I havent had a cigarette all day...and it's tough...any advice other than eating?

[Demonaut]

[KMOD]

1. take a walk,

drink some water, do something to keep yourself busy, and get a good nights sleep.

Good luck.

[hollysmom]

2. Ok, there was a leaflet at my dentists that helped me.

If you are a touch person, roll a straw or a pencil between your fingers.
Of you are oral, suckered on a straw or a candy cane or whatever.
If the smell entices you, light a match and smell itthere were other things but I quit over 30 years ago and forgot.
Good luck

[applegrove]

3. Join the Quitnet.com

You can log on every time you have a crave and they'll talk you through it. Better yet hang out there and help others. You'll build a great strong quit. You can do it. I've not had a real crave for years. Took me a few months to stop craving all together. I love being quit.

[mackerel]

4. Brush your teeth a lot...a lot a lot

[Laffy Kat]

5. Red Hots candy. I swear they will help.

And good luck. They cravings will become shorter and shorter and fewer. Hang in there!

[Demonaut]

10. thanks everyone, it's so easy to make an excuse for yourself to start again...I feel like an idiot

[Laffy Kat]

14. Don't! Please don't feel that way.

Some say a nicotine addiction is as strong as a heroin addition. Even if you fall off the wagon, you haven't failed; just try again.

[Demonaut]

24. thanks, I've quit before so I'm hard on myself

[Laffy Kat]

25. Most people quit multiple times...

And they eventually make it. You will too.

[Algernon Moncrieff]

6. Drink lots of fluids with a straw.

Keep a bottle with a straw filled with water or a soft drink around you at all times.

[Tobin S.]

7. After three days, the nicotine is all out of your body.

After two weeks, you break the physical addiction to nicotine, and things start to get easier. After a month, things get a lot easier. They did for me anyway.

Some say the hardest way to quit is cold turkey, but it's the only way I could quit. It's been three and a half years now. When you taper off or use nicotine replacement products, you make the process longer and you suffer more from withdrawal symptoms. I tried to quit dozens of times using those methods and they never worked for me in a lasting way.

When you first quit you feel like you've lost a lover and the world will never be the same. That's just the addiction talking to you. It will pass.

[elias49]

35. Very nice summation of the process! nt

[mnhtnbb]

8. My husband chews gum to keep from smoking.

[Chan790]

9. Two.

Chew gum (not necessarily nico-gum...Bazooka works as well) when you have a craving, it'll sate the oral cravings somewhat.

Some smokers actually have a hard time adjusting to not going through the physical motions of smoking when performing tasks they typically smoke during...like after sex, after dinner, driving, having a drink, conversation, coffee-break, etc. take drinking straws and cut yourself some "bats" of the same length as your cigarettes and simulate smoking when you find yourself feeling that physical absence. They do also sell bats that look like cigarettes that can be used for that purpose but be careful, some jurisdictions consider them to be marijuana paraphenelia...because they can be used that way too. (It's a metal tube that looks like a cigarette, the user sticks a plug of pot in the lit-looking end and fires it when they want a drag.)

The addiction itself only lasts 3 days, it's the physical and mental connection to smoking that lasts longer.

[trof]

11. I don't recommend cold turkey.

I tapered off over a period of two or three weeks.
Got down to two or three smokes a day in 2-3 puff 'doses'.
Took my last couple of puffs Friday morning Nov. 27.

I still get cravings, but each day is easier.
Good luck.

[MosheFeingold]

12. Nicotine mini-lozenges

Fricking fantastic. Nicotine, assuming you don't have high BP, is pretty harmless and, in fact a very effective cognitive enhancer and probably staves off Parkinson's disease.

My doctor actually encourages them to older patients -- he's 87 himself.

I'm 91, and haven't really smoked since France in WWII and use them in the AM and at about 3:00 pm.

[Demonaut]

13. you rock, thanks! and thank you for being of the Greatest Generation, I visited Dieppe as a child

and saw the old defense walls put up by the Germans

[NaturalHigh]

15. Walk, walk, walk. Walk until you're exhausted.

Hang in there.

[Callmecrazy]

16. Smoke one from the other end...

You'll quit. The filters are harsh.
I quit about two years ago. After about two months I wonder why I ever started. Be strong.

[ghostsinthemachine]

17. Apples! 3 a day. Also learn to juggle

Lots of youtube tutorials out there and every time you feel like smoking a ciggie, do some juggling.

3 apples a day will really help you detox. http://www.dailypressdot.com/quit-smoking-by-eating-apples/751783/

[rurallib]

18. Deep breaths - about ten - when a craving hits

[bunnies]

34. ^^^ this is the key ^^^

[alphafemale]

19. I used toothpicks for the oral fixation.

I went through several of those packs.

I have not smoked since 1999.

[roody]

20. Breathe deeply. Savor the delicious air.

Do yoga.

[BlueCollar]

21. Drink an ice cold glass of water

every time you get a craving.

It worked for me.

Because of my smoking habit of over 30 years I was unable to recover from heart bypass surgery "normally"....my lungs wouldn't function as required.

I was sedated and put on a ventilator for several days. When I was revived I was very thirsty so I drank copious amounts of water...When I was finally discharged I carried the habit forward and it has worked very well. I rarely get cravings now.

Good luck quitting. It is worth it.

edit to add: I agree with the post above...breathe deeply as much clean air as you can...I had the oxygen tube thing going and I am sure it helped.

[Demonaut]

23. how are your lungs now?, thanks for the advice

[BlueCollar]

26. In great shape now ... thanks

It's been over 5 years now and I haven't looked back.

Keep on with it. You'll be glad you did.

[Iggo]

22. Want a cig? Take a walk. Still want a cig? Take another walk.

This is especially helpful advice if you quit in SoCal during the summer months...lol.

Seriously though, I know "Eat Right And Exercise" sounds boring, but it's a huge part of the answer.

The other part of the answer is "Never Light Up Another Cigarette Again, No Matter What." That part's fool-proof.

[dinger130]

27. Celexa

Go to your doctor and get a prescription. After 49 years I quit and it wasn't that hard. Celexa worked for me.....antidepressant

[Digit]

28. Well, let me just say "good for you", congratulations, and keep it up.

I have severe COPD from many years of smoking. I quit almost two years ago, but the damage was done.

DO keep your resolve...it gets easier and you will be glad you did.

Again, best of luck to you....you can do it!!!!

[Contrary1]

29. The desire for a cigarette goes away in 5-10 minutes...

I found it helpful to clean as soon as I felt the urge. I polished furniture, cleaned mirrors, dusted, mopped the floor, whatever...

You really don't have to do that (or you can come to my house, and have at it), but do find something that will keep you busy for about 10 minutes.

I've gone without a smoke for about 13 months now. I am breathing a lot easier, and my heart has quit racing.

You will find that every day without a cigarette, you will feel a little bit better. That alone, makes it worth the struggle.

Keep going. You can win this one!

[RebelOne]

30. I nave been trying to stop smoking,

so I asked my doctor for Chantix. I just took my first pill today. I have been told it will take a while for the pills to kick in.

[meow2u3]

31. Try vaping

You get the nicotine without the smoke, despite the bad rap e-cigs has been getting lately.

Just look at my sig line for more info. You will get a lot of support there.

[gratuitous]

32. If one suggestion doesn't work try another

You're in a battle with one of the major league addictions. Try every means, fair or foul, to get those goddam cigarettes out of your life forever. Take it a day at a time. If that's too long, then an hour at a time. If that's too long, set your goal at a minute. Chew celery sticks, but a rubber band on your wrist, get some water, pick up a book or a magazine. Whatever it takes.

If you fail, don't beat yourself up. Start over again, and try something else. Be mindful of what situations increase the temptation to smoke. Think about the money you're keeping in your pocket that isn't going to those murderous greedheads at R.J. Reynolds or Phillip Morris.

Good luck.

[BlueJazz]

33. Been awhile since I quit. I used an unusual way to quit. I bought 2 packs of smokes.

Kept them in the house.
Didn't change my habits
Still had coffee in the morning and did all the things "You are not suppose to do"
Tied to push all the triggers.

First week was hell. 2nd better...then fairly easy.

I made it SO hard to quit that my resolve actually got pissed!
"They're right there..you weak asshole...go ahead...smoke one..smoke um up!
The GOOD thing is after that crap, it was EASY to resist.

[UglyGreed]

36. I chewed gum

it helped to take my mind off it. Good luck best thing you could do for yourself

[DawgHouse]

37. Strong mints help, like Altoids.

Don't get sugar free or else you'll have stomach issues. I think I went through a tin per day while quitting. Drink water, use nicotine replacement if you need to. Good luck!

[myrna minx]

38. Chew gum. Inhale through a straw - if you need to occupy yourself

With the act of simulated smoking. Your crave will pass whether or not you smoke. Deep breaths - and count to ten. Hang in there- I'm almost 6 years without a cigarette- you can do it!!

[TheCowsCameHome]

39. Remind yourself about how many hours it's been

since you last lit up.

Then tell yourself that you don't want to start the clock ticking all over again by lighting up.

[Ino]

40. I went cold turkey...

Straws the length of cigarettes, toothpicks, cinnamon sticks. Three deep breaths. Nicotine-free e-cig when the cravings were REALLY bad.

It was very difficult at first, feeling like I'd lost my best friend. Crying. Wandering around mindlessly opening cabinets looking for... something.

I quit because I had bronchitis and couldn't smoke. When I recovered, I decided not to start again. But I was always feeling sorry for myself because I hadn't known the last cig I had WAS my last one. I deserved a last cigarette! I felt cheated, sad, constantly tempted to have an official last cig -- but knew I couldn't or I'd sure enough be smoking again.

About 3 months in, I had an urge and the "I didn't have a last cigarette" thought popped up. But this time, instead of feeling very sorry for myself, my reaction was "Oh well (shrug)". I knew I had it beat then!

Hang in there, it gets easier and easier! Four years smoke-free, and I never get urges. I'm free!!

[BlueCollar]

41. how are you doing so far?

Keep at it...

[gadget]

42. you could try...

masturbation?