[CANGRKE70]

I've smoked for about 15 years and had my last smoke last night.

I'd like to think I have pretty good willpower (see stubborn) and can do this.

For the longtime smokers who quit, any advice?
Things that led to relapses? How long have you been smoke free?

I'm good so far, got over 1 major craving while in the car to work this morning. Going to have another one on my way home.

I just feel like my cool level has dropped like 10 points.

[MightyMouseTech]

Congrats! It gets easier every day, if you can do one whole day, the next day is easier!

Drinking is the worst for me. Avoid bars and the like.

[rr006rbc]

I recently picked it up about 4 years ago (I blame the ex for causing extra stress in my life; thank god that one is done with) however, the smoking habit hasn't ceased.

There was a period where I quit for 6 months last year and I was quite proud. And then one drunken night..I bummed a cig off a friend and here I am again.

For those 6 months it was right after my break up and I figured I needed change. Cravings were still there on the daily and my job definitely didn't help because 20% of the employees here smoke. You've just got to try and keep yourself away from people that smoke but if you can't; at least let the people you're around know that you're making a valiant effort to quit and they should be on your side if they're really your friends lol.

I've been wanting to quit as well but I play a lot of golf and honestly there's nothing like a cup of coffee, a cigarette and a round of golf.

[SakhirM4]

Originally Posted by CANGRKE70

I've smoked for about 15 years and had my last smoke last night.

I'd like to think I have pretty good willpower (see stubborn) and can do this.

For the longtime smokers who quit, any advice?
Things that led to relapses? How long have you been smoke free?

I'm good so far, got over 1 major craving while in the car to work this morning. Going to have another one on my way home.

I just feel like my cool level has dropped like 10 points.

I smoked for 43 years. I quit cold turkey a little over 4 years ago. Have not had a cigarette since. You will NEVER get over the desire for a cigarette - NEVER. You just have to live with it. I used e-cigs for about a year after quitting to cope, but have even been off of that for a long time.

You can do it and should. It is the ONLY healthy thing to do!!

[PINeely]

Originally Posted by MightyMouseTech

Congrats! It gets easier every day, if you can do one whole day, the next day is easier!

Drinking is the worst for me. Avoid bars and the like.

This right here. When I quit any time I would go to the bar I'd have a fit but it does get easier. For me the habit was harder to break than the nicotine itself, I never really craved unless I was doing something where I would normally have been smoking (drinking, grilling, morning commute, etc). I chewed toothpicks or gum instead.

Don't try to wean. Just do it cold turkey. And never ever say that you'll just have the one.

Congrats on stopping. You've just added years to your hopefully long and happy life!

[Lups]

Originally Posted by SakhirM4

I smoked for 43 years. I quit cold turkey a little over 4 years ago. Have not had a cigarette since. You will NEVER get over the desire for a cigarette - NEVER. You just have to live with it. I used e-cigs for about a year after quitting to cope, but have even been off of that for a long time.

You can do it and should. It is the ONLY healthy thing to do!!

I love smoking. I hands down love it. Sadly, i don't want my kids to learn from mom so they have never seen me smoke, i refuse to go near them if i just had a smoke, i hate the eco footprint of smoking and well, those things push me to the road trip smoker pool.

I think you and i think alike in this. I too will never get over it, but that's a thing i accept and go on without a ciggy.

Smoking guys is epic, and it prevents killing idiots often but being a person who has quit is better. The daily satisfaction of being better than i actually am is completely worth it.

[R3dliner]

I just recently fully quit vaping(smoking for 15 years). First started with 16mg of nicotine. Then I was down to 3mg for 2 years. Recently went to 0 mg for 3 months, then one day I just stopped. Haven't looked back yet. I cheated 1 time while I was out drinking but never relapsed back after that night.

You have to ask yourself are you addicted to nicotine or the act of smoking.

[Matt@EuroJerks]

Congrats. I was a moderate smoker from 14-24 and quit cold turkey. The health benefits in my mind far outweighed the "cool" factor. That was my determination to stop smoking. I would just "challenge" myself and ask "do you really need cigarette?" I ate a bunch of lollipops that first year.

[Lups]

Originally Posted by R3dliner

I just recently fully quit vaping. First started with 16mg of nicotine. Then I was down to 3mg for 2 years. Recently went to 0 mg for 3 months, then one day I just stopped. Haven't looked back yet. I cheated 1 time while I was out drinking but never relapsed back after that night.

You have to ask yourself are you addicted to nicotine or the act of smoking.

I am totally addicted to the ten minutes of silence. These days i take my phone everywhere and spend my minutes with a book. Funny how one can read a whole book every day on a thing that makes you feel better. I have even learned to run while reading which is so damn pathetic.

[UncleWede]

"Let me quit. But if I cannot quit, let me be brave in the attempt." - adaptation of Special Olympics

[Yasplease]

I will have 6 months smoke free at the end of the month. I wore patches for the first few months and chewed on cinnamon toothpicks to help with the physical aspect. I am not going to sugar coat it, it has not been easy BUT I really do feel better and do not miss spending money to shorten my life everyday.

[UncleWede]

I thought when I looked at CVS the other day that Marlboro's were $17/pack

[fullstack]

I smoked for about 18 years and quit in 2012. I went cold turkey and at first the cravings hit every 10-15 minutes. I think that lasted almost a month. After that I still had cravings every now and then. I stumbled and had a few smokes but the key for me was that I had to convince myself that I had still quit and try not to count the few times I had one. In other words, if I messed up and had a smoke, I didn't let that one time be and excuse to give up quitting and say to myself I'll try again next time. I bought a pack and threw away the entire pack after one smoke a couple times in the process of smoking. I can think about smoking now and remember that I enjoyed it but I can't remember that satisfying feeling I had when I smoked. I had a few puffs about a year ago and I didn't enjoy it and it didn't bring back that satisfying feeling.

[Lups]

Originally Posted by UncleWede

"Let me quit. But if I cannot quit, let me be brave in the attempt." - adaptation of Special Olympics

Haha, and no haha, no making fun of the disabled.

I'm completely addicted to the extra me time breaks. It isn't about the cancer sticks for me, but in those minutes i don't work, i don't cook, i don't handle the dogs, i don't think about the market, i don't read up on the market. I then read a book i want to read.

I read 1-3 books per day, but usually from the first paragraph I know what's my smoking book of the day. The next day i usually reread it if i can find a translation of it. The few minutes are a beautiful thing.

[UncleWede]

Originally Posted by Lups

Haha, and no haha, no making fun of the disabled. .

Not making fun at all. I ran the Special Olympics torch when it came thru SoCal 2 weeks ago, and that saying is on my mind.

[Lups]

Originally Posted by UncleWede

Not making fun at all. I ran the Special Olympics torch when it came thru SoCal 2 weeks ago, and that saying is on my mind.

I have battled with you once about abortions, so i know you are not, but you do know i need to be the ... milk only thinker of the forum.

Hey i meant to ask you a while back, you had diabetes I recall? Type one or two?

[NoGuru]

I smoked for about 25 years, then last year my brother had a heart attack. I quit cold turkey in October of 2016.

[Questofthetune]

I was confused then realized this was talking about a different kind of smoking...

[CANGRKE70]

Originally Posted by Questofthetune

I was confused then realized this was talking about a different kind of smoking...

That we're making legal up here, but that I gave up years ago.

[Nkc]

Best of luck.

Smoked for as long as I can remember. Decided to cut down from 10-15 a day to about 2-3 a day couple years ago. Last year, decided to convert into a recreational smoker only when I drink/sparky but that was tough because I was still relying on at least 2-3 smokes a day. Trying to turn into a recreational smoker turned me into an alcoholic. Went on the patch which worked great. Didn't have any cravings unless I drank. Started with the 21mg patch because we get 3 months of these patches for free every year. I cut them in half to give me an extra 3 months supply lol.

FYI, I don't intend to quit as I still really enjoy smoking while drinking with others. The patch is a great way to cut the habitual part of smoking while still maintaining your daily nicotine levels.

The benefits of the patch is that 1) its much cheaper being free, 2) no smell, 3) no reliance on taking smoke breaks or craving for a smoke, 4) you're not inhaling anything toxic.

The cons of the patch is that 1) I don't actually think it helps much with quiting, 2) crazy vivid/lucid dreams if you keep the patch on while sleeping (could be both a pro and a con actually), 3) expensive if you run out of the free stuff, 4) you get as addicted to the patch as you would with cigarettes.

Willpower is key. The only way to actually quit smoking is actually wanting to quit or having a reason to. I'm obviously not there yet but I've achieved my goal of cutting down drastically.

[Ali Shiralian]

I smoked for 15 years then I quit for seven. One day I was on a training with one of my managers in a hotel room watching Stanley cup finals, he lit a cigarette and over a few beers I asked him to give me one, next night another one and on and on. Felt bad about bumming smokes from him so next day I went out and bought him a pack and bought myself one. A decision I regret to this day...

[sygazelle]

Originally Posted by CANGRKE70

I've smoked for about 15 years and had my last smoke last night.

I'd like to think I have pretty good willpower (see stubborn) and can do this.

For the longtime smokers who quit, any advice?
Things that led to relapses? How long have you been smoke free?

I'm good so far, got over 1 major craving while in the car to work this morning. Going to have another one on my way home.

I just feel like my cool level has dropped like 10 points.

I quit a 3-pack a day habit years ago. I got this advice and it worked for me so I'll pass it on:


1) Keep cigarettes, matches, and an ashtray around you at all times. These are triggers and you can't avoid them. So, the best thing to do is quit with them right under your nose.

2) If you drink at all, keep drinking similar amounts with the items in #1 above right in front of you. Too many people quit drinking at the same time and then with they have that one harmless beer or drink, they suddenly find a cigarette in their hand. Don't be that guy.

3) Brush your teeth often (10 times a day or more). Seriously, this is a key. If you don't, the taste of smoking comes back in your mouth and creates another trigger. If you keep your teeth brushed all the time, you avoid this additional trigger. After time, you can stop this and go back to normal brushing.

4) When you get the urge, and you will, do something significant to get your mind off it; go for a run or walk, take a nap, listen to a Trump speech (kidding). Shake things up in some way until the urge passes. These urges get further and further apart with time. Hang in there.

5) If you know people who smoke, have them continue to smoke in front of you. The triggers going to be there wherever you go anyway. Just have them light up in front of you; even have them blow smoke in your face. If you get the urge to light up, go to step 4.

6) Should be #1 I suppose. Really really want to quit. Don't say you are going to try to quit. Say you are going to quit and mean it. Otherwise you are fooling yourself.


Good luck!