Smoking?

Not me, but my dad quit I think around 7 years ago after smoking for 20+ years? He used the nicotine patch and motivation from his girlfriend at the time who said she didn't want to date a smoker

my grandparents were long time smokers and they have quit. What helps them is keeping sugar free candies around the house, in their car, in my grandmothers case in her purse. Because sometimes its the habit of having your mouth needing something to do. You've gotten in the habit of sucking on a cigarette basically. which is why for some people the gum works yes it has the nicotine in it, but it also keeps the mouth busy this is how my aunt stopped.

I quit in just one day with help of Paul McKenna's Quit smoking hypnosis cd. The first three days were very hard, the first three months were also very hard but now I am comfortable being a non smoker. I quit just 5 months ago.The cd works. It's so nasty that you would not smoke again, just so that you don't have to hear that cd again. Hehe. I also have his weight loss cds, but they don't work so well on me. Seriously give it a try

I've been smoke free since Dec 24th 2010

I was smoking on and off for 23 years.

I had tried numerous times before, the longest being maybe 2 months. The biggest demise was drinking and being around smoker friends.

What it came down to for me was the fact I felt unheathy. I was really fed up. It's unexplainable how it happens, but its something that just happens when your truely ready to quit.

1. I forcably kept tewlling myself I did not enjoy smoking
2. I stopped hanging out with my smoker friends
3. This one may not be applicable to you, but every time I had the urge... I would take a toke off my bowl (marijauna)
The sensation of inhaling smoke was what I really craved, not the nicotine. After one or two hits, I no longer wanted a cigarette.
4. I got myself a phone app called Quitnow! It tracks how many days gone witout smoking, cigarettes not smoked, money and days saved
5. I kept reminding myself that smoking does absolutley no good for me. It offers nothiing at all. It makes a person smell disgusting
6. Most of all, I told myself I was contributing to the wealth of corrupt tabacco executives who prophit on the weakness of the individuals who are addicted to smoking. Once I looked at myself in that perspective, I really really wanted to quit.

The real miracle for me now is that I can have a beer (or 12) and not even think about wanting a smoke. It truley disgusts me now.

And I did it all cold turkey. And thats the only way that its possible to quit

I quit nearly 2 years ago after smoking for 12 years. I quit because the new stuff they were putting in cigarettes was causing me to have migraines. I used the patch and blow pops. Went through an entire bag of blow pops in one week. When I wanted a cigarette, I stuffed a blow pop in my mouth. It worked for me, but that first week was so so hard! I will be cigarette free for 2 years on November 15th. Good luck to you! It's hard, but it can be done if you are serious about quitting.

I smoked for close to 30 years and finally quit last January. It was time....past time. I was 50 and I have youngish children. The youngest being 8. While I ate healthy and exercised somewhat, I still smoked. I loved smoking. What also helped change my ways was the price. Over $9 a pack which I smoked everyday. That came to over $3000 a year! O.O For that I could pay off bills, or update a room in my house, or take my kids on vacation.

It turned out not to be as hard as I thought it would be.

I used the graduated patch system and the gum (2 grams). The patch gives you a steady dose of nicotine throughout the day and the gum was great when a big urge came on. You have to learn to use the gum properly. You chew for about 10 times and then rest it on the side of your mouth for a few minutes and then repeat until you feel better. And remember the patch (strongest ones) will probably give you very vivid bizarre dreams. LOL

Good Luck!!! Do it!!!!

And oh my does it help those workouts!!!!!!

20 yr smoker here! I quit 4 yrs ago. Best thing I ever did. I chewed nicorrette gum. Also everytime I had a really bad craving I went for a walk. Sometimes in the beginning I was going on 4-6 walks a day. Eventually the cravings stopped. It takes a while. I think its like weight loss. You have to want it bad enough and you just do it! good luck

I am not a smoker but know several people who are/have been. I am not sure where you are from but they have what is called auriculotherapy. basically the dr puts some shock waves onto your ear which signals to the brain to not crave the nicotine any longer. i know at least 5 people who have ahd this done and have not smoked a cigarette since. the procedure is painless. and withdrawl symptoms are minimal too! here in missouri, it costs $90 to have done initially and then if you have a craving, you can go back and have it done again for free as long as you do not smoke. if you smoke, they charge $50 for the "boost" hope you can find something like this in your area. worth the cost for sure.

My mom was a smoker for a long time...20+ years or so. Nicorette gum really helped her to quit.

I've used a combination of Zyban (anti-depressant), nicorette and the nicotine inhaler. I've also ordered an e-cigarette (nicotine free) for those difficult social occaisions. I've got an app on my phone (Quit Now! for Android) which tracks my progress, money I've saved, health improvements and gives me awards - I find this motivating. My endurance for running has improved a lot and I know this is due to not smoking and this helps me refrain from lighting up.

That being said, I've quit smoking numerous times. You just have to keep trying and not get discouraged if you slip up. Every little bit of effort countrs.

I was a smoker. WAS. I smoked for years, and was a chain smoker. I'd easily inhale a pack to a pack and a half of cigs per day... One day though, (Sept. 11th, 2010.. It's been just over a year!!!) I decided the time had come. I smoked every single cigarette I had, just before bed one night... to make sure I had none in the house... and then the next day came, and I just didn't buy any more. NONE.
I won't lie, and say it was easy. But I did it, and that makes me happy. Every time I had a strong craving, I'd have a glass of water. I started exercising heavily a by about a month after I quit. It helped with the stress. I also marked an 'X' on the calendar every day for just over a month, to emphasize my progress to myself. I even posted photos on my calendar to my Facebook on days I felt especially weak.... I'd send the photo "labelled XX Days Non smoking!!" ..and then the positive reinforcement I'd receive was helpful.... You can do it, no matter how you choose to go about it. It's funny, once I finished my first 5k on Sunday, after crossing the finish line.. my first words were "Take THAT, cigarettes!!!". It was such a proud moment. If you want support, feel free to add me as a friend. Once you've quit, you really WILL wonder why you hadn't sooner.

Nicotine patches worked for me....my husband and I quit together for 9 months in 2009, but started again after a couple of major traumatic things happened to us, and we've kicking ourselves for starting again ever since.

I am definitely panning to quit again, but want to get a little below my goal weight first..which should happen by the end of this year. Its probably lame to use the weight excuse, but we both did gain, and I didn't want to quit again while I was in the overweight range...

On my doctors orders I used chantix as well as the patches after 7 days I stopped using the patches and no longer smoking. Best choice I ever made . For the mental aspect I "smoked" a straw that was about the same size in length width, enemy flicked the make believe ashes.

Also keep a lot of things to munch on, carrots, radishes veggies are best low calorie snacks.

i quit yesterday at 430pm. i am 37 and have smoked for most of the last 23-25 years. i quit for 6 weeks over the summer, then i let some excuses convince me to start again so i am back to square one. a change in routine really helped me last time, i was going camping for a few days and cigarettes would have been very few and far between so i didnt bring any and used that postivie momentum to keep up the streak when i got back.

add me as a friend if you want to share stories and support. there are 3 mfp'ers who quit this week that i am friends with and we have been sharing ideas, stories etc

bottom line, it is all mental. spend some time really thinking about it, do you want to quit or not? can you envision not smoking the next time... something awful happens, you drink too much, you have a really good meal, you need some time to yoursefl, you finished a good workout... or whatever are your biggest triggers or most enjoyable smokes of the day? think about that and if you say yes then set a time and date to toss your pack and just do it.

smoking feels great and many people even look sexy/stylish when they are smoking, your body thinks it needs it, many aspects are very enjoyable, be honest with yourself about why and how you enjoy it then decide that you can and will live without it

and i dont think you shoudl say good luck since there is no luck involved and thinking there is removes you of culpability for your own actions.

If you really want to, you can.

I smoked for about 3 to 4 years. I was also eating poorly and binge drinking around the time. It was hard to quit at first, but it's literally the best thing I've ever done for myself. I agree with an earlier poster, though. You have to really WANT to quit. It's as simple as just not buying anymore cigarettes. Don't pick one up and you won't smoke it. I also changed my circle of friends. I got away from people who weren't supportive and who gave me a hard time about quitting. People who love you will understand why you don't want to smoke like a freight train or drink until your face is numb. They will support you if they love you. I had to find that out the hard way. I also believe that you have to work on changing things about your life. You need to figure out what triggers your addiction. Are you stressed, trying to substitute cigarettes for dieting, etc?? I got out of the crazy partying, eliminated some stressors, and started focusing on how to make my body as healthy as possible. I'm in the best shape that I've ever been and wouldn't even consider turning back. Good luck!! I know you can do it.

This just deserved repeating