How to quit??

Igor Moskovic · **How to quit?? -** 07-17-2008, 10:09 | posts: 124 | Location: Slovakia

After reading the poll: Do you smoke, drink or both? i noticed that many Guru's are ex-smokers, some even write that they managed to quit after a 15year nicotine history...

Didn't want to go OT there, so i decided to open up a new thread "with cig. in mouth" to ask how is possible to quit that nasty habit/addiction?... I choose to call it an addiction coz i can see it on myself...

Smoking since i was 19 some 30-40cigs/day, now at 32 with a chronic soar throat, a persistent morning cough, a heart burn, with low stamina during physical activities, and a stink trail behind me everywhere i go, i'm totally fed up with cigarettes, and with the bad impact they have on health,socializing...ect

Tried nicotine patches and chewing gum, which helped in the short run, but on the long run /after 2-3days/ they only increased my appetite for nicotine!
I can't imagine waking up in the morning without lighting up besides a mug of black coffee, if i don't do that, my brain doesn't function, after an hour i tremble, i stutter, i break i call sweat, and i go pail...

So question for the ex-smokers, How did you manage to quit? dead curious to know...

p.s. writing the above took up 3cigs.

WCASD · 07-17-2008, 10:22 | posts: 973

Cold turkey.

Worked for quite a few people. One of them is 60 and smoked for a few decades but just decided one day that she wanted to live longer so she quite from one day to the next.

Year · 07-17-2008, 10:48 | posts: 11,657 | Location: ♫

nothing good can come from cold turkey imo, just like addiction to any drug you need to taper it down but in the end it's your will power that's going to dictate how fast and when you'll be free from nicotine, the longer you've smoked the longer it should take and most of all do not be in a hurry, mind you i'm not a smoker and never been but i've heard my share of stories about how to quit smoking and so far they've been proven correct.

do not try the nicotine patches you'll be free from cigarettes but addicted to the patches

the only benefit would be your breath, your girlfriend won't be kissing an ashtray anymore.

will power does wonders mate, you know when someone tells you to do something and you go Rambo on them and refuse and in the end you get what you want? that's how you quit smoking.

good luck.

WhiteLightning · 07-17-2008, 11:23 | posts: 20,397 | Location: Netherlands

actually i took therapy(sort of acopuncture) with lots of my friends. it was 1 session.
it took out the yurning feel for a cigarette at some moments. (which i know can be extremely frustrating)
cant say it worked though, since my friends started smoking after some timeim the only one who doesnt smoke lol
oh well it worked for me!
havent touched cigarettes for about 6 years or so.
i still smoke the ganja though, but thats not a problem.

Pzykotik · 07-17-2008, 11:39 | posts: 2,165 | Location: London

Just tell yourself you want to quit. Replace your need for a fag by something else, for example... If you feel you want a cigarette have a bar of chocolate. Or an apple, whatever. Eventually you won't need a cig (although you might get addicted to chocolate =P)

izikog · 07-17-2008, 11:40 | posts: 1,127 | Location: SLOVENIA

YOUR WORDS
now at 32 with a chronic soar throat, a persistent morning cough, a heart burn, with low stamina during physical activities, and a stink trail behind me everywhere i go, i'm totally fed up with cigarettes, and with the bad impact they have on health,socializing...ect

this is not enought to make you think about the next cigaret you are going to light??? I started smoking when I was 17 now I am 29 and this year on the 11th feb I smoked my last marlboro light... It is all in your head... I can only tell you that wakeing up is easier from when I quited... you just feel cleaner, everthing you put in your mounth has a better taste, mor stamina !!!better sex performance!!! if you put this pros of quiting against your cons is a no brainer to quit... first two weeks were hard... bad nights without sleeping... but now whole better life ahead!!!

Year · *Last edited by Year; 07-17-2008 at 11:54.*

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pzykotik

If you feel you want a cigarette have a bar of chocolate

your therapy would turn him into an obese, FAIL!

TeX_UK · 07-17-2008, 11:54 | posts: 1,505 | Location: Geordie Land

Will power..... or be a loser & pay a fortune for alternate cures ,I quit after 25 years no problem so I can't see why others can't.

keenan · **Memory**: 8GB Ripjaw 1600 @8-8-8-24

With anything in life, if you want to stop... then stop.

I've smoked for 14 years, one day I realized that I need to quit. I put the pack down and told myself "this is it". Never looked back

Igor Moskovic · 07-17-2008, 12:08 | posts: 124 | Location: Slovakia

Appreciate all the replies, however i get the "been there, done that, didn't work" feeling...

I never did have a sweet tooth, so choclate is out for me, i love all sorts of fruits, but as soon as i finish eating some, i have to lite up...

Of course it's the power of will in the end, it's just that i have always been able to achieve every single thing in life i set my mind on... with the exception of quitting the fags, they are so connected to many things i do in everyday life that it just doesn't seem possible to quit.

Due to my sensitive job, i can't afford to crave coz if i crave, i can't concentrate, and if i can't concentrate people may die, and taking a vaccation this year is out of the question..

Still open to any suggestions... keep'em coming

Jazza104 · 07-17-2008, 12:19 | posts: 423

I haven't personally quit, but being sick of a good straight (funny eh?). I've had the flu for the last few days, I usually smoke about 8 a day. I didn't want one all day until the nighttime, had one and felt like another straight away.

If I was to quit, I'd quit at a time when my body was weak, and not wanting them, and you have to mentally want to quit.

stalkerfan · *Last edited by stalkerfan; 07-18-2008 at 07:34.*

I read the book 'Alan Carrs Easy Way to Stop Smoking"...finished the last page ,put my nearly full pouch of tobacco in the bin, and haven't touched them since (been 4 years now ).

Like izikog said "its all in your head" and he is 100% correct..i had no withdrawal symptoms at all and no cravings...you just got to look at smoking in a different way and the book tells you how.

I just had an open mind when i started reading it and it was the best thing i have done.

Plus i made my missus read it too and she has quit. (i refuse to refer to it as "giving up smoking" because you aren't giving up anything..you only gain from quiting)

Palerider · 07-17-2008, 12:29 | posts: 4,350 | Location: Toledo Ohio

Chantix= WONDER DRUG. Cravings-GONE.
I was lucky, and my insurance covered it.$10.00 for the 12 week program.Please ask your doctor for a prescription.Do it now.

xtaz · 07-17-2008, 12:35 | posts: 207 | Location: Beer Planet

I've quit cold turkey too. Perhaps the less 'fun' way to quit, but in my opinion the best way with the best results.

DSK · *Last edited by DSK; 07-17-2008 at 16:50.*

thoses smoking patches helps me alot

Igor Moskovic · 07-17-2008, 14:31 | posts: 124 | Location: Slovakia

Quote:

Originally Posted by Palerider

Chantix= WONDER DRUG. Cravings-GONE.

Heard and read about Chantix before, but haven't tried it yet.
How many cigs did u smoke/day? And did you experience any of the side effects to this drug? especially the ones concerning suicidal thoughts and insomnia... i can handle the rest.

Just read about Alan carrs's book, thanks for mentioning it, didn't know about it before. I really feel tempted to go and order it. matter of fact; i might as well.

malky · 07-17-2008, 15:23 | posts: 555 | Location: the apex

I quit cold turkey. The first 'few' times did'nt go so well but what made the difference for me when I finally stopped smoking was to keep a pack on me at all times, that way I wasn't smoking because I did'nt have any, it was because I didn't 'need' one. Also don't tell people your quitting, tell them you have quit or stopped smoking.

Good luck, it ain't easy.

Supatitanman · 07-17-2008, 15:48 | posts: 2,863 | Location: Buffalo, NY

im so cool im smoking right now haha. Umm dude its really common knowledge.. patch, turkey *recommended* pills *see your doctor* or a girl friend who throws away your cigs or keeps them *not recommended*

07-17-2008, 17:31 | posts: n/a

I quit COLD TURKEY and never looked back with no ill effect.

blownapart · 07-17-2008, 18:31 | posts: 263 | Location: Ohio, USA

I need to quit. GF just quit and now I feel like an ashtray when we suck face, plus I want to live o_O . Chantix eh? Must look into that. Cold turkey attempts reduced me to a quivering junky who snapped at all human contact. Nicotine really affects me poorly. Narcotics behave differently in different people, this is why you see so many different cures. Good job to those of you who went cold turkey.

Fun fact: The term "cold turkey" originated from the Heroin community to describe the cold, clammy, and goosebumped skin of those in withdrawel, much like the skin of a plucked turkey.

CorNeLL · 07-17-2008, 18:54 | posts: 867 | Location: Tijuana

30-40 cigs a day??? goddamn that's a lot i started smoking at 19 im nearly 23 now but i smoked a max of 5 cigs a day and sometimes i feel like damn i smoke a lot, but if you wanna quit you need will power like other gurus said, my father is 58 and he started smoking at 18 and stopped smoking from one day to another he just said i wont smoke anymore and havent touched a cigarrete since 3yrs ago.

Palerider · 07-17-2008, 20:08 | posts: 4,350 | Location: Toledo Ohio

Quote:

Originally Posted by Igor Moskovic

Heard and read about Chantix before, but haven't tried it yet.
How many cigs did u smoke/day? And did you experience any of the side effects to this drug? especially the ones concerning suicidal thoughts and insomnia... i can handle the rest.

Just read about Alan carrs's book, thanks for mentioning it, didn't know about it before. I really feel tempted to go and order it. matter of fact; i might as well.

I experienced strange sleep patterns, and wild assed dreams for about the first three weeks.I'd sleep about two hours, and wake feeling completely rested.You can imagine it took a toll after a while-two hours isn't enough.I can't be sure it was the pills though-I'm a 3rd shifter, and my schedule is whack anyway,but it's a heck of a coincidence.
Zero cravings.Just gone.when I smoked out of physical habit,there was no satisfaction at all.I'm telling you this stuff worked like magic.It's at least worth trying.

hawkeyefan · 07-17-2008, 21:13 | posts: 1,041 | Location: Minneapolis

Quote:

Originally Posted by Palerider

I experienced strange sleep patterns, and wild assed dreams for about the first three weeks.I'd sleep about two hours, and wake feeling completely rested.You can imagine it took a toll after a while-two hours isn't enough.I can't be sure it was the pills though-I'm a 3rd shifter, and my schedule is whack anyway,but it's a heck of a coincidence.
Zero cravings.Just gone.when I smoked out of physical habit,there was no satisfaction at all.I'm telling you this stuff worked like magic.It's at least worth trying.

Agree with Chantix being very effective to help smoking cessation. But there are some side effects, a few of which are illustrated by Palerider's experiences. Do some research first to determine if you might fall into the subset of people most likely to experience those side effects, and weigh those against other options and decide what's best for you.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is exercise. Lots of it. Don't overdo it with extremely strenous work outs in the beginning, but spend a nice chunk of time each day participating in some physical activity you enjoy. Regular exercise curbs the desire to smoke and has the added benefit of keeping the mind fit, warding off depression and regulating moods. This is particularly beneficial when you consider that extreme crabbiness is the most often experienced side effect of quitting cold turkey.

FritzC6 · 07-17-2008, 21:20 | posts: 430 | Location: Belgium

i smoked from age 16 to 20 , around 4 a day and 2 packs in weekends when going out
i started getting constant coughs and sore troaths and honestly i just got scared....
Tossed al lighters and last pack , beginning weeks where the hardest , especially while drunk and many of my friends smoked,
I did cold turkey , cravings replaced with more alcohol in the beginning

coughs&pain is gone , and i started exercise this year

all you need is something to take your mind of smoking, hard exercise is very effective i believe

also i work with a guy, 1 year younger then me (22) , smokes 2 packs ( 40) , 2 half liter redbulls and 4 half liter coke bottles a day , i tell you , seeing that guy's body react under labor is just painfull to watch , i'm disgusted by the smell and even the price , its 2 euros more in 2 years ! And they are proposing a 8% increase in price here in Belgium

i suggest you quit when on vacation or at least start cutting down at work because you are gonna get sick

it is not easy but with willpower you can do it , anybody can

FritzC6 · 07-17-2008, 21:23 | posts: 430 | Location: Belgium

Quote:

Originally Posted by hawkeyefan

Agree with Chantix being very effective to help smoking cessation. But there are some side effects, a few of which are illustrated by Palerider's experiences. Do some research first to determine if you might fall into the subset of people most likely to experience those side effects, and weigh those against other options and decide what's best for you.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is exercise. Lots of it. Don't overdo it with extremely strenous work outs in the beginning, but spend a nice chunk of time each day participating in some physical activity you enjoy. Regular exercise curbs the desire to smoke and has the added benefit of keeping the mind fit, warding off depression and regulating moods. This is particularly beneficial when you consider that extreme crabbiness is the most often experienced side effect of quitting cold turkey.

exactly , for someone his age i would start that