I used to occasionally socially smoke ciggies, but lately I have been smoking ALL of the time. I hate cigarettes, I hate they way they smell and taste. I am embarassed that I even smoke them. And obvioulsy it is horrible for my health. Addictions are funny like that though. I threw out all of my lighters and the rest of my cigs today. How do you guys deal?

You are talking to a newly reformed smoker. Yes, I aspire to be one of those self-righteous, overzealous ex-smoking nazi types soon... just as soon as I can deal with all of the random cravings that still come my way...

I tell ya, I wish that I could give you a solid way to get rid of them once and for all, but everyone is different. I tried so many friggin' times to dump them...

I think what finally got to me was stress. I would go for periods of time (like a long car ride) with my family, and Icouldn't smoke... The mood swings sucked, and I hate being the hair trigger temper type when I couldn't smoke.

Anyway, I traded cigarettes in for exercise. I get up and exercise as soon as possible. Instead of having a half dozen cigarettes and a cup of coffee to jump start myself, I bea myself up at the gym, and feel much better afterwards. Sore, but better.

Good luck!

That would be me, thank-you very much

I wish you nothing but the best of luck on quitting smoking. November will be 5 years without ciggs. I still get cravings, but it's a part of my past now.

Haha I used to be the Queen on anti-smoking banter. I used to always be the one telling my friends to not smoke around me, that they smell, they are going to have bad skin, it's bad for your health, etc...

I'm not too sure how it happened. It started socially, especially if I was out drinking. The best advice I can give anyone now, is to never even try a ciggarette!

I think the hardest part ss getting over the initial urge to buy a new pack. I would always just want ONE, but I can't just buy ONE! So, I would end up smoking the whole pack. I threw out the rest of my pack about 24 hours ago and have yet to buy more/bum one.
Let's see how I do tonight....

I quit smoking back in October of 07 when my nana got diagnosed with lung cancer. However when she passed away in June from the stress of losing her (she raised me), I started again. I think watching her suffer or just knowing what it can do to you helps me, since I stopped smoking again about 2-3 weeks after I had restarted. The thing that actually does help is gum, trident gum, since it has fewer calories is great, but sometimes it's just the oral fixation or something. I hope this helps at least a little and good luck. Also if you know anyone that has suffered from a lung ailment due to smoking, just visit with them from time to time, they won't mind you spending time with them, and in the process, you're reminding yourself of why you want to quit. Best of luck to you...

Thanks Martinez! Yeah, I find that lollipops help when I am driving, which is when I crave them most.

I feel guilty when I know the consequences of smoking and see good people, like your Nana, who is suffering from the effects of smoking. My mother has cancer and although it is unrelated to smoking, it's definitely enough motivation to stop. Why even risk it?

A good mental trick:
Next time you want to put a ciggie in your mouth, ask yourself, "Would I do this to someone else's body?" The answer is always no, so why would we do it to ourselves? Imagine that the effects of the smoking will also hurt someone you love...I imagine smoke going into my 10 year old sister's lungs, and I immediately stop all cravings.

Hey! I've stopped for just over 2 months now, yay!

It gets easier it seems... I feel over it... but sometimes I wonder if someone had to die or something traumatic were to happen to me, would I start again?

Hi all,
i admire people who gave up smoking after being addicted to it for a good bit. Like my mum, she gave up smoking about 7 years ago, before that she smoked for nearly 20 years and would smoke siggies with no filter as with it they won't be strong enough fer her One day she just quit and was it never even thought of it.
I want to quit too going to try now, was recommended to read a book by alan Carr i think it called 'Easy way to stop smoking'. I've been smoking for 10 ears now, i thinks its time to kick this bad habit

I quit in December 2006 and in February 2007 my uncle was diagnosed with lung cancer and it has spread in his body. He hadn't smoked for YEARS and YEARS but he still paid the price.

He passed away October 2007 and let me be honest here....It was one of the toughtest deaths I had ever dealt with. As I was walking out the door of my parents house to go to the funeral there sat an ash tray and my brother in-laws pack of smokes. I thought...oh i could just sneak one and no-one would even have to know. Um HELLO...I'm going to my uncles funeral whom just died from cancer. HELL NO!

You find a way to remind yourself in those tough times that you quit because you want this life of yours!

If you can say no in that situation, I should be able to al least resist buying them.