Quit Smoking Cold Turkey

After 4 years of being a smoker, I decided to quit smoking cold turkey. At the time I had just taken up a proper diet, and in my dedication to eating right, I figured I ought to go all the way. I think i was successful this time because I was quitting for my general well being, while pursuing that goal in every other aspect of my life.

I decided to quit smoking cold turkey, which, although hard, worked out better than nicotine patches ever had. The only real benefit of nicotine patches I observed was that I couldn't smoke when I had one on (it made me sick). I realized that, using patches, I didn't have a chance to develop my will power. Quitting cold turkey, I had nothing to fall back on but myself.

The only other "aide" I used to quit was doing push ups every time I wanted a cigarette. I know it sounds odd, but it worked! The push ups reminded me of why I was doing it; being out of breath made me hope for a future when I wouldn't be out of breath on my ninth one. Plus, the physical labor helped release the stress I was building up.

Any symptoms I had of withdrawal seemed to be mental, so I combated them with mental tactics. I kept trying to rationalize myself out of quitting, so I just quit trying to rationalize the subject. I would recommend a serious dedication to quitting, with no rational thought beyond the decision to quit. I find you can't trust yourself once you begin trying to over come an addiction, so trust the you before you started.

Quit Smoking Cold Turkey Story #2...

I started smoking when I was fourteen and didn't decide to quit until I was nineteen. The decision to quit was based primarily on the effects cigarettes were having on my physical appearance. Since I mainly smoked non filtered cigarettes my fingers were stained a yellowish orange color. I could also to see the color of my teeth beginning to change. I also felt that my respiratory function was diminishing.

The method I chose to quit smoking was to simply stop cold turkey. At the end of the day I threw away the remainder of my cigarettes and my ashtrays. This method was effective as it provided the quickest means to rid my body of the substances which caused my addiction to cigarettes. This method also provided a clear demarcation from smoking which was helpful because I couldn't make excuses to have a cigarette, I had quit smoking and any backsliding was a failure.

To quit smoking "cold turkey" was not easy by any measure. The withdrawal symptoms were severe during the first week of not smoking. The most uncomfortable withdrawal symptom for me was the feeling of generalized anxiety. I felt as though I couldn't sit still and was often irritable with others.

For people who are considering quitting I would remind them that they only have to do it once if they do it right and that a week or two of discomfort is a small price to pay for better health. I would also suggest that they drink a lot of water during their withdrawal period and to get out and exercise as much as possible. Both of these things will help flush the toxins from the body and keep you occupied.

Quit Smoking Cold Turkey Story #3...
I quit smoking almost 4 years ago, after 25+ years. It was my first and only attempt at quitting, because I didn't think I could do it and didn't want to fail. But finally, nearing my 40th birthday, I took the plunge and went cold turkey. I didn't want to be a middle-aged smoker. I didn't actually start out to quit. It was more of an experiment. I woke up one morning and decided to see how long I could go without smoking. I thought it was just a lark, but by dinnertime I still hadn't smoked. The following morning, discovering that I was still alive, I decided to see how far I could take this thing. Well, that was four years ago.

It wasn't easy going cold turkey, but for me it was the only way that made sense. I knew of others who were addicted to their patches and gum. I just wanted to be done with it. A clean break seemed an appropriate end. My advice to anyone who wants to quit is to ride out the cravings. Don't give in to temptation. The longer you go without a cigarette, the easier it gets.


Quit Smoking Cold Turkey Story #4...


COLD TURKEY worked for me after three attempts. My first attempt at stopping my smoking habit of 2 packs per day lasted 3-1/2 years. My throat was miserably sensitive, leaving me with a raspy voice. I quit again cold turkey. This time, my freedom from cigarettes lasted 1 year and I started again! I don't even remember why! Another year later, I quit for the third and final time. I had to choose between feeling good or having a constant sore throat. Worse, it could have a been a symptom of something dangerous to my health. I heeded the warning and haven't had a cigarette in 30 years.

I had no nicotine withdrawl, luckily. The withdrawl was from not enjoying cigarettes with my peers. I would advise anyone to try quitting cold turkey first. If that doesn't work, there are other ways. I don't happen to like the method of cutting back. (How many cigarettes am I allowed today). Most important is to replace a bad habit with a good one. Do something you love...dance, walk, write, cook, volunteer...just fill the void. Save money and especially enjoy your good health when you break the habit of smoking!


Quit Smoking Cold Turkey Story #4...


I quit smoking for good over 10 years ago and did it cold turkey. I had tried 3 or 4 times before and always started in again - one cigarette at a time thinking I could have 1 or 2 a day. Fooling myself. Finally I decided it was too expensive and I was going to be going on jury duty in a month and knew how hard it would be to get outside to have a cigarette so I decided this was it! I had read a bunch of stuff and talked to friends who had quit or tried to quit and had my own experiences from the past so I had a fair idea of what I was in for. I figured out when I smoked the heaviest and what I was doing and or eating/drinking at those times. My heaviest times were in the morning drinking coffee and reading the paper and at night reading a book before bed and after meals. So I reduced my coffee consumption, began crocheting at night and getting up immediately to do the dishes. I drank a lot of orange juice because I read that helped.


I think changing habits and finding things to do with your hands is critical. You have to give your hands something to do as well as your mouth. Gum, hard candy, pretzels are all good. I often sat on my porch and blew bubbles from a kid's bubble wand - even at night in the dark! I can honestly say that I enjoyed smoking when I was a smoker. But I also could not and would not pay the price of a pack or carton of cigarettes even at those rates. Now that I don't smoke I do feel the difference in my body but I will never moralize and tell someone to quit. You have to want to for some reason or need to for your health. Find your reason and then, while it still might be hard, you will know that you are doing it because you want to.