I'm an addict.

[12own911]

17 years tonight at midnight since I had a smoke. Quit cold turkey and never desired one after I quit. It took weeks to get over being bothered by the smoke all the time. Now it bothers me once or twice a year but I also try to stay away from smokers. Good luck.

[ramonesfreak]

STAY CLEAN
Motorhead - Stay Clean - YouTube

[ramonesfreak]

if tom waits, eric clapton and lou reed can quit so CAN you

[KFC911]

Quitin' is the easy part (many of us have done that a lot )...now you have to ask youself if you're going to "Start smoking" (again)? I'm being facetious of course, but that's kind of the way I look at it. I was never "physically addicted", but since college, beer and cigs went hand-in-hand (didn't smoke otherwise), and I was as "hooked" as anyone (easily chain smoking a pack+ if I went out). I rarely even drink beer anymore, and I was telling my best friend the other day that when I do, I don't even have the urge anymore. It's been almost two years....I'll never "start smoking" again. Good luck to all...YOU can do it too!

[dennis in se pa]

It was one of the toughest things I've ever done. Quit 9 years ago. I never have cravings - I'm lucky there. I know if I go near nicotine I'd be right back there. The first week is the worst. Good luck.
I AM GLAD I QUIT!

[carreradpt]

In the early 60's when the surgeon generals report first came out warning of the dangers, my Dad quit cold turkey that day. He smoked 2-3 packs a day of non filtered lucky strikes. There were 3-4 cartons in the kitchen drawer for a couple of years before they got thrown out. My Mom never quit, she's still at it and she is now 82.

Good luck to you.

[fastfredracing]

How you doing to today Stomachmonkey? Hope you did not tear into one last night. I thought about the smokeless cigs as well, but then just convinced myself, I have to be done with the whole enchilada. Honestly , after you get through the first 3-5 days, it is all mental from there. I even found myself driving to the store to grab a pack a few times, but managed to will myself out of it before I got to the counter.
Keep it up buddy, too good of a guy to do that to yourself.
I am at a place right now, that I pat myself on the back every time I see someone dragging on a smoke, and I feel sorry for hem. It feels good to not be a slave anymore.
Buy yourself something nice with the money you have saved. I broke down on a test drive in a customers car last week, and instead of calling my dad, I ran back to the shop, about a mile, in workboots. I would not have made it 50 yards 6 months ago.

[DonDavis]

I'm glad you told us.

My Mom died last May. Smoked over 50 years. Her last month was spent on a ventilator, heavily medicated.

Prayers sent.

[dennis in se pa]

I think Teddy knew what he was talking about......

"There is not one among us in whom the devil does not dwell.

At some time on some point that devil masters each of us.

It is not having been in the dark house, but having left it that counts.

Teddy Roosevelt"

[jhynesrockmtn]

Good luck to all trying to quit. My Dad died in 2006 after heart surgery. He had quit smoking when my daughter was born so roughly 16 years prior to the surgery. He quit cold turkey with the help of acupuncture. I have no doubt the quitting extended his life. However, the accumulated lung damage prevented him from recovering from the surgery. Once on the ventilator he could not get off of it. It didn't help that he was overweight and terribly out of shape. I'm no expert but I would also suggest that exercise is important in building/maintaining lung function and general fitness that is more and more important the older we all get. Many happy years to all of you that have had the strength to quit!

[Henry Schmidt]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all.

Just got home from a 2 week vacation.

Went to FL and visited family, mine and the wifes.

My older brother and I have both been long time smokers.

I've managed to quit a couple of times, the longest being 3 years.

I need to quit for good. Every smoke I have I've been feeling like I'm killing myself.

I find I make decisions on what activities to participate in and where to go based on whether or not I'll be able to smoke.

It has completely devoured my life.

So my brother gave me a set of electronic cigarrettes as a Christmas gift.

He and his wife have both been using them for the last 2 months and are off regular cigarettes. In fact there are 10 guys that work for my brother that tried it and 9 are still smoke free.

It's been 10 days for me and so far it's working. Had my last real cigarette Tuesday. Only smoked one that day, 3 the day before and 3 the day before that. Mostly because it's taking me a bit to figure out my nicotine intake with the e cigs.

So yes, I am addicted to Nicotine but not necessarily smoking itself.

I am really confident that this is going to work for me.

Fingers crossed.

I don't know how to help people to stop smoking but figure it out and quit now.
My wife of 18 years died last May at 50 from congestive heart failure. She couldn't quit smoking even after she was diagnosed.

[recycled sixtie]

Originally Posted by jhynesrockmtn

Good luck to all trying to quit. My Dad died in 2006 after heart surgery. He had quit smoking when my daughter was born so roughly 16 years prior to the surgery. He quit cold turkey with the help of acupuncture. I have no doubt the quitting extended his life. However, the accumulated lung damage prevented him from recovering from the surgery. Once on the ventilator he could not get off of it. It didn't help that he was overweight and terribly out of shape. I'm no expert but I would also suggest that exercise is important in building/maintaining lung function and general fitness that is more and more important the older we all get. Many happy years to all of you that have had the strength to quit!

Yes exercise is not only good for u physically but also mentally if you start exercising enough(partic. running/jogging), continued smoking would hinder your performance and u might say why am I smoking as it prevents me from exercising as well. A doctor's visit first before any heightened activity is recommended. Hope this helps

[syncroid]

Not a smoker here but I used chewing tobacco from 1975 to 2000. I quit cold turkey. I would not have been able to quit any other way. You may as well mainline the nicotine if you chew. I still miss it occassionally. Hard to believe but true.
Good luck and stay strong.

[jyl]

There is a prescription medication called Chantix, which blocks nicotine's effect on your brain. It is not a magic bullet, because smoking satisfies various desires besides merely the chemical effects of nicotine. Oral fixation, excuse for a work break, association with drinking, etc. But I'm told it is very helpful. Monkey, I sent you a PM.

[stomachmonkey]

Thanks for the encouragement.

None of the quitting issues are unknown to me.

I've gone cold turkey, tried Chantix, modified my routine, etc...etc....

Cold turkey worked, the short term was tolerable, it was post withdrawal that I had issues.

The Chantix made me roid rage angry and left me unable to speak a complete sentence without running out of breath which sucked because I was in the middle of a big voice over project.

Modifying your habit/routine/triggers only results in new habits/routines/triggers.

When I quit for 3+ years it was cold turkey with a crutch. I had planned to quit on Jan 2nd one year. Got up Jan 1st and counted my pack of cigarettes. Panicked since I did not think I would have enough to get me thru my last day of smoking so I ran out and bought another pack.

Well the partial pack did last so I never opened the new pack. I carried that new pack with me every day for over 3 years never opening it.

As smokers know part of the panic is running out/not having any. Carrying that pack I knew I could have one any time I wanted, the pack was right there in my briefcase, all I had to do was open it light one up and that was comforting, there was never any panic.

[juanbenae]

i've kicked a few bad habits over the years. gained a few over that period too, like racin my car. im trying to quit again too. as i read what the OP posts' it's like my story to a tee.... god help us...