• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

I decided to quit smoking

T

theprodigalrebel

Lifer
Update: It has been nine days since the thread came. I always feel sick, deprived and have a recurring headache problem. I stuck to a 3-5 average - even had a day with just TWO cigarettes. But yesterday, I couldn't handle it so I went out and bought a pack - smoked four cigarettes in quick succession. 🙁 So the count went up to eight for yesterday but hopefully, won't happen again.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I started smoking in 2002. For the past two years, I had been consistently smoking a pack of cigarettes (20) a day - and to be honest, my decision to quit/reduce smoking had more to do with saving a few extra bucks than concern for my personal health 😉

It's 3:30AM where I live. I have been up since 12PM. And in these 15-odd hours, I have only smoked 5 cigarettes.

I have been maintaining a 4-6 average for the past 4 days. And I'm loving it. I don't know how I am doing it - no chewing gum all the time, nicotine patches or anything of that sort.

I just set my mind on this - and I think it's working. I want to get down to about 3 smokes a day - one after every meal and I think that will be just fine. Maybe I will quit for good, who knows? I do love these death-sticks and I am a little proud of what I have done in these last four days.

Hence this bragging thread. Wish me luck!
 
I can't say from any sort of experience, but "cutting down", although still better for you, doesn't help. You'll soon start adding in one or two more a day until you are back up to a pack.

Quit now, don't look back.

Call us when you make it more than a few days, too.
 
OP, don't listen to these haters. It sure sounds like you've cut back dramatically, and you'll be amazed by the $ of money you save and how much better you feel, just by cutting back from 20 a day to down to even 2-3 a day.

Good luck! :beer:
 
Thanks guys. If possible, I will try and be clean by the time 2007 arrives.
Anyone here that quit cigarettes for good and never went back? How long did it take to totally quit?

I mean, not even the occasional smoke?
 
Originally posted by: theprodigalrebel
I started smoking in 2002. For the past two years, I had been consistently smoking a pack of cigarettes (20) a day - and to be honest, my decision to quit/reduce smoking had more to do with saving a few extra bucks than concern for my personal health 😉

It's 3:30AM where I live. I have been up since 12PM. And in these 15-odd hours, I have only smoked 5 cigarettes.

I have been maintaining a 4-6 average for the past 4 days. And I'm loving it. I don't know how I am doing it - no chewing gum all the time, nicotine patches or anything of that sort.

I just set my mind on this - and I think it's working. I want to get down to about 3 smokes a day - one after every meal and I think that will be just fine. Maybe I will quit for good, who knows? I do love these death-sticks and I am a little proud of what I have done in these last four days.

Hence this bragging thread. Wish me luck!
Click to expand...
congrats
 
Originally posted by: xXped0thugXx
It takes a week for the physical addiction to be over (or so my Doctor says).
Click to expand...


It's hard to draw the line between physical and mental addiction. When I quit the symptoms lasted for months. I know that most of that was psychological and I had weened off of the nicotine fairly quickly. That didn't make the rest of it any easier. The craving for a smoke and the feeling that you need one after a meal or with you morning coffee or right before a big meeting is a tougher habit to break than physically needing the nicotine.
 
Originally posted by: GagHalfrunt
Originally posted by: xXped0thugXx
It takes a week for the physical addiction to be over (or so my Doctor says).
Click to expand...


It's hard to draw the line between physical and mental addiction. When I quit the symptoms lasted for months. I know that most of that was psychological and I had weened off of the nicotine fairly quickly. That didn't make the rest of it any easier. The craving for a smoke and the feeling that you need one after a meal or with you morning coffee or right before a big meeting is a tougher habit to break than physically needing the nicotine.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I know what you mean. I don't think I smoke because my body needs it and it would implode if I didn't. They say cigarettes are a stress-buster but I wonder if it helps beat stress any more than, say a candy bar or chewing gum?

Seems like we've just been subliminally programmed to believe it is a relaxing, de-stressing habit - it is relaxing but the de-stressing part I don't believe much. But I think it can be substituted with something a little healthier. It's the craving that has me bothered...and thanks for your input.

How long were you a smoker btw? And what was your intake?
 
studies have shown (nbc.com/health) that cutting back on cigarettes will not help cut risk of death, its same as if u smoke a lot of cigarettes, unless you quit.
 
Originally posted by: theprodigalrebel
Originally posted by: GagHalfrunt
Originally posted by: xXped0thugXx
It takes a week for the physical addiction to be over (or so my Doctor says).
Click to expand...


It's hard to draw the line between physical and mental addiction. When I quit the symptoms lasted for months. I know that most of that was psychological and I had weened off of the nicotine fairly quickly. That didn't make the rest of it any easier. The craving for a smoke and the feeling that you need one after a meal or with you morning coffee or right before a big meeting is a tougher habit to break than physically needing the nicotine.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I know what you mean. I don't think I smoke because my body needs it and it would implode if I didn't. They say cigarettes are a stress-buster but I wonder if it helps beat stress any more than, say a candy bar or chewing gum?

Seems like we've just been subliminally programmed to believe it is a relaxing, de-stressing habit - it is relaxing but the de-stressing part I don't believe much. But I think it can be substituted with something a little healthier. It's the craving that has me bothered...and thanks for your input.

How long were you a smoker btw? And what was your intake?
Click to expand...


I smoked from high school until right around age 30, so figure 12 years or so. A normal day was about a pack and a half, but if could be MUCH more. There were certain things I did like playing cards or going out to bars where I'd smoke almost non-stop and on those days I could do 3 packs easy. I quit cold turkey with no gum or patches. I had tried to quit and failed a bunch of times before I finally made it. The first week was insane, I got really narcopleptic and would just fall off to sleep any time and any place. Was lucky not to have killed myself by not falling asleep while driving. After that the cravings were still unbearable for months. The way I made it was by changing my habits and temporarily stopping doing the things where I wanted cigarettes most. I'd work out RIGHT AFTER meals, I gave up the morning coffee, I stopped playing poker, etc. That helped a lot. Still, to this day there are times I still want one and if I bummed just one I'd probably be hooked again.

Trust me on this, TRY TO QUIT ENTIRELY. I used the cut back method several times and got down to a few ciggies a day. But from there I would be back up to a pack or pack and a half a day at the drop of a hat. When you're a light smoker the chances of turning back into a heavy smoker are nearly 100%. I think it's easier to quit entirely than to maintain the discipline needed to keep it to 3 smokes a day.
 
Been smoking over 10 years and was at a pack and a half in college. Now I smoke about 3~5 a day and have been for about 2 years. I thought reducing the amount would help quit, but it does not help. Only way to quit is no smoking at all.
 
Just quit entirely. It is such a disgusting and idiotic habit anyways. Just think about how much better you'll smell once you quit entirely.
 
Originally posted by: yosuke188
When you completely stop smoking, I will congratulate you. Until then, you are still a smoker.
Click to expand...
Like a recovering alcoholic, an ex-smoker is always a recovering smoker. It never goes away.

However, the best way to quit is cold turkey. No gum, no patch, no nothing. Expect about a wekk of some nasty withdrawals (physical addiction). Gum and the patch keep putting nicotine back in your system, so they just delay the inevitable instead of actually helping. After that part is over, a few more weeks to purge the habit (mental addiction). Afterwards, it's mostly smooth sailing.

It really sucks that smoking is so bad for you, because it is truly one of life's greatest and most subtle pleasures. I suppose the current prevailing attitude against it is good in that it really is best to never start and thus never know.
 
I live in India. A pack of Marlboros/Benson & Hedges is $2. I smoke an Indian brand that is about $1.56.

I go through 7 packs a week. That's about $11 a week.
 
Quitting smoking is the most frustrating damn thing I've ever experienced. I've quit a couple of times now for 6 months or so and each time I ended back on them. Never as bad as I used to be but still unable to avoid the urge and then taking the plunge. I'm one week without them... again... this time will do the trick...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top