Thread: Anyone here quit smoking successfully?

Started smoking at age 13, stealing Pall Mall's from dad, 30 plus years later still smoking, about 10 years ago i was thinking about quitting when the price of cigarettes went way up, made no sense to me to spend all that money on smoking. So i started rolling my own, a lot cheaper and a lot more fun since you get to try all different kinds of tobacco from all over the world.

I did try Chantix, but stopped really quick, after just a few days and still smoking i was going a little crazy, then i read the side effects and that was my experienced with chantix.

In the minority here; smoked for 4-5 years, decided it was too pricey of a habit to continue and quit cold turkey. I still get the cravings when I smell the smoke or see someone light up, but I've learned to control the cravings rather than let them control me. What it boils down to is willpower.

Good Luck and you're better off without them. I wouldn't go the e-cig route personally; it's just replacing one crutch with another.

I smoked for 10 years before quitting. I was in the Army at the time. I was never physically addicted (and I suspect most smokers are not), but was hooked on the routines that surrounded smoking. For example, wake up, have a cup of coffee and a smoke. After running PT. When surrounded by other smokers. When drinking alcohol. After a meal. I knew I had to have extra resolve during those moments. So without telling anyone I was quitting (if others knew, that would talk about it, thus constantly reminding me about smoking), I threw away my last pack of Marlboros. I did not drink for 3 months because I knew I'd get weak. The last cig was July 4, 1987. Ain't had one since and don't want one.
The reason I say most smokers are not addicted is I've seen too many folks get a health scare and quit....no withdrawel or drama involved. They simply got disgusted with themselves and the stupid habit. You can quit, millions of folks have. Everyone quits eventually.....make it the easy way, not the hard way!

Originally Posted by Martin103

Started smoking at age 13, stealing Pall Mall's from dad, 30 plus years later still smoking, about 10 years ago i was thinking about quitting when the price of cigarettes went way up, made no sense to me to spend all that money on smoking. So i started rolling my own, a lot cheaper and a lot more fun since you get to try all different kinds of tobacco from all over the world.

I did try Chantix, but stopped really quick, after just a few days and still smoking i was going a little crazy, then i read the side effects and that was my experienced with chantix.

This. Martin, you're dead on the money about Chantix.

Leatherstockiings, I would try to steer yourself away from Chantix... there are WAY too many folks who have had severe psychotic breaks using the stuff. But don't just take my word for it... Google "Chantix, Crazy" or "Chantix side effects". That sh** will scare you. In fact, here's a small excerpt from a story on nymag.com about the author's experience with Chantix. He's just begun talking to his boss about it:

"You know, I saw something about Chantix,” my boss said, sounding vaguely concerned. He tracked down the story on a CBS Website. It was a sensational report on Carter Albrecht, a Dallas musician formerly with Edie Brickell & New Bohemians. Albrecht had started taking Chantix with his fiancée, with seemingly dramatic side effects. She claimed he had had bizarre hallucinations that worsened when he drank. One evening, he attacked her, something he’d never done before. He then ran to his neighbor’s house and kicked at the door, screaming incomprehensibly. The neighbor was so panicked he wound up shooting Albrecht through the door, killing him.

As for me, I quit smoking cigarettes in 2008 after starting at age 11 (I'm 30 now) and working my way up to a pack and a half per day. I instead switched to an electronic cigarette. It works like a charm and I've had no negative effects to my health. Far cheaper too. I'll still have the odd cigarette now and then (maybe one or two a year) whilst drinking heavily, but each time, I'm reminded why I quit.

Am I still addicted to nicotine? Yep. But, it would certainly be easier for me to quit due to the type of nicotine used in e-liquid (it's particulate nicotine... freebase nicotine is what they add to cigarette tobacco and is leaps and bounds more addictive), and it would be better than weening myself off of tobacco since there is no health detriment there.

The bottom line is if you want to quit, find what works the best for you... if one method doesn't work, there's plenty out there that you can try until you find one that will.