Quitting smoking sucks!

JBStarryEyedGirl started this discussion · 3/29/2011

So after nearly 14 years of smoking on and off... I made the plunge to quit cold turkey and I am on day 3 as a non smoker. And it sucks. Bad. I'm grouchy and ornery as an alley cat! Roar! I'm going to see an acupuncturist tomorrow, and I have been drinking stop smoking tea 3x a day. I know that my problem is not the nicotine addiction withdrawals, but rather my habits and routines that revolve around smoke breaks. I've wanted to quit for so long. Don't know why I didnt sooner! Crossing my fingers that I will have the willpower to stick with it.

15 replies

MichelleH · 3/30/2011
You WILL have the willpower to do this! Spend time writing down why you want to quit successfully, what it means to you, what your life will look like without smoking in it, what you will do with the money you will save, etc. Really focus on how rosy the future will look without smoking in it! When I quite, something that helped me was to carry around a 500ml bottle of water (I don't know how many oz that is, but you know what I mean, the one that would fill 1/2 to 2 glasses). This helped because it was a healthy habit that involved holding something in my hand and lifting it to my mouth. Hope this helps! From someone living in that rosy future you're moving towards, know that its totally worth it!
LoneStarDiva · 3/30/2011
OMG - sending you SUPPORT energy!! :):) I smoked from age 15 to 27 (said I'd quit when pregnant so did at 8 1/2 mos. lol) THEN -- stupid me.. started again 27 years LATER! DUH... but.. after two years, decided it was time to move on and last August dedicated a week to hangin on the couch, computer and tv (and frige!! LOL) and quit again. Hang in there! Be as bitchy as you like! It will get better. ( ALSO.. EXPECT the 'habitual' part to last a year. Not as severe, but you will still have effected mental behaviors related to the HABitS. Definitly controllable, but just be aware. ) Just revel in quitting - you'll make it. A week from now will feel like a different world! AND you'll smell a lot better!! lol :):)
JBStarryEyedGirl · 3/30/2011
There are so many reasons I want to quit smoking! Firstly, I picked up this habit at age 12, and have never quit successfully for more than a year. Secondly, since I started poling I've realized that I have the strength, but not the stamina I'd like. I want to be able to work my ass off without the huffing and puffing, and I realize that smoking is holding me back from future pole accomplishments! I'd much rather pole dance than smoke cigs!!!! Maybe I should consider the pole I bought as my reward for quitting smoking =) Thirdly, My BF and I are going to get engaged this year. We have been dating 3 years and April will mark the beginning of year 4. I have been saying that I would quit smoking the entire time.. Yeah.. and I do want to get heathly so I can plan on getting pregnant in the next few years. =) Thanks ladies for your support. Besides an aerial invert, this is the hardest thing I have tried to accomplish in 2011! Heading in to the accunpunturist now, hope this helps!!! And I'm going to clean out my car (smoking as I drive is a big trigger for me, and I'll need a healthy way to combat this.. hmmm.. maybe ginger candy drops instead??)
LoneStarDiva · 3/30/2011
If you don't mind a little extrra weight... try Raw Spanish Peanuts with the little paper-y shell on. My first quit it tasted a bit like the niccotine. But I DID gain 5 lbs. 😮
unicorn · 3/30/2011
Well done on the giving up smoking, I gave up I Sept , cold turkey after reading a book by Allen Carrs.. ( easyway to giving up smoking) , book promised by the time I had finished the book I wouldnt be smoking, it worked for me and many others.. Only downside was gaining a stone and a half in weight( eeek)!!! which I am working on losing, But after trying to give up smoking 5 times in the past and the longest being 5 months, I feel different this time, i dont want a cigarette whereas in the past I was constantly wanting one, getting in moods, crying... I will never put a cigarette to my lips again... you can do it, you just have to stop thinking about cigs and how you think you need one.. you dont!! you think you do... you can do it. . work out how much you'd spend on cigs for the next 40 years.. And tell your self you put one cig to your mouth and smoke it, that is how much its going to cost you... you will be shocked putting it down on paper and seeing how much it would cost.. Anyway keep it up... you can do it!! were all behind you and watching this space.. 🙂
JBStarryEyedGirl · 3/30/2011
So I had my first acupuncture session to quit smoking today, and dang was it interesting! I went to a traditional chinese medicine Doctor, and he put needles in my legs, in the top of the feet, the inner calf above the ankle, and the outer calf below the knee. I barely felt the ones in my left leg, but the top right one tingled and felt like I was getting a charley horse! Then he put needles in my arms above the elbow, and in between my thumb and forefinger. My hands ACHED, and tingled, and felt as if they were "buzzing". It was very perculiar, and my hands began to sweat like crazy! Side note here, I am a massage therapist, so I wonder if my hands hold a lot of "energy?". I'm not really into energy massage like reiki for example, or even shiatsu, but I can't deny that it did something to my system. And lastly, he put needles in my EARS! Crazy right? He applied some kind of herbal paste on my face and neck and feet. Smelt like menthol, thank goodness I didn't smoke menthols lol. He left little needles in my ears and told me to push on those points when I felt the urge to smoke. I keep them for 5 days and then go back to have them removed. I'll keep you posted on my progress! Thanks for all the suggestions and support!
Veena · 3/31/2011
Good for you STL!! There have been others on the site who have gone through this, hopefully they will see this and help you through. YOU CAN DO ANYTHING YOU PUT YOUR MIND TO. This I KNOW!!!! ❤️
Judy Jovanelly · 3/31/2011
Hi STL -- GOOD FOR YOU TO QUIT !!!!!! I did it 3 yrs ago..... you can soooooo do it !!!! one thing i used to do is drink water every time the urge hit for a cigarette, and also in my head i had a saying "no thanks, i don't smoke". i would say that to myself..... i stay with it !!!! i'm rooting for you !!!!!!!!
JBStarryEyedGirl · 3/31/2011
Thanks for the support and kind words Veena. Thank goodness for pole dancing, otherwise I wouldn't have even thought about quitting. Poling inspires me to be healthier and want to push my body. Day 5 hasn't been too bad, so hopefully day 6 goes through without a hitch! I'm currently also on a fast food free diet, (2 weeks! Fries are my weakness!), and doing a 7 day cleanse. I'm also drinking 2-3 glasses of Stop Smoking tea, and drinking 1-2 oz glasses of Green Food Juice by Bolthouse. Crossing my fingers that I can keep my willpower strong!
LiveOnceMuseFitness · 3/31/2011
@sues OMG i used the same book 6 years ago and have never ever ever smoked again. It was like a miracle. Anyone who really wants to quit should really give this book a try. I quit a pack a day habit with it xo Elisabeth
JBStarryEyedGirl · 3/31/2011
@jayjay I totally repeat the mantra "I am a non smoker!!" in my head when I feel a craving. I need a new habit for when I drive since it seems to be a big trigger for me. I've been chewing gum, singing along with the radio, and gulping water like a maniac after a pole workout :) On a side note, whenever I'm doing abs my mantra is "I. WANT. Abs! Abs! ABS!".
senrysa · 4/2/2011
good for you! your body is already healing..I quit after 30+ years and I tried everything including chantix but I always went back. Then by accident I found electronic cigarettes. In my opinion they shouldn't be called cigarettes at all. You don't light anything..its a battery with an atomizer that causes a water vapor that feels and looks like smoke. I started with nicotine in mine but have no nicotine in now...My vapor is nicotine free Caramel Vanilla flavor. My kids tease me about vaping but being traditional cigarette free is a dream come true after this many years. Stay strong you will do it and then you dance longer and harder. ; - )
JBStarryEyedGirl · 4/4/2011
Just a little update, it is the end of Day 9, and I have to admit that I feel pretty great. Really. My cravings have decreased to the point of being almost non existent. I am finding new habits to replace my smoking. Such as, right now I am having a glass of tea instead =) My cleanse is still going well, I'm sure that it is helping clear my body out of nicotine and other toxins. It seems like my accupunture was very effective, I went to the Dr today who took the needles out of my ears. (On a side note, I was with my BF who he has treated before, and he told me to come back when I was pregnant so he could help me with my aches and tension LOL. Why is everyone hinting that it's my turn to get knocked up! =) I have a feeling that this is still going to be a bumpy ride, but as long as I keep at it, I can succeed!
LoneStarDiva · 4/5/2011
Glad you're over the 'hump'! :)
JBStarryEyedGirl · 5/1/2011
Hey ladies! Just a little update.. it's Day 35! And I haven't smoked a single cigarette! SO happy, and am now trying to convince my dad, (a 60 year old man, smoker for at least 27 years!) that is it time for him to give it up too! And now I am considering gettting some more accupuncture done to help me lose a few pounds! If only I could give up fries and chocolate..