I'm going to be really honest with you guys because I feel like I need to be, I feel I've let you all down, and I'm sorry. I smoked today. I'm so ashamed of the fact that I did. I couldn't even make it a day. I felt like crap. It was the worst feeling. My head was foggy. I was miserable and a b**ch. I don't know if I can do it cold turkey. It was so hard. And stressful. I noticed straight away that all I wanted to do was reach for a muffin or some chocolate, I needed something to fill the void. I'm so ashamed.:(

No I know I CAN do this I just don't know if I can do it cold turkey. Do you think thats the only way to do it? I had another idea of cutting back. So I normally smoke 20 a day. I smoked 5 today. I have to see that as an achievement, even tho I'm ashamed of it. Maybe if I do 5 for a week, then 3, then 2, then 1. Then soon I should be able to do 1 every other day and then once a week. Then gone all together.

Do you think I'm clutching at straws? Is it a bad idea, I just couldn't handle nothing at all.

I'm sorry guys you've been great and I f**cked up.

:cry:

Well, there are nictotine patches you could try. These take away the craving, but you'll still be breaking the habit of sucking on a ciggie. And they come with instructions for lowering the usage.

If you go the gradual route, I warn you, it is all too easy to decide that 1 is OK, and another 1 won't really matter. And then along comes a party and buying a pack is really easy. So don't think in terms of getting down to 1 a day and then every other day and then every week. That will just keep you hooked. Cut down, yes. And then quit completely after the 1 on one day.

I see young people smoking, and I think how sad it is, because they have no idea how hard quitting can be. I know I never gave it a thought.

Good luck--keep trying--you can get past it.

Jay

Hey you know what ... we aren't going to abandon you because of this. This is an addiction and your body is fighting your brain here. It's ok. :)

I do agree with Jay that by allowing yourself 1 or 2 or 3, it's easy to say "one more is ok".

I'd just keep on keeping on. You are smoking less than you were and that's better than nothing, but keep aiming high. You can do it.

And we'll keep encouraging you!!!!

.

Hey girlie, stop beating yourself up! quitting cold turkey is HARD. I think by cutting back you're totally in the right direction. We're here for you :hug:

Oh Maddie, Maddie, Maddie! Poor baby! You didn't let us down! The only person you let down is you. I'm dying on day 4 here and realizing that the quitting smoking is so amazingly harder than quitting brownies! And we're trying to stay off of both! Yesterday I was honestly scared to drive to work because my head was so foggy and disoriented I thought for sure I'd either get in an accident or get pulled over because the cops would think I was drunk! Please don't let a little set back turn you into a 20 year smoker! Please!

Don't want to be the Grim Reaper here but it's never going to get any easier - only harder with every butt you light. If I were going to be totally honest, I'd be admitting that I'm jealous of you for giving in - that's how insidious the habit gets! Please hang in there with me - we've been dumping pounds, we can dump nicotine too!!!!

OK, didn't mean to sound quite so desperate and put pressure on you :o Just wanted to let you know you aren't alone in this battle either :hug:

I'm proud of both of you! (Ok, so I don't really *know* either of you ... so that sounds a little funny, but you know what I mean.)

I grew up the only non-smoker in a family of smokers. My mom, dad, and brother all smoked. My dad died of lung cancer 5 years ago, after finally quitting about 3 years before. I spent my whole life watching them struggle with quitting, smoking less, everything. I have seen how hard it is for them.

So you guys deserve kudos. And don't give up!!!

.

You didn't let me down - you just didn't succeed this time. You need to keep practicing quitting until you get it right.

You don't think any of us got it right the first time, do you?

{{{{{Hugs}}}}}

Congrats on your decision to quit smoking. YOU CAN DO IT!
Two of my friends, who were quite "active" smokers, quit a while ago. One has kept it up for almost 2 years and the other one (who tried to quit many times in the past) quit this February (and is still smoke-free). I am so proud of them. For both, the ciggy was something of a ritual - like have a coffee, light up, etc.
Both went cold turkey.

Myself, I quit smoking some 20 years ago but I was never too addicted in the first place so it was very easy for me.
Good luck!

Today is another day. Just keep trying. My DH still hasn't quit despite his promises and I see just how addicted he is. I often wonder how I did it successfully and he couldn't. I can't figure it out except that I just really WANTED to be done with it once and for all.

I quit 3 years ago this August. Like VermontMom, I quit because I got pregnant but it was still really hard. I had lots of gum around and anything that could keep my mind off from cigarettes.

Cutting back is a great way to quit! Dont beat yourself up too much. Good luck, you can do it!! :)

You didn't let anyone down.

I am a non smoker now for 6 months or so after smoking for almost 22 years. I tried quite a few times before finally being successful. Here are some tips that helped me.

It does get easier with each attempt because you are learning how to deal with the withdrawals.

Once you quit it takes 72 hours for the nicotine to fully leave your body. After that the major withdrawal symptoms will subside at around 2 weeks.

The foggy feeling you had is very common and I also had it. I found drinking lots of water and juice helped alot.

Cutting down basically just keeps your body in withdrawal for longer.

Set a quit date and stick to it. Make a list of why you want to be smoke free and the benefits of not smoking.

Change your daily habits....if you have a coffee and cig while on the computer in the morning then jump on the computer at a different time of day and have your coffee while you clean the kitchen or fold laundry etc. The basic idea is to change your smoking habits.

You can do this and if you want I can give you the link to a site that really helped me quit smoking and also my sister and a few friends.

Good luck and you can do it!

You can do it! It took me several attempts to finally get it right. You have to find what is going to work for you. Asking around is probably the smartest thing to do. You'll get it eventually. Just keep on trying!
Just think... your giving your hard earned money to a bunch of jerks so they can live high on the hog while you slowly kill yourself!
Love your life!
You can do this!

I quit for the second time 24 years ago. The first "quit" lasted six months. We had a big snowstorm, I managed to get out to the store on day three and it was all over for another two years.

A couple of things helped.

1) Find something to do with your hands. (Sometimes I play with tape, I fiddle with things, I have desk toys. All of those are leftover from my quitting smoking days.

2) Anticipate the hardest moments. When did you typically smoke? I always met a friend right after work and we shared a cigarette...we smoked the same brand. She never smoked another cigarette in front of me. If you can substitute something it helps.

3) I didn't do this, but some programs suggest you put a rubber band around your wrist and pull on it every time you want to reach for a cigarette. Makes the association very concious. The other thing folks I know have done is to wrap their cigarette packages in paper and rubber bands. (Which makes it harder to get at,) Personally cold turkey worked best for me, but lots of folks find a tapering to minimize withdrawal easier.

Good luck...you can do this!

I quit a 2 pack a day habit in 1997 - after getting a tooth pulled. After 3 days cold turkey I decided if I could do 3 days maybe I shouldn't start again. It CAN be done. We are all rooting for you!!

I keep my mouth busy with sugar free Altoids smalls. My exercise habit started pretty much right after I quit - it's a fabulous way to break an unhealthy habit with a healthy one. When I craved a cigarette I went for a walk. Let's just say I did a LOT of walking. :D