Smoking

[graeme]

I know this has probably been done before, but I was wondering if any ex smokers out there have any good tips that helped them.

Been smoking like a chimney for years and have started to develop a bad cough. I have to quit but mentally I can't seem to get my head around it.

Any thoughts or practices that helped?

[InTheBeginning]

I found it a little easier to quit when my Mom was diagnosed with emphysema. Seriously. I had tried to quit quite a few times before.

I had also just graduated from college and was looking to open new doors. I told myself I was going to lose some weight and quit smoking. I had just taken a job in a different state and wanted to start fresh.

That didn't make it any easier I joined a gym the day I quit. It worked! Haven't had a smoke since 1993. Well...except for a couple really drunk episodes, I think. I've been lucky never to have the urge to pick one up due to cravings. I think the social aspect of smoking is stronger than the chemical dependency sometimes. I know some people will argue with that last point, but that's my opinion. You know, sitting on the back deck with friends and some beers...sitting in the bar...finishing a good steak dinner...finishing a good blonde...driving on a long road trip...damn!
Try to modify your social surroundings the first few weeks. That was definitely the toughest time. Let your friends and family know what you are doing. They will be able to help you better if they know you are quitting. They will also, hopefully, forgive your actions...you may act a little asshole-ish at times. I know I did!


Anyway, good luck. Keep us posted.

[travas65]

I joined a gym as well and it really helped. I worked out in the evenings on purpose as this is when I smoked the most. Smoke free for 6 years now. I do however smoke 2 or 3 cigars a month.................you don't inhale cigars

[vanzefflin]

I know this has probably been done before, but I was wondering if any ex smokers out there have any good tips that helped them.

Been smoking like a chimney for years and have started to develop a bad cough. I have to quit but mentally I can't seem to get my head around it.

Any thoughts or practices that helped?

I have been taking Chantix for about 3 months now. I still haven't quit but, I am down to about 5 cigs a day (From 2-2 1/2 packs a day). I, like you, had a nasty hack. Duh! Smokes here are about $4.50 a pack. I was averaging about $300 dollars a month. Chantix is a $100.00 a mo. and a pack now lasts at least 2 days. Cut my cost in half. Some days I won't smoke at all. However, on those drunkfests I may smoke a pack. Although, before I might go through 4 packs under those conditions.By the way.The cough is pretty much gone. Good luck.

[MikeL]

I smoked for about seven years. I quit once or twice during that time, but always went back to it after just a short time. In late 2004 I just decided that I didn't want to be a smoker anymore, and quit.

For me, it really was that simple. I just stopped. I didn't have any physical discomfort, but I sure did want a smoke. I still do. For me, smoking was more of a set of habits than just an activity. I simply stopped doing the things I associated with smoking. Not easy, but not hard, either.

Now I smoke sporadically. I had a few in April, but before that none since December. I let myself smoke in two situations now. When I'm with certain friends who smoke I'll bum one off of them. When I go camping, I'll take a few packs and smoke like a chimney. That'll be four days a month this summer, and I'll absolutely love it.

[Gypsy King]

I quit smoking about 10 years ago. Had smoked for 7-8 years, prior to quitting. The habit went away as I changed my usual environments. I had graduated and left college (where I smoked and drank constantly). I stopped my frequent hanging out at bars (still went occasionally) and stopped playing pool (I always had to have a cigarette in my mouth while playing pool). Once I stopped hanging out at the places and doing the things that I associated with smoking, there was much less of a desire to continue.

[ZORBA5150]

I've heard hypnosis can be effective.-either with a hynotist or a cd. I borrowed a cd from a friend, listened a few times (20 minutes each), and haven't smoked or had the urge since December. I was not a heavy smoker though, so maybe it doesn't work for those types. It can't hurt to try.

[Otis5150]

I think the social aspect of smoking is stronger than the chemical dependency sometimes. I know some people will argue with that last point, but that's my opinion.

Actually, you're right on the money. Nicotine withdrawal is not that severe at all. If it were, people wouldn't be able to sleep throught the night without waking up for a cigarette. It's the mental aspect of quitting that's the most difficult part.

[philj]

I know this has probably been done before, but I was wondering if any ex smokers out there have any good tips that helped them.

Been smoking like a chimney for years and have started to develop a bad cough. I have to quit but mentally I can't seem to get my head around it.

Any thoughts or practices that helped?

I smoked for 21,22 years before I finally quit in 04?

Its been just over 3 years now,not a single cig

My deal was gum,I had to be chewing gum ALL the time,

At first it was the nic gum,I overdid that for about 6 months before I switched to reg gum

Now I have to kick the habit of eating too much,as I put on about 30 pounds since quitting

oh yeah theres also the Gange,I do smoke that,but only about 6 hits a day

The main thing I think is just to keep quitting,quit every day,every hour,every minute

It took me about 15 tries to get it right

Hope you do it bro,good luck and God bless

[Bullwinkle]

I agree that modifying your lifestyle helps. If there are certain activities that you usually do while smoking, you might want to not do them for a few days. I used to smoke while I practiced guitar because I wanted to look cool like a certain famous guitarist you might have heard of. It took a while to break that habit.

Boy! This message board is a regular self-improvement club, isn't it? We've got recovering alcoholics, ex-smokers, family members with drug problems... I think it's cool that people help each other out so much here.

My main problem is this: My penis is so large that after a woman has sex with me, she's never satisfied with any other man. I get phone calls day and night from women begging me for sex. I probably have sex with beautiful women four or five times a day. It's starting to interfere with my job as a Playboy photographer. Oh well, I guess we all have our problems in life to deal with...

[InTheBeginning]

My main problem is this: My penis is so large that after a woman has sex with me, she's never satisfied with any other man. I get phone calls day and night from women begging me for sex. I probably have sex with beautiful women four or five times a day. It's starting to interfere with my job as a Playboy photographer. Oh well, I guess we all have our problems in life to deal with...

Tell me about it!

[jimmy812]

My main problem is this: My penis is so large that after a woman has sex with me, she's never satisfied with any other man. I get phone calls day and night from women begging me for sex. I probably have sex with beautiful women four or five times a day. It's starting to interfere with my job as a Playboy photographer. Oh well, I guess we all have our problems in life to deal with...

Oh man, what a relief. I thought I was the only one with this horrible, horrible, problem. It feels good to finally talk about this. For years I just kept quiet and let the girls ride me, but this is awesome to have someone who finally understands what I'm going through.
And then after I'm taken advantage of by these beautiful women I feel the need to have a smoke (felt obligated to stay on topic).

[graeme]

I have absolutely no problems at all with women smoking me.

[sixstring]

Damn...you guys make me wanna smoke...I think I'll go have one...