I quit.

[el_jefe]

once upon a time, there was a young smoker named el_jefe. he smoked as much as two packs of camel filters a day for a couple of years. then one day, he tried to sprint up a long flight of stairs while hungover. he puked. after that, he vowed that he would get healthy and quit smoking cigarettes so he could ride his bike and ski the pow like never before.

so, he went "cold turkey" and smoked only 1 or 2 cigarettes in about 2 weeks. all of this despite the fact that his roommate was a chain smoker.

then, in a fit of weakness or stupidity (tough to tell which now, 15 years later) he smoked 2 packs of camel unfiltered smokes in one night while trying to get a very hot chick to shack up with him. she didn't fall for it, and he woke up the next day positively green with a nicotine induced illness which lasted for several days.

so, the moral of this story is: be a quitter. how you do it is up to you. its not easy, but you'll be happy you did it. eventually.

[Tuckerman]

Just keep in mind that you will have a better chance of get to the gnarr before anyone else.

[Aldo]

One other thing, don't talk about it.

[PaSucks]

One other thing, don't talk about it.

I am quickly discovering this.

[jump]

Congratulations on quitting, now keep it up!

[Tippster]

You'd be surprised how wrong you are if you went out in Pittsburgh for a night...particularly keeping in mind the types of places a college student is likely to frequent.

Good point. I should have qualified that I meant "...in major Coastal Cities."

Buster: I have no idea. Have you ever looked at your hand? I mean... REALLY looked?

[powderdave]

Referring to bagtagley's contention that people should "quit on their own", I agree not all people need help. Ideally we'd all be strong enough to kick and be done with it. However, if it wasn't very difficult we wouldn't be congratulating PaSucks. He's done a great thing waging his own battle against Big Tobacco, and the good lord willing he will never smoke again.

Bupropion is not nicotine, but it does stabilize some of the neurotransmitters in brain that get so wildly affected by nicotine. The wild fluctuations of these chemicals increase the incidence of comorbidities such as depression and anxiety among smokers. In fact, big tobacco companies have diabolically engineered cigarettes to such a degree that addiction today is orders of magnitude more likely than decades past. I am not familiar with any entity more evil than those fuckers.

Wanna start a revolution? Tell Big Tobacco to fuck off and never light up!

[72Twenty]

Well, I made an attempt tp quit chewing a few months ago, but it didn't last long. After reading this (an for other reasons) I am ready to quit for sure. THis time I am going to tak advantage of some of the free services here in town for quitting....

[Snowbird Commuter]

... you never really kick it. Once a smoker, always a smoker. I quit for 3 months.... started smoking again for 2 months, quit for 6 months, started again for a year.... quit for 10 years... started again for 3 1/2 years. I've quit again for a year and a half now.

Advice.... Start working out like a mainiac - for one thing, you won't feel like smoking before or after, second you'll see massive improvements as you gain fittness from the exercise as well as the new cardio fittness you're gaining every day by just sitting on your ass and not smoking.

Just mentally realizing that you're a more healthy person in the long run, as true as it may be, is rarely enough incentive to stop. If it were enough, you never would have started in the first place (it's not as if you just found out that smoking is bad for you). Give yourself immediate results and goals.

Last piece of advice stay away from the party tricks: No lighting a cig for anyone, no "I can smoke one with her".... (no matter how hot she is). That's how I got right back on at least 3 of my relapses.... Seemed reasonable that after 10 years I could have a smoke with that hot chicky that was smoking at that party.....

[The AD]

Once a smoker, always a smoker.
...
Seemed reasonable that after 10 years I could have a smoke with that hot chicky that was smoking at that party.....

I agree with your first statement because a true non-smoker would see a chick smoking as a huge turnoff regardless of hotness.

[PaSucks]

Tommorow will be three weeks. So far so good. I have found I have an increased appetite, but that seems to be the only downside so far. I am sleeping better, I have more energy, and I think my sense of smell and taste has improved, although that can be both good and bad. The best thing so far though has been the complete abatement of any smokers cough I had. I can breath again! It's been years since I could do that!

[powslut]

I've been struggling like all hell to kick the habit again. Smoked and chewed heavily 16-21, quit for 3 years then last year picked up the filthy habit again while ski bumming in europe. The last 10 months have involved me on again/ off again quitting, pussing out and in general feeling like the biggest piece of shit in the world for having started smoking again and not being able to stop. I'm currently at two days with a dart, and have even relinquished smoking reefer in amsterdam to prevent me from coming into contact with any tobacco. Hope It works this time.

[Buzzworthy]

Tommorow will be three weeks. So far so good. I have found I have an increased appetite, but that seems to be the only downside so far. I am sleeping better, I have more energy, and I think my sense of smell and taste has improved, although that can be both good and bad. The best thing so far though has been the complete abatement of any smokers cough I had. I can breath again! It's been years since I could do that!

Time to quit counting now, you are a non smoker at this point. Don't look back and keep it up.

I have to be about 3-4 months now, but again, the number does not matter, I am a non smoker and my daughter will hopefully have her dad around for more years now.

Good for you guys giving it up.

[DaveTV]

The cravings increase because your resolve is diluted by alcohol. You have to avoid having that "just 1". Not even 1 drag. You will be sucked right back in if you do.

[gretch6364]

PaSucks, good effort.

And yes, PA sucks (well, at least Seven Springs does).

As you know, quitting is the best thing you'll EVER do for yourself. It sounds like you've got it licked but need some reinforcement. If things get hairy, quickly find a supportive friend to hang with who will keep you honest. It sounds silly, but it is indeed a life or death thing. You knew you needed to quit, you know you need to keep quitting. Don't make yourself ever go through this again. You've already made it this far.

One pharmacological aid is bupropion (A.K.A. Zyban or Wellbutrin), which decreases recidivism by 50%. That is science, the number is real. Look it up on the Cochrane Library, the best evidence-based medicine resource out there (http://www.cochrane.org/reviews/en/ab000031.html). Zyban is the name of the drug as marketed for smoking cessation, but is often not covered by insurances (fuckers, how can it not benefit them to have healthier patients?). So, many providers prescribe Wellbutrin or generic bupropion for "depression" or list the reason as "nicotine addiction". The codes for these "psychiatric" disturbances allows for an insurance company to cover the costs. Fortunately the generic isn't too bad without insurance (approx. $50-70/month).

Sorry for the long-winded post, but nothing is more important! You've done well. However, as someone above said, not picking up a smoke when you're pissed or a bit depressed is the toughest.

Keep it up. PM me if you need more info, I studied the subject in grad school and would be glad to help.

Hey suck it jackass...Springs is all some of us have...it is not that horrible...they actually have a couple decent bump runs that would give you alot of you western boys that have never seen a bump made of ice a run for your money!!

[sloppy2nds]

I have quit nic. for 3 weeks. I have been chewing the nic. gum for 5 years and smoking and drinkin' on the weekends and chewing during softball season.

I get chest pains from withdrawl, has anyone else expeienced a burning pain?

[Benny Profane]

One other thing, don't talk about it.

I must disagree. I quit 18 years ago with the help of then fledgling support group / group therapy sessions over 5 weeks led by a shrink. It worked for me, and recently I've read that the success rate is much higher using this method than going cold turkey on your own. Call your local branch of the National Cancer Institute, American Heart Association, or some other anti smoking organization - your employer through their health insurance people could probably hook you up, too. Do it - there are so many people out there ready to help.
Gum and patches don't cure you from the addiction, they just transfer it to a cleaner form. Nicotine is the enemy.

And the best advice I got from my group leader was "You can never smoke another cigarette for the rest of your life. Don't fool around." Harsh, but true. It's a lifelong addiction. But don't worry, you'll be grossed out by smokers in a few years, and only think of it now and then. Thank God they're banning it from most public places in my life.

[Benny Profane]

Oh, I forgot one big incentive to quitting. You'll have much better luck with women. Well, except for the smokers.

[ski_adk]

Wow...this is a very inspiring thread. I'm quitting myself...Well, struggling with quitting actually. I've been on the Wellbutrin for almost 2 weeks now and tried going cold turkey (no patch, cough-drop, etc) on Monday and made it to last night. I caved in badly at the bar and have been misbehaving all day today. The toughest thing about quitting for me is that my friends and coworkers are no help at all. Constant snide remarks about cigarettes and sarcasm about quitting do not help at all. It seems as though if I'm gonna quit, I need to completely start my life over just to avoid the temptation....

Anyways, this isn't the Therapy Group Research forum, so, on that note, I will be starting on the straight and narrow again tomorrow. Congrats on all of your success stories out there and I hope to share one of my own in the future. Keep up the good vibes and love for those who choose to conquer this evil!

[PaSucks]

Wow...this is a very inspiring thread.

I'm glad. I am now at four weeks (I know buzz, I shouldn't count anymore) and I honestly think I have it licked.

[Aldo]

I'm glad. I am now at four weeks (I know buzz, I shouldn't count anymore) and I honestly think I have it licked.

Stop talking about it!!!!

I know benson, you're probably right.... now where is that pack?

[PaSucks]

Some of you may yell at me for bumping this, but whatever...


It has been almost six months since my last smoke, I feel better, I don't cough, I sleep better, food tastes better, etc. and I couldn't be happier about it.


But man, I just got the worst craving I have had in months after sitting in a stuffy auditorium watching Das Boot. I know I won't have one but god a cig would be so good right now. It really kind of scares me to know that I can never have one again, yet every couple of months I will have to face the temptation I am facing right now.

I just want to say thanks to all you guys that gave me advice, and tell the rest of you people that quiting was the best thing I have ever done. Maybe this will serve as inspiration for you to quit too.

[Tippster]

Way to go, mang. I still get cravings every now and then, mainly after a nice meal or a good romp, but they're totally manageable. More of a "gee, a smoke wouldn't suck right now" little mental image vs. the gutwrenching need experienced when I first quit.

[Sensisnow]

I'm sure I'll refer to this thread often for inspiration when I quit upon my return from Mammoth on April 9. I'm going to have to cut out the alcohol and herb (at least for a month or 2) as well since they both seem to be craving triggers. I know it'll be tough, but hearing success stories from other people will make it much easier.

[Cono Este]

Shit, I feel guilty.

I have dipped for 15 yrs. I have tried quitting numerous times. My best attempt was going to Europe. I found myself searching all of turkey for a can but couldnt find one. Every type of cigarette on the planet but no dip, weird.
Everytime I try quiting i start back up again, but dip even more. I have been doing a can a day for the last 5 yrs.

I have kids now and I should have quit for the insurance test. But I got into a misrable situation 2 yrs ago and whenever i open up a legal bill i need to chew a can all at once. I am hoping for some light at the end of the tunnel but I am afraid it will never come.

I like the idea of saving the money and putting it towards something cool, like some new fat boards.

Keep it up PA, your over the hump.