How I Quit Smoking and What Tools I Used

I was fifteen when I started to smoke. My friends smoked and my parents smoked so it was inevitable that I should smoke. I found out that I enjoyed smoking and that it relaxed me. In college smoking was the in thing to do in the 1980s so I smoked and when I was in the work force I found out that it also relieved stress. But I also worried about the effects of smoking on my health especially during my late twenties. What effect was this having on my family and friends who did not smoke and finally what effect it was having on my children. This came up when my children started to ask why daddy was going outside all the time.

The crunch time came when I was informed at the age of 40 that I had type 2 diabetes and that it would improve my chances of living longer. I made up my mind to quit then. But it took me at least a year and a half to finally do it. I tried to quit several times but gave in to temptation or to stress. So I went to talk to my doctor, imagine that, for help.

He suggested taking Welbutrin and Commit gum or lozenges. He knew how much I smoked and why so he wrote me a prescription for Welbutrin which eases the tension and emotional state when trying to quit. I bought the lozenges at Wal-Mart. I started to take the Welbutrin once a day for a month and I started sucking on lozenges at least eight times a day. Now with the lozenges you have to spit the residue and not swallow since it will upset your stomach and it does contain up to 4 mg of nicotine.

The first month was pretty rough but I was determined so I kept busy by working more and going to the gym. I also started coin collecting which took my mind off of the smoking. It is wise to stay out of situations which may encourage smoking like going to bars or clubs or drinking. As I went on not smoking I felt better and I did not come down with my normal once a month cold and I felt healthier. I did gain some weight at first and it was twenty pounds exactly but going to the gym helped me to start losing the excess weight.

After the first month I stopped taking the Welbutrin and was still using the same amount of lozenges. The next three or four months the urges to smoke lessened. I would still get "memories" of smoking. For instance, I would be doing yard work and I would remember in the past that I would have a beer and have a smoke at break time. In these instances I would pop a lozenge in my mouth and move on to the yard work.

As the months past I would take less and less of the lozenges until I would carry a few in case I had an urge because believe me there will be more urges so it is best to be prepared. Some of the good things I noticed as well was my smell and taste came back pretty quickly especially for food! But again watch what you eat! I still have a bag of pretzels around in case I need to snack and do not eat the whole bag!!

I have been now smoke free for seven months and the urges have lessened to the extent that only once in awhile do I pop one of the lozenges in my mouth. I have been to bars and with family members who smoke and I do not want to smoke. I am determined not to pick up the habit again and I will overcome with determination and a little help from the doctors.