I've been a 3+ pack a day smoker for 35+ years. Haven't had a smoke for 45 hours.

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It helped me to indentify the triggers, mine was in the morning, coffee and a cig. Having smokes and beer at the local tavern, social gatherings with my chain smoking buds, and having the day’s last cigarette. I had to come up with ways around these triggers. You have the strength within yourself to do so, small strides more often yield big rewards, you will prevail……
 
I was about three packs a week for 25 years. Quit two years ago when I got my 73 Cuda. I figured that $100+ a month would be better spent on car parts. I'd quit several times for up to a year but always cheated here and there and then would fall back in. First couple days were tough but you got to keep focused for about two weeks. The desire never goes away. I have the hardest time after a couple beers, and I used to go out and sit with a smoke while a pondered a problem. Find a substitute like toothpicks or something to keep your hands busy if you need to. Keep it up. If it seems like it's too tough, come back to this thread and refocus or just post about it. I feel a hell of a lot better, my wife likes me not stinking and I'm not badly influencing my kids anymore. There are no positives in regards to smoking. This is the one time in your life where being a quitter is the best thing you can do.
 
My father-in-law from decades ago was Herschel, yep that is how he spelled it. He was like a father to me. A hero to me. I loved that man. He smoked those damned unfiltered Camels all his life. He retired and went hack home to his family farm to retire. He was retired about 6 months and came down with lung cancer, he lasted about 9 months.
It has been many years but I well remember his passing, and standing in the hall of that hospital, crying like a baby, for all I was worth. Damn cigarettes.
 
Both of my parents smoked like freight trains when I was a kid. I used to HATE riding in the car with them. I would roll the window down and look like a dog riding with my head hanging out the window! It gave me a strong desire to never take the habit up, and I didn't. I moved out when I was 20, and it took me several years before I quit being sick because of the 2nd hand smoke. I admire anyone who can quit smoking. It would have to be terribly hard!
 
I kissed a girl that smoked, ONCE. What’s funny is that my ex wife had a no smoking sign on our houses front door, Caravan, and motorhome. And after our divorce she took up smoking because the guy she was dating smoked. Lol. Kissing an ashtray is not my idea of a good time.
 
Kitty smoked when we met. She's been quit now 23 years. She started when she was nine. She said the same thing everybody echoes here. You have to be ready. You have to want to. Good for you Ron. If you can fix that folded in half from rust A body you have, this will be easy.
 
I feel for you brother! I smoked 25 years and the last few at 3 packs a day. Gum didn’t work, patch didn’t work. Strength of Will alone didn’t work. But I kept trying, just as you will do since you’ve made the decision. My win was due to Wellbutrin. (This May be what Chantrix has in it). It was a depression (?) drug that took away the rush that nicotine gives users, so they just stop getting the rush and then stop feeling the urge to smoke. You can use the drug for as long as you need, reducing the cigarettes you smoke one per day until you feel you can just stop. It took me 30 days and a pep talk from my doctor closed the whole deal and ended my smoking life. You can do this. If not this time, then next time. Talk to your doctor if you want the best way to quit. I never felt anything from the Wellbutrin while I was on it and I used it for 30 days after I quit smoking and never had withdrawal.
 
Stopped 17 yrs ago 30 yr smoker . Doctor gave me a pill that blocked the anxiety want for a cigarette. Get passed the two week mark it takes awhile to get the nicotine out of you system. You wont regret the stop.
 
The first few weeks are the hardest and the mind plays tricks on you , that’s the addiction the body craves , coming to 10 years now , hardest thing to do is give the other items which go hand n hand like coffee, beer etc it’s only for a short period but will help with the cravings. Change coffee to herbal tea I know but it will help . You will get to a stage where you will want a fix but it will only last 5-10 secs than will pass.keep a pen handy to play with as you’ll be used to having something between your fingers , even an unlit smoke. And just keep reminding yourself why you gave up and the health benefits you will gain. Another good thing is get online to see what poisons they put into each of those things believe me you will beat it. P.s stay strong !
 
4spdragtop said:
Jesus man rolling pipe tobacco?!?!? That's like the "mainlining" of smoking.
I would be remiss if I didnt mention that Lori had quit altogether after 35 years. Nothing but air goes into her lungs! Smoke free for over 6 years. We did Champix(very similar to US Chantix) and although it works it MESSES with your mind.
I saw Collective Soul at a small venue, great show!
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No, it's not 'main lining' lol. It's a light tobacco, and ultra light filters. I have a rolling machine, I can make 2 packs in about 10 minutes. I always make mine 'loose'.. not really packed tight with tobacco. *Correction*.. I USED TO make mine that way, lol.
Funny thing is, after I started rolling my own with 'pipe' tobacco (they call it that to get around the tax laws. It is a longer cut, but whatever), I hacked a lot less than smoking over the counter stuff like Marlboro's or whatever. I think there's a lot less chemicals in these 'mom and pop' tobacco sellers. Still need to get the hell off them though.
 
dartfreak75 said:
Good work man it is hard. Iv been there. I don't share this often but I am (was) an alcoholic. I dont mean drink a beer or two I mean 12+ everyday. It got to the point where it consumed me that is all I wanted to do. I lost interest in literally everything else. I went thru a very dark place and a very hard time but one day I said enough is enough I want my life back and checked myself in. I did all the steps rehab, AA all that good stuff. I was 30 years old and had not went a day since I was probably around 18 or so without a drink of something. The first 48 hours was the hardest. It was miserable I layed in a bed sweating and freezing at the same time I thought I was dying. I'm proud to say this December will be 5 years sober. I havent so much as smelled alcohol. It hasn't been easy and there are times I'm tempted but I always so no I'm not going back down that road. Keep at it man and feel free to contact me if you need any support. Oh and btw I quit smoking , dipping, and drinking all at the same time. You can do it!!
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Kudos to you man!
 
pittsburghracer said:
Being a non smoker I could never see the reason people like going it so much. It’s expensive, stinks, and can kill you. That being said the good thing is it appears you can repair the damage if you quit so that’s great news. I know my 68 year old sister quit years ago and walks two plus miles a day and before this Coronavirus bullcrap was going to the gym five days a week. Goodluck and congratulations.
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It's an addiction. Funny thing is I say the same things about crack addicts.. 'Why do you do that?'.. while I have my own. Addictions are crazy.
 
Ddaddy said:
@RSie. Haven’t seen you post since last night. Hope you are still fighting the fight to get where you want to go!

:thumbsup:
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I'm at 83 hours, and hanging in there. I went and got our RV out of storage today.. sitting in the ashtray was a half gone smoke, from 6? months ago. (I usually don't smoke in it, but I cheated last fall when I was driving it to storage). That half hour drive sucked. I could have thrown it out the window.. but I tested myself. It's still there.
 
Great news!! A few months from now and you won't even think about it.

I quit on May 1st, 2001 after 21 years of smoking. I worked in an upstairs office by myself and got tired of going downstairs and outside by myself to smoke.

I did the mints thing to keep my mouth busy.

Although I quit on May 1st, I did have one cigarette on September 11th, 2001. I was active duty Air Force working as a recruiting district manager. We had no idea what might have been coming. I was in Connecticut, right between Boston where the planes took off and New York City. Just had one though!!!!!!!

Keep it up, you'll be sooooooooo glad you did.
 
I've gained a few pounds since quitting. If you can swing it, some additional walking or whatever will help with that, and I used to take a walk around the block when the urge for a smoke hit me. The additional weight is offset by not smoking and I'm slowly working it off.
 
gzig5 said:
I've gained a few pounds since quitting. If you can swing it, some additional walking or whatever will help with that, and I used to take a walk around the block when the urge for a smoke hit me. The additional weight is offset by not smoking and I'm slowly working it off.
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I gained more than a few I went from 220 and at my biggest was 290. It took me about 3 years but back down to 235 now
 
Just an update.
I'm going good at 84 hours now.
Had a stressful day with work, and the camper, and the kid.. and held fast.
Woke up last night at 2 AM with weird chest pains.. like my lungs were on fire. Got back to sleep after some pacing, deep breathing, and chugging some water. Then dreamed of smoking.. woke up with a start at 4:30.. and no I wasn't smoking, lol. Coffee time and more pacing then, lol.

And all of your well wishes and stories are helping me, and for that I thank you all.
 
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