Quitting Smoking Advice Needed

I quit about 8 years ago had a 2 pack a day habit for about 11 years.
I did it cold turkey, it was hard but if she puts her head to it she can do it. The main thing is to get away from the everyday things that she would do to smoke. Complete life style change is needed. I did not go out for over two months stayed away from smokers for that same amount of time, did not drink for 9 months.

There are medical options too. Some of my friends quit with chantix it works if she wants to quit.
If she really needs words of encouragement she can call people who have quit for support

The trick for me was setting a quit date a couple of weeks in advance. I used the patch I didn't follow their 3 month program. I did one week of 21mg, 1 week of 14mg and 1 week of 7mg and I was done. It totally takes care of the physical cravings and didn't turn me into a raging lunatic from withdrawl.

Missing the smoke after breakfast was tough. So what I did was add 1/2 an hour to my alarm clock so I didn't have time to dick around in the morning before going to work.

The other problem was my friday night beers. I had to quit that for awhile If I went out with friends I abstained or had ceasers instead. I found that to be the hardest as any smoker will tell you there's nothing better than a beer and a smoke.

I found it easier after about 6 months. But that's a monkey that's always there.

I did the electronic cigarette method and it worked wonders. I still use the thing, but only because I never wanted to actually "quit" and I enjoy playing around and moding the thing. However, you can quit using a electronic cigarette. You just have to gradually lower the amount of nicotine you use.

My solution: quit with another smoker and turn it into a contest or wager.

A buddy and I quit at the same time, a few years ago. What we did was we each put a Twoonie into a jar each week at our band practice. We agreed that if either cheated, the other got the jar of Twoonies. If no one cheated and we made it to 3 months, we'd take the money and split a bottle of rum. We both survived the first 3 months and did it again. It worked for us.

I quit 10 years ago after 15 years of failed attempts.

What did it for me? a week on the patch to clear my lungs, then cold turkey.....cold turkey from cigarettes never worked, I've tried it a thousand times.

I wish your sister the best. Tell her that she's a good person and deserves to quit if and when she decides to really go for it.

She needs to reach that threshold point where you say something like "Darn it! I have had enough!"

You really have to want to quit, not just illgiveitashotsurewouldbeniceificould.
I smoked since I was 11 and just quit not long ago after 30 plus years.
I tried half ass quitting several times over the years and couldn't do it because I didn't really want to,I enjoyed it.
But I realized that my daughter is getting close to the age where I started and so I said "that's it, no way am I going to give her any excuse to start."
I quit cold turkey.
First month was rough, but it doesn't bother me at all any more.

Personally it was the wife and I quitting together that made the differnce. I probably wouldn't have quit if she didn't have her breathing problems.

We both smoked for over 40 years and had tried quitting cold turkey numerous times. One time we went for 10 months and then fell off the wagon so to speak but what was different this time was "chemicals" she used zyban and I used the patch.

Both of them worked but if your sister decides on the patch tell her to throw the instructions out the window. If you follow them you'll be smoking as soon as you get to step two. I stayed on the strongest dose for about a month longer than they said and then stepped down with the knowledge that I could always go back to the stronger dose if I needed to.

I then stayed on step two for a couple of weeks longer than they said and to my suprise one morning I woke up and started puttering around the house without changing my patch and guess what I never missed it. So I decided to skip step three and have been smoke free since. Knock on wood.

So, tell your sister that whatever works for her personally is alright and one hell of alot better than smoking. And the use of a stop smoking aide isn't the sign of a weak person with no will power.

No matter how you quit and what you use, you need a strong will and a good reason.
What that reason is, is personal.

A big glass jar on the fridge two weeks before. Or your desk at work.
Slap on the first patch and toss what a pack of smokes (or two) costs at 7-11. When the urge hits, shake the jar. Remind yourself, incentive.
After a week, you'll be able to add the money at the end of the day.
After 2 weeks you can probably ditch the patch, just looking at the jar works.
After a month, you should be good. And you can count the money. Keep doing it until you can buy whatever the hell you want.

Remember don't take the cost of patches or Nicorettes out of the jar. That's medicine, you save the receipts and claim that off your taxes!

*worked for me and I lasted a year, but trying a 2nd time the kids swiped the money.

Bump.

It's been a couple weeks, not too much longer before the nicotine is gone.

How's it been going for your sister?

She hasn't tried yet. I forwarded a bunch of this stuff too her to try to ease her mind a bit. The doc says she doesn't have a choice so she'll quit eventually, but I suspect that she's pretty spooked by the whole idea and will drag it out for a while longer.

BTW, much thanks to everyone who replied. Sorry for being rude and not saying thanks earlier. [B-o]

I quit last May but I still smoked one every once in a great while. But this has been the longest I have ever gone so far. It's been over 2 months since I had any kind of smoke. The best thing that works for me is staying busy. I've been working 60+ hours a week and doing school full time. I've been so busy that I forget about smoking.

I would take on a new hobby, or try to learn something new. If keep at it long enough you should eventually forget all about it.

Another thing, you have to WANT to quit. Without that thought, it will be impossible.