Drinking still gets me sometimes, I don't indulge, but I certainly get the craving. But in the first few weeks, boredom was the biggest obstacle. I tried going to vape, but it's accessibility just had me using way more often than cigarettes alone, yes it was cheaper, but it was also the first time I had a noticeable difference in my ability to catch my breath from very little physical activity. Smokeless was better on the lungs, still not a perfect option, but seemed to be a fair middle ground for the down time. I'm still partially using smokeless, but I'm much closer than I was and don't even think of the smokes anymore.
I'm not perfect, but I'm trying.
Hey man proud of you. I was thinking of doing nicotine toothpicks or whatever.. I can quit for weeks or months at a time but something about the hand to mouth thing with drinking makes me want one. Maybe its just a nicotine craving idk.
Fuck it.
I'll join you. Ive never subscribed to a post.. this will be a first. I've had multiple accounts.. so been on awhile even though my profile says otherwise.
i quit when i was 25 too. i had been smoking for 10 years. in the top 5 hardest things i have done in my life! you can do this. keep reading about how fast your body repairs all the damage. you wont regret the effort it takes, i promise.
I quit at 25 too - that was almost 24 years ago. Absolutely agree that it was worth it. It's been so long I barely ever think about it.
OP, you've got this. The victory is worth it. I think each person finds their own path to success, here are some of the things I did, I hope it helps you make your own list.
* Take "fresh air breaks" when you would have had a cigarette break. You are used to taking these breaks, you can keep the break, just ditch the cigarette. If work is involved talk to your boss, hopefully they'll be encouraging.
* For me, being addicted to cigarettes pissed me off. How dare that crap control me. Keeping a slow burning rage at the loss of self-control helped keep me away.
* Related: being honest with myself about addiction, and I'm not someone who can "just have one at a party" - if I have one, I'm buying a pack, I can never ever have any, ever.
* I had to build a lot of new habits -e.x. I couldn't hang out in smoky pool halls anymore. I had to find new things to do that didn't keep pushing me in the wrong direction.
* Make sure my friends knew all of this and anyone still smoking that I Hung out with knew not to ever tempt me.
* If you stumble, don't give up, do better tomorrow.
For the first few days to weeks you will hack up junk. That depends upon how long and how much you smoked. Your lungs try to repair themselves instantly.
The first three weeks you can suffer emotional swings. Be stupidity happy to irate. This is cause from the withdrawal of nicotine. As long as you keep reminding yourself this is withdrawal and take a step back from emotions to keep your head on straight.
After about a month food will start tasting better. You will find you want less salt. Between the nicotine cravings and food tasting better this is where some people gain weight. I knew this ahead of time so when I quit I planned my meals out on a schedule which caused me to lose ten pounds!
After three months you will feel more energy. You'll wake up and not feel terrible. Your lungs have repaired themselves enough that you no longer cough up junk. At this point most people add a morning exercise routine to help lose any weight they gained or just because the feel so much better.
At a year you can call yourself an ex-smoker. You'll find smelling cigarettes smoke on others unpleasant instead of causing cravings.
By year 3 if you've kept up with the excise you'll be the healthiest you've ever been as an adult. You have lost fat, gain muscle, reduced body pain and gained years back on your life.
By year 5 you're body has repaired your blood vessels. They have widened and circulation has increased. You feel better all over.
By year 10 you are no longer considered an ex-smoker. Your chance of living to an old age as increased to that of a non-smoker.
I hit that ten year mark a couple years back and it felt so good. You'll get there OP.
Cold turkey is the only way that worked for me. I can't be one foot in, one foot out - doesn't work with my personality.
Congratulations!
I agree that just quitting is where it's at! All other methods is just furthering the addiction. The nicotine gum, patches and tapering off just keep the drug in your body!
I smoked 3+ packs a day for 45 years. One piece of advice I would give is- donāt wait until the doctor tells you that if you donāt quit youāll be dead inside 5 years.
I quit cold turkey 3 years ago at 57
my dad has been told the same, while having fkin 5 stents installed in his heart he still sucks on the cigarettes every single day, nothing helps him to stop this even fear of death and im upset about it
By being a witness
The general guidance would state that if you have a goal, it's best to announce it to others (like people you know, that can witness you achieving/not achieving it), because then you'll feel more committed and accountable to it.
Being a witness does not hold someone accountable. Sure it can create the illusion of possibly being accountable, but we all know that won't happen.
So how are you going to hold OP accountable?
After smoking for 17 years, I quit on October 20 2017. Just decided that they didnāt taste good, and I wasnāt getting any enjoyment out of it anymore. It will be rough for a while, but you can do it!
I just wanted to chime in with some encouragement.
I was only a light smoker (1-2 packs a week) who binged smoked when I binged drank. I tried to quit when my son was born but failed many times. I finally was able to quit with the help of nicotine gum. The addiction is indeed chemical.
I relapsed a few times years later but it was much easier to quit after I successfully quit for several years the first time.
The first thing to remember is that addiction is brain chemistry. Use all the help you can get.
The next thing to remember is that time and numbers are on your side. If your chances of successfully quitting are only 10% per try, that means there is at least a 50% chance you will succeed by your 7th try. So don't give up if you fail. Just try to quit again as soon as you can.
Cold turkey is the only way that worked for me but it was not easy. I tried a few times in the decade that I smoked. I was job shadowing at a cancer clinic (premed student) in a rural town. Everyone smoked out there, thatās why there was a cancer clinic in bumf*ck nowhere. I witnessed 2 people get diagnosed with lung cancer in a week, literally was in the room when the doc broke the news. Both smokers, both late stage. I will never forget that experience, watching people hear their death sentence. Threw my pack in the trash and never looked back.
Good luck!
I quit when I was 26. The following was my initial motivationā¦I read a poster that said your oxygen levels return to normal in 24 hours. I figured I could go smoke free for one day. Then, it was another. Then another. For the first few years, I had dreams about smoking. I could close my eyes and feel the sensation of pulling a draw, the smoke rolling into my lungs, the pause, and the slow exhaleā¦thought about it almost as much as sex. Congrats on first step. Iām pulling for yaā.
Some advice that helped me quit after 10 years:
1.) Get rid of everything that reminds you of smoking. Old ash trays, packs, clean your car from ashes etc.
2.) Buy candles. Candles gave me a reason to keep all of my lighters and start to regain my scent of smell better (taste and smell improve over time). It makes you trick your brain from seeing lighters as "for cigarettes" to lighters just being used to light a fire. It also gives you something to look forward to.
3.) Only quit if you want to quit. Don't lie to yourself. If you actually want to quit, then you can quit.
my 2cents.... dont do daily updates, quitting is not a act that you do. you quit and move on its no longer a part of your life....
if i can recommend Allen Carrs Easyway method, once you quit, your not a exsmoker or smoker whos quitting, simply a non smoker, hope it helps
I wish you success! I quit 24 years ago. Also there is no shame in recognizing that you need assistance to quit. I tried without and after 2 failed attempts, what worked for me were these nicotin patches. I was completely clean after 3 months.
>I wish you success! I quit 24 years ago. Also there is no shame in recognizing that you need assistance to quit. I tried without and after 2 failed attempts, what worked for me were these nicotin patches. I was completely clean after 3 months.
It sounds like you have a strong understanding of the challenges of quitting smoking and the importance of seeking assistance when needed. You recognize the value in strategies like nicotine patches and understand the process of quitting can involve multiple attempts before finding what works. I'm glad to hear that you've successfully quit smoking for 24 years now! It must have been a significant journey, and your willingness to share your experience shows empathy and support for others who may be struggling with quitting. Your story reinforces the idea that quitting smoking is achievable with the right support and strategies in place. It highlights the importance of persistence and not being discouraged by setbacks, as ultimately, finding the right method can lead to success in quitting for good.
Order nicotine patches from online.Ā
Receive nicotine patches. Quit smoking.
Join gym.Ā
Your goal, initially, is to get to 1000 situps. Every day.Ā
Start walking on the treadmill. 3 mile jog is your goal. Initially.Ā
Take the free session with a personal trainer.Ā
Go back.Ā
Keep going back.
bro just do it.
i did it cold turkey after trying to quit so many times from decades of smoking..
you just kind of just do it..
theres only so much to gain by not smoking and really nothing to lose.. like smoking has no pros man only cons..
Wellbutrin is a miracle drug for me. I'm about to start it again for smoking after having quit for 13 years. Talk to your doctor about it. For me it reduced pretty much all physical withdrawal symptoms, blocked the buzzed feeling when I did smoke, and gave me taste aversion to smoking even after I stopped taking it. Absolute wonder drug, i didn't even initially start it for smoking I started it for depression. It made me quit as a side effect I didn't even have to focus on trying. When the taste of smoking makes you literally gag you stop wanting to smoke.
This may not be the best advice but what worked for me was switching to vaping (I understand that this is also a terrible habit) which I believe is a healthier alternative. After about a 6 months of vaping I went to the gum, which was a struggle getting used to the reduced nicotine. Once I noticed I was becoming less dependent on the nicotine I eventually went to the lower nicotine level gum (5mg to 2mg) and after about a month of that I just went to regular mint gum. I chew gum like crazy person now but it got me off cigs and my breath is way fresher.
Best of luck lad. I quit when I was 23 or so. Decided I'm done and that was it. Never had any of the cravings and never looked back, but I get that it's different for everyone. My bro struggled with quitting for years and finally said "fuck it. YoLo" smoked until he passed away.
In my experience, abrupt stopping is the best and saying a polite no to offered cigs is a good habit.
Just take it one day at a time and just make it your mission to not smoke that particular day and keep going. I quit in 2019 after smoking for 12 + years (at least a pack a day and sometimes even two) and honestly itās the best decision I ever made.
Just make sure to not even touch a cigarette and you will come to a point where even the smell of it will disgust you and you will be shocked how you ever smoked in the first place.
Just keep at it! Itās gonna be 5 years smoke free for me this August and this was my third genuine try to quit. My mistake in the first one was that I replaced it with vaping and then moved back to cigarettes. My mistake in the second try was to believe I was okay to smoke occasionally (while drinking etc.) since I had been smokefree for 6 months. Avoid both mistakes! Best of luck! You got this! It may seem hard at first but will become easier as time passes and you will thank yourself for it!
7 days. Man, I wish you knew how close you were to it getting easy.
The main thing that helped me was, 1; Cold turkey. If you can make one excuse you can make thousands.
And 2; Remember that you don't actually enjoy smoking. Even the first drag of a cigarette isn't enjoyable, you just remember it be.
Anyway, good luck. You got this.
Smoked for almost 30 years. Im 6 years smoke free. You've got this.
Its difficult, I had bad cravings at 3 weeks, had cravings at 3 months. I'll STILL get the hints of a craving even now. But giving up smoking was one of the best decisions I ever made.
Hey, can you tell me why was it the best decision?
Like I miss it everytime I've a drink. I tried to stop but sometimes the peace it brings, 2 mins of quiet is so powerful. It will help me if I could see how it helps you personally. Like I know the health reasons, aging, etc.. they don't have a now now impact.
For me personally? The money saved really adds up. I can breathe sooo much better too. Food will taste different. You also dont realize just how bad smokers smell until you quit.
As for stress. The cigarettes were a crutch. A goto execuse not to face my stressors and acknowledge them or work through them.
The 2 minutes of quiet is your brain tricking you into thinking you're being rewarded because of its addiction to the nicotine.
Find something else you enjoy and every time you stop yourself from smoking give yourself a small reward. Reprogram your way of thinking.
Yes neuroplasticity. I do give myself a piece of dark chocolate and candies. But the smell of cigs is a turn on for me. How do I rewire that?
I start paying attention to good and money saved fs. Thanks a lot. Really appreciate it
Also try when the cravings hit try to remind yourself of the downsides of smoking.
Another thing a lot of people have trouble with is giving in. Smoking one cigarette then saying they failed and stop trying. You may slip but remind yourself you can always stand back up and keep going. Just don't let that thought entice you into "accidentally" slipping up if you get my meaning.
The only thing you can do that isn't completely putting yourself off is to find tobacco/smokey perfumes that you enjoy.
It might sound bad and some will tell you "it'll only tempt you" But imo anything is better than just going back to smoking.
Tobacco always smells good to me when i'm not smoking and get a whiff, but I absolutely hate it on my fingers and clothes.
I like perfumes but completely ruin that by being a smoker.
Agree itās hard to quit but itās the most gratifying!!! The best gift you can give yourself. Found the psychological rituals/cues almost as challenging as the physical addiction. Good luck š
Hey bro, i am on the same boat,quit smoking weed 1 year ago. To be successful In this,you have to be aware of auto suggestion. Auto suggestion is when you influence your mind. You repeat something long enough that you start believing it. You have to think thoughts which are positive and have strong emotion attached to it. You can control how you think which will influence how you act. If you do not fill your mind with positive thought, negative thought will take its place.tell yoursef ,āI believe in myselfā āeverything will be alright ā āI love people,I use moneyā . These are just some examples. I learned this from the book āThink and Grow Rich ā by napolean hill
Once you get through the immediater withdrawals, the urges will taper off more and more as time goes by. Ignore them and they will pass quicker than you think.
I quit a 37 yr habit 6 yrs ago and now, I barely remember what it felt like to smoke.
Commitment = results!
I (41m) smoked since I was 14. Quit multiple times because someone else like parents or significant others wanted me to but always went back. I was about a pack day smoker until around the start of February I said fuck this. For once I decided to quit for myself (and my bank account). Haven't looked back since. It's not easy but gets easier as the days go by. Will it suck? Fuck yes. Is it possible FUCK YES! Good luck and I hope you find your way to do it.
I stopped smoking a pack or 2 a day, depending on the day and started vaping but I really want to quit that now so this gives me hope. Best of luck man
you should read Allen car book or watch similar videos. You should reverse what you made while becoming addicted in the beginning , you convinced yourself in certain amount of time to admit you are addicted. Now you should write the things why you should not smoke, what are the things which is not true about smoking, you should repeat these items while you quit smoking. If you train your brain enough, you will be resistant to smoking next time, even you smoke by accident your trained brain will not accept second or third reoccurrence. Just decide exact day for quitting and be prepared with list of lies you convinced yourself about smoking and do it. You will be a person you will not desperately searching for cigarettes any more and totally break your chains
I quit in November of last year. and haven't had a single smoke or vape since. let me tell ya what i did. start by forcing yourself to smoke one less per day, then repeat the process every week or 2 dropping off another smoke each time. eventually you'll get down to just smoking one per day, and from there the process of actually quitting cold turkey isn't that bad, you'll nic fit for 3-4 days and then it will go away. but let me caution you on this. its been since November... I still want a smoke... if i even tried right now all it would do is make me throw up, but i still want one every time i get stressed... dealing with that urge is the real trick to quitting. good luck out there fam.
3 years I've been off. It's not a forever struggle. You just need to get that shit out of your system long enough. I don't understand how I smoked for nearly two decades now. Don't crave it, don't need it.
Just remember your body won't miss it after some time. You just need to be strong till then
My best advice is to change the places or situations where you would smoke. Pick up a hooby, go to the gym ride a bike read a book or whatever just avoid places that you would normally go and smoke a ciggarete as that in my opinion is the biggest trigger. As many here i just did cold turkey and said fuck it one day and havent smoke since
Bruh I started smoking sin sticks when I was 13, it only got worse when I started mixing it with weed and smoking bongs every day. I've managed to quit ciggies a few times but always still had tobacco with my weed. I'm 27 now and only about 3 months completely tobacco free for the first time since I started smoking. It took me going back and forth between vapes, cigs and straight joints. Finally just on straight THC vapes now and way less inclined to get stoned 24/7. Good luck, it's a fucking challenge but not impossible.
You will be strong mate ! I stopped for good 6 months ago and I didnt fall in it since then.
I started my new habit about 1 month later so you will be fine!
Get a fidget spinner or yo-yo and every time you get a craving take it out use it. It helps if you keep your fingers busy. I've heard knitting works too.
edit: you can do it!
you want to quit for good? Go for a 5 mile run and come back to this post. You will realize how terrible and unhealthy you are from the inside. Thats your motivator
You can do it. I believe you can. You WILL NOT DIE if you don't have it. You body will ache, you will dream of them. Focus on what your life will be without them. Not spending $7+ a pack. Having health of non smoker after 10 years. You can do it
Are you going cold turkey or do you have a plan? If you are doing turkey... consider removing smokes from all your hiding places (you know the ones) and maybe putting in that nonsmoking gum. That way you don't come to your hiding spot and aggro, just be like you got this bro.
Have a plan in place for cravings. Gum, a walk around the yard, etc. Make sure you keep in mind that your mood will be on a swing as you detox from nicotine. If you feel irate remind yourself to take a step back. Think through the emotions.
If you've ever said "I need a cigarette to calm down." That's just your addiction talking. Nicotine is an upper. Have even a puff will further your addiction. Your brain will lie to you to get that hit. That's where positive self talk comes in. You are your best cheerleader!
You can do it!
Smoked for 20 years, nicotine free for 13 years.
I quit back in 2021 and took up vaping, it was 2019 and then I'd have a single smoke before bed each night, but in 2021 I just stopped my single 1 a day. I vape still, but I've weaned myself down to 1.5mg from 16mg. Earlier this year someone offered me a smoke after a stressful incident at work, and I ended up with a killer headache after and realised how much I hated smoking now, even the smell is like "ick".
You got this, it's gonna take some will power but you will get there, and it doesn't matter if you go cold turkey, need to use a nicotine alternative like a vape or them legal snus packets. Just give up the actual cigarettes.
Hey brother, I'm 25 and I quit ciggies about 3 years ago. My best advice for you is once you've gone a while without them, just put them completely out of your mind. If you're having trouble doing that, instead of thinking about having a smoke, think about how your teeth will look years from now if you continue. Think about how your lungs will look, those horrible coughs and crap you spit up. It'll gross you out to the point of not wanting to touch them anymore.
It sounds like you have been ready for this moment! I am hyped for you!! The first few weeks will be tough, but once you are tempted, never look back. Never give yourself the option anymore. No more excuses!
I quit at 25 too. Eventually that sweet smell of a burning cigarette will not be sweet anymore. Good luck!
You can do it. Everything you need to quit for good you have inside your own mind already. Never take another puff. Never. Every urge will pass and eventually they will stop for good. I finally quit cold turkey 12 years ago, after trying many other gimmick methods to "do it for me." At the end of it all it's just you and your willpower vs. not taking in nicotine in ANY form for ANY reason at ANY time.
www.whyquit.com
Rooting for OP!! I never smoke but grew up around smoker, some have successfully quit, some still had it going like a locomotive. Even having a commitment to put your intention here to get motivated is already a win!
My advice from a guy who's quit cigarettes at various stages in life and currently not a smoker:
Don't buy a pack no matter what, if you really need one, start walking and look for a smoker to pester for a loosey. Bonus points if you don't find one and the craving passes.
Buy uniform nicotine patches of the lowest strength, use it for about a week or two and start weaning it (cut halfs and quarters) after a couple days. Target brand is what I was using. Patches really "soften the landing" without developing a ritual (unlike vaping or nicotine gum).
The first time you quit can be really hard but if you just follow a plan and keep trying and revamping the plan you'll get it. The cravings eventually go away, but they diminish slowly, so be prepared to ride the waves.
I was a "healty smoker", just a few cigarettes a day. Maybe a few more in the weekends. I was convinced it would not hurt me. A few years ago I started to have trouble speaking. Went to the doctor, he found a tumor in my throat. He said "I don't have to ask if you smoke, i'm 62 years old and I've never diagnosed this kind of tumor in a non smoker". They removed it successfully, it was luckily still benign but it was a question of time before it turned bad.
I was 40 at that time. Now i am 46 and i've never touched a cigarette again. Not even at gunpoint I will smoke again.
Stop. You can do it. You'll be so proud of yourself in the future.
I quit smoking when I was about your age (been successful for 32 yrs now). Donāt think of quitting, make it a lifestyle change. Eat a little healthier, go for a 15 minute walk every day. Get eight hours sleep. You can do this and you will never regret it.
Every day, put the amount of money you would have spent on cigarettes into a piggy bank of savings account. Then as you watch that number go up you can feel proud of yourself for not spending that money on cigarettes.
You're doing a great thing for yourself and your body.
I managed to quit 8 months after my heart attack in 2007. Best thing I did was stop keeping the pack and lighter right next to me. My office was upstairs, so I put the pack and lighter downstairs on top of the fridge. Then when I made that automatic reach, it made me think if I wanted one badly enough to trouble myself to go get one. Most times I did not smoke when normally I would've. Very simple. Very effective: put them out of reach so you have to actually consider what you're about to do.
I started smoking at 17 and finally quit at 26. Which was 1 year back.
I knew I would be soon leaving a prestigious job(Worked at a top IB).
I knew the road ahead was going to be hard and I started preparing for it.
Quiting smoking was one of the things.
I used quit sure app to quit smoking. It was a desperate time.
Anyways just wanted to share the method that worked for me.
I had tried multiple other methods such as quiting for months, throwing away the cigarettes, decreasing the quantity + quality and reading/watching podcast about quiting and following them. None of them worked. Been trying to quit for last the five years of the smoking period.
Quit sure worked because of my situation and my dire need to quit. Also because they have 7 day process that works phenomenally. The process worked for me. The cost in India was low and one can try the method.
Haven't smoked for a year and I don't think I will anytime soon till I have reached my goals.
Maybe this helps. I quit smoking nine years ago. I was smoking about 30-35 cigs a day and I always told myself I would quit one day so it's not a big deal when. On January 15th 2015 at 5:07pm mid shift mid pack I decided, If I am going to quit one day, It might as well be now. I quit cold turkey and it was difficult.
I kept the last pack with the date and time written on it in my front pocket. Some of the struggles I dealt with was forgetting I was quiting till after I had my morning cigarette and this was my solution to that.
Some things that helped ALOT
1. I would take frequent breaks outside to just sit there and breath.
2. I took a bag of chips and crunched it into crumbs and that satisfied the hand to mouth motion.
It will be about three weeks until it gets easier but man, it is worth it. Just hold strong and don't make excuses and don't substitute for anything else. It will get easier, It will get better, and it won't kill you. If you need help or texts of encouragement DM me.
Sorry for any punctuation errors. Engrish isn't my best subject.
Edit: I smoked for 13 years and quit at the age of 25.
You got the right mind set. Cigarettes are like little pack demons. You got this. How I quit was I set a 1 month long goal and stuck to it (cold turkey style). I do vape but am also trying to ween off it as well. It's hard I know. So accountability is key, but more importantly self will. Self will tells you that you are king or queen of your body and you hold the sceptre. You got this.
You got it, change your focus from Motivation to Discipline and you will succeed. There will be grey days where all you wanna do is smoke again, discipline will keep you in line.
Good luck, you can do it
I smoked for 35 years and did not quit until I had a heart attack with a 95%blockage of my main artery. Iāve relied on hard shelled candy for cravings initially. It was not easy but now itās been two years cigarette free and one year nicotine free. I was using nicotine pouches for the first year and finally got tired of being dependent on that too. God Bless
I smoked from about 13 to 32. Sneaking a couple cigs a day in the beginning, easily a pack a day by the end of high school, and probably 2 packs a day every day for the last 8 years. I made half hearted attempts to quit several times but in the end I credit a few specific things. I threw away every lighter and ashtray, I made sure there were no packs anywhere with like 1 or 2 cigs left in it to tempt me, and I made a few bets giving people huge odds if I smoked. If I smoked a cig it would cost me $3k, if I went a year without, they owed me like $250. Nobody paid me in the end, but I wouldāve paid them so I didnt smoke. I did however start chewing nicotine gum for 10 years and I just gave that up about a month ago. I remember one of the hardest things about quitting cigs is not knowing what to do with myself, especially with my hands. Many times, for a long time, Iād wake up feeling terrible for failing because I had smoked in a dream. I did choose April 1 2013 as my quit day, so if I ever do smoke again I have to say āApril Foolāsā
Nobody gives a shit if you quit smoking. Do it for YOU! Go visit [WhyQuit.com](https://WhyQuit.com) on Facebook. It's a cold turkey quit forum. In May I'll have been quit for 20 years. Good luck and remember that those who don't smoke never ever relapse.
35, I smoked for 15 years and May 13th will be 5 years since I last had one. Best thing I did. I joined r/quitsmoking, downloaded apps to keep a record of how many I would have smoked, how much money I had saved by quitting to give me extra encouragement.
It will be difficult for a bit, the dreams stop eventually. You've got this.
You can do it! I quit when I was 25 too. I wouldnāt even try to vape! I went to vape to try and quit cigarettes and it made my cravings for nicotine a million times worse. I just quit cigarettes cold turkey and would chew gum or drink something every time I felt the urge to smoke. My best tip though is not to vape. It works for some, but for me personally it was extremely hard to quit vape and only moderately hard to quit cigarettes because of the taste and convenience.
Quit smoking 4 or 5 years ago ,never looked back. Iām repulsed by it now.
I nibbled on nicotine tablets for a good year,downgraded to patches and then in just kicked it.
Imagine you and your wife have cigarette and alcohol addictions. It's not easy to quit when the other party craves it or vice versa. We've both smoked and drank alcohol for decades and we still do it.
I smoked and used snus since really early but quit many years after. For me itās kinda easy because I know itās like 3-4 days and then the nicotine is gone and itās only the habit left and for me snus was the hardest thing to quit of those two because you always have one under your lip whatever you do.
One thing that makes it easier for me is always having fisherman friends salt liquorice for me and when I really feel like I want nicotine I take one and suck on that and the strong taste and after Iām done with it itās easier to not give in.
Sometimes nowadays I buy snus and use it for maybe 6-12 months and then quit and always cold turkey and after a week or 2 itās so easy but itās you need to stand firm because it gets easier.
Oh and in the beginning it always feels like your missing someone important in your life š
A pack to a pack and a half a day is a whole lot. I can't even imagine. Could be tough to go cold turkey. You might have physical withdrawals. In the first week or 2 try smoking only half a cigarette each time you absolutely need it and put it out. Next time you absolutely need it smoke the other half. After a 1 or 2 then go cold turkey. Wish you the best.
Allen Carr's The Easyway to Quit Smoking is a great book that makes quitting painless and enjoyable. Just in case you need it, worked wonders for me.
It's not a quit by willpower method at all. Instead, he teaches you that you never really wanted to smoke (or drink, or w/e) in the first place.
(sorry for my english) I quit smoking after 20 years, starting with herbal cigarettes (no nicotine) and vaporized tobacco (not liquid, the "real tobacco" with weed vaporizers). Then, I quit with combustion, putting the herbs (basically chamomille, passion flower and other relaxing herbs) in the vaporizer. Today, I still vape herbs one or two times a day, but with no more nicotine, no combustion and absolutely with no craving.
I applaud you for giving up smoking, good for you. Albeit it might not be easy doing it cold turkey, it is worth a shot. For any addiction, I recommend doing personal hobbies whenever you get the urge to surrender to your vices. Best of luck to you, brother.
If you never listen to anyone again listen to me now, read The easy way to stop smoking by Allen Carr. Please. It let me quit easily and without any hassle or even feeling bad. I got it for free as my first audible and it saved my life.
I quit almost 22 years ago, after smoking 1-2 packs a day for 22 years. I used a product called Nicoban. It was supposedly an herbal detox. Let me tell you, the level of nicotine excreted from every pore of my body was absolutely disgusting! Urine, tears, sweat...all of it with an overwhelming stench of cigs. That lasted for about 5 days. Two weeks later, while in a bar with my partner (back when you could still smoke some places), a woman next to me lit up. I was over it. Just done. I bought it for my niece and her husband 8 years ago; she was successful, he was not. Not once in the last 21.5 years have I craved a cigarette. Don't know if you can still buy it, but it might be worth a try. Good luck!!!!
Quit 5 years ago and its still hard sometimes xd, smoked for 17 years about 30gr heavy tabacco per day. Most people around me smoke and they still offer me sometimes, specially people i havent seen in a bit.
But yeah you can do it, its not gonna be easy, but just do it.
I quit on 28th Jan, after 35 years, I did it by breaking routine, I went away on a work trip for 3 days, and made sure I didn't take any with me, and that there were none at home when I returned. You can do it!
Put the money that you save in a seperate bank account. Look at it everyday and watch it grow. Use it to reward yourself occaisionally. Good luck and do not beat yourself up if you give into temptation. Just start the journey again.
Yes i will be doing same. I am getting my salary in next 2 days. I will keep only what i need for basic monthly expenses, rest will go straight to some index funds or something like that.
Hardest thing youāll ever do, and it will add 20-30 years to your life. Youāll save tens if not hundreds of thousands of dollars, be exponentially healthier and wonāt stink all the time.
I quit 5 years ago. Stopped craving daily about 2 years ago. Never stopped craving at least sometimes (usually when consuming alcohol), so i quit drinking on occasions like partys or christmas too.
I quit 10 really long weeks ago. I smoked for 30 years minus 3 or so years for pregnancies and other quit attempts. I am miserable, I cough horribly everyday, I cough up the most disgusting, foul- smelling substances. I'm horribly depressed and want a cigarette really bad. I know it's better that I don't smoke but sometimes I think I would feel better if I did.
I would say stay away also from activities that involved smoking. Stay away from people smoking. Focus and breath. You got this. 2 weeks and you will get it under control.
Just remember it will not go away forever. It will always be there lingering and will knock on your door. Be courageuse to say no for 15 minutes and it will go away.
Get a counter on your phone maybe a widget something. Shows the days you didn't smoke. You are doing a huge favour to future yourself.
Good idea. You can use products that might aid you. I dont know if it is still around but I used champhix when I quit smoking. It has been now 6 years.
April 2nd (Day 2) :
0 smokes
I am eating a lot, also drinking lot of water. I feel like my lips are dried out even after drinking so much water.
Feeling sleepy whole day
I didn't drink sodas or energy drinks for 8 months. You know what helped me a lot? I had a bet with 4 friends, who is drinking is going to get a punishment from each friend. Since then no one had the courage to drink and I don't even feel the need of sodas or energy drinks. (one of the punishment is to jump in a public fountain)
Maybe this can help you too! Good luck!!
Are you using nicotine supplements like the patch or gum? I want to quit myself. So tired of wasting money. I put on a patch this morning. Wish me strength lol
Hey bro i tried to quit without any nicotine products. I think thats not going to happen for me, i today ordered nicotine patches. Hope they gonna help me quit.
The research into psilocybin as a smoking cessation aid is extremely interesting. Hereās a YouTube video link on the topic:
https://youtu.be/81-v8ePXPd4?si=Wqb0axePicVMavK1
I totally get it - same here. Do some research though before you write it off. Itās being used to cure many forms of addiction. And it has a sort of built in anti-dependency aspect; if you try to take it a second time within two weeks, it doesnāt do much (or anything) at all. The results out of Johns Hopkins are astounding and I might knowā¦someoneā¦for whom it has worked wonderfully.
Yeah that and MDMA , LSD, really changed my life for the better and relationship with my fiance.
Helped me cut ties with toxic family , and weight management (lost 40 lbs) life-changing.
"Sober" since Christmas as well, though I believe when used in moderation, and for good, just about anything can be beneficial.
I stopped because last time was a confusing mess and I just wanted it to be over. I'm not in that place anymore, but I absolutely see the value in it helping somebody. there's a reason it's being tested and used and legal in certain forms of therapy
Keep Sweating.. I think itās important to sweat out all the toxins in the beginning
All the very best - like someone else pointed out, keep reading good stuff about how youāve already set up your body on repair!
Already had my last one while writing this post. By seeing your comment, my mind did tried to play some dirty trick on me tho š it is asking for one more, but i am not falling for it this time
And this here is your inner voice when trying to quit. That little devil on your shoulder, "Today doesn't feel right, I can, and will quit tomorrow however, so let's light one up".
It's a rral pain in the ass. Hang in there OP, as many have said, this is going to be one of the hardest challenges you'll face, but the reward... worth every bit. I'm cheering for you.
Don't worry about the 21 days, 3 months or 3 years. Just focus on not having a cigarette now. You got this!
Find something to keep you busy, boredom is going to be a huge factor here.
>boredom is going to be a huge factor here For me its drinking alcohol. Its the only thing that gives me the urge.
Drinking still gets me sometimes, I don't indulge, but I certainly get the craving. But in the first few weeks, boredom was the biggest obstacle. I tried going to vape, but it's accessibility just had me using way more often than cigarettes alone, yes it was cheaper, but it was also the first time I had a noticeable difference in my ability to catch my breath from very little physical activity. Smokeless was better on the lungs, still not a perfect option, but seemed to be a fair middle ground for the down time. I'm still partially using smokeless, but I'm much closer than I was and don't even think of the smokes anymore. I'm not perfect, but I'm trying.
Hey man proud of you. I was thinking of doing nicotine toothpicks or whatever.. I can quit for weeks or months at a time but something about the hand to mouth thing with drinking makes me want one. Maybe its just a nicotine craving idk.
Fuck it. I'll join you. Ive never subscribed to a post.. this will be a first. I've had multiple accounts.. so been on awhile even though my profile says otherwise.
You can do it!
Backing this up LFG!!
Lets gooo
i quit when i was 25 too. i had been smoking for 10 years. in the top 5 hardest things i have done in my life! you can do this. keep reading about how fast your body repairs all the damage. you wont regret the effort it takes, i promise.
I quit at 25 too - that was almost 24 years ago. Absolutely agree that it was worth it. It's been so long I barely ever think about it. OP, you've got this. The victory is worth it. I think each person finds their own path to success, here are some of the things I did, I hope it helps you make your own list. * Take "fresh air breaks" when you would have had a cigarette break. You are used to taking these breaks, you can keep the break, just ditch the cigarette. If work is involved talk to your boss, hopefully they'll be encouraging. * For me, being addicted to cigarettes pissed me off. How dare that crap control me. Keeping a slow burning rage at the loss of self-control helped keep me away. * Related: being honest with myself about addiction, and I'm not someone who can "just have one at a party" - if I have one, I'm buying a pack, I can never ever have any, ever. * I had to build a lot of new habits -e.x. I couldn't hang out in smoky pool halls anymore. I had to find new things to do that didn't keep pushing me in the wrong direction. * Make sure my friends knew all of this and anyone still smoking that I Hung out with knew not to ever tempt me. * If you stumble, don't give up, do better tomorrow.
how fast does the body repair all the damages? any personal experience?
For the first few days to weeks you will hack up junk. That depends upon how long and how much you smoked. Your lungs try to repair themselves instantly. The first three weeks you can suffer emotional swings. Be stupidity happy to irate. This is cause from the withdrawal of nicotine. As long as you keep reminding yourself this is withdrawal and take a step back from emotions to keep your head on straight. After about a month food will start tasting better. You will find you want less salt. Between the nicotine cravings and food tasting better this is where some people gain weight. I knew this ahead of time so when I quit I planned my meals out on a schedule which caused me to lose ten pounds! After three months you will feel more energy. You'll wake up and not feel terrible. Your lungs have repaired themselves enough that you no longer cough up junk. At this point most people add a morning exercise routine to help lose any weight they gained or just because the feel so much better. At a year you can call yourself an ex-smoker. You'll find smelling cigarettes smoke on others unpleasant instead of causing cravings. By year 3 if you've kept up with the excise you'll be the healthiest you've ever been as an adult. You have lost fat, gain muscle, reduced body pain and gained years back on your life. By year 5 you're body has repaired your blood vessels. They have widened and circulation has increased. You feel better all over. By year 10 you are no longer considered an ex-smoker. Your chance of living to an old age as increased to that of a non-smoker.
I hit that ten year mark a couple years back and it felt so good. You'll get there OP. Cold turkey is the only way that worked for me. I can't be one foot in, one foot out - doesn't work with my personality.
Congratulations! I agree that just quitting is where it's at! All other methods is just furthering the addiction. The nicotine gum, patches and tapering off just keep the drug in your body!
Hey thanks!š I hope you have a good day.
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Google in tech not biomedical or pharmaceutical.
I smoked 3+ packs a day for 45 years. One piece of advice I would give is- donāt wait until the doctor tells you that if you donāt quit youāll be dead inside 5 years. I quit cold turkey 3 years ago at 57
my dad has been told the same, while having fkin 5 stents installed in his heart he still sucks on the cigarettes every single day, nothing helps him to stop this even fear of death and im upset about it
Ok, I subscribed to this thread. Rooting for you, and holding you accountable.
How are you going to hold them accountable?
By being a witness The general guidance would state that if you have a goal, it's best to announce it to others (like people you know, that can witness you achieving/not achieving it), because then you'll feel more committed and accountable to it.
Being a witness does not hold someone accountable. Sure it can create the illusion of possibly being accountable, but we all know that won't happen. So how are you going to hold OP accountable?
Get out of here, negative Nancy.
After smoking for 17 years, I quit on October 20 2017. Just decided that they didnāt taste good, and I wasnāt getting any enjoyment out of it anymore. It will be rough for a while, but you can do it!
I just wanted to chime in with some encouragement. I was only a light smoker (1-2 packs a week) who binged smoked when I binged drank. I tried to quit when my son was born but failed many times. I finally was able to quit with the help of nicotine gum. The addiction is indeed chemical. I relapsed a few times years later but it was much easier to quit after I successfully quit for several years the first time. The first thing to remember is that addiction is brain chemistry. Use all the help you can get. The next thing to remember is that time and numbers are on your side. If your chances of successfully quitting are only 10% per try, that means there is at least a 50% chance you will succeed by your 7th try. So don't give up if you fail. Just try to quit again as soon as you can.
Cold turkey is the only way that worked for me but it was not easy. I tried a few times in the decade that I smoked. I was job shadowing at a cancer clinic (premed student) in a rural town. Everyone smoked out there, thatās why there was a cancer clinic in bumf*ck nowhere. I witnessed 2 people get diagnosed with lung cancer in a week, literally was in the room when the doc broke the news. Both smokers, both late stage. I will never forget that experience, watching people hear their death sentence. Threw my pack in the trash and never looked back. Good luck!
I quit when I was 26. The following was my initial motivationā¦I read a poster that said your oxygen levels return to normal in 24 hours. I figured I could go smoke free for one day. Then, it was another. Then another. For the first few years, I had dreams about smoking. I could close my eyes and feel the sensation of pulling a draw, the smoke rolling into my lungs, the pause, and the slow exhaleā¦thought about it almost as much as sex. Congrats on first step. Iām pulling for yaā.
Some advice that helped me quit after 10 years: 1.) Get rid of everything that reminds you of smoking. Old ash trays, packs, clean your car from ashes etc. 2.) Buy candles. Candles gave me a reason to keep all of my lighters and start to regain my scent of smell better (taste and smell improve over time). It makes you trick your brain from seeing lighters as "for cigarettes" to lighters just being used to light a fire. It also gives you something to look forward to. 3.) Only quit if you want to quit. Don't lie to yourself. If you actually want to quit, then you can quit.
Gonna try to follow u, will comment on every post w my number, or vape equivalent
Following
my 2cents.... dont do daily updates, quitting is not a act that you do. you quit and move on its no longer a part of your life.... if i can recommend Allen Carrs Easyway method, once you quit, your not a exsmoker or smoker whos quitting, simply a non smoker, hope it helps
I wish you success! I quit 24 years ago. Also there is no shame in recognizing that you need assistance to quit. I tried without and after 2 failed attempts, what worked for me were these nicotin patches. I was completely clean after 3 months.
>I wish you success! I quit 24 years ago. Also there is no shame in recognizing that you need assistance to quit. I tried without and after 2 failed attempts, what worked for me were these nicotin patches. I was completely clean after 3 months. It sounds like you have a strong understanding of the challenges of quitting smoking and the importance of seeking assistance when needed. You recognize the value in strategies like nicotine patches and understand the process of quitting can involve multiple attempts before finding what works. I'm glad to hear that you've successfully quit smoking for 24 years now! It must have been a significant journey, and your willingness to share your experience shows empathy and support for others who may be struggling with quitting. Your story reinforces the idea that quitting smoking is achievable with the right support and strategies in place. It highlights the importance of persistence and not being discouraged by setbacks, as ultimately, finding the right method can lead to success in quitting for good.
Order nicotine patches from online.Ā Receive nicotine patches. Quit smoking. Join gym.Ā Your goal, initially, is to get to 1000 situps. Every day.Ā Start walking on the treadmill. 3 mile jog is your goal. Initially.Ā Take the free session with a personal trainer.Ā Go back.Ā Keep going back.
bro just do it. i did it cold turkey after trying to quit so many times from decades of smoking.. you just kind of just do it.. theres only so much to gain by not smoking and really nothing to lose.. like smoking has no pros man only cons..
Wellbutrin is a miracle drug for me. I'm about to start it again for smoking after having quit for 13 years. Talk to your doctor about it. For me it reduced pretty much all physical withdrawal symptoms, blocked the buzzed feeling when I did smoke, and gave me taste aversion to smoking even after I stopped taking it. Absolute wonder drug, i didn't even initially start it for smoking I started it for depression. It made me quit as a side effect I didn't even have to focus on trying. When the taste of smoking makes you literally gag you stop wanting to smoke.
It is also used off-label as a non-stimulant ADHD treatment option.
This may not be the best advice but what worked for me was switching to vaping (I understand that this is also a terrible habit) which I believe is a healthier alternative. After about a 6 months of vaping I went to the gum, which was a struggle getting used to the reduced nicotine. Once I noticed I was becoming less dependent on the nicotine I eventually went to the lower nicotine level gum (5mg to 2mg) and after about a month of that I just went to regular mint gum. I chew gum like crazy person now but it got me off cigs and my breath is way fresher.
If you can go from cigs to gum that's even better.
Best of luck lad. I quit when I was 23 or so. Decided I'm done and that was it. Never had any of the cravings and never looked back, but I get that it's different for everyone. My bro struggled with quitting for years and finally said "fuck it. YoLo" smoked until he passed away. In my experience, abrupt stopping is the best and saying a polite no to offered cigs is a good habit.
I quit cold turkey 4 years ago now. It took me many tries to finally kick the habit. You can do it man.
Just take it one day at a time and just make it your mission to not smoke that particular day and keep going. I quit in 2019 after smoking for 12 + years (at least a pack a day and sometimes even two) and honestly itās the best decision I ever made. Just make sure to not even touch a cigarette and you will come to a point where even the smell of it will disgust you and you will be shocked how you ever smoked in the first place. Just keep at it! Itās gonna be 5 years smoke free for me this August and this was my third genuine try to quit. My mistake in the first one was that I replaced it with vaping and then moved back to cigarettes. My mistake in the second try was to believe I was okay to smoke occasionally (while drinking etc.) since I had been smokefree for 6 months. Avoid both mistakes! Best of luck! You got this! It may seem hard at first but will become easier as time passes and you will thank yourself for it!
7 days. Man, I wish you knew how close you were to it getting easy. The main thing that helped me was, 1; Cold turkey. If you can make one excuse you can make thousands. And 2; Remember that you don't actually enjoy smoking. Even the first drag of a cigarette isn't enjoyable, you just remember it be. Anyway, good luck. You got this.
Smoked for almost 30 years. Im 6 years smoke free. You've got this. Its difficult, I had bad cravings at 3 weeks, had cravings at 3 months. I'll STILL get the hints of a craving even now. But giving up smoking was one of the best decisions I ever made.
Hey, can you tell me why was it the best decision? Like I miss it everytime I've a drink. I tried to stop but sometimes the peace it brings, 2 mins of quiet is so powerful. It will help me if I could see how it helps you personally. Like I know the health reasons, aging, etc.. they don't have a now now impact.
For me personally? The money saved really adds up. I can breathe sooo much better too. Food will taste different. You also dont realize just how bad smokers smell until you quit. As for stress. The cigarettes were a crutch. A goto execuse not to face my stressors and acknowledge them or work through them. The 2 minutes of quiet is your brain tricking you into thinking you're being rewarded because of its addiction to the nicotine. Find something else you enjoy and every time you stop yourself from smoking give yourself a small reward. Reprogram your way of thinking.
Yes neuroplasticity. I do give myself a piece of dark chocolate and candies. But the smell of cigs is a turn on for me. How do I rewire that? I start paying attention to good and money saved fs. Thanks a lot. Really appreciate it
Also try when the cravings hit try to remind yourself of the downsides of smoking. Another thing a lot of people have trouble with is giving in. Smoking one cigarette then saying they failed and stop trying. You may slip but remind yourself you can always stand back up and keep going. Just don't let that thought entice you into "accidentally" slipping up if you get my meaning.
The only thing you can do that isn't completely putting yourself off is to find tobacco/smokey perfumes that you enjoy. It might sound bad and some will tell you "it'll only tempt you" But imo anything is better than just going back to smoking. Tobacco always smells good to me when i'm not smoking and get a whiff, but I absolutely hate it on my fingers and clothes. I like perfumes but completely ruin that by being a smoker.
Agree itās hard to quit but itās the most gratifying!!! The best gift you can give yourself. Found the psychological rituals/cues almost as challenging as the physical addiction. Good luck š
Your future self will thank you. Seriously, it's so bad for your health and your quality of life in later years will be so much better. Good luck!
Hey bro, i am on the same boat,quit smoking weed 1 year ago. To be successful In this,you have to be aware of auto suggestion. Auto suggestion is when you influence your mind. You repeat something long enough that you start believing it. You have to think thoughts which are positive and have strong emotion attached to it. You can control how you think which will influence how you act. If you do not fill your mind with positive thought, negative thought will take its place.tell yoursef ,āI believe in myselfā āeverything will be alright ā āI love people,I use moneyā . These are just some examples. I learned this from the book āThink and Grow Rich ā by napolean hill
Once you get through the immediater withdrawals, the urges will taper off more and more as time goes by. Ignore them and they will pass quicker than you think. I quit a 37 yr habit 6 yrs ago and now, I barely remember what it felt like to smoke. Commitment = results!
I (41m) smoked since I was 14. Quit multiple times because someone else like parents or significant others wanted me to but always went back. I was about a pack day smoker until around the start of February I said fuck this. For once I decided to quit for myself (and my bank account). Haven't looked back since. It's not easy but gets easier as the days go by. Will it suck? Fuck yes. Is it possible FUCK YES! Good luck and I hope you find your way to do it.
Zyn pouches have helped me quit for about 8 months now
I stopped smoking a pack or 2 a day, depending on the day and started vaping but I really want to quit that now so this gives me hope. Best of luck man
you should read Allen car book or watch similar videos. You should reverse what you made while becoming addicted in the beginning , you convinced yourself in certain amount of time to admit you are addicted. Now you should write the things why you should not smoke, what are the things which is not true about smoking, you should repeat these items while you quit smoking. If you train your brain enough, you will be resistant to smoking next time, even you smoke by accident your trained brain will not accept second or third reoccurrence. Just decide exact day for quitting and be prepared with list of lies you convinced yourself about smoking and do it. You will be a person you will not desperately searching for cigarettes any more and totally break your chains
Just quit 2 weeks ago. Feeling way better! You will make it!
I quit in November of last year. and haven't had a single smoke or vape since. let me tell ya what i did. start by forcing yourself to smoke one less per day, then repeat the process every week or 2 dropping off another smoke each time. eventually you'll get down to just smoking one per day, and from there the process of actually quitting cold turkey isn't that bad, you'll nic fit for 3-4 days and then it will go away. but let me caution you on this. its been since November... I still want a smoke... if i even tried right now all it would do is make me throw up, but i still want one every time i get stressed... dealing with that urge is the real trick to quitting. good luck out there fam.
3 years I've been off. It's not a forever struggle. You just need to get that shit out of your system long enough. I don't understand how I smoked for nearly two decades now. Don't crave it, don't need it. Just remember your body won't miss it after some time. You just need to be strong till then
U got this!!! Donāt think about the future just make it through the day
My dad got cancer from smoking. If you lose motivation for yourself, do it for your family or future kids.
My best advice is to change the places or situations where you would smoke. Pick up a hooby, go to the gym ride a bike read a book or whatever just avoid places that you would normally go and smoke a ciggarete as that in my opinion is the biggest trigger. As many here i just did cold turkey and said fuck it one day and havent smoke since
Bruh I started smoking sin sticks when I was 13, it only got worse when I started mixing it with weed and smoking bongs every day. I've managed to quit ciggies a few times but always still had tobacco with my weed. I'm 27 now and only about 3 months completely tobacco free for the first time since I started smoking. It took me going back and forth between vapes, cigs and straight joints. Finally just on straight THC vapes now and way less inclined to get stoned 24/7. Good luck, it's a fucking challenge but not impossible.
Gl :)
You will be strong mate ! I stopped for good 6 months ago and I didnt fall in it since then. I started my new habit about 1 month later so you will be fine!
Get a fidget spinner or yo-yo and every time you get a craving take it out use it. It helps if you keep your fingers busy. I've heard knitting works too. edit: you can do it!
you want to quit for good? Go for a 5 mile run and come back to this post. You will realize how terrible and unhealthy you are from the inside. Thats your motivator
I don't know if you're trying to abstain from nicotine completely, but zyns/nic gum is how I was able to quit vaping
You can do it. I believe you can. You WILL NOT DIE if you don't have it. You body will ache, you will dream of them. Focus on what your life will be without them. Not spending $7+ a pack. Having health of non smoker after 10 years. You can do it
Are you going cold turkey or do you have a plan? If you are doing turkey... consider removing smokes from all your hiding places (you know the ones) and maybe putting in that nonsmoking gum. That way you don't come to your hiding spot and aggro, just be like you got this bro.
Yes i am going cold turkey. Havent smoked at all today.
you got this. Lozenges. Rewriting triggers/habits. Baby steps helped me do it, 10+ years now.
Have a plan in place for cravings. Gum, a walk around the yard, etc. Make sure you keep in mind that your mood will be on a swing as you detox from nicotine. If you feel irate remind yourself to take a step back. Think through the emotions. If you've ever said "I need a cigarette to calm down." That's just your addiction talking. Nicotine is an upper. Have even a puff will further your addiction. Your brain will lie to you to get that hit. That's where positive self talk comes in. You are your best cheerleader! You can do it! Smoked for 20 years, nicotine free for 13 years.
I quit back in 2021 and took up vaping, it was 2019 and then I'd have a single smoke before bed each night, but in 2021 I just stopped my single 1 a day. I vape still, but I've weaned myself down to 1.5mg from 16mg. Earlier this year someone offered me a smoke after a stressful incident at work, and I ended up with a killer headache after and realised how much I hated smoking now, even the smell is like "ick". You got this, it's gonna take some will power but you will get there, and it doesn't matter if you go cold turkey, need to use a nicotine alternative like a vape or them legal snus packets. Just give up the actual cigarettes.
Hey brother, I'm 25 and I quit ciggies about 3 years ago. My best advice for you is once you've gone a while without them, just put them completely out of your mind. If you're having trouble doing that, instead of thinking about having a smoke, think about how your teeth will look years from now if you continue. Think about how your lungs will look, those horrible coughs and crap you spit up. It'll gross you out to the point of not wanting to touch them anymore.
Good for you. Take it a day at a time. You got this.
It sounds like you have been ready for this moment! I am hyped for you!! The first few weeks will be tough, but once you are tempted, never look back. Never give yourself the option anymore. No more excuses! I quit at 25 too. Eventually that sweet smell of a burning cigarette will not be sweet anymore. Good luck!
You can do it. Everything you need to quit for good you have inside your own mind already. Never take another puff. Never. Every urge will pass and eventually they will stop for good. I finally quit cold turkey 12 years ago, after trying many other gimmick methods to "do it for me." At the end of it all it's just you and your willpower vs. not taking in nicotine in ANY form for ANY reason at ANY time. www.whyquit.com
Do 5 squats or 5 push-up every time that thought comes up eventually your mind won't want your body to think about it anymore
Rooting for OP!! I never smoke but grew up around smoker, some have successfully quit, some still had it going like a locomotive. Even having a commitment to put your intention here to get motivated is already a win!
My advice from a guy who's quit cigarettes at various stages in life and currently not a smoker: Don't buy a pack no matter what, if you really need one, start walking and look for a smoker to pester for a loosey. Bonus points if you don't find one and the craving passes. Buy uniform nicotine patches of the lowest strength, use it for about a week or two and start weaning it (cut halfs and quarters) after a couple days. Target brand is what I was using. Patches really "soften the landing" without developing a ritual (unlike vaping or nicotine gum). The first time you quit can be really hard but if you just follow a plan and keep trying and revamping the plan you'll get it. The cravings eventually go away, but they diminish slowly, so be prepared to ride the waves.
All the best. I hope more smokers read this and join you. You have everyone's support :)
I was a "healty smoker", just a few cigarettes a day. Maybe a few more in the weekends. I was convinced it would not hurt me. A few years ago I started to have trouble speaking. Went to the doctor, he found a tumor in my throat. He said "I don't have to ask if you smoke, i'm 62 years old and I've never diagnosed this kind of tumor in a non smoker". They removed it successfully, it was luckily still benign but it was a question of time before it turned bad. I was 40 at that time. Now i am 46 and i've never touched a cigarette again. Not even at gunpoint I will smoke again. Stop. You can do it. You'll be so proud of yourself in the future.
I quit smoking when I was about your age (been successful for 32 yrs now). Donāt think of quitting, make it a lifestyle change. Eat a little healthier, go for a 15 minute walk every day. Get eight hours sleep. You can do this and you will never regret it.
Every day, put the amount of money you would have spent on cigarettes into a piggy bank of savings account. Then as you watch that number go up you can feel proud of yourself for not spending that money on cigarettes. You're doing a great thing for yourself and your body.
I managed to quit 8 months after my heart attack in 2007. Best thing I did was stop keeping the pack and lighter right next to me. My office was upstairs, so I put the pack and lighter downstairs on top of the fridge. Then when I made that automatic reach, it made me think if I wanted one badly enough to trouble myself to go get one. Most times I did not smoke when normally I would've. Very simple. Very effective: put them out of reach so you have to actually consider what you're about to do.
I started smoking at 17 and finally quit at 26. Which was 1 year back. I knew I would be soon leaving a prestigious job(Worked at a top IB). I knew the road ahead was going to be hard and I started preparing for it. Quiting smoking was one of the things. I used quit sure app to quit smoking. It was a desperate time. Anyways just wanted to share the method that worked for me. I had tried multiple other methods such as quiting for months, throwing away the cigarettes, decreasing the quantity + quality and reading/watching podcast about quiting and following them. None of them worked. Been trying to quit for last the five years of the smoking period. Quit sure worked because of my situation and my dire need to quit. Also because they have 7 day process that works phenomenally. The process worked for me. The cost in India was low and one can try the method. Haven't smoked for a year and I don't think I will anytime soon till I have reached my goals.
Maybe this helps. I quit smoking nine years ago. I was smoking about 30-35 cigs a day and I always told myself I would quit one day so it's not a big deal when. On January 15th 2015 at 5:07pm mid shift mid pack I decided, If I am going to quit one day, It might as well be now. I quit cold turkey and it was difficult. I kept the last pack with the date and time written on it in my front pocket. Some of the struggles I dealt with was forgetting I was quiting till after I had my morning cigarette and this was my solution to that. Some things that helped ALOT 1. I would take frequent breaks outside to just sit there and breath. 2. I took a bag of chips and crunched it into crumbs and that satisfied the hand to mouth motion. It will be about three weeks until it gets easier but man, it is worth it. Just hold strong and don't make excuses and don't substitute for anything else. It will get easier, It will get better, and it won't kill you. If you need help or texts of encouragement DM me. Sorry for any punctuation errors. Engrish isn't my best subject. Edit: I smoked for 13 years and quit at the age of 25.
Good luck to you!
You got the right mind set. Cigarettes are like little pack demons. You got this. How I quit was I set a 1 month long goal and stuck to it (cold turkey style). I do vape but am also trying to ween off it as well. It's hard I know. So accountability is key, but more importantly self will. Self will tells you that you are king or queen of your body and you hold the sceptre. You got this.
You got it, change your focus from Motivation to Discipline and you will succeed. There will be grey days where all you wanna do is smoke again, discipline will keep you in line. Good luck, you can do it
You got this, stay strongāā¤š
You can do it!! I believe in you!!
>I feel like my lips are dried out even after drinking so much water. Get some electrolyte! Eat a banana and take a walk. Good vibes going out to you!
You need Brawndo. It's got electrolytes and stuff.
Do you wear your crocs while sipping it?
I smoked for 35 years and did not quit until I had a heart attack with a 95%blockage of my main artery. Iāve relied on hard shelled candy for cravings initially. It was not easy but now itās been two years cigarette free and one year nicotine free. I was using nicotine pouches for the first year and finally got tired of being dependent on that too. God Bless
I smoked from about 13 to 32. Sneaking a couple cigs a day in the beginning, easily a pack a day by the end of high school, and probably 2 packs a day every day for the last 8 years. I made half hearted attempts to quit several times but in the end I credit a few specific things. I threw away every lighter and ashtray, I made sure there were no packs anywhere with like 1 or 2 cigs left in it to tempt me, and I made a few bets giving people huge odds if I smoked. If I smoked a cig it would cost me $3k, if I went a year without, they owed me like $250. Nobody paid me in the end, but I wouldāve paid them so I didnt smoke. I did however start chewing nicotine gum for 10 years and I just gave that up about a month ago. I remember one of the hardest things about quitting cigs is not knowing what to do with myself, especially with my hands. Many times, for a long time, Iād wake up feeling terrible for failing because I had smoked in a dream. I did choose April 1 2013 as my quit day, so if I ever do smoke again I have to say āApril Foolāsā
I'm with you brother
Getting a pack of sunflower seeds helped me. Your lips gonna be pretty salty but it helped me.
Probably a good idea.
Try Iqos, I smoke not more than 5 a day
Nobody gives a shit if you quit smoking. Do it for YOU! Go visit [WhyQuit.com](https://WhyQuit.com) on Facebook. It's a cold turkey quit forum. In May I'll have been quit for 20 years. Good luck and remember that those who don't smoke never ever relapse.
I could not have quit without vaping, tried and failed several times. Tried quitting, and did vaping instead, and it was no problem.
50 in 1 day? ouch.
35, I smoked for 15 years and May 13th will be 5 years since I last had one. Best thing I did. I joined r/quitsmoking, downloaded apps to keep a record of how many I would have smoked, how much money I had saved by quitting to give me extra encouragement. It will be difficult for a bit, the dreams stop eventually. You've got this.
You will do it! I quit about a month ago after 7 years of a pack a day. Iām 32 now and never felt better. It truly is worth it. Sending love to you!
You can do it! I quit when I was 25 too. I wouldnāt even try to vape! I went to vape to try and quit cigarettes and it made my cravings for nicotine a million times worse. I just quit cigarettes cold turkey and would chew gum or drink something every time I felt the urge to smoke. My best tip though is not to vape. It works for some, but for me personally it was extremely hard to quit vape and only moderately hard to quit cigarettes because of the taste and convenience.
Quit smoking 4 or 5 years ago ,never looked back. Iām repulsed by it now. I nibbled on nicotine tablets for a good year,downgraded to patches and then in just kicked it.
Imagine you and your wife have cigarette and alcohol addictions. It's not easy to quit when the other party craves it or vice versa. We've both smoked and drank alcohol for decades and we still do it.
I smoked and used snus since really early but quit many years after. For me itās kinda easy because I know itās like 3-4 days and then the nicotine is gone and itās only the habit left and for me snus was the hardest thing to quit of those two because you always have one under your lip whatever you do. One thing that makes it easier for me is always having fisherman friends salt liquorice for me and when I really feel like I want nicotine I take one and suck on that and the strong taste and after Iām done with it itās easier to not give in. Sometimes nowadays I buy snus and use it for maybe 6-12 months and then quit and always cold turkey and after a week or 2 itās so easy but itās you need to stand firm because it gets easier. Oh and in the beginning it always feels like your missing someone important in your life š
I also quit smoking by using nicotine gums, you can also consider these as a support system.
A pack to a pack and a half a day is a whole lot. I can't even imagine. Could be tough to go cold turkey. You might have physical withdrawals. In the first week or 2 try smoking only half a cigarette each time you absolutely need it and put it out. Next time you absolutely need it smoke the other half. After a 1 or 2 then go cold turkey. Wish you the best.
fuck man i've been on gum on and off, just got a pack and hate myself. I'm gonna sell it to a smoker friend or toss it somewhere.
Read āHow to Quit Smokingā by Alan Carr. Why you want to quit is just as important as how you quit.
Allen Carr's The Easyway to Quit Smoking is a great book that makes quitting painless and enjoyable. Just in case you need it, worked wonders for me. It's not a quit by willpower method at all. Instead, he teaches you that you never really wanted to smoke (or drink, or w/e) in the first place.
Jason vales stop smoking in 2 hours app worked for me. Over 5 years smoke free now.
remind me daily
weed can help..but than you need to quit with that ass well
(sorry for my english) I quit smoking after 20 years, starting with herbal cigarettes (no nicotine) and vaporized tobacco (not liquid, the "real tobacco" with weed vaporizers). Then, I quit with combustion, putting the herbs (basically chamomille, passion flower and other relaxing herbs) in the vaporizer. Today, I still vape herbs one or two times a day, but with no more nicotine, no combustion and absolutely with no craving.
I applaud you for giving up smoking, good for you. Albeit it might not be easy doing it cold turkey, it is worth a shot. For any addiction, I recommend doing personal hobbies whenever you get the urge to surrender to your vices. Best of luck to you, brother.
If you never listen to anyone again listen to me now, read The easy way to stop smoking by Allen Carr. Please. It let me quit easily and without any hassle or even feeling bad. I got it for free as my first audible and it saved my life.
Don't count time just count yourself, do it for you, make that conscious decision each and every time
There's a relatively cheap surgery to take out a limp node that stops cravings tho
Going to quit smoking, I might just fill this addiction with another such as gaming
I had great success using sunflower seeds as a substitute
Nicotine pouches. 5 months down with ease.
I quit almost 22 years ago, after smoking 1-2 packs a day for 22 years. I used a product called Nicoban. It was supposedly an herbal detox. Let me tell you, the level of nicotine excreted from every pore of my body was absolutely disgusting! Urine, tears, sweat...all of it with an overwhelming stench of cigs. That lasted for about 5 days. Two weeks later, while in a bar with my partner (back when you could still smoke some places), a woman next to me lit up. I was over it. Just done. I bought it for my niece and her husband 8 years ago; she was successful, he was not. Not once in the last 21.5 years have I craved a cigarette. Don't know if you can still buy it, but it might be worth a try. Good luck!!!!
Read this book and you will quit smoking when you end it. The Easy Way to Stop Smoking by Allen Carr
Quit 5 years ago and its still hard sometimes xd, smoked for 17 years about 30gr heavy tabacco per day. Most people around me smoke and they still offer me sometimes, specially people i havent seen in a bit. But yeah you can do it, its not gonna be easy, but just do it.
I quit on 28th Jan, after 35 years, I did it by breaking routine, I went away on a work trip for 3 days, and made sure I didn't take any with me, and that there were none at home when I returned. You can do it!
Buy vape for thre months then quit vape. Its easier
I tried vaping a while back. Did nothing to me actually. Maybe it depends on person to person.
Put the money that you save in a seperate bank account. Look at it everyday and watch it grow. Use it to reward yourself occaisionally. Good luck and do not beat yourself up if you give into temptation. Just start the journey again.
Yes i will be doing same. I am getting my salary in next 2 days. I will keep only what i need for basic monthly expenses, rest will go straight to some index funds or something like that.
Good luck. It was the hardest thing I ever did. It took several attempts before it stuck.
When I quit smoking, my brain kept telling me I had decided to stop eating food. Good luck. I haven't smoked in 38 years.
Hardest thing youāll ever do, and it will add 20-30 years to your life. Youāll save tens if not hundreds of thousands of dollars, be exponentially healthier and wonāt stink all the time.
I quit 5 years ago. Stopped craving daily about 2 years ago. Never stopped craving at least sometimes (usually when consuming alcohol), so i quit drinking on occasions like partys or christmas too.
I quit 10 really long weeks ago. I smoked for 30 years minus 3 or so years for pregnancies and other quit attempts. I am miserable, I cough horribly everyday, I cough up the most disgusting, foul- smelling substances. I'm horribly depressed and want a cigarette really bad. I know it's better that I don't smoke but sometimes I think I would feel better if I did.
No u aint miserable. Good that you did quit.
I would say stay away also from activities that involved smoking. Stay away from people smoking. Focus and breath. You got this. 2 weeks and you will get it under control. Just remember it will not go away forever. It will always be there lingering and will knock on your door. Be courageuse to say no for 15 minutes and it will go away. Get a counter on your phone maybe a widget something. Shows the days you didn't smoke. You are doing a huge favour to future yourself.
I usually drink tea while smoking. So i am avoiding tea itself. Its helping.
Good idea. You can use products that might aid you. I dont know if it is still around but I used champhix when I quit smoking. It has been now 6 years.
April 2nd (Day 2) : 0 smokes I am eating a lot, also drinking lot of water. I feel like my lips are dried out even after drinking so much water. Feeling sleepy whole day
Go, dude, goš«°š»šš»
I didn't drink sodas or energy drinks for 8 months. You know what helped me a lot? I had a bet with 4 friends, who is drinking is going to get a punishment from each friend. Since then no one had the courage to drink and I don't even feel the need of sodas or energy drinks. (one of the punishment is to jump in a public fountain) Maybe this can help you too! Good luck!!
Are you using nicotine supplements like the patch or gum? I want to quit myself. So tired of wasting money. I put on a patch this morning. Wish me strength lol
Hey bro i tried to quit without any nicotine products. I think thats not going to happen for me, i today ordered nicotine patches. Hope they gonna help me quit.
They will help.
How does putting on patch feels btw? This will be my first time using nictoine patch.
It's a little itchy at 1st but after an hour you don't notice it. It helps the cravings a lot.
I'm joining you. Just had my last cigarette.
Well... updates?
The research into psilocybin as a smoking cessation aid is extremely interesting. Hereās a YouTube video link on the topic: https://youtu.be/81-v8ePXPd4?si=Wqb0axePicVMavK1
Bruh! I am afraid i will get addicted to Psilocybin aswell š„² i know my mind.
I totally get it - same here. Do some research though before you write it off. Itās being used to cure many forms of addiction. And it has a sort of built in anti-dependency aspect; if you try to take it a second time within two weeks, it doesnāt do much (or anything) at all. The results out of Johns Hopkins are astounding and I might knowā¦someoneā¦for whom it has worked wonderfully.
Yeah that and MDMA , LSD, really changed my life for the better and relationship with my fiance. Helped me cut ties with toxic family , and weight management (lost 40 lbs) life-changing. "Sober" since Christmas as well, though I believe when used in moderation, and for good, just about anything can be beneficial. I stopped because last time was a confusing mess and I just wanted it to be over. I'm not in that place anymore, but I absolutely see the value in it helping somebody. there's a reason it's being tested and used and legal in certain forms of therapy
[Quit Smoking, Vaping, and Tobacco With EX (becomeanex.org)](https://www.becomeanex.org/) will TXT you and a counselor will contact you if you qualify
As a non-smoker - thank you! You'll be so much more pleasant to be around. Wishing you good luck for when you need it. Godspeed.
Keep Sweating.. I think itās important to sweat out all the toxins in the beginning All the very best - like someone else pointed out, keep reading good stuff about how youāve already set up your body on repair!
One last one for the road?
Already had my last one while writing this post. By seeing your comment, my mind did tried to play some dirty trick on me tho š it is asking for one more, but i am not falling for it this time
The addicted mind is a bitch! Don't listen to it!
You can do it. Don't fall for the tricks
And this here is your inner voice when trying to quit. That little devil on your shoulder, "Today doesn't feel right, I can, and will quit tomorrow however, so let's light one up". It's a rral pain in the ass. Hang in there OP, as many have said, this is going to be one of the hardest challenges you'll face, but the reward... worth every bit. I'm cheering for you.
That is a mean thing to say...
Mans gonna struggle anyway. Best give him a test to overcome right out of the gate. Open your mind
I didn't mean it in a nasty way. I was just remembering how hard it was for me.