What did you do to beat the cravings?

[nsd_user663_7713]

This is what i struggle with when im quitting :confused:

Im changing habbits slowly though like having OJ in the mornings instead of a cuppa and hopefully that will help abit

[nsd_user663_14598]

I prefer to go Cold Turkey... not for everyone but I think if I am still getting the nicotine hit with patches etc. then I'm only putting off the time when I'll need to go CT anyway.

So my recipe for quitting is:

1. Max Kirsten hypnotherapy app on the iPhone (listen to the main session once a week + listen to booster sessions every other day)

2. Allen Carr "Stop Smoking the Easy Way" audiobook to listen to going to work and on way home.

3. Plenty of Orange Juice (or any fruit juice) to help those blood sugars + no caffeinated drinks like coffee or tea (stops the shakes/jittery feelings).

4. Breathe in, hold for 5 seconds and breathe out whenever I get the craving for a cig.

It's worked for the first week and I've not had too many times where I feel like I'm crawling up the wall, so hopefully it will continue to work until I die of natuaral causes on a desert island somewhere in my 90's

[nsd_user663_14628]

Hey Emma,

Here's a couple things that help me

1. Go to a gym. Why? No one smokes in a gym and it's a great way to get ride of the figity energy. Even 15min walking on a treadmill helps

2. Throw out junk food and have lots of healthy food in my kitchen. I know I'm going to be eating lots so it might as well be healthy. My fav is low fat dips with veggies and pita

3. knitting. I can only knit a square but it keeps my hands busy

and finally

4. I find this site so comforting to know others are feeling the same way an this same minute. Also the typing keeps my fingers busy.

Keep it up Emma!!! Your not alone in this!

[nsd_user663_14114]

Hi Emma.

I am on day 28 today, and the cravings are rare and easily overcome now.

What did i use to beat the cravings:

- i thought of the cravings as little monsters in my head that i want to beat. I am a very stubborn person, so i play a game of who will win- and i make sure its me!

- i dont try to forget about craving/smoking. I accept that craving is all part and parcel of quitting, and reassure myself that it is a normal thing and it will pass.

-go out for a walk, run, any exercise. If you cant go out, walk/run on the spot. This reinforces the fact that you are doing something healthy for your body.

- have a look in everyones signatures on this forum. There are some BRILIANT sites. In my first week on this forum i looked art as maky as possible and saved them to my favourites and look at them every now and again when the cravings strikes. It helps to remind me of the reasons i have quit.

Good luck!

[nsd_user663_5401]

1. Chewing gum and lollies were my absolute god send on my quit (even though I think I'm now addicted to chewing gum!!).

2. I like so many others, started knitting which was a great help in the first few months.

3. Get out of the house when the craving becomes un-manageable. It's amazing what a walk can do.

4. Have a long bath.

5. Book a facial and then start a new skin care routine (cleanse, moisturise blah blah) every night. This will do wonders for your skin and give your hands something to do.

6. Finally when all else fails, eat your body weight in chocolate, as sometimes only comfort eating will do.

You are doing really well my love xx

[nsd_user663_14716]

1. Every morning I arm my self with a non-smoking survival kit for work. It includes a good book for lunch time distraction, lots of chewing gum (strong kind), sugar free candy, couple low fat snacks, juice (also coffee and tea at work).

2. Coming home in the evening I have a rule that I can reward my self with couple glasses of wine but only if I have exercised that day. 30min exercise really helps me with getting rid of cravings. Combo exercise & wine also helps me sleep.

3. When craving really hits bad, I imagine my self caving in. I go through the "going for a smoke" ritual in my head and picture how I feel after. I have never felt good after a cigarette, so picturing the process leading to a moment of feeling s**t & stinky puts off the craving.

4. I read peoples stories here... way too often too as I can't seem to be able to do enough work at the moment :/ But health is priority over work, so I forgive my self.

Good luck with your decision!!!

---

Quit 2nd of Sept 2010

Going CT for the first time and its working... yahoo!

[nsd_user663_8876]

What did you do to beat the cravings?

I started on the opal fruits for sweetness and to keep my mouth busy.

Drank loads of water.

Ate more often than usual.

Complained more often than normal

Do exercise i.e running, cliff walks, poo picking the horses field.

Then started on the chocolate when couldn't be out of the house running etc.

After a week or so i was exhausted lol.

[nsd_user663_7713]

Thanks for all your replies

Some fab answers here and im liking the chocolate one the best

[nsd_user663_7727]

Just bought a £15,000 bathroom, which is going to work out the same as 3 years worth of smoking and the booze that went with it. So three years off the fags = fab bathroom. So if those cravings come along just have to go and enjoy the bathroom splish splosh!

[nsd_user663_5920]

Well worth the money My bathroom along with books and bubbles was my saviour and best distraction to my early days quitting.

Slpish splosh away when done ...... :cool:

And to think that amount of money is smoked in just 3 years.