Have set the date
I am 30years old and had my first smoke at age 12, I began smoking around a pack a day by age 15 and have smoked between 20-40 a day ever since. I have a great wife, three wonderful girls and run my own successful company. I don't drink much at all, don't take any other drugs and the only one thing in my life that I am not happy with is my weakness for smoking. I have been wondering lately why do I smoke? I can't really come up with a great answer and I guess it is due to addiction and a long old habit. I have noticed the last couple of years I have been a bit short of breath at times when doing physical work, this is worrying me as I am only 30 and used to be able to smoke and still go at 110miles an hour all day. So I think it's time to give quitting a shot for myself and for my kids. I hate the fact I spend time outside away from them to have a quick smoke and they are starting to get old enough to question why I do it. So I have set the date to give up the coffin nails. I have a week off work coming up commencing on May 9th, so plan to stop smoking and head away with the kids for a week with no external pressures to get me through the first week. I will attempt to reduce the amount of times I smoke per day leading up to this date and would appreciate any advice from others that have succeeded quitting. It seems like such a simple thing to do but I have tried a couple of times in the past but always gone back to the habit. My plan is to begin the day with a walk to try and keep myself and my mind active, my biggest issue I feel will be when I get back to work as I spend long periods in traffic driving and this tends to be when I smoke the most. Does anyone have anything that worked for them to keep their mind from smoking while sitting in traffic?
HiJ1985, First of all Congratulations to you for thinking about quitting! You can do it! Its really doable, I will say its a bit process. Eight months ago, I was smoking 20 or more cigs a day for 25 years. After while this addiction starting to bother me like out of breath, the smell of smoke, coughing, and many more unhealthy ways. I like exercising, walking, swimming, etch. So one day, I decided the next day I will not smoke any longer. I smoked my last cigs, and the next day I wok up, started my day , workouts, plenty of water, good food, and that worked for me. In 3 months I would say, the addiction is broken, and I was free from nicotine, meaning its like you never smoke before, or you just don't think about it. We all quit different ways, I quit cold turkey and I was successful, I wanted a quick results and it worked! You have to plan your quit, and judged for yourself. Just always include plenty of water, exercises, all healthy habits. Best wishes!!
up started
Oh, as far as hand to mouth...I replaced cigs with water bottle, unsweetened candies, gums, etch. You can do it!!
Hi J1985. Good on you, I'm just about to curl up in bed with a cup of tea and a good book instead of sitting on the back step with my scotch & cigarettes. So far I've got through 2 days & looking forward to a pleasant sleep and waking early & refreshed for the 3rd day in a row in I don't know how long. Something for you to look forward to. I always had a rule not to smoke in the car so I don't have much advice, you could try finding some positive CD's to listen to in the car instead, maybe some affirmations or relaxation stuff? Steve G Jones is good but he's a hypnotherapist so not good falling asleep at the wheel with him, better off listening to him in bed! Shall think of some others. My biggest issue is talking on the phone, actually anything social especially when others are smoking - I may have to become a hermit for a while. I know, quit your job, work from home then you won't be in the traffic, problem solved! Good luck.