[skizim]

I quit smoking back in April of 2008, after smoking for 15 years. I have not had so much as even one drag since then. I used to love smoking, but it's no longer part of who I am. If anyone is reading this for inspiration, read this. What's my secret? I used every tactic I could think of:

1) I made the decision to quit, at any cost, by the end of the month. Total dedication, and I would not accept failure from myself.

2) I publicly announced to everyone in my life that I would be quit by the end of the month. Putting the ego on the line helped me.

3) I identified in advance all associated behaviors and "triggers" that caused me to want to smoke, and eliminated them all for the next few months. For me, this included drinking, going to certain bars or restaurants, changing my parking spot near the smoke area at work, etc. I also threw out all smoking paraphernalia, such as lighters and ashtrays. Change up your routines as much as possible, in order to lessen the associative triggers you may have.

4) For me, the following was the most important factor. On the day I chose to quit, I gave it ZERO pomp and circumstance. No ceremony, no "this is my last drag", nothing. It is a rotten habit that cost me time, money and health, and thus it deserved NO special treatment. I just woke up that morning, and said, THIS is the day. I'm done.

5) I took Chantix for the full program (note: there are some potential negative side effects to this that you may want to consider. However, I was willing to risk it, and it paid off). I would describe it as causing me to "forget about the need to smoke"...Made it that much easier to quit.

6) Recognize what quitting has done for you. For me, I felt better physically, better airways and breathing, no palpitations, clothes smell better, saved money, and will probably live longer.

You really can do it. I was HOOKED, hard. But if you give total dedication, you can do anything. Sounds trite, but it's true.

Now, I'm into resistance training and PN nutrition. I'm about 80% of the way into this next phase of my life.

[Happy_Gal]

Thank you skizim for the great post! I needed to hear something like that today. I too am using champix, and even though it helps with the cravings it still takes willpower to change habits.

The comments you made about smoking also helped refresh my mind about the attitude I need to have toward the LE program. I had that mentality, "nothing is going to stop me from reaching my goal", but yesterday something stopped me because I didn't get my workout in! I hate missing my workouts, but today, I can get back on track and keep going. I was starting to feel a bit like a failure, and that's a trigger for smoking, so instead I'm just going to let it go and get to the gym today come hell or high water!! I did not fail at my ultimate goals, so the truth is I am not a failure. If I continue to let my attitude suck, then it could lead to an ultimate failure. So I have to stop it now. (Kind of like what the dog whisperer does with dogs...catch the problem when it's small and don't let it escalate to the point it's out of control!)

I did not smoke yesterday, and I will not smoke today. If I let my pissy attitude get the best of me today it will stop me from my goal of being a non-smoking, healthy, fit, kick-ass woman!!! And I'm not going to let that happen.

Also, I realized today that I need to learn to chill out more...relax. Cigarettes were my crutch for stress. And I'm finding that I have a hard time getting to sleep because my mind is going. I thought the increase in exercise would help the feelings of anxiousness and further help the quitting smoking, and I think it is helping to an extent as far as making me feel good about myself and giving that serotonin and dopamine. But I still can't get to sleep early enough to make me 100% productive at work the next day. I'm finding that exercise does not give me the relaxation I thought it would, if anything it's giving me more energy! I thought it would burn me out and make me tired, but nope.

So now I think I need to schedule in more meditation or start taking a sleeping pill. I hate taking pills if there is a different alternative. And I find it really hard to meditate when I can't relax. Sure, I can stop moving this body, but this mind just keeps whizzing!! I know my anxiety is probably years of stress coming out now because I'm not smoking. I'm willing to deal with this now, but how? I can't afford a massage every week. I try meditation and it's short lived because I think too much, but I'll keep trying. I should try a natural sleep aid, because dreaming seems to help me relax. Any other ideas? Let me clarify, inexpensive ideas?

Thanks,
Cindy

[BayAreaBarbell]

Good posts. One day at a time is the way to go. Those feelings are normal. Just remember. The world is no different whether you have a cigarette or whether you don't. Nobody can change how you feel but you. If you let the withdrawal get to you then it will. If you face it and realize you are a better person without it and noone can take that away from you then you will be much better off.

The stress is just normal. Having a cigarette didn't make it any better. But you thought it did. Go ahead next time you are stressed out have a smoke, it wont change a damn thing. I promise.

I hope that helps. I know its really really hard to relax without it. But it gets way way better. Pretty soon you won't even be thinking about it. And every time before you want to have a smoke just sign on here and read and think it out first. People are here to help and they will. If you need anything you can PM me anytime.

[skizim]

Oh yeah, the stress thing. I forgot to comment about that one...that was a stumbling block on my road to quitting.

It's great that you realize that using smoking to combat "stress" is just a type of cop-out. I found that when I'd been quit for several days (on all the times I'd tried to quit, but failed), my sick little nicotine-addicted brain would convince me that I was stressed out, and that the only way to get rid of the stress was to smoke. And if I wasn't really that stressed out, I swear that I actually looked for trouble, subconsciously. To give me that excuse.

It was just another pitfall, a lame cop-out to get me my fix.

Trust me, you don't need smokes to help you with stress. I have stress at times, but there are countless other ways to blow off stress effectively.

Read a book, watch a show you enjoy, eat something delicious (better that than smoking!), or... just bang out an hour long, gruesomely demanding workout. Maybe try several rounds of Javorek's dumbbell complex I. Lol. Fill all your muscles up so you can't walk straight for 3 days. Reward your small victories. Get your significant other or friends to reward you :D Anything it takes!

[Happy_Gal]

Yep...one day at a time is the way to go for sure! So far so good!! I even went out with the girls and made it through! I was really concerned about the triggers in a pub atmosphere...so I made myself some rules. First, I didn't tell myself I couldn't smoke...I just told myself that once I went in I couldn't leave the pub until it was time to go home. (No public indoor smoking in Canada). Second, I told myself one drink only because it was my friends birthday. I know if I would have gotten tipsy my guard would be down. That rule was two-fold in it's purpose because I have some LE goals and drinking isn't going to help me get there either!

Made it through!! Thanks for the all the support!!

Yes, I will have to find other ways to deal with stress. That seems to be the worst of the triggers for me. But it's true, stress is not a reason to smoke. I'll have to try some of your ideas to see what works.

Cindy.

[Californian_Kiwi]

I quit smoking five five years ago. Then my husband left me last week and I picked them up again. *sigh*

I'm on day three without a smoke again and it's just as hard this time after smoking for 5 days as it was the last time after smoking for 20 years. But I'm getting through it, one day (sometimes one moment) at a time.

Melissa

[Happy_Gal]

Originally Posted by Californian_Kiwi

I quit smoking five five years ago. Then my husband left me last week and I picked them up again. *sigh*

I'm on day three without a smoke again and it's just as hard this time after smoking for 5 days as it was the last time after smoking for 20 years. But I'm getting through it, one day (sometimes one moment) at a time.

Melissa

Hey Melissa,

That's kinda how I started smoking again after high school...why? Made no sense at all....just a comfort crutch I think. Totally psychological.

I encourage you NOT to keep smoking. Put them down, throw them out, flush 'em, do what you got to do...but please don't start again! I was foolish and I did...now I'm quitting yet again! And I am happy that I am!! Today is Day 15.

A lapse is not a re-lapse...don't beat yourself up...just don't keep smoking either.

Here for ya if you need to talk! PM me if you need a woman to chat with.

Cindy.