Smoking

Dear B.,
Greetings!!!

I highly suggest reading Allen Carr's "Easy Way To Stop Smoking."

http://allencarr.com/central/
http://allencarr.com/central/article/35/easy-way-to-stop-...

I've had many friends who swear by this book. They say the technique to quit smoking is in the book and that there are no drugs, gimmicks, etc.

Hope this helps! : )))

LOL,
L. (Mama to 39 week old old Dylan Orion) : )))

Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) is a way of working with each person's energy meridians to clear what keeps us stuck. It works with a myriad of situations, including stopping smoking, depression, anxiety, weight loss... I am happy to gift you a 30 minute session to explain and allow you to experience it! The sessions can be done by phone, as well as in person. If others are interested, I would set up a conference call for the group, too. You, and other readers, can visit my website for a brief description: www.goodvibrationswellness.com V.

B. i'm also trying to quit smoking , i'm 43 and it's time. I've called the 1-800 number and spoke to a lady and told her I think it's because i'm bored, so she gave me the cert. to take to my doctor and he gave me these pills about two weeks ago and I haven't taken any, I think i'm afraid of the change. Iv'e been smoking for a long time and I don't know what I will do in place of the smoking, so if you come up with something please let me know, and if I come up with something I will let you know. Please e-mail me at any time at ____@____.com

Congratulations on your decision & good luck w/ your effort... I see others have suggested nicotine replacement to help w/ the physical cravings. I have a great trick to help w/ the situational triggers such as driving, having a glass of wine, talking on the phone etc.... I bought a box of those little cocktail straws and would stash them in the visor of my car, purse etc and I would pretend smoke them to get over that fidgety feeling you get sometimes in those circumstances. It looks silly but who cares - it really worked for me!! It somehow calmed that urge for me and helped me get through those times. Best Health and Wishes to you.

Hi B., first of all congratulations on trying to quit smoking. I think that sometimes just making that decision is the hardest part. I was a smoker for 15 years, and the hardest part for me was making the decision that for the rest of my life I would never have another cigarette. When I had quit smoking before, I never really believed that I would never smoke again. Another thing is that when people asked, I told them I am a nonsmoker, instead of telling them that I was quitting. That mental shift makes a big difference. Finally, I thought about all the embarrassing situations when I would have to excuse myself to smoke, all the times that it was raining outside and I would still open the car window and get soaked so that I could have a cigarette, and that I didn't want to be controlled by my need for smoking anymore. All these things helped my mental addiction more than my physical one, because for me, it was much more of a mental addiction. My husband on the other hand was very physically addicted and had physical symptoms like cold sweats and when he quit. He used the nicotine patch which downgrades the amount of nicotine that you receive as time goes on. It really helped with his physical symptoms. I really wish you the best of luck.

sorry that my advice may not be exactly personal smoking experience, but i do know that when my husband quit smoking it was because of the simple fact that his doctor told him, while he was at a regular check-up, that every time he has a cigarette his chance chance of having a heart-attack right there and then was about ten-fold, compared people who don't smoke.
my grandmother died of an aneurysm that was said to have been cause by her arteries being weakened by smoking.
my step-grandmother found out she had lung cancer, after a life of smoking, and was dead in 1 & 1/2 months. I sat on her bed with her while she died. i actually saw her take her last breath. i saw her slip away.
if you like being alive, and especially if you have kids and grandkids, i really hope you are able to quit.
best of luck, from someone who has seen too much bad come from cigarettes.
you are very strong, in that you are planning to quit, and all of my best wishes go out to you!

Get in the water. Swim. Start swimming everyday. Start with a small goal - 10 laps, build each day, add more laps. Or swim in the ocean, even better, salt water cleanses. Learn something new. Commit to 10 yoga classes in 10 days, write down what you eat, when you sleep write your intentions clearly in a dream journal. Give yourself a week long private retreat while staying at a healing spa, like Sycamore Mineral Springs. Water heals, cleanses and gets you out of your head and into your body.
Find support to change your focus from bringing in an artificial fire into your body; and begin to build your own natural fire through yoga breathing techniques - breath of fire, bellows breath, yogic breath..learn to meditate with the breath. It is fun, easy and gives more pleasure than smoking, I know, I've done it.

HI B.,

Check out www.myrevelle.com/HealthWise

Any questions?

Email: ____@____.com

-V.

I quit after 25 years when I watched my Dad die from emphysema. Put my cigarettes down and never had another one. I just didn't want to die like that. But I used to work for an organization that taught stop smoking classes. If you feel you just can't quit cold turkey, then take a piece of paper and write down the numbers at the top 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
Wrap that piece of paper around your pack of cigarettes with a rubber band. Some people put the pack in the trunk of their car. Then when you want a cigarette, go get the pack, write down how badly you want to smoke it - using the numbers 1-5, with 5 being the most urgent. THEN write down the reason you want to smoke it. Sometimes the trouble it takes to get one out of the package is enough to deter you and you'll put it back without the smoke. You need to take it day by day. The strongest urges last about 6 minutes. If you can get past that, you can do without for a while. When you do get an urge, find something else to do. My house was spotless the first few weeks. But the freedom I felt was wonderful. No need to carry a purse just to have something to put my cigs in. I found out I could drive a car or talk on the phone without a cigarette in my hand. Didn't rush out of a restaurant right after a meal so I could have my after dinner smoke. It's so liberating! Good luck to you. The reward is so worth the effort.

One more little note: My aunt quit cold turkey when she was 68. But she had a self-reward system. Every day she put the money she would have spent on cigarettes in a jar and within a year bought herself the mink she had always wanted. :-)

Darlene

Hi Bobbi,

I was a smoker and quit cold turkey. I prayed alot but one little trick you can do is chew cinnamon gum, brushed my teeth with cinnamon toothpaste, and gargled with cinnamon mouth wash. Cigarettes taste awful.

Good Luck ~ F.

I konow it is hard. I have not smoked for as long as you but when i was pg i quit cold turkey. After i gave birth i was stupid and started again. Now i am pg again and i use the method of oral fixation. When ever i want a smoke i grab a pen and act as if i was smoking a cigg. So far so good i have not smoked in two months. I still get cravings but they are less and farther between. Good luck. S.

Honestly, the quickest and only good way in my opinion is cold turkey. That's how I did it. The first month was hell, but after that it gets much easier.

The happiest day of my life was when my parents quit smoking. I still look at them in awe and disbelief, I know it was hard and I am so proud of them.

I don't have any advice, sorry. But I want to give you a huge HUGE HUG! YOU CAN DO IT! You will feel so much better! I hope someone that has been through it can give you the jump start you need.

Congratulations on wanting to quit!!
M.

B.,
The first step is wanting to make that change of quiting. That is huge, so good for you!!! I've never smoked, but I just found out that my step brother in-law's mom was able to quit and she's smoked just about as long I believe. What she did was wean herself slowly. Depending on how many you have a day now will help determine how long it will take. Everyweek she'd smoke one to two less cigarttes a day for that week. And slowely but she found that when she only had a few she could have she would think about smoking it and then think in her mind she might want it later and should save it. And pretty soon she wasn't so dependant on that crutch. There is still a temptation, but her quality of life has changed, she doesn't have a cough anymore she's the healthiest she's been in who knows how long. She's had 9 kids and she has the motivation to want to live longer for them and her grankids. She said she never wants to go back to having that addiction in her life. I think it helps when you have something for yourself you can consentrate on or reward yourself with. Maybe taking up a swim aerobics class or getting involved with others who have quit and maybe a support group. Last Christmas this mom was able to give her kids the gift of being smoke free. You can only imagine how everyone cried and rejoiced! I'm proud of you for wanting to make that first step and wish you the very best. I hope you find a way that will work for you.

Hi Bobby,

I quit smoking 4 years ago and had been smoking for most of my life like you. I got help with it. I am with Kaiser and I joined one of their stop smoking group meetings. It reminded me a little like what I would expect AA meetings to be. We all sat in a circle and talked about what was hard this week that made us want to smoke. But along with that, I took Wellbutrin and the patch. The counsel, who was also a nurse, recommended we do both. Before I only did one or the other but coupled with the meetings and both the patch and Wellbutrin, I quit two weeks later.

I have a friend of a friend who used to teach smoke enders and she would suggest that when you have a craving to gargle with mouth wash. When you start to taper off, change the times that you smoke. If you light up first thing in the morning, change that. Wait half an hour before you light up. If you get in the car and light up a cigarette, wait 20 minutes and continue to change your habits. When you finish a meal, don't smoke right away. A big part of smoking is habit. Change your habits and that does help.

Ask your doctor about it. Believe me with the high prices of gas and the high prices of cigarettes, saving the $$ you spend on cigarettes will do your pocketbook good. I initially gained some weight but today I am less than I was when I first quit. I can really exercise more and I'm 52.

You have nothing to lose and your health to gain! In fact, my life insurance is so much cheaper too!

Good luck in this. It is hard but it was almost easy when I quit and this time, its been over 4 years! I licked it this time!

A little about me:

I have two kids, one is in college and the other high school. I co-own a Dream Dinners in Thousand Oaks and love it and have a full time job too.

Dear B.,

I'm sorry this is late - I got behind and was trying to catch up today . . . I personally have no advice for you - and you probably received a lot here (I haven't looked yet) -

I heard about this site a couple months ago and sent to a friend - it can't hurt to check it out. Also, you can google "quit smoking" and TONS of sites come up.

GOOD LUCK!!!
And best wishes!
It will be tough, but definitely worth it!
B.

http://www.ucanquit2.org/

Hello, I quit a pack a day habbit when I got pregnant with my first. The best thing I can say is to replace it. When I first quit I bought some hard (sugar free) candies and when ever I wanted to smoke I just had one of those..(gum can be used as well). I also took up running (any exercise will do)and that has really helped me because I know I can not run if I smoke.
I do wish you luck. It is very hard and even after 6 years I still smell one and think of having one.
Take care.

I've read some of the responses and sure acupuncture is great and reading books are great, but the only thing that is going to work is if you are really ready to quit and make the commitment. There is no "trying to quit" there is only doing it. Make the decision and stick to it. I quit 3 1/2 years ago after smoking for 13 years. I was about to hop on to a 14 hour flight to Hong Kong then right onto a 3 hour flight to Thailand. I was looking at the last three cigs in the pack going back and forth about whether or not I was going to throw them out or take them with me and then quit after the pack was done. When I put my cig out and threw it in the garbage, my hand moved by itself and threw the pack in the garbage and as I watched it slide down I said to myself, "Well, I guess that's it." I was so busy in Thailand I didn't have time to have cravings. However, the first three days are the hardest and after that it is all in your mind. Now I know that you probably can't have a trip to Thailand to help you quit, but the point is is that if you are truly ready then you can do it. Every time you smell smoke (even if it smells sweet) tell yourself how nasty it is. Every time you crave one keep yourself busy. Clean something, take a walk, start a hobby, even hold a pen in your hand for a while if you're somewhere where you have to sit still. You can read all the books you want and have all the needles in world stuck in you but the responsibility is ultimately yours. Good luck and I wish all the best.

I read the book called The Easy Way To Quit Smoking by Allen Carr and it made all the difference in the world. I quit and was happy about it just like he promised. I know some people don't think a book could work...but I urge you to please give it a try. You really have nothing to lose. Allen was an older gentleman who smoked several packs a day and went from like 100 smokes a day to zero and he has a lot of wisdom to offer. Please pick it up and give it a try! If anything, I bet you would cut down a lot!!! Good luck!!!!

Hello B.,

Have you looked into Acupuncture? It has been shown to be very effective in helping people to quit smoking... If you are in the Las Vegas area, you can contact us at Rhee's Acupuncture Clinic. Tel: ###-###-####.
Best wishes,
O. Rhee

Chantix! Ask your doctor for a prescription and please give it a try. I am all for complementary therapies like acupuncture and hypnotherapy as well as good old fashioned mindpower but the fact is you are physically addicted and that is very powerful. Chantix pacifies those cellular receptor sites that have you running back for a cigarette by tricking them with a replacement. You just don't have the urge for a cigarette! And when you don't have an overwhelming need for one, it's easier to rid it from your life. My husband (who is obsessive and has a so-called "addictive" personality) quit after 25 years. CHANTIX, my dear.

I am 46 and smoked since I was 13. I tried everything and I couldn't stop. My oldest son was diagnosed with cancer and he was a smoker too. I found a Hypnotherapist in the phone book and it WORKED for both of us!! I paid about a month of cigarett purchases and have not smoked again in 3 years. And my son is doing great, no reoccurance but it was a long and hard road. This is the only thing that worked and believe me I tried EVERYTHING, books, patch, pills, filters, ultra lights, cutting back....EVERYTHING. I also have three friends I reccamended and they are smoke free for 1-3 years. I was surprised because I was VERY sceptical and when I pulled up in the parking lot I kept a pack of cigaretts in my car but on my why out of the parking lot I threw them (a full pack, $5.00!) in the dumpster and with LITTLE effert I remain smoke free. YIPPY!

Ask your doctor for a prescription for CHANTIX!

My hubby had been a smoker for nearly 20 years and had tried to quit many times with pills, hypnosis, you name it. He finally tried Chantix and not only did it work, he said that he had no cravings at all and didn't miss smoking one bit. He is a MAJOR creature of habit, so if it can work for him, there's an excellent chance it can work for you, too.

Good luck and congrats on making such a smart decision!! Your children and grandchildren will be so much richer for it.

Tell everyone that you are going to quit and ask for help. Find someone to be accountable to and start looking for things to do th keep you busy. Good for you for quitting, it was one of the hardest things I ever did! I did not use the patches or pills and I stopped and started but I made it!!

Good luck!!

try
forgive yourself
try again
that method didn't work
forgive yourself
try again
try again
try again
keep trying all methods people tell you. one will fit your temperament.
don't listen to people telling you you are selfish. it doesn't help.
try again
you can do this. It is a passage in your life that deserves your deepest will power, your most devout attention, compassion and dedication.

It took me a long time to quit, but i watched my father in law quit cold turkey at 62. Each to their own.

i wish you the best.

B., I'm 64. I smoked 2+ packs a day until I was about 40. I am a nurse and I knew the dangers by then. I decided that on Memorial Day I would tell everyone I came into contact with that one July 4...Independance Day...I would be free of cigarettes. I psyched myself up and had the support from friends and relatives. On 7/4 I woke up a non smoker. The physical withdrawal lasted a few days and were tough, no kidding about that, but by day 4 or 5 I really was a non smoker inside and out. I stuck it out. That was by 40th birthday present for my self. You can do it between Thanksgiving and Christmas...announce to those at dinner that you will be a non smoker on Christmas, which will be your gift to them and to yourself. You live with that promise for those weeks inbetween and you convince yourself that you CAN do it. I smoked over 2 packs a day. I'm fine now, no lung problems, and the smell of smoke nauseates me I dislike it so much. It's a mental thing that gets you thru the physical withdrawal which really only takes a few days. If I could do it, so can you, but have a plan and stick too it. Good luck and good faith in yourself.

I had smoked for ~15 years and quit on and off. The patch prolonged the pain,cutting down led to treating myself to that xtra smoke until I thought that I must stop for my health! What worked was to beat the urge out of me! As soon as I became anxious or really wanting a cigarette I would run aroungd the block as fast as I could! It reinforced the fact that I was out of shape from smoking,my endophins kicked in so I felt good, it abated some arguments I was about ready to get into from being crabby and helped me establish a healthy way of withdrawl-without eating the fridge and it was free! You can do it!

My fiance is a former smoker and he recommends the One Step at a Time Filters: http://www.quitsmoking.com/onestep.htm He said that they worked really well for him, and he offers these hints: you don't necessarily have to follow the time table on the instructions. You can do it at your own speed. You should buy more than one box and keep one in your car in case you forget your filter. You can drill an extra hole in the last filter so that you are getting no nicotine at all. The whole idea is that the system weens you off of the nicotine.

Hi B.,

All I can say is PLEASE stop smoking for your kid's sake. I come from a family of three children. My father died this past March from Lung Cancer. He has six beautiful grandchildren that will not have the opportunity to remember him very well (the oldest is 8 years old). It was heart wrenching to watch my father die. In the last few months that he was alive his liver gave out and he was not able to break down his food and therefore became painfully thin. I don't think about all of the good things my family and I did with him, just what I DIDN'T do. The one thing I wish I had done was to constantly nag him until he stopped smoking. He would of had a few more years with us if he had quit smoking. My mother and father in-law quit smoking cold turkey. They chew Nicorette gum. It seems to help them. I wish you the best of luck and I hope that you find something that will help you quit smoking. Good Luck!

I have heard that the chantrix medication works pretty well.
However, like any addiction, you have to change the behaviors associated with the smoking or it won't work. Find distracting alternatives like excercising and chewing gum. Smoking is very oral so try not to replace it with food. YOU CAN DO IT>>>>>YOUR LUNGS WILL THANK YOU

My husband and I both quit using the patch. It helps take the edge off the cravings to where we felt it was manageable. The first few days are toughest so keep yourself busy. I chewed sugerless gum continually! It gets easier every day after that. It has been 15 years for me and I can only tell you that quitting was the best thing we ever did. You will be surprised at how much cigarettes control you life! Don't give up you can do it! You can email me if you need support...M. ____@____.com wishes & congratulations on making a wonderful decision!

Hey Bobby

Well you have made the first step in the right direction, finding the right path that is the hard part now. For someone like you who has smoked for so many years it going to be tough and your body will be in major SHOCK for while. There are many option from simply going "cold turkey" as i did, or the patch.. there are even prescription drugs. My husband unfortunately is still smoking after trying almost everything, except the prescription drugs...which we are going to consult a doctor about. this site is pretty interesting www.mytimetoquit.com Everyone is different when it comes to quitting, remember it is a form of addiction. Stay positive and strong. I wish you all the best.

Pfizer has a drug (Chantix) that seems to work. Good luck!

Hi, B.,

I have two suggestons. One is there is this book entitled "An Easy Way to Quit Smoking," By some guy, last name of Carr. Try that. A friend told me about that, but I happened to quit smoking by "DIVINE INTERVENTION." Yes, that's right. St. Jude, the Saint of the IMPOSSIBLE, well, thanks to him... I haven't wanted to take back up smoking in now 12 years, and I was a 15 year smoker previous.

Good Luck. Lots of prayer and ... Well, more prayer.

if you find out how to do it, please let me know. i am over 50 have grown kids, grandkids and god knows i need and want to quit.

Hello!I am an acupuncturist and just wanted to answer your question about quitting smoking. Acupuncture works great if you are really ready to quit amoking. Treatments are given frequently in the beginning to help ween off the cigarettes. Herbs and supplements are also given to help with the stress and side effects of quitting. Not sure if you are in Ventura, but feel free to give me a call if you have any questions. Good luck:)
P. Acuna
###-###-####

You need to get professional help.
My father, who is almost 69, only quit when he was hospitalized for another illness, and couldn't go outside to smoke! He smoked his whole life, developed Cancer after he quit, he's had a host of health issues and is really lucky to be alive. You are young, don't wait until your old and sick to quit.
Get professional help, have a plan and support and stick to it!

Hi, Im not a smoker but I have had a couple friends kick the habit through hypnotherapy..Sounds crazy but there is alot to how the mind controls our habits..Her name is Susie Jargo and she has an office in tarzana..###-###-####..Tell her D. from Letip referred you..Good luck on your journey and congratulations for making the decision to live a healthier life...

This may sound stupid to you, but you just have to make up your mind that you are going to quit. It sounds simple enough, but this was the only thing that worked for me. I smoked for 20 years and I got pregnant and decided I did not want to be a smoker anymore and that I would NEVER go back. I had tried soooo many times before that, but I just focused on why I could NOT quit as opposed to just saying to myself just make up your mind and don't do it. I would say the first couple of months were so hard, but it got easier from there. It has been a year and a half now and I have absolutely no desire to smoke. I never thought I would get here. I thought I would spend the rest of my life always wanting it, but I can encourage you by saying that after you make it past a year or so the desire fades. I made myself actually hate the smell. The amazing power of the mind! I hope no matter how you try you can quit. I have had 3 family members die of emphysema and they smoked until their last breath! You would think that would have motivated me enough, but it had no effect on my until I became resolved. My mom even tried on numerous occasion to bribe me with $2000.00 and I just could not do it! Boy do I regret that! Best of luck to you. Chewing gum helps as well I found. I bought 20 different types in the beginning. : ) YOU CAN DO IT!!

Sorry one last thing, tell everyone you know you quit and be very proud of the fact and of yourself!

Good for you!! You can get info on how to quit by calling 1800-quit-now. I believe they also can offer discounts on some of the quit products (patches, gum, prescriptions). Good luck!

Been there B.. It's tough but you'll get through it. I tried Nicotine Anonymous (there were no patches back then). Talk with your doctor and try a meeting (free) with NA.
http://www.nicotine-anonymous.org/

Yes .. Try the patch.. It worls. I smoked for 20 yers - Menthol -Newports. it will work !!!
Good Luck

Hi B., here's is the most natural way to stop smoking,

Love GOD,YOUR FAMILY< AND YOURSELF more than you love smoking
thats how my husband quit cursing. J.