after 27 years I think it is finally over

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L.C.

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I smoked Cigs for 50 + years. 2 packs a day when I said I was quitting.
I used the patches. Did step 1 for 6 weeks, did step 2 for 6 weeks, did step 3 for 2 weeks.
Have now been off the patches for 6 weeks, no problems really, get a little crave every once in a while but I just tell myself it's just a feeling and it goes away.
I feel much better, don't get winded like I did, have gained weight but not much.
Decide that you ARE QUITTING.
Quit.
Keep going forward.
You can do it.
If cold turkey is too hard try the patches like I did.(Way cheaper than buying cigs) A box of patches is good for 2 weeks/Approx $52-58.
Good luck.
 

Dumpstick

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Cut drinking straws the length of a cig, to give you hands something to hold. You will find it's as much a habit as an addiction.
Good idea.

The 'hand to mouth' habit is as hard to break as the nicotine addiction.

I used cinnamon toothpicks - the toothpicks were too dam hot to keep in my mouth for any length of time, so I would hold it in my fingers.
 

jakeman

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You got this!

I smoked for about 15 years or so and tried to quit several times unsuccessfully. Then one day I said that's it, I'm done. That was 37 years ago.
Good luck OP!

Of the hundreds & maybe 1000’s of people I know that have smoked & tried to quit, the only ones I know that have stayed quit for good are the ones that decided “screw this, this is stupid and I’m done”. That’s no lie. All of ‘em just decided they didn’t wanna smoke anymore.

I know people whose Dr’s said “you’re gonna die”. (One of those guys died on Saturday. He was 60) People that did hypnosis. Quit for their kids. Quit for their spouse. Chewed the gum. Wore the patch. Etc, etc, etc. none of them stayed quit. None of them. They either just said f*** it and started openly smoking again or snuck them.

My brother was one of those. He quit for 15 years for his kids. I swung by the house one day and he was watching TV smoking. I said, “hey, WTF? When did you start smoking again?” “Last week” he said. “I was at my desk and thought screw this I’ve wanted a cigarette for 15 years, this is stupid. So I hopped on the express elevators and went downstairs and bought a pack.” Then he turned 50, had a massive heart attack and the Dr told him he didn’t give a **** if he smoked or not, but to enjoy every one, cause it might be his last. Dr let him decide, and he quit for good, but it was too damn late. The damage was done. He’s 70 now. Stays in a fib, and can’t walk to the mail box and back. Hasn’t wanted a cigarette since his heart attack. No desire.

So, to you guys that smoke and think you should quit, you’re grown ass men, do what ever you want, but understand the consequences. It’s your decision, but you gotta decide to do it for you, not for anyone else. I’m a firm believer in that.
 
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ifishok

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I used to dip too, quit that as a teenager long ago, every now and then I’ll have a dream about dipping and the grains of tobacco in my mouth seems so real until I wake up. It’s really weird how tobacco affects the brain.
 

jakeman

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Congrats!!! One of the hardest things I've ever done in my life. Took me several tries, but July 4th 1991 was my Independence Day!!!

Kirk Douglas told the story of how he quit. He used to keep a cigarette in his shirt pocket. When the urge to smoke hit him, he would pull it out and look at it. And then say "who is stronger, you or me?" Then put it back in his pocket.


When I was a lot younger I worked with an older guy in his 60’s and on Wednesdays after work in the Summer we’d go have a hamburger at the Ft Gibson dam and fish for crappie & sandies off the rip rap on the lake side.

We got in his truck for once cause he always wanted to use my gas, but it was really hot, and I didn’t run the AC cause I thought it cost me gas mileage, so he said screw you, I’m driving’. He had a unopened pack of Marlboro Reds over his visor. I asked why he had them “cause you don’t smoke”. Told me he used to, so he kept those up there just in case of an emergency.

“how long they been up there?”

“Twenty-Five years.”

Said he got up one day, went thru his usual routine of coughing & spitting up black crap for 30 minutes, cut him self shaving when he coughed and decided he was a dumb ass, walked back to his dresser and wadded up his open pack and tossed them in the trash. Never smoked another one, but he kept a pack handy, and I imagine he had the same convo with himself that Kirk had with himself, but I also imagine those convos got further & further apart.
 

TedKennedy

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No one likes a quitter.


Seriously - good job! I quit decades ago, and now I get to watch my dad struggle with his oxygen bottle. Not fun to see a strong man go soft, but it's confirmation that bad habits catch up with you.

Hang in there!
 

Woodman 59

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Good luck to ya, I had smoked for over 30 years, and had quit more times than I could count. The VA finally gave me Chantix to help me quit. It took 2 times but I have been smoke-free for over 5 years now. Again good luck, try to find something to keep your hands busy. (woodwork, painting ect...)
 

Jon3830

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I used to drink and drink is an understatement because I would have a whole glass of whisky with dinner, a 750ml of Jameson would last me 2 days. It did not rule my life I am not sure I would say I was an alcoholic because I didn't have to have it I just wanted it and I only drank at home when I was not going to be going anywhere and I didn't drink everyday then one day a 4 years ago I decided I didn't want to drink anymore so I just didn't and I still have a taste every now and then and I really mean just a taste. I have had the same bottle of Jameson that my brother brought me from Ireland that is still about 50% full that I will pour me about a 1/4 shot out of sometimes. so far smoking has been the one habit that I just have never been able to walk away from, so far this is day 4 and I am feeling pretty good about it and my coworkers have been really supportive I think it also helps that I never smoked in my house so I don't have to smell it when I am home relaxing and nobody in my house smokes anymore so I don't have to be around it at home.
 

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