How to quit smoking???

[Terry Allen Blackburn]

I used the LifeSign system to quit smoking and it will be twenty years this year for me since I quit. It works to gradually withdrawal the nicotine out of your system and should be used as a tool with other methods. I walked 5 miles per day, chewed sugarless gum, went to therapy, read daily meditations to quit smoking, listened to subliminal tapes three times per day that pertained to quitting smoking, kept a list of all of the reasons I wanted to quit in my pocket, held my breath as long as I could whenever I got a bad urge and the craving would go away. the key is to remember you are going to have the craving whether you smoke or not. Then you don't give in to the craving. It gets easier over time. The American Lung Association's line of; "Don't quit quitting" is very appropriate. One of the times you will be successful. It took me five times. I don't blame the surgeon as the surgery is going to be a waste if you continue to smoke. The problem is that you will not heal correctly if you continue to smoke.

Quit Smoking Gradually With QuitKey!

Hang in there.

Terry Newton

[Maria]

For me both times I've quit smoking I quit cold turkey. I have spent more time being a non smoker than a smoker but each time I did have some weight gain involved (like 20 lbs). It's been 15 years since I last smoked.

[ans]

Every time I successfully quit - and for years stretches, I simply told myself "don't smoke" - despite craving. Once I was 7 days out, it got easier. It was kinda a cognitive technique that I used but it's not working now. I think it'll be the fear of surgery that'll make me quit or worse, a terrible health event (gee, maybe I should quit now). It was so easy when in my early 20s to substitute exercise for cravings. Also, another time I wore a rubber band around my wrist and snapped it every time I had the cravings that worked as a cognitive reminder. Duh, maybe I should try this too.

It isn't easy but possible. Let's try together. PM me if you want or if smokers wanna quit we can create a thread and check in and use the honor/honesty system. Self-help group related so spine surgery! Yeah. But I'd have to check with our Mending Dad.

Best, Allan

[Nairek]

Let's see, I quit smoking cold turkey on New Year's Eve & was the designated driver for the evening. Wasn't much fun to be in my car that night! LOL!!

I have to say that I was a "moody" little bugger. The hardest part was when I had my coffee. I always had a smoke when I had coffee. I recall that once I got past the 2 week mark I was a bit less "moody". I was successful because I had something to prove. No one believed that I could quit & I just had to prove them all wrong. I still dream that I smoke sometimes. It's been almost 14 years, you would think that the dreams would stop already!

If you are unsure of being able to quit cold turkey, speak to your primary care doc & see if you can get one of those nicotine transdermal kits. Doctors don't want you to smoke because it can hinder the healing process & it's just downright not good for you. But you don't need that lecture.

If you need support, just give a shout out. I'm sure that folks here can lend some help!