I quit smoking 48 hours ago - what should I do now?

[Phillycat]

Poll question: I quit smoking 48 hours ago - what should I do now?

I actually feel great. :) I used a book called The Easy Way To Stop Smoking by Allen Carr, and damned if it WASN'T the easiest way I've ever tried! I'm not using anything - no patch, no gum, no pills. I would describe the withdrawal symptoms as mildly annoying, at worst. Mainly, I'm actually enjoying the process of quitting. Those who've been around for my previous attempts to quit smoking know how miraculous this is - I suffered for MONTHS in all my other attempts. I cannot recommend this book highly enough for anyone still smoking.

http://www.amazon.com/Easy-Way-Stop-Smoking-Non-Smokers/dp/1402718616

So, now that I'm smoke-free, what should I do?

[BlueIris]

1. Change your last name to "pro-life"?

Just a thought.

[Phillycat]

6. Wha?

[Bennyboy]

2. Learn to Juggle! (Seriously!)

every time you feel that urge to smoke, just play with your balls! Go get "juggling for dummies" or something and learn a new skill.It is fun. you will amaze your friends.

[Phillycat]

15. I could start busking on street corners for extra cash!

Seriously, that's a good suggestion. Thanks!

[Bennyboy]

22. Or do what I have done....

Teach people to juggle! I can teach anyone over the age of about 8 to juggle in about 15 minutes. Just the basic cascade and show them how to do tricks. Never ever failed.

[BarenakedLady]

3. Congratulations!

That is awesome!

:yourock:

[Phillycat]

16. Thank you!

It feels really great! :)

[Richardo]

4. Accept my congratulations!

WTG, janesez. :patriot:

You'll be amazed at the pay raise you just gave yourself :thumbsup: I remember when my Dad quit smoking, how much more discretionary funds there were.

[Phillycat]

14. It all goes in the France fund...

but don't think I'm not buying myself some shoes when we visit Italy with that money. LOL!

[Richardo]

17. Off topic, but did you see PeaceNikki's companion piece to your sig line .jpg?

:D

[Phillycat]

20. Hee!

No, but that's awesome.

[Road Scholar]

5. Quit thinking about it all the time. That's how I quit smoking. nt

[Phillycat]

8. Actually, the book recommends not to supress the thoughts when they come.

Rather, accept them and remind yourself that each withdrawal pang means I am getting farther and farther away from my addiction. I am winning the battle, and it feels awesome!

I don't do very well trying to ignore things anyway. :)

[Road Scholar]

10. Do whatever works for you, that's for sure. I was torturing myself

thinking about it. I'm not the brightest star in the sky so after about a thousand failures I discovered what I was doing just made me want a cigarette. I was smoking 4 packs a day and was out of control.That was 23 years ago.
I wish you the very best in this, and by all means do what works for you.
I'll be 65 Sunday and I'm sure I wouldn't be here if I hadn't quit smoking.good luck!

[Phillycat]

11. Actually, your theory is a lot of what he espouses in the book.

He says to put out that last cigarette and start living life as a nonsmoker; you're not waiting for anything! That really struck me - always before when I'd quit, I felt like I was waiting for something to happen, I don't know, maybe to wake up one day and feel differently. The author of the book points out: "It's already all happened. You stopped smoking. It's marvelous. What are you going to do, sit around and mope about it? Or enjoy yourself?" Makes a lot more sense to enjoy myself. :D

Thanks for the luck, and the inspiration.

[Wheezy]

7. Congrats!! I used that book too and it worked for me!

I tried other ways and it was miserable and ultimately failed. This book took the miserable out of it.

So proud of you.

Keep it up.

If you can quit smoking, you can do ANYTHING you set your mind to.

Woooooot!!

[Phillycat]

12. I'm hoping to be a good influence on my mom, too.

I'm thinking about buying her the book, except I'm afraid she'll take it as me trying to force her to quit and then she'll be automatically prejudiced against the book. Her health is very poor from smoking, and seeing her this past weekend for Easter, seeing how fragile she's become, was my inspiration to quit.

[Wheezy]

41. Good on yer.

Give her the book. Tell her she can just put it on the shelf-- she doesn't have to read it.

Don't even have a conversation about it unless she wants to.

She might open it up when you are gone.

Good luck!

[KitchenWitch]

9. That is fantastic!

:woohoo:

[Phillycat]

13. Thanks babe. :)

:hug:

[lost-in-nj]

18. WONDERFUL!!!

I never heard of that book...

I used Welbutrin.... its been 13 months!!!!

Keep it up!!!!!!!


and CONGRATS!!!



lost

[Phillycat]

23. I will never again pooh-pooh or scoff at ANYONE'S way of quitting.

If whatever anyone does gets them off the evil weed, then I am 100% behind them. Wellbutrin gave me technicolor nightmares and severe weight gain. But it worked for you. I think everyone has to keep quitting using every method available until one clicks.

I never, ever would have thought that my way would be a book that is (basically) about the power of positive thinking. I'm a skeptical person by nature and normally would be rolling my eyes at that sort of thing. But damned if it didn't WORK! :D

[EstimatedProphet]

19. I vote for taking up heroin

It's usually easier to quit than cigs, so when you're done with it you should have no problem at all.

[Phillycat]

24. I know you're only kidding, but I have to say...

quitting smoking using the method I'm using has not been difficult AT ALL. Don't get me wrong, it's been absolute agony in the past, just the worst experience of my life. But for some reason, this way, it's been mildly irritating, nothing more. And more than that, it's so EXCITING and cool! I love being a nonsmoker!

[EstimatedProphet]

40. That's good

When I quit it was easy for me too, really, in comparison to all the times I had tried to quit before. I think it may have been that I was ready to quit. I used the patch, and I know the patch helped me a lot, but I also think that I had a hard time before because I really didn't want to quit until I was ready.

Also, I have heard that herion has a lower recidivism rate than cigs. I was being serious.

[Longhorn]

21. I am very impressed!

Congratulations and good health! :hi:

[Phillycat]

25. Thank you!

:hi: It's been a great experience so far!

[asthmaticeog]

26. I read that book!

Misunderestimator (:cry:) recommended it in really glowing terms, so I ran out and got it, and I've been smoke free for 9 months. I *kinda* cheated and used Wellbutrin to control my temper for the first few weeks, but that was less for me, more for my coworkers. ;)

[Phillycat]

27. I know what you mean...

the only thing that still seems to be hanging around is this impatience - but I feel so good otherwise that I've been able to control it so far. So glad you quit and so glad I'm a nonsmoker too! The book really is genius.

(I miss misu too.)

[Bragi]

28. Congrats!

I quit for good many years ago after numerous failed attempts, and I offer you the singularly most important bit of advice I can give about how to stop smoking for good, which is this:

The key not smoking is: don't ever again have a cigarette!

I know this sounds dumb, but the fact is that every time I quit and went back to smoking it was because I convinced myself I could cheat just a bit, every once in a while.

The end result was that I would invariably find occasions to smoke with greater frequency, and before long, I was smoking again.

So that's my advice. You will continue to find times when you are tempted to smoke, and this will continue for many months into the future, though your cravings will become less frequent as time goes on.

But just follow my advice, and refrain from smoking ever again, and you'll quit for good. Guaranteed. Start to cheat, and you will go back to smoking.

Best of luck to you.

- B

[Phillycat]

29. Great advice, thanks!

The cravings are very manageable now, so I feel quite certain I'll never smoke again.

But you're absolutely right, I won't test that theory! One cigarette is a chain reaction to the rest of my life of smoking.

[Jimbo S]

30. Go for a walk.

Breathe in some fresh air. It'll feel good.

[Phillycat]

32. You're not kidding!

I've been walking a LOT since I quit - it feels so great to breathe deeply into my lungs and not have to cough.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

31. Gain Weight -- It's a requirement!

ACtually, when I quit a couple of decades ago, I combined that with a program of walking/running. When I got the urge to light up, I went for a brisk walk. Killed the cravings and made up for the compulsive eating.

[Phillycat]

33. Well, not so far, anyway.

Actually, none of the so-called "requirements" of quitting smoking are coming true for me. I don't feel upset, tense, miserable, depressed, angry, deprived, and I'm not gaining weight or yelling at people. I feel a tiny bit impatient, but otherwise great!

That book has been a godsend.

[underpants]

34. ANything but sitting around staring at the walls

Even cleaning would do better than idle time

Good for you. For the most part this weekend will be the telling point. Once you get through 3 or even 4 days you are pretty much done-you just have to get used to physically not smoking.

Patch? Gum?

I would HIGHLY recommend Orbit gum-especially a mix of the orange (citrus) and the yellow. They have some new ones too (the mojito is not advised IMHO)

GOOD FOR YOU!

[Phillycat]

37. God, I hear ya.

Actually being at work has been harder than being at home, because we're really slow at my work right now. At home at least I always have something to do!

Thanks for all the suggestions! :hi: I knew you'd be on this thread eventually - you were one of the people I was thinking of when I posted it - you were an inspiration to me even if I didn't quit right away when you did.

Speaking of, baby/toddler pics? It's been forever!

[cynatnite]

35. The book absolutely did nothing for me...

but whatever works for anyone else is great! :thumbsup:

I say enjoy the freedom! While I do miss smoking a lot at times, it feels like being free for the very first time.

congrats :toast:

[Phillycat]

36. That's exactly how I feel about Wellbutrin,

but it works for so many people, I'm going to keep my mouth shut from now on! :D

I don't miss it at all yet. I am so damned grateful to be a nonsmoker.

[Dangerously Amused]

38. Wow, congratulations!

:bounce:


I am so happy for you!

And thank you for sharing your story. I'm not a smoker, but I am definitely going to make note of the book so I can suggest it or give it to those I encounter who are also trying to quit.

Hmmm. Now I wonder of the principles in that book would help me kick my caffeine addiction...

:think:

[Phillycat]

39. I don't know if it would work for other addictions...

but it worked for me for smoking, for sure! I don't know any other smokers anymore, except my mom, and I think she'll be pissed off if I give it to her, but I would definitely give the book to any smokers in my life!

Thanks! :hi:

[Tikki]

42. Rearrange all the furniture...

change as many routines as you can.

Hang out with as many nonsmokers as you can.

Wash and dry clean as many smoke scented items as you can.

It takes about three weeks to start living comfortably without.

After three weeks reward yourself to something fun. Really fun.

Remember it is getting harder to smoke outside your home. Ex. Public places..
Remind yourself that as a nonsmoker you are ahead of the curb and that you will never be
denied as a nonsmoker.

Ps Congratulations...and by the way..as of the last 48 hours you are a nonsmoker.

Tikki

[GoddessOfGuinness]

43. Enjoy your breath!

Start walking...You'll be amazed by your lung capacity! Congrats!

23 years smoke-free here...