Anything for Cravings...

[dorabelle]

Just signed up today for this group.. My cravings are brutal nowadays and looking for ways to lessen it...

I just stumble here [link removed] that some foods will make the cigarettes taste really horrible... Is this true?  

Does anyone here have tips to effectively manage cravings to smoke?  

I'm just having a hard time dealing with cravings especially when I'm in social gatherings 😞 Any help is appreciated

[dorabelle]

If that's what you think I respect that... I'm not here to argue...

[JonesCarpeDiem]

Any link that wants your email address to see anything the page is about would appear to be phishing.

[shashort]

Welcome to the group. This is a great place to It really has great with my quit.  What things are you using?  I found that I kept a water bottlt filled with fresh water, Got up  to go walking alot.  And stay close to this can help. Do watever you can to get tgrough a crave beat a pillow, scream outloud and just dont smoke.

[dorabelle]

Thanks @shashort for responding, really appreciate it. I use a journal to list things that trigger my cravings to smoke. I also do light exercise and read a lot to distract myself.

[JACKIE1-25-15]

I am not aware of any foods that make cigarettes taste bad.  it is the reverse when you stop smoking foods taste better.  I used cough drops, chewing gum  to help me if I was in a public place.  I have heard that sucking on a lemon helps. I had a lemon close by but never really used it to suck on.  You have come to the right place.  This is all about you and what you are willing to do to be smokefree.

 Start First, by educating yourself about nicotine addiction.  Education is the key to a successful quit.

Read: Freedom from Nicotine My Journey Home and Nicotine Addiction 101         

Here are the links      http://whyquit.com/whyquit/LinksAAddiction.html   and http://whyquit.com/ffn/

Also Read   Allen Carr’s book, “Easy Easier Way to Quit Smoking”.       

The link is here:  http://media.wix.com/ugd/74fa87_2010cc5496521431188f905b7234a829.pdf

 Go to the home click on About EX tab and get started. We will support you. You are in your journey for freedom.

[dorabelle]

Thanks @Jackie, glad to receive a response. I've also read somewhere about squeezing lemon into mouth everytime a craved for cigarette triggered. Thanks for sharing the links, I will definitely visit and read info from those sites.

[YoungAtHeart]

Welcome to our community!

We have someone here who used a lemon to stop cravings in their tracks.  She bit into one (rind and all) every time she had a crave.  Worked for her!

The most important thing you can do right now is to educate yourself on what nicotine does to your body and mind. To that end, I also highly recommend Allen Carr's “The Easy Way to Stop Smoking.” This is an easy and entertaining read.

As well, read the sections on this site, and read the blogs, responses and pages of folks you think might be helpful. You might visit whyquit.com and quitsmokingonline.com for the good information contained there.

After you have completed the recommended reading, it will be time to make an informed choice of the quit aid, if any, you will use. If you go that route, I personally recommend the aids that don't let the addict control the dose such as the available prescription drugs or the patch. If used properly, gum, lozenges and inhalers are fine, but they need to be used only as a last resort.  I have seen folks become addicted to them if they substitute them for every cigarette they used to smoke - just trading one addiction for another.  I do not recommend the e-cigarette for three reasons: 1) the vapor has been compared to the polluted air in Bejing on a bad day, 2) they just provide another nicotine delivery system while continuing the hand to mouth smoking motion, and 3) the batteries can spontaneously catch on fire. . But – any method that you think will work well for you will be best for you.

The idea is to change up your routines so the smoking associations are reduced.  Drink your coffee with your OTHER hand. If you always had that first smoke with your coffee, try putting your tennies on right out of bed, going for a quick walk, then taking your shower and THEN your coffee! Rearrange the furniture in the areas you used to smoke so the view is different.

You need to distract yourself through any craves.  You can take a bite out of a lemon (yup - rind and all), put your head in the freezer and take a deep breath of cold air, do a few jumping jacks, go for a brisk walk or march in place, play a computer game.  Don't let that smoking thought rattle around in your brain unchallenged. Sometimes you need to quit a minute or an hour at a time.  You will need to be disciplined in the early days to distract yourself when a crave hits.  Don't let that smoking thought rattle around your head alone.  Get busy!  Here is a link to a list of things to do instead of smoke if you need some fresh ideas:

https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/blogs/Youngatheart.7.4.12-blog/2013/02/25/100-things-to-do-instea...

The conversation in your head in response to the "I want a cigarette" thought needs to be, "Well, since I have decided not to do that anymore, what shall I do instead for the three minutes this crave will last?"  Then DO it.  You will need to put some effort into this in the early days, but it gets easier and easier to do.

Stay close to us here and ask questions when you have them and for support when you need it. We will be with you every step of the way!

Nancy

[dorabelle]

Big thanks Nancy! I appreciate your lovely post. I agree with you that quitting takes a minute, hour, or day at a time...not an easy thing to do but I'm sure will definitely worth it...thanks for giving a support!

[Silverstar]

Hi, DoraBelle, there is a lot of info on this site, and I read and have tried most of it.  The things I did that helped were to do the exercises (see tabs above How To Quit Smoking, Quit Smoking, Staying Quit): I tracked cigarettes, identified triggers, came up with things to do other than smoking, etc.  Some of those things were logging on to this site, listening to music, reading, changing my routines to accommodate for previous "smoking" time, using lemon and ice in my water, etc.  I also used nicotine gum for a  while, but stopped when I felt ready.  Exercise is recommended, though I am hit and miss there....

I'm glad you have decided to Quit, this is a supportive place, the beginning is the worst, but it's all worth it to be Free from cigarettes, and nicotine.  Welcome!

[TerrieQuit]

Hello, and Welcome to EX, DoraBelle! 

We are so glad you are here! This is a great place to quit smoking. You have been given links to great information and good advice above. Please do the suggested readings. Education, willingness to do whatever it takes not to smoke, determination and commitment are the keys to a successful quit!

I would like to recommend a group called The Daily Pledge Group. It's fun and will help reinforce your commitment not to smoke!

Just click on the link below (we are on page 4) and scroll down and take the person's hand before you and promise not to smoke, and then offer your free hand to the next pledge, we keep each other strong in our quits! You can state your # of days, post a picture or whatever you want! This is your quit be proud of it! Please join us!

http://community.becomeanex.org/pg/forum/topic/9954541/celebrate-the-holidays-and-celebrate-your-qui...

This link is also on my page and is also a featured group on our home page! Also, if you would like to join the group use this link and as you scroll down look to the left, there is a place that says join the group.

https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/groups/daily-pledge

Hope to see you there!    Terrie

Don't Quit on your Quit!

If you have any trouble getting into the group, just let me know and I'll try to help!

[dorabelle]

Thanks @Silverstar and @Terrie! I'm checking the links now and article given by yours.

I truly appreciate all of your time to respond on my post.