How do i quit?

I don't have personal experience as I've never smoked, but my husband did for years. He gave up when I was pregnant with our first child, so obviously that was a big motivating factor! He used those electric cigarettes.

My BIL and his girlfriend also gave up last year using the same things.

Good luck, I hope you do manage to quit.

I took myself out of my home and work environment for 9 days I stayed with a non smoking friend and went cold turkey
it worked for me

I quit cold turkey each time...lol I can still remember my first cigarette at age 12 snuck from my grandmother's pack hiding under the porch with my cousin. I smoked from that day on till I got pregnant at 21. I quit pregnant ( good incentive ) and didn't pick it back up again until I was going through my divorce ( 6 years later ). I quit for the final time September 1, 2010. Again cold turkey. My husband and my children didn't want to see me die an early death due to smoking. The first 6 months were honestly the hardest. I had to give up the things that triggered my desire. No more nights drinking. No more early morning coffee ( I still drank coffee but on the go ), paper, and a smoke. I did put on 20lbs, but it was from the changing metabolism ( smoking speeds it up ). I lost that, and then some. I feel amazing though now and it's only my mid point. After a year I got to the point where the smell actually bothered me. I wasn't longing for someone to stand near me so I could get a wiff. It made me want to vomit. Once I hit the 2 year mark the things I used to associate with smoking ( like the above examples ) I began to do without feeling the need to have a cigarette in hand.

I quit last year using electronic cigarettes. Now I don't even need them.

You can only quit when you are ready and it is right for you. Not for someone else. not to do it as quitting buddies, not because it is the right thing to do. I smoked for 34 years, and I quit twice during that time. Four months ago was my time though. I armed myself as well as I could (I had prescription Wellbutrin, nicotine lozenges, and a stop smoking cleanse product...along with lots of gum and small healthy snacks) and I got up one morning and did not have a cigarette. I have thought about smoking more in the last four months than I ever did before. But, before I didn't have to think about it, I just lit up. It's gotten a little easier. AI did indeed gain weight - although I think that was more because I shoved everything I could find into my mouth than because of a physiological change. I also kept logging my food. I am accountable for me. it was my time. I hope it is your time and I wish you luck.

My advice is not to put too much pressure on yourself. If you decide "I'm going to quit cold turkey!" and have a slip up, you start to think "why bother, I can't do it" and before you know it you're a full on smoker again.

I used to be a smoker and I LOVED smoking. I remember thinking wistfully "I wish smoking wasn't bad for you..." so I could continue smoking for the rest of my life.

It took me a very long time to quit completely, I weaned myself off I guess you could say. At first I wanted to cut back, so I stopped smoking in the mornings, when walking down the street, waiting for a bus, etc., I would only smoke after meals, and when socializing. Then I stopped smoking after meals and would only smoke when I was drinking or when I was away someplace like at a cottage. Then I stopped smoking everytime I was drinking (i.e. wouldn't smoke after my first sip of beer as usual!) and would only smoke when I was *drunk* (this was my mid 20s keep in mind, ha ha..I make myself sound like a party animal).

Eventually the mornings after I would smoke I would notice that I felt terrible. My throat and lungs hurt, my mouth tasted foul, my hangover even felt worse. Then I started to notice that when I was smoking I really wasn't enjoying it and it would make me feel sick. This whole process was over the course of a few years and honestly it was a bit unintentional. In my mind I was ALWAYS going to be someone who smoked when they drank, but my body just said "enough". I had my last cigarette in September 2011 and haven't looked back. I don't miss it and even find it hard to believe that I used to be a regular smoker because I can't even imagine it now!

You'll get there when you're ready. Don't force it and just try to let it take its natural course if you can. Saying that I realize that that's not possible for everyone...everyone has to overcome their addictions in their own way and a gradual process might not be the best way for all. I wish you the best of luck!

You sound as if you don't want to quit, you gave more reasons as to why you want to continue smoking than not.

I quit cold turkey, sucked on the strongest mints I cold find and immersed myself in reading about the dangers of smoking--graphic articles on lung disease, pre-mature aging, throat cancer and all the horrible, horrible stuff smoking does to you and others. I also saved all the money I would have spent on cigarettes and after a year went on a wonderful cruise.

I did, however, gain weight, and now I'm doing something about that. One step at a time toward better health.

I joke that when I get to the age of 90, that I'm going to take up smoking again--I did enjoy the habit, but I don't think I would be able to make it to 90 if I did not quit.

The first step is wanting to quit MORE than wanting to continue...and you must want to do it for YOU. Immerse yourself in everything you can find on the dangers of smoking--with photos of all the graphic, gory details; additionally do a cost-benefit analysis of what it does to you financially as well. Above all, think long and hard about what effect you would have on your son if he had to watch you die of cancer and the fact that you might not be able to see him graduate from high school.

Make a pro-con list, when you can make the con's outnumber the pro's then you are on your way.

You will quit when you are ready. You are ready when you are willing to do whatever it takes to quit. You simply may not be ready yet.

EXACTLY!