Thanks Boombats! Great unconventional methods.

IPL wrote:My dad, a smoker of probably 30+ years got hypnotized by the "Mad Russian" in Cambridge MA. He's been off the devil weed for going on 2 years. I never thought I'd see this happen...he loved smoking and smoked almost 2 packs a day. The "Mad Russian" has a very good reputation...I've heard other success stories as well. So if your gonna be in the Boston area anytime soon he might be worth looking into....if will-power doesn't cut it.

I, too, know of several people who swear by the Mad Russian. Celebrities do too, apparently.

Testosterony tough guy ego alert:

I smoked like a chimney for 12 years. One to two packs a day. When I started having health problems, I stopped, thinking it would help (it really didn't, in this particular case). I just stopped. Granted, I was really, really pissed for around 4 days, but as soon as I broke the habit itself, it was easy to stay off the stuff.

I started chewing tobacco recently, however. Yeah yeah, I know.

I love smoking. I hate the fact that I do, but I absolutely love smoking. Bad breath, smelly clothes and car and everything, bad lungs...all that is worth it just to be able to smoke for me...until about a month ago.

I started smoking when I was 14, and I steadily rose from half a pack a day to two and a half packs a day. I did the math and realized it was THOUSANDS of dollars a year to keep the habit. So fuck that shit. Wanting more money made me quit. Also, the fact that my lungs feel like an obese man of 60's doesn't help either.

Exercise everyday, substituting smoking for chewing gum...it's working.

What Steve V. Said.

I quit cold turkey. Not hanging around with smokers helps too.

Mostly, think of all the fucking gear and shit you can buy if you don't smoke. Cigarettes in the city are fucking ridiculous anyway...

I have rewarded myself with records instead of cigs. I have not had one sice Halloween.........

I got really sick with the flu or something for like a week. Really didn't feel like smoking during it. Once I got better I just didn't feel like smoking anymore. Istill smoke like once a week when I got out, and sometimes at band practice. I'm by no means a proper smoker anymore though.

so yeah if you want to quit smoking get sick.

rayj wrote:Testosterony tough guy ego alert:

I smoked like a chimney for 12 years. One to two packs a day. When I started having health problems, I stopped, thinking it would help (it really didn't, in this particular case). I just stopped. Granted, I was really, really pissed for around 4 days, but as soon as I broke the habit itself, it was easy to stay off the stuff.

I started chewing tobacco recently, however. Yeah yeah, I know.

You gotta quit now man! Gettin off the chaw was worse than quitting smoking for me, and 2 packs of cigarettes a day is how I did it.

scott wrote:
really it all boils down to this, and i've been told this by other people who've smoked for a long time and then quit as well: you will quit when you are ready. if you're not ready, you won't quit. if you are ready, you will. it's basically 100% mental, in that if you truly want to do it, you will. otherwise you won't.

This is basically the most important thing posted in this thread. It takes most people several attempts to stop smoking for good. It's taken me about four best-intentioned attempts to not smoke for 3 1/2 months. In Scotland you can get subsidised nicotine replacement therapy. I have availed myself of this 3 times, and relapsed each time. Last New Year's myself and my girlfriend just decided to give it another go, and neither of us have smoked since. I am not confident about never smoking again, but I take it one day at a time, and I'm doing good.

Note: Having a smoking ban in force where you live is a huge help to not smoking; it makes it less easy for you to smoke, and it also makes it much more pleasant to go out when you are not smoking. Petition your local representive today!

I successfully quit smoking a couple of times before I quit for good. It's nowhere near as difficult as your brain is probably telling you but no so much fun either.

The most recent time, I started running and going to a gym to take off the edge. After 10 years of smoking and virtually no exercise I had old fat guys lapping me on the running track and grandmothers embarrassing me in the weight room. A bit humbling but it kept me from killing and eventually I started to feel really good. I would recommend daily exercise. I know that probably sounds as bad as quitting to a smoker, but it really helps and once you are "hooked" it takes care of itself.

Best Advice: Never, Never, Never have a single cigarette ever again. Not socially. Not on your birthday. Not one. Ever. NEVER! This gets much easier. I haven't had a cigarette in seven years, and it's no longer even an issue. Just stay away, and watch out for the English and their spliffs.

Also: If you only smoke 5 cigarettes a day, you don't have a problem and you don't have to quit. You just need to shut the fuck up and enjoy it. It's like complaining about your huge dick, or rich parents.