I haven't quit yet but for the last two years I've only smoked about a pack a week. I only smoke when I hang out at a friends house for a few beers. In the spring and summer that's Tuseday and Friday nights. In the fall and winter that's just Friday nights. I'm not sure how I've managed to do it this way. I'm a little less tolerant than I used to be, but I'm also more assertive than I used to be. When Friday night rolls around I'm ready for a smoke. I don't need it like I used to though. In fact this wonderful state government of ours is about to pass a dollar a pack tax increase. I think that that's a pretty good incentive for me to stop smoking all together. They get enough of my money.

My decision to "cut down" smoking was purley finacial. It costs a ton of money to smoke. I decided that I'd rather have the money. I allow my self to smoke with beers but that's it. Now I buy one pack a week instead of seven.

Good luck! I know it's tough!

 

Here's my advice. (I quit over 15 years ago, but not a day goes by that I don't want to start again.)

DON'T Reward yourself with "just one cuz I'm doing so well". It'll hook you again.

DON'T USE THE GUM! My father in law traded cigs for gum 5 years ago and he still needs the gum. Just honor your man card, and give it ALL up now.

Don't drink for awhile if you're a drinker. Instant fail or high temptation to fail.

Don't substitute anything for the cigs. Again, honor your man card.

Have alot of sex!! Seriously, a rough stretch can be relieved through a spontaneous horizontal slam dance. If your wife loves you, she'll quit too and join you alot for this one. Seriously.

No, really.

Think about how great you will feel in six months. It takes awhile to get rid of the cough you will develope in a few weeks, but once you quit coughing up the bong-long chunks, you'll be amazed at your cardio-vascular.

Your wife needs to quit though. Pretty soon, you'll get your sense of smell back, and she'll smell like an ash tray.

More than anything, cold turkey and honoring your man card are the best ways to quit.

 

yea yea ive heard all that man card s*** before, you quit cold turkey thats great im proud of you, but not evrybody can do it that way and honestly i dont care if i get addictded to the gum its cheaper than ciggs and at least ill be able to breeth BTW its the only reason im quitting i could care less if they doubbled the price that part wouldnt matter to me ive had alot of time off latly and ive been smoking like they were free and good for me and im starting to feel it that is why im quitting ive smoked 1.5 to 2.5 packs a day for 16 years and im 31 so yes i started very young but the point is im 31 and i shouldnt get winded walking around the block so i can live with the gum it dosnt give you cancer or emphysema


ps. sorry if i sounded a bit snippy at the begining I do appreciate all the help

 

That's right keep making those excuses and you will fail before you even start.

1969 gave some great advice.

Good Luck

 

i only smoke one cig after a big meal (1cig, once a week big meals)
or half a pack when i drink with friends.(once every two weeks)
or one getting out of a stressful day of work. (1 cig, 2 twice a week)
i started smokeing 3years ago.. and still stayed the same. the fastes ive ever finished a whole pack was 2 weeks.

 

I feel your pain. I just gave up smoking on Wednesday at around 2100 hrs. I've been smoking for about 4 years now. I started with just one a day, then two, three, you know how it goes. I got to the point where I killed two boxes a week. So far so good but I aways crack on my 3rd day when I go the gas station to buy some chips/gas and see my KOOLS in the buy one get one free rack. That's probably why my tanks on empty right now.

 

i hear ya im on day three right now and i had to stop and fill up while i was out running errends and i decided to pay at the pump so i wouldnt have to go inside

 

The docs I work for say cold turkey is the most successful way to quit. As in, people who do it that way have a smaller "start back" rate.. Or you could just smoke pot b/c supposedly its not bad for you.
Hope that doesnt start a riot in this thread now.

 

thanks for your wonderful words of encouragement please tell me you do not work for a suicide hotline

 

deleted

 

I did it, cold turkey, and it's worked for 2.5 years now. I've had a few here and there to try, never wanted to continue so the will is strong. First 3 weeks are hard, after that, the routine is broken and it is easier from there. Don't say and convince yourself you're gonna "try" say I'm "gonna". Trying leaves an out. I loved to smoke too, relaxing and cool at one time. Now, you're treated like a lepor, ostrisized by everyone, the cost waaaaaaaaaayyyy to much (main reason I quit) and you name it. Now, things taste better, you can smell things like a dog and don't smell yourself.

Speaking of which, the way American smokes smell it's a wonder anyone starts at all. Canadian ones have less "cigar" like harshness. Just do it and don't think about lighting up. There is one draw back, my temper has soared ever since, back to old levels. People often ask me to start again to chill the f-out!!!

 

yes i know about the temper thing this is day three and my wife has sent me to my room(workshop ) and here i sit between posting and figuring out what im gonna do to my truck its not so bad and yes this time im going to quit and i can already tell that the gum works a lot better than the patch when the real cravings hit i can just pop another peice of gum in and im good

 

I quite cold turkey about 17 years ago.
I just got so darn mad at the addiction. Could not leave the house with out matchs, smokes. Go out late at night to the corner store etc. It ran my life not me.



One thing I did was quite going to bars or restraunts that did not have not have smoke free areas. I always craved the after dinner smoke so i ate a little less so i would think about food and cigs. Also started night school courses and that also helped.

 

i will smoke one for you right now. rehab is for quitters

 

well gee thanks well day 4 had a nice long distraction today new furniture arrived after a six week wait looks good is comfy as hell my wife was watching a movie i absolutly hate and i stayed there beacuse i didnt want to get up