Traci, tell me how!
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| Wed, 04-12-2006 - 11:09am |
Traci, I want more than anything to quit smoking and I just read that you're on day 5!!! How are you doing it!?!?!?! My situation is a wierd one: I've tapered down to only like 5 or 7 cigarettes per day. For example, I haven't had one yet today and its already 11:00 a.m. Yesterday I had 3 in the morning on my way back and forth to court, and then didn't smoke again until about 10:00 at night. And it doesn't bother me at all.
I'm a long distance runner - crazy, right? I've been running for about 17 years, and only smoking for 5 years (took it up shortly after my youngest child was born/died). I've continued to run thru the entire thing. Yesterday I ran 6 miles. What am I doing??? I can feel that even the little bit that I smoke is effecting my pace. I'm running slower and feeling more winded at the end of the run.
Initially, I thought to increase my mileage to stop smoking entirely; i.e. if I run everyday maybe I won't even want to smoke. The problem is that I truly look forward to the few cigs I do have each day and its difficult to stop them. I also associate my smoking time with a break from the kids - I never smoke in front of them. So when I get a chance to run out on a errand by myself, I blast the radio in the car and light up! When I get on the telephone I step outside and have a smoke.
How am I going to stop?!?!?! Did you taper, or quit cold turkey? Did you want to quit or did you still enjoy smoking??? Did you use any assistance or just white knuckled it on your own??? Are you glad you're on Day 5???? Or are you so miserable you'd light up again in a heartbeat??? Thanks for sharing this with me. You're going to be my inspiration. Love, Mo.


Not Traci, but I quit cold turkey a few years ago.
I did start up again while Ellie was in the hospital as a baby (I'd quit just before I got pg), but when she came home, I just quit. Threw my last half-full pack away. I think that made a difference - throwing away actual cigarettes and not waiting for the pack to be empty.
It's still hard sometimes, nearly 4 years later. I still crave a ciggy in the car when I'm driving alone, or after a meal out sometimes, and especially when I'm stressed.
I sew, so when I was home and I wanted a ciggy, I'd go work on a sewing project instead. I think it's important to have something else to do when you have that craving (and chewing gum never cut it for me).
I hear knitting is really popular these days; you could try that. It would keep your hands occupied and requires concentration and you can take it to work for a "knitting break" instead of a "smoke break".
Oh, and I made sure I still took breaks at work after I quit. Smokers get alot more break time than non-smokers, and I decided that wasn't fair. So, I'd go to the bathroom with a book for the same amount of time I used to go out for a smoke break, lol!
Good luck.
I feel so much healthier since I quit, and I know I have more stamina and my breathing is alot better. Plus, as Ellie likes to tell me, I smell good. Kid loves to smell things. Oh well, she's no more weird than I am, right? But I can't imgaine she'd want to smell me if I still smoked.
hey mo ~
i've been trying to quit for about 2 1/2 years now. everytime i get a little closer to achieving the quit that sticks. although i'm on day 5 i slipped and had 1 yesterday when i just hit my max stress level. but that's all i've had and i resumed my quit afterward.
what did it for me this time was on friday i started coughing up blood. i lost my dad 2 1/2 years ago to lung cancer/heart disease/alcoholism. so when that happened on friday my mind went to the worst possible scenario and i ran to the urgent care facility to get checked out. i swore if i was given one more chance this would be the quit that would stick. i finished the few cigs that were left in that pack and haven't had (except 1 yesterday) any since 9:30 friday night. it turned out to be a burst blood vessel from coughing and nothing more serious but that was my wake up call. i've got the commit lozenges but i haven't used them this time. i did it cold turkey. i've taken to chewing on cinnamon sticks and chewing a lot of gum. the addiction i'm battling is more psychological now than physical as the nicotene is out of my system. my tdoc is stunned that i chose now to quit with everything going on with my ex but if i wait until the "right time" i'll be waiting forever.
would i light up if i had a chance to right now? yes. which is why i'm keeping myself busy. i miss the taste but i have to keep my promise to myself and more to my higher power. i'm hoping that the cravings diminish. i've heard they will.
i wish i knew what to say to you about quitting. all i can do is relay my story and send positive vibes your way:) i've smoked for about 25 years and have damaged my body as a result. i wish i could still run but those days are long gone for me. if anything is going to inspire you, let that be it. remember that i used to love to run and can no longer and i have those nasty cigs to thank for it. it sounds like you love to run too. let that be your motivator. if you continue to smoke you may well find yourself like me - longing for the day you can just take off and run but not being able to because you smoked one cig too many.
i hope this helps and that i haven't offended you in any way. let me know if i can be of any more help.
hugs & love,
traci