WOE, the QuitSmokingMessageBoard.com • Index page helped me tremendously with my quit. Whenever I had a craving I would go read other people's inspirational and motivational posts. Never take another puff! I know it seems too easy to be true, but put the cigarette down, accept that it is not your friend and you shouldnt spend more time with cigs than you do your loved ones. Cigarettes steal time away from you every day whether you get cancer or not.

I hope this helps you! Quitting smoking made me more proud than losing 74 pounds. You have to want it in the same way though!

[Sahrablue]

Also - taking just one little puff after you quit will usually make you go back to your full dosage within a small amount of time. My husband doesnt get that and thinks he can puff on cig butts while quitting, he has never managed to quit.

I can also tell you, he stinks, it makes me sick and turned off. I smell people who smoke come into meetings every day at work and can't believe I used to smell that way. You dont even realize it when you smoke.

Dont anybody take offense, I smoked for a long time, I feel I can say that!

[Heather150]

Some people do better to taper off slowly, while others go cold turkey. I made up my mind to go cold turkey, and used the same mind set as I did when I started Atkins. I didn't cheat when I started Atkins (by eating bread, sugar or flour) so when I made up my mind to quit smoking, I used the same mind set as I won't have a cigarette since I'm not suppose to. I also told myself I wasn't an ex-smoker, I was a non smoker.

Please do try to quit! Lung cancer is not the only thing to worry about. With each cigarette, you are ruining your arteries and damaging your heart. My mother is now handicapped after having a massive heart attack and stroke, which left her paralyzed on her left side. She is in a wheelchair and living her 'golden years' watching TV 24-7 and my father is having to take care of her...all because of those #$% cigarettes she couldn't put down.

Every time you puff on one, picture your arteries just shriveling up and dying. You have more chance of having a stroke or heart attack before getting lung cancer.

I wish you well!!!

(I hope this was came off as motivation, not a lecture. I smoked for 16 years, but quit 3 years ago. If I hadn't quit by the time my mom suffered her stroke/heart attack last year, seeing what she is going thru, and what she is putting US through, would have been enough for me to quit!)

[Sahrablue]

Here's a vow you can take before smoking.

The Smoker’s Vow
To be said just before taking your first puff after having quit for any appreciable period of time

With this puff I enslave myself to a lifetime of addiction. While I can’t promise to always love you, I do promise to obey every craving and support my addiction to you no matter how expensive you become.

I will let no husband or wife, no family member or friend, no doctor or any other health professional, no employer or government policy, no burns or no stench, no cough or raspy voice, no cancer or emphysema, no heart attack or stroke, no threat of loss of life or limbs, come between us.

I will smoke you forever from this day forth, for better or worse, whether richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, till death do us part!

“You may now light the cigarette. I now pronounce you a full-fledged smoker.”

Postscript: While 1 in 2 marriages end in divorce, the addiction to smoking will last a lifetime—albeit a shorter lifetime. Once a smoker, annulment of the addiction is impossible. One puff can result in a permanent relapse. Don’t take the chance of relapsing to this marriage of inconvenience.

NEVER TAKE ANOTHER PUFF!
Joel

[Atkins Chick]

I quit a few years ago, but went back to them. I've been really beating myself up as well to quit for a while now. Let me tell you what I did the first time. First of all, I quit cold turkey. It was difficult due to "habits", but when I felt like having one, I popped just plain ol' sugar free gum into my mouth. That helped tremendously. I also drank a LOT of water. When I got the "urge" I drank and drank and drank water....so much that my belly ached. I needed that oral fixation. When I drank so much water, I had no urge to smoke with a full belly. The third thing I did, was open a 500mg capsule of L-Glutamine under my tongue when my mouth really craved a ciggi. You know, you get this type of "taste" or "craving" for a ciggi. I get the same taste in my mouth when I crave sweets and can satisfy it by either smoking or eating sweets. The L-Glutamine was taken once a day and really helped my cravings!

The best feeling.... is when you kick the "habit". I remember when I finally did quit the first time, I was driving and looked over at a car I was passing on the highway and saw a man smoking with his window cracked. I said to myself "wow, I didnt even think of smoking while in the car here unitl I noticed him"

I will quit again...and I know I will be successful when I'm ready.

[roseandrc]

Hi Robin,

Another former smoker here, (11 months of FREEDOM from cigarettes!) I agree with those who recommended Allen Carr's book, The Easy Way to Stop Smoking. You sound like you are really fed up with smoking, good time to pick up that book. Also the quitnet message board, I was glued to that board for several months, that really helped me enormously. Unfortunately I took up the habit one more time, after using both of those tools!

I quit for various lengths of time several times, during the 9 years I smoked. There is always the temptation to go back to it for "just a few puffs." There is no such thing (for most.) I think that's why many of us fail several times before we finally make it. Eventually we figure out that we're NOT one of those few who can just smoke the occasional one.

Good luck Dear, you will make it!

[pooticus]

No matter how many times you try, keep trying until it "takes". Please please please do it. You've listed so many great reasons to do it. It's hard. I know. I did it. Let me give you more incentive...

My mom smoked for about 40 years before giving it up about 15 years ago. She was diagnosed 3 days before Christmas this year with Stage 2b Non-small Cell Adeno Carcinoma of the lung. It had already metasticized to a second tumor by the time they found it. It is inoperable and she is terminal. They don't speak in terms of cure for her. They are talking about trying Tarceva (a protein therapy anti-cancer drug) and she has just been through super high-tech version of radiation. From Christmas to now, the primary tumor has doubled in size and the cancer has spread to her lymph nodes in her chest wall. In the space of 6 weeks she has gone from Stage 2 to late Stage 3. She most likely doesn't even have 3 - 6 months. She's not ready to die. We're not ready for her to die. But she's dying none the less.

Please do this. Do it for yourself first. But if you can't love yourself enough to do it, please do it for the kids and your hubby.

Also, please go get your Vitamin D tested. And as a smoker, get your level up to above 50 by taking Vitamin D3 (not D2). It's one of the best adeno carcinoma preventers they know. You will need to test your D3 every 3 months to make sure it's not too high. Do NOT take D2, though.

[skg]

I was set to quit on Jan 1st unfortunately I didn't, got engaged, work is nuts, my bf said your next excuse will be the wedding, I keep using excuses but I have made my mind to quit at the end of the month. I got this way of eating down now this is my last demon. We need to do it for ourselves and nobody else, we need to love ourselves enough to say thats it I do not need this vise anymore.

We can do it.

[Bluqq]

Originally Posted by Hazelsmrf

Aww I know how tough it can be to get over a cigarette addiction. I quit 3 years ago though and I really did love smoking so it can be done. What helped me was reading Allen Carr's Easy way to quit smoking. Really, read that book. What do you have to lose, like 10 bucks? Keep smoking while you read it. Let it really sink in. I read it all in an evening and haven't smoked since. And I did *not* want to quit, but a switch went off in my mind and after reading that book I knew I'd not be able to enjoy smoking anymore.

I second Allen's book
saved my life
explains why you feel what you feel when you quit
if you understand it, you can beat it
I quit 3 yrs ago

[JBo]

I quit 6 years ago. I was a dedicated smoker of three packs a day. I smoked in the shower with water massaging my back. I had an old car that was only held together by tar and nicotine. All of my luggage and 3/4 of my clothes bore the Marlboro logo. I joined the Catholic church for their cool water fill ashtrays at the entrances of their churches. You gotta love a religion that caters to smokers!.
The only reason I'm on this thread is the hope to catch some virtual second hand smoke. The cravings never completely go away.

[BarbDe]

There is a group quitting now, if you are looking for any more support.

Stop smoking 2009

[aim in Fla*working]

Originally Posted by Hazelsmrf

Aww I know how tough it can be to get over a cigarette addiction. I quit 3 years ago though and I really did love smoking so it can be done. [COLOR="Red"] What helped me was reading Allen Carr's Easy way to quit smoking. Really, read that book.[/COLOR] What do you have to lose, like 10 bucks? Keep smoking while you read it. Let it really sink in. I read it all in an evening and haven't smoked since. And I did *not* want to quit, but a switch went off in my mind and after reading that book I knew I'd not be able to enjoy smoking anymore.

[glennjones]

I used nicorette to quit over two years ago...the nicorette was hard to get off of for me too.

Don't stop quitting...it'll stick one day.

[ShesSuperCool]

Hi, I'm yet another person who quit with Allen Carr's Easy Way!
I smoked for 22 years, over a pack a day even during two pregnancies. I counted change "borrowed" from my kid's bank to get cigarettes and took out in the middle of the night to the store walking in a bad neighborhood to feed the addiction.

I read that book exactly how he said to, smoking like a chimney. Reading about smoking is just like seeing it on TV for me. It makes me want one!

But that book really worked magic on me. I'm not saying it hasn't been a struggle, but after a year I am somewhat sickened by the smell and see what my daughter was saying all those years.

Also I loved the Silkquit meter. My family joined me in celebrating every accomplishment, and I even had a little party this January 14 when I hit one year.
I believe you can download them free from Silkquit.com. There are other meters but this one is simple and a very small d/l.

You can do it. Heck I did it and I have a horribly addictive personality. If I can do it, anyone can!

[Jayelgee]

I went to whyquit and while he did succeed in scaring the crap out of me, I was much too angry for being talked to like a dumbass to actually get anything from it.

From what I've read, Allen Carr looks like the way to go. I'm ordering the book today.

[fawn]

The cravings never completely go away

I thought this might be the case for me. I told myself I would probably smoke again one day....isn't that terrible? I was such a weirdo, I would plan when I would smoke.....a life altering experience, some event I couldn't handle emotionally, etc. etc. I've been tested several times and passed. I truly do not have cravings ever
Maybe it's the level of addiction which is individual? Could it be my clean eating that keeps me level? Not sure but I'm free from sugar, cigarettes and consequently, alcohol.

[Hazelsmrf]

Originally Posted by Jayelgee

I went to whyquit and while he did succeed in scaring the crap out of me, I was much too angry for being talked to like a dumbass to actually get anything from it.

From what I've read, Allen Carr looks like the way to go. I'm ordering the book today.

Bleh at scare tactics. I don't know any smoker that goes "Holy crap, you mean, I can get CANCER from this?" We all *knew* this and knowing that it can kill you wasn't enough to make you quit. So why do people think that just repeating the same old stuff over and over and over again will help you quit? It doesn't and it's just annoying to be talked down to when you're an adult.

That's why I loved Allen Carr. No scare tactics.

[Hazelsmrf]

Fawn, I have no cravings either anymore. The first 3 months I had them, but if I got up and did something else the cravings went away. But now it honestly is not a struggle to not smoke. I am a non smoker. It is who I am. I have no need or want for a cigarette. I can go outside on coworkers smoke breaks and not be the slightest bit interested in their cigarettes. In fact I am kind of grossed out by them now (the cigarettes! not the coworkers hah)

[Bluqq]

ya know....it all makes sense
I started with LC and eating HEALTHY...once the weight was off....I turned to the smoking and kicked that

being able to control my food choices and the confidence that gave me just translated to so many other areas of my life

[pooticus]

Originally Posted by fawn

I thought this might be the case for me. I told myself I would probably smoke again one day....isn't that terrible? I was such a weirdo, I would plan when I would smoke.....a life altering experience, some event I couldn't handle emotionally, etc. etc. I've been tested several times and passed. I truly do not have cravings ever
Maybe it's the level of addiction which is individual? Could it be my clean eating that keeps me level? Not sure but I'm free from sugar, cigarettes and consequently, alcohol.

Fawn I do think that the clean eating, stable insulin and blood sugars contribute to helping with cravings - for food as well as nicotine. Both the craving for sugar and nicotine hit the same pleasure centers as heroine and affect the dopamine/norepinephrine reuptake loop. Without the rollercoaster ride and swings, you stay in a steady state. Keeping your insulin steady insures that you don't have either up-regulation or down-regulation of the receptors. In other words, you are in homeostasis more often than not which = fewer cravings.

I too thought I would crave forever. But now, the smell of cigs makes me repulsed and I can truly say after 10 years, I can't even imagine a situation where I would want one. My mom's lung cancer notwithstanding. That only adds to my resolve - seeing the effects of it on her first hand. Scare tactics are fine and dandy to dispell until it hits someone you love and you see the beast close up and first hand. And you have to wipe someone's bottom because they are too weak to do it themselves because of the drugs used to help control the pain in their chest...