Anyone know a foolproof way to quit smoking?

Answer 1

Yes, I do. It worked for me, and it can work for you too. And it costs nothing.

I started smoking at 13 and quit at 24 years of age. I'm now 66. When I quit I was smoking about a pack a day. Sometimes less, sometimes more. If I hadn't quit when I did, I'm sure I would be smoking in excess of two packs a day now. Well, I would be smoking that much assuming I hadn't died from lung cancer. When I quit, I was married and my wife smoked too. We both smoked Pall Mall cigarettes. Believe it or not, quitting was very easy, because in my mind I wasn't really quitting. I'm sure that sounds confusing to you, so let me explain.

Some wiseguy at work noticed that I was a smoker and told me I couldn't go without smoking for a whole day. It was a challenge. Psychologically, I couldn't accept the thought that cigarettes might have control over me, so I decided to prove him wrong. And by the way, that decision was probably one of the best ones I've made in my life so far. Anyway, the next day, as some of the other people who may be reading this response may already have guessed the smart mouth guy then told me I couldn't do it for two days in a row. So I accepted the challenge. On the third day, as I approached him to brag about my success, I fully expected him to tell me I couldn't do it for three days in a row, but he didn't say that. He threw me a curve by saying I couldn't do it for a week. It caught me off guard, and I agreed to accept the challenge. But in accepting it, I told him this was the end. After a solid week of not smoking (and I already had done it for two days, so I only had five days to go) that would be the end of this game. I would then have proven myself capable three times, so I wouldn't feel a need to continue with what I was beginning to view as a rediculous game.

When the week was over, he said, as expected, you can't do it for a month. I told him I could, but didn't feel I needed to prove that to him because I had already proven to him that I was in control.

He didn't bother me about it anymore, but I wasn't earning much money, and knew that smoking was really an unnecessary expense, so I decided to conduct an experiment that might save me the expense of buying cigarettes. My plan was that I wasn't agreeing to quit, but instead testing myself to see how much longer I could go without smoking. This is what I meant when I told you in an earlier paragraph that it was easy to quit because in my mind I wasn't quitting.

I felt that there woud be an ending point, and that I would eventually reach that point and then just start smoking again. So I was pretty happy with myself, and going along from day to day telling myself that I hadn't quit, and didn't feel a need to quit. Basically, I was just plodding along waiting for the day when I felt I couldn't go any longer without a cigarette. As you can probably guess, the day never came. And as the number of days I had gone without smoking became larger and larger, I started finding the idea of making that number even larger more interesting than the thought that I might someday start smoking again.

I even asked my wife whether she was interested in joining me in my experiment. She said she had no interest in it and preferred to continue smoking. I had some thoughts that her smoking around me might make it more difficult for me to continue, but it didn't for some reason. Looking back on the experience, I think her smoking might have actually helped me. You know, I was inhaling some of her sidestream smoke and that smoke was sort of working like a nicotine patch.

I could go on and on about this with additional details about my experiences (such as when I felt my strongest need for a cigarette--when getting up in the morning, after sex, after meals, when driving a car for a prolonged period, etc.) but I don't think you need all of that.

Just know that it can be done easily, if in your mind, you really aren't trying to quit. You just want to see how long you can go without a cigarette. Also, it's good to be around other people who smoke. Their side stream smoke is useful. It's also important that the smokers around you know what you are doing. You'll find them looking at you with a smile and asking how many days it's been. Tell them with pride and suck up some of their sidestream smoke, explain that it helps, and thank them for it.

Eventually you'll reach a point where you're convinced you don't need cigarettes anymore. At that point, you might, like I did wonder what would happen if you were to light up, take a puff, and inhale. Would you be hooked again?

Well, I wondered about that. So one day I saw a friend who is a smoker, and asked him to give me a cigarette so that I could find out. I lit up, took the puff, inhaled, and to my surprize I didn't choke or cough or get sick like I did the first time I ever lit a cigarette. It was almost like I had never quit.

Well, remember I said "almost" like I had never quit. There was one little exception, and that little exception bugged me bigtime. I just couldn't stand the taste that puff of cigarette smoke left in my mouth. I couldn't wait to get home and use some mouthwash to rid my mouth of that tobacco taste.

Well, my friend, I knew then that I was never going back to smoking. I haven't gone back either. It's been over 40 years now.

In closing, let me assure you that you can do it too. I think it depends on where your head is. How you look at it mentally. When you tell yourself you're quitting, you feel like your depriving yourself. When you tell yourself you want to see how long you can go, your testing yourself, and you want to score well. So go for it. You can do it. Just like I did. Trust me. You'll end up sending me an email about your success later.

Answer 2

For some people, the Nicotrol Inhaler works to replace the cigarette entirely. If feeds you nicotine in filterable amounts and the hand to mouth action just like a cigarette helps you deal with that motion habit. You taper off in steps.

A friend of mine having tried everything known to man (just about) for 15 years or more, managed to quit smoking fairly easy using this method.

You can get it at any pharmacy - and should be able to get it over the counter. If not I am certain, that any doctor will willingly write you a prescription for it. Its a little pricey - but no more so than 4 to 5 cartons of cigarettes a month.

Answer 3

Quitting smoking is a great opportunity to learn about ourselves.
Congratulate yourself on having the desire to stop - then you are over the worst, but still need to maintain your resolve. It's just so easy to start thinking that just one won't hurt, but it does. Just one achieves nothing except feeling the need for another. Whatever you do, don't have just one. Beware - alcohol will weaken your resolve.
Here's a few home-brewed tips that might be useful.
It's not just nicotine addiction - there are 50+ chemicals in cigarettes. Also the main problem is habit.
We have been used to having body sensations which we translate as 'my body needs something', which we have attempted to satisfy by having a cigarette.
When we try to stop smoking, we still get these 'my body needs something' sensations, and we still feel that we want a cigarette. We have to train our body to be more selective. When we feel we need something, we have to work out what it is that we actually need.
A glass of water is an excellent substitute if nothing else comes to mind, as it helps with the clearance of the toxic substances in our body. Another good substitute is a bag of salted peanuts, used in combination with the water.
Another thing to do is to find an activity which occupies the mind or body. Go swimming - nobody wants to smoke while they are swimming. Slowly, as our body adjusts and translates the 'want something' feelings into something other than cigarettes, then the feelings begin to go away. We know its not a cigarette that the body really needs, because as soon as we've had one we still have the feeling, and want another!
We will have a few bouts of feeling or even being short tempered. We must try to bite our lip, and control; ourselves. Recognise the short temper as being the removal of toxins which are trying to find a way out. They went in through the mouth, and they try to get out that way to. We must learn to keep our mouth closed, and force the toxins out the other way.

After we have stopped for a while we will begin to feel that just one wont to any harm.
All that leads to is a desire for just another one. We must guard very strongly against the desire to have just one.

Answer 4

Whatever cigarettes you have now, take them outside in front of your house. Scream as loud as you can so that other people can hear you and start to gather around. As soon as you have an audience, announce at the top of your lungs as loud as you're still able to yell, "I AM QUITTING SMOKING. I SUGGEST EVERYONE ELSE DO THE SAME!" and then put your last pack of cigarettes on the ground and stomp on them. And of course thank everyone from coming over.
When you see cigarettes in the store, don't buy them. The next time you THINK about smoking a cigarette, go to a mirror and slap yourself in the face. The thoughts of smoking should go away soon.

Answer 5

There's no fool proof way. Fools are simply too smart for us. Just keep trying to resist. The first two or three weeks are the hardest. Try to find something to occupy your time, that will keep you away from other smokers and away from anyplace that sells them.

Answer 6

It's really hard to quit smoking. You should try an electronic cigarette. They're cancer/odor/ash free, pure nic w/o the nasty smell, taste, and chance of death.

Answer 7

I know some folks who use the nicotine patch, some buy the book. Im sorry i forgot the title but it made them stop.

Answer 8

Yeah get chest pains if that don't scare you into giving up nothing will!

Answer 9

look man..you have to have some vices to remind yourself your a human being...you will stop if you really want to stop , until then keep puffing.

Answer 10

Will power, good friends, gradual exit from the habit, good exercise habits........self help, the best help! good luck!