Here's how I plan to quit smoking. Would it work for you?

From the Community…

• 
  Posted by Sat Jan 10, 2009 1:55pm PST

  I quit about 4 years ago. I was smoking 3 packs a day. I had smoked since I was 17 or so. I am 49 now. I never planned to quit, I enjoyed it too much, but knew it would eventually kill me. I simply put it in my head that I could do without smoking. I just quit, no patches, gum, doctors, nothing, just the thought that I did not want to deal with lung cancer someday. I truthfully can say that on that Friday afternoon 4 years ago, I had my last cigarette. I have not even thouht of having one. Just quit!!

  Report Abuse
• 
  Posted by Amy Sun Jan 11, 2009 5:56am PST

  I bit the bullet and paid for a hypnotherapist. I knew I needed someone to really put in my head that I needed to quit. It was expensive ($480 for 3 sessions)but in only 3 months it was paid for by not smoking. I would have spent that money anyway.

  The whole experience was rather odd. I expected something completely different and remember laying there thinking it was a big load of crap and it would never work. I was fully aware of my surroundings and figured I was not able to be hypnotized. The therapist told me if you cry at movies (easily absorbed in emotion of a film) or have lapses in memory while driving (forget part of the drive), you are able to be hypnotized.

  One of the biggest visual aides was she had a great big laundry basket filled with empty packs of cigarettes. You start to do the math and think about all the smoke you've inhaled over the years. It's pretty scary. I hope I quit in time. I gave up a pack a day, 20 year habit and it's been 9 months. I'm amazed and very grateful. So are my children.

  Report Abuse
• 
  Posted by Kelley Sun Jan 11, 2009 7:24am PST

  It's been almost six years since I quit. I had a heart attack at the age of 42 - smoked the last one while driving myself to the ER (denial is a powerful motivator). Haven't had one since. You just get through it by the hour initially, then by the day, the week, the month, etc. When I felt I couldn't make it another day without one, I seemed to have a dream about smoking - those were pretty intense and satisfied the cravings. After awhile, I felt guilty, even in the dreams! I'm so glad I'm done with them. As with any other life changing habits, you have to want to do this for YOU! Not your spouse, not your parents, not your kids - for yourself. Otherwise, it isn't going to work. If you want it bad enough, you'll be able to do it. Will power and faith in yourself. Good luck, it's attainable.

  Report Abuse
• 
  Posted by Accounting Nerd Sun Jan 11, 2009 6:08pm PST

  How it worked for me:

  Pray

  Do not go in a convience store

  Look at images of lung disease online

  Replace smoking with exercise-if you crave get on the ole treadmill until the craving is gone

  Avoid other smokers

  Everytime you crave, tell yourself no and think of something else

  Drink a lot of water

  Each day is a stepping stone

  Each week, do something nice for yourself

  Stop lying and thinking you can only have an occassional smoke-that does not work. Cheating only hurts you

  I have gone 7 months without a cigarette. I have quit before for a year or so at a time. This time it is different. I prayed that God would make me hate smoking as much as he does. I asked him to take away my desire. I never craved another smoke after that. I am repulsed by it now.

  Report Abuse
• 
  Posted by DanM Tue Jan 13, 2009 2:19am PST

  I am a MONSTROUS addict, though that fact has given me the gift of instinctively avoiding all the traditionally dangerous stuff (never did drugs, drink a third of a beer a year, never even tried tobacco). But when I give in to a temptation, it's monstrously difficult to quit. Candy, porn, computer games - you name it, I've struggled with it.

  One of my greatest triumphs was over Coca-Cola. I, at one point, drank 3 GALLONS a day. That's a 16 oz. bottle every 15 minutes for as long as I was awake (which could be a long time, on that much caffeine). I tried to moderate. I'd be down to 2 cans a day, get on a huge project at work, and wake up two months later with a headache, surrounded by cans, asking, "wha juss happened? o.O" So how did I finally quit? A confluence of things.

  First, I wanted to. Without that, there's no hope.

  Second, I stumbled upon some information that changed my relationship to soda. I read a book about the affects of sugar on the body, and it SCARED me. So much so, that I haven't had another soda since...almost twelve years, as of this writing.

  You're lucky, since there is overwhelming reason to fear smoking. If you want to win - really beat smoking - take a page from Tony Robbins. Associate MASSIVE PAIN with smoking. How? Visit a lung cancer ward, or even do some volunteer work at a hospice or old folks' home. Read up on the dangers of smoking. And, most importantly, download some PICTURES.

  I recommend putting together a library of images: damaged tissue and organs, bodies mutilated with cancer and the effects of surgery, stories of smokers sticking cigs in their trache holes and blowing themselves up sneaking a smoke in oxygen tents, etc. Make the worst ones your computer desktop photo for awhile. Hang one on your front door to face you down if you get weak and try to run out to buy more. Hang another from your rear-view mirror (though you should take this down when you park, as passers-by might be disturbed by it). When you feel weak, or want a smoke, read the articles and view the pix. You can even record some of the stories and play them back as sound files on your MP3 player or computer. The point is, DROWN YOURSELF IN THE HORRORS OF SMOKING!

  There are plenty of positive reasons to quit. But the real emotional power of beating an addiction is coming up with a host of reasons why it will be horrible NOT to.

  I wish you all the luck in the world, Anne!! :^D

  Report Abuse
• 
  Posted by Granny Pat Tue Jan 13, 2009 3:04pm PST

  I was a 50 yr. smoker. The last couple of yrs my breathing was very labored whenever I did anything besides sitting around. I have now been without a cigarette for over 2 years and all it took was my lungs collapsing after I caught a cold and 2 weeks in intensive care and l week in a reg. hosital room. The first week I don't remember anything, but they did put a non smoking patch on me. The rest of my stay the nurses put a new patch on me every day. I never even thought about smoking.

  When I got home it got a little harder but the doctor recommended that I still wear the patch for a while and try to avoid situations when I normally smoked. So that's what I did. My son threw away any cigarettes & lighters & ashtrays before I got home. When I had my coffee in the Morning I drank it in the living room instead of the kitchen table. There were other things I changed in my daily routine = that had included having a cigarette.

  I am on oxygen and do breathing treatments (at Home) periodically during the day. The oxygen, the breathing treatments and NO cigarettes is what is keeping me alive. I pray that all of you can stop before you get to the condition that I was in 2 years ago.

  Report Abuse
• 
  Posted by Abigail Tue Jan 13, 2009 7:25pm PST

  Gum helps.

  Report Abuse
• 
  Posted by Janet Tue Jan 20, 2009 3:43pm PST

  Quitting is the important part,not how!! but if you are going to use

  chantix.Have your heart checked.

  I was on it for 3 mos. it was great no cravings. Then I started having

  heart palpitations.didn't conect the 2 things till my daughters best friends mom died of heart failure at the age of 40.no history of heart problems and no heart disease AND guess what she was taking??

  Chantix is truly a huge help,but talk to your doctor about the risks!!

  Report Abuse
• 
  Posted by norsuhir8504 Sat Mar 7, 2009 10:53pm PST

  Ann....you have my utmost support. Don't give up. Take little steps that will lead to a big jump when you reach the end.

  Smoking is bad and it not only affect the smoker but also the well-being of family and friends.

  A health magazine - Healthy Times Magazine - is having an anti-smoking campaign and as part of the anti-smoking drive, they want readers to submit written testimonies/written pledge/encouragement or videos detailing their experiences in kicking the habit, your 2009 pledge to quit smoking etc.

  They are also giving out a 3D/2N Bali resort stay worth $1,500....I think it's worth for all smokers and non-smokers to join and support their good cause and at the same time be a motivating factor to our friends who are trying to snub it.... More details at http://www.e-healthytimes.com/quitsmoking/

  Ann -All the best and God Bless....

  Report Abuse