Quit Smoking

Interesting that there are so many ex-smokers out there (the ones that aren't dead that is).

I've tried several times, the longest stretch was 3 years, the shortest, 3 weeks. Anybody have any tips? I've tried cold-turkey, the patch, accupuncture (the best-3 years after this one).

The dumbest time was a few years ago, quit in December, went to Cuba in February. How do you resist the best cigars in the world, at their freshest? And a pack of Cuban cigarettes were 75 cents! Couldn't afford NOT to smoke.

Anyway, I know it's unhealthy, expensive, annoying, but I just enjoy it too much. ANY suggestions (from ex smokers) would be welcome.

(People who have never smoked don't understand the attraction and the addiction… they are the lucky ones)

Hay Pooga sorry to say nothing will work if you are not ready yet. And it sounds to me that you are not ready to give them up yet.

magpie is right…you have to have a strong will not to smoke. I smoked for 4 years and quit cold turkey, but I had also convinced myself that I wasn't addicted so, therefore, I wasn't. Another thing you can do if you're quitting cold turkey is to give yourself incentive. Every time you would normally buy a pack of cigs, put that money away. At the end of a couple weeks(or however long you wish) treat yourself to something else nice and repeat this a few times. This psychologically changes your perception of "not smoking" to being something rewarding. Hope this helps!

My grandfather smoked 100 rolled cigs a day for ever. Then, one day my grandmother asked him not to anymore, and he stopped, like that. And that was 40 years ago. He's now 83, and in better shape than most of my friends.

My friends dad quit completely about 20 years ago, hasn't smoked since. I think that is the best way to do it. But how would I know?

This one person I know had a unique way by cutting down.. Every time she craved one she would smoke little less. (Ex: 1st week, 3/4 of ciggarette, 2nd week, 1/3, etc.) I dont know if she quit yet, she lives in Kelowna, I imagine so though.

I think Master is right you are not ready.I think I would save the money in a seperate account auto debit's and watch it grow.

You definately have to be ready. I have quit twice. both times for 7 years. Cold turkey both times. It's a matter of habit and determination. When you are ready you can quit but if you decide you don't care anymore it's easy to start again…

What part of NO don't you understand?
You just go around saying to EVERYbody and in EVERY situation…
"No thanks, I don't smoke. It gets in my mouth."
You can add (if you want)…
"My wife says I don't TASTE like smoke and my kids say I don't SMELL like smoke anymore."
You can think about the fact that the nonsmokers around you (kids? wife?)are PASSIVE smokers because of the second hand smoke - which happens to be more concentrated and toxic than what you inhale.
You can think about the fact that my dad got mouth cancer 13 years after he quit.
You can think about 21 getting a kick out of the fact that the billionaire tobacco producers don't give a d*** about Pooga - they're just laughing all the way to the bank with YOUR marked money.
You can relax, light up and enjoy knowing that as long as you smoke you'll always have to add salt to your food so you can TASTE it.
You can think about all the carcinogens going directly through the mucous membranes in your mouth and nose directly to your brain…the carcinogens that don't even NEED to get to your lungs to get into your blood…
You can think about tobacco caterpillars. They're BIG and green and juicy and they only eat tobacco. And THAT'S why there's insecticide in cigarettes. And do you ever wonder why Cuban cigars are so good? Maybe the caterpillars just get mixed in - after all, they can't kill every one.

When Mark Twain (no relation to Shania) was asked about quitting smoking, he said "It's easy to quit…I've done it a hundred times!" :-)

I used a cigarette sized straw which had a cigarette filter (unused) in it. i had a many many year habit of hand to mouth. I found that habit harder to get rid of than the actual smoking of the cigs. kinda like slapping your face 25 times a day for 25 years and stopping cold turkey. I found the straw really helped with that habit. the filter kept me from chewing on the straw. flattened straws do not feel like cigs

it won't take you long to quit if you stick the cigs in the wrong way and light the filters!
or something else you can try is…
go down to a joke shop and by yourself a CASE (you'll need a case cuz we all KNOW you're not gonna quit…)of cig snappers.
You put them inside your cigs and then when they get lit they explode!!!
If it doesn't work for quitting at least it'll look hilarious hehehe!

I understand what you mean Pooga, You really have to want to quit before you can. I have said so many times when I go to bed that I am going to see how long I can go in the morning before I have that first smoke. I promise to try, I swear this will be the day etc, etc. The next morning usually around my 10th smoke I remember I was going to try and quit. I find I'm thinking more about it and maybe that means I am getting more serious, I don't know but I know I'm not ready but I'm getting there. (I've taken the quit for good classes and seen the pictures) none of that matters if your not ready!!! Just keep telling yourself that your going to stop and one day you will finally listen, that's what I'm doing. We all need to do it at our own pace other wise we will just start up again.
And I hate it when ever someone tells me to stop, the minute they say that all I want to do is light up!!!
Good Luck to you and the rest of us smokers!!!

Another easy method…try cutting your fingers off. You'll never light those cancer sticks then!

Oh, I'm sure we would find a way!!!!

That reminds me of my landlady back in the early 80's. She was on oxygen all the time, never left her house. Her hose was long enough she could walk all over her house, and she still smoked. I would go over every couple months to cut and perm her hair and would be so nervous that the house was going to blow every time she lit up. I read in the paper a few year ago she passed away. She was 98.

that if you guys ever set yourselves on fire from smoking in bed you don't have to worry about a thing because you can sue the dryer sheet company for destroying the fireproofing on your pyjamas lol!

21.. I don't smoke in the house, or in my vehicle. And not much in the garage! It's mainly at work, especially on the night shift.

Cuban cigars? Oh they are nothing but the finest smoke you will ever inhale. And with a glass of cognac, or at least port, I would never need a woman again!

Which reminds me of a poem Sarge sent me a while back, note the third last line:

THE BETROTHED

"You must choose between me and your cigar."
-BREACH OF PROMISE CASE, CIRCA 1885.

OPEN the old cigar-box, get me a Cuba stout,
For things are running crossways, and Maggie and I are out.

We quarrelled about Havanas-we fought o'er a good cheroot,
And I know she is exacting, and she says I am a brute.

Open the old cigar-box-let me consider a space;
In the soft blue veil of the vapour musing on Maggie's face.

Maggie is pretty to look at -Maggie's a loving lass,
But the prettiest cheeks must wrinkle, the truest of loves must pass.

There's peace in a Larranaga, there's calm in a Henry Clay;
But the best cigar in an hour is finished and thrown away-

Thrown away for another as perfect and ripe and brown-
But I could not throw away Maggie for fear o' the talk o' the town!

Maggie, my wife at fifty-grey and dour and old -
With never another Maggie to purchase for love or gold!

And the light of Days that have Been the dark of the Days that Are,
And Love's torch stinking and stale, like the butt of a dead cigar-

The butt of a dead cigar you are bound to keep in your pocket
With never a new one to light tho' it's charred and black to the socket!

Open the old cigar-box-let me consider a while.
Here is a mild Manila - there is a wifely smile.

Which is the better portion-bondage bought with a ring,
Or a harem of dusky beauties, fifty tied in a string?

Counsellors cunning and silent - comforters true and tried,
And never a one of the fifty to sneer at a rival bride?

Thought in the early morning, solace in time of woes,
Peace in the hush of the twilight, balm ere my eyelids close,

This will the fifty give me, asking nought in return,
With only a Suttee's passion - to do their duty and burn.

This will the fifty give me. When they are spent and dead,
Five times other fifties shall be my servants instead.

The furrows of far-off Java, the isles of the Spanish Main,
When they hear my harem is empty will send me my brides again.

I will take no heed to their raiment, nor food for their mouths withal,
So long as the gulls are nesting, so long as the showers fall.

I will scent 'em with best vanilla, with tea will I temper their hides,
And the Moor and the Mormon shall envy who read of the tale of my brides.

For Maggie has written a letter to give me my choice between
The wee little whimpering Love and the great god Nick o' Teen.

And I have been servant of Love for barely a twelvemonth clear,
But I have been Priest of Cabanas a matter of seven year;

And the gloom of my bachelor days is flecked with the cheery light
Of stumps that I burned to Friendship and Pleasure and Work and Fight.

And I turn my eyes to the future that Maggie and I must prove,
But the only light on the marshes is the Will-o'-the-Wisp of Love.

Will it see me safe through my journey or leave me bogged in the mire?
Since a puff of tobacco can cloud it, shall I follow the fitful fire?

Open the old cigar-box - let me consider anew–
Old friends, and who is Maggie that I should abandon you.?

A million surplus Maggies are willing to bear the yoke;
And a woman is only a woman, but a good Cigar is a Smoke.

Light me another Cuba - I hold to my first-sworn vows.
If Maggie will have no rival, I'Il have no Maggie for Spouse!

• Rudyard Kipling

21 should've asked dr for a nice Cuban, too…dreamy sigh

Wow Crazz, just think, she could have lived well past 100 if she didn't smoke.

 But seriously, I don't know anyone in BC who smokes, also I don't know anyone in Quebec who doesn't smoke. Maybe you should consider moving. Haven't you smokers run out of places to smoke yet? You guys need something legit to do with your hands. Knit, macrame, draw, do something! I had smoked throughout most of my teens and quit 6 yrs ago. Quitting takes time and many tries at it, each time you stay smoke free for a bit longer, soon enough you know you don't really need it. My mom died of lung cancer when she was 36, she didn't smoke. She left 3 kids behind just before their teens. 

 I found that the first couple of weeks is the hardest, the body fights to keep the nicotine in the system, holding your better self hostage. Drown out these cravings by drinking a lot of water. Eat lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, its hard to appreciate nature's beautiful tastes with tobacco residues in your system. FIGHT IT!  Chew gum. You will be crabby for a while, but realize its just the withdrawal symptoms, there is no need to go have a cigarette to calm yourself down. Go for a walk, or better, walk/visit the cancer ward in the hospital. Listen to people coughing and wheezing. Despite all their pain, they still want another cigarette to make it all better. How's your health, Pooga? Have you experienced shortness of breath, cough like mad? Think of all the money you'll save. For every time you light up, put a fiver in a jar and when you mark that bill, comment it saying, " I tried to quit smoking yesturday. Its been XXX days, now i'm smoke free." 

I thought this was a non-smoking site, I don't remember seeing an ashtray anywhere. If it isn't I'll make my profile one then. Time to quit, Pooga, put that cigarette down!</TT>

How's your health, Pooga? Have you experienced shortness of breath, cough like mad?

Actually, no. Considering that I am an overweight smoker, my blood pressure is ok. Last physical it was 114/72. 6 of us were walking back from the local school(5 blocks) last night after an evening of curling. What got me was that I was the only smoker in the group, and the only 'heavy' person. I had to keep stopping, as nobody could keep up with my walking pace.

Think of all the money you'll save.

Now THAT part scares me! Works out to a new top of the line computer every year!

put that cigarette down!

But then I would have to put down the cigar too!

What IF, Pooga…..?
dr holds all your hits until you've quit!
or suspends your posting privileges!
or changes your password so you can't log on!
if dr really IS the hitgod, he can do anything he wants.
question is…ARE you the hitgod, dr?
Because it sure would be cool if you'd rattle Pooga's cage a little.

somebody who knows Pooga and can be trusted to hold him accountable will report to dr and the rest of us in a forum.
Think of it like a "hit patch"-
the choice could not be simpler!
Pooga wants hits? Pooga wants cig?
Hits? Cig? Hits? Cig?…
I'm actually interested to SEE how much we mean to you Poogs.
See if you really ARE just full of hot air…
We'll all be so PROUD of you on the day your "hit patch" can finally come off!

QUIT SMOKING TODAY: WWW.CDN-MONEY.COM

and just think of the potential there is here, dr!
when you see that the addiction to this site is STRONGER than to smoking you'll be able to market your "hit patch"!

C'mere little smoking fishies…
Hook 'em, reel 'em in, and then bust 'em good!

dr holds all your hits until you've quit!

Except that dr BUYS me cigarettes anytime he is out of the country!

Seems like a contradiction there.

would that be a cigar or an actual "Cuban"?

THIS BILL NOT TO BE USED FOR THE
PURCHASE OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS
www.cdn-money.com

Consider this a non-smoking site, I see no ashtrays here.