If I could quit smoking

[thekid]

Originally Posted by thekid

He speaks the truth! Everytime that I quit, I gradually reduced the number of cigarettes I have per day. The goal was to get it down to a max 5 and maintain that or less for a number of weeks. Then, the step from 2,3 or 4 cigarettes per day to 0 was relatively easy.

I've gotten pretty good with quitting over time, it's the staying quit that I have trouble with. I seem to have strongly associated cigarettes as a stress management tool. Everytime I've quit, after a few months, some (or multiple) huge monster files come in and I'm back smoking....til things quiet down and I'm back to quitting. ....I know, I know, I need to get a stress ball instead :-)

he, he, was funny to see my old post in this bumped thread.

I've quit now. It's been over one year and there is no way I'm going back. Didn't change the technique, changed my mind frame. Can't believe I thought that way.

[feh]

Financial aspect of smoking aside, I think there are better places to look for support.

I've never smoked, but a friend who recently was able to quit mentioned this site to me: Become an EX

[GoodBuyGirl]

I just quit 9 days ago. What helped me this time is the fact that Obama signed the SCHIP tax into law. Which I think unfairly taxes smokers.
Obama can go to hell if he thinks I am going to pay an extra $10 a carton for ciagrettes to cover the cost of low income health care. I don't have a problem doing my part but I do have a problem being singled out.
So to sum things up. Obama made me mad enough to quit. I guess I can thank him for that.

[Confetti]

I just ordered an eCigarette to try to quit. I've been reading a lot about them and visit a forum where people share their experiences. It's an electronic cigarette that you puff on and it delivers nicotine, but since there's no combustion, you're not getting the mess, smell, health risk of regular cigs. It's delivering the nicotine just like a patch or gum would, but you get the benefit of satisfying the behavioral aspect of addiction. I figure it's worth a try and better than trying nothing.

[maat55]

I gave up smoking about 17 years ago to get a good rate on my life insurance. I did it cold turkey. If you want to quit, just do it. If you put the money to good use, it will make it easier.

[GoodBuyGirl]

I agree on the cold turkey method. It's the only way to get the nicotine out of your system completely.
Keeping busy helps get past the cravings. Just find jobs that need done around the house. I did some landscaping and painted the garage during my cravings.

[Adirondak]

I'm now three months without smoking.

I cannot recommend acupuncture enough. I thought it sounded hokey, but went on the recommendation of one of the partners at my job. I felt pretty dumb with all those needles in me - but whatever the needles did it worked. My cravings went wayyy down. I had one cigarette that night, thought it tasted awful and then haven't smoked since.

I had to go to five acupuncture sessions the first five days, and then afterwards I went about once a week for 3 weeks, and now I go once in a while when I feel like it.

Best part is that I'm putting an extra hundred fifty into savings each month.

[mom-from-missouri]

Originally Posted by coxhoward123

I smoke heavily. Of late I find that people have been avoiding me. I have not done anything to displease them. Do you think it’s because of my smoking habit?

YES!!!

I have a dear friend I avoid at times for this reason. Number one, her breath stinks and if we are in a noisy place, she gets very close to be heard and it about knocks me over.

Even if she does not smoke around me, or in my car, my car stinks like smoke for several days after she has ridden in it.

When my babies were little, I avoided her. I didn't want her holding them having them smell her second hand smoke.

I can't stand to be in her house. Her house is "clean" by most standards-she has a house keeper come in weekly. Yet, all the TV, windows, mirrors have a coating on them from her smoke, even though they are cleaned weekly. The house smells, even when the windows are open. You can even smell her smoke on her cat and dog.

And, sometimes I avoid her because I know she will probably die before me, and maybe I can somehow detach myself somewhat.....

[maat55]

Originally Posted by Adirondak

I'm now three months without smoking.

I cannot recommend acupuncture enough. I thought it sounded hokey, but went on the recommendation of one of the partners at my job. I felt pretty dumb with all those needles in me - but whatever the needles did it worked. My cravings went wayyy down. I had one cigarette that night, thought it tasted awful and then haven't smoked since.

I had to go to five acupuncture sessions the first five days, and then afterwards I went about once a week for 3 weeks, and now I go once in a while when I feel like it.

Best part is that I'm putting an extra hundred fifty into savings each month.

accupuncture=placebo, its all in the head. IMO.

[wnlbutterfly]

My kids have lost two grandfathers to lung cancer in less than 5 month period. Obviously if the addiction aspect wasn't as hard as it is, people wouldn't be smoking something that can and will kill them, not to mention how much it costs to buy them.

Best of luck!

[casinoroyale]

I did the math and i save 200 bucks a year by not smoking

[maat55]

Looks like they will go up about .62 to 1.00 per pack.

Some smokers consider quitting due to new tobacco tax