Quitting Smoking - Need advice

[[AK]Ozzred]

OK - So I'm on day 8 of my "I quit Smoking" campaign. So far so good. Managed to make it through drunkeness, raiding, and a couple very long car rides.

Problem is I've been using Sunflower Seed to help with the oral fixation and a way to simmer the urges. They're great and all, but have a a few nasty side effects, mainly bad breath and fat content mainly.

Anyone have any good suggestions for a replacement for the seeds? Gum isn't bad, but I've managed to put 2 major wholes in my tonge with that, so I'm only using it occasionally.

Preferrably looking for something cheap and not terribly bad from a nutritional stand point.

[[AK]Bribo]

I hear crack is good.

[[AK]Abaddon]

Pistachios? They're tasty, and you have to work a bit to open each one.

[[AK]Bojan]

I always hear Loli Pops work.

I have also heard that you beat the physical addiction to ciggs after about a week of quitting. So now the only thing you have to beat is the mental addication. Your almost there bud so the best advice is when ever you think about lightening up just remind yourself that you already through the hard part and it would just be silly to start back up...

BTW I havnt been able to quit yet so ya...

[[AK]Ozzred]

Thanks guys.

The pistachio’s may be worth a shot, not sure bout the Crack. I could see work being a bit tough with that one. I've been considering the lollipops also, just not sure bout all the sugar. *shrug*

And your definitely right about the physical vs habit cravings. The habit ones are much more difficult, as I've found that I smoke the most in times of boredom or frustration. Though, I had a meeting with my boss yesterday that left me with some of the nastiest physical and mental cravings so far.

Thanks for the support! And Bojan, if you ever decide to go for it and I can help in any way - just say the word.

[[AK]Bribo]

Cold Turkey. Only way to go.

[[AK]Choozoo]

Cold Turkey. Only way to go.

That's how I've quit....3 times. #4 is soon.

Beef Jerky is good. Don't chew it all up, but let it sit in there a while.

[[AK]Bojan]

I got hyponotized(sp) once. I dont think that it was so much the hypnotizm(sp) that did it rather than the $100.00 buck a pop I spent for myself and my wife to attend.

I did quit for almost a month, I know why I started back up, it was a poor reason.

[[AK]Hylander]

Best way to quit is to never start... Both my parents were smokers, I've never smoked - anything (seriously).

I think the best motivation is every time you have a craving, stick what it costs for that cigarette in a jar. By the time you stop having cravings, you'll probably have a nice slush fund to by yourself something.

[[AK]Bojan]

In the spirit of this post I took my last chew last night around 11:30PM and am in quit mode.

[[AK]Ozzred]

In the spirit of this post I took my last chew last night around 11:30PM and am in quit mode.

/cheer

Right on Brother man, Right on!! Good luck and if you need someone to vent to, I've got your back.

Update - I picked up more nuts, gummi worms, gummi bears, lolipops, and coffee stirring straws. So far so good. And the nicoderm patches have helped out for when I'm having serious physical cravings. (not using them all the time)

[[AK]Nuts]

My wife was a situational smoker. Long drives. Talking with friends over a beer. Those are when she felt the urge, so she removed the risk for a while to help her get over the cravings. Of course, her cravings weren't the physical addiction type, more of the psychological ones. But maybe look at when you smoke... after meals? When stressed at work? After a fight with the wife? If you know when the urges will be stronger than you can be better prepared to fight them.

If you smoke after dinner, then plan to take a walk with your wife/son/daughter right after the meal. Stressed at work? Start up a blog... give yourself something else to do to help calm down and not have the urge to smoke.

Just an idea.

[[AK]Bribo]

Quit WoW and start twitch gaming like BF2, CounterStrike, etc... Any computer game you can play one-handed is not condusive to breaking a smoking habit!

[Cruiser]

Grats for taking the initiative Oz.

Ive quit twice with the last time I smoked being around 3yrs ago. I didnt quit cold turkey the second time and devoloped a few good tips if anyone else trying reads this and would like to know.

Since you have quit cold turkey and all here's some of my own personal positive observations to share:

I have signifantly better overall health, I have ALOT more energy, I can actually smell again, I peronally smell better, food taste 10x better, not limited in where you can go or feel the need to leave cuz u just have to have a smoke, I'm far more productive @ work not taking smoke breaks + the energy, you save alot of $$$, hangovers are milder and finally i get hugs from me little girl with out a cringe

Hang in there man takes at least a month to lose that supa urge man! When you smell cigarettes and it bout makes you gag thats when you've made it.

[[AK]Beaker]

If any of you ever need the cancer speech from me for motivation let me know.

You need statistics let me know.

I don't want any of you to be a sample across my bench.

I know that doesn't take away the craving. Just know it takes many unsuccessful attempts before one actually sticks. So if you don't make it this time don't give up. Each attempt makes the next one more likely to be the last one.

If you ever need a cheerleader you know I'll do that too