NWR: chantex and other ways to quit smoking

I didn't use anything like Chantix. I tried quitting a bit at a time, about a dozen times. Finally went cold turkey and haven't smoked now since September 1999. My husband used the patch.

I think that you need something to motivate you. For me, there is a chart by (I believe) the American Heart Association. It tells you how your body benefits day by day, month by month, year by year when you stop. The chart really kept me on track.

You could take the money you spent smoking and put it in a jar. The money adds up fast. Seeing it really drives the point home.

I used the patch, and A LOT of motivation from FH. I will celebrate 2 years, 2 days after our wedding.

I quit several years ago using the patch and tootsie roll pops.... I got a couple cavities, but they were worth it.

My cousin was able to quit using Chantix, and it worked for my mom for a while. Mom would cough up tar; it was disgusting. The pills worked while she was taking them.

My mom has smoked over 40 years. She has tried pills, patch, shots, gum, cold turkey, and even hypnotism. Different things work for different people. My mom hasn't really wanted to stop, which is why she still smokes. You'll have to commit and know that even on here, you have a support system =)

Chantix worked for me...the first time was over a year, until I had one too many drinks while camping ask FH for a hit of his!

You will have some very vivid dreams...mine weren't nightmares but it was almost as though they were real life.

, My Stepfather started Chantix in January, and is now smoke free!! He has been smoking his whole life. We are so proud of him!!

He called me the other day and was like "thats it, i woke up to have my morning smoke and i couldnt even smoke it, Im done, i am officially done smoking!" He is so proud of himself, I am SO proud of him too..

Now only if my mom would go along with him.. hehe

GOOD LUCK!!

You do have to really want it. Whenever I would smoke, I would feel so guilty and beg FH to forgive me, but one night I said to him, that was my last cigarette. I had never said that before. And it was my last cigarette. I didn't want to disappoint him. And keeping track of the days really helped, like once you get to a week, you think, well, I don't want to start over again! Does your FH smoke also? Best of luck!

Thanks everyone! I am planning on trying the hypnotist next. I have smoked for 15 years and am SO scared! Maltese I think that will be the hardest when I drink, I am going to give up the wine for a bit to see if that helps. Planning a wedding and buying a house is probably not the best time to give up these vices but I have waited long enough!

A former coworker tried Chantix and almost got divorced from the side effects. He went pretty much dead inside, no emotions, incredibly annoyed by his wife, hated everything.

He got off it and was fine (well, for several more years, they really are divorced now). Though she was pretty awful, so probably not ALL of his feelings were from Chantix.

Thats what we did....we literally avoided social interactions with our friends for months until we go to the point where we thought we could be able to handle the drinking and fighting the smoking urges.

Not telling you to discourage, but the weight gain IS real. Watch what you're eating...the first time I quit I ended up gaining 15 lbs!

Stephanie, yeah not going to lie I was listening to the Dr. list the side effects and was like uhmmm? but I will try it.

UGH I know I am scared of that too! I am hoping that it will even out with the not drinking and that I will get back into running....that is if it EVER stops snowing!

Get some Tootsie Pops or something...its better than shoving potato chips into your mouth and not realizing it!

My dad was able to quit by hypnotism. I'm considering going to quit biting my nails.

Good luck and keep us posted!!

I quit cold turkey but I also only smoked for 6 years. What helped me was that I quit right before I started a new job, so that broke the habit of taking smoke breaks. This is a weird one but I was obsessed with gourmet lollipops, like those round fat ones (sounds dirty in this context) that cost like $1.50 each. It helped with the hand/mouth fixation and was still cheaper than smokes!

I had a friend who took Chantix and went pretty cray-cray (mood swings, emotionally unstable,irritable) but she was already a little out there before hand, but when she stopped taking it and basically went back to normal. BUT I have known quite a few people who had no side effects and it has worked great for.

I had tried the patch many times, but I found that drinking (socially) was my trigger and no matter what would always send me back to smoking.

October 2013 I read the book "Easy Way to Stop Smoking" By Alan Carr and haven't had a puff since finishing that book. I've heard it working for some and not for others - but you are supposed to continue smoking while you read it.

I stayed away from drinking for a bit - but I also used an E-Cig (no nicotine) for times I felt I needed SOMETHING and it was nice carry around for emergencies, but I don't even use that any more. SO after smoking for 13 years, I have now been smoke free for almost 16 months.

I also always attempted to quit in winter because I HATED braving the cold for cigs - so that was a motivator as well lol

BTW I didn't not really gain weight - 2-3 lbs at most. It's avoidable, just don't replace cigarettes with food!

I have never smoked a cigarette in my life, but did hear some seemingly wonderful advice from a friend who was trying to quit. Before she actually stopped smoking, she stopped all her smoking habits. She allowed herself to smoke as much as she wanted, but she stopped smoking in her car, after meals, first thing in the morning, etc. Then after a couple months she cut down on how much she smoked. She said it made it way easier to quit because she wasn't triggered by certain situations.

I would recommend checking with your state for resources to help quit. In CT we have the the quitline. They provide free coaching, and other resources to help you quit, they will even help you put together a personal plan.

DH quit on January 15th after reading a book called "Allen Carr's Easy Way to Quit Smoking." He smoked at least a pack a day and hasn't smoked once since finishing the book. Good luck!

Wow 2 people have mentioned that book, I might have to order it. That sounds like great advice about cutting down on the triggers. Thanks everyone and congrats to everyone who has quit!

Both my uncle and my mom successfully quit smoking using Chantix. My uncle didn't have many side effects, apparently. My mom did experience some - mostly temperature related, like she would get really hot, then get really cold. It sucked, but she was able to deal with it. She tried to keep herself busy to keep her mind off smoking and would go for a walk if she felt a craving. She used the money system too - putting away the money she would have spent on smokes to buy clothes etc. It's been over a year and I am sooo proud of her! You can do it!