Quitting smoking

Hi, I have 15 1/2 years off the cigs, 22 years with no booze. They go hand and hand, which you have already found out. I had to stay away from all cigarettes and smokers for a year to stay off the cigarettes. The book Quit and Stay Quit by Dr. Terry Ruskin was the only book I found that actually worked for me. I did all the writings in the book, it made a huge difference. Good luck and never stop quitting!

I'm coming up on my 4 year quit aniversary. Five days is great and you are feeling just like you should. Have you tried Quit.net? It's what got me through. It's too soon to feel energy, but you will. Keep it up!!!

I used the patch.

Good luck!

I quit almost 2 years ago by switching to an electronic cigarette and then tapering down my nicotine levels. Then for a long while I'd use it with nicotineless liquid when I was drinking, because otherwise I'd have the urge to smoke.

It's hard not to want a cigarette when you've been drinking, especially if you're around other people who are smoking!

Good luck quitting! Avoiding alcohol does sound smart.

Get it done! It's a stinking habit and you really can't ever be truly fit if you smoke... For me, and it's years ago now, but I just gave up without any weight gain or trouble, it was just a decision that I wasn't going to do it again and I didn't. I think I took up coffee instead, skim milk, no sugar Best of luck, you can do it!

I just passed my 4th year without cigarettes.
It was done on an impulse [ran out of cigarettes and thought "I wonder how long I can go without buying a pack?"]. After a week [normally when I'd relapse from my 'planned' quitting], I felt pretty good, like it was a done deal and I just kept going.
Chewed a lot of cinnamon gum.

I still miss the habit but, not enough to pick it up, ever again.

Good luck!

Not sure if this is what you want to hear - but I am one of those folks that has quit smoking about 4 times in his life. I am 62 now and began smoking when I was 17 and doing construction. My trigger was the cup of coffee in the morning with drinking being a secondary trigger. The first time I quit for about 13 years and then started up again when I was leading a team that was 90% smokers. The next time I quit for about 4 years and started up again when I joined a bowling team that was 100% smokers. I then quit for about 6 months and started up one night when I had been out drinking with a friend and came home to find my son and friend sharing beers and a cigarette. In any case what served as my motivation each time was the cost, smell, inconvenience and health aspects of smoking. I continued to focus on those items to keep me on the straight and narrow. I also found that stopping coffee in the morning and switching over to exercise helped a lot.

Enjoyed reading all the responses. Thanks for posting OP and good luck to you. Quitting for good is pretty much the top of my New Year's resolution list. I've quit like 5 times before, once for about 6 months. I really want it. I just lack the courage to try again. You'd think the bronchitis I've had the last 8 days would be enough, but it's only convinced me to reduce how many I smoke a day. :sad:

hi there, im on day 7, cold turkey, Ive been a pack a day smoker on and off for 23 years. I just have had enough. The smokes do kill and I want to be here for my kids, the way I look at it is I may as well put a gun to my head if i have another cigerette, I know gloomy but this thought process is due to family member just diagnosed with lung cancer so yep cigs went in the bin. Goodluck just do it xx

I smoked for almost 20 years and quit 3 years ago.

I used an e-cig and stepped down the nicotine levels in my cartridges until I was using 0.

One day, a few weeks after I got to 0, my e-cig went through the laundry and wouldn't charge anymore. I didn't buy a new one.

For the first year, I was very careful to only drink at non-smoking establishments. Now it isn't so much of an issue.

On a side note, I still crave them. I miss the flavor, the smell, and the cigarette breaks from work.

I had a Marlboro Ultra Light for Christmas 2011. I got nicotine poisoning and threw up Taco Bell nachos all over the bathroom floor.

I think it's safe to say that my smoking days are over...

Also have some nicoderm patches (7 mg bc i was a half a pack or less a day smoker) anyone use these or cold turkey?

I am using these now. They help ALOT!!! I don't get quite so edgy. I still have the urge, and have cheated a couple of times, but I am determined to quit.