• Smoking and How To Quit
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• Smoking and How To Quit in Spanish (en español)

I tried to quit for 10 years without much success. How did I quit? COLD TURKEY! Very Easy! Why was it easy? I think I was ready. I really believe that you have to be ready to quit to be successful. I tried everything. I started to smoke ultra light cigarettes and then switched to Capri Ultra Lights. I smoked those tiny cigarettes for a year and on December 31st, I told myself that I would no longer smoke starting the New Year. I have been smoke free for 7 months. Quitting is hard. If I can do it, I know everyone can quit smoking. I was a hard core smoker. I couldn't even sleep or start my day without a cigarette. You really have to quit on your own terms. Good Luck!

I quit 2 days ago, attempt number 3 in the past month. Have to do it, I'm 43 been smoking 30 years a half pack a day. Maybe a bit more on the weekends. Got pneumonia earlier this year, dr said I wouldn't be so lucky with a negative lung x-ray next time. 6 months later I got pneumonia again, cat-scan said no lung cancer. He looked at me that time and said that was my get out of jail free card..heed the warning. I am but it sucks. Oh well..has to be done. Can't believe a cancer scare and I still smoked.

Hypnosis really worked for me, I know it sounds extreme but it was really effective for me. It was a gradual process but worked so much better than any nicotine patch for me!

It wasn't hard to quit smoking. It was hard to make the decision to quit. The problem was, I LIKED smoking! I liked the sensation when the smoke hit my lungs. I liked all the fiddling around with lighters and the package - it was a sensory experience. I tried cutting back, switched to 'light' brands, smoked only half a cigarette, etc. One day I just decided I was tired of smelling like an ash tray and I threw them away and never smoked again. I was 35. I'm now 57. I'm not saying there weren't some times when I thought a cig would be nice - like when my dad died - but I haven't had bronchitis in over 20 years. My clothes smell good. My hair smells fresh. There are no small burns in my clothes. My sense of smell is much improved. Now the smell of cigarettes actually offends me. In the end, it's been worth the trip.

I quit today. Thanks!

If you try to quit and it doesn't work, don't give up. Quitting is very hard. Think about why quitting didn't work for you. Only YOU know why you like to smoke, and only YOU can figure out what it will take for you to quit. Start thinking about what you can do to help yourself quit for good. Try quitting again in a few weeks and use what you learned from your first experience to make it work the second time.

My dad has been smoking for 27 years now since he was 18 and I’m SO worried . My dad is my life and I keep telling him to go for a checkup but he never does. I’m so scared so what should I do ?

Hi everyone. First of all, well done to you all that have given up smoking, congratulate yourself! I smoked for 17 years, 20 evil cigs a day and more at the weekend or if I was stressed! Or if I was happy! As soon as I woke up, with my coffee, had a ciggy before my shower! After my shower! Well you can get the picture. I decided to quit 3 months and 10 days ago. I used patches for 11 weeks now I'm A NON-SMOKER! I smell lovely and I have more cash in my pocket but I still feel a little stressed and this morning I could just smoke a cigarette. I am NOT going to as I have done really well I am proud of being a non-smoker. After reading everyone's comments on here I have more courage to carry on! I need to aim for the 6 month mark as apparently this is when the cravings settle more. For those of you that want to quit don’t let me put you off by telling you I want to smoke today. It is just a tiny thought in my head not a screaming thought. I am a NON-SMOKER! Best of luck to you all and thank you so much for all your comments. Stick with it! Don’t quit quitting! xxxx

I am smoke free for over 2 weeks. I already have noticeable improvements, mentally and physically. My skin turned to a nice pinkish color from yellow-grey combination. I get a lot of compliments lately about how my skin looks. My hair doesn’t stink anymore during the day. I feel proud of myself each time I see someone smoking, knowing that I have the total control of myself. It feels like things that made me happy earlier were all related to cigarettes and they were totally fake. I feel like having real taste, real likes and real time for myself now. I quit cold turkey. I first asked myself why I smoke and tried to find the real reasons behind my habit (they were more like emotional/psychological reasons). Then I had a motivation period like a week and decided to quit and have a better life. Now it feels like I've never smoked before. I used to smoke 1.5 packs every day, if I could do it, anyone can.

Oh yes it’s been 5 months and 7 days. I quit cold turkey. If you’re going to do it, do it right. I got past the 72 hours and it was all downhill. Yes, you are still going to want one, but it only lasts a few minutes. Take a deep breath. Don’t let that litter stick control you. You feel in charge when you light up one but it’s all in your mind.