One more day without a cigarette

[operafan]

Neil,

Theres something fairly new out on the market thats helped me to quit.
Its called Chantrix
Its much better than any of the patches or anything else I've tried.
I've smoked for 35 years and now I've been smoke free for 6 mos.
Thats a major miracle !!
Chantrix is a pill and I had to get a prescription from my Dr for it.
Good luck to you !!
AL

I'd like to put in a word for Chantrix as well. It's supposed to stop the desire at the brain level. I have to say it has helped the BF enormously, although I don't think he really wants to quit and thus has been only partially successful for him.

 

[NickCole]

Chantrix is a non-nicotine pill that's supposed to reduce the pleasure of smoking and also reduce withdrawal symptoms.

The other non-nicotine drug on the market (also prescription) is Zyban, which is also sold as Wellbutrin - an anti-depressant.

I don't know your circumstances but most physical limitations would be improved with a little more exercise. And if that's true for you, now would be a perfect time to use that as distraction from your cravings. Just a thought.

Also anytime we're trying to quit anything, it's helpful to change our daily routine to diminish how often we automatically feel the craving.

 

[OtterJoq]

I was a 3-pack-a-day smoker (OLD GOLDS!) for over a decade and quit for good in November, 1991, after five or six "false starts."

Here are a few things that helped me:

Candied ginger slices, available at many grocery stores (look in the Asian food section). It gave my mouth something to do other than hold a cigarette. And they also say ginger is good for you, so that's a bonus.

Holding my breath. When the "nic fits" would get really bad, I'd sit down, inhale as deeply as possible, and let it out slowly. Doing this 3-4 times would usually take care of things well enough to let me move on.

Treat yourself. Take the money you'd normally spend on cigarettes and buy little nice things for yourself. A carton of cigs costs about the same as 3 or 4 CDs...if you're into music, that might be a good start.

Don't worry about a little weight gain. I've read that you'd have to pack on an extra 75 pounds to put the same strain on your cardiovascular system that smoking a pack of cigarettes does. Food will taste better because your taste buds are starting to function normally again, so don't worry about a few extra pounds. You can worry about getting rid of those later. And you will...you'll have the energy to work them off, since your lungs are also getting much more oxygen.

Don't beat yourself up. If you have a minor relapse, no worries. Try again. One of these times, it'll work for good.

And finally, if you remember nothing else, remember this: no matter how severe the craving to smoke is, IT ALWAYS PASSES. Always.

Congratulations, and good luck. If I could quit, you can too!

 

[FREDDIE187]

You have managed to stop for TWO weeks.

Just forget about it. Drink coffee and try to ignore the cravings. It is mostly just a dirty habit.

I'll be rooting for you. GO gsdx the NON SMOKER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[chatolandia]

The patch worked for my cravings! I had a pack and a half a day habit for ten years. I liked the fact that I was lowering my nicotine consumption as I moved forward.

Another thing that I did is to avoid doing things and going to places where I smoked. I did not go out as much, I stopped watching TV at night and started looking for things that kept my hands busy (no, not that! ) If I was distracted, I would not have cravings.

My friends helped too, they stayed with me event though I went through a "bitch" stage!

 

[herenthere]

Good Job!!!!

Keep up the good work...

 

[buzzj]

WOO HOO! Congratulations on another 24 hours without smoking! I've been free for about six years now. I used the chewing gum. I liked the immediate relief I got when I really had a craving. When the gum started tasting really bad--- it was time to stop using it. Why don't you make it a habit to keep us posted on your progress! That might help you!! Stay strong!!

 

[Raybee]

gsdx, congratulations on the choice you're making here.
In answer to YOUR question, I'm not familiar with "COMMIT" lozenges, however,I used the Nicabate lozenges on top of the patches. THIS IS NOT RECOMMENDED, but having had many failed attempts at quitting, I decided that that was what I needed to do to overcome the addiction. And it worked for me. I'm coming up to 3 years off the cigs.
I wore the patches for the full course, and continued to carry the lozenges around with me for about a month after that, and before you knew it, I wasn't even needing to carry around the lozenges.
As someone said earlier, the cravings will come, but they will simply pass - like a wave. Ride them if you can -but if you need the lozenge then go for it. Everyone's needs are different.
My Very Best Wishes.

Ray

 

[gsdx]

Thank you for your support, everyone. I certainly didn't expect this. I'm curious to know if there would be as much enthusiasm had I told you that I was giving up sex?

 

[gsdx]

Giving up sex... have you gone mad, man!?

Sex gave up on me about 15 years ago. I've learnt how to live without sex. I suppose I can learn to live without cigarettes, too.

Figures, though. My two most favourite things to suck on and I'm voluntarily giving up the second.

 

[FREDDIE187]

I've learnt how to live without sex. I suppose I can learn to live without cigarettes, too.

If that thought will make it possible to give up smoking, stick with it.

Incidently, how is it going, are you staying away from cigarettes?

 

[gsdx]

Incidently, how is it going, are you staying away from cigarettes?

I am, indeed, staying away from them, Fred.

FYI, I used to roll my own cigarettes using filter tubes and a small machine rather than rolling papers. When I took ill, I had half a tin of tobacco (about 100 grams) left. I emptied all my ashtrays and washed them and put them away in a cupboard. I put the tobacco, roller, and tubes on a shelf above my computer. It's my thinking that, if I'm able to resist the temptation when it's so readily available, I will be able to toss it away later knowing that I'm tossing it because I want to. If I had tossed it away earlier, I would always have wondered if I could resist it.

So far, I'm winning.

Oh, and I didn't buy any 'stop smoking' aids as joeslifeyork recommended. I did, however, buy a package of Scotch mints.

The big test, I suppose, will be this weekend when my roommate comes back from Toronto where he works during the week. He still smokes.

 

[herenthere]

I had a co-worker who thought that lemon drops really helped her...

Keep up the good work....I'm proud of you!

 

[buzzj]

Thank you for your support, everyone. I certainly didn't expect this. I'm curious to know if there would be as much enthusiasm had I told you that I was giving up sex?

If giving up sex were as good for you as giving up cigarettes--- then I'd support you there too!!

 

[Riverrick]

Good luck this weekend. Find a way to get out of the house a lot so you're not around the roommate.

 

[shea]

Hang in there bud. The health benefits and the money
you will save. I quit 21 months ago and haven't looked
back. You still feel like you want to light up sometimes
but take a stand, say " I am an exsmoker I don't do
that anymore" positive reinforcement.
It has made a big difference for me.
Shea

 

[frankfrank]

The big test, I suppose, will be this weekend when my roommate comes back from Toronto where he works during the week. He still smokes.

If you think your roommate may be up for it, and if the two of you are "close" enough to suggest this type of thing, why not challenge him to see which one of you can stay away from cigarettes the longest? Of course the ultimate goal would be that "he who lives the longest, wins" - that neither would ever go back to smoking in your lifetimes. Has he said anything about wishing he could stop smoking? If he's up to such a challenge I think he'll get a lot of support here as well, even though none of us know him at all.

I've had friends die on me from that - I've actually known more people who died from cigarettes, than from AIDS - at least among people I knew had died, and why. It's not pretty. And good going/congratulations joeslifeyork on your efforts, too - this is as good a place as any to say so.

 

[tonyboy]

Neil,

Theres something fairly new out on the market thats helped me to quit.
Its called Chantrix
Its much better than any of the patches or anything else I've tried.
I've smoked for 35 years and now I've been smoke free for 6 mos.
Thats a major miracle !!
Chantrix is a pill and I had to get a prescription from my Dr for it.
Good luck to you !!
AL

Two of my friends have tried Chatrix in the past couple of weeks. From what they say it makes quitting smoking a breeze.... Now anyone that has smoked for a number of years will know that quitting is not a 'breeze'.... just using their term.
They each used the medicine for a week and were allowed to smoke during that time. Each of them said that by the end of the first week they were down to four smokes a day. And for the past 3 days they haven't had the desire to smoke at all.
The med is available in 'kits' I think. One, two, or three month kits.
I'll report back and let you know how my friends are doing. But from what I've seen so far this thing is a miracle.

 

[gsdx]

If you think your roommate may be up for it, and if the two of you are "close" enough to suggest this type of thing, why not challenge him to see which one of you can stay away from cigarettes the longest?

We're not that close. He'd tell me where to go before he'd take me up on that challenge.

At any rate, I made it through last night with no problems. I still wake up in the morning wanting that 'first smoke of the day', but it's getting easier to ignore. I just have a bowl of cereal instead.

 

[Riverrick]

I wish I could toss you a peanut or something everytime you make it through another day without smoking.