What thoughts help you quit?

[Atle]

Today marks my first week as an ex-smoker and I'm feeling really good about it. I consider myself an ex-smoker (rather than a "quitting" smoker) because I don't intend to ever smoke again. Positive thinking!

I'm feeling pretty tense and have cravings, sure - but I keep reminding myself that the withdrawal symptoms are caused by the cigarettes themselves and that if I smoke again, I would only cause myself more discomfort.

This past week hasn't been pleasant - but I have pledged to make sure I don't have to go through the same thing again.

Things can only get better! As the time since my last cigarette lengthens, my desire to smoke will diminish.

To the rest of you ex-smokers:

What thoughts keep you strong and stop you from taking smoking up again?
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[SirKenny85]

I always think about what would be like if I continued. Coughing, Cancer, and having to see the faces of my future children and future wife as I light up a smoke.

 

[meganjo]

Believe in yourself. Believe that you can quit. Think about some of the most difficult things you have done in your life and realize that you have the guts and determination to quit smoking. It's up to you. Ask your family and friends to support your decision to quit. Ask them to be completely supportive and non-judgmental. Let them know ahead of time that you will probably be irritable and even irrational while you withdraw from your smoking habit.

 

[murphy12]

Hello,
I also want to quit my bad habit of smoking. Now I am using these tips to quit my smoking habit. I think you should also try this quit tips.

Here some tips to stop smoking. I am also trying it.
1. Commit Thyself Fully. In the quits that failed, I was only half into it. I told myself I wanted to quit, but I always felt in the back of my mind that I’d fail. I didn’t write anything down, I didn’t tell everybody (maybe my wife, but just her). This time, I wrote it down. I wrote down a plan. I blogged about it. I made a vow to my daughter. I told family and friends I was quitting. I went online and joined a quit forum. I had rewards. Many of these will be in the following tips, but the point is that I fully committed, and there was no turning back. I didn’t make it easy for myself to fail.

2. Make a Plan. You can’t just up and say, “I’m gonna quit today.” You have to prepare yourself. Plan it out. Have a system of rewards, a support system, a person to call if you’re in trouble. Write down what you’ll do when you get an urge. Print it out. Post it up on your wall, at home and at work. If you wait until you get the urge to figure out what you’re going to do, you’ve already lost. You have to be ready when those urges come.

3. Know Your Motivation. When the urge comes, your mind will rationalize. “What’s the harm?” And you’ll forget why you’re doing this. Know why you’re doing this BEFORE that urge comes. Is it for your kids? For your wife? For you health? So you can run? Because the girl you like doesn’t like smokers? Have a very good reason or reasons for quitting. List them out. Print them out. Put it on a wall. And remind yourself of those reasons every day, every urge.

 

[pinkstars86]

Thoughts to me are bad because I'm very good at argueing those thoughts with well...one more won't hurt me!

I like to run and try to exercise. What helps me (when I'm quitting...currently smoking ugh) is knowing how much progress I'm making due to my lungs being clear and not huffing and puffing through my workouts. I'm fairly fit and I'm not overweight or anything but even climbing a bunch of stairs can make me a little winded and I like the feeling of NOT being winded when I'm not smoking so that's a huge motivator for me.

 

[Lostalongtheway]

I got sick from the patches when I tried them. I just thought, I must stop smoking...this was ten years ago...so I wouldn't be feeling horrible all the time. I quit cold turkey, it's rough for a few days but then you're over the worst. Chin up guys.

 

[pinkstars86]

My worst is actually after the supposed 3-day hump. I get through the first part pretty easy actually because I'm all 'yeeeeeeeeeeeeah I'm doing good, I'm getting healthier, I'm awesome woop woop'. :lol: Then that fades and I change my tune. Goofy how that works.