The secret to quitting smoking is to NOT start again!
You can't just have one.
See - here's the thing, it will pass if you give it time. I used to carry around those little pocket packs of Listerine strips - and whenever I really wanted one, I'd put 4 of those in my mouth at once and believe me, the last thing you want after that is a cigarette.
Quit finding "outs" too - by saying "xxx OR I will smoke" gives you an out. Just don't do it.
6 1/2 yrs smoke free - cold turkey. You CAN do it.
i can't help you with stories. i am one of those people that can smoke once and then not worry about it for months.
but i can help you with support. you are already on my twitter, i have added you as a friend on facebook, and here i am writing a comment to keep you busy.
my best piece advice? pop in some gum or mints for every craving. but you seem to be doing okay with finding distractions!!
Hang in there, man. It's just the smokes trying to trick your brain. They are clever little devils. There's always a serious craving at 4 weeks. It's the cigs trying one last time to get the best of you. Quiting smoking is the hardest thing I ever had to do. But I did it almost 5 years ago and you can do it too. Why don't you take up a hobby like running. That will take you mind of smoking for a while. Keep it up. You can do it.
Robert Michel
· 1 year ago
I just stopped by your blog and thought I would say hello. I like your site design. Looking forward to reading more down the road.
Robert Michel
Lundy
· 1 year ago
I smoked thru college and a bit afterwards, about 7 yrs a pack a day. Then my-at-the-time boyfriend who didnt smoke pointed out to me that I was locked into this bummer habit that cost money (even tho it was relatively cheap in thos days) , was in imposition on everyone around me, (could we pls just stop at that 7/11 for me to run in?), made me smell bad and didnt even get me high (he said). Being a rather logical, pragmatic person, I thought dammit, he's right. I stopped right them.
Ok, Jim, think about this...I now realize that smoking is for losers. First off it is very expensive. And good gosh almighty, ever seen a photo of a smoker's lungs vs. non-smoker in one of those medical journals ? I did and never forgot it. Then I went on to be a mom to two wonderful kids. Would I want the curse of smoking to pass on to them ? Hell no. Well, smokers raise up smoking kids.
Got kids? Want to give your kids every reasonable advantage? Health and $$ issues aside, think about the guy doing the hiring...got two candidates and all things being equal, one smokes and one doesn't. Who you gonna hire...the guy who spends 1/5 of the work day trying to figure out how he can slip out for a smoke or standing out by the butt-stand dragging on a cigarette.
There is absolutely nothing positive about smoking cigarettes.
Jim Kukral
· 1 year ago
Thanks for the support everyone. I didn't smoke, and the cravings passed a bit. I ate a yogurt. I'm done with it, but the cravings get me. Made some new social friends out of it though. :)
I was a pack and a halfer for about 7 or 8 years. I'm still working on quitting, but the one thing that I have found to help out a ton is a prescription to Wellbutrin. Technically, it's a anti-depressant, but I've found (along with many others according to my doctor) that it really helps with the cravings. It doesn't eliminate them entirely, but they are a whole ton easier to ignore.
Dave and thatedeguy, I'm not much of a medication person. It's all mental for me. I either quit or I don't. I think we put too much pressure on ourselves to quit and lose weight, and that's why most people fail.
Jenna
· 1 year ago
Keep up the progress and Good luck! : D
In a psychology course, my professor shared with us that nicotine is more addictive than heroin! If you can quit smoking, you can do anything!
hey jim-- just found this great blog of yours thanks to twitter. first thing, i hope that enough people intervened in order for you to not smoke that cigarette. second, i wanted to offer some help in my own way (maybe for the next craving).. i run a smoking cessation site (http://www.healthcentral.com/stop-smoking) and would love for you to share your wit in this difficult process and maybe help some of our own community members at the same time. check it out and see what you think.
also--if you want to email me the link i will post on the site. thanks!
All Comments
http://tinyurl.com/2nw7gv
and never touched a cigarette again. It's no voodoo science but it changes your thinking about smoking. Good luck!
Uwe's last blog post..Don’t design Stepford Wives experiences
The secret to quitting smoking is to NOT start again!
You can't just have one.
See - here's the thing, it will pass if you give it time. I used to carry around those little pocket packs of Listerine strips - and whenever I really wanted one, I'd put 4 of those in my mouth at once and believe me, the last thing you want after that is a cigarette.
Quit finding "outs" too - by saying "xxx OR I will smoke" gives you an out. Just don't do it.
6 1/2 yrs smoke free - cold turkey. You CAN do it.
GeekMommy's last blog post..Baby Got Follow-Back
but i can help you with support. you are already on my twitter, i have added you as a friend on facebook, and here i am writing a comment to keep you busy.
my best piece advice? pop in some gum or mints for every craving. but you seem to be doing okay with finding distractions!!
z
zoe's last blog post..When is “Next Tuesday�
Quiting smoking is the hardest thing I ever had to do. But I did it almost 5 years ago and you can do it too.
Why don't you take up a hobby like running. That will take you mind of smoking for a while.
Keep it up. You can do it.
Robert Michel
Ok, Jim, think about this...I now realize that smoking is for losers. First off it is very expensive. And good gosh almighty, ever seen a photo of a smoker's lungs vs. non-smoker in one of those medical journals ? I did and never forgot it. Then I went on to be a mom to two wonderful kids. Would I want the curse of smoking to pass on to them ? Hell no. Well, smokers raise up smoking kids.
Got kids? Want to give your kids every reasonable advantage? Health and $$ issues aside, think about the guy doing the hiring...got two candidates and all things being equal, one smokes and one doesn't. Who you gonna hire...the guy who spends 1/5 of the work day trying to figure out how he can slip out for a smoke or standing out by the butt-stand dragging on a cigarette.
There is absolutely nothing positive about smoking cigarettes.
Dave (Koyofur)'s last blog post..Does PTSD have a link to future changes?
I was a pack and a halfer for about 7 or 8 years. I'm still working on quitting, but the one thing that I have found to help out a ton is a prescription to Wellbutrin. Technically, it's a anti-depressant, but I've found (along with many others according to my doctor) that it really helps with the cravings. It doesn't eliminate them entirely, but they are a whole ton easier to ignore.
thatedeguy's last blog post..Jericho Gone Again
In a psychology course, my professor shared with us that nicotine is more addictive than heroin! If you can quit smoking, you can do anything!
Jenna's last blog post..Tips Before You Move In
also--if you want to email me the link i will post on the site. thanks!