Quitting

[Ptrcmcc6]

I would really like to quit smoking but my willpower always seems to get the best of me. I would love to hear from all of you former smokers as to what you did or any special techniques you used to become smoke-free. Of course, I am low carbing so replacing a smoke with say a mint or something is out of the question.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Patty

[Cranky]

Hiya Patty

I quit cold turkey 7 months ago. I LOVED smoking but just woke up one Monday morning & thought 'that's enough, I've had a gutfull' & quit Wednesday.

I used a few of those nicotine chewing gums but only 12 in total so don't believe the 'you can't go cold turkey' crap. I smoked for 25 years (23 of those years at 30 a day, even during 2 pregnancies.. yes I know :() and managed okay.

Just take it day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute if you have too. There is some site online that tracks things or something for you too. It's true what they say about distracting yourself as the craving will pass. It WILL pass and gets easier each time.

I had a moment of triumph last week when I had a drag of a ciggie & almost threw up :)

Now I am concentrating of losing weight. So in the last 7 months I have given up nicotine, sugar, carbs, coffee and.............. no, that's about it. Boring huh?

Message me anytime you feel you need a cheersquad.

[CNYMom]

Hi Patty... I quit smoking August 26, 2005. I planned it a week in advance. I did lots of reading, joined Quitnet.net (a very cool support site that kept me accountable and saved my butt more than once), and stocked up. I used the patch (all 12 weeks) and I chewed a ton of SF gum. I also gained about 20 pounds. Quitting smoking messes up your metabolism. It does settle down again, but it takes awhile.

For me, I couldn't do both at once. That's not to say it's impossible! But for me, the times I had tried to do both, I ended up failing at both. I gave myself a set amount of time (through the new year) to almost eat anything I wanted (at least, as far as gum and sf candies and such went). I waited until I felt secure in my Quit until I went back on the diet. Then I had a whole host of other problems, but that's another story.

Anyway, your best defense is a good offense, as they say. Plan. Read. Make a ton of lists (reasons why you quit, things you can do instead of smoke, health issues you're experiencing). It can be done, and you'll feel a whole lot better for it.

[Lisa N]

I tried every quit product out there and the only thing that stuck was cold turkey (I'm coming up on my 17 month anniversary of being nicotine free). Don't believe all the hype about how horrible a cold turkey quit is; I found it much easier than keeping myself in a constant state of withdrawal with nicotine replacement products and the withdrawal symptoms were very mild.
If you convince yourself that quitting will be horrible, it will be.
Consider also that even with the nicotine replacements, you either have to stay addicted to nicotine and keep using the replacements (just as many $$ as cigarettes) or face withdrawal sometime; I found it better for me to face withdrawal sooner rather than later and make a clean break from my addiction.

Whatever you do, if one method isn't successful, keep trying until you find something that works. I've read that it takes an average of 6 quit attempts before a smoker is successful at quitting. :idea:

[Ptrcmcc6]

Thanx everybody for the wonderful advice. I was thinking if I could just crawl under the covers and sleep for a week......I might be alright. I know I can't do that though. We've had a lot of people in work who recently quit smoking. They all used that new pill that's on the market called Chantix (sp.) with great success. I might look into that and while I'm at it, have myself a full physical since I haven't had one of those in many many years. The new pills are available by prescription only anyway so I would have to go see a doctor.

At 45 years old, I think it's time I really start thinking about my health and quitting smoking and losing weight seem to be a good place to start.

Lisa & Cranky: You have a good point their about quitting cold turkey. It makes a lot of sense. Why prolong the inevitable withdrawals by spending a ton of money on OTC techniques?

CNYMom: I'll talk to you in your journal. I didn't know you quit smoking unless, of course, I read it and forgot. I wouldn't doubt that......lol. Thank you for posting your quitting experience here for me.

Again, thank you all for your advice. If anybody else has any piece of advice to offer........Please feel free to let me know.

Patty

[Cranky]

Patty, maybe sleeping for a week isn't such a bad idea. I was absolutely exhausted the first 10 days that I quit and slept all the time.

You may also feel dizzy & lightheaded. That's your body going smoke free too.

[Lisa N]

Sugar-free mints or gum might not be a bad idea since sweet cravings can be part of the withdrawal process; interestingly the 'buttons' that get pushed by feeding the nicotine craving are similar to those that cause cravings for sugar, so the body can respond to nicotine withdrawal with cravings for sweets. Just something to be aware of in case you do have those cravings so they don't catch you off guard and derail your weight loss efforts. Sugar-free popsicles or Jello may also help if those sudden sweet cravings strike.
You may find yourself more tired during the first week or so (don't plan any mentally demanding activities during that time and make an effort to get adequate sleep) and you may find that you are hugrier or thirstier than usual; if you do, it's okay to drink extra fluids and feed your body and take it as a sign that your body has already begun the process of healing itself and is asking for more nourishment to accomplish that; just don't use it as an excuse to pig out. ;)
Best of success to you! :)

[Kandra]

Hi Patty,
I'm glad that you're making plans on being a non-smoker. It feels so much better, you'll NEVER regret kicking the habit.

ou have a good point their about quitting cold turkey. It makes a lot of sense. Why prolong the inevitable withdrawals by spending a ton of money on OTC techniques?

Using NRT *nicotine replacement therapies has a higher success rate than cold turkey. The reason is that you can work on the psychological triggers without having the intensity of the craving with the physical nicotine withdrawl. A trigger is anything that you typically do while smoking. Because they are now connected in your mind, that event (trigger) is now a strong signal to your body that it needs a dose of nicotine. You will have cravings even when you're on the NRT when you get triggered. The psychological aspect of nicotine addiction is very powerful.
NRT lets you consicously address the psychological aspects first, then you taper down the nicotine dose as the cravings become less intense.

I've quit dozens of times, sometimes cold turkey, sometimes NRT but always relapsed after a day or two until this time. This time I did a lot of research at the National Cancer Institute and the American Lung Association websites. Had a plan and took it one day at a time, using NRT and techniques like deep breathing, taping index cards of why I want to quit smoking all over the house and a few other things to keep remembering why I wanted to quit smoking ever present.
It's like the mind says, oh just one cigarette is fine. But, it's not, there's no such thing as one cigarette. I failed too many times believing that lie. This time is for good.

Good luck Patty

[hk-lowcarb]

I've been doing OK w/ the NRT. I combined the gum w/ regular gum and then began to sometimes not have the nicotine gum, just the regular gum (placebo effect). I've been smoke-free since August 8th. I started LCing on Jan 17th.

I'm still using the NRT, but in much smaller quantities. I hope to get rid of it entirely in the coming few months.

Try different things - maybe cold-turkey & then buy some NRT if you find yourself standing in the store getting ready to buy cigs.

[Ptrcmcc6]

I was talking to the grocery manager in work this morning. He is one of the people in work who has quit using the new pill on the market. He says he quit about 7 or 8 weeks ago and has not been taking the pill since the 2nd week of his quit. He says it works on the psychological aspect as well as the physical need for a cigarette and after the 2nd week.....he was done and didn't need it anymore. He says the doctor gives you a months supply of the pills and the good news is our presciption plan covers it. He paid $15.00 for a month supply. I was reading in another thread here that these pills go for $3.80 american dollars a day. Thirty days worth can really add up!!

I just don't understand. If we are a society which is trying to put an end to smoking.......why do you have to have a prescription to get these so called quit remedies. I know you can get a lot of things OTC now but there was a time not long ago when you needed a presciption for those also. I know you can get the gum without a prescription but I'm not even sure if you can get the patch without one?? Maybe someone might know the answer to that one??

Either way.......I really think I need to take a trip to the doctors office and I think that may be something I run by him/her after I demand a complete physical with bloodwork and all!! In the meantime........I haven't been doing to well with cutting down. I see what you mean, Kendra, about the triggers. I have sooooooo many triggers I don't know where to even start. The biggest one is sitting here at the computer like I am doing now. Another one is breaktime at work. It's just so normal for me to just go outside (no matter how freezing cold it is) and have a smoke. The problem is......I like going outside to just give myself a break from being cooped up in the store. To think of not being able to go outside is truly unbearable!! Especially with the nice weather coming up. Another one is eating. I'm so use to having a smoke after I'm done eating. I've been trying to put it off until after the dinner dishes are done lately but I still DO sit down and have a smoke. OMG......the list can go on and on and on!! I might as well just commit myself to the looney bin right now!!......lol. In a straightjacket!!....THIS IS GOING TO BE HARD!!! NO DOUBT ABOUT IT!!!

I WILL DO IT THOUGH!! I'm going to sit down and think this whole thing out right now so I have a backup plan "when" (notice I said "when" and not "should") the urge comes. I don't want to sit here and think unrealistically. I KNOW the urges will be coming and they will be coming in full force. I want to have something to do to keep me busy when they arrive. I was thinking about asking my Mom to refresh my memory of how she taught me to crochet. I thought crochetting might be something to do when the physical urge to have something in my hands strikes.

Anyway.....this is getting very long. I really thank everybody for all their suggestions and PLEASE.....keep them coming!! I think I better copy/paste this to my journal so even I can go back and read it from time to time.

Thanx for listening!! You are all wonderful here!!

Patty

[Ptrcmcc6]

Sorry......meant to post this in my journal.

[Ptrcmcc6]

I guess it's gone forever!! It took me 20 mintues to pour my heart out and write the prelog to it. What a bummer!! I want to cry!! Oh well....I'll remember it in my head!!

[angiebiker]

I work with several guys that have used the new drug on the market that you were referring to, it is called Chantix. They say they haven't noticed any change in their eating habits at all! I thought that sounded good, so I have the prescription at home, haven't got it filled yet, but my husband is going to get one from his doc so we can do it together!

Good luck to you :)

Angie

[Kandra]

I just don't understand. If we are a society which is trying to put an end to smoking.......why do you have to have a prescription to get these so called quit remedies. I know you can get a lot of things OTC now but there was a time not long ago when you needed a presciption for those also. I know you can get the gum without a prescription but I'm not even sure if you can get the patch without one?? Maybe someone might know the answer to that one??
I see what you mean, Kendra, about the triggers. I have sooooooo many triggers I don't know where to even start. The biggest one is sitting here at the computer like I am doing now. Another one is breaktime at work. It's just so normal for me to just go outside (no matter how freezing cold it is) and have a smoke. The problem is......I like going outside to just give myself a break from being cooped up in the store. To think of not being able to go outside is truly unbearable!!
Patty

Hi Patty,
It's really good that you're making plans for your quit. That way you'll know EXACTLY what you'll do when the craving hits you.

Begin NOW by not allowing yourself to smoke in all the usual places. This will begin to break the triggers while you're still smoking...MUCH MUCH easier that way. Also write down all the alternatives that you can do when confronted with a trigger like instead of going out to smoke, go out for a very brisk 3-5 minute walk, maybe another walk after dinner or buy some special bubble bath or spa salts and have a special time for yourself, etc. Whatever you do, write it all down because once you do quit when or if you get a really strong craving, your mind doesn't think clearly and you just won't remember the bad parts about smoking and will forget all of your plans and why you want to do the alternative things instead of grabbing a smoke. The writen notes for you to remind yourself is really powerful, it got me through many rough spots.

The answer to your question regarding OTC NRTs (I asked the same thing when I took the American Cancer Society Quit Smoking Program.) is that they are by prescription only until they have a proven track record as being safe, then because of the reason you mentioned - being of such help to society if access is easier and cheaper - they petition the FDA to become an OTC drug.

Yes, the patch is also OTC. I used the patch and the gum but kept a close eye on the mg of nicotine and never went over the amount I got when I smoked. I did better when I followed the directions in the box. They also have an OTC lozenge, but I don't know if it's sugar free or how it tastes.
The nicotine patch worked really well for me and if someone invented a carbpatch they would billions, no zillions of dollars.

I know that you'll find the perfect quit method that works for you Patty. Keep on wanting to be a non-smoker and making that a stronger desire than the desire to smoke.

Here's a link to a wonderful forum, kinda like this one, but for quitting. It really helped me. http://www.quitnet.com/

[Lisa N]

Hi Patty,
I'm glad that you're making plans on being a non-smoker. It feels so much better, you'll NEVER regret kicking the habit.



Using NRT *nicotine replacement therapies has a higher success rate than cold turkey.


Kandra, according to this source (http://www.whyquit.com/whyquit/LinksCAids.html), that's not an accurate statment. In fact, according to 2003 statistics that the link quotes which came from the American Cancer Society, 91.3% of former smokers quit by going cold turkey as opposed to 6.8% who quit using drug therapy (NRT, Welbutrin) and/or counseling and the data that 'proves' NRT is more effective than quitting cold turkey is somewhat misleading at best. :idea:
There is a misconception that withdrawal symptoms from nicotine are dosage related. By that I mean, there is the perception that the more you are smoking and the more nicotine you are used to getting when you quit, the worse the withdrawal will be. That's not so; you will experience roughly the same symptoms if you quit from a low dose of nicotine as you would from a high dose and it will take the same amount of time to clear your bloodstream completely no matter how much you were getting; 72 hours. Your body will protest just as much if you take away a little nicotine that is has become used to as it will if you take away a lot of nicotine that it has become used to.

http://whyquit.com/whyquit/LinksAAddiction.html


-Nicotine is a psychoactive drug whose "high" provides a dopamine "aaahhh" sensation and an adrenaline rush. Would you have been able to tell, within 5 minutes, whether the gum or lozenge you'd been given contained the nicotine equilivent of smoking two cigarettes or was instead a nicotine-free placebo? So could they. A 2004 study found that NRT studies suffered from massive wide-spread blinding failures (May 2004)
-A nicotine smoker's natural odds of quitting for six months, entirely on their own, without any products, procedures, education programs, counseling or formal support is roughly 10% (June 2000)
Those using the over-the-counter (OTC) nicotine patch or gum as a stand-alone quitting tool have only a 7% chance of quitting smoking for six months (March 2003)
-Up to 7% of OTC nicotine gum quitters are still chronic users of nicotine gum at six months (May 2004). Question: isn't 7 minus 7 still zero? (May 2004)
36.6% of all current nicotine gum users are chronic long-term users (May 2004)
-You truly would have to be a superhero to quit while using the nicotine patch if you've already attempted using it once and relapsed. The only two patch user "recycling" studies ever conducted have both shown that nearly 100% of second-time nicotine patch users relapse to smoking nicotine within six months (April 1993 and August 1995, see Table 3)
-91.2% of all successful long-term ex-smokers quit entirely on their own without resort to any product, procedure or program of any kind including hypnosis, Zyban, Wellbutrin, acupuncture, magic herbs, laser therapy, or the nicotine patch, gum, lozenge, spray, or inhaler (ACS 2003)
-Education, understanding, new skills and serious support can more than triple your natural six-month odds of 10% (April 2003)
-Those who refuse to allow any nicotine back into their bloodstream have 100% odds of remaining nicotine free today! (Today, Tomorrow & Always!)

[Lisa N]

I just don't understand. If we are a society which is trying to put an end to smoking.......why do you have to have a prescription to get these so called quit remedies. I know you can get a lot of things OTC now but there was a time not long ago when you needed a presciption for those also. I know you can get the gum without a prescription but I'm not even sure if you can get the patch without one?? Maybe someone might know the answer to that one??

Patty, they require a prescription because they (Welbutrin, Zyban, Chantix) are all powerful drugs with a potential for abuse, not to mention a street value.

[Ptrcmcc6]

Patty, they require a prescription because they (Welbutrin, Zyban, Chantix) are all powerful drugs with a potential for abuse, not to mention a street value.


I didn't think of it that way. I guess that makes sense for the pills but I'm thinking Kendra's answer makes sense also about the patches, gum, and lozengers. You don't want to be selling stuff OTC and then find out later people are dying from heart attacks or something like that. I guess if you can only get it by prescription, it is controlled as to who has gotten them and should there be any adverse side effects it would be easier to contact anybody who had gotten a prescription. They wouldn't have to do an all out recall and the chances of getting sued are far less then if anybody and everybody under the sun was allowed to walk into the store and buy it. Interesting at how many different conflicting stories there are out there as to what works and what doesn't work though. I guess it all boils down to it's an individual thing. I've met people who've said the patch/gum worked for them and then I met people who've said they had no luck with it. So far EVERYBODY I've talked to about this new drug has said it worked for them. It's so good, Angiebiker, that you and your husband are going to do this together. I'm sure it will be a real good support system!! I wish you both the best of luck!!

Kendra.....thanks also for the tip of writing how I handle the triggers down. I'm also going to start writing down the reason WHY I want to quit and the way I will feel as long as I don't light up!! You know, things like I'll be able to walk up the stair without getting winded or I'll be able to walk further on my treadmill as long as I don't light up. I am seriously getting ready to set a quit date within this week sometime. I want to do a little more reading up and getting myself ready though. I want to be armed to the "T".

Well....thanx again for all your responses. I have to get off of here so my son can go on for awhile. That's ok though because this computer is one of my triggers!! I'm going to go cook him and his friend some popcorn chicken which will keep my mind off of smoking for awhile.

Thanx again!!

Patty

[Lisa N]

In trials, the Chantix looks promising but the success rates of a product tend to drop dramatically when the product is being used by people who aren't being supported professionally in a drug trial with counseling, support and advice. I really hope that this drug will prove to be as effective in 'real life' use as it was in clinical trials because that could mean a lot less smokers in the years to come and that can only be a good thing. :thup:
For referemce, in trials NRT had about the same success rates as Chantix does now but when you look at success rates after a year, NRT suddenly doesn't look so great.
This article on Chantix gives a lot of statistical data that some may find interesting: http://www.whyquit.com/pr/082506.html and at the bottom of the article are links to quite a few more.

Here's a question to ask for all those who tell you they quit smoking using NRT products. How many of them are still using the NRT at 6 months? A year? According to the Nicotrol product, the consumer is supposed to be completely off the product within 16 weeks, but statistics show that a large percentage of users don't quit using the product and instead become chronic users of NRT; they haven't kicked their addiction, they just changed the delivery device of their drug of choice. :p

[Ptrcmcc6]

Here's a question to ask for all those who tell you they quit smoking using NRT products. How many of them are still using the NRT at 6 months? A year? According to the Nicotrol product, the consumer is supposed to be completely off the product within 16 weeks, but statistics show that a large percentage of users don't quit using the product and instead become chronic users of NRT; they haven't kicked their addiction, they just changed the delivery device of their drug of choice. :p


That's a good point you have there. At least with the Chanix you only get a months supply. According to the guy in work, he used 2 weeks worth and threw the rest away. I'm sure there are quite a bit of people out there who probably used it for a month and still couldn quit. From what I heard though (from another guy at work who is in the process of quitting), you can smoke for the first 7 days while taking the pill but after that you have to stop. I don't know why you can smoke for the first 7 days and not after that..???.... but then again......I'm not a doctor. I'm sure there are some people out there who just decided to stop taking the pill after the 7 days and instead decided to continue to smoke. We just haven't heard about them yet. It only gives more creedance (sp.?) to the fact it is a mental thing. You have to truly physically and mentally want to quit and although I think I getting the mental aspect of it down, I am having a hard time with the physical aspect. I WILL get it though!! I'm giving myself one week to do this. If I don't have it under control by then........it's going to be cold turkey!!

Patty

[Kandra]

Lisa,

Let me first say that I am NOT pushing NRT as the only way or the best way to quit for everyone.

I was told by my counselor at The National Cancer Institute about the current statisics for long term success was higher with NRT that cold turkey. She was NOT pushing NRT but I wanted to know what the truth about the different methods. She gave me a lot of research, I do remember some studies showed it was 4 times more effective. Anyways here's a couple of links: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/HealthAndWellBeing/HealthyLiving/DG_4002727
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=7904003&dopt=Abstract
The number to talk to a counselor at The National Cancer Institute is 1-800-784-8669 it's free and they will also send written material. They aren't going to push any one type of method to quit. Here's the website (http://www.smokefree.gov/index.asp)

Just because NRT does not help some people is not to say that it doesn't work for everyone. That's why there's so many various methods to quit, the trick IMHO is to find what works for you and stick with it. Don't brush off anything, it might be just the thing that works for you. Who cares if someone else says it won't work, or it's a placebo or whatever they claim, bottom line is to find what works for you.

I'm familar with WHY QUIT and Joel and frankly find them to be too prejudice against NRT. All of the research data on that site is lifted to support that view point. They won't even let you join if you are quitting using an NRT, they kick out members if they confess to smoking a cigarette while quitting, etc. If that sort of thing works for you then by all means go for it with my blessings!!! I say do whatever works.

Some people quit successfully with herbs, homeopathic remedies, tobacco patches, meditation, hypnosis, therapy and other methods while people will claim that none of those methods work either. I say don't knock whatever someone wants to try. Who knows, that might be just the perfect thing for that person. (I tried everything on that list except the tobacco patch b/c I just saw that in the drug store the other day.) NRT helped me, that's not to say that I didn't learn from each of my experiences of not sticking with my quit.

Here's a link to a comprehensive list of government sites on quitting: Gov research, pulications & help (http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/quit_smoking/how_to_quit/index.htm)

Here's a question to ask for all those who tell you they quit smoking using NRT products. How many of them are still using the NRT at 6 months? A year? According to the Nicotrol product, the consumer is supposed to be completely off the product within 16 weeks, but statistics show that a large percentage of users don't quit using the product and instead become chronic users of NRT; they haven't kicked their addiction, they just changed the delivery device of their drug of choice.

Well that's right from the pages of Joel's rhetoric on Why Quit. I find it insulting. I am NOT on any NRT now. The majority of people on Quit net were not staying on them either.

[Lisa N]

It only gives more creedance (sp.?) to the fact it is a mental thing. You have to truly physically and mentally want to quit

I couldn't agree more. Do you know what the difference was between the first 6 attempts I made to quit and the last (aside from the last also being cold turkey)?
On my first 6 attempts, I approached my quit with the attitude of "I really like smoking, but I guess I have to quit/should quit because....(fill in your most pressing reason here)"
On my last attempt, an article at www.whyquit.com challenged me to face the lie that I had been telling myself all along. Do you know what that lie was? That I really liked smoking. When I sat down, pen in one hand, paper at the ready, cigarette in the other hand, I could not honestly write down a single thing that I liked and enjoyed about smoking from the time that I first lit up until I snuffed out that butt. That was the last cigarette I ever smoked and any time I have a thought about smoking now, I remind myself of that moment of honesty and tell myself, "Self, don't be a silly twit. Why would you pick up a bad habit again that was slowly killing you when there was nothing about it you ever liked?". Here is a link to that article: http://whyquit.com/joel/Joel_01_02_I_Like.html
It's all a matter of mindset (and being brutally honest with yourself).
If you believe that there is any part of smoking that you like and are going to miss, it's a lot harder to walk away from that even knowing that the behavior is slowly killing you than it is when you approach it with the mindset of, "I'm giving up something that does nothing for me and is, in fact, slowly killing me and there isn't even anything that I like about it". ;)

[Lisa N]

Here's another article regarding the effectiveness of various methods. Yes, I found it at WhyQuit, but they did not do the study or fund it. In fact, it was a study done in Australia. The results, however, are the same.
http://whyquit.com/pr/051906.html

As for WhyQuit being prejudiced against NRT, perhaps Joel has a reason for it, like maybe years of experience and noting what works for people who pass through his quit smoking clinic and what doesn't?
Personally, I don't care if standing on your head helps you quit as long as you are able to kick the nicotine and stay quit and my hat is off to those who manage to actually quit nicotine using NRT because they did it the hard way IMO.

Kandra, I'm glad that your experience with NRT was positive (how long have you been quit, by the way?) but to be honest, everyone that I know in real life (not on a website) who has tried to quit using NRT has failed and I know quite a few at the moment because my company is going completely smoke free April 1; employees will not be permitted to smoke on company property or within 250 feet of if at all after that date. Those that violate that edict will be encouraged to seek employment opportunities elsewhere. How's that for harsh? By failed, I mean either they are still using the product 6 months later or longer (the longest I'm aware of currently is 3 1/2 years) or they have gone back to smoking.

[LOOPS]

Hi I just wanted to jump in here and have a say.

I am hooked on the NRT gum and I still smoke - how's that for a mess up? However, I don't smoke very much at all, and a lot less than I did before the gum. I also try to limit the gum - sometimes I'm successful and sometimes not. I also have emotional problems but am not on any meds for those.

I keep trying to quit cold turkey - I have read all the books and done lots of serious self-counselling, but I just flip out at the first hurdles every time I try. I tried the wellbutrin about 5 years back and stopped smoking - but couldn't hack the side-effects which were severe insomnia for me. BUT I STOPPED SMOKING. I had to come off it though - so started smoking again. I stopped for a week after reading Allen Carr's book - then just started again for no apparent reason. That book only works once if it works.

I am possibly going to try the Chantix when it comes out in April here in Chile, and if that doesn't work, I will just have to keep doing the gum until I get pregnant in which case I will definitely have to do cold turkey and go through with it. I just don't want to have to wait until then.

I AM A WUSS!!! Seriously - some people just can't do cold turkey. Shoving those statistics in people's faces is like saying -

hey, the only way to quit is cold turkey - otherwise you're screwed - no other way works.

Cold turkey might be the BEST way, but seriously how many people can do that? Some people just never managed through the initial withdrawal, so trying alternative methods is better than just accepting that they will be smokers the rest of their lives.

Anyway sorry for hijacking thread - just wanted to say that.

[Lisa N]

Cold turkey might be the BEST way, but seriously how many people can do that?

Statistically? Only 10% kick their addictions long term successfully no matter what method they use. If your two choices were hard and harder which would you pick?
You are not a wuss, but it seems that you have stressors in your life that complicate your chances of a successful quit.
Statistically, more long term successful quitters did so cold turkey.
That's not to say that other methods do not work, they just don't seem to work as well as using nothing at all.
Be very careful with using NRT and smoking together; nicotine is a poison and doing both at the same time raises your risk of nicotine poisoning which is why there are warnings on the packages of gum and patches not to do both at the same time. :idea:

[LOOPS]

yeah it's not good - but I don't do them both at the same time. I do wait awhile.

Having said all that - for me right now I keep going periods without either. Even if I can't quit - and I keep trying - I keep getting this motivation to try anyway. And I do notice that the more I do this the less resistant I am to going the same hours in the day without.

Maybe it is getting me nowhere but at least it cuts down on my whole nicotine intake and gets me in the practice of feeling the cravings and accepting them, which I believe will be useful when I finally manage to completely go for it. Or is that all wrong? Does it make any difference at all?

[Cranky]

You have to really want to quit otherwise it just won't work for you. If it's not your time to quit, then it's not your time.

I also didn't let anyone know I was quitting, then I didn't have to answer the same questions day in, day out. I told only my mum and told everyone else after I had quit.

[SadLady]

I was a heavy smoker and I quit cold turkey in 1992. The addiction takes 3 days for it to be gone, the rest of the time is habit. If you can make it the first 3 days, you should remember that the rest is just missing the movement of the cigarette to the mouth. I quit on a dare with a co-worker that was trying to quit smoking and could not. He had a rubber band around his wrist and everytime he wanted one, he was supposed to pull it and hit himself with it. The sound got so annoying, that one day I just walked over and said: "I bet that I can quit smoking without all that fuss". I did, and I have not smoked since.

Just a matter of mind over matter. 3 days, that's all it takes. If after that you put the cigarette back in your mouth is because you want, not because you need to.

Be strong, your lungs will thank you.

[Mangaw]

Studies have proven the tobacco industry has increased the number of addictive substances to cigarettes over the last 10 years or more. The addiction is not completely *over* in 3 days. I urge anyone who is trying to quit to check out www.quitnet.com. It was an invaluable asset to me.

Deb
Smoke-free since 10/2/06 - NOPE (Not One Puff Ever)

[Lisa N]

The addiction is not completely *over* in 3 days.

I think what SadLady is trying to say is that nicotine is out of your bloodstream completely in 72 hours; at that point a quitter is officially 'nicotine free'. Physical cravings peak at the 3 day mark and decrease steadily from that point forward both in frequency and intensity.
Once you are an addict, you are always an addict; that never goes away but it is up to the individual to make the choice daily, hourly and sometimes minute by minute to not use again.
You always have a choice; use or don't use, it's up to you.

[Ptrcmcc6]

Well.....sad to say, I haven't quit yet. I was trying to a least cut down but the past couple of days that hasn't even been working. I don't know.....I think it's a mental thing or something with me. The more I really DON'T want to light up, the more my body fights me for a cigarette to the point where I give in. I feel like I'm smoking MORE now that I really don't want to be a smoker anymore if that makes any sense.

This is it!! I'm giving myself until April 1st and then I am going to try my darn hardest not to give into the urges!! I might have to lock myself in my room for a few days but if that's what it takes......I just may do that. So, if anybody can come up with some mental techniques by next week......I'd still appreciate it.

Patty

[Mangaw]

I think what SadLady is trying to say is that nicotine is out of your bloodstream completely in 72 hours; at that point a quitter is officially 'nicotine free'. Physical cravings peak at the 3 day mark and decrease steadily from that point forward both in frequency and intensity.
Once you are an addict, you are always an addict; that never goes away but it is up to the individual to make the choice daily, hourly and sometimes minute by minute to not use again.
You always have a choice; use or don't use, it's up to you.
Here is a very informational site:

http://www.uni.edu/wellrec/wellness/smoke/recovery.html

Deb

[Kandra]

quoted from LisaN: Kandra, according to this source, that's not an accurate statment. In fact, according to 2003 statistics that the link quotes which came from the American Cancer Society, 91.3% of former smokers quit by going cold turkey as opposed to 6.8% who quit using drug therapy (NRT, Welbutrin) and/or counseling and the data that 'proves' NRT is more effective than quitting cold turkey is somewhat misleading at best.

Read the document this is quoted from, they are actually promoting methods other than cold turkey. Their position is to promote awareness and more education on methods other than cold turkey because of greater success rate with other methods. The statistics were gathered to underline the fact that more education and awareness is needed to promote the recommended cessation methods because people were trying to cold turkey and needed to be better educated of the more successful methods that are available now.

They never said that cold turkey was more successful, just that it was being used more because of the lack of education to show the need for education. Please note that on the preceding page of this document are their recommendations for what works the best and the list does include NRTs as First Line Therapies.
Here's another article regarding the effectiveness of various methods. Yes, I found it at WhyQuit, but they did not do the study or fund it. In fact, it was a study done in Australia. The results, however, are the same.
In this other study you mentioned it is NOT about the efficacy of various quit methods and actually ends with the researchers stating, “By tailoring smoking cessation interventions to a smokers' preparedness to quit, scope exists to increase the pool of smokers offered strategies that are more effective in achieving abstinence and avoiding relapse rather than relying on less effective self-quitting behaviours such as cold turkey.” Again, the need for education is what they are talking about to help people find the other methods to keep from relapsing back into smoking.

Since you are the moderator for this forum I find it disturbing, to say the least, that you let your personal bias for cold turkey and against proven methods such as NRT get in the way of helping people. I know that your heart is in the right place but please do the follow up research as it will help you to moderate this forum with intelligence and accuracy. Like you, I care about the people on this forum and want them to be successful in quitting.

I’m familiar with WhyQuit, the website that you give links to all of time. They are biased toward cold turkey being the only way to quit. I learned to read the research and not just Joel’s comments on his website but many people do not and are misled as in the two studies that you misquoted from.

Here are links to the leading experts on quitting smoking in Canada, the US and the UK, please read what they say about quitting and the use of NRTs. I agree with the experts that there is no one right way and that all methods are valid to the person that it works for.

Canada:

Health Canada (http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/tobac-tabac/quit-cesser/now-maintenant/programme/index_e.html)

Canadian Cancer Society (http://www.cancer.ca/ccs/internet/publicationlist/0,3795,3172_257847240_271079969_langId-en,00.html)

College of Family Physicians of Canada (http://www.cfpc.ca/English/cfpc/programs/patient%20education/smoking/default.asp?s=1)

Canadian Lung Association (http://www.lung.ca/protect-protegez/tobacco-tabagisme/quitting-cesser/how-comment_e.php#methods[/url)


US:

CDC: TheCenter for Disease Control (http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/Factsheets/cessation2.htm)


Smokefree.Gov (http://www.smokefree.gov/guide/medicines.html)

American Cancer Society (http://www.cancer.org/docroot/PED/content/PED_10_13X_Guide_for_Quitting_Smoking.asp#NRT)

FDA: US Food and Drug Admin (http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/1997/797_smoke.html) "Studies show that the nicotine replacement therapies as much as double the chances of quitting smoking."


UK:

British Heart Foundation (http://www.bhf.org.uk/smoking/how_replacement.asp)
"NRT doubles chances of quitting"

UK Dept. of Health (http://www.gosmokefree.co.uk/whathelpisavailable/patchesgumandmore/)


British Lung Foundation (http://www.britishlungfoundation.org/stopping-smoking.asp)


National Health Service, UK (http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/PolicyAndGuidance/HealthAndSocialCareTopics/Tobacco/TobaccoGeneralInformation/DH_4002192)

[Mangaw]

Thanks Kandra, for that post. I found whyquit.com's hardline approach and condescending attitude disturbing and not helpful at all. I quit using the nicotine patch and my 6-month anniversary is in 4 days. I also know that I will never again pick up a smoke, so my chance of relapse is non-existent. I found the patch extremely helpful and recommend it to anyone who is a heavy smoker like I was (2-1/2 packs a day - smoked for 34 yrs). The studies on relapses, in my opinion, are deceiving because the relapse rate is very high for smokers no matter what method they use to quit. It is a very addictive substance, mentally and physically.

Again, I recommend quitnet.com (they encourage all manners of quitting - cold turkey, NRT, whatever it takes). Another good site is quitsmokingonline.com.

[Lisa N]

Since you are the moderator for this forum I find it disturbing, to say the least, that you let your personal bias for cold turkey and against proven methods such as NRT get in the way of helping people. I know that your heart is in the right place but please do the follow up research as it will help you to moderate this forum with intelligence and accuracy. Like you, I care about the people on this forum and want them to be successful in quitting.

I'm sorry if you take my sharing of personal experience as bias. As I stated before, I know several people personally who have attempted to quit and none of them have been successful with NRT for more than a few months except those who have continued their addiction using the NRT. One was successful with hypnosis and another with laser therapy (both involve cold turkey as well, BTW) and I was finally successful with cold turkey. That's 3 who quit successfully without NRT that I know personally versus roughly 7 that were not successful with NRT that I know personally. These are my personal observations as a member and as a person who has been successfully quit for almost 18 months, not as a moderator. Based on personal experience, it is my personal opinion that NRT is less effective than other methods that do not encourage continued use of an addictive substance to break an addiction.
That said, I'm not saying that NRT doesn't work at all and everyone has to find their own way. I just find it ironic that the same industry who produced the drug we were/are all addicted to continues to profit by providing the raw materials for the same drug we are now encouraged to use to break our addiction. But, as you said, 'whatever it takes'.

[Mangaw]

But, as you said, 'whatever it takes'.Gotta agree with that! Do whatcha gotta do, but just put them bad boys down! :lol:

[Kandra]

I'm sorry if you take my sharing of personal experience as bias.
That said, I'm not saying that NRT doesn't work at all and everyone has to find their own way.
LisaN, perhaps you should read over this and other threads where you've posted were you are telling people that NRT is not helpful, doesn't work, a sham etc, etc. If you had said what I just quoted by you in those posts I would not have felt the need to post what I did.

Maybe you should go over the old posts just to see what you've written. I have no intention of offending, and I appreciate that volunteers such as yourself keep this forum going. As a matter of fact, thank you for doing it.

IT sounds like you do agree with what the experts say, do whatever works for you personally. Most of the people that I met when I took the American Lung Association Quit Smoking Class and people that I know and have met in passing have used some form of NRT. Another class was taught by a naturopath she also provided accupunture and other wholistic therapies, but none of those worked for me, however they did for others. So it just depends on each individual. I say keep trying the various methiods until you get one that fits with you and your lifestyle. If it didn't work the first time but your head is in a different place, then try it again. Never give up trying to quit.

Do whatcha gotta do, but just put them bad boys down!

I totally agree!! And you CAN do it. Don't think of a quit that lasted only a day as a defeat, think of it as a lesson and think of all the things that could have made it easier for you the next time. Some people can put them down and walk away. Some people, like myself, do that over and over and try multiple things over and over until it finally clicks and works.

[Kandra]

Thanks Kandra, for that post. I found whyquit.com's hardline approach and condescending attitude disturbing and not helpful at all. I quit using the nicotine patch and my 6-month anniversary is in 4 days. I also know that I will never again pick up a smoke, so my chance of relapse is non-existent.
Mangaw, I'm so happy for you. And congrats on the upcoming 6 month anniversary. If you add up all that you've saved by being a non-smoker you could spend that money on a kick-a$$ gift for yourself.

I know what you mean about KNOWING that you'll never pick up another smoke. I do too, now. And I feel so much stronger and freer, not to mention no more wheezing or asthma meds! I'm glad that we found what worked for us and will stick with it the rest of our life. Some people like or have a need for the bootcamp energy and I saw to each her own. If it works, then GO FOR IT.

[Lisa N]

LisaN, perhaps you should read over this and other threads where you've posted were you are telling people that NRT is not helpful, doesn't work, a sham etc, etc. If you had said what I just quoted by you in those posts I would not have felt the need to post what I did.

Kandra, we share our experiences here and in my experience, those things are true. In your experience, NRT works fine. However, I think people deserve to hear that it is possible to quit without using NRT. I haven't heard or seen that put out as a reasonable option since NRT became OTC; then suddenly the 'official' position seemed to become that nobody should even think of trying to quit without them.
I tried the gum (twice) the patch (twice), the inhaler once and Welbutrin, which did nothing but make my ears ring. Personally, I couldn't hack gradual withdrawal and making a clean break was a lot less stressful for me than any of the other methods.

[dina1957]

I would really like to quit smoking but my willpower always seems to get the best of me. I would love to hear from all of you former smokers as to what you did or any special techniques you used to become smoke-free. Of course, I am low carbing so replacing a smoke with say a mint or something is out of the question.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Patty
Patty,
I quit cold turkey after 20 years of smoking ( one thing I wish I never did in my life), and this is what I can suggest. First, tapper it off: you want to smoke after a meal, when you stressed, and in certain circumstances: bored, sitting in traffic, being on the phone, so called out of habbit.
So, try to wait, tell yourself, I will smoke after an hours, then wait another hour, etc. Stay away from coffee and alcohol, it makes it harder at the beginning. Distruct yourself: get a glass of water, browse the net, talk to someone. Also, make a deal not to smoke in your place and in your car, and only outside. This will assure that you will smoke less, you won't take a break every hour at work to go outside to smoke;). The once you are down to 3-4 cigs a day, just stop it, cold turkey, it won't be a problem, I did it. I don't use any NRP, I think one can quit without it, just take some time. Now, it is been almost 10 years, and I can't stand when ppl smoke around me now;).
HTH

[Kandra]

Kandra, we share our experiences here and in my experience, those things are true.
Which is fine, however my ONLY problem that I have is that you are the forum moderator and as such I assume that you have a responsibllity to share ALL information when people come here for assistance not just your opinion.