I decided to quit
 

I'm going to do my best to give up smoking. I'm tired of it. The expense, the smell. I'd like to be around to walk all my girls down the aisle and so many other things. What I want to know is if you are a former smoker or know one what did you do to take your mind off it. Or maybe just some encouragement. I'm going to make a list of the reasons I'm quitting and have a friend email to me everyday. So anything that you can think of to help would be greatly appreciated!!
Thanks in advance!

I quit after 30 years. It was damn hard, and I had quit several dozen times over the years but this time I was determined. I used some anger at the tobacco companies for leverage. They got me started when I was 14 and the bastards knew what they were doing. They are still doing it no matter what they say.

Get mad, really mad at the folks that got you addicted to a deadly drug and think about that every time you start to buy another pack. It's what they want you to do and they manipulated you to start and now they have you hooked. Use that anger.

Good luck, you CAN do this. I did. I haven't had a cigarette in 4 years and I feel a whole lot better.

Basicaly I met a gorgeous girl - but she also has slight Asthma and so I always had to smoke away from her (go ouside, leave the table, etc). Which I didn't like doing and I really wanted to give up.

It was really hard though, tried all the patches, etc - didn't work. But I found the secret ...

Change your environment, and go somewhere else. That is, remove the usual daily trigger events that make you want to light up.

For me it was going home to Christmas a year ago. I had load of holiday left so took two weeks off to see the folks. I simply stopped when I arrived. I didn't have the stress of work and was outside my usual environment.

I didn't cut down or anything (I don't believe that works) I just stopped overnight - 20 per day to nothing.

Don't get me wrong you still need will power but it makes it easier when you're somewhere different. But I think you've got the right outlook - you wanna see your kids grow up, etc. Personally I just think if I get to spend just one extra day on this planet then it's worth it.

All those who smoke who have go that "just don't care" attitude make me feel so sorry for them. And I can say that because I did used to smoke and I did used to have that attitude. I was so stupid!

Now, I still have cravings occasionally, mostly when I'm pissed - but after a year I can handle it and always feel good about it the next days. Also, I can now drink like a fish - the hangovers are much easier to handle :) Anyway that's another addiction :)

So ... if you can afford it, book a holiday to somewhere totally different from where you live and give it a go.

Couple of other things have happened since I gave up

- More energy. This doesn't happen immediately but kind of builds up over time. Its only when you look back that you realise.
- Can taste food much better (seriously). It makes eating a whole different experience
- You don't stink. Now that I'm a non-smoker I can't believe how much smokers stink.

Good luck mate

*tries some reverse psycology*
 

Blah! You'll never make it. :mad:

Yup, just stop. It's hard, but be strong. You'll feel better than you ever have.

Good luck myMHz. I never started smoking as I find it a disgusting habit, but be strong and dedicated and hopefully you can break away.

A recommendation from a non-smoker, maybe buy a pack of Trident instead a pack of Marlboros. Sure, Trident isn't addicting, but it is something else to occupy your jaw instead of smoke.. :)

Good luck kicking the habit.

good luck beating that addiction.
it really isn't something that i could ever start. my asthma plus cigarettes would probably kill me.

Good luck quiting. I smoked a pack a day for about 5 years. (Certainly not as long as some). One day I just stopped completely. I was in the middle of a cigarette. It didn't taste good. I put it out and threw out my pack. Never smoked again. It helped to be around people who couldn't stand cigarette smoke.

Good luck. Hang in, because there will some really tough times.

I quit over 20 years ago and I still remember the cravings. Now, they smell bad and turn my stomach, but it took quite a while before that came to be.

You can do it as long as you believe it's worth it.

I smoked a pack a day for 10 years. I've now been clean 2 years 1 month 2 weeks 6 days 13 hours and 31 minutes. But who's counting?

I found a quit-smoking community online, and used it hour-by-hour through my first week. http://quitsmoking.about.com . Absolutely invaluable.

Here's what I learned. There's ONLY ONE THING you have to do to quit smoking. That thing is: don't smoke. Do <i>whatever else</i> you have to do. Just don't smoke.

It helps if you warn EVERYBODY in your life first. Set a quit-date, then tell everyone about it. That way they'll hold you to it, and they'll forgive you in advance for being a bastard.

Good for you!

I never started, but I saw how hard it was for people around me to give it up. Some made it all the way, some guys when to chew (eww).

Fortunately my mother made it all the way (wtg mom!). I hope you can tough it out, it's worth it!

Good luck!

After reading threads like this, I'm so glad I never took up the addiction.
All I can add is keep trying to quit, your body will be thankfull.

<b>myMHz</b>,
Congratulations on taking the first step - really wanting to quit. Without that, you're doomed to failure. Most people that fail to quit smoking just really didn't want to quit badly enough.

I stopped after 25 years of smoking (and many attempts at quitting). That was 5 years ago, and I would never consider lighting another cigarette.

For me, the patches were a godsend - they really reduced the physical addiction, and let me concentrate on the psychological addiction. They really worked for me - I hope you have as much success.

Some advice: First of all, if you hang out with a lot of smokers, STOP. You've got to remove any temptation to smoke again. If possible, convince one of your friends to quit with you - everything's easier on the buddy system.

Join a gym - do a lot of aerobic exercise - it'll purge the poisons from your body faster, and your lungs will constantly be telling you "WTF did you do to me!?" - the positive reinforcement is knowing you're stopping the damage - and knowing it'll get better over time. Also, going to a gym will help reduce the amount of weight you're going to put on (and you will - the psychological aspect of smoking is going to have you putting whatever food you can grab into your mouth - that hand-to-mouth habit is hard to break)

The urges:
Long after you lose the physical addiction to nicotine, you will still have frequent urges to smoke. I always compared the urges to that carnival game where monkeys (or whatever) pop out of a bunch of holes in a table in front of you, and you have to bonk them in the head with a hammer before they disappear. The quicker you "bonk" the urge, the sooner it goes away. But be prepared - like the carnival game, you never know where or when the urge will surface - just mentally kill it, and get on with what you were doing. The good news in all of this is - the urges get less strong and less frequent over time. Some people say they never completely lose the urge to smoke, but that is not true in my case. Anyway, the urges get controllable very quickly.

The trap: Never, I mean <b>NEVER</b> "reward" yourself with a cigarette for "doing so well." As soon as you light that first cigarette, you've lost the battle.

You said you've got daughters - keep a picture of them close by at all times. Every time you get the urge to smoke, look at the picture and try to tell them that <i>this one cigarette</i> is more important to you than they are. Will they understand?

There's a lot of good advice on this thread, and I'm sure there will be a lot more. I hope my 2 cents helped.

Edited later to add: Just one more thing: If you want to increase the amount of replies to this thread, I would suggest adding the word "smoking" to your title - if people know exactly what it is you've decided to quit, you'll get more replies from ex-smokers

Stay strong... we are all behind you!

my problem is that i have friends who smoke, so when i'm around them i always have the craving for one...so i did the unthinkable(to me anyways), i told them that i had quit smoking and needed their help, not to give me one, or let me buy any of my own...

been clean for about 2 months now

Can I get a consensus here? I think that nicotine is one of the single most addictive substances known to man. (and side note I just looked up nicotine at dictionary.com and they mention its use as an insecticide!) I was never a regular smoker. But I have smoked off and on for years. I almost really got addicted starting probably a month ago but a wierd thing happened to me just about a week ago. I smoked about a third of a black and mild and that was it. I could not stand the taste or feel anymore. I put that one out and later on tried to light another and just could not stand it. I have not had any sense then or any desire for any. Now again thats only been about a week now I doubt I will start smoking again.

i am a smoker, and i really really would love to quit, but in truth i know that i'm not ready to do it yet... hearing about other people successfully quitting helps keep me honest about it, i guess...

so i'm cutting down, a lot. i've gone from over 2 packs a day to about 1/2 a pack, and counting. i've cut down my brand, buying one of the lightest cigarettes out there... every little bit helps, so that when (not if) i quit, it will be that much less of a drastic thing for me.

hell, 3 years ago, i said "no smoking in my new car, or in any residence of mine" and i've not once cheated on that promise to myself. :D

I quit twice. First time I used Zyban, i found it easy. first night was the hardest, after that it was a piece of cake. I stayed smoke-free for about 9 months and then bought a house and my wife got pregnant. The financial strain was a great excuse to start smoking cigars (not ciggarettes like the 12 years previous)

After about 6 months of cigars I quit on New Years Eve cold turkey. It was suprisingly easy. Just chewed gum when I had the urge (regular gum, not nicotine).

Been clean ever since. (4 months now)

I guy that I work with went and got hypnotized to stop smoking. It worked. He hasn't smoked in 8 months. He's gained about 50 lbs though. I think that's lame.

I'll never understand how anyone could ever get hooked on any substance. It's mind over matter, and my mind matters more.

I smoke cigars and i dont think they are addictive like cigarettes...or maybe its my body chemistry or sumpin but my dad smoked cigarettes for a long time and he finally quit with hypnosis i think and my buddy smoked for probably 10 or 15 years and i think he got a laser treatment from these guys http://www.laserconcept.com/ theres probably other companies that do it too. worked great for him.

I wish you the best of luck. I don't smoke, but I've heard from friends who do/did that the best way to stop is to get yourself away from the temptation. Do something like ask your friends who smoke not to smoke around you. Also, the picture thing that yournamehere mentioned is supposed to work really well, too. In the words of that guy from Waterboy... "You can do it!"

good luck...my dad quit after smoking since he was 12 he'll be 49 this year.....it was hard on him but he did it.

good luck. It's a tough ride for some, but worth it. Let us know how things work out.

dude, quitting smoking is awesome! i have severe allerrgies to cig smoke and i h a t e
cigs.

from the people i know who've quit.... have something handy to fidget with at all times. keep gum or now or laters on your person... if you get too sick maybe cut back before cold turkeying it. also, remember that, yes this is supposedly the hardest drug to quit, but it happens all the time. it's possible. you CAN quit. it will just suck.

also try to conjure up an exceptionally unpleasant image/emotion/taste when you smoke next time. your mind will assoasiate the feeling with the cig.

good luck!

Just keep trying, even if you screw up a few times. I tried the patch for a while on and off, but it never worked out for me.

I finally managed to get into a cycle where I would quit cold turkey for a month or two, screw up for a week or so, quit again, etc. Some of my co-workers gave me a hard time about it, but I always figured I was better off for the time when I wasn't smoking, even if I got an urge and went back for a while.

Eventually, I just got sick of quitting all the time. Just keep at it and don't be too hard on yourself if you slip up.

I've had two smokes this year, and I don't really get the urge anymore. It might take a while, but it's worth it when you finally get it right.

i'm down to 10-12 a day.some days more...some days less.

smoking sucks.

slow but sure i guess.

did i mention smoking sucks

gook luck 2 U

Congrats myMHz, you have already done the hardest part, deciding it is time to quit. The key thing is not to get discouraged and to keep trying. Each time a smoker quits, he has a 20% chance of staying quit long term. That is why the average smoker has to quit 5 times before avoiding a relapse. If you use Zyban, you double your chances to 40%, which is quite significant. Over the counter nicotine substances can be helpful for many.

The point of this is certainly not to dicourage you. My point is quit, and if you relapse, quit again. The best incentives are being around for kids and the ever rising cost. It is helpful if all smokers in a household quit together. You must also do some introspection and avoid circumstances where the urge to smoke will be strong.

Glad to hear yoou made such a good decision. I wish I could offer some advice, but I really can't beyond meking sure you have a good support base for when you really feel the urge to go back. I wish you the best of luck.

You people are the best! I had my last Cigarette at 8:33am. I screwed it up at 10:30 on my way to work. I didn't even think about it just bought some. I had a couple and then I was sitting at a light and some guy came up begging for change and a smoke. So I gave him the rest of the pack.

I sure hope I can do this. It's tough but I know it will be worth it. I just want to say thanks for all the encouragement and advice. I don't even get that from my wife. She's never smoked so she has no idea what it does to you and how tough it is to give it up.

So thanks again!!!

This Quit Meter will record in real time how much money you're saving and how many cigarettes you're not smoking:

http://www.quitmeter.com/

The website crunches some numbers based on the info you give it about your smoking habits, then spits out some HTML you can cut and paste to create your real-time Quit Meter.

good luck

You can do it.
You can do it.
You can do it.
You can do it.
You can do it.
You can do it.
You can do it.

Yes, you can do it.

When you have a smoke (as you already did, and sadly you likely will) DO NOT GIVE UP! Just start over. This is how I quit. I might screw up but I'd just start over and try again.

You can quit.

Good luck :)

PS:
Time passed 171 weeks, 4 days, 21 hours, 51 seconds
Cigarettes not smoked 12,018
Money saved $2,704.05

I will be a smoker till I die.


Now where's my oxygen tank?

Congratzs on your decision! Now if only I can get one of my best friends to stop smoking..

One of the best things to do is to slowly reduce the amount you smoke, although it sounds so cliche it works on about 10% of people who try it, doesn't sound like a very good percentage but heys its better than 0%. But anyways while you reduce your intake you could find something to do that would keep you occupied for the time being. For people that i have talked to they mainly spent more time with their friends at social gatherings. This is a double positive for you. Getting closer with friends and giving up the old nicotine.

Good Luck, Just keep a still head and remember the reason why you are doing it then you'll be fine. This lady obviously sounds special if you are willing to give up smoking because of her, so you shouldn't lack the modavation. :)

Time passed: 276 weeks, 3 days, 23 hours, 33 seconds
Cigarettes not smoked 48,398
Money saved <b>$7,259.70</b>

Think about it.

I started smoking very young... stupid thing to do.

I smoked for 11 years at least. It's been over 9 years since I quit.

When I first decided to quit, I put the money I would have spent on cigarettes in a jar. When I saw how much money I had at the end of a month, I was impressed.

Some people find it very easy to do. I was one of them. Some need the help of patches, gum, or group therapy. That's ok, too.

I have all the reasons in place, all the tools...now its up to me to quit.. I will give it my full effort and resolve very soon.

But good luck and keep strong.

Good Luck
I have been smoke free for over a year now.
The hardest part was going to the bars with my friends that all smoked, plus add booze.
Now I am proud that I accomplished so I wish you well.