Can anyone help me quit smoking?

[violetbloom]

I'm so keen to stop. All advice and tips very gratefully received.

I have 5 friends who quit smoking in the past 6 months with the help of Allen Carr's method

I quit 4.5 years ago all by myself, but still crave a cigarette every now and then! (I don't fulfil that crave, however)

So tell me what to expect in the next 2-3 days ... utter insanity? I don't want to be irritable with dd all weekend.

Well, I'm about to wander out for lunch break. I'm determined not to buy any fags. But where are my allies???

Well done VB! Clever you. Have a G&T on me.

Wanting to smoke is just your mind playing games with you. Your brain is pissed-off and bored because it has forgotten how to manage/regulate itself without nicotine changing the way it works. Tell it stop being so wet, and get over itself.

Tips that are helping me:-

1. Cravings really do only last 2-3 minutes, max.

2. ALWAYS have water with you to sip, fruit juices too, to help blood sugar levels. (see links in earlier post).

3. Boredom is risky! DO something. Keep yourself busy or distracted. The less time you give yourself think about nasty filthy cigarettes, the fewer cravings you'll have.

4. Your condition of your skin, teeth, gums and hair will improve almost daily.

QN

Oops. Re No. 4 above... didn't mean to suggest they weren't in good condition already!!

I haven't caved in yet. I've been looking at whyquit.com and I reckon if I can stick it out until Monday morning the nicotine will have left my body and cravings should subside. to be honest, it's not been awful so far but it's early days and I would expect tomorrow and especially Sunday to be a bit grim.

Still, I'm hanging in!

I'm actually still going strong although moments of yesterday evening and today have been extremely tough. Right now is tough too but I'm feeling quite focussed and determined.

hi violet

i got an inhalator, i have been going on about how good they are, but when you crave that hit they work

What kind of inhaler?

I've just been scrabbling around all my old bags / coat pockets in the hope of finding just half a cigarette! I'm really really climbing the walls this evening. I'm trying to work actually and it's impossible.

That stuff about cravings lasting 3 minutes is rubbish!!! I've had non-stop cravings now for the last 2 hours with no let up.

This is really hard! Day three though. Haven't caved yet. I could eat my head though.

Dh gave up on wednesday and is doing so well compared to last time. He says its because he has the inhalator this time

What is the inhalator?

All evidence seems to say that cravings will start to ease from tomorrow onwards - I'm really hoping so!!!

its like a plastic tube with nicotine replacement in it

I may have been mad, but I decided to do it without NRT as so many of my friends ended up addicted to the NRT!

Okay, so I've got through a day of looking after dd and two friends, a kids birthday party and an evenings work. And, so far, I still haven't smoked. So far, this evening hasn't been as agonising as yesterday. Tomorrow will be a challenge as I'll have quite a lot of spare time on my hands. Then I'm at work the rest of the week so that should keep my mind occupied. I"m really hoping that by next weekend if I keep it up, it should feel easier?

Any advice? I feel like I'm talking to myself!

Summerfruit - why did you withdraw your post? Did you shout at me for being a useless smoker?

Can I join you ? I have got the Allen Carr dvd and I am going to watch it on wednesday eve and then I will be a non smoker (scary )

I have had enough of smoking and I smoke 20 a day and have done for over 20 yrs which is very scary .

I am quite excited about stopping but also a bit scared .

Help !

Well done you for getting to day 3 . After today all the nicotine has gone apparently .

Don't feel bad about being grumpy with 3 yr old , I haven't stopped yet and I can still be grumpy with mine 3 yr olds are tricksy little buggers .

Can I join too please? I've heard about the Allen Carr book and have just ordered it...

I do WANT to stop smoking for all the reasons everybody knows - but the sad truth is I enjoy a cigarette!

I'm going to aim to start being a non-smoker from next Monday - hopefully I'll have received the book by then.

My sister's been a non-smoker for nearly a month now and doing really well without any patches or anything, completely cold turkey.
One of my work colleagues stopped smoking when the smoking ban came in and we had to go outside to a hut - she refused to be treated as a second-class citizen and stopped (after hypnotherapy). She's never smoked since but confesses she still fancies one now and again!
Well fingers crossed this time!

That is one of the things I am worried about as well . I really don't want to get healthier lungs but an even fatter backside . My plan is to get out and about as much as I can and not be around the house too much . I don't smoke when I am outside so I am hoping this will help .

Well done to your sister AD , she must be a bit of an inspiration for you .

I really don't want to be over 40 and still a stinky smoker .