Aa
what is better
is it better to quit cold turkey or use patches, gums, pills etc?
thanx
thanx
I am 3wks one day from going cold turkey and you know what! The craves and even thinking about it are less and less. I still have trouble sleeping at night and I am still experienceing the hotflashes, and have a new addiction of jelly beans but I am soooo glad I did this guys! Smoking has been a lifelong mental struggle for me. It has a physical side too of course but it is the mental addiction that is soooo hard to fight. I have moderate emphysema and it took the reality of dying for my habit and realizing just how big a hold those things had on me mentally to face it once and for all. It is not easy! but is so worthit. You will not see the effects of smoking lots of times till yer over 40, but I guarantee there will be some. Think about that.
Thanks Kathyjo, I am definately niot going to smoke again but I sure feel like wanting to be skinny again ! None of my clothes fit! OH well you are so right, I want to be here and not die of luncg cancer!
WOW that is expensive!!!!!! Its about 6.00 a pack here in the US. I actually was thinking last night that that already saved about $340.00!!! Just think how much you will save !
SORRY i must of clicked to many times, Buy theway in the u.k where i live a packet of cigs cost about $15 its tax i hate it but it's making more people stop what with the resecion,
Many of us stuff our faces in an effort to not smoke. I gained 20 but found after about 4 months that I leveled off. I also had a membership to a gym which helped.
You are going to have to watch what you eat and do a little more exercise but I'm sure you will get back to your PRE weight before you know it.
Our metabolism is also adjusting so don't get down on yourself....carrot sticks instead of lolipops, celery instead of candybars.....
Hang in there and remember that your goal is to be around for your baby.
Walking is a great way to exercise and your baby will love it too!
Good luck and don't smoke!
You are going to have to watch what you eat and do a little more exercise but I'm sure you will get back to your PRE weight before you know it.
Our metabolism is also adjusting so don't get down on yourself....carrot sticks instead of lolipops, celery instead of candybars.....
Hang in there and remember that your goal is to be around for your baby.
Walking is a great way to exercise and your baby will love it too!
Good luck and don't smoke!
did anyone go through the period where they were thiking....OK Id rather smoke then gain anymore weight ????? Seriously! I have gained 25 pounds....I weighed 130 all my life then had a baby 2 years ago now up to 150 (after i took off the excess) and now im at 175....wtf? i seriously would rather smoke and take the weight off..
Cutting back very gradually worked for me..
putting a cig out before it was finished, then eliminating one a day, then two a day, and so on until I was down to just having one a day- I didn't restrict myself-if I felt I really needed one I had one though. Then I cut down to one every other day or so.. and by the time I was down to one every few days.. I was like.. I really can do this... the only time I felt like I needed one was socially and in stressfull situations.. I set out to find other ways to deal with my stress (I'll admit this was rough on my family and friends as I have a bad temper...) But I got there eventually to where I wouldn't blow up when I got angry or stressed.. and I avoided any friends or family that smoked (except my mother who I lived with at the time-who chain smoked like a fiend!-that was rough..) until I felt like I was able to resist any cravings and I'm to the point I'm pretty much desensitized to cigs now..-yes I get cravings now and then but I stop and think.. yea you COULD have one right now.. but why do you WANT to? do you really NEED it? and the answer is I only think I want to and no I don't need it. I've been smoke free for 11 months now..
you can do it. =]
putting a cig out before it was finished, then eliminating one a day, then two a day, and so on until I was down to just having one a day- I didn't restrict myself-if I felt I really needed one I had one though. Then I cut down to one every other day or so.. and by the time I was down to one every few days.. I was like.. I really can do this... the only time I felt like I needed one was socially and in stressfull situations.. I set out to find other ways to deal with my stress (I'll admit this was rough on my family and friends as I have a bad temper...) But I got there eventually to where I wouldn't blow up when I got angry or stressed.. and I avoided any friends or family that smoked (except my mother who I lived with at the time-who chain smoked like a fiend!-that was rough..) until I felt like I was able to resist any cravings and I'm to the point I'm pretty much desensitized to cigs now..-yes I get cravings now and then but I stop and think.. yea you COULD have one right now.. but why do you WANT to? do you really NEED it? and the answer is I only think I want to and no I don't need it. I've been smoke free for 11 months now..
you can do it. =]
No offense intended but there is no such thing as "weaning" period.
I agree with you about the nic gum though......bad news
I agree with you about the nic gum though......bad news
quit cold turkey... the smoking cessation products are just a scheme to make more money off people's nicotine addiction.
If anything... gradually wean yourself off... that's important
My Dad quit smoking 5 years ago, but he still chews nicotine gum... he says the gum is more addictive than smoking itself.
If anything... gradually wean yourself off... that's important
My Dad quit smoking 5 years ago, but he still chews nicotine gum... he says the gum is more addictive than smoking itself.
If you have chronic anxiety, quitting smoking is going to make that much worse for a while. This is why I failed so many times. I am 15 days out doing it cold turkey. The plus about this is that I am not someone who can cut down smoking. It is a physical and mental addiction. Cold turky, you get the nicotine out of your body in 72 hrs and fight the physical side and the mental at once. Some people use the aids, such as patch or gum so they can fight one addiction at a time. It really depends on your mindset and ability and even the will to do it. I figured if I did not just do it, I never would because my resolve and my will would cave. The longer the nicotine was out of my system it gave me the will to continue forward and not look back. Good luck
I think its better to go cold turkey, thats what i did just 1 1/2 months ago...i smoked the last one of my last pack a sunday night at 930, went about my way and never looked back. I felt like gum/patch.chantix whatever would just prolong the process...the withdraw last about a week and for me the scaeriest was waking up in the middle of the night with the room spinning and being disoriented, after that I was good to go !! Sometimes I still crave a cigarette just for a few minutes and i say to myself...whats one going to hurt..but then I think of how I did all this so I could see my daughter grow up instead of dying from some smoking related ilness and by the time all thats over with the craving passes....
As a matter of science there are two opinions on this. There is the opinion of the NRT people and then there are the independent studies. You decide which ones to trust but I would not trust the NRT companies, it would seem they are trying to take over the tobacco companies by getting people addicted to their delivery system of nicotine.
Fact One: Nicotine is a powerfully addictive substance although it's not as intoxicating and pleasurable as other horrible substances but it's still horrible. Nicotine is addictive because by coincidence there are receptors already primed for it's arrival. These receptors are designed to transmit acetylcholine and actually readily accept nicotine. This is one of the reasons for the severity of the addiction.
Fact Two: Nicotine needs to completely leave the system in order for addiction to cease. Not only that but the body needs to readjust these receptors physiologically. Using NRT will extend your addiction and delay the repair of these receptors.
Fact Three: NRT will feed the body nicotine in a different way than smoking. Smoking gives you a hit, NRT gives slow nicotine relief. So what will happen is that you will remain addicted but still remain in a state of mild to moderate withdrawal long term. Eventually you will need to go through the inevitable withdrawals of going cold turkey anyway.
So all in all, cold turkey has been proven to be more effective for those who can get through the first week because they do a rapid detox of the nicotine in their body. It is more unpleasant and intense but for a significantly shorter time. I tried NRT several times, made it to three weeks and then went mad at that point. Cold turkey will put you through hell in the first few days but then you will mostly be past it. Once you make it to four weeks you will most likely be over it for good.
Fact One: Nicotine is a powerfully addictive substance although it's not as intoxicating and pleasurable as other horrible substances but it's still horrible. Nicotine is addictive because by coincidence there are receptors already primed for it's arrival. These receptors are designed to transmit acetylcholine and actually readily accept nicotine. This is one of the reasons for the severity of the addiction.
Fact Two: Nicotine needs to completely leave the system in order for addiction to cease. Not only that but the body needs to readjust these receptors physiologically. Using NRT will extend your addiction and delay the repair of these receptors.
Fact Three: NRT will feed the body nicotine in a different way than smoking. Smoking gives you a hit, NRT gives slow nicotine relief. So what will happen is that you will remain addicted but still remain in a state of mild to moderate withdrawal long term. Eventually you will need to go through the inevitable withdrawals of going cold turkey anyway.
So all in all, cold turkey has been proven to be more effective for those who can get through the first week because they do a rapid detox of the nicotine in their body. It is more unpleasant and intense but for a significantly shorter time. I tried NRT several times, made it to three weeks and then went mad at that point. Cold turkey will put you through hell in the first few days but then you will mostly be past it. Once you make it to four weeks you will most likely be over it for good.
Wow, $11 for a pack of cigs?!? That's amazing. It's still $4.50 here in the states as far as I know. Haven't bought a pack for a while now.
I have GAD also and quitting smoking was the best thing I could have done as far as that goes. It sure seemed like that cig helped when I was feeling the most anxious, but in reality, it was making the anxiety worse in general. I hope it will encourage you when I say I feel 100% better. I mean, I still have anxiety, but it has definitely eased up without the nicotine to aggravate it.
You can do this and we are here for you if you need support. This forum is what has gotten me through the rough times, that's for sure!!!
Good luck to you.......
Kathyjo-----Ohhh, so that's where you got your meter! I was wondering about that. : )
Hope your well.....
I have GAD also and quitting smoking was the best thing I could have done as far as that goes. It sure seemed like that cig helped when I was feeling the most anxious, but in reality, it was making the anxiety worse in general. I hope it will encourage you when I say I feel 100% better. I mean, I still have anxiety, but it has definitely eased up without the nicotine to aggravate it.
You can do this and we are here for you if you need support. This forum is what has gotten me through the rough times, that's for sure!!!
Good luck to you.......
Kathyjo-----Ohhh, so that's where you got your meter! I was wondering about that. : )
Hope your well.....
Good luck to you and you can always post here for support.
For help on all aspects of your quit, read all of the data at whyquit.com
It is so very helpful and you even receive a free meter thst records all of your quit data as shown below : )
Kathy Jo
---
4m 1w 1d 19:03 smoke-free, 2,897 cigs not smoked, $695.28 saved, 1w 3d 1:25 life saved
For help on all aspects of your quit, read all of the data at whyquit.com
It is so very helpful and you even receive a free meter thst records all of your quit data as shown below : )
Kathy Jo
---
4m 1w 1d 19:03 smoke-free, 2,897 cigs not smoked, $695.28 saved, 1w 3d 1:25 life saved
Tkanks guys. I had no idea I would find such support here. I need to quit smoking not only because of all-known health reasons and $11 a day for a pack here in Canada, but nicotine has negative effect on my brain every time I light up a cigarette, I get dizzy, disoriented, detached etc....yet the cravings didnt let me quit. My father was a smoker and has developed emphasema.
Other problem is I have GAD (chronic anxiety) and am under a lot of stress due to many things.
But I know smoking is not going to take my problems away. It just perhaps masks them and eventually will make it all worse.
I have decided to quit and I know I will survive those first 3 days. I will find something instead to keep me occupied. I am giving it a shot tomorrow.
Thanx all.
Other problem is I have GAD (chronic anxiety) and am under a lot of stress due to many things.
But I know smoking is not going to take my problems away. It just perhaps masks them and eventually will make it all worse.
I have decided to quit and I know I will survive those first 3 days. I will find something instead to keep me occupied. I am giving it a shot tomorrow.
Thanx all.
I quit two weeks ago today. I did it cold turkey. I bought the gum, but have yet to open it. My aid is a straw that I cut to the size of a cigarette. When I get that overwhelming urge...I go outside and smoke my straw. It gives you the same movements and breathing you get when you smoke and it gets me through those rough spots. A friend of mine quit after me and she really liked it too. I also read that if you can make it through 5 minutes when you are having a severe need for a cig...it will pass. I found that to be true and a reassuring thing to know. Good luck...
First off I wish you the best of luck in quitting, no matter how you quit you are making your first step to quitting. I personally would say Cold Turkey. You do however just need to get through the first 3 days.
I echo the sentiments of FMXSMKR, the most important thing is your decision to quit.
If you poll the people here I am sure you will see that most of us have made several attempts and with each try we have used another method, none work better then cold turkey.
I personally used Chantix and have quit now for 4 months, this being my first try. It worked well on me and I know that I wouldn't have been able to quit any other way. I faced the facts long ago......I knew I didn't have the willpower or the want power to do it on my own : )
Whatever your choice, however you choose to get through it, count on us for support
.........that is one thing we can all do for one another.
Good luck and keep posting, especially when you are tempted
Kathy Jo
,
If you poll the people here I am sure you will see that most of us have made several attempts and with each try we have used another method, none work better then cold turkey.
I personally used Chantix and have quit now for 4 months, this being my first try. It worked well on me and I know that I wouldn't have been able to quit any other way. I faced the facts long ago......I knew I didn't have the willpower or the want power to do it on my own : )
Whatever your choice, however you choose to get through it, count on us for support
.........that is one thing we can all do for one another.
Good luck and keep posting, especially when you are tempted
Kathy Jo
,
Hello! I'm not sure what would be "better". Aids are very useful for some folks and they couldn't have quit smoking without it, however, comes the day when you quit using the aid and withdrawing from nicotine is still an issue. Now cold turkey, there is 3 days of physical withdrawal then you're done and it's all emotional after that. With an aid, you're just putting off the inevitable.
Good luck with whatever you choose to do. Just please choose to stop smoking. We are here for you if you need support.
Take care.........
Good luck with whatever you choose to do. Just please choose to stop smoking. We are here for you if you need support.
Take care.........
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