you can do it!!!!!!

Rick is correct!
I smoked for over 35 years, 2 packs a day. I recently gave it up, going on 4 months.
It's pure hell for the first 30 days, after that is gets easier each day. I've gained 25 pounds now I have to quit eating.
If you have made a decision to stop smoking, I suggest you see your doctor for help.
Good luck!

Congrats to you GJ!! Keep it up you can do it!!
Every time you want to light up walk out the whole thing in your mind... Lighting up first puff, relaxing feel the cough...then guilt for not sticking with it...feeling of failure and being a slave to a cigarette. Ask yourself is the cigarette worth it?
Consentrate on the negatives of smoking not the high/relaxation calming short term effect it has.

Steven

I quit a 4-pack-a-day habit in 1984 after smoking for 25 years. It was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life, but also one of the best things I've done for myself. It's doable if you really want it, just keep telling yourself "I'm a non-smoker."

Hang in there buddy , you got my support. You too Bushrjackson. You will both be better for it. BB

Been chewing since the 6th grade. Now at 40 plus years old I've quit 4 times for more than a year each time. Last time around I quit last April... Made it until about 2 months ago and started again. If you don't make it this time, try again. It'll take sooner or later.

GJ,

I quit in 1993. Jolly Ranchers and a 30 minute bicycle ride every morning. Got in shape, quit for good, and I quit the Jolly Ranchers before I lost all my teeth!

I'll write more tomorrow. For now, just don't smoke! You did the right thing, for now just keep doing it!

MS07

GJ,
I didn't read this entire thread so someone else may have already mentioned this, but have you thought about using Chantix? I know it's received alot of bad PR (bad dreams, hallucinations and depression) but the stuff works. I used it and quit a year ago in September and didn't have any of the typical withdrawal symptoms; anxiety, edginess, etc... I tried to quit before without success but this was so easy. I didn't even finish the first month's worth of pills because I wasn't smoking or having any cravings and was forgetting to take the pills.

The only side-effects that I had was very vivid (not bad) dreams during the first week or so after starting to take the drug and an upset stomach if I didn't eat something before taking the pills. But they tell you to take it with food, so that was my fault.

Call me a "conspiracy theorist" or whatever, but quitting was so easy using Chantix that I wouldn't be suprise if the tobacoo industry isn't behind some of the bad PR. Just like any drug, it's going to effect different people differently and I'd be interested to know what percentage of users have had these "extreme" reactions.

It's been 1 year and 6 weeks since my last cigarette and I can honostly say I've never had a single craving. And that's saying something since my wife still smokes so I'm around it every day. The only downside to all this is that I've gained about 10 pounds in the last year.....

Regardless of what method you choose, good luck and stick with it. It's hard, but as you know, you'll be better off for it.

In The Wind,
Aaron

Keep it up JG; you can do this thing.I smoked for over twenty years; two and a half packs a day.

There was program by Kettering University... cold turkey... called the five day plan.

Monday night smoked my last cig. Loaded up on orange juice, and fresh fruit at the grocery.

Rest of the week was full of taking big gulps of air every time I wanted a smoke, drinking plenty of water which helps flush out the toxins that cause cravings, fruit juice that helps the same cause in a big way chemically, and fruit to help the same thing but keep the calories down.

Also, no alcohol for a week... alcohol is in the same alcoloid family as nicotine and they promote each other and cause the same kind of reaction... same with many recreational drugs.

And go for walks....! get some exercise whenever you feel the cravings... it will really help.

You will be surprised how these things will help.... and most of all, The One who made you is quite concerned about what you are doing to your body, so ask Him for help... He will help you!

God bless.

Never smoked so I can't even begin to know how you're feeling. But seeing my mother (a smoker of 50+ years) quit about 6 months ago gave me a glimmer of a peek of just how tough it must be.

Good thoughts to you while you beat this addiction. You'll be better for it, and your family will have you around longer as a result! Good luck and know there's a whole bunch of us out here rooting for you.

M7