Quitting smoking?

Been smoking these for about 10-12 years, varying between one and five (cigars, not boxes) a day. I'm not saying I'm quitting smoking, but I'm seeing how long I can go without, or at least cut drastically down.The wife and I have both kinda cut down (she smokes cigarettes), just by not smoking inside. So far, I haven't had anything since about midnight last night/this morning.I'm not telling anyone in my life about it, I don't want a big deal made or anything like that. I thought I'd use this thread to chronicle my progress (or lack thereof). Edited by Adminnemooseus, : Added the "smoking" to the topic title. Don't want people thinking the topic's about quiting the forum (People, let's have quality content in our topic titles. Please).

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Those who would sacrifice an essential liberty for a temporary security will lose both, and deserve neither. -- Benjamin FranklinWe see monsters where science shows us windmills. -- Phat

I'm chain-smoking as I peruse the board and I really need to stop. Would you be interested in a sort of mutual support thread?I've tried before and failed dismally and hubby is no help whatsoever. He stopped about two years ago and is the most sanctimonious nag on the planet. When I mention hw long I've gone without a ciggie, instead of encouraging me with a "well done", all I get is "That's not very long, I've managed x weeks/months/years" or the even worse "You're doing it the wrong way, it'll never work. You have to do it my way".I managed to stop for a week on nicotine patches, but when I asked my hubby to pick up a new supply when I was too ill to get them myself, he refused, saying he hadn't needed them, so I didn't. Result? I was back on 20 a day within 24 hours! I was also considering divorce

God help you if you live in Illinois. We have a new law now. No smoking in any public area, not even in a park. This went into affect about a month ago. I'm seeing that people are still not observing this new law. I think they will start observing it when they start getting the $250 fine that comes with smoking within 15 feet of any public domain.

Uh, I guess so.Ummmm ... You go girl!Seriously though, I'm not sure how good I'd be at that kind of thing, but we can see what happens. Honestly, it sounds like the best help you could get right now would be a hubbymuzzle.

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Those who would sacrifice an essential liberty for a temporary security will lose both, and deserve neither. -- Benjamin FranklinWe see monsters where science shows us windmills. -- Phat

So true, and for so many reasons completely unrelated to smoking.As I understand it, my homeland of Minnesota has implemented something of a like nature, although I'm not sure about parks.Ain't it grand that we have so many different levels of politicians who know so much better than we do how we should live our lives. Makes you proud to be an American, don't it?

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Those who would sacrifice an essential liberty for a temporary security will lose both, and deserve neither. -- Benjamin FranklinWe see monsters where science shows us windmills. -- Phat

We've had a smoking ban in place for a couple of years. The way the law was worded, it meant that it was illegal to smoke in the smoking shelters which the gov put up for when the ban came into place. Apparently the sides were too large!The idea of a hubbymuzzle appeals to me greatly, I might gag him with one of my unwashed socks from my lastest mucking out stint at the stables.

Well, I was kinda trying to make a little funny by doing that semi on purpose.Oh well. Carry on.

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Those who would sacrifice an essential liberty for a temporary security will lose both, and deserve neither. -- Benjamin FranklinWe see monsters where science shows us windmills. -- Phat

Ran into this site, discussing the effect of quitting smoking.It contained this little chart, which seems to show that those who smoke but give it up before 35 actually have a slightly longer life expectancy than those who never smoked.

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Those who would sacrifice an essential liberty for a temporary security will lose both, and deserve neither. -- Benjamin FranklinWe see monsters where science shows us windmills. -- Phat

Weening off works if you're dedicated.This is a 2 week plan for at least a pack a day smoker:Day 1: 1 cigarette every hour
Day 2: 1 cigarette every hour
Day 3: 1 cigarette every 2 hours
Day 4: 1 cigarette every 2 hours
Day 5: 1 cigarette every 3 hours
Day 6: 1 cigarette every 3 hours
Day 7: 1 cigarette every 4 hours
Day 8: 1 cigarette every 5 hours
Day 9: 1 cigarette every 6 hours
Day 10: 3 cigarettes per day (strategically space them out and do not deviate. Try after every meal)
Day 11: 2 cigarettes per day (only after lunch and dinner)
Day 12: Have your last cigarette that nightDuring this critical time, avoid social situations or habit triggers that give you the urge to smoke.Work out during this time, chew gum, keep yourself busy, etc.Remember that nicotine lasts only 3 days in your body. After that time, the remnants of the drug have been excreted from your system. Its all mental after that.These patches and nicotine gum is a scam. You don't need to spend 70 damn dollars on nicotine when you can do it the same way buying 3 packs of cigarettes to last two weeks.That reminds me, you will have some leftover. Having those cigarettes around will probably be too tempting. During your last 3 days or so, destroy the extra cigarettes. Burn them in effigy if you have to, symbolic of your desire. Just get rid of them.Now, if you'll excuse me. I'm going to have a cigarette. Edited by Nemesis Juggernaut, : typos

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“There is something which unites magic and applied science while separating both from the 'wisdom' of earlier ages. For the wise men of old the cardinal problem had been how to conform the soul to objective reality, and the solution had been knowledge, self-discipline, and virtue. For magic and applied science alike the problem is how to subdue reality to the wishes of men: the solution is a technique; and both, in the practice of this technique, are ready to do things hitherto regarded as disgusting and impious" -C.S. Lewis

Portland started a similar law last year. In L.A. a new law was in effect as of Jan 1, 2008, that if you live in an apartment, you can't smoke in it. You can't even smoke on your own balcony. You have to go across the street.

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“There is something which unites magic and applied science while separating both from the 'wisdom' of earlier ages. For the wise men of old the cardinal problem had been how to conform the soul to objective reality, and the solution had been knowledge, self-discipline, and virtue. For magic and applied science alike the problem is how to subdue reality to the wishes of men: the solution is a technique; and both, in the practice of this technique, are ready to do things hitherto regarded as disgusting and impious" -C.S. Lewis

See, the reason I think this new law of ours is so unrealistic is because, especially in a city like Chicago, it's pretty much almost impossible for you to find a place that is 15 feet from any public place. A lot of people are starting to smoke inside their cars, which is a safe haven. I honestly don't see how people in the big cities who take public transportation get around this, assuming they have to observe it like they observe other laws. We're not talking about just 15 feet from where you live or work. We're talking about 15 feet from ANY place that is public.Anyway, I'll be keeping my eyes open to see how they will actually enforce this new law.PS - The only time I've ever smoked was when I was really drunk. In fact, the fact of whatever I smoked was just a cigarette is still in question.

Bloody hell I think I'll move to Bagdad, at least you can smoke in peace there.

Go to a book store and buy Allen Carr's "The Easyway to stop smoking". It's a slim volume and written in simple english (and other languages I gather). Read a couple of chapters a day, follow the simple instructions and in a couple of weeks you'll be a non-smoker. A happy non-smoker that it. He instructs you to continue smoking while you read - how easy can it be!!There is no willpower required nor trickery involved. Just the truth about cigarettes. And we all know what the truth does, don't we? I mentioned this book on a similar thread in on another site recently. Someone was listening. My sister got the book. She stopped. She gave it to my other sister. She stopped. She gave it to her boyfriend. He stopped. He gave it to my friend. He stopped. He gave it to his brother. He stopped. It came back to our family. I read it. I stopped.The easy way to stop smoking. It does what it says on the tin.

I disagree here. I smoked for 25 years. Six months ago I quit cold turkey. Trust me, I tried everything over the years. Gum, patches, lozenges, cutting back, etc, etc. The fact is, if you're addicted to nicotine, you're addicted for life. That's how addiction works. I eventually realized there was no point trying to stop the addiction by feeding it.It's a constant battle. Just one cigarette will no doubt trigger the receptors and have me on a pack a day. The craving stoppped after a few weeks but the memories of smoking are still strong.

Then the post above yours is for you too.