Not to ask a dry and boring question, but does anyone have any tips on how to quit smoking?  I recently decided to stop because of health concerns.  I haven't bought a pack in about four days and have only smoked one today.  I don't have any cigarettes here at home, but the store is not far away.  The less I smoke, the more I wanna eat..... Anyone have any suggestions other than Nicarette gum, the patch, Zyban, and Hypnotherapy?????

Thanks,
Jaclyn
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Dear Sweet Jaclyn ,
( I am being 100 % serious here ) The best piece of advice I can give you is to get "Tony Robbins" tapes , either "personal power" or "the edge" and listen to them . It may sound like weird mumbo-jumbo , but trust me , it works ! You will find yourself living better , and fuller too . It kick-starts your mind to have more control over your emotions and self-esteem . It works for people like Qincy Jones , Leeza Gibbons , Wayne Gretzky , etc... So it may work for you as well , and it's cheaper than smoking for sure ...
The other piece of advice I can give you is to find true love , which will motivate you to quit smoking as well , because a lot of it is self-esteem problems : people smoke because they are lacking something . That's the bottom line .
You are a cute girl , I am sure that a lot of men and women would love to be with you .
Count me in for sure ...
Good luck with it !
Love,
Joe

Nicoderm CQ and supplemental Nicorette worked for me (smoke free for almost a year now, after 27 years of smoking.)

Remember that Nicoderm's sizing recommendations are based on packs of high-nicoteine cigs (Winston/Marlboro unfiltered) so most people will want to start one step lower than they might expect (I started with the 14 mG patches rather than the 21 mG) and then "fill in" with gum as needed.  It took about three months of the patch/gum routine, but I weaned off of them.

I also chewed a good bit of "regular" gum during the first few weeks, to take up the oral-activity cravings.  I pretty quickly learned to tell when the craving was for nicoteine, or just for something in my mouth, and use the two gums to appropriately service the craving.  Most of my cravings were situational - I habitually lit up when I got up in the morning, after meals, in the car, etc. - so it wasn't as hard as I had originally thought it would be to quit.  Which is not to say that I don't still have the occasional pang, because I do... but they're no problem to fight off now.

Good luck!

Haz

decreasing one cigarette less a week. So, by the last week I was only smoking one a day..I then said this is stupid to have just one a day...and that is that. It has been 4 years.
The first 2 weeks were the hardest, but then I fine.

Shaye..Philly's tattooed escort


Good Luck

You Go,Girl! I smoked 3packs of Marlboros a day for 32 years. Finally got free from nicotine 6 years ago,THANK G_D! Toughest but most worthwhile thing I ever did for myself! I used a mix of Nicotine Anonymous meetings,hypnotic age regression(there happened to be a control issue tied to my dad and cigarettes that happened when I was 12 that I had buried/half forgotten),the patch and wellbutrin.

The point is I had to respect nicotine as a deadly,highly addictive drug.It actually physically changes your brain chemistry and alters the # of neurochemical receptors in your synapses,which is why the cravings are so strong and take so long to finally go almost entirely away-your brain has to slough off the superfluous receptors.I had to become entirely ready to go to any lengths necessary to get free of it.All I can say is try everything and don't give up.It's worth it!I'll pray for you.

i'm curious, can one quit smoking regular cigs yet continue smoking funny cigs ?  Or do you think one will trigger the craving for the other?

any experience?

Another option you may want to consider is the Nicotrol Inhaler.  The smoking addiction is two-fold.  The nicotine is the physically addictive substance, but according to my own doctor presents a very minimal health risk itself...the health risk comes from the toxins in the smoke.  What isn't usually addressed is the mental/oral addiction, which for many people is much harder to deal with.  The Nicotrol Inhaler (avilable by Rx only)is like a miniature plastic cigarette holder & it works like this.  A small capsule containing a nicotine charged substance is inserted into the inhaler.  Each time you "puff" on it you get a small amount of nicotine, but naturally none of the toxins.  It works for many people better than the gum or patches as it gives you the nicotine "on demand" as you get with a cigarette, & serves to satisfy the mental (oral) part of the addiction as well.  I tried the gum, tried the patches..neither worked for me, but the inhaler did.

Good luck!

I listened a lecture by a pharmacutical nurse a couple of years ago.  She said the best method of which she was aware was to take Zyban for 2 weeks, and then slap the patch on.  It takes 2 weeks for the Zyban to build up in your system. She said that something like 90% of those she knew who tried this method were successful.  Note: If you have a medical plan and they will not cover Zyban, then get your doctor to prescribe Welbutrin(sp?).  She said that it is exactly the same medication as Zyban.  
Good luck.  Try not to worry too much about the weight loss.  Step up your exercise program and try the Adkins diet.  I've cut down on my carbs and have lost 16 lbs in 4 weeks, and I'm still losing.  Been eating a lot of meat and veggies.  I love it.  In any case, best of luck.  Remember, cigarettes are the only legal over-the-counter product that, when you use it as intended, it is harmful to your health.  It would be wonderful for you and your loved ones if you stop.

DON'T STOP TRYING TO QUIT, NOW THAT YOU HAVE BEGUN!!

All that shit works and none of it works. If you don't stop trying, you will succeed.

Bueno Suerte.

BK

I hate smoking. It stinks and kissing a partner who smokes is like licking the bowl of a pipe.  One would think that this sort of thing is incentive enough to quit but is seldom is.

Unfortunately, it appears that women have a more difficult time than men in giving it up.  Most comments here are well intended and in many ways what works for you may be an individual thing.  Studies have shown that persistance pays. If one techinque doesn't make it try again or try another.  Never give up.

I guess that I can't totally get behind the concept that it has a lot to do with some deep seated self insecuruity.  There are far to smokers world wide to support such psychobable IMHO.  

What is clear is that nicotine is one of the most addictive substances known to man. Acknowledge that and then realize that there are psychological aspects as well to beat, such as social settings and times of day that trigger the brain.  

Think this through.  Focus on your goal, and hang tough.

Wishing you the best with this and congrats on wanting to quit this nasty habit.

I have taught stop smoking classes for a hospital system.  There is no perfect way, everyone is unique.  One key is not surrounding yourself with smokers, need to avoid smoking friends and smoking places.  Substitutes for nicotine DO work for a lot of my clients.  Yes, it is perfectly normal to eat more, so what, you will not balloon up, maybe you will pick up an extra 5 or 10, all this will come off as you increase your exercising.  And you truly need to exercise more to get the benefits you initially derive from quitting smoking.  Good luck!  I found most of my clients had to stop smoking at least 3 times before it was permanent.  Take care and let us know how it turns out for you!

QUIT COLD TURKEY -- NO "weaning," cheating one or two here and there, or nicotine replacement gimmicks!

Drink milk and take calcium supplements (Viactiv) -- nicotine leeches calcium from your body

NO caffiene (this increases nicotine cravings DRAMATICALLY!)

Drink a LOT of water -- "flush" your system -- this is probably the BEST for eliminating food cravings, too!

Exercise to head off cravings for food or nicotine -- every time you have a craving for nicotine or snacks, run or do as many jumping jacks, sit-ups, or push-ups as you can!  

Chew on Trident or toothpicks for the oral substitution

Play with a pen (clicker!) for hand habits

With nicotine, the first 72 hours are the worst because they include the physical withdrawal.  After that, it's only the memorized habits you have to break!

A lot of people have "triggers" when they want a cigarette the most, like when they are driving or right after eating.  Chewing Trident or toothpicks, drinking water, or just brushing your teeth *right after* eating helps a lot.

OH!  And I forgot one of the most important things -- SLEEP!!!  Can't smoke when you're sleeping -- it REALLY helps, if you can get it.  Try getting a full 8 hours a night for a month -- you will really be surprised a how much better you will feel!

GOOD LUCK!!

BJ, Palm Beach, Florida
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-- Modified on 2/19/2003 7:27:16 PM

I have tried to quit smoking numerous times.10 packs a day! now that i have lost one of my lungs ,i have quit my smoking in half.

see your doctor

I actually tried the generic form called Wellbutrin in an attempt to quit a few years ago.  I took it for about three weeks and my fiance' at the time told me that I had to decide between the medication and him because the medication made me crazy!!!  I would get angry with anyone for no particular reason, burst out in tears with no provocation.... It was horrible.  I don't think that it was trying to quit smoking that caused these emotional problems either because, although I was smoking less, I was still smoking.

Thanks Anyway, though!!!

Jaclyn

Thanks for the advice and encouragment everyone!!!  

I have not had a cigarette today.  I was by the store earlier and thought about buying a pack when I got gas, but there was a guy smoking a cigarette right by the door and I smelled it.... the smell alone almost made me sick!!!  I have Nicarette gum and have been weaning myself off of cigarettes with that.  I just decided today that I don't want to replace one addiction with another, so I'm gonna try no more Nicotine at all!!!  I recently started drinking more water, so that's helping too!!!  Then, I just found a new personal trainer and I let him know that I'm trying to quit smoking and that I need all the help I can get.  My therapist said the same thing as a couple of you said:  Just don't quit trying to quit!!!  She said that as long as I don't quit trying, I'm not a failure.  I think I agree.

This is my last bad habit to kick and is huge on my list of new year's resolutions.  I'll let everyone know how I'm doing in a month or so.....

Jaclyn
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I don't think so.  Most of the people I've known who have smoked those "roll-your-owns" on a regular basis are cigarette smokers as well.  I know every single time I ever sat down with Mary Jane.... I always smoked twice as many cigarettes!!!  

Does anyone know if menthol cigarettes are harder to quit than regular ones?

Jaclyn