I am trying to quit this bad habit but it’s so hard, I smoke 6-8 a day. What’s the secert to quitting?

The secret is there is no secret. Once you decide to quit, just quit. It really is that simple. Really sit down and think about the effects of nicotine withdrawal. They are mild at their worst. Like being a bit hungry. A little annoying. The rest is in your head. Smoking does nothing for you.

Just a make a decision to quit and you are now a non-smoker. Anything else is a waste of time. Nobody needs to tell you how incredibly stupid it is too smoke. You already know that. So stop. What are you giving up? Absolutely nothing and you gain everything.

100% thank u for ur advice

BTW, I was a heavy smoker myself. There were days I smoked 4 packs. It has been several years ago that I quit. I don't remember how long it has been. I rarely think about it.

It actually made me mad that it was so easy to quit. When you recognize what the withdrawal symptoms really are, you realize they are nothing.

If I can do it, you certainly can.

The secret to quitting smoking is to not re-start. I quit hundreds of times, every smoke I put out was a chance to not re-start. Most failed. Then, quite simply, it worked. I left a partial pack of cigs on the table, and every time I looked at it I felt sick. Eventually, I threw away 5-10 cigs that were left in the pack, and never looked back.

That was 12 years ago, after ~25 years of smoking (more than half my life).

These guys make it sound so easy! In case plain willpower doesn’t work for you, there are drugs.

I smoked about a pack a day for approximately 40 years. When I made a serious attempt to quit I was able to get it down to seven cigarettes per day, but could never seem to actually quit altogether.

My doctor put me on bupropion, and within a few weeks I was able to quit for good. (Sep. 2 will be five years.) Bupropion was a miracle drug, as far as I’m concerned.

Didn't you just decide to quit one day when mlylt brought it up in some thread (maybe the fat-off one)? I have a vague recollection of this.

You are correct.

Cool

It stuck in my mind because you went cold turkey and I remember you being pretty casual about the whole process.

Made this post March 1, 2017. Honestly thought it had been longer. I don’t even really recall what it was like to smoke.

OP, the book is Easy Way to Quit Smoking by Alan Carr. The book is simple. Basically telling you in 50 different ways that you really aren’t giving anything up when you quit.

I remember that post, pokeraz! You inspired me to buy a copy for my older brother. Was hoping it would click with him as it did you, but no dice.

Switch to cigars. Non-smokers are pussies.

I remember that post as well pokeraz.
Wow, you never smoked again, congrats.
That's inspiring, I'm going to reread the book this week.

It really is just all in your head OP.

The feelings of how good it felt when I quit for those 3 months are flooding back. I had more time for life and wasn't worried about how long a movie/event/flight would last, spent more time with my kid instead of being outside smoking, sex life increased/got better because I didn't stink all the time, I didn't feel the shame of being a smoker and trying to hide to smoke all the time at work, no stress of when/where I could smoke or running to store in the middle of the night because I ran out.....it's just a total life and mindset change for the good.. Like pokeraz said, you are not giving anything up when you quit.

I remember reading this post. Good for both of you AZs.

I seem to recall a couple days later M declaring herself a non smoker, but it didn't stick.

Edit: and speaking of. Try again M. Good luck.

I smoked 30 a day for 12 years, quit several times only to end up having a crafty one with a beer and slipping back into a 5 a day habit. Took up running at the end of last year and haven’t smoked in 2021. Made me feel like **** when I tried to run and realised how much more I prefer the feeling of clear lungs when running and the high you get when you finish. Not even tempted to have a cigarette when drinking now either. Bit early to say I’ve successfully quit for good but it feels that way. I guess there are lots of different ways to quit, good luck finding yours

I do both I have 5k cigar collection, lots of cohiba and Romeo julietas. I will never quit cigars not even for 100k but cigarettes I want to quit

Well, there’s your problem.

Hey guys so how do I quit smoking???

Oh by the way I plan to never quit smoking!

Gtfo OP

Was it any good?

+1 and congrats.

It’s really difficult. I quit 2 times for months and went back. Recently, I haven’t smoked over a year and a half and it seems like I’m out of the addiction now.

I would say try nicotine gum. Buy a lot of gum, stick to a plan where you eat x amount of pieces for 2-3 weeks, lower that amount and eventually get off the gum. That was easiest way for me.

Btw quitting sucks in that you will feel like ****/ be depressed/ mad for some time. Also, idk if this happens to all people but I gained a ton of weight when I quit. You will feel shitty mentally for a long time (months) and have to realize you can not break and smoke 1 cigarette as in you will most likely go back to smoking. I feel the gum is a lot better than going cold turkey even though cold turkey can work.

Btw good for you not smoking a pack a day. I feel 6-8 isn’t terrible and is def an easier spot to quit than say a pack-2 habit. Best of luck!

Bought my last pack in 2018. Also had to use nicotine gum for a while afterwards, and cheated with a few loosies in the year afterward but at this point the feeling of not smoking at all far outweighs any relief a few puffs may provide.

****ing cigarettes. I do love them but I hate myself for it.

I smoked for over thirty years. I then quit for 8. Then I started again last year. wtf. I got drunk and had one and slid back in to one of the most addictive habits again. I have a bet now for $5,000 with a friend that I must quit before September the first. I will do it!

And, to me, the secret to quitting is using any aid be it gum or patches or whatever until you no longer feel the need to light up.

And please be specific!



Good luck R*R!

What, It’s fine to smoke cigar once in awhile but I don’t want to smoke cigarettes daily. I’m gonna quit one day maybe in 6-8 months we will see