How to quit smoking part one

In a note about treating emphysema with vitamin A (see the e-Alert “Attack of the Vapors” 1/6/04), I mentioned that I quit smoking a few years ago. This piqued the curiosity of an HSI member who sent an e-mail with this question:

“Jenny admitted to being an ex-smoker. I was wondering what the consensus was on quitting smoking and how.”

Obviously, there are many methods out there from patches to herbs to acupuncture. The common thread to success in any of them is trying it when you’re ready. My mother offered me $1,000 to quit smoking and I told her “no.” A week later, I decided to quit on my own. I didn’t get the money, and it didn’t matter; I was ready to stop.

The key to my success in quitting came through a combination of two things: Quitting with someone (my husband), and a reward system. Two days after quitting, I rewarded myself with a new lipstick. When I reached one week, I bought a new sweater.

Under the system we used, the reward intervals were: 2 days; 7 days; 2 weeks; 1 month; 3 months; 6 months and a year. By the end of the year, we never actually bought our rewards because we didn’t need to. One note about the rewards: they shouldn’t be food or alcohol, unless it’s something very special, like a bottle of Dom for your one-year anniversary.

I also knew that in order to succeed I would have to commit to never smoke again – not even one puff. Having quit at least four times before (once for 18 months) I originally thought I might be able to smoke occasionally while I was out with friends or something, and then stop again, but I couldn’t.

This coming March will be 11 years without a cigarette. And yet I still think or dream about having a smoke almost every day. It’s just that pervasive.

If you’ve been successful in kicking the habit, send an e-mail describing the method that worked for you. Then, in an upcoming e-Alert, I’ll share some other success stories.

To Your Good Health,

Jenny Thompson
Health Sciences Institute