Has Anyone Quit Smoking Recently and How Did You Do It?

Morning K.;

Yes I quit in September after 60 years of smoking when I
quit I was smoking 3 packs a day!! Oh quiting is not easy and it takes lots and lots of will power!
What I did is simple, I convinced myself that spending $4.00 a pack was really, really stupid!! For two weeks
before I finally quit I would look in the mirror, hold up
a pack of cigarettes and say: "B., it is really a stupid thing that you spent $4.29 for this pack of cigs!"
K., I did not go thru any type of physical withdrawal
and now 90 days + later I still haven't!
I think all that talk about nicotine withdrawal is just to get you to spend 40+ dollars on patches and ect!!
I started smoking when I was 12, in June I turned 72! So
yes, 60 years of getting air filled with smoke into my lungs but, yet, I really can not tell of any effects it had on me, but, I'm sure it did! The only problem that I have
had is eating, I've gained 12 pounds but the doctor at my
recent checkup said that I would adjust my eating soon!
So it is my goal before my next check up in May to lose these 12 pounds~!
Do not get me wrong, every morning the first thing I want is
a cigarette, but, after a couple of minutes, that urge goes away! Your mind is your control factor, be strong!
Good Luck
B. C.

1 mom found this helpful

My husband started smoking at 16 and tried everything to quit. Cold Turkey was so miserable for both of us that I was actually thrilled when he started again- talk about living with an ogre! Hypnosis worked for a few days. The patch worked at first but he didn't stick with it and couldn't maintain on his own. (altho it did have an interesting side effect- he was always "excited" and great fun in bed- that might be an inspiration for your husband!) He finally tried the Commit lozenges and he hasn't smoked in almost three years. Unfortunately he has traded one addiction for another because he STILL uses the lozenges which you are not supposed to take for more than 4 or 6 months. So he won't die from lung cancer now but tongue cancer. And he has put on over 30 pounds which is NOT good. He smoked 3 to 4 packs a day and came from a family of smokers. His brother has emphyzema and other huge health problems but still smokes and is in awful shape at 53. His sister has tried the Commit lozenges and Chantix but still smokes some. (Way less than she used to.) His mom who was the recreational smoker has quit cold turkey (after a week in the hospital with bronchial issues). It is an AWFUL, AWFUL habit and ANYTHING your husband can do to quit is wonderful. Good luck. And from experience, New Year's Day is not a good day to start if you have been out partying the night before!!

I quit while I was pregnant with my son. It has been 7 years the first of December. I always said I would quit when I got pregnant, but it wasn't immediate. Immediately, I did cut back. I don't think I could have just gone cold turkey or used a patch. Part of the process of quitting is getting over the holding something in your fingers or in your lips. It's as much psychological as it is physical.

I found out I was pregnant in mid-Sept. My first step was to cut down. Instead of smoking a whole cigarette at a time, I only took a few drags to get rid of the craving. I would knock the cherry out and re-light it later. After I ate, I would usually smoke a whole one at once.

This allowed me to gradually wean myself to where the last few weeks I would smoke one whole one through the day on Saturday and one on Wednesday night. Saturday, I worked a weekend job as a waitress in a bar and grill. Wednesday nights were bowling league.

I am not going to lie, 7 years later I still have cravings. But, what keeps me from going back are:
#1 keeping myself healthy to be around as long as possible for my son.
#2 I know that first drag would never taste as good as I remember it tasting when I was a regular smoker.
#3 I know those first few would make me cough and be naucous (sp?).
#4 I don't think I could afford it again. The cost of a pack has increased dramatically since I quit.

There are times a lit cigarette smells so good and times when the smell repulses me. When I come home from being somewhere around smokers and smell my hair and clothes, I am repulsed.

It is a tough process. He has to quit because HE wants to quit. Your duty is to be as supportive and helpful as possible. Don't degrade or critize him he goes back. I only smoked for 10 years.

I quit cold turkey 22 yrs ago, and never looked back! it was hard, but My desire to quit was stronger than my desire to smoke! And I had God's help! I never smoked again. Wish you and your family successs

My husband and I both used to smoke. I quit "cold turkey" the day I found out I was pregnant and he quit about 5 months later with the help of Chantix.

I highly recommend Chantix for your hubby. My hubby smoked about 14 years and he had tried everything (i mean everything) to quit in the past but nothing worked like Chantix. It's prescription only so he will need to go to a doctor to get one. It was hard but he quit before the baby was born!

I smoked about 8 years before I quit. It can be done "cold turkey." Although, I had the help of morning sickness! Ha! ;-)

Neither of us have started again (it's been about a year) - even though we both have very strong cravings from time to time. It really is a complete lifestyle change and sometimes I miss it. I just remind myself that my health is most important for me and my family.

HTH

God Bless you and your family!

I quit smoking maybe 12-13 years ago. I find that cutting down helps and then cold turkey. The trick is to not want to smoke. Many people say they want to quit but they also want to smoke, there is a difference. You don't do things you don't want to, right? No one will quit until they no longer want to smoke. I no longer wanted to smell like smoke, I no longer wanted to have to chew gum to cover smoke breath, etc. I also found that going out and just taking several deep breaths helped, like I was smoking and inhaling, just the fresh air and not the poisons. Other things that help are changing routines. Smoking is a "habit" (first thing in the morning, right after eating, first thing in the car, etc). Change what you do and keep your hands busy with other things. Chewing gum also helps. And try not to think about it. If you dont' tell yourself how hard it is or how much you really want that cigarette, you may find that you don't and that it's not really hard at all. Keep positive! Hope these have been good tips.

my hubby quit smoking a few years ago and had been smoking 1-2 packs a day. he used the nicotine patches from wal-mart (the wal-mart brand) they are much cheaper than the name-brand ones and worked great for him. just be sure your hubby follows the guidelines on the box (i think you use step 1 for 3 months, then step 2 for 2 months and step 3 for 1 month) they are about $30 each box if i remember correctly, but think of how much he will save in the long run! good luck to your hubby, i know how hard it can be!

We just became empty-nesters too and we love it! It's like being newlyweds again! My husband was also a smoker and went to a hypnosis program. The doctor also gave him a prescript for smoking gum as a possible help if he chose to need it, but he didnt even use 2-3 pieces. He was able to relax himself and use the hypnosis techniques to go to his 'special place' in his mind. He has been smoke free for over two years now. I wish you luck and happiness in your 'new' life to come!!

Several lifetime smoker friends, including my son's piano teacher quit smoking (after 40+ yrs) by using the medication "Chantix" - ask your doctor about it....I also have a friend who broke his leg and it wouldn't heal because of his smoking addiction. He was able to quit by using Chantix. Pray for removal of the addiction and ponder on all the wonderful, smoke free years ahead.

I quit smoking 178 days (6 months) ago after smoking for 9 years. I wanted to quit over a year ago and knew it would be impossible to quit cold turkey as I had tried that and couldn't make it a full 24 hours. So I started to cut myself back little by little. I went from a half a pack a day to only 5 a day set to a schedule. Then after a few months I cut myself back to 3 a day. I was stuck there for almost a year. Once I finally quit altogether I alternated Nicorette gum and losenges. Even now when I feel I really need one I have some spares in my purse and some jolly ranchers. Those helped me get off the gum and losenges. I really wish your husband the best. The best way my husband helped me was support.

I stopped with a medicine my doctor prescribed ask about Chantix it can some side effects like bad dreams but I have smoked for 20 years and quit in 3 weeks

I'm glad your DH has decided to quit. It is probably the hardest thing he will ever have to go through. My husband and I quit 4 years ago and it was the most difficult thing we have ever accomplished. First of all, each person is different in how different methods work for them. But if his mind is made up, encourage him no matter how bad it gets. He will of course go through emotional outbursts like most withdrawal symptoms, but at about 5-6 weeks he will probably have physical withdrawal that is very painful and if he can get over that hump and remember once it's gone, it's gone forever....he'll do just fine!!

I tried accupuncture, was not successful, however my aunt was very successful with it. It depends on how it is administered and maintenance with the accupuncturist.

What I found as the perfect combination was using the nicotine patches for 2 weeks (just to cut the nicotine withdrawal) then I used a product from "Smoke Away" which was a craving spray. There are several different products that use the same homeopathic ingredients. Just Google "smoking craving spray" and you will find 5 or 6 different ones that will help greatly.

Good luck to you and just know that he will need your support, even though you will probably take the brunt of his anxiety.

K.,

My husband and I quit smoking about 3 or 4 years ago. I started when I was 17 and smoked until I got pregnant, about 8 years, that probably doesn't help you now. ;) But, my husband had a harder time.

He started by cutting back on his frequency of cigarettes. Now he started smoking at 14, and he was 24 when the boy was born. I told him to try his best to quit by the time the baby got here.

He got down to one a day, that was his first hurdle, and did that for a while. He would have one while driving by himself.

Then he decided to switch to a pipe. This was the one thing that really helped him quit. A pipe takes time and effort to keep up. You have to set aside a good 30 min to smoke, it's not just a quick pack and a lighter. You have to clean the pipe, buy good tobacco, pack it, light it, smoke it properly, clean it again...

So smoking was no longer easy, but pretty relaxing outside on the porch, and lord, smelled so much better.

And eventually it got harder and harder to find time to get out of the back porch for a smoke, what with the baby and all, and he just lost interest in it.

He still has all his pipe things, but he hasn't felt the urge to spend money on tobacco. Money's tight enough as is.

He also found a nice ticker online that will tell you how much money you've saved over time by quitting.

He used to smoke at his most, about half a pack to a full pack a day. And now he's one of those avid non-smokers. I'm really proud of him.

Another good thing to think about, is that smoking is not just an addiction, it's a hobby in a lot of ways, and it should be replaced with another hobby, or more than one. Keep busy. Don't put extra food in your mouth as a substitute either. Just find something to keep your hands busy.

It's not easy, and I applaud your efforts.

Hope this helps.

C.

You don't indicate how much he smokes, but I quit smoking by limiting the number of places I allowed myself to smoke. First, I eliminated the morning cigarette (the hardest!). Then I quit smoking in the car (I never smoked in the house). Then I eliminated cigarette breaks at work (I had one before I went in, one at lunch, and one after work). Then I eliminated the after-dinner cigarette and sat in non-smoking sections when I went out to eat. Slowly but surely I ended up smoking less than a pack a week - at which point they started getting stale and tasting lousy. That was the point when I started throwing the pack away. It took 3 times of buying and tossing most of a pack, but I've been smoke-free for five years now. One thing to keep in mind is that studies have found the more often someone quits, the more likely he/she is to succeed in the long term. So he shouldn't get frustrated if he quits and picks up the habit again - he should just keep quitting. Good luck!

Hi K., I started smoking when I was a kid and smoked for Years. Quit many times. On a nutritionists advise, I began taking liquid minerals from the health food store. The liquid ones are more rapidly utilized. I noticed within a week that I didn't crave one as much. Then one day I lit up and thought they must be stale. Bought another pack. It too was "stale" and didn't taste good. I smoked half a cig and quit. The minerals replace the ones that smoking depletes from your body. Yes, I have wished for "just one drag" but never had a really strong a craving. I'll be 3yrs clean in Jan. No more nervous nicotine fit. No more stinking hair, clothes, breath. No more stuffy nose. Whoopee! Peace, C.
ps. Another plus, I don't crave sweets anymore since I'm still taking the minerals.
pps. My sister-in-law used acupuncture to quit successfully. Painless, really!

My mother did it after 25+ years of smoking. She says that she hasn't quite, but is just postponing her next cigarette until her 80th birthday. When she turns 80, she says that no one will be able to boss her around anymore. She tried to quit for years. She tried accupuncture, hypnosis, medication, tapes, and the gum. Nothing worked. She even smoked through her last pregnancy (my baby sister, who has had some serious medical problems because of it.) because she couldn't because of the addiction, but this postponing method worked for her. It has been 8 years now since she first began "postponing that next cigarette". LOL I guess it is all about the mindset. She was 41 when she quit.
A friend of mine quit once she actually figured up the money that she spent every year on cigarettes could buy her a cruise, something that she had always wanted to do and never could afford. A year later, she took her cruise to celebrate.
My experiance is that it is all about motivation. Find what motivates him and make the connection for him.

Hi,

I think it is all WILL power. He is saying he doesn't think he can go cold turkey...and he won't. He has to think positive and it has to be HIS decision. Wanting to do it is key. My dad used to quit every year for Lent (God), cold turkey, no withdrawls. And go right back to doing it the day after Easter, he died of lung cancer. I have tried everything to get my husband to do it for 8 yrs. He has never had the WILL, tried hypnosis and homeopathy.
A doctor told me it is basically one big habit, so if when you give it up you make other changes, for instance relocating everything in the kitchen, then the only concentration of change is not the smoking. My nagging has never helped, but he stopped smoking after painting his bathroom. Since then he no longer smokes indoors, I guess he does not want to have to paint it again.
I wish him all the best, what a gift to himself it will be.
www.mybiopro.com/claudia13 (cell phones may actually be more dangerous than smoking to your health)

Hi K.,
I quit 10 months ago, cold turkey, after 14 years of smoking. The research that i did said that people that used the cold turkey method that were a part of a support group did the best. the number of ex smokers relapsing are very sad for those who used nicotene replacement therapy, and even worse for the type who use antidepressants. I took some natural amino acids from a health food store (l-tryptophan and l-tyrosine) these help with the imbalance that happens in the brain when we go through withdrawal. I also took lobelia for lung support. But the reason to quit smoking in the first place was because my 5 year old daughter asked me to quit on her birthday, so on feb 8th 2008 i had my last smoke. I think the best way to quit is to make a promise to someone you love more than yourself. Knowing it won't be only yourself you are letting down, is more incentive i think, it has helped me. Also the easiest way to get over an addiction is to replace it with another...........try having him join a gym to try out his new lungs.
good luck to you and your husband

p.s. there are great support groups on about.com in the smokers blog/forum section

When I quit smoking I used Smoke Away. You can buy it at Wal-Mart. It is cheaper than most other things and easy to use. Before going to bed get rid of all the ashtrays and any cigerettes in the house. Take 3 pills and go to sleep. Take 3 in the morning and continue from there following the instructions on the bottle.
I tried the nicotine gum, lozenges, the patch, hypnosis, and cold turkey. Nothing worked for me except the Smoke Away.
It is sold in a kit or just the bottle of pills. I bought the whole kit but ended up just using the pills out of it. They are all natural, nothing in there to cause strange or harmful side effects. I recommended it to others and 4 of my friends used it to quit smoking too. It's very effective.

Good Luck.

K.,

I feel your husband's pain. But I quit cold turkey as well. I woke up one morning, had a smoke, and when I went back in my front door, I asked myself was it really worth it? A pack of smokes or a gallon of gas? I never smoked at work since we are not allowed to have such items on the campus. However, when I got home that afternoon, I smoked another while chatting with a neighbor and thought about how I needed to buy another pack. Honestly, I was too lazy that day to go get more. Then next day, a co-worker sat next to me, and I almost threw up. I asked everyone if they smelled that, and someone said "it smells like an old, dank bar." Someone else suggested a stale ashtray. That was it. That was the smell. My co-worker is a smoker. Oh My.... Did I smell like that when I had a smoke?? Ewwwwwww. About a week later I went to a friend's house that smoked inside. When I got home I had to shower and throw all of my clothes into the washer. I smelled horrible. Well, that's all it took for me. The money I would be saving, and that lack of smelling bad. I was done. I have been around people while they smoke since then and I have not even thought about it. I feel much better since I quit, and I plan on buying a new car with all the money that I have put away by not smoking.