Wellness

[maestra]

There is no incentive like having chemo (unrelated diagnosis). I smoked on and off for 40 years also and it was the side effect disguesia (everything tasted terrible, changes in smell) that did it for me. I began to notice there weren't that many 'old' smokers around and figured they had quit or were dead. I've been smoke free for over 3 years.

[morning glory]

Ask youself Who is it that is buying the cigarettes? Answer. It is you. Stop buying them.

[OkeyDokey]

With every single day that passes without smoking, your cells in your body are improving. With passing time, risks start to diminish, including cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, cancer, and the like. Even if you are now experiencing any of these now, quitting will help further your treatment. I can understand being afraid of medications, but they do work very well for many people. Perhaps talk to your doctor about it and whether they would be a good option or not. My husband, despite anxiety, was able to use chantix. It didn't make him have suicidal thoughts, but it did make him have crazy dreams. It only took one prescription for him. But, ultimately you need to do what is best for your situation.

[Lizzy Bennet]

I agree with chickenbutt. You just have to stop and then every time you crave a cigarette you have to say to yourself ""I don't do that anymore."" Been 5 years for me and I still occasionally get cravings but they don't last long. There's no magic bullet. Just do whatever works for you and stick with it. Don't buy any cigarettes.

[athenian]

You can do it! I quit cold turkey--it was easy for me, but my brother, who smoked three packs a day, did it by tapering off. My dad quit, after sixty years, by only smoking outdoors, standing up (it was a damp cold year). I have friends that used hypnosis. A big help is breaking the habit associations: if it's coffee and the paper at the kitchen table in the morning, then read the paper at lunch. Find a hobby that involves keeping your hands busy. Don't be discouraged; this thread is testament to how many have been successful and you will be, too.

[adoreqvc]

I sympathize with those who are really trying to quit smoking.

Cold turkey and a mind set usually work well and last.

I know many people who tried everything which was a costly venture including e cigs, which btw are not really a healthier option since they also have chemicals...best way I heard was just quitting cold turkey.

One has to really be ready to want to quit, so if one is in the proper mind set then after a few days the nicotine exits the body, and the nicotine addition stops, but the cravings and memories may linger, but usually fade.

Smoking also results in cardiac arrest, emphysema and COPD Stages 1 thru 4. None of these are enjoyable, and many people are shocked when they have have waited way too long to quit cigarettes and are diagnosed with the above.

As for E cigarettes it states on the internet that the health claims of E-cigarettes are going up in smoke, and that was the headline on the Forbes web site at this link below:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/jasperhamill/2014/08/31/the-health-claims-of-e-cigarettes-are-going-up-i...

Many other web sites are also stating the same....evidently switching from tobacco smokes to e-smokes is really not a healthy alternative, just one which is also costly, dangerous, and unhealthy.

Some say the smell of cigarette smoke after they have quite is highly offensive. They never realized how that offensive cigarette odor permeated their breathe, hair, clothes, home and furnishings.

The cigarette smoke odor is a constant companion and traveled with them, wherever they went.

Now with many laws not permitting smoking in indoor areas and outdoor places, with fines being given it may be just the incentive many smokers need to once and for all kick the habit, and the $ saved could be spent elsewhere.

In many outdoor recreation and socialization areas like boardwalks, beaches, parks, school playgrounds, outdoor eateries, bus stops, and other places have placed a ban on smoking and police do issue violations.

[Tenners]

It's easy. Have triple bypass surgery and a carotid endarterectomy. You'll quit smoking real fast. Take my word for it. Quitting smoking is WAY easier than having those surgeries.

[GSPgirl]

Both my parents stopped smoking cold turkey in their 40's, but dad still died at age 75 of throat cancer. You do not want to go through this!!!!!! Quit smoking now. Do whatever it takes. It was awful watching my dad die. It breaks my heart that my daughter still smokes. She started Chantix, but it gave her horrible nightmares.

[Nightowlz]

I have a girlfriend that quit & is now using one of those electronic cigarettes. So far so good working for her. Good Luck.

[Tenners]

Purrmom, here's the deal. If you don't stop smoking it will always catch up with you and you'll have to have some procedure you don't want to have. Tell me you haven't told yourself it won't happen to you...you can smoke and just not think about the consequences for one more day, and then just one more day, right? You can only fool yourself with that behavior for so long. You're only putting off the inevitable. Either you quit smoking and hope you've stopped in time to prevent a painful surgery, OR...you'll be stopped in your tracks some day and there you are. No options. You're going to have surgery. Your worst nightmare has happened. There is no "trying to stop smoking". There is only stopping smoking. One way or the other you'll stop smoking. That's the plain truth.