I am going to try to quit smoking after this weekend

[Shell Beau]

I hope I can do it! I have done it before, I can do it again!! Cigarettes are the devil!! But they are sooooo good!!! I will miss them. I will probably smoke a carton this weekend. Kidding, but I am going to smoke it out for the last time (hopefully)

[Lavender Brown]

1. Good luck!

:hi:

[Shell Beau]

3. Thanks! I need it!

[Misunderestimator]

2. Go for it! Good luck to you.

It's a hell of a habit to break, but definitely worth it! :thumbsup:

[Shell Beau]

4. It is a hell of a habit! And I need all the luck I can get!

Thanks!! :)

[jane_pippin]

5. You smoke?!

I never would have thought that. Good luck to you. I'm down to 5 a day now, working on getting to zero. I think I'm just scared to take the leap but it has to be done soon.

Be tough Shell. :hug:

[Shell Beau]

6. Yes, unfortunately I picked up the nasty habit in college!

Good luck to you too!! You stay tough as well!! :pals:

[JackBeck]

17. That's where I'm at. When I bartended, I smoked a pack and a half a day.

When I started my 9-5 job a few years ago, I was able to get down to half a pack a day. Now I'm between 5-8 a day, but haven't made the leap yet either.

[Spider Jerusalem]

7. If you've 'done it before', then you haven't REALLY done it, have you?

You might want to see a doctor about Zyban...I've known a few people who found it an easier method of quitting than 'good old American willpower'...

[Shell Beau]

8. Well, yeah, exactly! I quit for 6 months once and dammit, those

those little devils kept calling my name!! I will try will power first and if it doesn't work, I may consider other options!! :)

[ET Awful]

9. I didn't even know you smoked

:P

Hey, if I can do it after smoking 2 packs a day for around 15 years, you can do it.

[Shell Beau]

11. Yep, I am a smoker!! I am sure it was tough for you!

I am glad you quit though! I will keep that in mind as I smoke my last cig!!

[ET Awful]

15. I used Zyban/Welbutrin when I quit, believe it or not, it wasn't that hard

It drove me batshit for a week or so, but after that, I was fine and haven't wanted one since, that was close to 4 years ago.

[billyskank]

10. Good luck Shell!!!!!

:bounce:

You can do it! Just don't bother yourself so much with the future, and don't think things like "no more ciggies...ever...". Just concentrate on not having a smoke RIGHT NOW and let the time pass. Everything else will take care of itself!

:hug:

[Shell Beau]

12. Aw, thanks!! What wonderful advice!!

:pals: :)

[billyskank]

13. That was how I did it

I have now gone three years without a smoke. :)

[Shell Beau]

14. Really? Good for you! I hope to be successful too!

We'll see!

[underpants]

16. 7 months TODAY smoke free for me

Obviously you can do it. Has anyone ever done it before? IF Yes then it can't be that damned hard now can it? IF No well then there has to be a first.

If you are using the patch- get some clothelike athletic tape to keep it stuck on. I went nowhere without it.

Gum-very important to me. I would highly recommend the Orbit line. Good flavor (grabs piece of Citrusmint) long lasting bubble gum as well as chewing gum. MAde in the USA and Canada. You may want to try one of their other flavors but trust me this is the best gum out there. Opening the package will seem very familiar too.

I would suggest taking up some sort of cardio workout. You will really feel what NOT smoking does after a week. Even just walking will do the job. Hell dancing to music in your living room for 10 minutes would suffice. Just a suggestion.

Lastly and this is the biggee. You just have to decide FOR YOURSELF and convince yourself that the answer is always going to be NO. Don't think about having one in a month or JUST one a year from now-that part of your life is over forever. You said you had quit for 6 months well I am just past that and I really can't imagine doing that everyday. I laugh thinking about doing that FREEZESTOPCHECK of the cigarettes before I left for work or from home.

How many do I have? Do I need to get more? Where will I get them? Do I know? Can I smoke where I am going? If not how long will I be in there>? HOW LONG WILL I BE IN THERE!?!??!?! and so forth.

Good luck. It really isn't that tough (looking back now) the answer always has to be and always will be

NO!

You are going to love it.

[azmouse]

18. Congrats on giving up the cigs!

I saw what my parents went through as smokers and never had any interest in going through all that myself. My mom quit when she was in her 40's... over 20 yrs ago and she's now more anti-smoking than even I am!

[Burma Jones]

19. What Underpants said - plus - the 6 month hurdle is a big one...

The cardio stuff is prime advice though

I chew nicorette, I just love nicotene as a drug - it rules.......

[bettyellen]

20. i quit sunday night, if i can do it, anyone can...

i really liked this book, The Easy Way to Quit Smoking.
It put me in the right frame of mind to do it.
good luck, Shell!

[1gobluedem]

21. Our morning news anchor is quitting too

For some tips and to see his online diary, go to www.wemu.org and click on the Quit With Dave banner. There's an online support group and other resources too.

Good luck!

[edbermac]

22. My dad has emphysema and just started on oxygen this week!

And my mother smokes like a fiend...lucky for him they're divorced...

Quit before it's too late!!:smoke:

[suzbaby]

23. My Grandmother smoked for close to 40 years

And you know what finally helped her quit? Hypnosis. A few sessions of hypnotherapy and she never craved a cigarette again.

I know it sounds crazy, but if I were a smoker I would give hypnosis a shot....worked for my grandma!

Edit: Another success story! http://www.who.com/who/magazine/article/0,19636,7401041108-735185,00.html

[progmom]

24. good luck, shell

you seem like a very determined person - i bet you can kick this habit, no sweat.

[Shell Beau]

34. I hope so!! Thanks!!

:)

[Taverner]

25. The patch worked for me

NO withdrawls, nothing.

Of course now I'm addicted to the patch, but hey - at least it isn't going to kill me.

[hfojvt]

26. Mark Twain said: "quitting smoking is easy

I've done it thousands of times"

[Burma Jones]

27. On the other hand

My Soon to be 99 year old Grandmother quit smoking - when she was 70.

[kwassa]

28. Quitting is easy, I've done it hundreds of times.

Last time stuck.

21 years ago.

[Beer Snob-50]

29. Good Luck!

My wife quit about 7 years ago. the first couple of weeks were tough but she is doing great (even being married to me and the grief I put her through)

[gizmo1979]

30. If you don't

suceed join us on the 20th for the great DU smokeout there are a handful of us quitting that day.Join us if you like.

[politicat]

31. Be aware that there's new research out

regarding the way nicotine affects brain chemistry. People who quit have a higher rate of brain chemical imbalances including depression and mania in the 24 months following quitting than to non-smokers in the same time period. It's better to quit and deal with the side effects, but it's a drug. There are side effects of withdrawal.

Using Zyban or another anti-depressant while quitting seems to help alleviate some of the symptoms, but not entirely. Be prepared for negative feelings, a shorter temper, a sense of apathy and a shortened range of emotions for up to two years following quitting.

Do quit, but don't feel bad about asking a doctor for help, and if you feel like to can't survive without a hit of nicotine, use the lozenges or the gum (not the patch; it takes too long to hit your system) instead of smoking.

[Shell Beau]

35. Thanks for the info!

:)

[taterguy]

32. Remember: You don't get to be a champion by taking cigarette breaks

[TheBaldyMan]

33. remember to get back on the wagon if you fall off

never give up giving up, I gave up for all of 6 hours a couple of days ago :(

I must give up (again) soon!