any non smokers here that used to smoke?

Question

how long did you smoke and how did you quit, how long have you been smoke free? Do you still crave a cigarette every day?

Answer 1

I smoked 2 packs per day for 11 years before I quit the first time. I realized after I started again that the addiction was two fold. You have a real addiction to Nicotine but a compulsion to smoke at certain times. I gradually begain to change when I smoked and eventually I got to the point where I could smoke when ever I felt like it but never have the addiction again. Stop smoking after meals and first thing in the morning. Wait as long as you can before lighting that cig. If you can eventually quit for 2 - 3 days, the nicotine is out of ths system and then it is only a matter ofthe mind telling you to smoke.

I have not been a full time smoker for 2 years. I smoke on rare ocasions socially, but have no addiction at all. I never smoke at home or at work. I through the pack away at the end of the night no matter how many are left.

Answer 2

I smoked for over 20 years and have been smoke free since June of 2004. I took a little different approach. First I started to change the times I smoked. I would have a cigarette before eating rather than after as was my custom. Then I started to cut out certain cigarettes - I managed to cut back to 4 per day without feeling deprived. After 6 months of smoking only 4 per day, I decided I was ready to quit, but I didn't have an exit strategy, so to speak.

Thinking about it, I knew that I would not be able to quit if I had any cigarettes left over and I was not about to throw any away when at the time they cost $8 for a package of 25. So I decided that the best way for me was to wait until I had smoked my last cigarette for the day and the package was empty. However I also realized that quitting puts a lot of extra pressure on you at a time when you least need it. So when the time came, I decided that the next day I would "avoid" smoking. I know it's semantics but this way I didn't feel as pressured by the finality of quiting and if I happened to fail, I wouldn't be as disappointed in myself. After 3 days of avoiding smoking, the cravings were gone and at that point I said "I quit" and vowed never to have another cigarette.

Answer 3

I smoked for 23 years before quitting. I couldn't have done it without the patch. I haven't had a cigarette for just over four years now. And, no, I haven't craved a cigarette for a very long time. The cravings do go away, faster for some than others. Mine lasted about three to four months.

Answer 4

I used to smoke almost 3 packs a week. I started when I was in grade 8. It was really hard to quit since I was around everyone who smoked. I really don't know how I stopped..I just told myself to be strong and that if I continued, my life would be in danger. I also chewed gum instead of smoking..I think that helped. I don't crave a cigarette everyday...the only times I do is when I'm really stressed.

Answer 5

I used to smoke about a pack a week for about 2-3 years. I just quit cold turkey. The cigarettes just began to make me sick. The smell, the taste, the feeling. I just didn't like it anymore and I still dont'. I haven't smoked a cigarette in about 5 years. I did try one once during that time but I didn't finish it and it make me physically sick.

I hate cigarettes. I don't know how I put my body through that.

Answer 6

i smoked from age 14 to age 27. i have been quit for 1 1/2 years. i had to quit or my doctor wouldnt perform surgery on me and my boss offered me $100 to quit. I agreed and he took my cigarettes and chunked them. the only time i am tempted to smoke is when i drink alot. my kids are great. if they caught me with a cigarette they would beat me down. LOL! I bought fat free snacks, gum and raisons so i wouldnt gain alot of weight. i gained 10 pounds but my husband says atleast i dont stink any more.

Answer 7

i smoked off and on for 9 yrs or so. i quit more times than i have fingers and toes. the only thing that kept me from smoking (i havent had a desire for 5 years now) is that i taught myself to hate it, i quit hanging around smokers (which now in MA you cant smoke indoors so THAT helps) and i asked Jehovah for help. i also snacked on lettuce, baby carrots and chewed pens, cuz i was terrified of gaining a ton of weight. i used the money i was saving to get my nails done regularly so i wouldnt chew them to pieces.

here's how to teach yourself to hate it.

look up EVERY piece of info you can find about smoking and how it affects your body. LOOK AT PICTURES!!! regularly. every time you see someone with a cigarette, think to yourself..."thats SO gross! look at how theyre destroying their body, and how BAD they smell!"

it doesnt matter if you believe it, if you say it enough, eventually you will believe it.

if your best friend/mate whomever smokes. ask them not to smoke around you for a while...and if they cant respect that, then theyre not really your friend are they? lose 'em.

if youre constantly putting these to practice, eventually you'll be able to quit...but only if you REALLY want to. make a promise to someone you'd never lie to if you have to, but make sure that you really wanna unshackle yourself from this ugly addiction, take control of yourself.

thats what i would say to any smoker.