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So I've decided to quit smoking...
- Thread starter ErebusBass
- Start date
I certainly believe it. Logically a suggestion like weaning yourself off by reducing the number you smoke each day (or as mentioned above, just having one per day) seems like a good idea, but it didn't work for me. Having even one would just make the urge to smoke another worse.
I can't tell you how many half packs of cigarettes I would break in half (or douse with water) before throwing them out and proclaiming that I was quitting (for good this time!
) only to buy another pack and start the cycle again.In the end you just have to tell yourself you're going to be absolutely committed to three smoke free days. If you can make it 72 hours, you'll already feel your breathing less labored and the very worst of the cravings will be over.
If you can make it there, you have a fighting chance. You'll still want cigarettes, sometimes intensely, but the cravings will be less severe and shorter in duration. And I agree that you have to let logic win out over addiction. You can't make a single argument for smoking other than "my body wants it" and you can make twenty or more arguments against it.
I myself am well on my way to being smoke free. On Saturday I had a gig just after I flew back into town and was exhausted. During our break I didn't even think about it and reached for the cigarette my guitar player offered me and lit it up. After the first drag I thought I was about to take a big step backwards when I realized that I didn't even like smoking anymore. The taste, the smell, the hot smoke in my lungs, the exaggerated light headedness from going without for weeks - it was revolting to me now. Hopefully you can get to that point too.
Best of luck.
Cool TBO!!! How long have you been smoke free/Trying? (You may have told me...but I don't recall.)
The one thing I do miss is my favorite orange powder coated well loved Zippo. While I wasn't one of those Zippo jugglers becuase that is hard on the lighter...I had the routine down perfectly. I love the groove of retrieving the lighter out of my pocket...opening the lid and striking the flint wheel as I deliberately brought the lighter up to the end of my cig. Exhaling the first puff to not get that naphtha flavor in my mouth. Forcefully shutting the lid with a loud metallic snap. I felt so cool...like James Dean, and nothing beats the hollow metal sound of a lid opening on a Zippo.
Oh, the nostalgia...I considered carrying my Zippo around so I could light other peoples cigarettes...or because you never know when you might need fire. At this point I don't even know where my Zippo went.
The one thing I do miss is my favorite orange powder coated well loved Zippo. While I wasn't one of those Zippo jugglers becuase that is hard on the lighter...I had the routine down perfectly. I love the groove of retrieving the lighter out of my pocket...opening the lid and striking the flint wheel as I deliberately brought the lighter up to the end of my cig. Exhaling the first puff to not get that naphtha flavor in my mouth. Forcefully shutting the lid with a loud metallic snap. I felt so cool...like James Dean, and nothing beats the hollow metal sound of a lid opening on a Zippo.
Oh, the nostalgia...I considered carrying my Zippo around so I could light other peoples cigarettes...or because you never know when you might need fire. At this point I don't even know where my Zippo went.
Best incentive to quit smoking:
Quit smoking and sex on the same day. Go a couple weeks abstaining from both. Then have sex. I can guarantee you will be impressed with what a difference it makes for the better. I am 100% serious.
Quit smoking and sex on the same day. Go a couple weeks abstaining from both. Then have sex. I can guarantee you will be impressed with what a difference it makes for the better. I am 100% serious.
I've been trying to quit for a few months now, but outside of Saturday's 2 puff dalliance, it's been about four or five weeks.
I'd been a longtime casual smoker (one or two at parties) since my college days. So it didn't seem like a big deal when I started smoking with my guitarist every band practice or gig. But then about a year ago I started buying packs on my own and smoking half a pack a day. For a long time I continued to think I was still just a "casual" smoker until I finally faced up that I was completely addicted.
Not the long time, heavy smoking stories of others, but still difficult to quit.
And yes, the whole motion and experience of lighting a cigarette is one of the greatest allures of smoking. I gave away my Zippo for exactly that reason.
I'd been a longtime casual smoker (one or two at parties) since my college days. So it didn't seem like a big deal when I started smoking with my guitarist every band practice or gig. But then about a year ago I started buying packs on my own and smoking half a pack a day. For a long time I continued to think I was still just a "casual" smoker until I finally faced up that I was completely addicted.
Not the long time, heavy smoking stories of others, but still difficult to quit.
And yes, the whole motion and experience of lighting a cigarette is one of the greatest allures of smoking. I gave away my Zippo for exactly that reason.
I'm losing it guys.
My lungs just feel so hungry... I just drove past the store where I always bought my smokes and I almost pulled in there.
Still fighting it, still winning.... but just barely.
My lungs just feel so hungry... I just drove past the store where I always bought my smokes and I almost pulled in there.
Still fighting it, still winning.... but just barely.
This is around the time I caved last thursday when I made my previous attempt. I need to make it through an hour and fifteen minutes, then I'm going to dinner, and then my guitar player (who will kick my *** if I smoke) is coming over to jam.
God **** I need a drink.
I hope you mean water, pop, milk or juice. Alcohol will only reduce your willpower...Stay with it man...think of all the money you'll save if you quit.
I justified quitting by telling myself that my 1/2 pack a day habit was equal to an effects pedal a month. We are here for you.
Also...might want to edit the expletive out your post. I'd hate to see an infraction...or temp ban push you over the edge.
I'm thinking about the money. I moved every last penny from my checking account to my savings so I wouldn't be able to buy smokes. I don't have any credit cards and I don't carry cash usually. There is virtually no way for me to go buy a pack of smokes right now. I'm trying to buy a new car.
Thanks for catching the expletive, I didn't even notice it.
And I was talking about a stiff drink. Some whiskey on the rocks would be delicious.
You got this man!!!
Think of how much easier it will be to resell that car when you can advertise that is was a non-smoker.
Think of how much easier it will be to resell that car when you can advertise that is was a non-smoker.
I quit cold turkey when smokes reached 2.50 a pack. In MA. they are something like 9.00 I hear, so clearly moving to MA is the answer.
In all seriousness good luck with it.
In all seriousness good luck with it.
My wife and I quit smoking 3 weeks ago, and we're doing ok; we're not real happy, lol, but we're ok.
We both got a prescription for Chantix from our doc, and it really did help. It's not some miracle drug, but it will help you turn the dirt road into a paved one.
You've got to absolutely want to quit when you start, or nothing is going to help you, but if you really do want out, the Chantix will ease the craving.
It's a mental thing more than anything else, you just have to decide that you're no longer a smoker and put them down.
We both got a prescription for Chantix from our doc, and it really did help. It's not some miracle drug, but it will help you turn the dirt road into a paved one.
You've got to absolutely want to quit when you start, or nothing is going to help you, but if you really do want out, the Chantix will ease the craving.
It's a mental thing more than anything else, you just have to decide that you're no longer a smoker and put them down.
Your killin me...=)
Just gotta get right back that wagon.
Good job on not buying a pack...where's that guitard to kick your arse. =)
Just gotta get right back that wagon.
Good job on not buying a pack...where's that guitard to kick your arse. =)
if its any help, with every chemical i have ever quit, that is how i progressed: stopped buying it, got some for free, realized its stupid free or paying for it, then just stopped. its not like i took my last free ____ and then vowed not to ever do it again. i took my last ____ and i just happened to never do it again.
at least now your unconscious brain is 100% against it, and you are converting the conscious side. guilt is okay, but dont beat yourself up, or take it too lightly; its a fine balance.
eventually, you will smell smoke on someone and think its absolutely disgusting. keep it up, that sh*ts gross. your life, your vote: live in accordance with your beliefs, or as close as you can come.
Huh. I wonder where all that tax money is going to come from when everyone eventually quits? Budgets aren't EVER made to shrink (those that doubt are free to check), so it's coming from somewhere.
To the OP: I can't tell you the best way or that there's a blissful field of fully functioning senses and body functions at the end of the rainbow...it's different for everyone. I tried a variety of ways (cold turkey with chemical assistence, cold turkey without chemical assistence, cold turkey with oral fixation sated, patch, etc, etc, etc)
Chantix worked for me; it was more effective than any other method. I only took the drug for 1 month. They recommend 6. Yet, I know 5 other people personally who are still smoking and have tried it. No dice.
You slipped this attempt. Start again tomorrow and try to avoid whatever caused the slip today. You can never plan the perfect time to quit. There will always be some situation tempting you during the process. You have to deal with them sometime, it might as well be tomorrow.
Mike
im still drinking, cutting back for the most part. made the mistake (i guess you could call it that, i knew i was doing it though) of playing quarters at a friends. the mistake wasn't playing quarters, it was playing it with a 20oz bottle full of mixed liquors when everyone else was playing with beer. i'm a dumbA. 
good luck on the smoking. smoking was easy to quit for me, but i've been a dipper way longer and still dip...so didn't actually quit anything there. good luck. you're a better man than me.
good luck on the smoking. smoking was easy to quit for me, but i've been a dipper way longer and still dip...so didn't actually quit anything there. good luck. you're a better man than me.
