I quit.

[PaSucks]

So I quit smoking. (cigs for all you potheads) It has been three days. So far I have only had one BAD craving that lasted for maybe half an hour. What has been the maggot experience with quiting? How long do the cravings last and all that? Suggestions? Anecdotes?

[Cornholio]

Props! Stick to it! Your kids thank you.

[A-wreck]

Go buy some toothpics.

[PaSucks]

I have no kids. Toothpicks are a good idea.

[bagtagley]

When I quit, the first week was really hard, but after that I was okay...until the 3 month period came around. I could always get passed the first week, but it was that 3rd-4th month that really got me. You start to lose that dedication, but the cravings are just as strong.

As far as how long the cravings last...honestly, they've never really gone away. I can't stand the smell of cigarettes, but there are still times that I wouldn't mind smoking one. Matter of fact, I had a dream about smoking last night, and it's been 7 years since I quit.

[Hayduke]

You're over the worst of it. After 3 days it gets easier. You'll probably think about it at least once, every day for the rest of your life but 3 days was the make or break threshold for me. You might find it easier if you avoid booze for a while too.
In about 3 - 6 months you'll think you've beaten it, you'll be out on the piss one night and think "mmmm. One won't hurt". Trust me, it will and you'll be a smoker again within a week.

I stopped last November. It's the best thing you can do for yourself. Well done & good luck

[powder11]

remind yourself that smoking is intentionaly ingesting chemicals that are known to kill humans

[The AD]

Nice job. Don't quit quittin' !

[igBand]

I know it is hard advice to swallow and seems a bit extreme, but avoiding those situations in which you used to smoke worked wonders for me. Particularly drinking. Man...that was a tough one to shake. I think I used to drink just so I would have an excuse for ripping an entire pack of butts in a single evening and not feel guilty about it. You won't always have to avoid those situations. Just get beyond that critical 3 month period.
At the very least, the decrease in my consumption of beers seemed to shrink the ol' belly, which keeps the wifey happy.

[elevens]

I still get craves - usually after a good meal or a few drinks.

Stay strong and congrates. It took me a few attempts to finally kick the habit for good. I found gum really helped as well as keeping myself away from smokers during the first month - then it was just mind over matter for me.

elevens

[Z]

Sunflower seeds. After a meal, when you're just hangin out, or right when you start to crave it. Pop a big handful of BBQ sunflower seeds....Get rid of the oral sensation thing cause you need to shell them and all that in your mouth. Huge help for me...and they are friggin good.

good luck.

[Jim S]

Good luck.

If you go back to smoking, please PM so I can read your CT scans, chest Xrays and MRIs when you progress to emphysema, chronic bronchitis, lung cancer, hypertension, strokes (CVAs), etc.


(Just trying to keep you on the good path!)

[Buzzworthy]

When I quit, the first week was really hard, but after that I was okay...until the 3 month period came around. I could always get passed the first week, but it was that 3rd-4th month that really got me. You start to lose that dedication, but the cravings are just as strong.

As far as how long the cravings last...honestly, they've never really gone away. I can't stand the smell of cigarettes, but there are still times that I wouldn't mind smoking one. Matter of fact, I had a dream about smoking last night, and it's been 7 years since I quit.

PASucks, I quit around 3 months ago and Bags is right, cravings started up again. However, I always smoked more when in colder weather, woke up t0 36 degrees today. Riding a chairlift this year without a cig will be weird.

I was having one hell of a craving yesterday, but my parents are here, we all have colds and are irritable and we just moved enough crap for a 4-5 bedroom house.

I love the fact I no longer have to smell like that and have my 9 month old daughter associate that smell with me. Beer breath is enough.


Oh, and it is nice to have friends that you can say to "no matter how drunk I get, do not let me smoke a cig" and then willpower it yourself and just don't have a smoke. Thanks Woodsy.


Keep it up and I actually stopped counting after about 2 weeks or so. It made it easier.

Good for you.

[Aldo]

Quitting is easy PA, I do it all the time. Just try to get up and do something else the minute they hit, it's really only the initial thought you have to quell, you'll make it. Get a bunch of fruit and vegetables, carrots apples, grapes, whatever you prefer, put the feedbag on when they hit. Stay away from booze for a while, don't sit around with your coffee, take a walk after dinner, make it through the initial pangs and you'll get there..

[powderdave]

PaSucks, good effort.

And yes, PA sucks (well, at least Seven Springs does).

As you know, quitting is the best thing you'll EVER do for yourself. It sounds like you've got it licked but need some reinforcement. If things get hairy, quickly find a supportive friend to hang with who will keep you honest. It sounds silly, but it is indeed a life or death thing. You knew you needed to quit, you know you need to keep quitting. Don't make yourself ever go through this again. You've already made it this far.

One pharmacological aid is bupropion (A.K.A. Zyban or Wellbutrin), which decreases recidivism by 50%. That is science, the number is real. Look it up on the Cochrane Library, the best evidence-based medicine resource out there (http://www.cochrane.org/reviews/en/ab000031.html). Zyban is the name of the drug as marketed for smoking cessation, but is often not covered by insurances (fuckers, how can it not benefit them to have healthier patients?). So, many providers prescribe Wellbutrin or generic bupropion for "depression" or list the reason as "nicotine addiction". The codes for these "psychiatric" disturbances allows for an insurance company to cover the costs. Fortunately the generic isn't too bad without insurance (approx. $50-70/month).

Sorry for the long-winded post, but nothing is more important! You've done well. However, as someone above said, not picking up a smoke when you're pissed or a bit depressed is the toughest.

Keep it up. PM me if you need more info, I studied the subject in grad school and would be glad to help.

[bagtagley]

I don't deny that cessation aids work, but you really need to try to quit on your own. My sister used the lozenge to quit. After a year she's smoke free, but now she's hooked to the lozenge. Certainly a lot better than butts, but at some point that's another habit she's gonna have to kick.

Not the same as the pills obviously, but you know what I mean.

[Aldo]

ditto to bags, turkey is a dish best served cold....

[PaSucks]

Thanks for all the suport and advice. So far it has been way easier than I anticipated. I honestly don't even really think too much about it until someone mentions how impressed they are that I quit smoking.

Thanks again, and I'll keep you guys updated, or something. yeah.

[Tippster]

I smoked cigarettes for 20 years. I also dipped Skoal for 10 of those years. I had my last nicotine product at 10pm on July 3rd 2003. I haven't had a true craving in over a year -- no, reminiscing about having a smoke after pigging out on a holiday doesn't count as a craving.

Drink lots of water when you have a craving. Your fat cells have stored tiny amounts of nicotine and as you consume them your body "remembers." It's a similar process as acid flashbacks, I'm told.....

Be strong and ignore the "don't do anything fun" crowd. Smoking cigarettes should not be equated with fun or reward. I went to bars within 4 days of quitting cold turkey. You'd be surprised how few people smoke in bars these days. Also do not substitute chewing nicotine for smoking it. All you've done is change the delivery method of the drug - not much different than switching to Skoal, albeit less carcinogenic. As long as you're feeding your nicotine habit you're likely to backslide into smoking on "special Occasions" because you're still supplying your body a substance that produces a mild form of euphoria.

I used a product called Smoke-Away. (www.smokeaway.com) It worked for me and everyone I know who gave it an honest 100% effort. [/soapbox]

[iceman]

I used a product called Smoke-Away. (www.smokeaway.com) It worked for me and everyone I know who gave it an honest 100% effort. [/soapbox]

By which he means, not me.

[Buster Highmen]

What's a flashback?

[Powder Seeker]

Way to go Pa! Your health and the likeliness of you developing coronary artery disease or having an MI improves immediately; and even more so the longer you stay smoke free! Hang tough!

[bagtagley]

You'd be surprised how few people smoke in bars these days.

You'd be surprised how wrong you are if you went out in Pittsburgh for a night...particularly keeping in mind the types of places a college student is likely to frequent.

[alto]

Besides extending your life on planet earth, you will have more money to spend here!

[EastCoast2835]

So I quit smoking. (cigs for all you potheads) It has been three days. So far I have only had one BAD craving that lasted for maybe half an hour. What has been the maggot experience with quiting? How long do the cravings last and all that? Suggestions? Anecdotes?

If your one of the many cigarrette smokers that enjoys drinking (alcohol), and love doing the two together, you may find that when you start getting wasted the cravings will increase. The way I quit smoking in college was I went out to the bar three nights straight and got plastered without having a cigarrette. If you have the will power to get through that you can beat any other cravings. I have been quit since.