Stop Smoking: Secrets of Successful Quitters

Thanks to All for your Comments

I've been smoking for nearly 50 years. I am smoking while I write this post. I am sick of being sick so often with coughs and colds, and now I burning up $10 a day in smoke.

I've tried many times to quit, even joining smoking cessation groups over the years. My husband nags me constantly, along with all my friends and relatives who quit long ago. I have prayed many times that God would just take away my desire to smoke.

I just want to thank all of you for your encouraging comments. As I read them, I again think I will try to quit--one more time.

Thanks!

you have to understand it's the nicotine

Quitting is easy. It's the staying quit that fails, 3 weeks later, 6 months, 2 years, twenty. You haven't quit until you realize you've been addicted to nicotine all this time, and what a mark the nicotine companies are playing you for. Afterwards you look at smokers with great compassion, not secret envy.

nicotine is as addictive as heroin according to science. We build all of our ideas and attitudes around cigarettes, but they're all lies made up by the addiction. It's not the cigarette, it's the nicotine, and knowing the difference can change failing into succeeding.

I read Alan Carr - his book is out of print in the U.S. (wonder why) but you can find it on UK Amazon. He used to smoke 100 per day and he knows all the tricks we play. You smoke while you read the book and when you finish the book you know that you will be HAPPY to be a non-smoker for the rest of your life.

That's the difference, not quitting as some kind of sacrifice, but being happy not to smoke, Then there's no danger of going back (the biggest reason to fail).

It works. I never think of cigarettes but I don't have to try, because I know what they are now. Cigarettes are not the enemy, nicotine is the enemy. The tobacco companies know this full well, and you're being gamed.

Set Free

I smoked for a solid 40 yrs. Before I quit I had stopped my other addictions while I was staying in Wyoming with my husband while he was working. I had wanted to stop all my bad habbits, but nicotine was by far the hardest. I tried everything, cutting back not buying anymore, everything. I decided to get the patch so after a week I relized it was a mental thing. While wearing the patch if I wanted a cig. I would simply jump on my excersise bike until exercising helped me forget about the cigs. and I started breathing better and loosing weight. I was really fighting it so I said I can not do this alone so I turned to GOD. I prayed and cried out to JESUS to please take away any obstical that was preventing me from stopping. Jan. 6th 2009 I woke up and GOD told me I would never smoke again and I have not. The power of prayer is amazing and my will power is very strong.. We are not LOSERS as the loser who thinks we are , we just made bad choses which got us addicted to nicotine. Nicotine is a very addictive drug which if you turn it over to GOD and have will power and faith YOU CAN QUIT!!!!

Didn't think I could do it...

I smoked a pack a day for 25 years. I put my last cigarette out on November 9, 2007 at 8:34PM CST. I used Nicocure which I bought on-line. It is suppose to clean the nicotine out of the body at a much faster rate than quitting cold turkey. For all I know, it was an expensive placebo, but it worked for me. I don't miss the cost, the smoker's cough nor the smell! It was a mind game in the beginning. I kept telling myself I could have a cigarette in six months. When May 9 (six months) came around, the last thing I wanted was a cigarette! I am thoroughly enjoying my freedom from nicotine addiction!

Chantix?

I've been a smoker for 10 years and my 27th birthday is coming up on Wed. and would love to start it off as a nonsmoker. However, I am extremely addicted and have horrible withdrawal symptoms when I try to quit. I have heard about Chantix and how it can improve your odds drastically, so I did my homework and found that it can lead to depression and suicidal thoughts. I have a history of depression so I am kind of hesitant to try it. I was wondering if anyone has tried it, if it worked, and if you had any psychological problems while on it? Thanks so much, Jess

smoking

i believe there is really know secret way to stop smoking...ive been smoke free now since 1985,,24yrs and counting..started smoking at 17. i had tried several times to stop. but truth of the matter was i really enjoyed smoking..know horror stories or gruesome picture jolted me to stop....but i was begining to not feel well,slight quick pains around my heart....shortness of breath. good grief i was only 43yrs old..that scared me.....so i decided to throw away the smokes.simply asked GOD to help me quit....did not dwell on long prayer thing. just asked and left it at that.when i reached for a smoke i remembered how awfull i felt and the heart pains....guess that was my so called secret formula to ending my love afair with smoking.from time to time over the years iv'e thaught i'd maybe like to light up again....but its a brief thaught. nothing [know magic product]now harping from friends-family-or medical will work...it is YOU-and YOU alone who will make .you are the SECRET...good luck to all of you out there in your lil clod of smoke.

Stop Smoking

It is easy to quit when you or your spouse is diagnosed with lung cancer. My husband and I smoked for over 40 years when he was diagnosed. They removed half of his right lung. We quit cold turkey and have not smoked since. That was over 5 years ago. We are so lucky. We celebrated the 5 year cancer free goal last May. Our son and son-in-law quit the same time we did. What a blessing for our family! We have 4 grandchildren that I am quite sure will never smoke.

Addiction free

I quit smoking on Smokeout Day in 1985. I stopped because I didn't like having an addiction. I quit cold turkey, threw away my cigaretts and haven't touched one since. It took some willpower at first, but after a couple of weeks the urge left me, so it wasn't too hard. Good luck to everyone who is quitting. It feels great to be an ex-smoker!

Just Quit Smoking

Remember when you first started smoking? How hard is was to inhale the smoke into your lungs. It probably took awhile to get your lungs used to the smoke. So over time you became an accomplished smoker. You had to work up to it to become real pro. And now you want to quit.

Some try the same method in trying to quit. Gradually. It may work for some but it didn't work for me. I smoked since I was a kid - 11 or 12 and quit after 27 years of smoking a couple of packs a day - Marlboro's. That was 20 years ago. I tried to gradually quit. This was before all the drugs and patches.

Finally one day I said "I quit". Threw away a half pack and have never looked back. It was hard for about 6 months. After that I didn't have to worry about the cravings anymore. Oh from time to time I wanted to smoke - but I told myself - "you quit - remember?" "Why start again". Now it just cost way too much.

So my point is - it was hard to start smoking and it was hard to stop smoking - you can do it - I know - 'cause I did and I'm no different than anyone else. Good luck!!!

BEST CHRISTMAS EVER!

i quit smoking dec. 28 of 08...this is my first holiday season being smokefree and it is wonderful! i had no assistance with the nicotine part of quiting...what i did was this...i had gotten sick and couldnt smoke..i was just going through the motions..not inhaling...i finally realized i was wasting my time and money...i started using tic tacs in place of cigarettes..i carried them everywhere just like a pack...they stayed on my nightstand and everything...i eventually got off the tic tacs and now feel great! my family is also so proud and every time i start to stress and want one they remind me how happy and proud they are...no more stinky clothes for my kids!! and i will live longer and have more time with my family..thank you Jesus!