Quit Smoking-Question

[Discolemonade]

Today was my first day smoke free. And it's all I can think about. I have a pack here at the house but I haven't touched them, I am really quite proud of me. My question is: When does it get easier? How long can I expect to be battling my mind and body? They have BOTH turned against me. All day at work my mind was telling me "Can't wait til I get home, so I can smoke" I have had the roughest day in my life. I have been a smoker for 16 years. I know this is going to be an ongoing battle but it can't be THIS hard the whole time? or can it?? when is it going to physically stop hurting??

[Sheshy]

Originally Posted by Discolemonade

Today was my first day smoke free. And it's all I can think about. I have a pack here at the house but I haven't touched them, I am really quite proud of me. My question is: When does it get easier? How long can I expect to be battling my mind and body? They have BOTH turned against me. All day at work my mind was telling me "Can't wait til I get home, so I can smoke" I have had the roughest day in my life. I have been a smoker for 16 years. I know this is going to be an ongoing battle but it can't be THIS hard the whole time? or can it?? when is it going to physically stop hurting??

Good for you! I won't kid you, it's really (really) hard to quit and you are going to be thinking about them quite a bit.

I smoked 20 plus years...and the first 2 weeks were the worst for me, getting over the social aspect of it (coffee=smoking, friends/talking=smoking, standing outside=smoking, you get the picture). I had to stay away from my "normal" routine for that first month. So I avoided some smoking friends (I did let them know what I was doing so their feelings wouldn't be hurt) and my old smoking spot on the patio...it really does help to completely change things up.

Also, i replaced the bad habit with something healthy...like exercise and Atkins. It gave me something else to occupy my mind!

It's been 3.5 years now...and I get that urge on occasion, but I feel so much better that pain in the beginning was really worthwhile.

Good luck and stay strong, you can do it!!

An X-smoker !!

[verbmac]

Congratulations on Quitting!!! I have been quit for 9 months. I still want to smoke but not as often and not as bad. My grandfather quit 21 years ago and he still sometimes wants to smoke. Just keep taking it one craving at a time. The downside for me is I gained a ton of weight hence being here at atkins.It will get better.You will feel better than you can ever remember feeling after about two weeks.Make a list of the reasons you decided to quit in the first place and everytime you think of smoking go over that list until you don't want to smoke anymore.

[ValidRouge]

Disco, Congratulations! I quit smoking 5 1/2 weeks ago. I read up on things from www.whyquit.com I've never joined their site, but I did like the no nonsense approach they take there.

We have a thread called New Non-Smoker's thread, come join us there!!!

Until you get to whyquit.com, it takes 72 hours for the nicotine to get out of your system. Then it takes about 2 weeks to get over the worst of the cravings. You did induction right? You can do this. If you can quit carbs, you can quit smoking.

I'll be honest with you...I thought quitting carbs was harder.

However, once I quit smoking...it wasn't so much the nicotine I was craving as the carb cravings were really bad. STAY STRONG! It is sooooooooooooooooooo worth it. I'd been smoking since 1989.

[trouble]

I quit smoking last summer after 20+ years and I think the first two or three days are the worst. I don't know what rung your on, but I wasn't doing atkins when I quit and sunflower seeds helped alot. They kept my hands and mouth busy.Good luck,hang tough.

[tachielyn]

Congratulations!!! That is great. Now I am a smoker (unfortunately) and from one smoker to an ex-smoker I am proud of you. I have tried and failed and tried and failed so stick with it you'll be so much happier...not to mention HEALTHIER!!

[Laurenfra]

How are you doing Disco?

[DAWNIMMEL]

I quit smoking 14 years ago and still on occation want to have one. I have dreams that I am smoking and think about why I was so stupid to start smoking again after all these years. I stopped by decreasing the amount I was smoking each day. I didn't go cold turkey. I was pregnant, so I didn't want to smoke. The hardest part was my drive to work. I worked an hour away from home and I always smoked on my way to work. Good luck and if you can get over the carbs, you can also get over the nicotine........Dawn

[jonnydollar1]

i used to smoke pot and i have dreams about smoking every once in a while...it always seems as bad as a relapse...anyway...i took the smoke away pill and quite that very day without ever craving a single ciggerette even when my friends would smoke in front of me...

[mannamay]

I do not honestly know how to answer your question being that I am a smoker. I have thought of quitting many times and I have not gotten to the point where its a want yet, and do not know if I will ever get to the want to quit, but I hope so.

Just like dieting, you have to really make up your mind about it and stick with it. I decided that I did not want to have to buy new clothes just to find something comfortable to wear, so I said Atkins, again, here I come, and I am still here. I am sure you get the picture. But anwyay, stay strong, I know that may not be comforting to you, but you have to find what works for you. When you do, please let me know, maybe I will try it.

But most of all, I DO understand!