Count me in. I just have one question though: Why August 5th? Is there something significant about that date? Just curious.
I’ve been trying to quit for a couple of months. I do OK for 4 or 5 days in a row but the moment I have a drink, I want a ciggie. I’ve turned into one of those annoying “I only smoke when I drink” chicks.
August 5 suits me just fine. Carry on.
Another vote for Allen Carr’s EasyWay from me. Understanding exactly why I smoked made it oh so much easier to stay off it in the crucial early weeks. Six months clear now, and the improvement in health and happiness is incredible.
I doubt I could have done it without a couple of minor lifestyle changes though :
Firstly I found it enormously helpful to take up a musical instrument to occupy my hands in idle moments. I chose the guitar. I started playing way before quitting, so I had some competance with the thing before I was picking it up just for something for my hands to do.
Second thing I did was buy a pushbike and cycle several miles a day. At first I huffed and puffed my way round the streets and parks, tiring out inside of a few minutes. These days I have legs like Hercules and can go for many hours.
Third thing, and this turned out to be really important for me but YMMV, I didn’t try to stop drinking at the same time. I kept my social life exactly as it was when I was a smoker. It was hard going at first : having a pint of beer WITHOUT a cigarette seemed plain impossible. I thought I’d never enjoy a drink again. I was so wrong! It’s just a habit to associate them… nowadays I can get rip roaring drunk (if I want to) and have fantastic evenings without so much as wanting to smoke even once. Keep a good book with you at all times though, in case the social scene isn’t exactly stimulating on any given night. Boredom is the danger.
There may be times when you REALLY want a cigarette, ie far more than normal cravings. For example, a good friend of mine died a couple of months after I quit. How I stayed off the cigs then and through the funeral and everything, I don’t entirely know. I have stayed angry at smoking and at the tobacco industry (Carr’s book really helps you see the nature of the con they’ve pulled on us), and that probably helped - ie, “Ok I am colossally down right now because John’s dead and I’ll never see him again BUT I’ll be dipped in dogshit if I’m going to to let that sucker me into smoking another cig.” Just grit your teeth I guess. It won’t last long. And you only need to go through it once, because if you can stay quit through something like that you will stay quit for the rest of your life.
And you don’t need me to point out the benefits. I can breathe properly, I don’t cough or catch cold the whole damn time! I am HEALTHY at last! And richer and happier too. Perhaps best of all, when I think about it, is the massive reduction of the likelihood I’ll end my days prematurely in a cancer ward.
There really is nothing to lose but your chains.
I am at day 47 of not smoking. I have even gotten through a couple of them without thinking about cigs.
Here is the most useful concept I found on the tough days, especially for an essentially lazy person like me.
You don’t have to DO ANYTHING to stop smoking! You only have to NOT DO things. Don’t go to the store for them. Don’t go to the smoking area at your office. Don’t put your lighter in your pocket. Be lazy and self-indulgent, at least on the weekends. Stay in bed, don’t get up.
I found it much better to think in terms of AVOIDING work, than in terms of DOING some self-help program.
I concentrated on my pal that got throat cancer and the fact that I don’t want to die. All joking aside, that’s a biggie. I don’t want to croak any sooner than I have to. I miss them, but not THAT much.
I’m game…I think. I have actually been considering it, seriously, for a week, or so now, but haven’t had that final push that has made me go ahead and do it. I’ve done it, successfully in the past, by myself, so I know it’s something I can do.
I’m curious about the nicotin inhalers, I’ve not seen these, are they OTC, or prescription? Of course, considering the fact that the cigarettes I smoke contain less nicotine in them, than any of the quit smoking aids out there, I’d actually be upping my nicotine intake by trying them, so I’m not sure that’s the way to go.
Many moons ago, my grandma decided to quit, but had forgotten to call my grandpa, and tell him to not buy her a pack of cigarettes on his way home from work. He, of course, did, and she then used that unopened pack of smokes as her verbal punching bag. Any time she got mad, or irritable, etc, etc, she would literally cuss out the pack of cigarettes for being responsible. She never did open it, and hasn’t smoked in over 40 years.
~V
I’ve been toying with the idea of quitting. Especially since the price of cigarettes went up July 1. I smoke about a carton a week at $35+/carton so I could save about $1800/year if I quit. I just don’t think I have the will power to do it again. I’ve quit twice… both times because I was pregnant. I’m not sure why I started up again but I did. I’ve been telling my husband that I’m going to quit by the end of the year but I don’t know if I’ll stick to it. I’m so weak!!
The inhaler is prescription or over-the-counter, I think, but I got my doc to write me a scrip so insurance would pay for it. It cost about $40 and has 30 cartridges of 10 mg. nicotine, “4 mg delivered.” One cartridge is supposed to be 20 minutes “puffing time,” so it’s like 4-5 cigarettes worth. So far (day 8) I haven’t used more than one cartridge a day. One time I puffed on it too much and it made me very nauseous. I imagine you can regulate your puffs to not get too much. I looked at a pack of cigs to see how much nicotine they had but it didn’t say on the package. I’m guessing lights probably have 1mg. Also, to me they look really goofy/stupid (anyone who’s seen the commercial, do you agree?). Since I haven’t smoked anywhere but at home outside or in the garage for years, no one used to see me smoke and no one (except hubby) now sees me use the inhaler, so looking goofy isn’t an issue with me.
I wonder too if just replacing the form of nicotine provision isn’t helping any. I think the idea is you have to cut back on the inhaler over time until you don’t need it anymore. I will say that last night from the time I got home from work to bedtime, I didn’t puff on it once. I think also if you only use it when you are having really bad cravings and nothing else is working it can keep you from going for cigarettes.
I don’t want to get in trouble for posting the company phone number; e-mail me and I can give you more info. Also, I’m pretty sure they have a web site.
I’m Canadian, ergo, yes.
No. But I have a history of exceptional violence that is more than adequate to deal with someone voluntarily accepting punishment. 
I remember a couple years ago witht he great no-smoking thread. **Shayna[/a], I seem to remember Wally being very supportive. But one thing I thought was cool was Satan’s smoking meter. It gave number of days/hours/minutes smoke free, amount saved and days added to one’s life. It was cool. Here’s a version I found online:
Well, assuming I can get this post to show up (SDMB is acting wacky) I thought I would put in some more thoughts.
Those of you that have quit a ^5 goes out to you. Those that have quit and started again, join me on August 5th. Since I don’t post that much here (because the SDMB is so darn fickle) come over to Live Journal…I am thinking I might start a stop smoking community. I haven’t seen one but I will look before I start one.
As for the August 5th date, it’s the day after my entire family leaves from a reunion here in town. For me this works great because I will be occupied for 5 days with family crap so I wont be able to smoke as much while they are here. This just seems a good time to psyche myself up for it.
They did a report on the news the other day of a woman who died at age 25 from lung cancer. She started smoking at age 12 and died at 25. I am 33 going on 34 and started smoking at 15. Carol Burnette’s daughter died recently at age 39 of lung cancer. These stories of death scare me. This is not something we should take lightly, especially us women as we tend to take the brundt (I guess because we are those that give life) of diseases like this. I am scared. I don’t want to be clinging to life with tubes and chemo treatments in a few years like my mother did from colon cancer. It may not happen but I am not looking well, I am sick of smelling like an ashtray and I am tired of waking up with a cough. I was not born to destroy myself.
As for any potential weight gain. I am not concerned. I recently took off 10 pounds so if I gain those back I am okay with it. I am vain but not that vain. If I can extend my life by stopping smoking then I am all for it. I may walk around with gloom and doom in my voice and posts but over all I love life and I am not willing to slowly kill myself over something so costly and so stupid.
So for all that are willing to join me, join me. We can be a sound off board for each other. If someone smokes, you can’t beat them up you can only support them. But you have to REALLY want to stop. Think of the reasons you want to stop, write them down and print them off. They can be as vain as you want but smoking is a horrible thing. We do pollute other’s space. We spend too much money. We deny ourselves a good hike in a forest because we can’t breath. Smoking is BAD. We all know that so let’s all band together and work towards a common goal of better health, finances that are balanced and clean smelling clothes.
It’s been 10 years since I quit - I have no desire to light up (some ex-smokers live with near-constant cravings).
My method involved deliberate over-dosing on nicotene - I am now quite allergic, so not likely to resume tobacco use.
Because the specifics of what I did, I am told, can be lethal, I will not go into detail - if you wish to pursue this stratrey, see a REALLY GOOD cardiologist first, and discuss it with her/him.
good Luck!
hh
Smokers-
I had a bit of a relapse (started smoking again) while planning our wedding in September.
I am very nervous about quitting because I became a total (bleep) when I quit before.
I would like to join the August 5th gang. (I think) NO! I do want to. I do. I will. I can.
TC: I think this is a great idea. We can all get healthy together. I am going to go to Amazon and order the Carr book, as it doesn’t seem to be in any of our local libraries or bookstores.
Anyone that has the desire is welcome to stop smoking with me.
It’s expensive, you stink, your teeth are yellow, your lips have little tiny lines around it, your lungs lose capacity, you can’t participate in a lot of things that you would like to.
I spoke with my brother tonight. I have been wanting to get involved in women’s hockey here in the city, I crave it, I want to be a hockey player but given my current state of smoking I couldn’t last out there for very long.
I told him that I would start going with him and my nephew to hockey skating classes in September. With the money I save by not smoking I can afford the equipment. Waiting a month so I can get rid of some of the problems smoking has caused me will be good. I will work to gain my strength up again (I used to be a very strong woman) and also to give my lungs a must needed rest.
He has a pamphlet of the stages your body goes through to heal its self when you quit. He said he would try to hunt another copy down and I will post the positives here based on that pamphlet.
August 5th is a Monday so you may want to warn your co-workers that you might be a little irritable and in need of support.
August 5, 2002 another Great SDMB Smokeout!
techchick what a great idea!
I quit three months ago today, on my wedding day. Couple of peices of nicotine gum, but basically cold turkey. (Keeping busy on my honeymoon helped too…)
I’m rooting for you all - and now I have another ‘push’ to stay off them.
I’m in. August 5th will work great for me as I don’t have anyt changes scheduled for that time frame.
I started smoking at age 19 & quit at age 30. It lasted 2 1/2 years but I started up again & quit again for another 3 1/2 years. I started smoking about 2 years ago & really need to quit again. I could actually stand to gain a few pounds.
I don’t smoke in my bedroom already because I don’t want my clothes & bedding to have that stink to them.
I hate waking up with that taste like the mouth fairy wiped his feet & ass all over my tongue. I’m sick of being out of breath & feeling like there’s a 10-lb stone in the middle of my chest.
I want to be able to keep up with my dog on a run or bike ride. I want to go out dancing with young people & dance all night, til the sweat pours down my face & body, soaking my clothes. I want to be able to have sex for hours again someday. I want to hike the Uintahs with my dog. I want to be free of this drug, like I am free from alcohol & the street drugs. Too long has it kept me from doing the things I want to do.
Join in, it’s a “free for all” to quit.
As for the not stinking? You still do.
We did a silly gift exchange at Christmas. I had purchased a tshirt (that wasn’t silly) for the exchange.
I put it in a Zip-Loc bag, sealed tight the day I got it.
It still smelled of smoke, even through the plastic.
Smoke leaches into everything and it will take several months (from what I understand) to completely rid your clothes and your household items of the smoke smell.
But no matter what, it’s worth it to me to stop smoking. As my dad says, you don’t quit because it’s really not a positive way to look at it, you stop smoking. But that’s my dad.
I quit by never starting.
I found it easier that way.
[sub]we’re talking about tobacco, right?[/sub]
I smoked my first cigarette when I was (ready for this?) 10 years old. My 13 I was pretty much smoking at least a half pack a day. At 17 I smoked 3-4 packs a day.
At 35 I’m smoking about 1.5 packs now.
I think it’s time to stop this sillyness.
Count me in!!!
I’ve got a box of that stop smoking gum today. I’m ready.
I’m going to start trimming my cigarettes per day down to gear up for the final stop date of Aug 5th. That’s 16 days to cut down to next to nothing.
I can do that.
They say the hardest is the habit of smoking and not just the nicotine. I think most of us here can begin to break that habit up for these 16 days.
I figure whenever I want a cigarette, I’ll wait 10 minutes. After 10 minutes I’ll take a cigarette out but not light it for 5 more minutes. I’ve been doing that today and found sometimes 30 minutes will pass from my first craving to when I finaly light up.
I’m also not going to smoke in the car or on the phone. After meals I’ll wait 20 minutes before smoking.
I’m also NOT going to buy multiple packs at the store. I’m going to buy one pack only.
Figuring I smoke about 30 a day, I’m giving myself a schedule.
25 a day by July 24th (this is also the day I start buying a different brand)
20 a day by July 27th
15 a day by July 31st (start smoking menthol… yuk)
10 a day by Aug 1st
0 a day by Aug 5th
Those are a few things I’m going to try to help cut down anyway.
(I thought I’d put those ideas out just in case someone else wants to use them as well)
So it looks like so far we have:
1- techchick68 (our fearless leader)
2- squeegee (perhaps yes?)
3- BrattiAtti
4- Mooch
5- velvetjones
6- VDarlin (yes?)
7- Kiki (perhaps)
8- Jorel
9- jack@ss
10- Seven (me ;))
I wonder if we could have a more fitting thread title (The SDMB Aug 5th Smokeout?) and have a kind moderator sticky this for us?
Of course, I bet the admin want us to keep smoking and die to help relieve some of the SDMB server load… heh heh 
My Granfather hasn’t had so much as a single puff in 41 years and he says he still gets cravings every single day. I’ve been smoking for 11 years now so I can’t even imagine not smoking, especially if I’m going to want a cigarette every day for the rest of my life. I really want to quit but sometimes I feel like the day I quit will be the day I get clobbered by a bus anyway.