How did you quit smoking?

Motzart

As I posted in a previous outta hand thread......:rolleyes:

I need to get this damn tobacco monkey off my back after 30yrs.
Addicted....YES.....started when I was 14 pack a day every day pretty much since.

They have patches....gum.....Doc prescribed drugs.....good God!

My ole man just up and quit after 50yrs but I doubt I can do that.
I'm the only one in the whole damn family that smokes now.

The savings could lead to some nice speakers and plenty of other things I'm sure.
But to get this off my back after all this time is gonna be about like quiting heroin I think. :mad:

So for a useful thread.....how about some ideas?

66chevyIISS

I went from Dave Red's to Dave Blue's to Camel ultra lights to cold turkey. So I guess in a way it was kind of like the gum idea. Just slowly stepped down to the point after a couple days without an ultra light my craving went away.

shack

Cold turkey. Three packs a day at the time and I had been smoking for 20 years. One of those guys that would have one in my hand and one burning in the ashtray. I caught bronchitis and it hurt to smoke. Stopped on a Sunday evening...lit one the following Thursday when my throat was better. Tasted like crap...and after about 2-3 drags, I put it out and have not smoked a cigarette of cigar since. That was 20 years ago.

BlueFox

Quitting is easy. I did it many times. To steal an old joke.

After trying off and on for 5 years to quit smoking I finally got fed up with being controlled by a drug, versus the other way around. So, for the final time I quit smoking. This time I did not let my mind talk me into allowing myself to have a cigarette. You know what I mean. You have gone a few weeks without a smoke, and think, what the heck, one or two cigarettes on a Friday aren't going to hurt. Boom, you are now readdicted, and back to 2-3 packs a day, for me.

I just had to mentally fight with myself for about 3 months before I got it out of my system. Another thing is I started eating right, and exercising at that time (1982), and that also helped. I have kept it up all those years and am in better shape now at 60 than I was at 18 (not as good looking though). I just got back from the gym where I jogged 30 minutes on the treadmill, and did some light weight work. Tomorrow, after drinking some wine tonight, will be a heavy weight day.

Just put your mind to it, and tell your self that it is your body, and you will control what goes into it.

Good luck. You can do it.

hearingimpared

I smoked for 40 years. I tried quiting for two and one-half years after that one day I just quit (with a lot of prayers). I quit for three years then like a real **** I started smoking again three weeks ago and the addiction is twice as bad as when I originally quit.

Ricardo

1.- Decide to quit. If you don't really WANT to quit, there's nothing that will help you and you won't succeed. Think of the damage you are doing to your health; think how you can hardly breath after running up a few steps. Think on how bad you smell (you do). Think on how bad you car smells. Think on your disgusting yellow teeth, yellow fingers.

2.-Once you have convinced yourself that you WANT to quit, the rest is easy; in my case, I used commit (Sp) lozenges. It reduced the cravings in those first few weeks.

After you quit, you will:

-Feel better VERY soon; the morning cough will go away in a few weeks.
-Things will smell and taste better.
-You will smell better, and will immediately know who's a smoker as soon as they walk by you.
-You will be able to walk, ride your bycicle, run, or whatever you like doing and ENJOY it.
-Be proud!

As I mentioned in that other thread, I smoked for almost 35 years. Quitting is the best decision I have made.

DO IT!.

6,971

comfortablycurt

I've been trying to quit lately myself. I haven't been smoking as long as some of you guys, but still long enough to be thoroughly addicted to the damn things. I started when I was 13, and I'm 22 now, so it's been 9 years.

I used to smoke about a pack and a half a day...but I'm done to between 4-8 cig's a day on average now. I've quit for short periods before...but was never able to stick with it. They say the best way to quit is to just quit cold turkey. It's hard to do...but after you get through the first few weeks or so you're past the worst of it.

-lights up a smoke-:rolleyes:

hearingimpared

comfortablycurt wrote: »

I've been trying to quit lately myself. I haven't been smoking as long as some of you guys, but still long enough to be thoroughly addicted to the damn things. I started when I was 13, and I'm 22 now, so it's been 9 years.

I used to smoke about a pack and a half a day...but I'm done to between 4-8 cig's a day on average now. I've quit for short periods before...but was never able to stick with it. They say the best way to quit is to just quit cold turkey. It's hard to do...but after you get through the first few weeks or so you're past the worst of it.

-lights up a smoke-:rolleyes:

Don't make me come over there boy . . . get back on that pot smoking thread.:D

Ricardo

hearingimpared wrote: »

I smoked for 40 years. I tried quiting for two and one-half years after that one day I just quit (with a lot of prayers). I quit for three years then like a real **** I started smoking again three weeks ago and the addiction is twice as bad as when I originally quit.

Joe, you will quit again, soon. I bet the first couple of cigarrettes didn't taste too good; then they started to taste REAL good. After a while, you will start feeling the bad stuff coming back, and you will realize how better your life was when you did not smoke.

You can do it again!!

Polkitup2

If you stop today, quitting again won't be as bad as last time. I know, I've been in the same boat.

hearingimpared

Ricardo wrote: »

Joe, you will quit again, soon. I bet the first couple of cigarrettes didn't taste too good; then they started to taste REAL good. After a while, you will start feeling the bad stuff coming back, and you will realize how better your life was when you did not smoke.

You can do it again!!

I'm such a jerk off.:mad: I know I can and will.

Sherardp

By never starting...could never get used to the taste after trying one. The end is history.

Shizelbs

There is a new medication out called Chantix. It works wonders. Seriously, its amazing. I've personally seen people go from 1-2 packs a day to a couple cigs per day in about 10 days. I have yet to have someone come back to me and say it didn't work well.

Its prescription only so see your doc.

BeRad

I recently quit, and started again. lol. On that:
To quit I mentally prepared myself. I'd constantly think about how bad the smoke really did taste while I was smoking it. I'd keep reminding myself of the things I could buy myself had I not spent that 300 dollars on tobacco last month. Then I bought the gum. I found it really easy at first. I went on the gum and then eased into normal Trident. I no longer had cravings at home, in the car, after a meal, and best of all: at work while "shootin' the shat" with my boss while he smoked. The thing that finally got me was while playing pool. I play competitively and got so shaky and stressed out one night that I felt I just HAD to had one. I put it off and put it off, tossed in some nic gum, but finally caved. The sad part is that it actually helped. Calmed my nerves down instantly and I played remarkably! . Gonna re-quit again this weekend. I came too close to give up!

Weather I am a smoker or not, I will always disagree with laws that prevent smoking in private businesses. People have a right to choose who their business will cater too just as people have a right to stay the hell out of said businesses. Encourage change, don't force it!

shack

hearingimpared wrote:

I'm such a jerk off.:mad: I know I can and will.

Joe, just put the damn things down! You did it once...and it will be easier this time.

hearingimpared

You know the funny thing is that I quit drinking coffee too but when I started smoking again I started drinking coffee like a freshly sober alcoholic.

ShinAce

Quitting is easy.

Go to your local morgue and ask for the lungs from a smoker who's donating organs. Take said lung to a taxidermist and voil

BlueFox

hearingimpared wrote: »

You know the funny thing is that I quit drinking coffee too but when I started smoking again I started drinking coffee like a freshly sober alcoholic.

I wouldn't worry about the coffee. Just don't drink 10 gallons a day. We all need some vices in our life, otherwise we may as well be the Taliban.

BeRad

ShinAce wrote: »

Go to your local morgue and ask for the lungs from a smoker who's donating organs. Take said lung to a taxidermist and voil

zombie boy 2000

I think Ricardo deserves anyone's ear who wants to quit. Nothin' but wisdom and legitimate concern coming from his direction.

gdb

I smoked for many years and tried to kick many times, I am a nicotine addict and probably always will be. For the last 3 years I've substituted nicotine gum and lozenges for Marlboros. The cost is roughly the same, but BOY, I sure do breathe better now and my breath is minty instead of stinking like an ashtray!! Commit is cheaper at places like Costco and can also be gotten off of ebay. Good luck !!;)

Fireman32

I tried to quit lots of times and it never worked. I think it was because I wasn't ready to quit. I woke up one morning and said im done. The first two weeks was the worst but I wore the patch. After that it just got better and easier. I just hit 2 years smoke free last month. If you really want to quit you can!

bruss

Shizelbs wrote: »

There is a new medication out called Chantix. It works wonders. Seriously, its amazing. I've personally seen people go from 1-2 packs a day to a couple cigs per day in about 10 days. I have yet to have someone come back to me and say it didn't work well.

Its prescription only so see your doc.

This is the way to go.. smoked heavily for 15 yrs and quit very easily on chantix.. Has worked for 2 of my friends also..

moe

Great stories and advise.I've been smokin' vantage for 33 years,always hated the smoke but love smokin.There comes a time though when a mans gotta do what a mans gotta do.I've been thinkin' about it a lot as of late,started using tarblock a few weeks ago and already breath better.

george daniel

I just quit one day.

ShinAce

Warning: be careful with your mental health on Champix. Specifically, suicide.

CaligulaPolk

did you guys get fat after quitting smoke? Just wondering...

Roy Munson

did you guys get fat after quitting smoke? Just wondering...

Yeah, I did!

I quit smoking in 1993 after smoking 1 1/2 to 2 packs a day for 25 years. When I quit smoking I weighed 180 pounds (I'm 6' even) and started a slow steady gain for a couple of years until I weighed 225! I'm back to 190 now and hope I can lose a little more.

BTW..whoever said you have got to really want to quit smoking for yourself is 100% correct, simply just wanting to quit is not enough, you have to be ready. I quit cold turkey in 93' and haven't had a cigarette since.

Good Luck...........

Ricardo

I gained a few pounds, but I see that as an investment for the rough times that are coming.

hearingimpared

CaligulaPolk wrote: »

did you guys get fat after quitting smoke? Just wondering...

Heck yeah, I gained like 70 lbs and still haven't lost the last forty.

Fongolio

Cold turkey. About 15 years ago. Worst 4 days of my life followed the best 15 years.