Advice for quitting

[Luvmyfam]

Howdy all :wave:
Myself and some work mates are quitting smoking on April 1st. Some have patches ready, I have been cutting back. I don't smoke all that much, maybe 7-10 a day and more so at work. Still I realise that none is better. Particularly since we would like to start trying for another bub again this year. I really don't like it and everytime I have one I ask myself, why do I it?
So, has anyone got any tips for me? I think I will get some patches anyway. But as much info I can gather as possible would be tops.
Thank you!!!

[Roopee]

Hi:wave:

The best advice I can give you is to recognise your triggers and change them- so if you have a smoke with your coffee, then don't have the coffee. Make sense?
You might also find it easier to remove yourself from any social situations that may make you want one for a month or 2- it sounds drastic but if your committed to quitting you need to give yourself the best chance you can.

I havent smoked now for months and months but I used Champix to give up.

Good Luck:flowerz:

[~Bec~]

Congratulations on wanting to give up! I gave up quite a few years ago and it's the best thing I have ever done for my health.

Remove all smoking stuff from around the house, ashtrays, ciggs, lighters, matches. Bin them all.

Be prepared for a few days of pain, moods, etc.

Know your trigger points and avoid them. (Eg drinking, coffee breaks etc) If you are at work and have a smoko go for a brisk walk around the block. If you have a cigg after a meal make yourself a cup of tea.

One of the biggest things I did was have a mental shift. I decided that I didn't want to smoke anymore and that I was in control. If I put a cigg to my mouth then I was obviously wanting to smoke, no one is forcing me too. I am the one that physically puts the cigg to mouth, lights it etc.

If I was having a bad moment (this would be especially if I was out socially) I would think - ok, I'm just not going to smoke today. I will smoke tomorrow, just not today. Tomorrow I will get a nice glass or two of red wine and have a smoke but just not today.

Have to go now - at work, will write more later. :)

[Roopee]

Remove all smoking stuff from around the house, ashtrays, ciggs, lighters, matches. Bin them all.



This will sow you how different we all are and what works for some wont work for others.....

I actually kept all that stuff around...I had to, if it wasnt here I wanted it more (a case of wanting what we cant have maybe?) I fact, I kept a full packet of ciggs here for about 5 weeks after I had given up and it was a major thing for me to throw them away.
While all that stuff was lying around I felt like it was ME that was making the choice not to touch it- hope that makes sense.

My DH still smoked for the first 6 weeks of me giving up(he has since given up too) and while that was really really hard I'm kind of glad now because when I go out in social situation and there are people smoking around me it doesn't bother me in the sloightest. In fact, my eyes and throat itch if I'm standing next to someone who is smoking...

Oh and I am a typical reformed smoker too:devil::devil6:

[newmum71]

hello,
for starters its easier to give up if you want to give up, i didnt throw anything away as my partner at the time was still smoking, but i changed my habits, and i bought a car at the time and put the money i spent on cigs for payment for my car, that was a great incentive to give up. i really only used the patch for the 1st day then went cold turkey. but champix is great it works wonders.
good luck hope you find a way that works for you :hugs:

[Kema]

Just wanted to wish you luck.

I found that the patches made me feel really ill. I used the lozenges and although they taste a little funny at first they really worked for me. :yes:

Now I havent had a lozenge since just before I fell pregnant in September...:yelclap:

All the best, it really is the hardest thing to do!

Kema:bee:

[Luvmyfam]

Thanks everyone for your tips. By the way, what is champix? I have bought my patches, got them half price, must be a sign huh? :yes:

[~Bec~]

This will sow you how different we all are and what works for some wont work for others.....

I actually kept all that stuff around...I had to, if it wasnt here I wanted it more (a case of wanting what we cant have maybe?) I fact, I kept a full packet of ciggs here for about 5 weeks after I had given up and it was a major thing for me to throw them away.
While all that stuff was lying around I felt like it was ME that was making the choice not to touch it- hope that makes sense.

My DH still smoked for the first 6 weeks of me giving up(he has since given up too) and while that was really really hard I'm kind of glad now because when I go out in social situation and there are people smoking around me it doesn't bother me in the sloightest. In fact, my eyes and throat itch if I'm standing next to someone who is smoking...

Oh and I am a typical reformed smoker too:devil::devil6:

I think it's definately a case of doing whatever works for you. :yes: I wanted my home to be a 'non smoking' home and to think of myself as a non-smoker which meant removing all of that stuff which helped me a lot.

I too am a very typical reformed smoker too now. :p I can't walk past a smoker without waving my hand in front of my face and coughing, I hate it! It's :barf:

[Jelly Baby]

Firstly good luck.

I quit smoking cold turkey but my partner is currently on the Champix tablets.

They worked for his brother who was a heavy smoker like him so he figured he'd give them a go.

Sunday is Quit Day so we'll see.....

[~Temet Nosce~]

Well for me it was easy as the thought alone of smoking now makes me wanna :barf: because of the pregnancy thing, however I think what helped that was visualising myself taking a drag, and as I breathe in feel daggers, soot, grime and poison filling your mouth, down your throat, into your lungs etc. makes it very unappealing :no:

[Roopee]

Champix is a prescription tablet you get from the Dr. If you struggle on the patches go and see your GP about it- they can prescribe them for you.

Its basically a 3 mth course and the pills make you feel a liitle sick and a bit 'off' for a while but I'd rather that than smoke.

Good luck to you.

[AKicker]

I agree with the comment about triggers.

The habitual almost ritual of smoking is often the hardest thing to break and so many people do not cave in at these points but almost unconsciously pick up a cigarette at these times and are smoking before they realize it!

Also, if you do stumble along the way and have a smoke do not count this as defeat, you do not go back to the start of the race you just dust yourself off and keep going to the end.

Good luck, a great decision for yourself and your children :thumbsup: