Any smokers or previous smokers?

MamatoA2010 · April 2012

So up until yesterday I've had a 6 cigarettes a day habit and I'm now trying to quit. I started about 9 months ago when I got divorce papers from DH and over time I've been smoking more and more. Anyone else a smoker or a previous smoker? I need all the encouragement I can get to quit. I don't want to die of lung cancer so thats my incentive. Thanks gals!

Bejebus · April 2012

I smoked for years. Quit with each pregnancy, swearing I would never go back, and started again afterwards. DH and I both quit using Chan.tix in November last year, and neither of us has smoked since. Our insurance didn't cover the med, so we had a large out of pocket expense ($150 each I think) but it was worth it for medical and financial reasons. Good luck, and if you do backslide, don't beat yourself up, just try again. Took be about a dozen tries to actually quit.

MamatoA2010 · April 2012

Your story sounds just like mine! I quit when I found out I was pregnant with DD swearing I would never go back and started up again when I got papers last July.

Bejebus · April 2012

I was a stress-smoker too, so I totally get it. I think that's why the medicine worked for me, it removed the de-stress benefit I had convinced myself I got from a cigarette. GL, you can do it!

MamatoA2010 · April 2012

Bejebus: Your kids are adorable! I am a total stress and boredom smoker. I have a lot of down time since STBXH takes DD every weekend so what do I do? I smoke. And I was nearing a half a pack a day. Terrible and disgusting. So I will attempt yet again to quit. Thanks for cheering me on!

nunchkin · April 2012

I was a heavy smoker - about 15-20 a day. Quit cold turkey when I was 3 months pregnant and haven't touched a ciagarette since. It will be 2 years the end of this July. I credit my stubborness. Good luck!

MJN9510 · April 2012

I have never smoked, but DH was a heavy smoker for 30 years! He used to smoke about a pack a day. After his mom passed away from lung cancer, he decided to quit. He got Chantix and it worked very well for him. He has been a nonsmoker for about 1 1/2 years now.

Good luck. Watching DH try to kick the habit, I know it is a difficult thing to do. But you can do it! And dont beat yourself up if you struggle. Totally normal.

Quesera · April 2012

Quitting smoking is one of the hardest things to do. Even cutting back one smoke a day is a huge accomplishment. Don't be too hard on yourself, we all need to deal with stress somehow. Just keep trying to quit, it will work!

nikisnow · April 2012

I smoked half a pack a day for almost 15 years. I quite 5 years ago before our wedding using the patch (did it for 10 weeks), and haven't had a cigarette since. It's hard but it is so worth it. I am not sick as often and I just generally feel better. Good luck!

ames71 · April 2012

Yes. I smoked for 11 years and was up to a pack and a half when I finally quit. The best advice I can give you is to replace it with a new, healthy habit. Particularly one that is bettered by quitting. Mine was running. I made a goal for myself to run a 1/2 marathon and about a year after I quit, I did it. I had lots of smaller goals along the way (getting to 1 mile, running a 5K, etc.). Different things work for different people, but this, combined with the patch and a prescription, worked for me?and kept me from replacing smoking with overeating, which is so easy to do. Hang in there and good luck to you!

mmarsac · April 2012

Wellbutrin helped me quit. I would get depressed when I quit, and it helped manage this as well.

crusty1 · April 2012

I smoked for 14 years and quit about 6 years ago. Honestly, I still have the occasional cigarette (like when we are out with friends... the craving and desire for it has never left me unfortunately). I started casually smoking last spring after our son was born - smoking cigarillos while out for walks with my other new-mom friend took the 'mommy' feeling away. During that incident I started smoking a couple each day, and started buying packs again. And then I realized what the heck I was doing (after about 2-3 weeks of this) and stopped.

My point is that quitting is tough. But it can be done. And it will probably happen over and over again. My biggest reason for staying smoke free is for our son. I want to stay healthy for him and I want him to be less likely to start. I also work with kids on a daily basis and if any of them saw me smoking I would feel like a complete jerk. I know how much of an influence I am on the youth and children around me and I would like to remain a good role model.

You can do it. Try going out for walks when you're craving. Give yourself a daily limit of cigarettes and slowly decrease it over a period of several weeks or months. You WILL be able to quit. The pain in your heart from this divorce will get better with time. (I know it's cliche, but just hang in there

I believe in you!

MamatoA2010 · April 2012

Thanks everyone for your support. I really appreciate it. Today is day 1 that I am smoke free. I CAN do this!

JoannaJes · April 2012

I quit using the patch. Also, every time I wanted a cigarette, I waited 5 minutes. Then I would decide whether or not to smoke. I usually chose not to.

bncmommy · April 2012

I quit about 6 weeks ago using the patch. I still have 2 weeks left with the patch. I've quit so many times but I think I was really ready this time. My kids are getting to be too old and they're going to soon figure out why mommy and daddy take turns sneaking outside! Those first few days are rough but hang in there. It has definitely gotten easier. Last time we quit, we started to cheat here and there and before we knew it, we were full on smokers again. It's one of those all or nothing things for me. Good luck!

CutieBean79 · April 2012

I quit 4 years ago this month. I smoked a pack a day for 5 years. I tried quitting about 3 times before I was successful. I used Chantix and would do it again in a heartbeat.

radak · April 2012

I swear by the patch.

cwhitloc · April 2012

I quit smoking 9 years ago. I know former smokers that can have a cig every once in a while and decide it's disgusting. I am not one of those people. It is like a bag of potato chips. If i have one, i will continue until the bag is done! All or nothing. Know your limits. Here is what worked for me:

1. I quit with a friend. This was someone i went out with and smoked with at work. We replaced our smoke breaks with drinking water and going for a brisk walk. Also, if we went out separately dancing or something, we'd check in the next day, validate our cravings and confirm we didn't cave. The mutual support helped. I think it was similar to AA for me.

2. I took up running. A lot of times smokers don't realize what they are doing to their bodies because they dont' see short term effects. Taking up exercise, you can really tell what smoking does to your lung capacity. You'll be breathing easier.

3. Don't hang out with smokers. Luckily, they banned smoking in bars/clubs the same year I quit. Very ideal.

4. Take it one day at a time. It's an ongoing process. If you slip, don't give up. Just get back on it. It took several tries for me to quit. I had dreams about smoking for years. Keep going. Keep replacing good habits for bad.

You can do it. GL

SnoopyLuv · April 2012

The patch always worked well for us.

wife1014 · April 2012

I am just a social smoker. I can have a butt tonight and not another for weeks. DH was a real smoker. He used chantix with huge success.

JoJoMama730 · April 2012

I smoked a pack a day for probably 10 years, maybe more. I'd tried to quit with the patch and failed. My DSD started DARE at school and came home from school one day talking about how many cigarettes she had "smoked" in her lifetime via secondhand smoke. That did it for me, and I was ready to quit. I used Chantix and it made a world of difference with the cravings. It's been over 5 years since I quit and I'll never start again. Just keep trying and don't give up. You can do anything you put your mind to!

kj07 · April 2012

After college, I worked in cancer research. Every morning I'd pass by the patients (who were there for last-ditch cancer treatments) hooked up to their IVs smoking in the courtyard. Seeing those patients, plus living with my ex-smoker grandfather who couldn't walk up a flight of stairs without stopping to catch his breath, was enough to motivate me to finally quit.

I carried straws around in my purse with me - they gave me something to occupy my hands when the craving/urge struck.

Good luck on day 2!

KJmashup · April 2012

No advice, as my body changed so much after pregnancy that cigarettes now make me hurl, but I just wanted to say good luck to you!

august06mom · April 2012

I quit cold turkey (after trying several times using the patch and gum). What helped was constantly reminding myself that smoking is an extremely selfish habit that will later affect my children when they become forced to take care of me. A little dramatic, perhaps, but really demonizing smoking stopped me from rationalizing that just one wouldn't hurt. I can't just social smoke -- it always backfires.

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