How did you quit smoking?

[pills]

I've been a smoker for nearly 20 years and have always thought that I would quit 'some day.' That day came around about a year ago. I've tried cold turkey several times, Chantix, nicotine patch, nicotine lozenges, nicotine gum, but I can't seem to stop for more than a week at a time.

I have a really addictive personality (no excuse) but I'm just wondering what has worked for any ex-smokers here on JUB.

[gsdx]

Actually, I quit cold turkey after 40 years of smoking. I simply decided I didn't want to smoke anymore. (Note that I said I didn't want to smoke as opposed to wanting to quit. It is a different mindset. I'd tried to quit several times before and failed each time.)

I haven't had a cigarette in years.

Before I quit, I used to roll them with one of those little machines which pushes the tobacco into a tube. When I quit, I left the tobacco, tubes, and roller where they always had been on the shelf above my computer. I figured it I could resist it rather than doing without, it would also make a difference. It did. After 6 months, I finally threw out the tubes and over $20 worth of very, very dry tobacco.

I was going to go the patch or gum route, but was told to go cold turkey. I did, and it worked. Mostly, I owe my success to not wanting to smoke anymore rather than wanting to quit.

Oh, and the people here at JUB were also key to my success. They asked for updates and congratulated and supported me throughout the entire process. You have a built-in support group right here.

Hey, if I can do it after 40 years, you can do it after 20.

[frstx88]

Everytime you go out, take some cigarretes out of your pack and promise yourself you wont bum any. After you're down to half a pack, quit smoking in the morning. When you feel ready, go down to 2 cigarettes a day. afterwards, just quit cold turkey.

it worked for me

[ozguy]

1. Having my kids constantly remind me that I was an idiot for smoking and that I might not be around to see them achieve significant milestones in their life if I kept up the habit.

2. Nicotine gum.

Haven't been near a cig for over 10 years now, but funnily enough hardly a day goes by when I don't think about how much I used to enjoy them .... especially that first cigarette of the day I'd have with my morning cuppa.

[palbert]

I used lozenges. A mild tranquilizer might be prescribed for the "frazzled" beginning. Substitute a dried fruit - I used dried apples. Good luck!

[AlmondMilk]

What about the electronic cigarettes?

I never smoked, but my dad quit once my grandmother died.

[spooger]

i used one of those rectal e-stim devices set to HIGH voltage ... i gave the trigger to my boyfriend and told him if he saw me with a cig .... hit the button ... after a few high voltage jolts to the a-hole, i got the message .... LOL

naw ... i just put them down and quit ... simple as that

[gsdx]

What about the electronic cigarettes?

There is disturbing evidence that they are just as dangerous as real cigarettes:

Diethylene Glycol

Electronic Cigarettes are found to contain an anti-freeze component known as Diethylene Glycol. It is toxic to humans and can cause health worries on inhalation. This is one of the major Electronic Cigarette side effects.

Toxicity

Other than Diethylene Glycol, e-cigarettes also contain cancer-causing compounds like nitrosamines. If the cigarette accidentally breaks, humans may be exposed to such harmful components.

Bad Marketing

The marketing strategy of e-cigarettes has also come under criticism. Many electronic cigarette brands are being found to offer e-cigarettes in various flavours like mint, orange and chocolate. This can entice smokers as well as non-smokers. This actually promotes smoking rather than curbing it.

Some electronic cigarette juices have caramel and strawberry flavourings that may attract children into smoking.

Nicotine

Health experts argue that electronic cigarettes contain nicotine, the basic element found in cigarettes. In an electronic cigarette liquid nicotine is used. Nicotine is an alkaloid medicine that is harmful for humans. A long drag on the cigarette can make you actually suck some of the liquid nicotine into your mouth. This can be very damaging for health. You have to drag the cigarette slowly for 3-5 seconds, which is not always possible to be careful about.

Tetramethylpyrazine

E-cigarettes also consist of Tetramethylpyrazine. Prolonged exposure to Tetramethylpyrazine can result in brain damage in human beings.

http://www.primehealthchannel.com/el...e-effects.html

[maxer343]

When I quit smoking, I had a neighbor when I had lived in a high rise that we adopted as “Dear Aunt Jane” or “Crazy Aunt Jane” depending on the day. I had been smoking long enough to have blocked out all of the health hazards. I had also been smoking long enough that the financial aspects were already well engrained into my budget. Casually one night, Dear Aunt Jane mentioned her mother’s (A Vassar Grad) opinion of smokers.
She stated this “My mother always said “”Smokers show a general lack of poise. They just don’t know what to do with their hands.”’
I had been unaffected by the health risks, the financial had always been there but attacking my poise was unacceptable. I quit the next day.

[maxer343]

When I quit smoking, I had a neighbor when I had lived in a high rise that we adopted as “Dear Aunt Jane” or “Crazy Aunt Jane” depending on the day. I had been smoking long enough to have blocked out all of the health hazards. I had also been smoking long enough that the financial aspects were already well engrained into my budget. Casually one night, Dear Aunt Jane mentioned her mother’s (A Vassar Grad) opinion of smokers.
She stated this “My mother always said “”Smokers show a general lack of poise. They just don’t know what to do with their hands.”’
I had been unaffected by the health risks, the financial aspects had always been there but attacking my poise was unacceptable. I quit the next day cold turkey.

[maxer343]

Sorry for the double reply - it said I wasn't logged in.

[derelictdarrel]

I havent had a smoke in two weeks.

I try to reserve one for when i'm stressed, or wish to decompress.

[tdavecu]

I used one of those smokeless cigarettes in combination with a patch. The patch helped my chemical addiction and the smokeless ciggie helped with the psychological addiction. Good luck!

[Wuvable Oaf]

I quit cold turkey, think I was smoking on-and-off for about a year or more. Although I would say my smoking was linked to being depressed. Never felt "addicted" and never have the urge to smoke anymore.

[yellowminicooper]

I'm trying to quit now. For a month or so I have went down from one pack a day to about 4 or 5 smokes. My BF quit cold turkey. He is on my case everyday and makes me feel guilty if I cheat. Our motivation is to someday see the extra $150/mo. in our bank accounts.

You can do it!

[mbamike]

I tried cigarettes when I was a teenager. I was never addicted to them.

However, my two older brothers were smokers. They quit together using tootsie pops. They have been quit for years.

[Pianist]

I used to smoke, on average, a pack (25) a day. Sometimes at work (I was a desk clerk in a hotel at the time) I'd go through a pack in a shift if it was a particularly stressful one.

I'm not entirely sure of the process but one day I found I didn't like the taste. Each day I would smoke less and less of a cigarette until all I was doing was firing it up, taking one drag and then putting it out.

My ashtray at home was full of butts of all lengths.

At work, when offered a smoke I would decline only to be asked if I was quitting. A small voice in my brain, filled with panic would ask "Yeah, are you quitting?"

I'd reply that I wasn't having a smoke just then to both the voice, and the person. I left myself the opportunity of having one later if I chose.

Later never came.

I've been smoke free for about twenty five years.

I guess the question is, what led to my disliking the taste for I was fine with it before. To this day, I have no idea... some change in the metabolic chemical soup I guess.

Whatever the reason, I'm not sorry it happened.

[Ninja108]

Having seen what it did to my grandfather, I never started.
I know a couple of my friends have used hypnosis to get them to break the habit.

[bradlee119]

Cold Turkey.2 years now

[ridgewood]

In my early 20s while in the Navy I was a 2-pack a day man. I made a decision to marry a college sweetheart who didn't smoke. I announced to the guys on the ship that had quit smoking. When we went to a bar I missed my cigs. When I tried to bum one from one the the guys, they would say, "No way. You quit and you won't let us bum one from you. Get lost." It worked. I climbed the bulkheads (we didn't have walls in the Navy) for 6 weeks, but the craving finally went away. I haven't had a smoke since I quit.