Any X Smokers here?

[sherilynn]

I'm ashamed to say I'm a heavey smoker and really want to quit along with my new raw life style.


If anyone could share any information that helped quit this nasty habit please share.

I do have some Chantix which has a pretty high success rate but also pretty nasty side effects I've seen. I will go this route but would rather not.

Thanks,

Sheri

[lavendarJ]

http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?t=35137&highlight=smokers

http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?t=38819&highlight=cigarettes

I'm not an ex-smoker but here is a discussion thread related to smoking that provide some support for you as you journey through the issue of smoking

[Bananna]

My blog...first couple of entries details how I did it (July-bottom post). Worked like a charm...virtually no fits or anything.

Some of my favorite solutions to potential 'holes' in your path....

Be prepared to avoid social situations that will make it harder till your over the hump, drink a tall glass of water if you start to panic a bit, change your routine around, oh and the best one is to make a list of all the reasons you need/want to be a non-smoker. Read said list many times a day minimum, and especially if you are feeling weak.

Don't say I need to quit smoking. Say I want to be, or I am, a non-smoker! A non-smoker, you? Totally you!

[Lelê]

Sheri, when I started raw, I had already narrowed down to about 6 cigarettes a day, but to get there, what I did was this: I would cut 1 (or 2, depending on how much you smoke) a day, allowing myself less and less. I would "make a cut" every couple of days.

I would have to think my schedule and space my cigs well. Like, I would save them for after meals and when my son was in bed (I always smoked outside). You get surprised how well you deal with a few less cigarettes.

So, when I started raw, I was already down to about 6 or cigs a day. First, I decided to stop at once...then I thought it would be better to allow myself 1 (UNO) cigarette a day. The first few days that worked out... Then one day, I slept without smoking at all. The day after that, I tried to smoke and it felt like I had licked an ashtray. A wet ashtray. With 20 cig butts on it. It was disgusting! I never smoked again. Haven't for about a week nor even wish to do so.

Also, my sense of taste and smell changed drastically in those 2 weeks and I can't even imagine lighting a cigarette now.


Anyway... if you don't want something drastic, maybe you can try this way... just a suggestion. {{hugs}}

[sherilynn]

Sheri, when I started raw, I had already narrowed down to about 6 cigarettes a day, but to get there, what I did was this: I would cut 1 (or 2, depending on how much you smoke) a day, allowing myself less and less. I would "make a cut" every couple of days.

I would have to think my schedule and space my cigs well. Like, I would save them for after meals and when my son was in bed (I always smoked outside). You get surprised how well you deal with a few less cigarettes.

So, when I started raw, I was already down to about 6 or cigs a day. First, I decided to stop at once...then I thought it would be better to allow myself 1 (UNO) cigarette a day. The first few days that worked out... Then one day, I slept without smoking at all. The day after that, I tried to smoke and it felt like I had licked an ashtray. A wet ashtray. With 20 cig butts on it. It was disgusting! I never smoked again. Haven't for about a week nor even wish to do so.

Also, my sense of taste and smell changed drastically in those 2 weeks and I can't even imagine lighting a cigarette now.


Anyway... if you don't want something drastic, maybe you can try this way... just a suggestion. {{hugs}}

Thanks Banana I'm going to your log.

Lele> Very good advice. Thanks

Thank you everyone for your help. This is going to definitely be my biggest challenge. Going raw will be a piece of cake compared to quitting smoking but I'm going to do it :)

[EZ rider]

I quit smoking many years ago before I started down the raw foods path. I used persistence to quit. Everyday after getting up I asked myself if I still wanted to be a non-smoker more then I wanted to be a smoker. Everyday the answer was a very solid YES. Then If I had any cigs I would flush them down the toilet and be glad they were gone. It took many stumbles but it worked because I knew that I wanted to quit smoking and that I would persist until I was free.

[Jenifae]

I quit 11 years ago. Way before RAW. What happened for me was I smoked 2 packs a day for 16 yrs. and I finally hit that bottom of I can't do this anymore or I'm going to die. I did the patch and anti-depressents.
I know you could try Hypnotherapy......I am a Hypnotherapist and have helped people get off the cigs with just that and others with assistance of the patch.
I'm sure there are more natural methods then the patch however. I would start by deciding not to smoke in your house, car, etc. Make it harder to smoke for yourself and try to cut down if you can one cigarette at a time.
GOod luck and many Blessings.
Jen

[Bananna]

Your lungs are very precious. Breathing....you know, it's very supportive. :D

[coco]

cigaretter addiction is two fold, the physical and the psychological addictions operate seperately. for me the best thing to do was to conquer them one at a time by breaking the physical addiction (smoking something else), then i was very surprised to find that the psychological addiction took care of itself! but i couldn't have done it other wise.

i smoked a blend of herbs i put together from the health food store, equal parts of mullein and lobelia (contains lobelin which mildly mimicks the effects fo nicoteine without being addictive) and a pinch of catnip.
or you can check this out, my girlfriend sam is having great success with it after many years of smoking and trying to quit.
https://www.myrevelle.com/wexec/process.exe?un=samanthabrennan&fn=replicate.wf
good luck!