How Did YOU Quit Smoking?

About 70% of smokers want to quit, about 40% of them try to quit, and about 5% succeed in quitting.  So they obviously need all the help they can get.  There are many different ways of quitting (or trying to quit), and most of them will work for some people.  But the secret is to find out what will work for you. 
There are plenty of nicotine substitutes available, and most of them are sold in conjunction with support programs.  However, many quitters believe in going ‘cold turkey’.  Often the motivation needs a boost at those times when the craving is greatest, especially during the first 3 months. 
I gave up cigarettes on my third attempt, using the following motivating argument to keep me on the right track. A colleague, who was also a good friend, was offered a bottle of excellent brandy by his boss if he could stop smoking for a month.  He accepted the wager, and told us all about it.  I was mad – I felt that if he could give up, so could I, and I didn’t need a bottle of brandy to get me to do it!  We both quit; he started again after about 2 months (and after finishing the brandy), whereas I kept ‘clean’.  That was over 40 years ago.
Now it’s your turn.  Why not tell us about the trick or gimmick that helped you succeed where so many fail.  Maybe your method could inspire someone else to triumph over the noxious weed.  Remember that your increased risk of a heart attack from smoking is cut in half within the first year after quitting.

Comments

[jon]

I quit smoking 40 years ago by going cold turkey and when the craving started I had a drink of cold water which seemed to lessen the craving. I drank a lot of water, it took a long time but I havent looked back since. It worked for me. Lots of luck to any one that tries this method.

[Robert Griffith]

Thanks, Jon:
No-one else has taken up the challenge. Maybe we should ask people to tell us what method DIDN'T work for them . . .
Bob G.

[Robert Griffith]

A new approach! Wait for the 'spur-of-the-moment' feeling to hit you. A study reported in the British Mdical Journal says unplanned quit attempts are more than twice as likely as planned attempts to last six months or more. Here's a summary:
http://news.scotsman.com/health.cfm?id=135552006

[Jeannie]

Hi,
I quit smoking using nicotine gum. I chose the gum because when one gets the urge to smoke, it offers instant gratification. I used the gum for a couple of months, gradually weaning myself off by chewing regular chewing gum. I haven't smoked for about a year now.

[Robert Griffith]

Thanks, Jeannie, for this hint:

- did you plan ahead or quit more or less on the spur of the moment?

Bob Griffith

[Nenad]

Dear Smokers,
The key to quit smoking is RESEARCHING yourself. Just try to quit everyday and dont give trying, you'll succeed.
Here is a great database to start researching.
http://smokerness.com
Best regards,
Nenad

[gary]

BEST WAY…after MANY attempts: I smoked Camel Non Filter’s for Years….
All smokers know there are ups and downs in ’satisfaction’ smoking…some times they taste like crap, but you smoke ‘em anyhow… SO, steps for me were:
1. Wait for a ‘down’ cycle where either you’re REALLY ready or…they taste like crap…
2. Get some nicotine LOZENGES…not gum, patches…LOZENGES… break in half (don’t need
ANOTHER addiction…do we…??)
3. When the ‘URGE’ blindsides you…POP half a lozenge and wait 3 minutes…. The urge will pass.
4. Always remember you’re only quitting for NOW…. not ‘forever’…that’s too much for an addict to think about…just for NOW. As a matter of fact…tell yourself, if it becomes OVERWHELMING that…ok…you’ll have one in ‘3 minutes’…pop another 1/2 lozenge… wait the 3 mins…urge will pass… stretch it out. If you fail and have a smoke… NO BIGGIE!… keep at it. After a few weeks you’ll do the same thing…only, you’ll see you don’t need the lozenge any more… you just make yourself wait out that 3-minute urge and know you can ALWAYS smoke if you want…but you DON’T want to…so wait another 3 before you do…. It worked for this hard-nosed addict…