Quitting

[tapero]

Hi,

I stopped smoking about 3 days ago. The last day of cigarettes I weaned down to about 15, then finished them, and put on a patch, a 24 hour patch. Yesterday was the hardest day. I'm not eating more; I think the Lord is in the healing, praise God. I chew one piece of nicorette a day along with the patch. I hope to wean down off that before I have to buy some more.

The american cancer society is helping by doing over the phone counseling. They give good tips and help. It was real hard talking on the phone without a cig at first, but now it's better.

I just want to encourage those who are trying to quit. They also said one or two cigarettes doesn't mean you go back to smoking, so hang in there.

Things smell better and taste better so far.

Well, that's about it. Take care and God Bless. Tapero

 

[Kalista]

Good for you! Keep it up. What helped me was not to think how long it had been since I had one, but that today was just one day, and I had to get through today. I just have to not smoke for one day, then the next day it would be the same... just one day. One day didn't seem so long of a time and I knew I could go one day without one, since I'de already done it.

 

[Anti Existance]

Hang in there , don't be discouraged , put it down and never touch a sigarette again!

 

[tapero]

Thank you for your encouragement. Has been now six days and I thought I could go without the patch but I can't. Funny how so many thoughts come to mind. Kind of having a hard time right now.

It's good to know there's support out there. I sure do appreciate it.

Take care, Tapero

 

[*Lana*]

I have tried to quit 3 times and still no success, but I know I HAVE to quit one way or another But I know the good Lord will be there for me Congrats to you that you are quitting, it gives me hope God Bless You All!!!

 

[e=mv^2]

Stay on the patch for now. Do not change squat until you have broken the mental habits and rituals of smoking. Once you get to the point that you are no longer thinking about them all the time then you can start to deal with the physical part. I played "musical tobbacco products" for 2 months before I decided it was time to drop nicotine. By that time I was no longer so intensely set on cigarettes.

During the physical recovery you will get ALOT of tension. Run around and kill small furrry animals kind of tension. Plan ahead for this and figure out a way to deal with it before it happens. I started mountain biking and it not only helped with the tension but it also kept the pounds from coming on as well. The other benefit is that it speeds recovery of the lungs. Any hard cardio activity can help running etc. It just needs to be intense enough to help you blow off steam and forget. The pain from excercise is a wonderful thing comapred to the pain of withdrawal.
If you do use exercise to help with the tension it will not be fun at first. You will feel like a total clod for ever smoking (thats good right?) because you will be so weak. You will be AMAZED if you stick with it just how fast your body will recover and grow stronger.

Best of luck and feel free to pm me with all the nasty meaness that you will need to get out of your system.

 

[Chilufya]

I haven't had one in 6 weeks, after 25 years of smoking. I used the patch until it started making my skin break out, but I'd quit by that time.

One mental trick that worked for me is one that an old Army buddy (and my son's Godfather) used. He has a carton of cigarettes in his attic, unopened. He just keeps telling himself he'll have one tomorrow.

He's been saying tomorrow for 6 years now.

 

[jenniferstell]

I never could keep a cigarette around while I was quitting. Even now, over a year later, I do struggle at times with the mental "want". I just tell myself NO and that's it. Every time I get a "want", I do something else. Go exercise, mostly. I'm absolutely AMAZED at the things that I can do now that I can take a deep breath! I don't get so winded just from walking anymore and that is the BEST part for me!!