How did you quit smoking?

hi bobcatlady2u,,

yep been there done that.. first of all, my experience is that for many of us, it takes multiple attempts to quit... so if one strategy does not work for you... keep trying, whatever you do don't quit quitting.. in the past i have used the pills.. the nicotine replacement methods (ie patches lozenges, inhalers etc), as well as stuff bought at health food stores.. while all that stuff works for some people it didn't work for me..

i always ended up picking up again..

the good news is that i did find a way to quit..after smoking for more than 40 years, i have now been quit for over 5 years.. the secret is that i quit trying to do it alone.. i participate in a support group.. the support of other quitters, and the experience of those older members was just what i needed to quit for good

I attend Nicotine Anonymous meetings, both locally, and on line.. on line voice meetings are as close as your computer!!!

Nicotine Anonymous is a Non-Profit 12 Step Fellowship of men and women helping each other live nicotine-free lives. Nicotine Anonymous welcomes all those seeking freedom from nicotine addiction, including those using cessation programs and nicotine withdrawal aids. The primary purpose of Nicotine Anonymous is to help all those who would like to cease using tobacco and nicotine products in any form. The Fellowship offers group support and recovery using the 12 Steps as adapted from Alcoholics Anonymous to achieve abstinence from nicotine.

I completely understand where you are coming from. I used to smoke heavily and each time I planned to quit I would definitely end up smoking like there's no tomorrow.

Here's what I did: Set a quit day (give yourself 1-2 weeks at least)

Have a completely planned first couple of days

Use the patch for at least 2 weeks

Be proud of yourself

Lots of people think that quitting cold turkey is the only way to go but I found the cravings way too much. The patch really helped take the edge off and get me out of the habit of smoking without the worst of the withdrawal symptoms.

Check out http://www.myquitsmokingdiary.com/ as well, people on that site are trying to blog about quitting as they do it...kinda funny to watch.

Sounds like you don't want to quit smoking to me. My advice for quitting smoking: I set a quit date 6 months in advance. During those six months, I dropped one smoke per two weeks from my daily habit. By the time I reached my quit date, I was down to 1-2 smokes per day. Getting b*tchy would have been less embarrassing, but I just kept breaking down crying for next to no reason. But it was worth it. I had a flight all the way to Australia. It's a long flight but not nearly so bad for an ex-smoker than it is for a smoker.

I smoked for 15 years and quit 1 year ago. So far, it sucks and I imagine it will always somewhat suck. I finished a pack and haven't smoked another cigarette since. I quit cold turkey. No gum, no patch, no gadgets, no meds. I figured, if yer gonna quit, you might as well QUIT. To me, all of that crap is just a cop-out used by people who either don't totally want to quit or don't think they can on their own.

I used to smoke pot also so I just got high every time I wanted a cigarette.

Maybe not the best way to stop but it worked. After about 4 months I didn't even want a cigarette anymore. It's been years and I feel great. No urges to go back to them ever. The smell of them grosses me out and the way others look when they smoke is so not attractive.