Before my quit date

[Samsgurl2018]

Hello all, I have asked an elder this question but I am curious before your quit date, how much did you smoke everyday? Did you guys smoke a certain amount and cut down to none on your quit day? I slipped today and had over 5 and kind of feel guilty. Any feedback would be appreciated. My quit day is November 2. Thank you all in advance for being here for me. 

[crazymama_Lori]

I identified my triggers and filled that section out under My Quit Plan and printed it and stuck it on my refrigerator

[Samsgurl2018]

Good idea. I think that's a great idea because I get busy and forget to check in here. Thank you  

[JACKIE1-25-15]

I smoked roughly 10-11 cigarettes a day before I quit.   I did not do the weaning process. I smoked until my last cigarette was gone which caused me to quit two days following the date I had set to quit.  When I quit, I knew that was the last cigarette.  I was feeling really stupid about smoking.  I had made up in my mind that once I quit, that was it.  Took me a long time to get there.but I am here now and will not look back.   I  am determined never to smoke again. 

Are you doing the suggested readings?  Are you tracking your triggers?  Do you plan to use NRT"s? Planning would help you get a better picture of what to expect. http://www.becomeanex.org/how-to-quit-smoking.php#thl 

[Samsgurl2018]

Hi, I have read and trying to order Allen Carr's book online also because reading that on my phone is a challenge. Lol anyway, my doctor at started me on buproprion 300mg a day. I also am getting free patches in a few days. I did have some generic patches from Walmart from the last time I tried to quit but they won't stay on. I also bought cinnamon gum and have suckers in my office. I have been trying to track my triggers but I guess I need to play around with my quit plan so I can update it. I'm not very tech savvy. Lol all weekend I felt guilty about smoking but it also was just my addiction and habit. I bought adult coloring books and started to color when I had cravings. Today has been difficult to cut down but I've got a little over two weeks to throw these evil things away. My doctor sees me Wednesday to go over my chest x-ray and discuss inhalers. I haven't had the lung function test yet so I'm hoping I still have a chance to improve my health. I don't get short of breath when I walk a lot or if I'm active just doing different things so maybe that's a good thing. 

[JACKIE1-25-15]

I would reconsider and do some research before using both patches AND wellbutrin at the same time.  Please check with your doctor about that.  I am not sure though.  I used wellbutrin because I did not want to continue putting nicotine in my system.  Each person has to decide how and what will work for them  What has worked best for me is support which I never had before.  It makes a BIG difference.  Come here read, study blog. These are all aides and no way a cure.  Quitting smoking takes work along with the aides.  Seems you are really preparing yourself. 

[Strudel]

I didn't wean off either. I read lots of blogs here and Carr's book.....and I smoked normally up until the night I quit. However, different things work for different people.......to me, education to prepare was the most important thing! 

 "The Easy Way To Stop Smoking" - free download - 
http://media.wix.com/ugd/74fa87_2010cc5496521431188f905b7234a829.pdf 

[YoungAtHeart]

I also was not successful weaning down the number of cigarettes I smoked before my quit date.  For me, that just kept the thought of smoking at the forefront of my mind.  It was kinda' like "Well, I only have three left for today, and if I smoke one now, I will only have two for the rest of today.  Oh, heck.....I will smoke it anyway and worry about it later."  Later..."well NOW I only have ONE left and three more hours until bed....The heck with it!"  And then I would smoke MANY before bedtime. 

I personally think it is more helpful to just put each one you smoke off a little and cut back naturally.  Try to get busy when you want a cigarette.  Play a computer game, or go for a walk.  Just practice doing something else.  Only THEN smoke one.  You will naturally cut back that way, and will learn that just because you think you want one, you don't necessarily NEED one.  Also spend some time looking at the circumstances/emotions associated with each one you smoke, and start thinking of other things you might do instead.

Don't try to get down to less than five cigarettes a day before your quit date.  Doing that just keeps you unnecessarily in withdrawal ALL the time.  If you get down to just five - it's time to just quit.

Nancy

[elvan]

I got really sick and couldn't smoke so my quit date was set FOR me.  Up until that date, I smoked less than half a pack a day, less than half a cigarette at a time.  I COULDN'T smoke, it was getting harder and harder for me to justify smoking and I read in Allen Carr's book that it is often the progression of COPD that actually slows down your smoking.  

[maryfreecig]

Thanks, Ellen, for the info.