Quit Smoking

[GolfTango]

My mother smoked for 48 years. First tried Chantix, freaked her the fuk out. Then she decided to see "The Mad Russian" in Boston. Been two years, hasn't smoked since. Good luck on your endeavor!

[Nourdmrolnmt]

my mother was a smoker as well... She quit 20 years ago or so... No idea if she still gets thoughts, but she has complained to me about me smoking... She said when she quit, she stopped taking the garbage out for like 3 years, since that was when she would smoke before bed...

[Some cats and a Rabbit]

I've been 1 year plus 3 days without a cigarette after smoking 5 to 7 packs a week for more than 20 years. A few months before I quit there was a thread in TCL about quitting and several people mentioned a book called the Easy Way to Stop Smoking. I bought the book, read it and then stopped smoking. The first week was definitely not "easy" but it's been good since then with only a couple of bad days. To who ever it was who mentioned the book, thank you.

[mavric_ac]

[MotownSVT]

I spent the last several years smoking parliaments before I quit.

Aaaahhhh... the recessed filter of a P-Funk. Always a treat.

[89lx302]

i give u props man im 26 been smokeing half my life im up to 2 packs a day (camel menthol wides) i tried cutting down to attempt the quit thing but yeah that lasted about a week.... so yeah again good luck on your endeavor

[CosmicTDI]

Newports was the fist full pack of cigarettes I ever smoked, and I was sick as a dog afterwards, but completely hooked

I then smoked camel filters until the mornings were too rough, so switched to camel lights. When neither were available living over seas I spent the last several years smoking parliaments before I quit.

Parliaments. That was the third one... I really liked their menthols. They're quite popular in NYC and I smoked quite a bit when I lived there.

[mikegilbert]

Congrats, man! If the urge comes back, try taking "fresh air" breaks. Just chill outside for 3-5 minutes and zone out like you're smoking a cigarette. It really worked well for me.

[Mr. Roloff]

Good on ya!

I quit cold turkey a few years ago. It was surprisingly easy even when faced with a lot of stress.

I did, however, switch to dip for a little bit.

[Shere Khan]

Keep it up.
I am 11 days shy of one year of not smoking.
It gets better but its tough the first couple of months.

[retro_rocket]

I've never smoked, but a lot of my friends do or did. Several of them quit with Chantix and haven't looked back.

I used to work with a guy who quit smoking and had an interesting way of killing a really bad craving - every day he brought in a baggie of apple slices and a little bottle of really, really spicy hot sauce (weird combo, but whatever works for you, I guess). If he got a craving, he'd douse an apple slice in hot sauce and eat it. He said the spiciness of the hot sauce basically distracted his brain for long enough for the craving to pass.

[DUTCHMANia]

30 now, been smoking for 16 years, once quit for 3 months.. now i'm trying to smoke a bitt less atleast.. a pack every 2 days instead of 1 per day will do for now. i want to become the smoker at parties like i started all those years back.

[zukiphile]

My weakness is when the drinks are flowing.

You'll get over it.

I quit when I had children and shopped for life insurance. Smokers pay double.


ETA - I am on my third wine glass of Canadian Club and have no desire to light up.

[palakaman]

I've never smoked, but a lot of my friends do or did. Several of them quit with Chantix and haven't looked back.

I used to work with a guy who quit smoking and had an interesting way of killing a really bad craving - every day he brought in a baggie of apple slices and a little bottle of really, really spicy hot sauce (weird combo, but whatever works for you, I guess). If he got a craving, he'd douse an apple slice in hot sauce and eat it. He said the spiciness of the hot sauce basically distracted his brain for long enough for the craving to pass.

Interesting tip. I'll forward that onto my friend. She's trying to quit. She's made a few attempts but hasn't quite gotten there yet. maybe the apple tip will allow her to push through the wall.

[Laser04]

You'll be back

[eatpiealot]

Smoked for 4 years, quit for three. I've been smoking casually the last 4 months, but I really need to cut it out. I'm in for quitting again

[SSj4G60]

Interesting tip. I'll forward that onto my friend. She's trying to quit. She's made a few attempts but hasn't quite gotten there yet. maybe the apple tip will allow her to push through the wall.

I just started chantix last week and so far I don't crave a smoke as often. Only smoked 2 cigarettes at work today when I usually smoke 4-5. Tomorrow I'm going for only one at work, but as with most it depends how stressful the day is (when I had my BP taken at work a few weeks ago it was 160/90 last week at the Dr when getting the script for chantix it was 114/80)

[rz666]

I quit on St. Patricks day, this year, after smoking for about 35 years. (Salem light, 100s) I JUST GOT TIRED of being addicted! I used the patch for only 2 weeks and still was able to quit. The first few days were rough, but I was determined and so far so good. The cravings are strong sometimes, but you just have to have willpower. I also ate alot of celery, pretzels and now I'm addicted to mints and lifesavers! I had tried to quit before, but only half-hearted attempts. This time, I decided to hold a grudge against smoking and treated cigarettes as if they were a cheating bitch! Crazy, but it worked for me! Drinking and being around others smoking doesn't bother me,either.
Excuse me for breaking my rule that I would not become a preaching ex-smoker, but I'm not alone here and wish whoever tries, the best of luck and encouragement!

[MK5CNY]

Nobody likes a quitter...

That said, I quit on Friday the 13th almost 10 yrs ago. Tried quitting cold turkey, quit buying them, quit bumming them, quit the Patch x3, quit quitting (7x)...went back to 2-packs a day...quit again...basically it came to me...if I quit and sneek just one a day or a month or 3-months later, I get addicted again...so I set myself a date to quit. I didn't freak out anymore...then when the day came. I quit. I stayed away from anything or anyone that doesn't support you.

The afterlife:
So I can tell after 2 weeks I was on a roll, so I kept up the quit
After one month I started smelling things I haven't smelt since Elementary School (pen ink has a smell to it)
After 3 months I wasn't gasping for breath going up steps
After 1yr didn't even notice not doing it anymore or craving it
Yr 5 I think I started to lose my sense of smell unless it's a dead skunk in the road, I can tollerate SBD's
Yr 9-1/2...I went golfing with a couple VW friends. They snuck a smoke and will blame each other to their wife's...social smoker's I guess. They asked how I did it, and I just said, "you'll find you're own way." Oh I shot a 58 on 9-holes.


Nice rz, sounds like you replaced a bad habit with a better one. Minty

[ricas_gti]

Smoked for 14 years of my life. There was not a day I did not have a smoke in those 14 years. A friend had quit smoking and I asked him how he did it. He told me to read this book:



Read the book and I've been smoke free for 2+ years. I have also recommended the book to another friend of mine that also quit smoking.

People that thing this is a joke, spend the $20 and try it. What's the worst that can happen? You loose $20 on a book, but on the flip side you might be an ex-smoker.

[1.8Tquattro]

Smoked for 15 years. Haven't had a cigarette since Sunday night.
We'll see how the weekend goes.

[MK5CNY]

2-words: Anger Management (home home home)

like Bufford T. Justice

[Jettavr666]

Parliaments. That was the third one... I really liked their menthols. They're quite popular in NYC and I smoked quite a bit when I lived there.

yeah I have only ever been a VERY occasional smoker (like a cigarette a month or so) but always LOVED parliament menthol lights.

[Spray Junkie]

Day 6 for me. I've been smoking for 15 years, a pack a day for the last 10. I wasn't planning it, but after going for a 1/2 mile bike ride and not being able to catch my breath, I just said fk it. Went home, slapped on a patch and haven't smoked since. How are all the other ex smokers doing?

[rsj0714]

Day 6 for me. I've been smoking for 15 years, a pack a day for the last 10. I wasn't planning it, but after going for a 1/2 mile bike ride and not being able to catch my breath, I just said fk it. Went home, slapped on a patch and haven't smoked since. How are all the other ex smokers doing?

Good job maybe try riding every day for the next week or so, exercise always helps. I quit for the last couple of days, bought a pack, then threw it away. I hate the first day of quitting.

[Spray Junkie]

mmmm Newport, hurts so good.

Lol, no envy here, I've smoked about 110,000 cigarettes in my day, I'm not really wanting to die of cancer, and I really like the idea of having an extra $3100 this year

Good job maybe try riding every day for the next week or so, exercise always helps. I quit for the last couple of days, bought a pack, then threw it away. I hate the first day of quitting.

I've quit before for 7 months, but it was out of necessity, this is the first time I've ever felt like I'm just done with it. I know what its like to smoke, time to see how it is without. Definitely going to keep riding too

[Spray Junkie]

My logic is either, there'll be a cure during my lifetime, or we'll all be robots like in Ghost in the Shell in the future. My grandparents chain smoked, and lived until they were in their late 70's. My Korean grandfather is nearly 100... genetics is on my side, I'm thinking.

That's what I've told myself for years too I read some stories about people having cancer in their teens and early twenties. Lately I've come to the conclusion that with all the uckfed up health issues I could have, its kind of foolish to self inflict something that's known to be harmful. I get enough of that painting cars

[GtIVR6-RJ]

all this thread did is make me want a cigarette. brb

[mavric_ac]

all this thread did is make me want a cigarette. brb

x2 lol

Once I cut drinking out of my life more I'll give quitting cigs a go.

[Ninja Boot]

Today is day 42 for me. First week sucked, quite a bit. I still get cravings here and there, but they are manageable. A lot of my buddies smoke, and we all hang out at a private social club that allows smoking.

Me and my buddy both quit March 18th and have a $200 bet going. So far we're both going strong.

[hrama803]

[InternetMeme]

Today is day 42 for me. First week sucked, quite a bit. I still get cravings here and there, but they are manageable. A lot of my buddies smoke, and we all hang out at a private social club that allows smoking.

Me and my buddy both quit March 18th and have a $200 bet going. So far we're both going strong.

Congrats man! Keep it going

I've been smoke free 17 months- girlfriend quit smoking the day she found out she was pregnant. I won't lie to you though, I crave a cigarette everyday

[rsj0714]

What did everyone here do the first couple of days to stay smoke free?

[Ninja Boot]

What did everyone here do the first couple of days to stay smoke free?

It's cliche, but just don't smoke. Just suck it up and have a miserable week and then get on with your life as a non smoker.

Also stay away from triggers. I didn't go out/drink for the first week. I've smoked a few cigars (you don't inhale cigars for those who are unfamiliar) over the past 6 weeks to get me through really tough times while out drinking.

[rsj0714]

It's cliche, but just don't smoke. Just suck it up and have a miserable week and then get on with your life as a non smoker.

Thats what I figured, it doesn't help that quitting is running concurrent with final exams and job interviews.