Smoking, how did you quit ?

Inspired by another thread, i decided to start this one. If you are one of us unfortunate ones who picked up the nastiest habit known to man, smoking, please share with us how you learned to quit. 20 yrs Ive been doing this disgusting thing. I cant even discipline myself to put the patch on everyday. I have had some positive results using it, but it keep me up at night, and gives me nightmares !! Im talking serious weird nightmares ! Like trading in BF or Plat for Megs ! (Kidding) those of you who know of these patch induced nightmares, know what Im talking about.....If we can give each other tips on how to make a car sparkle beyond belief, please share your best tips on quitting the nasty ! And if you dont smoke, but had a friend who did and quit, share with me ! I will really be dissapointed if this thread goes nowhere.

[Auto Care USA]

Like every bad habit, mine was just that a habit. I would lite a cigarette when another one was already lit.I was that bad. Two packs a day. Well 27 years ago I decided to trick my brain. I told myself that if I were going to smoke I would have to smoke a cigar. Thats right a cigar. I hated cigars, but if I were to smoke this was my only choice. Less than one week later I was never to touch another cigarette again. Well that was 27 years ago and still smoke free. When it comes to doing something that you don't like who wants to do it.

[Jngrbrdman]

lol That is actually a good way to quit any habit. One summer I decided to detox a bit and try to ease off the Pepsi a bit. So I bought a couple cases of Diet Pepsi (I'd rather drink my own bath water) and if I wanted something cold out of the fridge that was my only option. I cut back from 4 cases of Pepsi a week to about 4 cans a week. The easiest way to break a habit is to replace your drug of choice, in my case it was Pepsi, with something you like much much less. When you know your only alternative is something you hate then its easy.

For a smoker I would suggest to maybe change brands. Buy a pack of the worst tasting smokes you can find. There are some really nasty ones out there. I remember a friend who smoked some honey nut flavored cigarette and it tasted like a cigarette that had been rolling around on the floor of a garbage truck for a couple weeks. Nasty!

Get lots and lots of antioxidants in you too. Vitamin C is a good one. Check your local vitamin aisle and see what they have for antioxidants. Getting the nicotine out of your system is easy, its finding something else to do after you eat or while you are in traffic jam that is the hard part.

[DaGonz]

A friend of mine (a pack a day smoker) quit this way. He bought a pack, took one cigarette out, discarded it and smoked the rest .

The next day, he took out two cigarettes, discarded them and smoked the rest.

The third day, he took out three, and so on.

He became smoke free in twenty days and has never picked up the habit again.

[RegalGS]

I actually did it... recently. 3 1/2 weeks ago. So far, so good, and the cravings really are at a minimum.

I used the nicotine gum for the first few days, but only when the cravings got so bad. The gum tastes so damn nasty that I had to replace that with minty sugarless gum after a few days. Gave the rest of the box away to a friend who's also quitting.

To get through the cravings, I ate baby carrots, beef jerky, slices of cheese, cold cuts... anything that wasn't sugary.

There are support forums out there. Even if you just lurk, it helps to know you aren't the only one going through withdrawals. Some of the advice on them is good too... I lurk at www.stopsmokingcenter.net

If you need a shoulder, let me know. I'm not that far ahead of you in your quit. Maybe we can lean on each other and get through it... It's easier with a friend. Either way, I wish you the best of luck!

I cut back from 4 cases of Pepsi a week to about 4 cans a week

Jngr....OMG, 4 cases ?

would have to smoke a cigar.

Auto Care, I love the smell of cigars.....specially the sweet ones....Dang.!

He bought a pack, took one cigarette out, discarded it and smoked the rest .

Gonzo, Ive been entertaining that idea for some time, however i wasnt going to throw them away, i would keep them, and use those instead of having to buy a pack, saving $ and letting them get stale while im at it, hoping they would be even less appealing....

If you need a shoulder, let me know.

Regal, thanks for the offer, i will put you on my pm list...Im off to Bakersfield tomorrow, I dont smoke in my truck for obvious reasons, more important, my family is with me....So that may be a good start...
I hope there are more suggestions coming, I would like to hear from many folks who may have helpful ideas.....
Has anyone ever tried the patch and experienced nightmares ?

[Jngrbrdman]

Originally posted by Patrick
Jngr....OMG, 4 cases ?

I figured that I have to die from something so it might as well be a carbonation overload or caffine poisioning. Neither one worked so I cut waaaaay back. What can I say...? It was a hot summer that year in Dallas. lol

I figured that I have to die from something so it might as well be a carbonation overload or caffine poisioning.

Well I guess, actually i know its waaaaaaaay better than smoking....Ya got me there...
I have a problem with carbonated stuff too, but its just the water. I absolutely am addicted to Crystal Geyser Carbonated waters.....Lime, Lemon, Orange, OMG there awesome, good belch material....

[Accumulator]

Patrick- Most ex-smokers I know either switched to a pipe/cigar (and DIDN'T inhale it) or just quit cold-turkey. While some will say that it's an all-or-nothing deal, I think you could do yourself some good by cutting down. At least it would be a start and get you off the "constant nicotine intake". If you avoid certain "trigger situations", you might find you're smoking a lot less. Like the way you don't smoke in your truck. You could decide to not smoke in the house, garage, etc. as well. Give up those self-congratulatory smokes between the wash and polish and wax steps. I think it's a big improvement when you get away from the pack-a-day (or more), smoking all the time level. Twenty of ANYTHING in one day is quite a lot. BTW, even if you DON'T completely quit and live forever, cigarettes taste a lot better when they are an infrequent indulgence.

[JetBlack]

I was a heavy smoker. About 15 years ago, one day I realized I was killing myself slowly and I was paying good money for it. Yeah it was one of those that hit you and all of a sudden you see things under a different light. After that I threw away the packet and the lighter. I was very determined to quit. And quit I did, never touched it since and never will. It was determination and will power that got me through it. I gained weight at the beginning, later I settled back to my normal weight. Anyhow I'd say just quit and everytime you get the urge to light up just remind yourself why you should quit.

I know I have to, I know its not healthy, I just cant seem to do it like you did....I tell myself everyday, "I have to quit, or its going to kill me." What more do I need to know...Its totally disgusting, Im almost embarrased to smoke, my kids hate it...I dont smoke in the house or cars, or around my kids...I have coworkers who smoke, and it makes me think its ok, if everyone else is doing it.....
Its a mental game.....But Im losing...

[Accumulator]

Originally posted by Patrick
I know I have to, I know its not healthy, I just cant seem to do it like you did....I tell myself everyday, "I have to quit, or its going to kill me." What more do I need to know...Its totally disgusting, Im almost embarrased to smoke, my kids hate it...I dont smoke in the house or cars, or around my kids...I have coworkers who smoke, and it makes me think its ok, if everyone else is doing it.....
Its a mental game.....But Im losing...

Actually, I don't think you're LOSING the mental game, because you're not just resigning yourself to failure. You're still working on yourself, trying to act on what you KNOW is rational. The contradiction between what you believe and what you do is bugging you, as it should. You're still on the right track.

And as far as the smokers at work, you know better than the "everyone else is doing it.." bit. I can tell by your other posts

JetBlack reminds me of one of my very best friends. He was such a heavy smoker that he'd go have a Marlboro in the middle of our workouts, between sets of benchpresses. One day he just QUIT. That was it, never had another one. It took HIM a long time to really decide to do it too, but then he did it. So keep talking to yourself about it.