I'm Quitting

**Bluedogcards** · 09-15-2010, 07:18 PM

Sorry to hare about your Mom, bith my parents smoked for about 20 years and they both quit, now in there 70s, my mom does has some lung issues....

I have been smoking for about 15 years now, and not that is make a differants but less then a half pack a day,

Jamming james23:::: they do say if you are around smokers you will smoke to, you did goos staying away from it...

**pspstatus** · 09-16-2010, 03:53 PM

I want to wish you good luck with your mission and offer some advice that has helped me in my quest to quit. I had been smoking for 12 years, but I haven't had a cigarette in a little over 8 months. I'm very proud of this accomplishment and hope to keep it going. My advice would be this:

1. The most important cigarettes to avoid having are the automatic ones. By that I mean the ones that come at around the same time or around the same activities everyday. Such as when driving, first one in the morning, before bed, after a meal, etc. Since you've been smoking you have associated cigarettes with these and other activities and times. You have to break those associations.

2. Many of my friends smoke and both of my parents also. They respected my trying to quit but they didn't exactly avoid smoking in front of me. And I'm glad they didn't because watching them smoke as harsh as this may sound actually made me want to smoke less. So instead of letting someone else smoking make you want to smoke try to use them as inspiration not to smoke. As a bonus since I've quit it seems as though I have directly influenced most of my friends and both of my parents to either try to quit or at least cut down substantially from my example. That in itself is a very rewarding feeling.

3. Don't get too down on yourself if you slip up. Quitting is hard, no doubt. But it's important to remember that if you make a mistake that doesn't mean you can't do it. If you mess up just rededicate yourself and move on. Also don't become complacent with only cutting down. That's what happens to my dad. When he tries to quit he'll get down to only 4 or 5 a day which is better than a pack a day but then I'll say great job dad but you gotta keep going till your down to 0. He'll say I'm working on it but 4 a day isn't bad. He's complacent and before you know it he's up to 10 a day, then 15, then it's back to smokestack lightning.

4. After the first few days when the nicotine is out of your body the cravings become mental rather than physical. The whole act of smoking is a habit. It's not just the nicotine that keeps you smoking, it's the whole action from taking the cigarette from the pack all the way to crushing it in the ashtray. It's a habit just like biting your nails. There's really no physical addiction, it's just a mental thing. It's just a case of mind over matter. Do whatever you can to occupy your mind on other things when you think about smoking even if it's something you might not normally do. I played Boggle. That kept my hands and brain busy. The mental thing will be eased up greatly after a few weeks.

I hope this stuff helps a little bit and again I wish you good luck.

**Bluedogcards** · 09-16-2010, 09:20 PM

Thanks all for your kind words, I have still not had one since Monday, it is hard but getting easy'er i think,,,, Am not finding myself eating more so that is good, and when i do get the craving, i do what i always do go outside, but doing it with out smoke,, small steps at a time for now,, it funny that during the day the time just goes by so slow, and in the evening it goes by fast some nights,

**whodeyalltheway** · 09-16-2010, 09:28 PM

Congrats on quiting. Ive heard it is very hard to do and I hope you get through it and dont go back!

**pspstatus** · 09-17-2010, 12:18 AM

Originally Posted by Bluedogcards View Post

Thanks all for your kind words, I have still not had one since Monday, it is hard but getting easy'er i think,,,, Am not finding myself eating more so that is good, and when i do get the craving, i do what i always do go outside, but doing it with out smoke,, small steps at a time for now,, it funny that during the day the time just goes by so slow, and in the evening it goes by fast some nights,

Monday to now is like a lifetime when quitting but it should start to get a lot easier. Like you said one small step at a time. Keep up the good work.

**angel0430** · 09-17-2010, 08:52 AM

That is really good for you, your health and your family. I was a smoker and it is not an easy task but it is also not impossible. Good luck on your mission.

**greg271126817** · 09-17-2010, 09:12 AM

I have tried to quit i dont know how many times. It is really tough, and could never do it. I got a prescription for chantix, and i havent smoked for almost 3 years. Its a lot better not smoking, but if you can do it without medication i would strongly recommend doing it alone. The side effects of the medication are not fun, and i feel they are just now starting to go away! GOOD LUCK!! just keep trying. You will probably gains some weight right after stopping, but its better than smoking. You will feel 10 times better in about a year! Its really worth it to quit!

**Bluedogcards** · 09-17-2010, 02:42 PM

Not doing it with help of meds,,, i take to many now, with my disablity.. really hoping i gain any weight finally lost about 15 pounds this years and can fit in the jeans again,

you are doing good going on three years, congrats