I started smoking young, very young, I was not even a teen when I started. Cigarettes have been my crutch, my friend, my enemy, my calming force, and the one thing that can make me stop crying ever since I was a child. They were a part of who I was and I did not want to change it. Then I started to grow up and my life really started and I realized that I don't want to die young.

I quit smoking on September 4th 1997 and then I quit smoking in February 2002, and then in January 2004.
In January 2007 I started taking the nicotine blocker medication, I quit for a year and a half. I was doing great until a combination of a chain smoking family member, an Italian vacation, and a ten hour drive with a person with a broken ankle and no pain killers made me give up my self discipline and start smoking again.
I realize now, looking back, that I wasn't ready to quit. I still believed that I needed them to stop crying or to calm down. Oh, and I was sure that not smoking was making me fat. I missed them.

For Valentine's Day this year my dear husband took me to Athens, a dream come true. I decided to get back on the medication to quit smoking, but I think just knowing I was going to quit made me eat more. So I started to gain weight. I smoked my last cigarette in Greece and I was able to say goodbye to my old friends for what I am certain will be the last time.

When we got back from Greece, I was so happy, until I looked at the pictures. I had gained so much weight and I looked horrible. A once-in-a-lifetime experience, and I looked fat and miserable in almost every picture. That was the moment for me, I had gotten rid of one bad thing in my life, now it was time to straighten up the rest of it. About a week later we went on a special grocery trip and started our transformation.

If anyone would like someone to talk to about the struggles of quitting smoking, I am here.

Congratulations on quitting smoking and good luck!

I quite smoking on Jan. 10th and quite drinking on Feb. 15th The smoking was the toughest for me. One thing that has helped me is to know that I will have cravings – But the craving will go away. Just have to hang in there each time they come. It will go away.

Hang in there and focus of creating a better body.
Feel free to contact me if you like, I know what you are going thru.


Robert

ShellBell-

Vacation is a great place to quit smoking. If you want to start back you'll have to go to Greece and find the spot in which you left your smokes. They, and only then, can you start again because it is there where you left them.

ODAAT

Vinnie

Congrats to everyone who quits....................

I'm 10 day smoke free. YAY! I stared smoking 30 years ago, I know if I was not sticking to the food plan I woul be eating all the time. So I think this is the perfect time to quit. I think I was really ready, becuase it's been ok not bad al all I know I know that I can't ever just have one or I'll be back tpo a pack a day.

I do have one problem, right around 2-3 pm I can't keep my eyes open. I have to use tooth pixs to hold them open. This did not happen when I smoked? I don't want to give up one habit for another, but something has to give it's not like I'm home where I can take a nap, I'm at work.

Have a wonderful smoke free day! Toni

Does anyone have some good advice I can pass on to my husband. He has smoked heavily since he was 18 and has tried to quit numerous times. I think he wants to quit on some level, but he uses it as his crutch (just like you, Shell) but when he does try to quit he is so grumpy and angry that it's hard to be around him and quite honestly, I've been bad about being ultra supportive (which I know is wrong). My first inclination (even tho I don't voice it) is to say, "go have a cigarette already so you can stop being so MEAN!". I want to be a support system for him, but it's hard for me to understand because I quit smoking cold turkey with no issues. Is there anything you guys recommend - keep in mind he's a stubborn former Marine that thinks getting help from a Dr. somehow makes him weak, the patch and the gum make him angry too, and cold turkey is tough for him! YIKES!! Thanks everyone! ~Jacquelyn

Make sure you have your mid-afternoon meal. I usually have a protein shake and my energy level is great.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nemo1n Does anyone have some good advice I can pass on to my husband. He has smoked heavily since he was 18 and has tried to quit numerous times. I think he wants to quit on some level, but he uses it as his crutch (just like you, Shell) but when he does try to quit he is so grumpy and angry that it's hard to be around him and quite honestly, I've been bad about being ultra supportive (which I know is wrong). My first inclination (even tho I don't voice it) is to say, "go have a cigarette already so you can stop being so MEAN!". I want to be a support system for him, but it's hard for me to understand because I quit smoking cold turkey with no issues. Is there anything you guys recommend - keep in mind he's a stubborn former Marine that thinks getting help from a Dr. somehow makes him weak, the patch and the gum make him angry too, and cold turkey is tough for him! YIKES!! Thanks everyone! ~Jacquelyn

I highly recommend the Chantix, by the time it is time for him to give them up, he won't want them anymore. Also, I had the mood swings last time but not this time, I really think it is my diet and exercise. Eating 6-7 times each day and working out hard every morning, makes me calm. Also, my husband and I are former soldiers so what I would say to your husband about the doctor, "Suck it up and drive on.". If he didn't need some help to quit, he would have done it by now. The medicine works, but he has to make the decision, if he doesn't it won't last. I hope this helps.

THANKS!! I will definitely pass this on to him and God bless you and your hubbie, I love our troops and appreciate all the sacrifices you guys make for your country! And good words of advice, "suck it up", he needs to hear it! Thanks, Jacquelyn

Nemo1n-
Please leave smokes when they are ready. Unless someone wants to quit, they will not. This is a hard pill to swallow.
I found pray to be an effective tool for use when I know someone who is caught in any addiction. And then too, "sometime the most loving thing to do when an alky is crawling out of the gutter it to step on hands." My job it to reach with a hand of hope, not one of enabling. Again, simple but not easy.

I used cloves for a few weeks to cut the edge for a smoke. I put one in my mouth.

I don't smoke, even today, one day at a time.

Thanks Vinny - I will try to focus on being a good support system for him and not an eabler thanks you your support!!

Hi,

I have had troubled with smoking and dipping. I see that you have been successful. You mentioned knowing the craving will be there and riding it out. Can you elaborate on that. How long did they last? Did they become less frequent? Did you do thing to take your mind off of tabacco? Any evidence and advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you
JJ

JJ,

Quitting smoking is not easy, to me the urge is like a wave it ebb and flows. It starts off small and swells then slowly goes away.

The most important thing to remember is that it will go away! If it did not, I would still be smoking.

I had knee surgery about 5-6 months before I started T.com, even after my knee healed I never in my wildest dreams would have ran a mile for no reason. I Joined T.com and quit smoking and drinking and somehow in a motivated moment signed up for a ½ Marathon 13 freaking miles. I trained hard but kept having pain from my knee.

I started self talking, I would talk to my knee when I ran ( Make sure no one hears you J) and I would run thru it, and it would stop hurting.

Ok what does this have to do with smoking? Ride it out, feel the wave coming and prepare for it. Talk to your self, tell yourself, it will go away. It WILL!

The urges will be ruff at first but after (for me day 5 ) they get smaller and smaller. However, out of no where you will get hit by a big urge, but they will go away real quick.



By the way I finished the Denver Marathon, my 3rd most important physical accomplishment. Stopping Smoking and Drinking are the most rewarding.

And it will be for you.

Good Luck!

As far as the drinking, very similar but get help, no need to go at it alone.
Feel free to visit and join our group ARTT Alcohol Recovery Thru Transformation. It is full of other great people that drank too much and reached out for help.

If I can help you in any way please just let me know.

Your friend,

Robert

I just noticed this is your first post, way to put yourself and you bad habits out there. I also noticed you live in Colorado, sign up for the Denver Marathon. You will have a 1000 T.com friends running with you, and you will be Smoke Free!

Quote:

Originally Posted by nemo1n Does anyone have some good advice I can pass on to my husband. He has smoked heavily since he was 18 and has tried to quit numerous times. I think he wants to quit on some level, but he uses it as his crutch (just like you, Shell) but when he does try to quit he is so grumpy and angry that it's hard to be around him and quite honestly, I've been bad about being ultra supportive (which I know is wrong). My first inclination (even tho I don't voice it) is to say, "go have a cigarette already so you can stop being so MEAN!". I want to be a support system for him, but it's hard for me to understand because I quit smoking cold turkey with no issues. Is there anything you guys recommend - keep in mind he's a stubborn former Marine that thinks getting help from a Dr. somehow makes him weak, the patch and the gum make him angry too, and cold turkey is tough for him! YIKES!! Thanks everyone! ~Jacquelyn

Hi Jacquelyn,
My problem with surrendering cigarettes is not the physical addiction, but the emotional addiction. I spent two months on Champix and did get down to 6 half cigarettes a day. It was then I realised that as a child there were only two adults who made me feel safe and cherished - and they smoked.
Neither of my adoptive parents smoked.
For the physical side I have been provided with a science based approach.

It turns out that once you have been smoking for a relatively short time the nicotein plugs into the neural receptors for acetycholine, and after a while your body makes less. There are actually no receptors for nicotein.
So, in the lead up to surrendering nicotein you need to boost lecithin intake. Good food sources are sunflower seeds and eggs. A concentrated source is lecithin.

Sunflower lecithin is available, but lecithin derived from soy is cheaper and more readily available.

Whichever type you use, ensure it is derived from non GM sources.

The approach is to have one or two glasses of fruit juice each day with one teaspoon of lecithin stirred in to encourage the production of acetycholine. Do this for at least four days before you begin your attempt. It will dampen the symptoms of withdrawal and in some cases it will prevent them.

I have no information on how many organic eggs you would need to eat to get the same amount of lecithin.

In the meantime, the choline in the lecithin is a B group vitamin which is very good for hair and skin - and has been mentioned as helpful in losing weight.

Oh - and on Chantix/Champix I found myself feeling ferociously angry ( I said to my daughter I was constantly fighting the urge to do violence) and later found that it is one of the medications most likely to cause this reaction. (18 times as likely as most other medications :O)http://healthland.time.com/2011/01/0...#ixzz1AiJRKLhO

Just want to say , as a professional quitter that I sure understand all the pain and frustration of quitting smoking.My first attempt was 23 years ago, before my son was born.Nicotine has been there to coerce me at every emotional upset in my adult life.And I've had a lot of those from a lot of losses.I think this time I've finally gotten control of my life, instead of nicotine and alcohol having control. Especially with the help of working through issues that are part of the 18 steps.I've practiced and practiced quitting and just needed that extra insight as to why I go back to it.Practice makes perfect!Good luck to all!

In 2008, my husband and I did a combo of Body-for-Life and South Beach. He lost 70 pounds and I lost 50. Several emotional upsets and three surgeries later, I have gained back about 25 pounds.

I have been studying some things that have interested me and have been working on my inner self. I started cross-stitching again and that takes me to an awesome, calming place. I really feel that I am getting to a good place.

I also quit drinking (mostly - I usually have a glass of wine or two on Friday evening) and quit smoking (fully) in Jan (2011). This has been going well for me and led me to this next step of getting healthy. I feel that I am truly ready to tackle this transformation.

Seeing the support really makes me feel good. I'm glad to know there are people out there that I can lean on, and in turn, hope that I can help others.

These were the actions I took
Brush use this mouthwash when you wake up eat then bush then mouthwash
Cinnamon mouthwash(alcoholic base) every time you eat brush your teeth and use this mouthwash afterwards. Stay away from sweets chocalate because those are triggers to smokers. The Cinnamon mouthwash actually made me gag if I tried smoking afterwards
Vitamin C pills are a great way to curb cravings. they help fight them
Keep yourself busy when you crave immediatley go for a walk or read a book. If you crave on the go take one of those mini mouthwash bottles with you. It helps to fight the cravings for atleast a couple of hours. I prayed every time a crave as well. by doing thse things as a smoker for 12 years, I quit after doing this after only 7 days

Just started the Transformation 3 days ago. Smoking came up as one of the things that had to go. Over the years I have failed miserably each time I tried. Last year it was Chantix. I almost lost my mind. I did not want to smoke but I almost started taking hostages.(Not Really) but I was overly aggressive. So no pills or patches. My intent is to quit on July 4th, Independence Day. maybe that is to long of a period to wait 6 weeks or so. I am trying to get to a half a pack a day up until then. I hate that breaking nicotine addiction is comparable to that a Heroin addiction. I feel so weak in only one area of my life and that is the hold cigaretts have on me. It really pisses me off. Just having to go through it. (quitting). Will try the lecithin, vitamin C and cinnamon mouthwash tips. Anymore tips would be greatly appreciated.

I quit last November but was using nicotine replacements so I really didn't consider it quitting. In February, I had a type of acupuncture done one time and have not had any nicotine cravings since.

I agree on the vitamin C.

Deep breathing helps me with the emotional habit part of the addiction.

Good luck to all of those working on quitting!!!

I used to have difficulty staying awake as well, even back in my mid 30's. I had blamed it on a number of things, quitting smoking at times being one of them. Turns out it was sleep apnea. My wife told me to do the sleep clinic and they discovered the problem. Three days later, after using a cpap machine (is small and quiet) I awoke with the fog of lethargy gone. My brain was sharper and honestly the world looked more colorful. Consider this, and ask your doctor if it may be the problem. Best wishes, and keep off the smoking!