Trying to quit smoking....

Encourage goes a long way on this post!!
Today I am going to visit my sister and niece who is 10 months old. I have decided once I shower I will not smoke a cig till I leave there this evening!
Willpower baby....I think I can do it!

Ok, I'm jumping on the bandwagon here with you guys. I smoke waaay too much. My docs want me to start cutting back to quit. Last night I decided I'd quit today, but still had 4 in my pack, so I've already had one. I thought I could just quit, like I did the drinking, but man, it just doesn't work that way. So I'm gonna try the "controlled smoking" and see what happens. I smoke about 25 a day. So....I'm admitting I have a problem and am reaching out for help. First step in quitting right? THANK YOU for this thread. I've been avoiding it...but it's time. My mom died from lung cancer. You'd think that would be enough....So here I am! How does this work? We just rat ourselves out here on our smoking? My goal for today is less than 25.

Hey Ray...less than 25 is a step in the process of quitting!
For anyone on this post who tries...well that is a success story right there.
If we smoke less each day we will one day reach our goal of not smoking. Whether it takes 1 day, 1 month or 1 year. As long as we keep the support going for each other I think the encouragement and challenge is what can help!
Proud of us all!

1 minute, 30 seconds.....I'm making myself wait an hour between smokes, starting a timer after I finish a cigarette. I'll steadily increas the time I have to wait....

I don't know why I can't just stop smoking all together. I'm fine and I don't even WANT a cigarette yet if I'm out of cigarettes, I panic and I go to the store and buy a pack for emergencies. I'm not even smoking when I'm craving the nicotine. I'm doing it out of habit. I'm so frustrated with myself.

Jax,
Nicotine is said to be harder to quit than ANY other drug, partly because the habit is hard to kick on top of the nicotine. Part of why that is, is because the nicotine mimics a chemical in our brains, so as we smoke, we stop making that chemical. So when the brain needs it, it makes us want a cigarette. So as you cut back, your brain re-learns how to make the chemical. So don't be so hard on yourself!!! Give your brain some time to "learn" how not to crave a cigarette. I understand completely about panicing if you don't have any, I do the same.

The waiting an hour was driving me nuts. I pushed it back to 50 minutes. I was watching the timer tick down, cigarette in hand....I'm not gonna push myself so hard on the first day. 50 minutes will still make me cut back by 6 smokes a day. It's helping already though, yay!

You are doing great Raynaadi!
When you feel the need for the cig and the timer hasn't chimed yet drink a really cold glass of water.
I didn't quite make it thru my whole visit to my sister's without smoking. But, instead of going out every 20 minutes I only smoked 2x while I was there which was 4 1/3 hours.
I can do it, you can do!

Good for you!!! I got candy yesterday, sugar free nips. It helps to having something in my mouth between cigarettes. I only had 15 cigarettes yesterday!!!! Down from a guesstimated 25. I timed each and ever smoke with my cell phone. Kept it at 50 minutes. I started only smoking half the cigarette, and starting the timer. That way I could have the other half before the 50 minutes was up. I just woke up and had one, and set the timer for 40 minutes, because mornings are when I want to smoke the most. After the 40 I'll go back up to 50. My boyfriend was laughing when I'd look at the timer and still had 15 minutes to go hahaha. But it's the only way I've ever stuck to cutting back. Yay!!!!!! I cut out 10 smokes on my first day!!!!! Thank you guys!!!!

I suggest the Therapy Tangle, it has been a success to people with stress, Autism and smoking urges. I do not and never will smoke but I do use it for stress and fidgeting, it helps a lot!, here is a link you play with it when you feel a urge and it is a world wide success! http://www.tangletherapy.com/

Looks cool! Can't afford it now, but maybe when I quit smoking. =)

I decided to smoke a whole cigarette in the time frame allowed instead of doing the half thing, because the whole point of this experiment is to re-train my brain to make the chemical that the nicotine mimics. So I've gotta deprive my brain of nicotine. I've only had 4 cigarettes so far today. When the timer goes off, I don't allow myself to smoke right away. I'm busying myself when the cravings hit, cleaning or doing yoga poses. Trying not to turn to food. =) Posting here is helping a lot. It's truly amazing to me that I've only had 4 cigarettes in 4 hours. I would have been on at least 8 by now. How's everyone else doing?

Oh, maybe you should just give them up then use the money to go on a shopping when you are done. That might help, Yeah this does help I like sweets and posting on this keeps me away from eating too many snacks. I also like to go on bike rides to get my mind of things. Try some game sites, I like that idea and your efforts to stop. Lots of luck! Sarah
OH AND I see you have a Yahoo account! There are hundreds of things on there like games, groups, 360, music etc. now that really keeps your mind busy!

Keep working it Raynaadi! You are doing great!
I have been trying to cut back all day. Days off are the worst because you just sit around and have the time, ya know.
I have a Butt Can for the car...ya know, one that fits in the cup holder. Well, I opened it to see if it needed to be emptied and the smell almost made me puke. I thought, maybe this will be a good diversion in critical times when I want to smoke but am trying to resist. Just smelling it turned me off for a bit.

For all of us doing what we can...keep it going!

I am so proud of all of you! You come and discuss it try to quit find new great ideas to help and while most people who smoke are not even trying to stop, they just keep doing it not even caring that they are dying every puff. I just wanted to say I am so proud off you people and good luck! Sarah (((((Raynaadi, twisted soul))))))))))

Thanks Sarah! Sometimes a little support goes long, long ways!

Amen sistah!!!

12 cigarettes yesterday. 4 so far today. Still trudging along! How's everyone doing?

Okay, I'm doing good. I'm still smoking but I've only had 1 1/2 today. I'll probably have another half later on.
I have to smoke after I eat-otherwise, I'll just keep eating. It's terrible. I gained so much weight. I've started exercising and I'm watching what and how much I eat now so I hope that'll make me lose some of the weight I've gained.
Twisted, I know what you mean about the smell. It's awful. I hate the smell of a cigarette burning too. It's disgusting but I can't smell it when I'm smoking it-I can only smell it when someone else is smoking and I'm not. Really strange.
Ray, that's a great idea with the timer going off.
Have you woken up yet and were able to breathe in really deep and think how cool that was? I love that! I can tell when I've smoked a little too much because I don't get that deep breath feeling when I wake up-my lung and throat are sore instead. I can't believe I use to smoke 20 or more a day when smoking 3 or more makes me feel so awful now.
(((((Ray and Twisted))))) We're doing really good.
Twisted, this thread was a great idea. Thanks!

Hey Jax and Ray>> Keep doing what you can. It is one of the most addicting substances out there...legal and all.
Each day you smoke less, each time you put the cig out @ the half way point...well, it is a day closer to being smoke free.

Thanks for the great support!
Glad we can keep doing this together.
I loves me my lollipops!

I, Frozen_heart, hereby committe to my quit. I have one more cigarette left (after I smoke this one ) and I've purchased some patches. So, this is my game plan..... tommorrow is my new SMOKE free day!!! *crossing fingers*

I'm going to list my reasons to quit, so I may look back at these later..... (Hope ya'll don't mind)

1. Because 'I' care about myself enough to quit
2. I want to be a positive role model for my children
3. I shouldn't waist my money on this selfish habit
4. It stinks and my mouth tastes nasty
5. I feel ashamed when people learn I do smoke.

I may add more as they come to me... but thanks for starting this thread.

Right on Frozen_Heart!

I've had 10 today. Yesterday I had 12 and the day before I had 16. I was guesstimating that I smoked 25 a day, but after a talking to a friend, realized it was really close to 30. So I've cut down more than half!!!! If I want to beat or match yesterday, I can only have one or two more before bed. Timer is ticking. I was going to increase the time to an hour and 10 minutes today, but that didn't quite happen. Still doing an hour. Cheated this morning though, didn't wait the full hour because I was going to grandma's and I don't smoke around family. But....still following my goals, even at the AA meetings tonight where so many smoke hahaha! I'm very proud of us!!!

*off topic* But I sure to get a giggle out of some of my typos..... 'committe' LOLOL should be commit! I always catch them after the fact!

If I take Magnesium tablets and goldenseal at the beginning, middle and end of the day, boy does that really curb my urge to light up, and it amazes me so. Anyway just want to pass on my golden nugget of support. We can try. Love Razeljenny

Rock on Frozen_Heart, Raynaadi and razeljenny!
We are doing great.
I like your goals Frozen_heart...may I use them as well for inspiration?
We can do this.

Wow, y'all are doing great!!!!

Me? Not so good, but my goal for "change" in October 3. The say has a significance for me and doing a mental work-up for that date.

The work I'm doing now, is I have it written in a few places and telling self all through the day about the plans for Oct 3...reinforcing promise...for MYSELF and those I love.

Y'all rock!!! We're GONNA DO THIS, if it takes a year it's still DONE right?

KD

Kimmy, are you gonna quit cold turkey October 3? You have some time then, start changing your routines now. Make yourself wait when you would normally smoke, after waking, after eating. Change the routines now and it will help. Have you cut back at all? Try and take the shock off your body of quitting cold turkey and cut back starting now. The timing thing I'm doing is working wonders!!!! Had 12 again yesterday, down from 30.....and this is only since Sunday. I'm amazed at myself.