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This Sucks!
- Thread starter Laredo7mm
- Start date
Mark Williams
Moderator
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- Nov 28, 2000
- Messages
- 4,760
More power to you Sean
I find out tomorrow if the smokes have killed me or not with my throat. Keep that thought in mind
Limit caffiene and sleep as much as possible. I stopped for 3 months a long time ago. First port I hit after 90 days demanded and few hundred cold ones.
Smoked like a freight train ever since. I really need to quit myself. You might want to ask Fitzo. He's still hangin since new years , last I heard.
I find out tomorrow if the smokes have killed me or not with my throat. Keep that thought in mind
Limit caffiene and sleep as much as possible. I stopped for 3 months a long time ago. First port I hit after 90 days demanded and few hundred cold ones.
Smoked like a freight train ever since. I really need to quit myself. You might want to ask Fitzo. He's still hangin since new years , last I heard.
- Joined
- Aug 14, 2001
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- 6,648
Sean, the biggest necessity is that you must truly want to quit. With that under your belt, you will make it. This is all about beating the mental hold; the nicotine addiction is the minor player.
I use the Nicorette gum, 4mg. Started out chewing about 12 pieces a day and use about 5 now (they recommend up to 24, yikes!). For me, it was apparently about the oral fixation ( I was apparently breast fed as a babe!!!!
). If you don't want to do the gum, perhaps toothpicks?
The first week was pretty bad, but we gritted our teeth and gradually it passed. It seemed that we rapidly reached a point where we would have a momentary strong, strong craving for a butt once every few hours, like after a meal. However, the craving passed within a minute and we were on to something else.
Now, I hardly even think about a cigaret, and it passes so quick I'm surprised. I refuse to say I've "quit" yet, for fear of losing focus on the goal. Advice from Peter Nap suggested NEVER to allow myself to think "Ah, I can have 'just one'." I think that's damned good advice.
One of the things that helped me a lot was the support I got from people on the forums and in Paltalk. I am grateful to all who offered encouragement.
Alll I can tell you for certain Sean is that YOU CAN DO IT! Everything you need is within you, and only you can bring it out to make it happen. Want it, want it, want it, and your wish will come true. Good luck, my friend. You won't regret quitting.
I use the Nicorette gum, 4mg. Started out chewing about 12 pieces a day and use about 5 now (they recommend up to 24, yikes!). For me, it was apparently about the oral fixation ( I was apparently breast fed as a babe!!!!
). If you don't want to do the gum, perhaps toothpicks? The first week was pretty bad, but we gritted our teeth and gradually it passed. It seemed that we rapidly reached a point where we would have a momentary strong, strong craving for a butt once every few hours, like after a meal. However, the craving passed within a minute and we were on to something else.
Now, I hardly even think about a cigaret, and it passes so quick I'm surprised. I refuse to say I've "quit" yet, for fear of losing focus on the goal. Advice from Peter Nap suggested NEVER to allow myself to think "Ah, I can have 'just one'." I think that's damned good advice.
One of the things that helped me a lot was the support I got from people on the forums and in Paltalk. I am grateful to all who offered encouragement.
Alll I can tell you for certain Sean is that YOU CAN DO IT! Everything you need is within you, and only you can bring it out to make it happen. Want it, want it, want it, and your wish will come true. Good luck, my friend. You won't regret quitting.
- Joined
- Mar 10, 2000
- Messages
- 1,146
I smoked up to 3 packs a day from age 16 to 42( I'm now 58). Had my last cigarette January 9,1989 at 8:15 p.m. Went through a program called Smoke Enders sponsered by a local hospital...It worked for some reason
Several things that helped alot
1. whenever the craving starts building, take long, slow deep deep breaths...concentrate on taking a deep breath and fill your lungs with fresh air.....you have just taken your mind off the cigarettes.
2. You need to temporarily give up coffee/cola/caffeine and alcohol. All of those are so related to smoking a cigarette.
3. I made myself believe that if I ever took ONE puff on a cigarette...just ONE, I'd be back on 2-1/2 packs a day by the next day. This also helped.
Never took even a puff until during the Las Vegas knife show this last January...wife, grown daughter, and I were on the slots and free drinks one evening...took a puff off my daughter's cigarette.....tasted horrible, burned my throat, felt like putting hot nasty stuff (keepin' it cleaned up here) down my windpipe. NEVER want another.
4. Wash/clean your clothes that smell like stale tobacco and they do, you will find out how bad. If you smoked in your home, clean the curtains and drapes, get rid of all ash trays, don't just put them away. Make your home a "non-smoking" establishment. Also try to NOT hangout with folks that still smoke. Soon, if you do hang out with smokers, and even if they don't smoke in your presence, you will notice how badly their clothes/ hair smell of stale smoke .
5. Start exercising enough to make you breathe extra....and to help keeping off the pounds you may gain...speaking of weight gain, you are healthier gaining 100 lbs than smoking....but avoid the weight gain if at all possible, loosing that also sucks, I am going to be working on weight loss for some time yet.
I'm no expert, these are just some ideas that helped me quit and stay off them. Now I am virtually allergic to smoke...can't take more than very shallow breaths if I smell smoke.
GOOD LUCK!!!!
Several things that helped alot
1. whenever the craving starts building, take long, slow deep deep breaths...concentrate on taking a deep breath and fill your lungs with fresh air.....you have just taken your mind off the cigarettes.
2. You need to temporarily give up coffee/cola/caffeine and alcohol. All of those are so related to smoking a cigarette.
3. I made myself believe that if I ever took ONE puff on a cigarette...just ONE, I'd be back on 2-1/2 packs a day by the next day. This also helped.
Never took even a puff until during the Las Vegas knife show this last January...wife, grown daughter, and I were on the slots and free drinks one evening...took a puff off my daughter's cigarette.....tasted horrible, burned my throat, felt like putting hot nasty stuff (keepin' it cleaned up here) down my windpipe. NEVER want another.
4. Wash/clean your clothes that smell like stale tobacco and they do, you will find out how bad. If you smoked in your home, clean the curtains and drapes, get rid of all ash trays, don't just put them away. Make your home a "non-smoking" establishment. Also try to NOT hangout with folks that still smoke. Soon, if you do hang out with smokers, and even if they don't smoke in your presence, you will notice how badly their clothes/ hair smell of stale smoke .
5. Start exercising enough to make you breathe extra....and to help keeping off the pounds you may gain...speaking of weight gain, you are healthier gaining 100 lbs than smoking....but avoid the weight gain if at all possible, loosing that also sucks, I am going to be working on weight loss for some time yet.
I'm no expert, these are just some ideas that helped me quit and stay off them. Now I am virtually allergic to smoke...can't take more than very shallow breaths if I smell smoke.
GOOD LUCK!!!!
- Joined
- Dec 10, 1998
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- 4,860
Negative reinforcement- put a rubber band around your wrist and when you want a smoke snap it. Eventually you will learn to associate the pain with the thought of wanting a smoke and not want one-kinda like Pavlov's dogs. My wife thinks that it won't work but somebody's got to be the guinea pig!
- Joined
- Jul 8, 2002
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- 1,240
Thanks for all the help guys, I appreciate it. I have been smoking for about 18 years (since i was 16). I quit a few times. One of those times was for 6 months and I can't remember what got me smoking again. I averaged about a pack a day.
Thankfully i never smoked in the house except in the basement when making knives, but I always had the big old vent fan going to suck out all the nasties from me, the forge, the grinder, etc.
I love my diet Pepsi, so that is not going to be fun if i have to give that up too. And I know I smoke a lot when having a few "beers" but I think I smoked just as much while working on knives.
My biggest motivating factor is my daughter. I told her i would quit. Second to that is starting the new job on Monday. Since it is becoming more and more socially unacceptable to smoke, I figured it would be a good time to quit.
The mental part is definitely the most difficult. It is amazing how many times it goes through my head that I want a cigarette, or that it is "time" for one. My typical "times" were just after eating, while driving, while talking on the phone, waiting for the forge to heat up, changing belts on the grinder, etc. Basically whenever there is a "lull" in activity, I would light up.
It is strange how the mind works. If I am busy and preoccupied, I don't want one. I went on a 4.5 hour interview the other day and it never even occured to have on until I was half way home, and then I had three in a row to "make up" for what I lost out on.
It is crazy, but I think it is time. If I can make it through the weekend, I think it will get easier. I just need to retrain myself.
Thankfully i never smoked in the house except in the basement when making knives, but I always had the big old vent fan going to suck out all the nasties from me, the forge, the grinder, etc.
I love my diet Pepsi, so that is not going to be fun if i have to give that up too. And I know I smoke a lot when having a few "beers" but I think I smoked just as much while working on knives.
My biggest motivating factor is my daughter. I told her i would quit. Second to that is starting the new job on Monday. Since it is becoming more and more socially unacceptable to smoke, I figured it would be a good time to quit.
The mental part is definitely the most difficult. It is amazing how many times it goes through my head that I want a cigarette, or that it is "time" for one. My typical "times" were just after eating, while driving, while talking on the phone, waiting for the forge to heat up, changing belts on the grinder, etc. Basically whenever there is a "lull" in activity, I would light up.
It is strange how the mind works. If I am busy and preoccupied, I don't want one. I went on a 4.5 hour interview the other day and it never even occured to have on until I was half way home, and then I had three in a row to "make up" for what I lost out on.
It is crazy, but I think it is time. If I can make it through the weekend, I think it will get easier. I just need to retrain myself.
- Joined
- Feb 4, 1999
- Messages
- 5,786
If I had a low level laser I'd have you up for auriculotherapy (stimulation of acupuncture points on the ear), which is extremely effective for quitting smoking. There are some supplements, too, that compete with nicotine to bind to cellular receptors, which could be effective for cravings, but otherwise that's all I got. Good luck! Best thing you could do to improve your health (that and quitting the 3 gallons of Pepsi per day!). Screw Big Tobacco!
Screw Big Tobacco! 
- Joined
- Mar 15, 2002
- Messages
- 5,368
Mike's got it (congrats BTW aon that). You have to understand in your head that you're no longer a smoker. It sounds stupid, but it worked for me -- I just quit. No drugs or aids. I just believed I was done and I was.
The bad part was that I really didn't want to quit. I liked smoking, probably because it was socially unacceptable.
The bad part was that I really didn't want to quit. I liked smoking, probably because it was socially unacceptable.
- Joined
- Jun 25, 2001
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- 8,474
caffeine free Pepsi
I quit in 1983 just before my first son was born. and that was the reason.
I couldn't do it for myself. yes do it for your girl..they do what you do no mater what you say.
I took up the chew and that completely took over the habit and mind thing.
then I stopped the chewing, then I was left with just the nicotine habit.
kicked that and was good to go..
now if someone is smoking around me I have no urge to smoke what so ever.
but when I smell skole
damn don't I get a craving still after 25 years BUT
not so many chew around me so I'm good to go.. this worked so well removing the cigs addiction that I can (and have) smoked a cigarette from time to time just because I was mad at the old lady smoking while out partying,, just to make her see how stupid she looked smoking. and after not have any cravings for them after what so ever , I had totally swaped the addiction to chewing..
I quit in 1983 just before my first son was born. and that was the reason.
I couldn't do it for myself. yes do it for your girl..they do what you do no mater what you say.
I took up the chew and that completely took over the habit and mind thing.
then I stopped the chewing, then I was left with just the nicotine habit.
kicked that and was good to go..
now if someone is smoking around me I have no urge to smoke what so ever.
but when I smell skole
damn don't I get a craving still after 25 years BUT
not so many chew around me so I'm good to go.. this worked so well removing the cigs addiction that I can (and have) smoked a cigarette from time to time just because I was mad at the old lady smoking while out partying,, just to make her see how stupid she looked smoking. and after not have any cravings for them after what so ever , I had totally swaped the addiction to chewing..
silenthunterstudios
Slipjoint Addict
- Joined
- Feb 2, 2005
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My mother and my uncle stopped smoking when their kids were born, my mother stopped cold turkey when she found out she was going to have me. My father quit cold turkey, he just told himself that tomorrow he was going to have a smoke. He still pines for a cigar every now and then, but other than that, he looks like he has given it up.
- Joined
- Aug 14, 2001
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You're now into Day 3, Sean! Congrats!
Bowie told me this:
"If you smoke now, all that suffering you've already done will be for nought."
Consider that it won't get any worse than it already is, and will only get better. You've already quit, now the task is to stay that way. You can do this! Hang tough....
Bowie told me this:
"If you smoke now, all that suffering you've already done will be for nought."
Consider that it won't get any worse than it already is, and will only get better. You've already quit, now the task is to stay that way. You can do this! Hang tough....
- Joined
- Mar 7, 2003
- Messages
- 4,270
I quit on Friday the 13th of May 1983 (22 years ago tomorrow) and everything Mike said above applied to me.
I am an addict. If I had a cigaret today, I would probably be back smoking again soon. I haven't had any cravings in many years, but they did go on for about 4 or 5 years, intermittantly.
In order to quit successfully, you have to reprogram the way you see yourself in relation to tobacco. You have to internalize the idea that you are a non-smoker who will never smoke even one cigaret ever again. I pictured it as setting a flag in a program that changed the subject whenever the idea crept in. Just have a big mental NO ready for any thought of how good you have been and how just one would be a good reward.
Realize that you are an intelligent human being and as such you know that smoking kills. Intelligent and sane people don't engage in behavior that will kill them without reward.
You can do it and if you do, you will feel very good about yourself and will start to feel better physically after a period of readjustment. Don't give up, if you slip make another try.
I am an addict. If I had a cigaret today, I would probably be back smoking again soon. I haven't had any cravings in many years, but they did go on for about 4 or 5 years, intermittantly.
In order to quit successfully, you have to reprogram the way you see yourself in relation to tobacco. You have to internalize the idea that you are a non-smoker who will never smoke even one cigaret ever again. I pictured it as setting a flag in a program that changed the subject whenever the idea crept in. Just have a big mental NO ready for any thought of how good you have been and how just one would be a good reward.
Realize that you are an intelligent human being and as such you know that smoking kills. Intelligent and sane people don't engage in behavior that will kill them without reward.
You can do it and if you do, you will feel very good about yourself and will start to feel better physically after a period of readjustment. Don't give up, if you slip make another try.
- Joined
- Jul 8, 2002
- Messages
- 1,240
Thanks again everybody, I truely appreciate it. Yesterday was tough. I have not been doing anything that I typically associate with smoking, like driving or working in the shop. So far today is cake compared to yesterday, eventhough my first thought when I woke up was to greet this beautiful day with a smoke on the back porch. But that thought did not last long.
I have been suplimenting my nicotine intake with some good old Redman chew a few times a day. I had three chews monday and yesterday and one so far today. I have enough left for one more good chew and then I am going to ween myself off of that too. I might go out and pick up some of the gum or patches or something just to cut out most of the physical addiction so I can concentrate on the mental addiction.
Funny thing is that I can give or take drinking. I used to drink at least 5 days a week and stopped doing that 7 years ago without any problems. I used to weigh 215 pounds and then went down to 155 and now I have stabilized at 170 to 180. Neither of those were bad on me so I thought I was pretty strong. But the tobacco is a different cat. I guess that is what happens after using a crutch for 16 years, you need to relearn how to walk without it.
So half way through day three, things are looking good. I might have to opt out of the normal saturday night steak and beers with the boys this week, but that is not a big deal. Thanks again for your support and I will keep you all updated.
I have been suplimenting my nicotine intake with some good old Redman chew a few times a day. I had three chews monday and yesterday and one so far today. I have enough left for one more good chew and then I am going to ween myself off of that too. I might go out and pick up some of the gum or patches or something just to cut out most of the physical addiction so I can concentrate on the mental addiction.
Funny thing is that I can give or take drinking. I used to drink at least 5 days a week and stopped doing that 7 years ago without any problems. I used to weigh 215 pounds and then went down to 155 and now I have stabilized at 170 to 180. Neither of those were bad on me so I thought I was pretty strong. But the tobacco is a different cat. I guess that is what happens after using a crutch for 16 years, you need to relearn how to walk without it.
So half way through day three, things are looking good. I might have to opt out of the normal saturday night steak and beers with the boys this week, but that is not a big deal. Thanks again for your support and I will keep you all updated.
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2003
- Messages
- 3,258
You can do it, Sean. I smoked from age 10 to 32, and NOBODY loved smoking more than me. I quit for my kids' sake. It worked, too. Neither of them smoked.
Today I am happy to have quit (I think it was '91 I quit). I remember that the thing that irritated me the most was looking into my pack of butts before bedtime and only seeing one - knowing I'd have to stop off at the store for more butts before work. Hassle!
Anyway... YOU CAN DO IT! We are cheering for ya.
Today I am happy to have quit (I think it was '91 I quit). I remember that the thing that irritated me the most was looking into my pack of butts before bedtime and only seeing one - knowing I'd have to stop off at the store for more butts before work. Hassle!
Anyway... YOU CAN DO IT! We are cheering for ya.
- Joined
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Sean, I'd try the gum over the patch. That oral fixation is one of the biggest demons in this. Gum will be better than the chew because it is simply nicotine, and not all the other addictive crap in tobacco.
Niocorette gum is like chewing gristle or dried caulk or something. I am still looking for a non-nicotine chewing gum with a lot of substance to it. All the gums I've tried are wimpy and sugary and unsatisfyiing. When I find that gum substitute I will switch to the patch for a couple weeks then be done with nicotine forever.
Anyone has any suggestions for what to chew that ain't "food", I'm all ears. Thanks!
You're doing great, Sean! Hang in there....
Niocorette gum is like chewing gristle or dried caulk or something. I am still looking for a non-nicotine chewing gum with a lot of substance to it. All the gums I've tried are wimpy and sugary and unsatisfyiing. When I find that gum substitute I will switch to the patch for a couple weeks then be done with nicotine forever.
Anyone has any suggestions for what to chew that ain't "food", I'm all ears. Thanks!
You're doing great, Sean! Hang in there....
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- Jun 25, 2001
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I chewed back then because I don't think they had a patch to offer but it worked and totally swapped the habit over to chewing. so that was
cool..the cigs have never been a problem since.
Mike find a big old spruce tree and you got all the gum you want.
I used to chew that when I was younger.
but it's like comparing Pepsi to moxie
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Dan Gray said:
but it worked and totally swapped the habit over to chewing. so that was
cool..the cigs have never been a problem since.
Mike find a big old spruce tree and you got all the gum you want.
I used to chew that when I was younger.
but it's like comparing Pepsi to moxie
I used to chew that stuff too. It takes a while to get it going, but satisfying once you do. The cool part is that you can melt-down all the used spruce gum you chewed up and seal a knifehandle with it - or a canoe hhehee!