Ideas for Gift Basket for My Sister Who's Quitting Smoking 2/15 - Raleigh,NC

Instead of a gift basket, I would send a card at each mile marker. She makes it one week send a card congratulating her, 2 weeks, one month, two months, three months, etc. When she reaches 6 months I would send a basket then and again at one year. I would put things she loves as oppose to quit smoking things, like a CD of her favorite band, her favorite candy, chocolate, a new book, crossword puzzles, etc. That way she is focusing on herself instead of the smoking!

you have thought of all of my ideas already...maybe mints? Lots of candy to suck on. maybe some "nicorett" gum....that is the gum that gives you the feel of tobacco or something like that. a jogging watch, exercise things that will give the idea of "getting healthy"...oh, snacks...she may want to eat a lot more!

How nice of you!

Hi L.,

Thanks for your support. My husband and I quit almost a year ago and family and friends support it a great factor to success. You are on the right track with your suggesstions. Crosswords, magazines, gum, any stress relief helpers, calm music, spa packages, exercise tips, but most important are phone calls with ecouragement. Quitting is hard and is NEVER ending.

Thanks again,

R.

February 6th of this year was my (and my husband's) one year anniversary for quitting smoking. I think it is great that you want to support your Sister. The first two weeks where the hardest for me. I was thinking you could write down encouraging statements on 14 notecards. That way she can look at them during each day and get encourgement when she needs it. Also, you should call it her "Breathe Free" basket instead of her "Quit Smoking" Basket. The "Breathe Free" term helped me and my husband. Hope this helps. Good Luck to her!

Maybe include some febreze, or something similar, to spray around the house to eliminate that smoke smell that might tempt her.

Also, tell her about flylady.com. It will get her into new, healthy routines that will keep her busy and away from the cigs. It will also build her self-esteem as she sees that she can do these new routines and see the results of them.

Dear L. C.
How wonderful to hear your sister is going to quit that smoking.
I too had that vice many years ago.
But I just quit and realised I wanted to live a life of freedom from that addiction.
I beleive in our Lord who delivered me of it.
I now carry little Crosses that represent many things of this world and people that I care about.
One represents those terrible vices that control us.
Were we feel we cannot do without.
I hold that cross strongly and pray to Our Father in Heaven to deliver that presious soul from these addiction.
Every day all those crosses I try to carry.
Cancer
Wars
The leaders of our country
The world of many troubles.
I too am a recovering alcohoic of 12 years.
I have been dry for about 14 years now sense 1994.
God delivered me.
And I was given a second chance.
The gift he Gave me was writing.
I never taken any classes for it.
It just come from God and I put it upon the paper for all to read if they like.
Here is one for your Loving sister.

The Bars That Hold Me

These bars that hold me.
Are rusted and weak.
No longer do they hold me back.
For I have found the key.
No longer do I not see a possibility of being free.
Free to be me as I always wanted to be.
To feel the good in me.
No more looking back at all that was not right.
It is worth the fight to live again.
To touch my love ones and my friends.

Vicki W. 2009

I have never quit smoking myself but have watched friends and family members quit. The things you listed sound great. I would also see if you can find a humorous book, calendar or mediatation book. If she enjoys reading the bible then bible verses would be great. Send her inspirational or humorous cards in the mail and emails as well. Pray for her as well. I know that when people pray for you your life improves. Good Luck and God Bless!

I think you have a great start to your basket. Consider other things that help her relax, books or word searches. Also, maybe throw in some hard candy as well. My hubby quitting and it was very stressful so things that relax that can replace the cigarettes are key. Great for you in supporting your sister this way!

Well you have gum listed, mints, some bubble bath, CD's with great walking music on it, I like the stress ball idea, and water bottle, some kind of words of encouragement via online, a new lip color perhaps.

You are very sweet to do this. I don't understand the addiction, however, I know it's hard to quit & smokers need all the help & support they can get.

Hey L..
I read your email, and even though I have never smoked a day in my life either, there are a couple ideas I have thought about for her to think or do, when she feels those urges. I cannot guarantee that they will work, because like I said, I have never smoked before. Well, maybe you can try putting like things that can occupy her mind away from the idea of smoking. Like maybe things she likes to do, like read or crochet.Maybe some things like art, or painting. My sister is trying to quit smoking as well, and she told me that the Lord gave her a idea to take breathing excercises. Because when people smoke they breath in, so she practices breathing excersises while inhaling and exhaling. Deep breaths, like you are waking up, and greeting the new day. I am not sure if this will suit her, but you can ask her to try. Please email me if it works.

Congratulations to your sister and to you for supporting her. I love ALL of the suggestions so far, every single one of them sounds fantastic. I would like to add maybe include a pretty notebook and pen that she could use as a journal to vent her feelings. Even if she writes nothing but "This sucks!" for the first few days, it might help her to accept some of the hard things she's feeling and overcome them. Then maybe after a few days she'll find she can write "Today is the first day I didn't have a craving" or something like that. Being able to see your progess in words helps some people. I wish her all the best.

thats so sweet of you! i think you have got a good start! maybe send some of her favorite candy too!

I love the cangrats cards every week, month, etc as she goes along her journey! One thing I didn't see mentioned is toothpaste and a new toothbrush. My sister told me that always helped her b/c once your mouth is all clean you really don't want to lite up. Gum is good too, but how about hand soap (buy the B&BW with moisturizer) ... the more they smell fresh clean hands, again the last thing you want to do is lite up.

It is very nice of you to do this!

Haven't read any previous suggestions so I may be repating things you've already read. And, being an avid anti-smoking campaigner, I have to start with a "commercial" and an apology therefore.

The bad news is that cigarette companies have deliberately been adding chemicals to their tobacco paste which are known to be addictive, so your sister is going to have a tough physical time kicking the habit. Sometime down the road, when your sister is close enough to a real victory but also close enough to still feel the need, you might tell her about an article you read on how cigarettes are made. (find it at: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/cigarette/anat_text.html ). It's not only disappointing that a legitimate, government sanctioned industry could get away with deliberately injecting drugs and toxic chemicals into their customers but, scary that the government would allow it. But, that's another story.

Below you will find links to some sites that delineate some possibly unknown links between smoking and foods. Reading into them, you will find things like dairy and fruits can actually help in the effort to quit smoking, while soft drinks, coffee, and meats may well encourage one to smoke more. So, while you're looking into things to include in your "Way to go! I'm in your corner" basket, consider adding a variety of crackers and cocktail breads along with several types of cheeses. Throw in some powdered, single-serving fruit drink packets to encourage her to drink more water and help flush out her system. Then add something completely stupid – some kind of in-joke between the two of you – that she will be able to look at and laugh. (Readers Digest has that column called, "Laughter – The Best Medicine"? It really is a great aid in conquering the cravings for a smoke..)

Chocolate is an additive in cigarettes (It hides the normally bitter, nasty taste of the tobacco) so dump a few plain chocolate candy bars into the basket. It might help with cravings.

Lastly, there are tons of greeting cards offering moral support to those who are trying to quit the stick. Pile up a bunch and, after adding one to your basket, randomly send them to her throughout her ordeal.

My congratulations to your sister and to you for wanting to help make her effort more bearable.

http://foreversmokefree.com/blog/2009/01/14/anti-smoking-...

http://blog.nutritiondata.com/ndblog/2007/07/can-certain-...

http://www.webmd.com/smoking-cessation/news/20070405/quit...

How about wrapping the items and telling her to open one every so often (1 a day, 2 a day, whenever she REALLY wants a cigarette, or whatever). Even a handwritten card at intervals thrown in would be nice -- especially reminders that 'YOU CAN DO THIS!' You might even number some of them in sequence according to when you'd like her to have them (like the journal notebook which she'd need from the beginning). My mom was in the hospital (135 miles from home) for an extended stay while having treatments after a major cancer surgery, and my sister had a bunch of friends who bought stuff from a dollar store (everything a dollar) and wrapped them individually so she could open one a day after she got well enough to enjoy them.

My father-in-law quit smoking in 1975 for my husband's Christmas present (we weren't married yet, but he was returning home [discharged] from a stay in Germany w/Uncle Sam). FIL had said that his cough wasn't smoke-related, but within a few weeks it was GONE. Remind her of anything positive that you notice that's directly because of her cessation of smoking!

What a great way to be supportive!! I always said if I had not gotten pregnant I never would have been able to quit. You might include a pack of index cards with supportive or inspirational sayings like "We love you", "You can do this". And depending on how your relationship is you could also include "Gee your hair doesn't stink today". :) So when she needs a pick me up she can grab one.
The gum is a great idea and also some low calorie snacks.
Good Luck to your sister!!!

What you have so far are good things. Try sending her things she can use to go out walking. I found that walking and enjoying the fresh air helped to forget smoking and inproved my all-around health. Keep up the good work.
P.S.
Does she enjoy sewing, knitting or crocheting? These hobbies help to stay busy.

My husband is going thru this right now. He has smoked for 42 yrs. Strawberry hard candies, (or any type of hard candy, they have sugar-free ones also) helps. Multi-color rubber bands to put around her wrist so that when she wants a smoke she can pop the rubber band instead. Weird I know, but psychologically it is supposed to condition your brain to not want the smoke (ie:not want the pain of the snapped band).A Special Calendar that she can mark off days with a big red "X" that she makes thru without a smoke. I personally like manicures,lotions,or maybe a massage gift certificates for the rough hands and the stress associated with trying to quit. Wish her luck from one in Kentucky who knows!
M. Massie,
Elkton,KY

Chocolate chocolate chocolate.

The first three days are the hardest, so doing something like m&m's is great in the beginning. Or if she isn't a chocolate fan, something chewy like skittles or jelly beans, ot the twizzlers sounded good. Those helped me. Then switch to fat free stuff and low sugar, sugar free hard candies worked well for me.

The toothbrush idea is great. And I thought the idea of the funny cards about the stinky hair was cute. Another thing about smoking is the yellow teeth and hands, so a manicure treat and some tooth whitening product would be good.

I will celebrate eight years smoke free on 4/17. It was difficult to do but setting the date and weaning myself until then helped. I used Twizzlers because they are chewy, fat free, and take a while to eat. They seemed to help with the need to have something in my hand and in my mouth. I also took more walks and used fresh air to calm my nerves. So, a pedometer might be a good gift. Finally, I found myself having to find new places to go and new people to spend my time with. I still have smoking friends but I found any backslides occurred when I attempted to go outside with my friends and not smoke. Temptation will finally give in if someone is attempting to quit but still wants the "smoke breaks." A motivational book of quotes or short stories discussing overcoming day to day trials and tribulations might help if she should feel guilty for having a slip up.
Ann Landers wrote an article listing the ways a body responds to quitting smoking. You can Google "Ann Landers and Quitting smoking" or try this link http://no-smoking.org/april00/04-12-00-4.html. I still mark off my milestones.
I hope this helps.
A.

Maybe some of the nicotine patches??? Hard candies???

Maybe a gift certificate for cleaning her house. Taking the smells away. I'm a member of the Service Magic Pros that you can get up to three verified, license, insured, cleaning companies in her area to help you with that. Just remember to use her address and your phone number and email. So they can call you, not your sister.

Or maybe a meditating class in her area, getting in touch with the mind and body has helped me.

Even a cooking class that teaches about spices and herbs to help open her palette for change.

Keeping the mind busy is a good start and being around people that knows what your going through.

Tell her good luck and theirs people praying for her. I to am trying to kick the habit. It's an everyday struggle.

hi i am a smoker and i have tried to quit several times. some things that did help me was peppermint gum and peppermint candies or cinnamon candies like red hots. also the big pretzel sticks (rods) and if you get her some of those and she likes chocolate do her a big favor and melt some chocolate and dip half to three fourths of the pretzel in the chocolate and lay them on wax paper to cool. yummy. if she likes to knit or crochet or do needle point that will help to because that will give her hands something to do instead of smoking. i hope this helps.

M. R.