Quitting smoking - help!

Jaded · January 30th, 2006, 04:48 PM

Ive been off ciggies for 2 weeks now! (go me!). But i'm eating so much more, i cant watch TV anymore because i get so restless

Any advice?

**NoDayButToday** · January 30th, 2006, 04:55 PM

I know quite a few people who took up things like knitting or crochet when they quit smoking. Both hands were kept busy while they were working so they couldn't eat or smoke.

Congrats for quitting though, stick with it!

moomies · January 30th, 2006, 05:33 PM

I'm trying to quit as well but I have such a weak will power, I had to go buy a pack today.

For those of you who are trying to quit, did you go cold turkey or did you slowly cut down?

Jaded · January 30th, 2006, 06:30 PM

^^ I went cold turkey, it helped because it was after a particular hard night out on the town and i had a really sore throat from smoking so much and decided enough is enough. Plus i always promised myself i would quit by the time i'm 30... and that's only 3 months away

I know my health is gonna benefit, but i'm gonna be so fat

Luna · January 30th, 2006, 06:31 PM

I quit in October but have had 3 relapses. Drink hot chocolate for a sweet treat instead of munching. Snack on sunflower seeds, carrott sticks, celery....Start polishing your nails often! You find you have so much more time on your hands! come post here

I just couldn't take the stench anymore. Think of the wrinkles you'll be saving yourself from and oh yeah lung cancer & smokers cough.

misskris · February 1st, 2006, 01:30 PM

congrats! i did it cold turkey about 6 months ago and i've never felt better. i occasionally (approx 1/month) have a cig and then feel bad and gross and stinky. i guess it will be an ongoing struggle for me. but 1 a month vs a pack a day is pretty good so i'm happy w myself. you can totally do this w out gaining weight or being miserable.

use the time you save smoking to do worthwhile things. i realized how all the time for smoke breaks adds up. 5 minutes here, 7 there, and you gain it all back!

Grimmlok · February 1st, 2006, 01:49 PM

Keep your hands busy, twiddle a pen, a straw, something you can chew on

Stay away from social situations where you'd normally smoke, like a bar or pub.. at least till you're really able to handle it

if you're restless, go for a run, take up some kickboxing, burn off that energy

to curb nervous eating, chew gum or chew on the pen again

Voodoo Child · February 1st, 2006, 02:46 PM

I have a friend on zyban but that is not for everyone. It is sending her a tad mental. One minute she is alright and the next she is crying yelling etc. She also cannot sleep whilst on it. But if you think you can stand all that stuff plus more, ask your Doc about it.

As for the eating, maybe drink as much water as possible. It makes you think you are full. Hope all goes well for you.

Luna · February 1st, 2006, 03:25 PM

I think it's pretty common to become depressed or over emotional for a while after quitting.

Read this, very interesting;
http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu/1177.html

Femmefatale · February 1st, 2006, 08:59 PM

I quit smoking the old fashion way (no pills or patches or gums, etc) and didnt gain any weight (I quit at 110lbs and I'm 114 now but thats always been my normal fluctuation even when I did smoke heres what i did:

1)Bc I never drank, smoking was my only vice so I motivated myself by telling myself I was going to become the poster girl of perfect health. I started seeing a personal trainer to tone up.

2) I now drink TONS and TONS of water...seriously I know it sounds trite but it really will flush out all those chemicals much faster

3) I got dermasonic (a skin toning procedure that smooths skin and drains toxins). Dermasonic is an anti-cellulite trtmnt, and althoug I didnt have cellulite I knew it flushed out toxins. It was 1,000$ for 12 sessions.

4) ***QUEST nicotine free cigs...ok so for the first three months I would get HORRIFIC cravings. I realized your body is not just withdrawing from nicotine but from all the other thousand chemicals in cigarettes. I figured that Id have a nicotine free quest when these hellacious cravings came over me...this is NOT an excuse to smoke freely. Im talking about one and ONLY if u are DYING for one NOT bc u WANT one. I only ended up smoking 2-3 total and that was over a year ago. Quest will ease the withdrawal but it wont make your cravings worse (as a regular cig would) bc there is no nicotine. You have to have self control thou. If you think the quest will make you want to smoke more, DONT do it. I only did it bc I was in physical agony a couple times at first

5) go on juice fasts--anything that will detox ur body honestly makes the withdrawal so much better-- Id go on juice fasts and drink tons of liquid, Id go to spas and get detoxifying body wraps ---its worked

Good luck!

chatterweb · February 3rd, 2006, 01:45 AM

I used to smoke alot, now I am down to 7 cigs a day, I use commit lozenges and they work!!!!

Tiara · February 3rd, 2006, 02:42 AM

I'm in no fit state to read through the whole thread today (yeah aaaaaall 2 pages) so forgive me if I duplicate anyone elses advice.

But I would suggest totally giving up, going cold turkey, no patches, no special chewing gum etc. And take up some hobbies, like walking, swimming, reading etc. That should stop you feeling the need to substitute cigarettes with food.

I hear the first 2 weeks of smoking are the worst so you're pretty much there!! Well done! Smokers are stinky anyway, and just for a nice visual to inspire you along your path to good health...

^^Healthy lung

Smokers lung^^

This is the pic I sent to my bf to stop him smoking, he hasn't touched another cigarette since, its been 12 months!

moomies · February 3rd, 2006, 05:30 PM

I'm afraid my lungs look blackened like that...
I gave up smoking just for one day (2 days ago I went cold turkey) but I couldn't resist and bought another pack. After finishing it, I'll try and quit again...
This is a major struggle for me, I'm incredibly addicted.

cynic · February 7th, 2006, 09:05 AM

I've been on the patch for eight-and-a-half weeks with one-and-a-half left to go. This is my second try with the patches and my fifth try during my 27-year smoking addiction. I've tried hypnosis, cold turkey, many seminars.....I seem to be able to make it to 4 months and then the mental addiction takes me back.

What has helped me the most this time is knowing more and more people who have died of cancer. This time, I lost a co-worker who was 39 years old and an aunt whose lung cancer came back. I keep telling myself that I'm too intelligent to keep smoking.

We can do this, Jaded.

Instead of eating to replace cigs, I am deep breathing my way through cravings. I have almost hyperventilated a few times, but it's still better than putting an idiot stick in my mouth.

I'm also grateful for this place where I have been able to come and vent some aggression against the poor celebrities!

Luna · February 7th, 2006, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moomies

I'm afraid my lungs look blackened like that...
I gave up smoking just for one day (2 days ago I went cold turkey) but I couldn't resist and bought another pack. After finishing it, I'll try and quit again...
This is a major struggle for me, I'm incredibly addicted.

Keep trying! I've quit numerous times. I really feel this time is IT. Even if you continue to quit and fail, your lungs are getting a break. I'm sure you can do it though! Don't give up.
Best of luck