Trying to quit smoking....

So, for the past few years I have smoked between 20-25 cigarettes a day. Sometimes on the weekends more. I want to quit and tried cold turkey which lasted about 13 hours.
I am now limiting myself to 10 cigs a day for this week. Next week I will go down to 7, then try 5 etc. I do want to quit.
Not really wanting to do the patch. That just doesn't seem to be something I feel would help me.
Anyway...anyone out there trying to quit or recently quit? Anyone have any suggestions on what to do when you are craving the stick?

Hi...I want to quit also, and I've tried the patch and even the gum. Now, like you, I think cold turkey is the only real way I can do it. I just smoked my last cig and am going to see if I can just "suck it up" and be strong!
Good luck to you! Let's try to quit...both of us!
Patty

Hey Seeker,
I am weaning at this point. If you cannot just go cold turkey it is okay. It just means that you need to take it slow but not stop just all of a sudden. Remember, it is in our bodies and has been for so long.
I am here to support you and very happy you are here to support me.

Identify your favorite times to smoke and try to change your attitude about smoking during those times. Talk talk talk. Have verbal discussions identify ways you plan on quitting and get support from others. Identify WHY you buy smokes and WHY you light up and WHY you bum smokes (if you do that).

Be proud of every attempt to quit. A relapse is no big deal if you realize you slipped but then resume your smoking cessation plans. It's when you give up trying when you fail.

Never give up trying. You'll figure out how to quit if you really want to quit.

I smoked off and on for 5 years. Quitting isn't the hard part. I could quit smoking for several weeks but I'd keep resuming the smoking because I "wanted to hurt myself." (I hate the smell of smoke). It wasn't until I changed my attitude about my health . . . wanting to live . . . did I become successful about quitting.

I hope you all choose to live more healthy. Never give up!

I have actually tried weaning myself from nicotine in the past also, and am just disgusted with myself and this habit. I'll let you know how cold turkey goes!
Yes, I support you!
Patty

Thanks for the great insights, Jennie!
You are so right about reasons I smoke too!
Patty

trying to quit is half of the battle...cutting back is three forths the battle...then finally cutting down to none...you win the battle!! Good luck to you

Thanks for the support.
Glad to hear other stories and ways of coping to quit.
Trying one day @ a time!

Susu, the thing that helped me is sugar free suckers, when I crave a butt I pop in a sucker it worked for me it might work for you
Angie

A great FREE tool to use is quitnet.com. This service lets you set your quit date and keeps track of your smoke free days, down to the second! Also, the 'Smoke Free' clock tells you how much money you are saving and how many minutes you are adding back onto your life; neat to watch. Plus, there are forums to discuss all the issues you have experienced during your quit and loads of people to give you encouragement. One other feature, is a daily inspirational e-mail, just to keep you focused on the prize.

Check it out! Good luck on the quit!

Thanks for the support!
I did sign up on quitnet.
Thanks!

Good luck! ((((((((((((Hugs!)))))))))))))))))))

i should be doing this too

I kind of went over my limit of 10 today. Got into a little fight w/ Mare. So, of course what do I do>>> I puff out the frustration.
Tomorrow is a new day. Just like dieting, I guess. Even if you have one bad day you can resume your quest the next day.
Thanks again for the support on this.
It truly helps!

Hi Twisted,
I've been trying to quit smoking for 4 months. I use to smoke about 20 a day but I haven't smoked more than 5 in one day for the 4 months.
Today, I've gone without any-which sometimes happens when I run out of "emergency" smokes and I avoid going to the store so I don't accidently pick up any, forgetting I'm trying to quit. (It's my excuse when I buy them.)
It's really tough, Twisted, and you'll probably gain some weight. The nicorette gum and the patch didn't work for me. I take it 5 minutes at a time. When I am craving one and the situation isn't really stressful-I try to hold off for another 5 minutes and a lot of times it works when I find something else to busy myself with and before I know it, it's been an hour.
I smoke the cigarettes in a designated area. I do not allow myself to smoke anywhere but there and I try to make it a place that's not too comfortable. My area is in my small bathroom. When I do smoke I only allow myself to take no more then a couple of puffs and then I force myself to put it out. I butt the cigarette and save it for my next craving. The cigarette lasts a lot longer this way and it's gotten to the point where, most the time, even if I did allow myself to smoke a whole cigarette at one time, I couldn't. It starts to make me sick once I get to the half way mark.
I hope this helps a little.
Good luck. And remember, you're going to mess up but don't use that as an excuse to ditch trying to quit altogether. Just know that you'll do better next time.
(((Twisted)))))

Twisted, how is it going? Use this post to brag about your progress!! You just might inspire some of us nicotine junkies!!! lololol

You may want to consider modifying your behavior. Think about the times when you smoke. For example:
upon awakening, before or after coffee, before or after a meal, in the car, before bedtime, etc... One thing for sure, stress can be a trigger. Do something different, break up your day. I hope this is of some help.

Regards,
...Joe

Hi -- I smoked 3 to 3 1/2 packs a day for 42 years and I haven't smoked one for almost 10 months. I truly didn't WANT to quit .... I LOVED cigarettes but last year I learned I was facing some rough times in the hospital and I figured being desperate for a smoke would make it even worse so I quit.
I used the patch for 39 days and then quit that too.
I "babied" myself. When I wanted a smoke horribly I'd say, "Oh you poor baby, of course you can have a smoke. You just need to wait a couple of hours." I've been waiting successfully for 10 months

And I've had my share of stress --- brain surgery and breast surgery - no kidding

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
oldwoman said:
Hi -- I smoked 3 to 3 1/2 packs a day for 42 years and I haven't smoked one for almost 10 months. I truly didn't WANT to quit .... I LOVED cigarettes but last year I learned I was facing some rough times in the hospital and I figured being desperate for a smoke would make it even worse so I quit.
I used the patch for 39 days and then quit that too.
I "babied" myself. When I wanted a smoke horribly I'd say, "Oh you poor baby, of course you can have a smoke. You just need to wait a couple of hours." I've been waiting successfully for 10 months

And I've had my share of stress --- brain surgery and breast surgery - no kidding

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">



KUDOS TO YOU!!!!

I"m so glad to have found this at this time!!!

Many of you might not know this but I smoke.

The day after my b'day (oct 3) my hubby and I are committing to no smoking whatsoever in the house (we currently go to back room or bedroom when the boy's here). We're going to appeal to our laziness.

We're going to commit to only smoking outside...not at the door and blowing it out on really cold days, etc. OUTSIDE.

In the Spring, we'll examine how much we've cut down and cut down even more then each month until we get down to five per day by next fall.

I spoke with the "quit line" and they said it takes time (it took a long time to get here), and to cut back is the most successful way so that's what we're trying. they explained that less is better than nothing at all. I agree. Also, it gives room to tell self, "yes, I can have one, I just have to wait until "such and such" time. I've tried cold-turkey, gained 35 lbs in 5 mos and was miserable. I'm going to try it this way because I know I'll be so proud of myself if I can get to five and stay there for years.

They said to use straws for the motion (psycological dependence on action) or take the insides out of a pen and use that.

I'm actually psyched for the first time. For the first time, I really want to quit...for me as well as others.

Love and good luck to all!

KD

Hey-let's have a PC "quit smoking" thing and hold the others accountable to each individual goal (knowing they can be quite varying).

KD

I quit six years ago.

My mother called me one Sunday morning and I grabbed my coffee and pack of Marlboro's and headed out to the lanai all set to light one up. Before I even had the ciggy in my mouth my mother told me she had been dx'ed with lung cancer.

I promptly put the ciggy back in the pack...threw them out...and haven't smoked since.

Not an easy thing...I still miss it.

I found the gum helpful ONLY when I was at the "giving in" stage. It seemed to take the edge off.

They removed my mother's entire left lung and a third of her right lung.

My mother smoked right up until the day of surgery. She also said if they told her that the surgery would only buy her some time, she would continue to smoke.

Good luck everyone. Don't wait until they want to rip your lungs out.

I haven't been doing good in the quitting area.
Meaning, I am trying to cut back but haven't totally quit.
As the weather gets colder though, I will have a better time because we don't smoke inside the apartment.
((KD)) >>> when you actually have to haul your cigs outside and make sure you brought the lighter out and all, you take notice of just how much you smoke. And, you will smoke less as there is no tv or computer outthere where you just sit and smoke and smoke and sit etc. Proud that you and hubby will try to smoke outside only from Oct 3rd and on.

How is everyone else doing?

Forgot to mention that I like the straw , pen thing.
On smoke breaks @ work I will go out with a lollipop and a big superball to bounce to make me have an activity.
It seems to work @ times.
I smoke more on the weekends then @ work so that is the hardest part of quitting.

I am a chimbly...sending smoke signals to the other smokers...QUIT SMOKING...

OH...forgot to mention this...you guys are incredible...even if you smoked 9000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 cigarettes...you guys will always be my heroes...inspirational words go like this...smoke one...dont smoke one...smoke one...dont smoke one...and on and on...it is true that cold turkey wont work because you didnt become a smoker overnight...it took time and quitting will take time...just like gaining weight...it didnt happen overnight...just remember you arent less of a person because you smoke...YOU CAN DO IT...