How did you quit?

[pelicn]

Now that the taxes on cigarettes have climbed into the stratosphere I am again thinking about quitting. I have tried in the past, the longest time being 4 weeks, and just didn't have enough willpower to stay off them.
I keep thinking about the taxes and it irritates me to no end that the government is just going to blow that money.
Anyway....If you are a former smoker, please let me hear from you. I'd like to see just how you did it, and what methods you used. Thanks

 

[barney]

I was a smoker for 41 years and quit in 1 day. It's called having a heart attack and being in the hospital on drugs for a week. That was the only way I was able to quit.I was even able to rationalize not quiting when I saw my children doing without something so I could have my smokes. It took a brush with death and, I must admit, a wife with an iron will. I wish you the best of luck and you will be in my prayers. When you get the right incentive you will also be able to quit.

 

[copdsux]

I quit 5 years ago yesterday. prior to being diagnosed with Emphysema. Coming down the WV Tpk. smokin' the last Marlboro in the pack and, as I remember, I said out loud, 'why don't you try to quit', and I did!

Regarding willpower, try that the next time you have diareah(sp)!

 

[SHARP327]

The wife and I quit about 8 years ago at the same time and we used the patches, after starting step 2 of 4 steps we realized that we were forgetting to put on new patches on and that was the indicator that we no longer needed the patches.

I really don't think I/we had any withdraw problems and sitting in the smoking section of a restaurant doesn't phase us at all.

We recommend the patches to everyone the mentions that they want to quit.

Good luck and we'll say a prayer for you!...it's a real hard habit to break.

 

[miker]

One word ( Nicotrol) I smoked for 20 years and my doctor wrote me a script for them as this is the only way they can be obtained.
This little device works I promise. The way that it works is, it is a small tubular about the length of a cigarette and as round as your pinky finger. This device pulls apart in the middle and you insert the nicotine cartridge and snap it back together, now you will draw from this just as you would a cigarette, and the greatt part is that the only thing that you will be inhaling is the nicotine alll by itself which is not deadly but it is addictive, thats what keeps us wanting to smoke. Now the instructions said that you can use up to 16 of the cartridges that go in the middle a day, and as someone that smoked a pack or more a day, I never used more than 3 cartridges a day. a box lasted me 6 months and I told myself that when they were gone that was it I would not purchase more, that was 8 yrs ago. look it up on the net and get a script from your doctor, hands down the next best thing to a cigarette, but most importantly it is a decision that only you can commit yourself to, you must want to quit. They work trust me

 

[Dakota]

I quit cold turkey. One day I just threw my cigarettes away. I smoked from when I was 18 to 24. I was a two pack a day smoker. The hard part for me was hanging out at bars with friends. You really want a cigarette along with your beer. To this day there are times when I see someone smoking and I think "Wow I'd really like a cigarette" It's been 14 years since I had a cigarette. Not sure if it harder to quit the longer you smoke but quitting cold turkey worked well for me.

 

[Lawrence]

Nicorette in 1983.

 

[Dog_House2691]

Cold Turkey.....think about the .40 cents you put in the ashtray every hour or how much money you can save every year.

 

[miker]

you got plenty of support here, when it gets real bad we'll do a group hug and you'll feel better.

 

[Turtle]

Anybody can quite once, but it takes real determination to quit 50, 100 times.

 

[inkasnana]

I've "quit" 4 different times. The first 3 times were each time I was pregnant because I knew it was bad for the baby and the smoke made me sick. The 4th time was cold turkey because I was flying up to Alaska to drive back with a friend who didn't smoke and had a small child. That 4th time was extremely difficult and I was not always pleasant to be around for the first few months.

That 4th time lasted for 11 months and I started again one night when I had friends over who smoked and my ex, whom I was married to at the time, smoked. We were playing cards and drinking and I just got fed up with everyone else smoking so I started again. I haven't gotten to the point where I'm willing and ready to quit again yet, but I'm sure I will. Until then I will smoke.

 

[TJ959]

I started smoking when I was 18 and in the service. I quit many times but the habit seemed unbreakable until I finally decided it was time to quit. my wife was pregnant for our daughter and it just seemed like the time to quit. It was by far the hardest thing I ever did but I quit cold turkey. My daughter is now 28 and it still smells real good when someone lights up that first puff.
I smoked a pack and a half to two packs a day for nineteen years and I couldn't quit until I really, really, wanted to.

 

[Dakota]

I smoked a pack and a half to two packs a day for nineteen years and I couldn't quit until I really, really, wanted to.

I think that is the key you need to have a good reason for YOU to quit. For some it for health reasons, for some it's for your spouse or children. If you don't have a good reason you will continue to smoke.
I always enjoyed smoking but chose to qiut for my health, the reason you quit is up to you!!!

 

[FIS53]

I was at a pack and a half a day and I quit cold turkey. I found it hardest afterwards at bars and movies (when they allowed smoking) but otherwise I was fine without a smoke. Just willpower.
Friend who quit did the smart thing. Took the money and saved it aside. End of the year he goes to his travel agent and goes for a trip. Since he saved over $2000 a year he usually has a great trip. He's been doing this for over 15 years.
Rob

 

[iceroadtrucker]

I can tell ya this Second hand Smoke makes me sick and gives me a Realy bad Headace.
Now I hope Your reading this Ditch the smokes.

 

[teamjdw]

The patch,at first it was hard to keep them lit.Mind over matter,once u put your mind 2 it ,nothing else matters.Will power no will,no way! You can do it!

 

[layoutshooter]

My father-in-law quit cold turkey after more than 40 years of 2-4 packs a day of un-filtered Camels. He did have a push when they found he had oral cancer. He died of lung cancer ten years latter. He neglected his follow up cancer examinations. My granddad quit after I threw 3 cartens of cigarettes into to coal stove in his kitchen. He and my grandmother were kinda argueing over his smoking and the cost etc. So, being an activist even at age 6, I threw them in the fire. The fight stopped, I got the razor strap to my young tender butt and my grandfather lived to 94. Layoutshooter

 

[nightcreacher]

It ended up to be a 5 pack a day habit.Lit that 1st one ,and just lit the rest with the last one.Only time you would see me without a cigarette was when I was asleep.
I only tried quitting once,never told anyone I was quitting,just stopped,and no,I have no will power.
I had this very bad cough,so I started to take some cough lozenges,very strong ones.Of course i was doing them instead of the cigarettes.I believe,after smoking you leave the tar and nicotene on the back of your tongue,the cough drops took away the taste and need for the cigarettes.Three weeks after quitting,the cough went away,was about that soon didnt miss the smoking either.The real hard part was I was a weekend alcoholic,loved that tequila,quit that the same day I quit smoking.Now that was hard,but if you have a drink you will take a cigarette.I did find a different habit,chewing toothe pics,ended up harder to quit that than the smoking or drinking
Had a Dr tell me once,smoking was sophisticated thumb sucking.She also told me,reason for gaining weight,you dont realize how good food really tastes.I know, I've become a foodaholic

 

[Dakota]

Wow, that's like 8 1/2 cigarettes an hour

 

[guido4475]

I can tell ya this Second hand Smoke makes me sick and gives me a Realy bad Headace.
Now I hope Your reading this Ditch the smokes.

If we ever meet up,please remind me of this.I will respect you and not smoke.I am one of the pickiest smokers out there.Never in the house.What I dont understand is why do non-smokers have to walk through the smoking section to get to the non-smoking section?