I think it all comes down to convincing yourself you really want to quit.
I smoked a pack a day of Marlboros from about 15 to 30. I swore I'd never smoke around my baby son so I smoked right up to the day he came home from the hospital. I also did as someone said and carried a pack around just to tempt me so I could feel good about not smoking.
About two years after my divorce (he-he, not related but sounded funny), I blew out my back at work. I was laid up pretty much for a couple of years. I got fat from sitting around and doing nothing but eating. I was depressed as heck, and figured I'd rather be smoking than getting fatter. Dying wasn't a big concern, if you get my drift. After 5 YEARS, right back to it.
I went "back" to college and got my teaching degree. You do an observation where you visit the same class once a week for a semester. I smoked, but the smoking "lounge" was a unused tiny bathroom out by the loading dock (not really legal to smoke at a school in Florida). I noticed how bad the smokers smelled and how the kids knew who smoked. I decided I needed to quit to be a good role model.
Quit again, for 10 years.
Believe it or not, I started again. My new wife smoked about two cigarettes a day and I figured I could too. Yeah.
Been smoking for a couple of years now, and I hate thinking kids smell it and know I smoke. I see all 900 of them, as I'm the Science Teacher. It is elementary school (they haven't l;earned to hate all teachers... yet), I do really fun stuff, and I'm loved by all the kids. Bothers me every time a kid makes a comment, sniffs, or just when I know I just smoked and I reek of the weed.
After reading this thread, I think I'll join you guys in quitting.
Both times I quit it was cold-turkey and not all THAT hard, IF you convince yourself of a good reason.
I figure I'll do it for the kids and tel myself it means the new Roadstar is pretty much paid for in the savings.
Thanks!

OK, so when I posted this I tried to quit, but to no avail. Well, I'm back, and currently on at the end of my sixth Smoke free day. Still going absolutely Nuts but allready feeling some of the benefits. I'm going to start a fund jar and fill it with my pack a day habit. It'll be my new Roadie Parts Fund!!!

GJCARVING wrote:
OK, so when I posted this I tried to quit, but to no avail. Well, I'm back, and currently on at the end of my sixth Smoke free day. Still going absolutely Nuts but allready feeling some of the benefits. I'm going to start a fund jar and fill it with my pack a day habit. It'll be my new Roadie Parts Fund!!!

I am back on Chantix myself and should be down to "zero" per day by friday. I'm smoking about 10 a day now. sounds like alot but I smoked 3 to 3 1/2 packs a day for 25 years. yes 3 packs a day.

I've used Chantex twice and it works, but I still went back.After reading this thread I may just try cold turkey. COPD and knowing how it bothers my wife is reason enuf IMO!

Thanks for this thread guys!

javawave wrote:
[/quote]

I am back on Chantix myself and should be down to "zero" per day by friday. I'm smoking about 10 a day now. sounds like alot but I smoked 3 to 3 1/2 packs a day for 25 years. yes 3 packs a day.[/quote]

And your Heart Test showed up 0!! Congrats! That gives me some hope. I've smoked for about 15 years and was a Pretty Heavy Drinker through my Twenties! I'm teetering the idea of giving that up also!

LostDog wrote:
I've used Chantex twice and it works, but I still went back.After reading this thread I may just try cold turkey. COPD and knowing how it bothers my wife is reason enuf IMO!

Thanks for this thread guys!

It really helps to have the mind set. When I first put up this thread, I thought I was ready. I wasn't! Anyway, I kept telling myself I had through the Holidays, and New Years Eve was it. I bought the Nicorette just in case, but only had 3 pieces in the first two days and that was it. It's expensive. I have some if anyone would like some pm me. Anyway, good Luck, it's hell, I personally get real irritable and am still having many a craving. Just taking it day by day!

Go for it. I just watched my sister in law die from lung cancer. not pretty, its the bitchiness.

The reason people get crabby when they quit, is that they feel they are depriving themselves of something. Quitting is something nice that you're doing for yourself.

The reason you don't feel the crave to mainline heroin, is because (hopefully) you've never mainlined heroin. In other words, the craves are not caused by quitting. They are caused by smoking.

Take each crave as a sign of healing, and of addiction, slavery, weakness, and disease leaving the body. No crave lasts longer than five minutes, so distract yourself. Come up with strategies ahead of time. If the crave is insurmountable, tell yourself, "Okay... I can smoke, but LATER," and then keep putting it off.

Take a very logical look at each crave. Can you point with one finger to where the crave is causing you physical pain? No. It's all in your head. Renew your commitment every morning, and congratulate yourself every night before sleep, for keeping it.

Good luck! Good strength! Good health!

I quit back in July. Got three shots, took pills for a week and haven't looked back. I started to feel what was happening to my lungs, married a non smoker, etc. She was by motivation to quit. The Roadie, well, the money from the smokes pays the note. That, and if I smoke one cig, I sell one bike. That's the agreement with my wife. Bad part is, I only have the Roadie, so that would be the one to go. I'm glad I quit. The cravings are few and far between now, I can even hang out with smokers again and it doesn't affect me as bad.


Now, to get rid of the gut I have developed!

This will probly sound dumb(but it aint stopped me before).
I quit smokin Cigs Jan.2000.Was at 2packs a day.About 5yrs
later tried a "Good Cigar"I loved it!
Nothing like smokin cigs!You don`t inhale and I smoke maybe
1 or 2 during the week,maybe 4 on the weekend.Sometimes in
morning with agood cup of coffe,sometimes with a good cold
beer.And i`ve never wanted to go back to cigs and still haven`t.
my2cents(I said "Good Cigars"not machine made.)

guys gotta have a few pleasures in life