It’s so good to hear something motivational:

Next month I will have stopped smoking cigarettes for three months. I smoked a pack and a half for about 20 years. Your right about changing your other habits that go along with smoking. I used to play online poker and smoke all day long. I went to the doctor to get help because I knew I couldn’t do it on my own. He prescribed Wellbutrin, and I was to take it for 10 days before quitting so it would be in my system. On the 10th day I still had 1/2 a pack left. I wanted to be in control of the cigarettes and not them be in control of me. I grabbed the pack, all the ash trays and lighters, and threw them in the outside trash. I only took the Wellbutrin for one month and have NEVER craved a cigarette since. This was my first attempt to quit smoking and it was a complete success. I knew I could no longer sit and play poker all day so I started working out (because I gained 8 pounds in one week!!) Within one week of quitting, I could mow my lawn without losing my breath. I always heard you have to replace one habit with another if you want to be successful in stopping. I only exercised for 6 months, which was great and when I stopped working out I still never went back to smoking. Also, sour candy works really great to give your mouth something to do. Jolly Ranchers are fantastic because they last a long time.
Anyway, good luck in your journey to a healthier life, and just don’t give up. I feel 100 % better now that I can breathe and my breath isn’t knocking people out…lol.

It’s proven that nicotine is horribly addictive, and so I get tired of hearing people talk about how it’s all about willpower and that people who smoke are week.  Why else would we all be here??    There are so many different ways to stop smoking cigarettes now, from good old cold turkey top prescribed aids.

Surround yourself with supportive people, even if you have to join a group.  Stop hanging out in smoking establishments.  Keep your hands and mouth busy with suckers or gum.  And if you have to find some kind of aid, then DO IT!  There’s no shame in doing whatever you can to quit a habit that’s so bad for your body.

A lot of people hope to be occasional smokers (which only really works for a small percentage of people and is STILL unhealthy!) or try to just by ‘light’ cigarettes because they think they’re not going to kill them as quickly.  The truth is, the best thing you can do for your body is Stop Smoking Cigarettes!

The only kind of “cigarette” you should be using is the kind they use as part of nicotine withdrawal treatment. There is no “good” kind of tobacco for you to smoke. Chewing tobacco is a risk factor for cancer of the mouth.  Try throwing all the money you spend on smokes in a jar for a year and buy yourself something with it. Or fill up your gas tank at least once (ha!).

Most people know that smoking decreases the appetite.  This doesn’t mean you can’t quit while you’re trying to lose weight!  In fact, losing weight should make you more aware of your health, and as you try to develop a healthy lifestyle, what better time to stop smoking cigarettes?  Think of how much easier it will be to exercise, whether it be jogging, hitting the gym or just taking a stroll around your neighborhood, when you’re not wheezing or coughing.

I read this the other day.  I thought my readers would have some insight for this woman!

I have several things I need to do and am not sure which order or the best way to do it. I need to do the following:

Loose 50 lbs
Quit smoking Cigarettes
Quit taking Effexor

I am not sure in which order I should do this. I KNOW quiting Effexor will be a long process. I have done this before and it took months. (Like 6)
For quiting smoking, I will be doing it cold turkey. I will not be using any of the quit smoking aids. (for financial reasons)
Does anyone have any advice for me as to the order I should work on this.
Thanks so much!!
Effexor dosage is 75 mg.

Leave some comments in response if you have any thoughts to share!

My neighbor’s boyfriend has been smoking for three years.  He’s down to two or three a day, and though we’re proud of him, my neighbor is DONE with the smell and the mess and is afraid he’s just going to start blowing through a pack a day again.  She’s wanting to help him totally quit.

It’s hard to encourage someone you love to give up such an addictive habit.  I told her to tell him that every puff off a cigarette is a minute off of your life.  Any other words of wisdom?  Leave in the comments and I’ll pass along!!

Yes They Do!  Most people get very cranky when they stop smoking cigarettes.  But it doesn’t last forever.  Isn’t a few days worth of irritability worth creating a healthier you (or mate) and saving tons of money?

This is a story my neighbor submitted to me:

I have been smoking since I was 10 years old. That was 30 years ago. What are some of the cheap & easiest ways to stop smoking and get into better health?  I also live with smokers and ride with 2 smokers to work. I am always around it.

I personally think living around other smokers is going to make this a tough one.  Leave a comment if you have any suggestions!!

Whenever I am driving around, or when I am sitting at the house doing nothing, that’s when you crave them the most.  is it just out of habit?

Smoking is such a hook on so many levels, isn’t it? So to stop smoking cigarettes, you might have to change your habits on top of dealing with the nicotine addiction.

If you think it’s really NOT the nicotine, then try a candy cane. You can still inhale (air) deeply and mimic the act of smoking with the candy cane. Or get hooked on vitamin water or something. Just substitute one activity that you can do while driving safely. If you’re just sitting around the house, that’s easier–you have to stop the desire when it crops it, and you can do like five push ups when you get the crave. Do them slowly and breathe deeply. I found when I was trying to quit that if I could get past that initial urge, I was fine till the next urge hit. I ate those hard red & white peppermints, and drank ice cold water to put a taste in my mouth that was absolutely horrible to my idea of what would taste good with a cigarette. I was a coffee and cig person, so the candy & ice water combo was just not something I wanted to have with or before a cigarette. Another idea is to get one of those squeezy things that weight lifters use to develop their grip. You could have one in your hand while driving, and one in each hand while sitting around the house. Squeeze and breathe your way through the urges. It will get better if you just don’t cave. Hope that helps.