How do I help someone quit smoking?

[dgrosvold]

socaldiver wrote...

If someone wants to quit smoking, THEY MUST come to terms with it first and set it in their mind that they want/need to quit. Then they can deal with the other obstacles along the way.

You're absolutely right about the person WANTING to quit. I tried dozens of times for someone else - my wife wanted me to quit in the worst way, but it wasn't ME. I had to want it for ME. I had to get to the point where I wanted to quit more than I wanted to smoke. Sounds simple, huh?

It isn't.

I figure I will probably carry some level of the patch for a few months just to be on the safe side.

Sounds Like a good plan. I wish you the best of luck with this beast. Believe me, you'll feel so much better, you'll be amazed.

Just be prepared to gain some weight (it depends on how much & how long you smoked.) Doctors have determined that nicotine changes your metabolism - your body has to maintain itself even with regular infusions of a toxic poison. When you quit, your metabolism slowly recovers, and you start gaining weight whil eating exactly like you used to when you smoked.

Don't listen to any life-long non-smoker's BS about how we start eating everything in sight - it isn't true. I did find that food tasted better, but I wasn't eating any more or more often. It's just that my body could use the input for purposes other than fighting off toxins. Go figure...

-- DCG

 

[socaldiver]

dgrosvold,

I cracked up on your latest post. How true! When I tried quitting before it was for all the wrong reasons. Friends, relatives and coworkers all concerned about my health (which I appreciated by the way) and wanting me to quit. Most not realizing exactly how difficult it really is. My half hearted attempts in the past were met with ridicule and scorn by my "friends" when I failed to stop.

I am stopping now for ME!! Not anyone else and for no other reason than I really want to. I have my good days and my bad days which I expected. Can my stop smoking help me with my bottom time. Maybe, I hope so. But to be honest, I have seen non smokers suck up their air just as quick as a smoker like myself does. I think the key to longer bottom time is to exercise your lungs and build up the air cavity, then learn to breath long slow breaths. Could be wrong on this especially since I am not a doctor but that is how I am thinking.

I personally expect to put on a "little" weight initially but I have already developed and implemented an exercise program hopefully to sweat off the extra pounds (and maybe some extra "old" pounds as well)

I don't listen to others (probably my biggest mistake) too well as it is. Non smokers may have some valid points and to be quite honest I agree with some of their opinions and respect (for the most part) what they have to say. That is why I don't normally smoke around other people who are non smokers.

Tinman, I am sorry about your brother and everyone else who has lost a loved one due to cancer, or any other disease for that matter. However, I too have lost close friends and relatives from the same disease and they DID NOT smoke. And to the best of my knowledge lived in a smoke free environment (their house, car and workplace). I am sure that some argument could be made about 2nd hand smoke, but IMO not much because of their lifestyle.

 

[Dectek]

I agree with dgrosvold. It must be cold turkey. Cutting down is only an excuse to continue smoking.
When I started smoking they were 33 cents a pack and I smoked Kool non-filters. I tried everything to quit. The patches did not work for me. Even had a shrink put me under and tell me how bad a ciggarette would taste. Finally Jan 2001 my doctor asked if I had tried the pill.
WOOHOOO just take a pill and stop smoking. That is another American dream. Wellbutrin or Zyban is an anti-depressant that is known to help smokers stop. Take the pill for a week to 10 days while smoking like normal. Pick your day....DO not take that wakeup smoke. Always start with a clean slate for that day...Quitting mid day never works. Think of it as an eight hour head start while you are sleeping.
Most Insurance plans will not pay for it and the cost is $125 a month. I was told that most folks use it for 7 to 12 weeks. I only used it for 3 weeks. People were not begging me to start smoking again like pass attempts and I did not go postal on anyone. I did gain major weight without eating more.It seems my matabolism was greatly changed by a work schedule change and the absense of smoking. OK I had to buy a bigger wetsuit but my SAC is better and I have not gotten the Flu...a cold .. Broncitis (Spelling)...or a respitory infections since.