Anyone Want to Share Your "Quit Smoking" Story?

I took a pregnancy test Jan 06 and it was positive and havent had a cigarette since . I was a pack to pack and 1/2 smoker.

Good Luck! I know its not easy.

My Dad, a 2 pack a day smoker of 38 years, quit this spring and I plan to follow this summer using his method.
He met with his doctor, was prescribed Welbutrin, and then chose a quit date out of the Farmer's Almanac. (I know, silly, but it worked so I'm not skipping any steps.) When he told me his date was Feb. 14th, I had a copy of Alan Carr's book, The Easy Way to Quit Smoking, sent to his home. He started the medication about 2 weeks before that and had weaned himself to half a pack a day. When the book arrived, he started reading and it changed his whole outlook on smoking.
He had tried to quit many times before but never succeeded, and who knows if this time will last. The thing that I see different about this time is his attitude about smoking. He feels confident about quitting, he feels that smoking is a choice and that he doesn't have to choose it anymore. He credits the book for changing his attitude. I know 2 others who read it and never smoked again.
I plan on ordering my copy soon and quitting this summer; my daughter will be 2 in August.
Good luck and don't be afraid to ask God for help; I know I'm going to!

I understand the need for a 'push'. First of all, the enemy would like nothing more than to keep you from a relationship with God. Don't give him that power. I'd suggest the first thing you do is get back in touch with God, repent and ask Him for help. Remember, He never leaves us, it is we who leave Him.

I've given up cigarettes several times for several years. To maintain success it is imperative to avoid pitfalls that cause you to smoke once you do make the commitment until you feel stronger. Ex: don't touch matches, lighters, liquor and smoke filled areas - it'll make it much harder (at least it did for me every time).

My mother was asthmatic and was in intensive care and on a respirator for eight days. I went to be with her in the hospital. Since I smoked a couple packs a day for over 35 years, I'd go take a smoke break. Then, it occurred to me, what the heck am I doing? My mother is lying in bed gasping for every breath and here I am smoking! How insane is that. Once that reality really hit me, I was able to quit.

I've been a non-smoker now since Jan 13, 2001. My mother passed away in February the same year. I have remained a non-smoker all these years. I've dedicated it to her in loving memory. Maybe, if you'd find something bigger than yourself to do it for; family, your children, your friends...all those who love you - then, maybe you can finally shake the habit.

God bless. I'll say some prayers for you, too!

All are great suggestions....for me I think understanding that nicotine is one of the best ANTI ANXIETY substances and that I was physically addicted to it was mayor. I learned to tolerate anxiety better, find other healthier coping mechanisms (breathe, walk, eat carrots or celery or chew gum(, cut me some slack if I "relapsed" and start again the next day and taking it one day at a time....You will get there, just keep trying every day!
GOod luck

Jessica,
My mother was a 2-3 pack a day smoker throughout my childhood. When my brother was a teenager he came home from health class and gave her all the gory details of what could happen to her. Something struck her. She began thinking of what her kids would have to go through if she became ill. It wasn't easy, but she quit and has never picked up a cigarette again. She is 82 years old now and looks great. Her younger sister never quit smoking. The same sister got lung cancer, and we all, including her children, had to watch her struggle and die before her time.

Now, I want to share something with you about guilt. Women seem to carry it deeply. I am a spiritual person myself. Here is a quote that may help you. Consider it from your Guardian Angels.

"Everyone is guiltless in truth, as no one can alter God's handiwork of perfection. Give us your feelings of heaviness so we can lighten your load. Give us any guilt, anger or blame that may shroud your loving outlook. Enjoy the peace within your heart once more."

Good Luck Jessica. If I can help be a support feel free to email me.

I don't have any "fun" or "easy" story to tell you about quitting. Maybe those "quick-fixes" work for some, but definitely not for all. But there's still hope...

I smoked for over 20 years. I started when I was 12 and quit the day I found out I was pregnant with my now 10 year old. Having had my kids in my mid-late thirties, I'm one of the older moms anyway. I surely didn't want to shorten my lifespan any - I want to be here for my kids a long as I can. And I want to set a good example for them (both of my parents smoked, which contributed to my being "OK" with it).

Here's the one tip I can give you... Once you quit, don't EVER have a SINGLE cigarette again. I quit numerous times before I had kids, and always went back. I used all kinds of tricks (nic gum, hypnosis, cold-turkey, weaning myself slowly, etc.) and the bottom line is if you give into a sinlge urge - it's all over. You'll be back to smoking.

10 years later, I'm thrilled that I'm smoke-free, but I STILL occasionally get urges, especially if I'm in a situation where I'm drinking and other people are smoking. That brings up another good point... Stay away from situations that make you crave smoking, unless you've got a strong advocate by your side to help you through it - especially during the first few months or a year.

I wish you all the best on this journey. It will be one of the toughest things you ever do. But it will be one of the best things you can do - for yourself and your family!

Good Luck - and strong will!

OK, so I am 34 and one of those that tried and tried to quit, but gave up easy. I got on welbutrin which worked, but I started up again a few months later. I got hypnotised...what a joke.

So, last year, my dad had a scare with spots on his lungs. He smoked Marlboro Reds for over 30 years. He had to quit quickly and is out in the woods alot which is hard to quit when you work outside. The Doctor got him a prescription for Chantix. he quit in a week! It is a gradual thing and our whole family was SHOCKED he quit!

So, I decided that I was going to do it too. I got a prescription last April. I wasn't ready to quit yet...so I picked a date...March 1, 2009. So a week prior to march first I started taking the medicine...and reducing how many I smoked a day. Then on March 1st I didn't smoke. It is amazing how well it worked for me. It has been a month now and I am actually not thinking about it! I'm not going to sit here and say that I wouldn't love to sit on the porch with a drink and have one, but it is not the chemical attraction...it is the thought of how nice it was doing that...basically, I don't "ache" for one. For me, just having ONE after quitting and I was back to smoking full time...it is all or nothing!

I get headaches with it so I take it with Excedrin and you MUST eat before taking it!

I know it is hard. You and I are at the same point (my boy is almost 2). I was not liking having to hide from him when I was smoking...it was running my day...I planned my day around it.

Talk to your doctor about Chantix...pick a day...and do it!

Hi Jessica,
Here's my story.
I was a smoker for 21 years. In the last 8 years of that I smoked about 2-3 packs a day.
I was a very defensive smoker as well.
After reuniting back with a old sweetheart after 14 years we decided to marry (another great story there too) the opportunity to quit came.
As my wedding night approached my husband was in bed and I was in the living room smoking a cigarette. He made the sad comment of having to wait for his bride on our wedding night so I could smoke. It broke my heart and made me start to think about why I smoked in the first place. I smoked because it made me calm down so I thought. But in reality it didn't do anything to calm me. If anything it was killing me. I came to the conclusion that it was all a big fat lie. And I was buying it. So as I sat there in darkness but for the end of my cigarette burning I made a decision to quit. I thought to myself I'll have one more puff and that's it. Then I thought again. No not one more, it's over. I then put the cigarette out and began to get all of my ashtrays, lighters and cigarettes and put them in a bag. I put them outside of the house and vowed not to ever allow them back in. Later the next day I tossed them all in a dumpster. That was 13 years ago and I never turned back and never will. I don't like being fooled and that all that was. I thought all along that I was strong but smoking proved other wise, it controlled me. And by the way, 3 months later I got saved. God was setting me free before I even gave myself to him back then. Amazing. And he still continues today. Guilt is a good thing if it draws you toward him but not if it keeps you from him. Say and mean your sorry and move on! Let him help you, you didn't earn you salvation so what makes you think that now you have to earn his care?
God's best,
C. ")

Jessica,

It is great news that you want to quit smoking. I quit about 19 years ago when I was pregnant with my third child. I tried many different things but the way that helped me was every time I lit up I looked at my 2 sons and thought...I am being selfish and every time I smoke I am taking these kids mom away. Guess I kind of guilted myself into it but it worked.

About the spiritual aspect, perhaps God has placed this desire to quit smoking as a way to draw you closer to him. Think of it this way, if your child had drifted apart from you for some reason but they were having difficulty and they came to you for help wouldn't you be willing to do whatever you could to help them, not matter what? Just think how much stronger God feels about this with him being who He is.

Good luck on stopping smoking. Keep you journey with getting closer back to God. I too am going through a distant time with God and your post has encouraged me to make that move to get closer. You have a great day!!
C.

Quiting was very hard for me, My kids were allergic to the smoke & even the smell on my clothes set them off so I had to quit but even so I snuck around to smoke & tried to get the smell off but no good. So I prayed alot for God to help me and the last prayer I remember praying to stop smoking was for God to just take the desire from me & HE DID!!! I got to where the smell really stunk to me and I lost the desire and to this day it still does.I have to be honest and say that every once in a while satan will tempt me but I have will power & haven's smoked in about 7 or more years when I did smoke for about 13 years. God is good & he will help, but you must really be willing. May God be with you & keep you always.

First, congratulations on deciding to stop smoking. Here's to all the good that this will bring to your health and your life!

My mother, who had smoked since the age of 18 (if not earlier), decided to quit smoking on New year's day, 1999. We were recently at my Aunt's house after a family member's funeral and my mother revealed to the family that she quit because she thought she wouldn't get to be around my daughter, who was due in June of that year, if she continued to smoke. Funny thing is, I swear I never told her that. I never even hinted at that with her. I think my mother told that story to be funny, but I think the real reason she quit is that she decided she wanted to be around for her grandbaby as long as she could. She knew she needed to stop smoking so she could be a healthy, energetic grandma to her grand daughter. She stopped cold turkey at the age of 61, after having smoked 2 packs a day for almost 25 years. I know it must have been very hard for her. She had tried to stop a few times when I was a child, but she never could do it. I guess my daughter, her legacy, was reason enough and she was finally successful. My mother is a firm believer in will power and that we control our own actions. Yes, there is a nicotine addiction part to the process, but she believes if you set your mind to it and NEVER give in to the urge, you'll get past that and it will get easier every day. People get over addictions all the time. If they can do it, you can too.

Almost 2 years after my mother quit smoking, she became very will with a pulmonary embolism, new onset atrial fibrillation and pneumonia, all at the same time. She was in intensive care for 3 weeks and had to be put on a ventilator. The doctors assured me if she had not quit smoking when she did, and this had still occurred, there would have been no way for her lungs to recover from the trauma this illness did to her body. It was destiny that she quit when she did and the reason she is still here today. I hope that helps you to realize that the decisions you make today will affect what happens tomorrow and that this helps you make good decisions so you'll be around for your family and to enjoy life for as long as you're meant to.

Now here is the really great news! God loves you and wants you to ask him for help even though you've not been close to him for a while. He's thrilled that you need him and wants you to have a relationship with him no matter what. There is no need for you to feel guilty for not praising him and thanking him like you think you should have in the past. God's love is unconditional. He does not hold grudges. He has been waiting for you to come to him with all your problems and is ready to help you 24/7, no matter how far you've strayed. Start praising him and thanking him today, this very moment. It is NEVER too late. He loves you and wants to help you as he wants you to help yourself. God is so good!!

Good luck and again, congratulations!

Blessings,
N.

My dad quit cold turkey about 30 years ago (still ended up with emphasema), so sooner is better than later. I think you need to go with a method that works with your personality - gradual vs. cold. I've heard one of the ways to help break the habit is to disrupt the smoking routine: if you have one WITH coffee, than have one BEFORE or AFTER instead; if you have one AFTER dinner, than have one BEFORE dinner, etc. Supposedly it helps lessen the routine-oriented cravings/habit part.

And ask everyone for help, including God ;) You might not be actively praising, but if you truely appreciate the things he's given you in your life, that's it's own kind of praise :)