How did you quit smoking?

[realslimshady]

I've tried quitting many times but none lasts longer than a few days. I tried the patch, gum and of course the good old cold turkey. None of them worked.

So how did you do it? I'm interested in knowing. Thanks.

 

[VicGuy36]

I was a pack to a pack and a half a day smoker. I used the gum (started with max doseage) and gradually weaned myself off it over a 2 or so year period. I did not smoke at all once I went on the gum (so cold turkey from cigarettes, but not from nicotine). That was quite difficult--I think it was will power, and a modification of some habits (i.e. not going out to the bars--this was back in the days when you could smoke in bars) which allowed me to quit. I haven't had a cigarette in 13 1/2 years, and have been "nicotine-free" for over 11 years.

Do I still get cravings?--hell yes. Do I cough as much?-- no. Do I have more spending money now?--yep.

 

[realslimshady]

Speaking of spending money ... I tried to make a deal with myself that if I don't smoke in a month I will reward myself with a session with one of my favourite SPs. Didn't work either ... started again in a few days. LOL.

 

[edmontonexplore]

It's been proven that nicotine is harder to quit than heroin. #1 is you have to truly want to quit. Most people that I know that have quit have simply made the decision on the spot. Then you have to change your habits. After dinner go for a walk. When you wake up, take a shower right away instead of having that smoke. Etc, etc. When you get in the car is one of the toughest ones to break. How do you change the habits there? Sheer willpower and a support system is truly needed. But even then, success isn't a given. I just got through cancer (not lung thank god!) and I still haven't quit, but it should have scared me enough to want to (and I do). For me, I found when I quit in the past, it was either after I was sick as a dog or hungover as hell and had smoked too much the night before. The trick isn't quitting, it's staying quit! All the power to you my friend. I hope you kick the habit! Maybe we could work out a wager as an incentive for both of us to quit!

 

[Piratos]

Moved to a city where smoking is not allowed inside and where it gets really, really, cold outside in the winter. Motivated me to slap the patch on and persevere.

 

[Scarlett]

The nicorette Inhaler is great. I use it at work, and only smoke like 1 cigarette a day now. Down from like 5 a day, so not too intense, but this is 5 a day for 10 years (I started as a wee one ).

Change of environment is very important, but so is change in mindset. I think the hand to mouth habit is often overlooked too- that is one of the more addictive properties of cigarettes- a pack a day smoker repeats that hand-to-mouth motion thousands of times a day- tell me that doesn't get ingrained into your head somehow!

 

[Oldfart]

I went through David Hanson's 3-day Lifestyle program, and it worked. I am now a non-smoker and shall remain so for the rest of my life.

Unfortunately, I don't think the program exists any more. It involved a combination of self-hypnosis (listening to tapes) and aversion therapy (smoke til you puke).

At the time it cost me $100, which was the cost of ten cartons, so 10 weeks later, I had paid for the program.

 

[Hornee]

Had a heart attack at 36 and it scared the shit out me. Had 5 bypasses at 42. Nuff said.


Be a proud Canadian...show your beaver!

 

[LonelyGhost]

the actual nictoine addiction lasts about 7 - 10 days and that's it! no nic fits or cravings or anything like that ...

the psychological addiction lasts the rest of your life. i have now been a non-smoker longer than i was a smoker and find the smell of cig smoke repulsive but still crave a smoke!!!

the only way to quit is to change your lifestyle ... when do you most want the smoke? do something else ...

like a cig with coffee ... then drink tea someplace where you can't smoke.

like a cig with your friends, then you will need new friends.

I used a simple thing with getting off the smokes: everytime i wanted one, i went for a walk until it stopped. needless to say, i spent a lot of time walking. however, exercise is a very good way of stopping smoking and with walking you don't have to go to the gym etc ... just walk.

the other thing that works is sucking on carrots ... the real ones ... by the time you quit you will hate carrots and be orange but it does help.

 

[Oldfart]

the psychological addiction lasts the rest of your life. i have now been a non-smoker longer than i was a smoker and find the smell of cig smoke repulsive but still crave a smoke!!!

Hypnosis is good for stopping the psychological craving.