Quitting

[radamanthys]

Anyone here ever quit smoking? I'm just about to start the stop, and was wondering the kinds of stuff i'll be going through. I had set a date for Feb. 1st, but I didn't have the cash yesterday to buy a box of gum. (Couldn't find my wallet).

A pack a day is just too damned expensive. Just looking for some reinforcement from some of you people, you seem to have it together with this kinda thing. Thanks!

My plan? Eat lots of celery, Go to class, do homework, keep my room spotless, powerlevel Rada (and maybe quiake the park a few times in frustration), Play Banjo, go to the gym. Anything else I could be doing?

[Apotheosis]

ANything you can do to keep yourself from smoking. I've quit more than once, and each time it got easier. The trick is to NOT rationalize smoking for any reason.

If you are swamped with school and work, it might be a bad idea to quit until your life slows down a bit, because that will get overwhelming.

[Marl]

Actually I just started on the patch this past weekend and it is working out great. Haven't even had the urge for a smoke and I have been smoking 15 yrs. I am only going to do 2 wks worth though, it is worth 50 bucks to me but, not worth over 200 to do the whole program

[Jahira]

I am actually in a smoking cessation class. It pretty much is taught by a syllabus Yale put out teaching people how to teach people to quit (does that make sense). So questions can be directed my way if you need any help.

To what Marluxian said, think about how much you spend on cigarrettes in a month or year. Think about even in a lifetime. 200 bucks to save thousands is not a bad when you do the cost-benefit analysis of it all.

[Sean of the Thread]

I quit November 18th 2005 and am doing well. I found that if I kept some smokes around so I wouldn't be "out" and have that massive omg I gotta goto the store feeling It made it alot easier just knowing they were on hand. I even carried them around for a couple weeks as It was too hard not to have them on me. Amazing how addicting they are.

My old lady quit 2 weeks ago when the doctor told her she had a tumor on her lip. She hasn't touched one since and had surgery to remove it 7? days ago. She is already excited about the money she has saved.

[Latrinsorm]

No advice per se, but good luck and Godspeed. I think I've told you this before, but everything Spike does isn't automatically cool (e.g. smoking).

[Wezas]

everything Spike does isn't automatically cool (e.g. smoking).

http://www.palefella.com/duh/reviews5/images/fool_spikefag.jpg

Bugger off you sodding poof.

[xtc]

I quit 7 or so years ago.

Some quick tips, exercise it will help burn up nervous energy you will have from quitting and it will help keep those pounds off. I found I ate a lot more to start with and had put on 10 pounds in no time. I did the patch for a few days and then went cold turkey, I have heard zyban is good for quitting. Also I planned around times that I would want a smoke most, like after dinner or after coffee. I cut down on coffee some as well. I didn't hang out with smokers or at places where people would smoke. Number one thing is to make a firm commitment to yourself to not smoke, no matter what. I don't think quitting when you are busy is a bad thing, as long as you don't have excess stress. For me it was better to keep busy rather than sit around with time on my hands and think about smoking. The other thing I noticed was that my ability to concentrate was reduced for a week or two and I had to double check all my work.

[Latrinsorm]

Bugger off you sodding poof.Spike Spiegal, the guy in rada's avatar.

(poof)

[Sean of the Thread]

I quit 7 or so years ago.

....The other thing I noticed was that my ability to concentrate was reduced .....

That much is obvious.



Studies of shown that cigs give brief moments of acute concentration and subjects have a higher IQ whilst ingesting nicotine.

[radamanthys]

wow, lotsa good posts. Yea, I started talking about it a while ago, and set yesterday as my date to quit. I got a big box of gum (enough for 12 weeks) and have been chewing it all day. I only had a couple yesterday, regardless.

I only can clean my room and do my homework so many times, though. And GS, unfortunately, makes me wanna smoke (I did some of my best smoking while playing) :-(

Coffee hurts and helps at the same time, it seems. It's the stimulant part that helps, but it also just prolongs the habit part. I dunno how I feel about beer and coffee, since they're huge parts of my life, and quitting the three of them at once would be nigh impossible.

Spike was cool, but he didn't give a shit about himself. Just enough to stay alive, and that was with luck. Jet was just the opposite- patient, responsible. Smoking was a big part of showing that, as well. I smoke Marb's too. Er, Smoked. Cowboy killers, they call them. Heh. Go figure. Wow, this is hard to concentrate. No fun! Gah!

[TheRoseLady]

www.quitnet.com (http://www.quitnet.com) - Go there and sign up. You will get support emails if you like - It's operated in conjunction with The Boston University School of Health.

When you are really fiending for a cigarette don't forget to breath deeply, you breathe deeply when you smoke - your body is used to it.

I used the patch and for the first few days when I was really withdrawing, I chewed enough of the gum just to get over that intense desire. I kept using the patch through all of the steps, it made quitting easier for me.

One of the best things I have done for myself.

Goodluck.

My Stats:
Your Quit Date is: 3/19/2002
Time Smoke-Free: 1416 days, 18 hours, 54 minutes and 22 seconds
Cigarettes NOT smoked: 56672
Lifetime Saved: 14 months, 12 days, 21 hours
Money Saved: 11,186.40

[Sean of the Thread]

TRLs' post reminds me of L Ron Hubbard.... anyways..

My biggest urges lately have been when doing an instance in WoW where I'm normally a healer.. I want to smoke one so bad before...during and after bosses and shit because I use to smoke em down hard (concentration) during those.

G/l man it is easy once you start.

[Augie]

One thing you can do as an incentive to yourself is take an empty jar or milk jug or water bottle, whatever you have that would easily fit a good amount of money in it. Find a picture of something you REALLY want to buy (an Ipod, new computer, a car, whatever will keep you motivated).

Now factor how much you spend per day/week/etc on smokes. Then, when you would normally be buying cigarettes, put that money in the jar. You'll be suprised how quick it will add up.

Keep some gum by this jar and every time you think about smoking, go over to the jug and take a piece of gum and stare at the money you have saved and the item that you are saving towards.

Then at the end of the year, reward yourself by buying the thing on that jar.

[radamanthys]

how about the 750 bucks I'm gonna owe in taxes this year? lol.

Going strong...

[Jennaen]

My best suggestions.. the patch, for at least the first couple of weeks, and definitely lots of gum. Sunflower seeds work, too.. another way to keep your mouth busy, cracking and spitting. :p

The patch is invaluable, in my opinion.. cuts the actual nicotine craving, so that you only have to deal with the missing the physical ritual of smoking, and psychological habit of calm, focus, etc.

As suggested.. deep breathing helps calm you. Yoga breathing is great.. five seconds slowly inhaling, hold for five, slowly exhale for five. Very calming.. and as your lungs adjust to not smoking, you'll find that breathing is even more effective, as your lung capacity increases. Also, if you feel tense, imagine, as you slowly inhale, that the air is going into the tense muscles, expanding them rather than your lungs.

[peam]

Eat spinach and drink grapefuit juice, if you can stomach them.

I have a couple friends who quit smoking via this method. The two things are excellent at flushing toxins from the body or some such hogshit.

[radamanthys]

awesome, I have 3 grapefruit and two bags of spinach already. I'll try that.

and, gum as in nicorette. regular gum helps, too. Nicorette tastes like ass.

[Ebondale]

I don't know what all this crap about spinach and grapefruit is about. You can flush the 'toxins' from the body just as easily by drinking water.

A new study out by Duke University researchers says that if you start the patch two weeks before you actually try to quit smoking then you're 50% more likely to be successful.

As for your health - smoking DOES keep weight off. I don't know how much regular exercise you get currently but I recommend that you try to get at least 35 minutes of cardio in while you're quitting (e.g. go running). Not only will this help to keep the weight off, it'll make you feel great.

A couple other points, actually. A lot of people who smoke develop an addiction to the motion of smoking or an oral fixation. Get some straws or something like that for .90 cents at your grocery store and chew on those when you're having trouble with your cravings.

Its great that you've decided to kick smoking, Radamanthys. Keep us posted on how you do! :)

[Sean of the Thread]

or an oral fixation. Get some ... for .90 cents ... and chew



Heh heh heh heh you said oral fixation heh heh heh heh.




Event tho I quit the pack of cigs a day since 11/18/05 which has made my blood pressure drop sweetly.. I bought myself a nice Arturo Fuente Gran Reserva cigar for todays' superbowl libations.. does that mean I fucked up my quitting of smoking?? perhaps.. perhaps not.. I'd like to look at it as a small reward for doing so well the last 2 1/2 months of not smoking and it certainly won't be the same as the habitual and oral fixation associated with my past cig smoking.

Good luck man quitting is a great accomplishment and you'll feel 10x better for it. Now if I could only kick the juice...

[Ebondale]

Heh heh heh heh you said oral fixation heh heh heh heh.

hehe heh m hehe heh Yeah I did heh hehe heh m heh hehe...

[Caiylania]

Best wishes :)

[radamanthys]

Oh, I'm a runner, anyway. Been going to the gym everyday, now, and working other muscles, for once. Haven't had a smoke yet, and it's been what, 4-5 days now? The gum helps, and surprisingly, i'm already starting to chew less of it. I really don't enjoy the flavour, which is really good- keeps me from doing it. I made it through meals, coffee, beer, and vodka without really having a crippling craving. Now, two last hurdles to conquer. Schoolwork and sex.

I told myself I wouldn't have a smoke at all for a week. See if I could do it. I'm done with cigs, now. However, I do have a pipe I enjoy alot. It's still smoking, but it's a different thing. If I smoked the pipe like I did cigs, i'd be dead within the day. I can't even think about inhaling that bastard at all.

Certain parts are tough, but everything is really ok regarding the cravings and all. The (physical) withdrawl is the tough part... anxiety and stuff. The psychological part is really taken care of. For example, I died twice last night in Steeds becuase they ewave/clouded, and I wasn't paying enough attention, even though that was basically the only thing I was doing. That and reading the officials. I have a cig on my desk, just to taunt myself and give me strength in resisting.

Thanks for all the support, guys. This was kinda part of my "this is official, i'm quitting, not just thinking about it anymroe" thing. Spinach and grapefruit are tasty, so I didn't mind that advice, and it does help a bit, really. The juice, Xyelin? Liquor or steroids?

[Sean of the Thread]

Liquor.

[Ebondale]

Sperm. *ducks*

[radamanthys]

Sperm Liquor?

Eesh.

:-p

[Ebondale]

100 proof and 100% salty.

[Jolena]

I'm still in the process of quitting unfortunately. My son went into ICU a few weeks back and it was rather stressful, so I caved. I'd been smoke free for weeks and lost my control. :( However, I'm quitting yet again and it's not easy at all.

During the first stint of quitting, I got headaches, found I craved food a ton more than normal, was extremely crabby and easy to piss off and had a lot of nervous energy. It was really hard the first few days but after that it got much easier. I hope I can hang in there this time.

Very happy for you Rada, quitting is definitely not easy and I applaud your ability to do it.

[radamanthys]

Best of luck to ya. Stress would ruin me right now, I think.

[Emo Emu]

I've quit since for like 1 year and 2 months already.

1. I found the gum worthless.

2. Patches did nothing.

3. All it is umm.. will power I guess.

Anyway, what I did is put myself in situations where I would normally smoke. For instance, after a meal, when I got into the car, during drinking or what have you as much as I could. Sooner or later the cravings after those activities would stop, some faster than others, but it went away. I also went through some pretty stressful shit during the time I was trying to quit smoking, but I refused to cave in.

What also helped was that I had a friend that was quitting smoking, we didn't do the buddy system or anything, but when we'd hang out I'd be like, "You better not be smoking, you fucking asshole" do this a few times and you sort of guilt yourself away from it.

Regardless, it's all will power and it can be done. Best of luck.

[radamanthys]

I have two friends (that I live with) quitting with me, sorta.
The gum has helped alot with the physical withdrawl.
Havent tried the patches.

Still going strong! It's been a week now :-)

[Ebondale]

How are the cravings now that its been a week?

[radamanthys]

MUCH easier. I mean, it's almost reduced to habit cravings. Just like, "I'm gonna grab a smoke. Oh wait. I don't smoke anymore," That kinda thing.

The gum has gotten rid of the real bad physical portion, and I've already decreased my gum usage by alot. I'll start only using half a piece, and mixing it with other gum, soon. Then we'll see... hopefully be off the gum real soon.

Again, thanks everybody!

[Ebondale]

Glad to hear that its working! :D Good work!

[Emo Emu]

Good work and all that.

Apparantly the physical cravings quit after a while, but the rest is just psychological. Keep it up and don't give into stress or any other excuse to "caving in".

[Augie]

The caving in is the hardest thing to watch out for. After 3 years of quitting, I had a really really really really REALLY bad day and I said fuck it and went out and bought a pack of cigarettes. Well that bad day turned into a bad week, which went into a bad month and before you know it - I was smoking again.

The relapse only lasted about 3 months, and then I was able to quit again cold turkey. One thing I noticed is that during the 3 month relapse, I smoked like twice as much as when I first was smoking. Maybe I was trying to make up for the 3 years of no cigarettes haha.

[Emo Emu]

I don't get the whole "bad week thing".

This doesn't mean it's bullshit, but umm, didn't the cigarettes just taste terrible when you smoked them?

I remember getting completely wasted one night, my friend gave me a haul of his cigarette, and I thought it was the most vile thing on Earth. This was about a year after quitting. Who knows?

[Augie]

I don't get the whole "bad week thing".

This doesn't mean it's bullshit, but umm, didn't the cigarettes just taste terrible when you smoked them?

I remember getting completely wasted one night, my friend gave me a haul of his cigarette, and I thought it was the most vile thing on Earth. This was about a year after quitting. Who knows?

Well it was a real shitty time trust me, heh it's not somethin I'd want to elaborate much on. It was a tossup between drinking more or starting smoking again and smoking won out. At least I could do that at work heh.

They didn't taste bad to me, maybe because I used to smoke a shitload of Marlboro Reds before switching to Lights right before I quit the first time. This time I went back to Marlboro Lights so I didn't kill myself flat out heh.

Actually if I would have bought a pack of Reds, I probably would have just stopped after 1 cigarette. I'm sure those would have tasted like sucking on the ass end of an exhaust pipe.

[radamanthys]

They taste nasty after you've quit for a while?