Thread: Anyone here quit smoking successfully?

I quit smoking by finding a replacement behavior that provided me a similar stimulus. I had to figure why I liked smoking and then what reward I was getting. I found a different activity that provided a reward. Specifics are irrelevant as everyone is different. I recommend anyone trying to quit anything like smoking read a book called "the power of habit". It's a good read. By the way, I quit cigarettes this way. Still smoke a cigar every now and then but cigs were all day every day and now I am cigarette free. And no, I do not use any vapor cigs or nicotine products.

I quit smoking almost a year ago and havent looked back....bad asthma attack changed my mind on it...lol. lost 45 pounds the first 5 months and I replaced it with dipping sadly but still better than long term lung damage.

Do the math....1 pack a day, 5 minutes per cigarette, thats 100 minutes of smoke inhalation daily....

I quit over 13 years ago now. This was not my first attempt. I guess I wasn't totally serious about before that. After a year of no smoking I had a pipe and now once every week or two I enjoy a pipe and once every month or two a cigar. I don't crave either like I did cigarettes and actually enjoy them as opposed to having to get a "fix" of nicotine. Although my wife wishes I wouldn't smoke even these.

Smoking anything after quitting cigs is sort of like being a little bit pregnant

Originally Posted by rbaker2778

I quit smoking by finding a replacement behavior that provided me a similar stimulus. I had to figure why I liked smoking and then what reward I was getting. I found a different activity that provided a reward. Specifics are irrelevant as everyone is different. I recommend anyone trying to quit anything like smoking read a book called "the power of habit". It's a good read. By the way, I quit cigarettes this way. Still smoke a cigar every now and then but cigs were all day every day and now I am cigarette free. And no, I do not use any vapor cigs or nicotine products.

On amazon I find two with similar titles and two different authors, which did you read ?
The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business: Charles Duhigg: 9780812981605: Amazon.com: Books

The Power of Habit: Harnessing the Power to Establish Routines that Guarantee Success in Business and in Life: Jack Hodge: 9781410779953: Amazon.com: Books

EDIT; from the reviews it looks as if it is the first one linked, by Charles Duhigg ....... I may just check it out. Thanks.

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

Smoking anything after quitting cigs is sort of like being a little bit pregnant

My grandad used to say, "All things in moderation." I think that is true if you can swing it. I've always seemed to be 'all or nothing at all.'

It took me 42 years to quit. The only way I could succeed was when there was no pressure for the fist week. I still crave a cig but do not mind other folks smoking. But, my muscle memory still wants my right hand to do something in similar situations. Scratch my head or pick my nose, or clean an ear...those kind of things.
"An addiction is a personal thing where you quit and the reward yourself later by doing again!"
~Richard

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

On amazon I find two with similar titles and two different authors, which did you read ?
The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business: Charles Duhigg: 9780812981605: Amazon.com: Books

The Power of Habit: Harnessing the Power to Establish Routines that Guarantee Success in Business and in Life: Jack Hodge: 9781410779953: Amazon.com: Books

EDIT; from the reviews it looks as if it is the first one linked, by Charles Duhigg ....... I may just check it out. Thanks.


My grandad used to say, "All things in moderation." I think that is true if you can swing it. I've always seemed to be 'all or nothing at all.'

The Charles Duhigg is the correct one.

I did, on my eldest son's birthday, September 27th, 2008. That was the end of the spring/summer I spent in the cancer building, 5 days a week radiation, four days chemotherapy. I was given 30% to make it to the end of the year. My oncologist said I didn't have to quit until he had successfully treated it, then I had to quit so's he hadn't wasted the time & effort. . Made me agree before we started treatments, so when he said it had cleared I held up my part of the bargain. He allowed that the cancer was enough stress, that he wouldn't add another. Stood outside the cancer center with the drip stand twice a day inhaling the stuff

There's still the last half pack of Marlboro Reds on the shelf in the garage, to remind me. 38 years, 2 and a half packs a day, I still once a month or so think I might have just one .. nope

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

Smoking anything after quitting cigs is sort of like being a little bit pregnant

I see the logic in that and I guess it depends on what one is addicted to. I feel they I was more addicted to the rituals of cigarette smoking than anything else. The cigars don't trigger that for me, but who knows. I have been cigarette free for a long time and still enjoy cigars every now and then. Hopeful that I will never have to quit cigarette smoking again.

Buy a fifth of the worst tequila you can get.. Buy three packs of smokes... drink the fifth, and smoke all the smokes in one night... I guarantee that will make you quit..