Training & Nutrition - Quitting smoking guide

I am starting this thread because I am planning my strategy to quitting, which is now about one month away. I am going to throw everything I have smoking related away the second or third week of May, and I could use all of the help and success stories that I can!

Go to your doctor and tell him you want to guit.Its what i did and my doc gave me zyban for 2 months.Its been 6 months and i havent smoked.Its hard to stop and this is only one of a number of times but with the zyban i think i will quit for good..........good luck.

this is what worked for me:

one day, i just decided that even though i liked taking smoking breaks from work and i like smooking in bars and whatnot, i just didn't want to be a "smoker" anymroe. so i quit. i didn't throw anything away(in fact, a year later i still have a pack of marlboro menthol's in my desk b/c i'm kind of masochistic like that), didn't make any other life changes. just stopped, and didn't allow myself to smoke again. it was simply a matter of not wanting to smoke anymroe. i don't know if this works for other people. but i think if it's something you want to do, i mean really want to do, not jsut talk about and say you want to do it, you'll find a way. so, good luck finding your way, so long as it's something you really want to do.

dan

Cold turkey. Gum and hard candy helped my dad quit after 40 years.

Hey congrats on the decision to quit! I used Welbuterin(sp). Works like a charm. No cravings etc. Been smoke free for over 2 years now! (Still get a craving now and then, but they are easy to ignore).

Good luck!
Bob

What worked for me is that I am a natural born Procrastinator.

I was given a little card (that I put in my shirt pocket where I usually kept my cigarettes)...it read "The urge will go away within 5 minutes, whether you smoke the cigarette or not".

And I can put anything off for 5 minutes.

So I put off lighting the next one for 12 years, 5 minutes at a time.

I think that would work well for me, as I am the king of procrastination. I once put off a 3-5 page paper until 2 hours before it was due. I have quit before, but then I ended up dating a girl who smoked, and I have smoked ever since. My current gilrfriend does not smoke, none of her family or my family do either. I see my smoking addiction as the sad, terrible remnant of my teenage years. It is time for my inner teenager to die.

It's not smoking, but I used Skoal and other smokeless tobacco for 17 years until one day I decided I just didn't want to do it anymore. I quit cold turkey. About 2 years later a new flavor came out that sounded really good. (Copenhagen Bourbon for those inquisitive minds) so I went to the store and bought a can. One pinch and I about threw up. That is when I knew for sure I was not to ever chew again.
I still have cravings, but I know that I don't really need it or want it. I think it's more of a boredom thing than an actual craving.

Good Luck and just hang in there, eventually the cravings will be overcome.

I think that would work well for me, as I am the king of procrastination.

Is that why you are putting off quitting till next month? That right there leads me to wonder about how successful you will be. Don't get me wrong, I wish you all of the luck in the world but being an ex-smoker, I know that you have to get serious about quitting. That means quitting today!

On April 5th 1998 at about 5PM my wife and I discovered we were going to have our first child. We were so excited that we went over and sat down on the couch to light up a smoke. That is what you do when you smoke. We both had always said we would quit if we had kids. So I said, well let's just smoke this last one. My wife looked at me with a look that someone might have if they were losing grip and falling off a cliff. I knew what she was saying without her saying a word. I put the cigarette down and didn't light it. I have never lit one since. Neither has she and it will be 6 years tomorrow. I also threw out all the cigs and the lighters.


I was a MAJOR nicotene addict. I chewed tobacco since I was very young and also chewed during all the years I smoked. I always chewed in places like church (yep) work etc. places I couldn't smoke. THen I would smoke whenever and wherever i could. I always had nictone in my body for many years.

The thing to realize is that quitting smoking is a battle. You will have to FIGHT many, many times before you have overcome the addiction. I imagined every craving as being an enemy that I had to defeat. I would say, "you aren't going to get me. I am going to kick you azz." That is they key, handling the cravings because they are strong and as some have mentioned can occur years later although for me these cravings (yrs later) were more amazing than troubling.

For me the first 3 months were the hardest. Everytime I got a craving I knew that I had to do something physical. I had to get up and move. Go take out the trash, paint a room etc. Yes, I nearly painted the entire house we were living in at that time. IF you just sit there and focus on the craving you will lose. Your body is somewhat pleased by the similar feeling it gets by getting your heart rate up a bit. This seems to make the craving easier to deal with. Also it helps take your mind off of it.

Quit the smokes today! You will be so glad you did. I am so glad that I quit. For one thing I don't think we could afford it anymore it is sooooooo $$$$. JUst think of all the bike gear you could buy.

I am putting off quitting until then because it will be summer break. the stress of finals added to the cravings will make a terrible mix. I am committed to quitting, and it WILL work, it just will not work right now.

I am putting off quitting until then because it will be summer break. the stress of finals added to the cravings will make a terrible mix. I am committed to quitting, and it WILL work, it just will not work right now.

Something you're going to have to learn sooner or later is how to deal with stress without smoking. The end of your finals will not be the end of stress in your life: it will always be something, whether it's school, work or family -- or just everyday annoyances that add to your desire to smoke. If you think that waiting until after finals will help you quit then by all means wait -- you have the rest of your life ahead of you (plus a few weeks gained back by quitting smoking) so you don't have to hit a particular day, just get it done soon.

I know there will be stress, but it is stress that can easily be put off. College is what i am doing to determine the rest of my life, and a nicotene craving is not something i want to deal with in the middle of a difficult test. Over the summer, the biggest stress I face will not even come close to stacking up to the stress of finals and test taking.

You might find some of the following useful:

I tried the patches, but I experienced the "vivid dreams" mentioned on the side of the box. I stopped the patches after 3 days, it was just too strange.
I chewed alot of gum. I hate gum. I picked the worst flavors I could find: clove, licorice, extremely minty, etc. Oddly enough, the terrible taste of the gum took my mind off smoking for a few minutes. This was important in the beginning.
I drank quarts of water each day. I carried a quart container with me all the time. This gave me something to do and kept me feeling full so I didn't overeat.
Instead of smoking on my cigarette breaks, I paced the parking lot. I still had the habit of leaving my desk each hour, and I figured I should only try to break one habit at a time.
I really reduced my caffiene intake, before starting the "quit process". I figured I would eliminate the "triggers" first.


Dan

this is what worked for me:

one day, i just decided that even though i liked taking smoking breaks from work and i like smooking in bars and whatnot, i just didn't want to be a "smoker" anymroe. so i quit. i didn't throw anything away(in fact, a year later i still have a pack of marlboro menthol's in my desk b/c i'm kind of masochistic like that), didn't make any other life changes. just stopped, and didn't allow myself to smoke again. it was simply a matter of not wanting to smoke anymroe. i don't know if this works for other people. but i think if it's something you want to do, i mean really want to do, not jsut talk about and say you want to do it, you'll find a way. so, good luck finding your way, so long as it's something you really want to do.

dan

I used to work with a Dentist that quit like this.. apparently he had beena chain smoker for many, many years... then one day decided he wanted to quit.. left a pack of smokes on his kitchen table, saw them everyday, and never once cheated.... he told me the pack was still there, and he ahd been smokefree for 7 years... it takes willpower for sure...

jeff

I think i figured it out: everytime i get a craving, i will go for a quick sprint around the block/jobsite/trail. I just did about a two mile sprint through traffic on my SS road, and i don't even want a cigarette. I sat through an hour and a half of class, and now im sitting here typing this without a single craving(pack a day habit, i have one every hour). This could, no, this WILL work!!

I understand Trekkie. The best thing is to quit during a time that isn't overly stressful like exams, because you'll have a better chance of success.EVentually you have to deal with situations like stress, parties, bars, drinking, etc. For the first few weeks they suggest you avoid drinking alcohol which triggers cravings, and stay out of bars or places where people drink and smoke a lot. Coffee also causes cravings, but I managed to drink coffee while quitting, since I had long since given up having cigarettes with morning coffee. No way was I giving up EVERYTHING! However, I didn't drink any alcohol for about a month after quitting. I used the gum and it was enough to get me off the smokes. I was never able to manage it cold turkey.

I think i figured it out: everytime i get a craving, i will go for a quick sprint around the block/jobsite/trail. I just did about a two mile sprint through traffic on my SS road, and i don't even want a cigarette. I sat through an hour and a half of class, and now im sitting here typing this without a single craving(pack a day habit, i have one every hour). This could, no, this WILL work!!

and if it does work today...tomorrow is the first day of the rest of your life.

(God, I really said that didn't I? forgive me!) but dang..it's still true

I finally succeeded by getting three things in my head:

1) Smoking is Vile
I thought about my smoking, and about how filthy it was, and how it was controlling my life. I consciously thought about smoking as something incredibly vile and filthy...you want to feel physically nauseous as you contemplate the poisons you are ingesting.

2) Exercise
My bike definitely helped me to quit. I got back into cycling at the same time as I quit. This provides incredibly positive feedback, because you can literally feel yourself getting stronger each day. And, by breathing hard while riding you are cleaning out your lungs, and can feel them getting cleaner too.

3) Admit that you are an Addict
I had tried to quit many times, but always succumbed to the temptation to have "just one smoke". I finally had to admit to myself that I was a nicotine addict, and could not have just one...ever.

Finally, be very careful around 1 month, 3 months, and especially 6 months. After you've proven to yourself that you can quit, you will be tempted to try "just one for old time's sake"...especially in certain scenarios (e.g., a bar).

Best of luck...you can do it!

I worked on breaking down the habit patterns that were associated with smoking BEFORE I gave up! I had smoked for almost 15 years and decided that I would quit on my 30th birthday (I didn't want to have been a smoker for longer than a non-smoker!).

In the couple of months before I worked on 2 main things:

Mental attitude - I tried to convince myself that smoking was a nasty horrible habit that I did not want to continue, rather than something I enjoyed.

Habit breaking - I identified the times that I smoked purely out of habit and tried to then postpone smoking my next cigarette until later. For instance, I took my first cig in the morning later each day, waited longer after eating or having a coffee, tried not to smoke while waiting for a bus.

When I gave up, I had partied quite a lot in the preceeding days (as I said, I set my 30th birthday). I had also not 100% committed to giving up until the day itself (takiong off the pressure from myself by allowing myself to not give up if that's what I truly felt like). When I woke up that morning though, I KNEW that I would not smoke again.

As I'm a 100% or nothing kinda guy, it's been important to me that since then I have not had a single drag on a cigarette or cigar. There were a few difficult times (first time in a pub without smoking), but each time the actual internal struggle was over fairly quickly. The longer I was without a cigarette, the easier it was to ignore and the more I could convince myself that I didn't *actually* want a cigarette.

It's almost 5 years later and I'm still cigarette free with no problems.

Go for it! And good luck ;-)

Also if you screw up, just keep trying and eventually it will stick. I quit smoking a bunch of times. Only this last time has it stuck. Cycling really does help, I would consistantly come home from my rides and light one up and instantly felt like crap. I reminded myself daily of the stupidity of this. In the end I think my motivation to become a better/stronger cyclist really helped to finally kill the habit. Also the reward system can help through some of the tough times. I owe myself a really nice bike with the money that I haven't spent on cigs, unfortunately I can't seem to find the money right now. :D

I know there will be stress, but it is stress that can easily be put off. College is what i am doing to determine the rest of my life, and a nicotene craving is not something i want to deal with in the middle of a difficult test. Over the summer, the biggest stress I face will not even come close to stacking up to the stress of finals and test taking.

Your not going to quit.

Looking back on my college days I can see why you would be thinking that way, but 20 years later (hell 2 months later) it wont mean sh*t.

the decision you are making by not quiting now is that finals and career are more important than your health - until that changes then you will always be a smoker.

Sorry to be so hard - I smoked, and I quit, and I smoked, and I quit, and I smoked. Finally I decided that nothing was more important that quiting smoking, 9 years ago a present to my wife and son I quit on Dec 1 -- on Dec 24 I told them had quit for good and showed them the proof of almost a month smoke free.

you can quit... if you want to and realize it is the single most important thing you can do for your health and those around you. but while relatively ( I said relatively) trivial things like finals are more important you will ALWAYS find a reason to have a cig.

sorry
ed

Your not going to quit.



I wasn't going to say that but I surely was thinking it. The fact is, if you ain't quittin' today, you ain't quittin' tomorrow. The nicotene is simply going to be too strong for you if you don't get any more serious than that.

If you are a hardcore nicotence addict and you have never tried to quit, you don't even know what stress is. The finals, school etc. won't seem like stress anymore when you compare it to quitting smoking.

I wasn't going to say that but I surely was thinking it. The fact is, if you ain't quittin' today, you ain't quittin' tomorrow. The nicotene is simply going to be too strong for you if you don't get any more serious than that.

If you are a hardcore nicotence addict and you have never tried to quit, you don't even know what stress is. The finals, school etc. won't seem like stress anymore when you compare it to quitting smoking.

Don't believe that garbage, unless it is reverse psychology.

Real experts will tell you the opposite, plus you know yourself better than any of us. Pick and stick to a quit date, make preparations, identify triggers, plan on spending some money on stop-gaps (nicotrol, gun, patch, etc) and stick with it. If you fail this time around you can always try another method a week later.

Good Luck!

ehenz

I cheated. I quit my pipe 3 years ago when I was in the hospital for a knee operation and on pain meds for 2 days. So that gave me a 2 day head start and I had some pain pills for the week I was home from work. BTW I still miss being able to stop and fill the pipe when some one asks a really dumb question.

Joe

I AM GOING TO QUIT. You say identify triggers, and find out what barriers exist, well school is a big barrier. A trigger is taking an exam that means making or breaking my college career, as I will be doing this finals week. Do you think that i should throw away my potential because I had to quit this instant? If I wait a month, it will make my chances for success in college and in quitting that much greater. Trust me, I know what will work for my psychology and physiology.

Good luck, trekkie820. You can do it.

put a rubber band round yer wrist. everytime you think about smoking in a postiive way shap that rubber band. you'll stop wanting to smoke i tell ya! ;)

I am starting this thread because I am planning my strategy to quitting, which is now about one month away. I am going to throw everything I have smoking related away the second or third week of May, and I could use all of the help and success stories that I can!


I stopped smoking about 8-9 years ago, lost weight and became a cyclist :) I tried and failed to quit plenty of times, but I think the last attempt was sucessful simply because I was determined to stop. I didn't use any kind of substitute. I cracked after a week and got half way through a smoke before I was disgusted with myself, put it out and have never even considered lighting up again. It was real easy after this little slip-up. The important thing for me was to believe deep down that I was no longer a smoker.

Accept you'll feel lousy at times but console yourself that it'll quickly pass. It won't be long till you suprise yourself by realising how many days you've gone without thinking about smoking. Stick with and good luck!

Don't believe that garbage, unless it is reverse psychology.

Real experts will tell you the opposite, plus you know yourself better than any of us. Pick and stick to a quit date, make preparations, identify triggers, plan on spending some money on stop-gaps (nicotrol, gun, patch, etc) and stick with it. If you fail this time around you can always try another method a week later.

Good Luck!

ehenz

I agree...pick a date and stick with it. I quit about 18 years ago and I picked a date that was going to be past a stessful time in my life. It makes no sense to start right in the middle of one of the most stessful times our your life. Give yourself every chance to succeed. If you think patches and/or welbutrin would work for you, then by all means, see a Dr. You know yourself better than anyone, and if picking a date after finals is better for you, then so be it. Do whatever it takes. And it isnt the end of the world if you dont succeed the first time. I was lucky, I only quit once, and I hope you are as fortunate.

I AM GOING TO QUIT. You say identify triggers, and find out what barriers exist, well school is a big barrier. A trigger is taking an exam that means making or breaking my college career, as I will be doing this finals week. Do you think that i should throw away my potential because I had to quit this instant? If I wait a month, it will make my chances for success in college and in quitting that much greater. Trust me, I know what will work for my psychology and physiology.


Trekkie,
I'm with you on this. I'm a smoker and am coming off a big weight loss. Quitting smoking is next and now most important on my list. I think what you are saying is valid. You have to set yourself up for success instead of failure. Trying to quit smoking while doing finals is just not really in the cards.
But, as soon as you pass in that last final, go have a beer and your last cigarette.

If you want to start a support thread, I'm in.

I did the putting off thing and it worked. I spent most of the meantime paying attention to the bad things of smoking while I was doing it--that disgusting aftertaste, thinking about all the nasty chemicals and poisons in each smoke, getting angry at those cigarettes that you smoke that you didn't really want but did anyway because who knows when the next chance you'll get to smoke will be?, what a pain it is picking restaurants, finding places to smoke in new buildings, all that sort of thing.

By the time I quit, I had a good healthy hatred for those little things. Things were a little tough in the beginning but not too bad. It got easier every week.

It also helps to have one of those schedules of things that are healing after you quit (like this one (http://www.uni.edu/wellrec/wellness/smoke/changes.html)) to give you milestones to look forward to.

Picking a date definately helps. Mine was April 1, 1994. Ten years ago. A water bottle also helped. I could take a drink of water whenever I got a craving.

I like the idea of also using a card that says "The urge will go away in five minutes, weather you smoke or not". I think that would be a good reality check for tough cravings.

Congratulations on your decision to quit! That is the first big step. Truth is that if you really are committed to quitting, you will find a way that works for you. Each of us has had to figure out what works best for us. Do not let anyone discourage you. Another thing is do not feel guilt, or feel like a failure if it doesn't work the first time, or the next. Nicotine is POWERFULLY ADDICTIVE! Quiting is the hardest thing you'll ever do. Just keep tring. NEVER GIVE UP.

There are two powerful aspects to the addiction. One is a physical addiction, and the other is a psychological addiction (or habit part as some call it). You need to deal with both if you want to succeed. If anyone ever tells you otherwise, they are full of it.

What worked for me was this:

Step 1.

I started using the patch, but only for two weeks just to get me used to not having cigarettes as part of my routine (the habit part, or psychological part). The patch removes the physical addiction withdrawal while you deal with the psychological. But make sure you do not get into the pattern of having to live your life wearing a patch or chewing the gum. That'll never work.

Step 2.

I took 2 weeks off of work and quit the patch cold turkey. The two weeks off was the key for me. It eliminated most of the triggers which I had. It also spared those around me the pain of me being a total mess for a while. What did I do for two weeks? I worked out about 2 hours a day. I cleaned my apartment from top to bottom. It was a totally different routine, and I was able to be a basket case in private.

After those two weeks of hell, it got better and I could handle it at work after that. After a month or two, you'll feel back to normal.

Maybe you can try a modified version of this once your exams are over.

Good luck!

I just feel that once I give up smoking I won't have anything to look forward to, which is complete BS, I know, but thats how my mind works. Overcoming that will definately be the big hurdle.

Trekkie,

Not to disagree with what everyone else has said (and I do disagree with some of it),
here are a few tips that might help.
1) congratulate yourself for making the decision, thats the first step.
2) along with the whole admitting your an addict thing, might as well admit you
enjoy smoking,
3) Don't beat up on yourself if you do have a setback.
4) you can only quit when you are ready, and I agree during finals may not be
the best time.
5) 1oldroadie got it right, 5 minutes at a time, even less if it has to be,
tell yourself "I'll have a cig in 5 minutes from now, its ALWAYS 5 minutes
from now
6) Don't beat yourself up if you have a setback.
7) OJ, hardcandy, gum all help, Coffee worked for me (but I'm addicted to that now :D ).
8) when you get cravings (and they only last 20 seconds or so) do something that is
not compatible with smoking (riding) exercize etc.
9) Don't beat yourself up if you have a setback.
10) get into the mindset that your smoking doesn't control you,
you control your smoking. You are in control.

I believe that you know yourself better than all of us.
there is alot of support here, use it.

My thoughts on the patch, nicorette etc. is that it just substitutes one delivery
method for another.

Marty

this is what worked for me:

one day, i just decided that even though i liked taking smoking breaks from work and i like smooking in bars and whatnot, i just didn't want to be a "smoker" anymroe. so i quit. i didn't throw anything away(in fact, a year later i still have a pack of marlboro menthol's in my desk b/c i'm kind of masochistic like that), didn't make any other life changes. just stopped, and didn't allow myself to smoke again. it was simply a matter of not wanting to smoke anymroe. i don't know if this works for other people. but i think if it's something you want to do, i mean really want to do, not jsut talk about and say you want to do it, you'll find a way. so, good luck finding your way, so long as it's something you really want to do.

dan

I agree here. I was a 2 pack a day smoker for almost 10 years, the first 5 years I smoked a pack or less a day. I always loved smoking, but one day I decided enough was enough. It's now 1 year, 7 months later and I have yet to smoke a cigarette. However I never cut back my drinking, bar visiting etc. My truck ashtray is still full of butts from when I was a smoker (I'm just lazy I guess). I still have all my old ashtrays and one that still sits on the bottom shelf of my livingroom coffe table. Again, I'm lazy and it doesn't bother me. If you want to quit really bad, it will happed. I did the cold turkey thing and it worked great for me, but for you it may vary, sone people may need more help. Still though, for people who say they can't quit, I think they just don't really want to that bad. Anybody can quit. Good luck! It feels great especialy after you hit that 3 month mark!

I have to admit, I have a cigarette once in a while, but I'd never start smoking again as a habit. Why bother? I'm addicted to my bike!

Hey trekkie, you seem into punk with your Dropkick Murphys avatar. Just look at it as giving the one finger salute to the system. It's just giving money away to a corporation to fit in, in a way. Good job. Now I just need to get my girlfriend to quit.

John's Three-Step Plan for Smoking Cessation:

1) Have massive heart attack.

2) Spend several days in hospital, where they won't let you smoke.

3) Spend a few months at home, where you don't have to be around people who are smoking (warning, this tends to have an adverse affect on income and social standing).

Worked for me... :)

i just married a mormon, easy as that no more smoking :P

Well??? Did you quit? Even if you didn't there is still today. Don't ever stop trying!

I smoked for 15 years and after my daughter was born I decided that it was time (didn't want the smoke, smell, etc... anywhere near her...even though I didn't smoke inside)...

One day I threw away the pack that I was smoking and bought the Nicoderm Clear Patch Step 1 (out of three steps)...I had never tried it before (always tried to quit cold turkey...always started up again) and they actually helped me...did all 3 steps and am now smoke free (7 months now)... I'm not saying that you will not have cravings or think about that cigarette you wish you were having after dinner but it takes A LOT of the edge off...after the patch series I had a craving here and there but nothing serious...

About a month and a half ago I started cycling (and joined this forum :) ) and the bike has helped me a lot in "forgetting" the cigarette...

One thing that helped me also was a quitting worksheet I filled out (from http://www.quit.com) where I outlined my reasons for quitting and the benefits, etc... and when I though about a cigarrette or felt I wanted one, I read it and reminded me of why I was doing it...it was a little easier for me cause I could just hold my daughter and forget everything about that cigarette...

Hope you are doing ok with your quitting...let us know how it's going...and good luck!

trekkie did u quit?

I am starting this thread because I am planning my strategy to quitting, which is now about one month away. I am going to throw everything I have smoking related away the second or third week of May, and I could use all of the help and success stories that I can!

Goog for you. It took me a long time but I finally quit 2 1/2 years ago. I had tried many times before and was never successful. I had been on and off the patch with no results but when I finally decided I'd had enough, I used the patch for one day and that was it. The hardest part is getting through the first few days and overcoming the nicotine withdrawl. There were times early on when I felt the urge to a smoke, but as time went on, those urges got further and further apart and I can't remember when I last felt one.

I guess I was successful this time because I was ready; I was tired of coughing, I was tired of hacing to run out to buy a pack, I was tired of spending all the money for nothing.

Best of luck.

CQ

So how are you doing with quitting?

Thanks for the positive input on this post!

Part of my reasons for cycling and planning my Century for TNT (http://www.teamintraining.org)(a cancer research fundraising arm of Leukemia/Lymphoma Assoc.) in Spring are associated with my smoking. 3 years ago my GF was diagnosed with Hodgekins Lymphoma, underwent treatment(chemo/radiation), beat it, and ran a TNT marathon in Vancouver shortly after treatments. I smoked the entire time this was occuring, often having to hide that fact that I smoked while at events, fundraising, etc.
Last year my grandfather, who was my only father figure in my life, died from lung cancer. I miss him alot, but still smoke his brand of smokes...
Two months ago I got on a bicycle for the first time in many years. I can't explain how much fun I was having, but you all know how much fun it is. One day while riding, and heaving/puffing, after a trip to a TNT event in which my GF is an honoree(survivor), I realized that I was an idiot, a junkie, and making myself sick with the cigerettes. I needed a plan...
I decided to get in touch with the TNT team, plan on a long Century fundraiser ride, get a new road bike, and work on quiting the ciggerettes before (real)training begins in January. Making these plans of attack have been life changing already...reducing my niccotine intake daily, thinking on the training, working on my own training until Spring, and making headway on BOTH plans.
I wish I were the type that can just throw the pack away, and never pick a ciggerette up again, but I've done that many times since I started smoking in my teens in the late 80's, including 6 month periods(these were focused around sport activities as well, and thus my best attempts). So far, this FEELS right. It's a focus I have, partake in, with goals, and rewards.
Trekkie, stick to your plan if it feels right, cut down, whatever it takes to keep you focused on quitting...I just keep thinking, man I'm gonna be able to really SMOKE(up hills, long distance, sprints) when I quit.

Lufty

Cigarettes were/are like crack for me. They still call my name (though in a much softer voice now). Marlboro says smoke just one, Dave...what's one little cig gonna hurt?
I've been off my crack for many years now...but...I'd love to fire one up right now, damn it! Long ago, I'd quit for over 2 years, then I saw that my sister-in-law had left a pack on the table...I snagged one...just one...I was immediately back...like a $5 crack ho! Those 20 little Class A cigarettes...my devils. However, keep the faith...demons can be defeated! They're just so easily obtainable...just one, Dave...Good luck! If I quit, even the most seemingly hopeless addict can too.

i quit 23 days ago.....cold turkey is the only way for me. using nicotine replacement is like quitting drinking by having a couple of beers !!....try this site www.whyquit.com works well. the big drug companies do not want you to quit qith their products.....they want you to buy them every 2 or 3 months & try again !!

old jack

Thanks for the positive input on this post!

Part of my reasons for cycling and planning my Century for TNT (http://www.teamintraining.org)(a cancer research fundraising arm of Leukemia/Lymphoma Assoc.) in Spring are associated with my smoking. 3 years ago my GF was diagnosed with Hodgekins Lymphoma, underwent treatment(chemo/radiation), beat it, and ran a TNT marathon in Vancouver shortly after treatments. I smoked the entire time this was occuring, often having to hide that fact that I smoked while at events, fundraising, etc.
Last year my grandfather, who was my only father figure in my life, died from lung cancer. I miss him alot, but still smoke his brand of smokes...
Two months ago I got on a bicycle for the first time in many years. I can't explain how much fun I was having, but you all know how much fun it is. One day while riding, and heaving/puffing, after a trip to a TNT event in which my GF is an honoree(survivor), I realized that I was an idiot, a junkie, and making myself sick with the cigerettes. I needed a plan...
I decided to get in touch with the TNT team, plan on a long Century fundraiser ride, get a new road bike, and work on quiting the ciggerettes before (real)training begins in January. Making these plans of attack have been life changing already...reducing my niccotine intake daily, thinking on the training, working on my own training until Spring, and making headway on BOTH plans.
I wish I were the type that can just throw the pack away, and never pick a ciggerette up again, but I've done that many times since I started smoking in my teens in the late 80's, including 6 month periods(these were focused around sport activities as well, and thus my best attempts). So far, this FEELS right. It's a focus I have, partake in, with goals, and rewards.
Trekkie, stick to your plan if it feels right, cut down, whatever it takes to keep you focused on quitting...I just keep thinking, man I'm gonna be able to really SMOKE(up hills, long distance, sprints) when I quit.

Lufty

Best of luck, Lufty. Admitting that you are an addict is a step in the right direction. For me it took a combination of 3 things:

1) Getting a very negative image in my mind associated with smoking. Think of it as the vilest, nastiest, grossest thing you can do to your body. Think of it turning your insides to black, smelly, filth. Work on this, until whenever you think of a smoke you don't think of it as something positive, but as something that nearly turns your stomach.

2) Focus on something positive, like riding the bike. The fact you are setting goals for yourself on the bike is very good. The good news here is that when you quit, you'll start feeling stronger and stronger on the bike, providing you with vital positive feedback.

3) Admit you're an addict, and can't have "just one". This was key for me, as I had quit many times before, only to get hooked again due to "just one".

FWIW - I continued to smoke on and off for nearly 10 years after my father died from a heart attack at age 47. I knew better, of course, but they are so damned hard to give up.

As for "reducing your nicotine daily" - I hope that works for you, but to quit, you've got to quit. The first 6 weeks can be tough, and you're also vulnerable around 6 months and 12 months (tempted to just try one). Good luck, and keep trying...