Profile for maddingo - help me quit smoking... cause i really really should

maddingo aka b is a boy, has been a member since May 22, 2005, has scored 2,438 submissions, giving an average score of 1.92, helping 61 designs get printed.

Jan 23 '12 by maddingo
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help me quit smoking... cause i really really should

so here is the thing

I have smoked for EVAR... cause i looked so G** D*** kewl doing it when I was a teen ???? meh...

whatever I realize (and have for a very long time) it is a stupid habit.

now however my wife is sick

and the thought of standing out side the damn treatment appts smoking makes me wanna throw up.

I tried cold turkeying it ...NOPE..no go

I called this thing thru work and they are enrolling me and sending me patches /gum and whatnot.

but anyways

i you smoke and wanna quit with me let me know

if you used to smoke and stopped tell me about that.

if you just wanna say "hey dumbass don't smoke" that is fine too i guess... cause smoking is indeed quite stupid.

if you are still a kid (as some are here) just don't start ...evar... you will live to regret it.

I don't think they do it now a days but we use to get hella cheap smokes in teh Navy.. BRILLIANT idea oh well.

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[+duracell-] on Jan 23 '12 at 3:08pm

I quit by replacing my addiction with a healthier addiction.. that which is easier to quit.
So when you get to like day 4 of no cigs and are craving one really bad. Have a shit ton of something you sometimes crave (for me it was ice cream). Maybe for you its pizza or beer or working out/sports or.. whatever.

ignzed on Jan 23 '12 at 3:10pm

I'vejustquitsmoking should have some good advice to give...

On more serious note, good on ya for getting real with it. Commit!

littlem on Jan 23 '12 at 3:12pm

hey, dumbass...

lol

good luck, buddy. i really hope you can kick-it. it's going to be tough, but i know you can do it!

maddingo on Jan 23 '12 at 3:14pm

kewl thanx guys good idea duracell

I'm not sure i want start hitting the icecream... I went to the doctor last week...sadly i was about a personal "best" weight 205lbs (holy crap) but OTOH i'm 6'2" so... meh.. but i should get back down to 190.

but yeah ... i need to find something to do instead for sure.

tracerbullet on Jan 23 '12 at 3:20pm

every time you crave a cigarette, punch a hipster in the face instead. you'll be solving two problems at once.

maddingo on Jan 23 '12 at 3:23pm

yes... tracer ideas ++

oh look out hipsters cause i crave cigs frequently ...

shirtflirt on Jan 23 '12 at 3:31pm

very tough question dingo but i think with most people who successfully quit, it's ALL about motivation. physical addiction is still a mental hurdle. how strong are you, mentally?

maddingo on Jan 23 '12 at 3:33pm

i'm still standing shirt ...and i've seen some shit storms in my time..so i guess pretty strong.

plus i need to channel my anger at cigs....ask around my anger is a POWERFUL FORCE =p..... screw you cigarettes

pyr4lis on Jan 23 '12 at 3:51pm

my old room mate did it duracells way. She replaced cigarettes with peanut M&M's and gum. Not great but it was easier for her to quit the candy and diet after she kicked the smoking habit.

I can't stand cigarettes. I lost an "Uncle" actually he was my grandma's little brother, but I called him Uncle anyways, to some form of cancer that he developed from years of smoking. It got in his lungs or something equally horrible. I was pretty young but I remember him distinctly.

Just the thought of getting cancer and remembering my Uncle was enough to keep me from bending to the peer pressure as a kid. Also cigarettes smelled bad.

Sorry if I sound harsh giving your situation... but smoking has always been a very sensitive topic for me and I really don't see any way to sugar coat the dangers of smoking. :/

maddingo on Jan 23 '12 at 3:54pm

no worries ... i ain't no baby i don't need things sugar coated.. sorry about your uncle by the way.

my own grandpa died from smoking (good guy .. tough old man.. i respected him a lot).

if i could do it over again i'd have not smoked but you know trying to do what i can now.

opifan64 on Jan 23 '12 at 4:00pm

I smoked for about ten years and then quit when I started feeling crappy (coughing all the time). I used the gum and started exercising and generally focusing on my health. It was very difficult but if I can do it anyone can. I don't think I have exceptionally strong willpower or anything.

There's a book some people absolutely swear by. I'll try to remember the name.

very sorry to hear about your wife. I hope her treatment is going well.

shirtflirt on Jan 23 '12 at 4:01pm

true, you're still standing...but is this not one of the toughest endeavors you're embarking on? that's the gist i caught from the post. we're all tested when we didn't even realize there was an exam handed out. i know you'll get to where you're going.

opifan64 on Jan 23 '12 at 4:02pm

it might be this book if I remember correctly

Katiedidart on Jan 23 '12 at 4:08pm

right there with you dude. Last weekend I started cutting back... seems to be easier at work though, keeping track of how much i smoke that is and making a conscience decision NOT to take a break. But sooner or later I'm going to have to deploy some of those "replacement tactics", chew on some gum or something, because I tend to smoke when I'm bored or really stressed out. *puts out cigarette* ... not easy, heh.

Good Luck!!!

jeffreyg on Jan 23 '12 at 4:28pm

that's it Eric.

i've been an on/off smoker since high school and i've just been slowly cutting down little by little. i do have an occasional one when I go out, but I haven't bought myself a pack in months

shirtflirt on Jan 23 '12 at 5:19pm

so what jeff is saying is that mooching will lead (hopefully) to quitting

shirtflirt on Jan 23 '12 at 5:19pm

ah ha

jeffreyg on Jan 23 '12 at 5:26pm

haha hush, al.

Sarcasticatbest on Jan 23 '12 at 6:28pm

An ex co worker's mom stopped by eating carrot sticks, hand occupation was necessary. They have these little fake cigarettes to suck on now, I can't tell ya if they're any good though.

Mya Jamila on Jan 23 '12 at 6:46pm

I'm not sure what the book is Eric posted that Jeff said was the one but Allan Carr's Stop smoking book is what we carry at work and my old manager mentioned once that she has an aunt that had been smoking for 40 years that quit, and never went back, with the help of the book.

Mya Jamila on Jan 23 '12 at 6:58pm

I lost an aunt before I was born to something smoking and weight related. But my uncle quit cold turkey (The family found out months later when he mentioned it in conversation. Talk about a shock.) after about 35-40 years of smoking because he found he couldn't breath as easily as he used to be able to when running.

I haven't smoked (I realize I've an addictive personality / weak will) but I think some kind of exercise, coupled with a food or something, would be the way to go. Kill two birds with one stone, yes?

myteemo on Jan 23 '12 at 7:43pm

I came from a family where both parents were heavy smokers. My dad continues to be, even though he has to take inhalers and his own dad spent many years on an oxygen tank and basically died of emphysema. He's headed on the same path. I took up regular smoking when I was 14. I smoked up to 2 packs a day until I was 19. I finally stopped because I moved far away from home and found myself in an environment where the people around me found smoke repulsive. So little by little I cut myself off. I pretty much went cold turkey, but can't really say I was 'off' cigarettes until around age 27. I'd have relapses. In the end, it has to be something you want to do.

myteemo on Jan 23 '12 at 7:45pm

Also, to this day I have shitty lungs and couch more than I should for being off smoking so long. I think it's from growing up in a smoking environment. If you have kids, that should be reason enough. The whole second hand smoke thing.

myteemo on Jan 23 '12 at 7:46pm

*couch = cough

thirteendaisies on Jan 23 '12 at 10:19pm

You could try one of those stop smoking hypnosis cd's. You can relax to the lilting sound of "don't smoke dumb ass" repeated over and over in your ear. But seriously if you're good at relaxing and taking suggestion it is supposed to make it at least a little easier to quit. I don't smoke so I haven't tried the stop smoking cd's, but I've tried a de-stressing cd which is nice to listen to. Good luck.

loorrrd on Jan 23 '12 at 10:34pm

Just quit 2 months ago. Just try to lessen your smoking first. like 1-2 sticks a day? That's how i did it. Not buying your own pack helps.

Good luck! You can do it

Schledosia on Jan 23 '12 at 10:41pm

Use the StickK website to help. It doesn't sound like it will work, but it will. They have structured contracts to help you quit, just make sure you find a referee who won't be afraid to report you.

jeffreyg on Jan 23 '12 at 11:43pm

me and my best friend just decided we're quitting for good. no more smoking when going out. LETS DO THIS

maddingo on Jan 24 '12 at 1:18am

kewl kewl quitting buddies neat.. thanx

i will have to check out some of the advice in here... need to quit this stupid habit for sure...

Kookaberry on Jan 24 '12 at 1:48am

I was trying to find the article and can't at the moment, but essentially the gist of it is that one super effective way to stop smoking is to fling yourself into working out hardcore. Doing something like marathon training or cross fit makes it incredibly unpleasant to try to smoke. I am unsure how realistic that kind of time dedication is to your situation, but perhaps there is a way to work it in during times when your wife is busy.

On the other hand, I can't tell you how mind boggling it was to me to watch marathoners light up at the finish line. I don't know if they're completely insane or completely badass. It's one thing to down a beer but I don't know how the frick they deprive oxygen from their lungs that way after running 26 miles.

maddingo on Jan 24 '12 at 11:10am

so here is what i've done so far

still waiting on the materials from the stop smoking program people

but today... i waited 20 minutes after getting up before having a smoke and I only had 1 so far... (often i would have 2 on the back patio after waking up.)

also i have banned smoking in the car.. (new car so that is a good idea anyways).

blah blah blah ...today i'm just trying to see where the urges come and keep track and if possible delay acting on the urge to smoke for 10~15 mins or so.. and not chain smoke obviously.

will see... man i hate to say but i've been near as makes no difference up to 2packs a day for the last couple years so it is ummm going to be interesting quitting.

Kookaberry on Jan 24 '12 at 11:22am

Oh man, expensive habit! Next time you want to smoke maybe you can daydream about all the awesome crap you can buy with your extra money instead. The iPhone had some app featured a while back where it told you how much money you have saved by not smoking.

shirtflirt on Jan 24 '12 at 1:33pm

that's good dude
gotta start with small, boring, very difficult steps.

then it gets a little easier each day

Mountain Gnome on Jan 24 '12 at 1:43pm

That Allan Carr book that opifan linked to, helped me quit.
Good luck mate! You can do it!

Katiedidart on Jan 24 '12 at 7:46pm

Down to about half a pack (from a pack a day). I'm getting there. How you doing?

maddingo on Jan 24 '12 at 11:42pm

i did ok ~ i was certainly under 2 ... but over 1 pack which is bad..but rome wasn't built in a day apparently.

considering all the stuff i have going on i was ok w/ keeping 1.5~ish packs .. going to see what i can do tomorrow.

Katiedidart on Jan 25 '12 at 4:51pm

tru dat ;)

Take it a day-at-a-time.... like everything else in life. Hope your wife's doing better. I bet she's proud of your efforts.

I think tomorrow instead of taking one of my breaks outside. I might just go to a secluded corner and draw for 15 minutes.... it will get me away from my stupid cubicle but won't tempt me to light up, since we can't smoke inside. (ugh, just the thought of cutting out a smoke makes me want to light up, errrrrrr!!!!) sorry, for not ending on a strong note here.

opifan64 on Jan 26 '12 at 4:20pm

Just my two cents, but In some ways cutting down makes quitting harder because it makes each cigarette extra-super-special and strengthens the psychological attachment to lighting up. From my own experience I was perpetually thinking about my next cigarette (to the point of obsession) whereas when I genuinely put my foot down and decided not to smoke at all there was a certain liberty in knowing I would no longer be a slave to my cravings. I was done. I did chew Nicorette to take the edge off, which for me helped a lot. Quitting the Nicorette became a whole new challenge unfortunately... but it's not quite as hard to quit the gum as it is the cigarettes. I also treated myself to a Cuban cigar now and then to satisfy my desire for blowing contemplative smoke around.

d3d on Jan 26 '12 at 4:26pm

my dad smoked a pack a day for 20 years and stopped cold turkey just because he's a belligerent grumpy stubborn bastard, just like you. you'll be fine.

Chipmnk on Jan 26 '12 at 4:27pm

My dad used to smoke but he quit by using the gum a while back. I guess it works.

Good luck regardless.

WanderingBert on Jan 26 '12 at 4:34pm

I've never been a smoker, but I've had friends who've quit- the suggestions here are basically what they did, but another idea I remember a couple of them implimented was to keep a diary- or log book if you will- to keep track of progress but also to keep track of things that would set them off to seek the comfort of a cigarette, or certain times of the day they craved most, and also what the days they found easiest had going for them (eg. one found it a bit easier on days when she was going out with friends, non-smokers, not to smoke) - Just stuff to help them understand their own addiction a bit better so they could prepare and help themselves quit.

Katiedidart on Jan 26 '12 at 7:48pm

opifan64 - You are right, man. I need to put my tiny little foot down. Yesterday and today I noticed myself focusing on when my next smoke would be, to the point of physical symptoms... probably looked like an old woman trying to wet her whistle. :p ewww

Heybert - Maybe a journal would be a good idea. Because currently I'm keeping a mental log of all of those things. And it seems to be the only thing I think about anymore. Stupid.

4 days later

Sarcasticatbest on Jan 31 '12 at 12:58pm

How are you doing?

shirtflirt on Jan 31 '12 at 1:09pm

^ yes

ivanrodero on Jan 31 '12 at 1:28pm

I don't know if it's going to help you, but last year I wrote this blog about my process of stopping smoking.

ivanrodero on Jan 31 '12 at 1:28pm

this link

ivanrodero on Jan 31 '12 at 1:30pm

Damn html skills!

Good luck with that anyway, the first 3 days are the worst but after that is super easy.

jeffreyg on Jan 31 '12 at 2:19pm

i went a week without one, then i drunkenly smoked half a pack to myself this past weekend. but then i woke up with so much chest pain and coughing like a mother and that was the last straw. gonna start running next week to clear them lungs out.

Katiedidart on Jan 31 '12 at 9:01pm

How's it going dude? I hope your wife's surgery goes well. Stay tough.

20 days later

Katiedidart on Feb 21 '12 at 7:41pm

So you probably still have a bunch of stuff going on. But I wanted to tell you that though I didn't kick smokes. I did manage to quit drinking soda, though, so here's to small wins!!! Good luck on everything!

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gerpander, at 12:24am on Mar 15, 2006
I want to see my hand on your ass.

Roostersauce, at 12:16am on Mar 15, 2006
...why the hell did i even click that?
jesus..i realized what i did the seocnd i clicked it... and immediatly regreted it

..whew

steve_swartz, at 12:21am on Mar 15, 2006
looks better than i thought it would....

mlnewco, at 12:42am on Mar 15, 2006
is that really your ass or are you just borrowing it?

littlem, at 2:24am on Mar 15, 2006
do you think happy panties would make me happy?

littlem, at 2:41am on Mar 15, 2006
"down on all fours!"

littlem, at 2:50am on Mar 15, 2006
hey, leave my beaver out of this!

kayceislost, at 1:19am on Mar 22, 2006
Oh I will enjoy the traffic cone. ASS!

tRaSH_PaRADiSE, at 11:59pm on Mar 22, 2006
I used to have ritaline, but sold it to some older kids at school, they liked to crush it up and sniff it in the toilets cause they got hayfever

realslimnatey, at 12:28am on Apr 7, 2006
i mean, i should put this in caps:

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