Cold turkey, but not on the first try. The first few days are the most difficult. All the toxins are out of your bloodstream in 72 hours. Then it`s habit that your fighting. You have to break the habit. Because we are all different, and have different methods of getting away from cigarettes, I can only say, "keep trying until it takes". One of the things that kept me trying to quit, was the feeling like, and being treated as a second class citizen. I got tired of being at a social occasion or party, or at work, and I`d be one of a few, or by myself having to step outside for a smoke, in all kinds of weather. I also got tired of laying down to sleep at night and hearing the wheeze,like there were two people breathing in my chest. It made me feel like a loser, not taking the bull by the horns and overcoming a habit that was harming my health, social life, and well being, and I didn`t like that. I quit a few times and went back, and then one time it took. That was 18 years ago.
I remember reading that all smokers gained weight, but somewhere somebody said, "break the habit first, then worry about working on the weight". I did gain some weight after quitting, but used that advice and lost it.
I hope all that want to can quit. It`s well worth it. Don`t give up.