Stop Smoking Day 14

It's been 2 weeks today since I quit smoking. This has been the easiest day so far. If it were possible to freeze a day in time. This would have been the day. I had maybe 2 or 3 thoughts today about a cigarette. Those thoughts were quickly dismissed.

Their will be a lot rougher days ahead. I remember last time I quit smoking some of my roughest days for craving a cigarette was day 41 and day 43. I know that makes absolutely no sense but it's true.

Like they say. Every quit is different. Here's a strange thing that hasn't happened during this quit that has happened in every other quit.My concentration hasn't been affected during this quit That's very strange. The other times I quit I couldn't concentrate at all hardly for the first week.

Another strange thing has happened. After 2 days of quitting smoking this time. I got my smell back. Here's the strange part. During the 4 and a half month quit last year. My smelling never returned !!!! Another strange thing about this quit is: My appetite hasn't increased This makes no sense to me. All the other times I've quit smoking I would eat like a horse.LOL.

Here are a few things I'm doing differently during this quit that I didn't do during the other quits.

• I'm not going to any stop smoking forums on the net
  
• I'm listening to the stop smoking self hypnosis tapes almost everyday.
  
• I didn't and haven't told anyone that I've quit smoking this time.
  
• The book of Allen Carrs has really helped.
  

Here is a link to the 2 cd's I listen to.

Stop Smoking In One Hour
Stop Smoking Forever

Victory Over Addictions This is a free download. Or you can listen to it streaming.

The Easy Way To Stop Smoking By: Allen Carr

THe Easy Way To Stop Smoking Audio CD This cd doesn't come with the book. It's strictly a audio book. A guy reads the book to you. Thers about 6 cd's in this kit. I ordered it and have received it. However, I would just rather read the book.

For those of you that hate reading this would be a tremendous buy for you.

I use all these tools in my cold turkey quit. I am drinking to much coffee though. One positive is I'm drinking decaf folgers instant coffee. Along with the above mentioned tools. Their is hard cinamon candy and those dollar general menthol flavored cough drops. That's it.

One other thing you may want to do if you are about to quit smoking is go to Whyquit They have some tremendous articles on their website. Hundreds of them. Their all free. I very strongly urge you to go their and read up all you can. It will really help motivate you. Till next time.

Stop Smoking Day 13

I thought I would update my blog to tell everyone how my stop smoking experience is going.Day number 10 wasn't to bad. I had a few minor crave that were easily estinguished with some deep breathing exercises.

Days 11 and 12 were pretty tough. All I could think about during those 2 days were a cigarette. It wasn't as much a physical withdrawals as psychological. I'm not having what I would call physical withdrawals anymore. It's all mental now.

Here's a few things that will trigger psychological cravings in me. Anger,Bitterness, Hatred, Depression. These are just one of many things I have to be on the lookout for. I know if I ever take another puff off a cig, I will have thrown this whole quit away. That's how addicting cigarettes are. Once you quit. You can never take another puff. Never.

I notice I have more psychological cravings for cigarettes when I'm having either a bad day or a boring day. Here are a few things I do that help me get through these tough days.

• Deep Breathing Exercises
  
• Take a Shower
  
• Take a Walk
  
• Clean The House
  
• Take a bicycle Ride
  
• Listen to a stop smoking hypnosis tape
  

Anything to take your mind off smoking for a little while. The stop smoking hypnosis cds work great. They relax you, and after listening to one the urge to smoke is gone. I listed a couple of links to 2 of the stop smoking hypnosis cd's I use.

They work for me. Do whatever it takes to get past the crave. Even on a bad day, cigarette withdrawal pangs aren't that bad at all. They have been blown out of preportion by the media. Millions of people stop smoking every year. You can do it to.

This is day 13 with no cigarettes smoked ! Quit the cold turkey method.

One more piece of advice. I want to strongly discourage anyone from visiting any of the so called stop smoking forums. Whyquit Has some excellent stop smoking articles and their all free. I strongly suggest you go and read some. However, Stay away from their forums.

In the other stop smoking forums you are going to be reading about a lot of people failing. They've blowed their quit. This will be very discouraging for you. You as a new non smoker don't need to be around such negativity. You don't need a group to cry on their shoulders when a crave comes. The best way to blow a quit is to hang around a stop smoking forum.

Why? If you're around a stop smoking forum. What are you going to be thinking about? That's right. Cigarettes. Here's a little story and it's true. Just a few years ago. Like back in the 1960's. There were no stop smoking aids , No patches, gums, inhalers, potions, lotions, or herbs that were marketed to help you quit smoking. Neither was ther the internet.

Yet people quit smoking back then in spite of not having any of these aids. They all succeeded one way. ALL QUIT COLD TURKEY They had no choice. There wasn't any other way to quit. My grandpa told me he would go to work and put a ludens cough drop in his mouth when he got the craving for a cigarette. Was he successful in quiting long term?

Yes ! He had been a 2 pack a day smoker for 45 years. Yet, he quit smoking without the internet, without a smoking buddy, without forums, without nicotine replacement gimmicks. Quitting smoking is more a state of mind. I've been successful several times in quiting smoking. My problem is I just couldn't keep a quit. All along I was sabatoging my quit and didn't know it.

Blowed a 46 day quit. Blowed a 4 and a half month quit. Blowed Several 3 week quits.

I now know what caused me to relapse on all those quits. Sure, I already knew that I could never take another puff. I already knew that. In spite of that. I blew it anyway. You have to come to a state of mind that you absolutly hate cigarettes. If you fantacise about smoking you are probably going to fail.

One piece of advise and then I will be finished for the day.

Don't Tell Anyone That You Are Stopping Smoking !!! Most of these so called forums will tell you to tell the family, friends, etc. That the big stop smoking day is coming. This is pure garbage. If you tell your friends and family that your quitting. This doubles the pressure on you. Not only are you battling the cigarettes. Now you know that you will be a big failure in the eyes of your friends and family if you fail. and you probably will fail.

It's much more fun not to tell anyone. Only you know that you are stopping. And if you blog the bloggers will know.

Set your own quit date. Don't tell anyone your quitting smoking. When your quit date arrives stop smoking. See how long it takes anyone to notice that you aren't smoking anymore. You've made a game out of it. and took some pressure off yourself. After a few days someone will probably notice that you aren't smoking and will ask you if you've quit.

Answer them however you want. I usually just tell them I haven't stopped smoking. I just don't smoke out in public anymore. Or I don't smoke in the house anymore. You can come up with a lot of reasons. Make it fun !!!!!! Don't tell anyone you've quit smoking until you've been quit for a minimum of 6 months.

The statistics are not good. Less than 10% of all smokers who quit smoking relapse within the first year. Don't you be one of them. When you put out that last cigarette. Make a promise to yourself that you will never smoke again. Then don't mope about it.

REad Allen Carrs Book. The link to it is in the other posts. That's all for today.

Sunday Mar 30, 2008

It's now been 9 days since I've had a cigarette. I'm feeling great. My taste has returned. I can smell again. Life is good. Withdrawal pangs are virtually non existent. Sometimes I will think about a cigarette. However, I'm at the point where the thought is easily dismissed and the mild crave doesn't last long.

The hard part is now over. All I have to do to remain smoke free is to never take another puff. In case anyone is wondering. I plan on keeping this blog updated. If you are thinking about quiting smoking. Now is a good time. I didn't even set a smoke date this time. My suggestion is to read Allen carrs book. You can find the link to it in yesterdays post. Till next time.

Days 5, 6, 7 Stop Smoking

Hi, I'm back for an update. Days 5 and 6 went very good. I didn't have hardly any withdrawal symptoms. I drank a lot of water and did some deep breathing exercises. Anytime an urge comes on I know I need to get moving. Take a walk, Take a shower, deep breathing exercises. Anything to get you past the craving.

I received my book in the mail today. "The Easy Way To Stop Smoking" By:Allen Carr. I read the book all in one setting. This book had such high reviews on amazon that I just had to order it. It had 386 reviews and was and is rated 5 stars. It was only about $11.00 with shipping. so I thought what the heck. Must be pretty good, and have some good info in it for as many people to have claimed to stop smoking after reading it.

I figured this was just another stop smoking book. Blah! Blah! Blah! Boy was I ever wrong. I'm not going to tell you what the book says. Allen encourages you to smoke while reading the book. When you are finished reading the book. You will not ever want to smoke another cigarette as long as you live. Well, I can't speak for everyone. That's how I feel. The book to me was the one missing ingredient that told me why I had failed on all my previous attempts to stop smoking.

I've never saw this mentioned in any forum. Without knowing this one little piece of knowledge. Most smokers won't make it to one year without relapse. If you don't know this one little secret he mentions. You are destined to failure long term. It doesn't matter how long you've been quit. Time is irrevelant. My last smoking attempt lasted 4 and one half months before I relapsed. I now know why I relapsed.

The book mentions nothing of all the deaths caused by smoking every year. It's not a gloom and doom book. It takes a total different approach. This was the best $10.00 I've ever invested in my life. I know now that I will never smoke another cigarette.I've never been able to say that before during any of my previous quit attempts. I urge you to read the testimonials on amazon concerning this book. 386 of them. 5 star rating. Then you must make a decision as to whether it's worth the $10.00

For me this book is invaluable. I'm not an affiliate pushing this book. I'm not making one cent by telling you about this book. I'm just saying this is the best info concerning quitting smoking. How to do it. When to do it. Why you should do it. Here's a link to the book
The Easy Way To Stop Smoking

Now for day 7. This had to be the worse day so far. I woke up early, my energy was gone. I didn't feel like getting out of bed. I was depressed. One of the side effects of smoking withdrawal. I made myself get out of bed. After reading the book, the next day started out the worse of any day during the quit. Little did I know that this was the "little monsters" last gasp. For those of you who have read the book. You know who the little monster is.

However, I didn't have any appetite. That's strange. In all my previous attempts to quit smoking I always ate like a horse. This quit has been totally different than all my previous attempts. My concentration has been good. In all my other attempts to quit smoking I couldn't concentrate. I would try to read something and it just wouldn't register. I couldn't remember anything.

Totally different this time. Concentration has been good. Appetite has been about the same as before I attempted this quit. I had gained weight in all my previous attempts to quit smoking. About 20 pounds last time that I quit for 4 months. Back to day 7. After I got out of bed..feeling very deppressed with no energy. I didn't know what to think. I had just read the best book on quitting smoking that I had ever read. Now I'm depressed and miserable the next day.

I wasn't this bad before I purchased the book. What's going on here I thought. Must be a case of the blues. Typical smoking withdrawal. I just have to make it through this day, and the next day, blah, blah, blah.

I just moped around the house all morning. Didn't have any energy. Around noon, I made myself take a bicycle ride. After taking a bicycle ride I started feeling a little better. Had a little more energy. I sat down at the computer to look at the latest news. After sitting at the computer for awhile I noticed my energy level was increasing and I was feeling much better.

I know this will sound crazy. But at one point. It's as if all the doom, and gloom, and withdrawal symptoms left all at once. I'm now in the middle of day 8. I haven't had one single withdrawal symptom since yesterday. I feel great. I have more energy than I've had in months. I now know the "little monster" is dead. I also know that I will never smoke another cig. Day 8 is almost finished.

Their isn't anything magic about the book. All I can say is it works. I'm more confident now at 8 days that I will never smoke again. Than I was at 4 months without a cigarette before. I know that's a bold statement. However, it's the truth.

Stop Smoking Day 4 Tuesday March 25, 2008

It's day 4 already. I woke up about 5:30 am again today. I'm retired so I don't have to get up early. It's just that I feel better getting up early. It's been 72 hours since I've had my last cigarette. All the nicotine should be out of my body by now. Day 4 went pretty good. I did have some pretty powerful cravings around 3:00pm this afternoon.

I did some deep breathing exercises. This consists of taking a deep breath and holding it for a few seconds. Do this 3 or 4 times and the craving will leave. Or it's supposed to anyway.lol. Day 4 was probably the roughest day so far. I had to lay down at one point during the afternoon and listen to one of my self hypnosis audio cd's. This really helped and the cravings left.

You shouldn't be afraid of hypnosis. It can't harm you and you will never do anything against your will. They just put you in a very relaxed state of mind. And the hypnotherapist will speak and guide you through the session. You can order these cd's from amazon.com They have them for stopping smoking, Losing weight, lots of other things. You can find a couple of links to the stop smoking hypnosis cd's in the post I made yesterday or day before yesterday.

Do these hypnosis cd's work? I really don't know. What I do know is that for me. They really relax me and make the cravings go away. Just another tool I'm using in this cold turkey quit. As previously stated, I've blown several quits before. The cold turkey method is the only one I believe that really works longterm.

A 4 and a half month quit was blown last year. It had been a long time since I had even thought about a cigarette. However, my energy level was pathetic. I didn't want or desire to ride my bike for exercise. I used to ride 10 -12 miles everyday for exercise. Although I wasn't craving cigarettes at the time. Here is how I blowed a 4 and a half month quit.

I decided one night that I would take a few puffs off a cigarette to see if my energy level would increase. I still had cigarettes in the house after 4 and a half months. So, I lit one up and took 3 quick puffs off it. My energy level did increase after taking the 3 puffs. I felt a little bit of guilt, but not much. However, I didn't want to throw away a 4 and a half month quit.

For the next 2 days I didn't smoke any. Then I had a junkie thought. I would become a social smoker. You know, just smoke a pack a week or just on weekends. That didn't work out to good. Within a few days I was smoking every day. I never went back to the normal amount I had previously smoked which was about 30 cigarettes a day. For the last year I've averaged smoking about 16 cigarettes per day.

The 46 day quit 2 years ago was thrown away with an argument I had with a relative. I've been through hell week as the forums call it probably 5 or 6 times. That's the first 7 days without a cigarette for you folks that don't know. The bottom line is I'm a nicotine addict and always will be. If I take a puff I may go back into total relapse. I can never take another puff off a cigarette again.

Anyone who has smoked for any period of time knows this if They have tried to quit. I know lots of people that have blown quits that are several years old. A cig addict can never take another puff. I thought I might be an exception to this rule. However, I'm not an exception. I'm an addict just like everyone else. To take one puff means to throw any quit away. It doesn't matter if the quit is 2 days old. Or 2 years old.

I ordered a book from amazon yesterday. Another tool to go in my stop smoking arsenal. It's a book by Allen Carr entitled: The Easy Way To Stop Smoking This book has over 386 reviews. Most are 5 stars. Which is unbelievable for a book on any subject. The price is only $10.14. I ordered it after seeing all the fantastic reviews and how many people this book has helped to stop smoking.

Here's a link to the book. You may want to buy this yourself if your thinking about stopping smoking. It's only $10.14, that's less than a price for a large pizza. Here's the link.

The Easy Way To Stop Smoking

I've been rambling. I made it through day 4 without much problem. I'm taking this quit very seriously. I know I have to take each day...one day at a time.

Stop Smoking Day 3 Monday March 24, 2008

I woke up at about 5:30 am this morning. This is the big day. I have been 48 hours or 2 days without a cigarette. Why is the third day a huge day in the quit smoking process you ask? According to Whyquitdot com. When you quit smoking cold turkey as I am. All the nicotine is gone from your body in 72 hours.

This means that all future cravings for a cigarette are psychological and not physical withdrawals.Whyquit is a goldmine for any person who wants to quit smoking. Hundreds of articles are written and their all free. If you're serious about quitting smoking.I Highly recommend reading the articles on the whyquit website. They also have a forum where you can interact with other non smokers.

However, you can't be a member of their forum until you've been stopped smoking for 72 hours. This proves to them that you are serious about quitting smoking. They only endorse one method. cold turkey If you stop smoking any other way than cold turkey. You aren't allowed to be a member of their forums. For example, if you use a nicotine patch as an aid to stop smoking. You can't participate in Whyquits forums.

I'm not a member of whyquit. I do endorse their stop smoking articles. You can read these for hours and they have so much information to prepare you for your stop smoking Journey. As previously mentioned, It's all free. So, go their and read up.

Back to day 3 now of my quit smoking journal. As previously stated, I woke up about 5:30 am. My sleep patterns have already improved. I'm sleeping like a baby at night. This wasn't so when I was smoking. When I was a smoker I had a very hard time falling a sleep. I would sometimes toss and turn for hours before getting to sleep. Then when I woke up in the morning I wouldn't have any energy. I would have to drag myself out of bed. After just 2 days of stop smoking, this day is the third, I have plenty of energy. Not only do I fall asleep easily. I sleep good during the night.

Day 3 wasn't to bad. In the morning. I didn't have but a few minor craves. Still doing the deep breath exercises when I get a crave. This consists of taking a deep breath and holding it a second or 2. Then exhale slowly. Still drinking lots of water to flush the nicotine out of my body. Using the dollar general brand cough drops(menthol flavor) to use when I get a craving for a cigarette. Some people use unsweetened hard candy. It's just whatever works for you.

About 3:00 in the afternoon I started getting some pretty powerful cravings for a cig. On a scale of 1-10. These cravings were about an 8. I figured I would get some strong urges to smoke today. Why? Because it's do or die time for the cig habit. If I don't smoke today, the nicotine addiction is finished. It has no more power. I win. HEHE.

Nicotine withdrawal throws its hardest punches in the first 72 hours. It can't throw anymore punches after that. Why? Because after 72 hours the nicotine is no longer in your body!!!!!!!!! If you quit cold turkey. Any cravings for a cigarette after 72 hours are strictly psychological. Their not physical cravings. The nicotine is gone, adios, byebye. It's gone. I think you get the picture.

Any aidThat doesn't contain nicotin could be considered going cold turkey. Just be sure your stop smoking aid isn't as addictive as the cigarettes themselves.

Back to my day 3. As previously stated. I started getting some pretty strong cravings around 3:00 pm in the afternoon. I did the deep breathing exercises, drank lots of water, Then took a shower. However, this craving didn't want to leave. Although by this time the craving wasn't as powerful. about a number 6 on a scale of 1-10. It was kinda nagging me.

I got out a hypnosis stop smoking cd that I haven't listened to in a very long time. I own 2 of them. One you will here Stop Smoking Forever

I also own this one.
Stop Smoking In One Hour

I started listening to the stop smoking forever hypnosis cd. This helped tremendously. Now the craving was gone. It is now 9:00 pm, Time for bed. I decide to listen to the other hypnosis cd entitled "Stop Smoking In one hour" I highly recommend both these cd's. I don't prefer one cd over the other. Both are Great.

The stop smoking in one hour cd comes with a book that may help you.

The stop smoking forever cd doesn't come with a book.

That's all for now. I'll update this blog soon.

Day 2 Quit Smoking

This is day 2 of my stop smoking blog. Today wasn't to bad. I had several cravings. Some kinda severe. On a scale of 1 - 10. Some of these cravings probably got to a 7. However, they didn't last long. I've been drinking lots of water, been using the dollar general cough drops to help get rid of the urges. Also taking a few deep breaths when a craving hits and holding the breath for a short period really helps.

Another thing. A person can put a rubber band around your wrist. when you get a crave just pull back on the rubber band and let it go. The rubber band will slap your wrist. This will cause your wrist to sting. Gets your mind off of cigs for a few minutes.

I haven't used that technique but once. That was a long time ago. To sum it up. Day 2 is now over. I'm about to go to bed.

Cold turkey method used with lots of water. Takes all nicotine out of your body in 72 hours (For me that's tommorow) Sucked on lots of dollar general cough drops. Took deep breathes and held them when a craving would come on. I'm off to bed. Will update tommorow.