how did you smokers quit?

[mustangkid05]

just curious, because i cant seem to kick the habbit lol, and i am young!!!, but its like all my friends smoke and at the poker games i play at everyone smokes lol, i just need some advice

 

[flyboy86]

I never really started, so i can't help ya out, i just have a cigar at poker games once and a while, or a few puffs on a pipe. Get the patch i guess, idk. Either that, or do some math...add up the money you'll save from smokes, and see how many mods you can buy with that. Over a few years, i bet you'll have enough for a KB. That would be all the motivation i'd need to quit.

 

[DTNODYA]

Subscribing ...

 

[mity2]

still working on it.



BRB. I'm out to smoke

 

[SXYXC]

When i had to take my tabacco class, they said the best way to quite is one step at a time. there are a few ways, 1 keep your mind off of it, like chew gum, and around the times that you normally take a smoke, do something else, go somewhere else. cut back by just a couple a week, or you can just go cold turkey (hardest way) after about a couple weeks, you should be able to stand it. But at first it will be hard because you will "have" to smoke, your body is use to it. but like i said earlier just try to do something to keep your mind off of it. or when you need to smoke pick up a pincle and chew on it, or hold it like a cigarette (if you do this you might get into the habit of it, but it will fool your mind) but thats the best ways that i remeber about it.. hope that helps

ohh btw the patches kinda work, but its mainly just your mind thinking that they are working, that helps you. the main idea is to fool your mind to think that everything is ok.

 

[mustanggt3685]

Not a smoker, but I do "chew" (dip) like a fiend. Obviously, as I am still chewing, I really haven't quit, but I have "quit" on many occassions, i.e. 5+ months in the past using the Committ Lozenge. They taste like mentos and get the job done. I've tried the gum, patches, etc... to no avail. As mentioned above, the key is to do it gradually, i.e. 4Mg to 2Mg and increasing the time inbetween eating them.

 

[Casey4s]

I smoked until I was 26 (started at 12) and I just decided that I no longer smoke and that I was in control and not the cigarettes. The more my subconcious wanted the cigarettes the more determined I became not to loose this battle of will to them.

I haven't had a cigarette since.... that was new years eve 1973/74.

I belive it is more a matter of "WILL" than anything else... you will never quit if you don't really want to...

The very best of luck to you...

 

[DTNODYA]

Good advise ... keep em comin'

 

[Uncle Meat]

Determination, and a mindset that you really truly want to quit. That and using the patches to control the cravings. Stay completely away from triggers like alcohol. Took me until the 4th try before I finally did it. I was a pack and a half a day smoker for 28+ years and have been smoke free for over 3 now.

U.M.

 

[jivepepper]

I quit about 8 years ago. I also quit drinking about 6 years before that. Started both around 12. Yes I was hoodlum lol.

I used the patch and followed the program to a T.

 

[007]

I quit when I came to America. Two years later got into a rock band where everyone smoked and started again (idiot).

Two years ago my wife and I both quit. I waited several months until she was really ready to quit. Then she wanted to so we threw them in the trash and never smoked another one ever again. I think its surprising how quick you can get over it IF you dont smoke EVER again... one here and there will really screw things up.

I put on about 10 pounds almost immediately which kinda sucks, but I'm so glad I quit.

 

[GettinThere]

Two years ago, at a routine checkup, my dentist said I had what appeared to be "a pre-cancerous condition" in my mouth. I said "well, I've had my last dip of snuff" (been dipping since high school). Haven't had any since.

I don't know what works better, cold turkey or a gradual approach. But IMHO it seems to me that cold turkey would be better. As said above, you've got to really want to quit. I had good motivation.

Good luck.

 

[DLFD911]

I started smoking in high school (they allowed us to smoke outside the school between classes, go figure), and stayed on them throughout my hitch in the AF. I was on midnight shift for a while, and would ride around the flight line in the expediter truck, where everyone would chain smoke in the back. I quit just before I got out of the service, smoking almost 3 packs a day (easy when it's only 35 cents a pack). I was waking up with a bad cough and sore throat, coughing up brown chit. I knew I had to give them up, so I just dropped it cold turkey. I had to avoid situations that made me want a smoke, such as when I had a beer, or morning coffee. That was almost 30 years ago. They say your lungs will recover after awhile. I have had no problems since quitting. And we didn't have the patch or gum back then. Good luck!

 

[Wolvrin704]

I quit 2 years ago this coming January. I had tried the gradual approach and cold turkey several times, but always went back. The problem was at work I would take break with my smoking friends so when I would quit I would be around it and eventually go back.
At the urging of my wife, I decided to quit for good and I decided to not just quit cold turkey but to also stay away from anything that induced those habits. So I quit smoking cold turkey, started going to break by myself in the non-smoking areas and in general stayed away from any triggers. Now I have no desire to smoke and smelling it actually makes me sick to my stomach.

But please do not delude yourself by gradually quitting. Unless you are extremely disciplined it won't work. If you must have the nicotine use the patch, and see your doctor for advice. Its all about discipline and your own to desire to quit, its nothing more than breaking a habit although it does suck at first.

 

[blurred10]

Simple, just stop buying them and stay away from those who do smoke for a while. When you quit something you should start doing something else to take its place. Maybe something rewarding or healthy. When you used to take smoke breaks, do something else you enjoy during that time to help distract you. Over time the cravings will subside.

In the voice of Rob Schneider:
YOU CAN DO IT!!!

 

[propellerhead]

What worked for me:

1. Plan ahead. Set a quit date that's over a month away. This will help you build up to it mentally.

2. Let your friends and family know of your coming quit date. They'll help you build up to it mentally.

3. Choose a date that will put you in a different environment permanently or temporarily. Do it when you change jobs, or move residences, go on vacation, or something like that. Not being in your old pattern will help you mentally.

4. Use the gum or patch. FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS. Many who said the patch or gum didn't work didn't follow the instructions.

5. Download some software for your PC that reminds you about quitting. The one I got did a countdown in days. Once I got to the date it started counting up how much I've saved in $$$ for not buying cigarettes. I let it continue counting up to $1,000 before I deleted it.

I smoked for 20+ years. Quitting is mostly mental. The gum or patches take care of the chemical addiction.

Once you quit, you'll realize how much freedom you have. You are no longer a slave to the habit. You no longer have to hurry to get out of a movie or a long drive. You no longer have to step outside every hour or so. You no longer have to make sure you have your cigarettes and lighter everywhere you go. And so on and so on.

 

[cammngt]

I have been wanting to quit for a few monthes now, just can't seem to get in the zone mentally to just do it. I've smoked for about 6 years, quit many times, month here, 6 there...I've quit both times buy just stopping and found something else to do. I would buy the big 20 packs of gum or a pound bag of sunflower seeds and that helped alot with fooling my mind. I started again after a recent divorce, but I want to quit, just need some support I guess. Good luck with kicking the habit and props to those who already have!

 

[DTNODYA]

5. Download some software for your PC that reminds you about quitting. The one I got did a countdown in days. Once I got to the date it started counting up how much I've saved in $$$ for not buying cigarettes. I let it continue counting up to $1,000 before I deleted it.

I smoked for 20+ years. Quitting is mostly mental. The gum or patches take care of the chemical addiction.

Once you quit, you'll realize how much freedom you have. You are no longer a slave to the habit. You no longer have to hurry to get out of a movie or a long drive. You no longer have to step outside every hour or so. You no longer have to make sure you have your cigarettes and lighter everywhere you go. And so on and so on.

The software idea is pretty cool .. Since I'm on the computer often during the day. What program or whatever was it, if you remember? I really want to quit for good. I quit for 2 years, started back. Quit for another 2 years, started back. Then, recently I quit for a month and started back. But like when I do work on my car (or whatever) I smoke .. So I gotta find a way to mentally change that. People say to do something else but hell, I smoke when I do a lot of stuff.

Tired of it though and ready to stop !!

 

[propellerhead]

It was some shareware off a Quit Smoking website. If you can't find one, just run a log in Excel or something.

I also read that the first year of being smoke free is the most dangerous as far as getting back into it. During that first year, if you "think" you've successfully quit and have that "one harmless cigarette" at a party, the addiction comes back stronger. So don't think that after 2-3 months you're done. Keep up the smoke-free effort for the full year and avoid getting back into it.

 

[Dragstr05]

I've "attemtped" to quit many many times. I tried using the gum and the patch, but IMO its not a physical problem, its mental.

The best I ever did was 5 1/2 months. I quit for my girlfriend. I quit cold turkey and had NO problems...I was motivated, I wanted to, and I had a reason - and a good one. We broke up, and I lost the motivation to keep off of it.

If from the time you wake up till the time you go to sleep all you think about is smoking or dipping, you're gonna have it HARD. If you STAY BUSY, and keep your mind working and thinking about something else, you'll be suprised how easy it is to make it through the day without smoking. If you have the will and motivation, its really not all that difficult...I know this, I've tried un-motivated and while I was motivated.