How I Quit (Smoked 10 yrs. Quit 9 yrs Ago) - Smoking Cessation Message Board

JewelryJulie · 04-03-2009, 12:07 PM

I started by deciding that I wanted to quit. Duh. However, if you are hesitant subconsciously--you will not make it. So, really think about what cigarettes do to you. All I thought about was cancer. However, now I have breathing problems (COPD) and these are horrifying. So, do yourself a favor-really want it.

Ok, then I decided that I would count how many cigarettes I smoked in a day. The following day I counted out ONE LESS and was allowed only those to smoke. I continued this until I was down to about 5ish a day. (I was about a pack a day smoker when I started.) I had a couple of times when I faltered. But I did not give up or go backwards too far ever. I finally got down to where I would simply take a puff and put it out. Then, I picked THE date. I bought sucking candies to replace the oral fixation that comes with this. YOUR MOUTH IS USED TO DOING SOMETHING-GIVE IT SOMETHING TO DO. I would suck on candies--lots of them. I didn't care about weight gain etc.---because you know it is coming-but then your body will relent down the road and go back to normal.

I am now 9 yrs tobacco free. Cigarettes are murderers that smile at you while strangling you. DON'T LET THEM.

Best,
Julie

solostar · 04-24-2009, 07:24 PM

Thank you for sharing your success story. I'm doing to same thing as you, trying to cut the amount of cigarettes I smoke in a day. I've been smoking for 20 years now but I really need to quit because I'm starting to get chest pains ...

Wish me luck

JewelryJulie · 04-27-2009, 10:48 AM

Think about what you are doing to yourself. Really know that you CAN do it. Luck has nothing to do with it. It is determination. It is will. You CAN do it. If I had to do it over again, I would have included some kind of nicotine replacement help after I was off the cigarettes as I recall being very irritable for a couple of months while detoxing from the drugs that are put into cigs. I think I had a very determined spirit. I also know that if you look back on all the money you have spent on cigarettes in the 20 yrs you have smoked and had that in front of you now-what would you do with the thousands of dollars???????
What WILL you do with the thousands of dollars you no longer have to spend on cigs in the coming years?
I wish you courage, determination and nonstop devotion to your quest for health.
Julie

beverlykay64 · 04-29-2009, 10:40 AM

I stopped smoking back in March and doing well. What helped me is Allen Carr's Easyway To Quit Smoking. I borrowed it from the library. Very good book. It works on the brainwashing part of smoking. It's what ex-smokers struggle with after nicotine withdrawal is technically finished physically. Basically, it retrains the brain. Smoking addiction is mostly mental after nicotine completely leaves your body. Just a suggestion. The book has helped me greatly.