I,m looking to quit smoking. I,ve tried two times before but It always seemed like stress did me in. This time I am set on quitting. I can’t stand the expense and health ramifications. I wondered if anyone out there had tried the “seven day smoke away” type products. I put this in quotations because there are so many different brands out there.
If anyone has had success with any specific 7 day products please let me know. I would certainly appreciate the guidance and so will my wife!
Replies
I've never heard of what you're asking for, I only wanted to wish you luck. I've never smoked in my life, so I can't imagine how difficult it must be. Be strong, and resist the temptation.
Good luck.
gave it up cold turkey, 40 lbs ago. Took about 3-4 months till a somewhat normal feeling.
Friend of mine used Smoke Away. Took the pills for 2 days back in November. Hasen't wanted a smoke since.
I should quit too, but its not in my plans yet.
Good Luck with whatever you try, and let me know how it goes. Maybe I'll finally try to kick the habit.
Greg
talk to a doctor and try zyban. i've been smoke free for 1 yr. 4 mos. and i feel great. zyban helped, but this stuff sort of makes you restless (it is an antidepressent.)
My father-in-law was able to stop cold turkey, but I don't recommend his method. Failed a stress test, went in for a peek at his heart and the doctors would not let him leave. FIVE blockages, three 95%, one 90%, and one under-achiever at 80%. Triple bypass the next day. Doctors said his heart was only effective every third beat, and forced him to admit to a having a mild heart attack already. He smoked three packs on a light day....that's not a mistake, it's rustic
How to stop smoking? Just get lung cancer - it is over 90% effective at stopping smoking.
Seriously, good luck. People have greatly varying success with different approaches. Some are motivated enough by the first heart attack, or even the risk of one or cancer. Or for their kids or spouse. But clearly others are not. I think the emerging concensus is that different people are very differently addicted to nicotine - the degree and the reasons. Several people I know who've quit nicotine or alcohol first had to figure out their own motivation, style, weak moments, etc. And which approach fit them best - pre-packaged program, counseling, and/or peer group (i.e. 12-step).David Thomas Overlooking Cook Inlet in Kenai, Alaska
Barnee,
I've no experience with the method you describe. I quit "cold trukey" after 26 years of smoking. But for maybe four years prior to when I quit, I had not smoked inside my house or inside my wife's car. I quit on the first day of a short weekend trip in my wife's car.
I sucked on a lot of raspberry Jolly Ranchers in the first few months (but haven't had one of those in a LONG time!).
Best of luck to you. I feel SO much better! It is worth the struggle.
Another day, another tool.
My advise? Take up an exquisitely expensive hobby. Like heroin. <g>
I started taking flight lessons. Had to give up cigarettes because I couldn't afford them anymore.
Good point about the expense, BlueThumb... my parents treated themselves to a two-week Caribbean cruise on six months' worth of cigarette money... that's $1,000 per month!
Just imagine what you can do with the extra cash...
Oh, and something else I forgot to add - get a gym membership. I quit smoking Labour Day and started at the gym the following week. Three times a week with weights and cardio (say, a half-hour on the treadmill) and I've never felt better in my life! The added bonus is that it revs the metabolism, so that when you get the munchies (as a smoke substitution), you're burning them off and don't get the post-quit-poundage.
I was never a heavy smoker, but I did smoke for over 20 years. Going cold turkey hasn't been bad, but the funny thing is that a year and a half later I don't notice any physical benefit. No improvement in senses of taste or smell, no improvement in health. And the desire for cigarettes has not gone away.
Anyway, I think my money is being far better wasted on flight lessons. It's fun and probably more likely to kill me than tobacco.
The best thing you could ever do for your health. If you are truly addicted to nicotine this will be one of the hardest things you make ever do in your life. Statistics show that the relapse rate for smokers after six months is the same for heroin users. See your family doctor and ask him what his patients have been most successful with. I respect anyone who can do it cold turkey but many need some help in slowly getting of the nicotine. Things will smell better and taste better one of the reasons people will gain weight. Also since nicotine is a stimulant,it has a appetite suppressing characteristic to it and you may want to eat the house out of food.
Barnee, I quit twice (the second time, for keeps) and used the patch system both times (Habitrol, but Nicoderm or a no-name works just as well). The trick is to make sure you use the right strength of patch and to go the full month at each strength; also take the patch off before bedtime. You don't smoke in your sleep, and trust me, the nicotine does weird things to your brain / body when you're trying to rest. Another important thing is take the patch off before exercise / activity - this includes any form of exertion (see: take the patch off before bedtime). Believe me, you don't want to black out in the arms of your loved one.
Other than that, drink lots of water and hide the ashtrays. And if you and your spouse are quitting at the same time, pool the "smoke money" and take him/her out to dinner once a week with it - it cuts the stress and acts as a reward.
Good luck!
Barnee,
The best way I found to quit is to not with medication or cold turkey, but just quit buying smokes. Go to work with no smokes or lighter, and bum off of your friends and co-workers. They'll soon avoid you, or tell you to buy your own. Worked for me.