last minute
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I am about 1 week and 3 days from having a cigarrette. It has been since monday morning since I had a 7 mg patch. Yes (head hanging low) I did smoke while I was on that darn patch.
I quit with the support of my husband who quit with me. Although, he quit cold turkey. You can imagine the tension in our home between us!! Both of us just plain grumps LOL. I have been using red licorice. Odd as it may sound... I bite it in half.. then bite both ends off and "smoke" it. (needs to have the hole done the center so you can "suck in") It worked for me last year... Being a smoker for about 20 years.. Finally I quit.. for 6 months, then my dad went into the hospital and we almost lost him... Everyone in my family smokes... stress, etc.. next thing I know I am smoking again..
My doctor requires you to be smoke free too. I am just so afraid that I gained during this time!!
I wish you the best of luck!! It is hard to quit!!!
God Bless!
Brenda
The biggest challenge for me is the car trip between work and home. I used to smoke Clove cigs, so I got some of that Clove gum and some Big Red as well. When I feel I want a smoke, I pop a piece of gum. Some days are better than others. Yesterday I ate more protein bars than I should have, but at least it wasn't candy bars!
Quitting smoking is hard work. Be kind to yourself. Be sure to get your sleep and drink lots of fluids. Find simple ways to reward yourself for your success.
Moral support of those around you is a big plus. My stepson has been a big supporter. DH supports me on my quit, but is still smoking himself. Luckily I don't like his brand, and as my system cleans out, he smells awful.
So all that said, here are some things I've done in the past that have helped:
Snap my wrist with a rubber band if I think positively about smoking
Keep a butt jar of old butts wet down (so you don't smoke one) - sniff when needed
Chew gum
cinnamon bark sticks
flavored toothpicks
fancy drink stirrer to play with
if you work, take a breathing break - go sit somewhere quiet and breathe deeply
drink lots of liquids
nap
Chantix
Patch
Valerian
Computer games or jigsaw puzzles
Don'****ch older movies where everyone smokes, it seems
Best of luck. Please let me know if I can help.
Patty
Patty, Good post!
I have to say... this one:
-Keep a butt jar of old butts wet down (so you don't smoke one) - sniff when needed
made me sick to think about! LOL Makes ya think tho! A heck of a deterant!
ETA: Before I quit smoking the last time... I weaned down... smoking my ciggs in 1/2's instead of wholes. I quit smoking in my home and in my car. I tried to rearrange my routine.. I always had a cigg first thing in the morning, right after eating, while on the phone, at the computer, in my car to and from work, right before bed at night, when I smoked in my home, I always had a cup of coffee and a cigg when I did my hair and make-up lol. Find other ways to relive stress.. (besides grazing, of course) I believe patty wrote something on taking deep breaths.
The last time I quit... I called the national jewish hospital here in Denver, they do a progrom with you... they call you so many times a month to council you and they provided my patches! I started at 14mgs and 2 weeks later went to 7 mgs for about 1-2 weeks. See if they have something like that where you live!
Good reminder about changing routines. That helped me this time. I smoked outside in my "tent" (a metal and canvas gazebo). So for the first week I just didn't go out in the backyard.