Well done Rich Dog! Hang in there! Never take another cigarette! You are addicted, and always will be!
After I gave up I started having nightmares that I was smoking again, I used to wake myself up to find out, stupid eh?

Also, a good idea for change of mind-set: once you've made the choice to quit, but at any moment crack and have cig every once or twice, don't have it provoke hopelessness by thinking of yourself as a smoker who is forever doomed to relapse. Instead, think of yourself of a non-smoker who has faltered. Not smoking should be the default in your mind. The "oh my god, I've had one cig, so the only choice is to start smoking full time again!" attitude makes absolutely no sense if you think about it. But your brain, which is still addicted and wants you to keep smoking at any cost, will have you rationalize the idea to yourself in this way.

I really believe cold turkey is the best way. I know lots of people in this thread don't agree, but smoking less as a pathway to quitting isn't a very good idea. If anything, it makes you even more addicted in a way. Each cigarette feels rewarding since you've waited for it for so long. Smoking shouldn't be relief from the "pain" of not smoking, instead the state of not smoking should be the reward in itself. This goes with the mindset I talked about previously.

Oh yeah, nightmares about smoking are the worst. You kind of start berating yourself in your dream, only to wake up with a huge sense of relief.

sorry for delay - I actually had to do some work You can get these in any drogerie or apotheke - 2mg pack of 96 costs around Fr. 44. I chew one around every 45 mins or hour or so. Start chewing slowly, once you get a peppery taste, "park" the gum in your cheek for 1 or 2 mins, then chew again, park, chew and so on. Takes about half an hour for the nicotine to be fully used up.

If you have sensitive gums the nicorette-type gum can cause problems. I used normal sugar-free gum...

True! I don't have any gum problems and because smoking is also a "mind" thing, I know that my brain is getting what it wants without me getting all smelly in- and outside

I just want to give my encouragement to all of you trying to stop smoking. I have never smoked but can understand how difficult it must be. As I know a few of you here as customers, would you like me to make your declerations of intent more interesting?

Stop smoking or no more Godminster

I would probably be less mortified if you'd have told me "Stop smoking or I shall take away your beloved 50' plasma TV and sound system". It's simply below the proverbial belt.

Evil Grumpy!!! I'm looking forward to some more yummy cheese...especially as I should have fully functioning tastebuds!!!

Day 1 underway and so far I feel quite optimistic. The Allen Carr book did seem to help me as I liked the way that it made me feel like I wasn't giving something up, more like gaining a hell of a lot. Last ciggie was at 7.15pm last night and I feel like I might actually manage it this time

Congratulations!

I think everyone feels optimistic on the first day.

Good luck though mims!

hahah! what luck! quit 3 days ago and just saw this... so far so good. i didn't smoke till the evenings so the days are all right, just a change of habit at night and it's been good to be more active at night and sleep early, as opposed to going out for drinks and late night. anyway, have been doing puzzles with my guys and that helps the nerves a bit anyway, and takes my mind off wanting a ciggie.

seems a good time to quit as i'm in good company! i think i may treat myself to the baths after a month, well deserved and a good goal to have...

good luck to all!!!

Has anyone managed to stop smoking this year?

Well done Möpp, Mimi1981, Richdog, have you succeeded?

Me also.......

17 days and counting.

Wow. Well done you.
Not much update on my part, I am still around the 5 per day mark. Biggest challenge was when I went out on Friday, but I didnt go over the 5 a day mark and only smoked once through out the night. I blame the alcohol

I'm going through phases of doing really well and then giving in to have one.

I don't smoke all day or in the evenings (even after a few drinks) but for some reason I find it hard at social occasions

ok. 2 weeks no ciggies and for the past week didnt want any either. but i went to this naturopath last wednesday and im not sure what he did but i lost all desire to smoke, physical anyway. hardest thing is the moments that i enjoyed a ciggie, bar, at night after work, etc. but the naturopath definitely helped the cravings a ton. now, i just say that after not smoking for two weeks it'd really suck to start again, i usually go back after a day, so it feels much more normal now not to smoke, than it did after, like, two or three days.

good luck everyone, and i would definitely recommend this naturopath, helped me feel much more relaxed about it all.

Compared to what I was smoking on an evening, I can now go out and smoke none... or if I do it's 1 or 2 all night max... and about halfway through one im like "Eurgh, what the chuff am I doing, this is gross". During the week or when im not out, I dont smoke. Definitely good progress.

Well done mate.

Well done mate.

I was told to use gum as an alternative as well, but I found I just couldn't stand that burning gum smell

I jest of course, well done all that are kicking the habit or at least reducing it, it's all good and I hereby award you all gold stars.

Stay with it and don't give up on giving up, you'll be glad of it and even with the occasional slip, don't forget, you are still giving up.

Good luck to all of you who want to quit smoking!

Keep your chin up and toughen through the first 6 months which were the most difficult for me. A lot of my friends still smoked and I was constantly surrounded by cigarettes while being on cold turkey. Luckily they were supportive and didn't give or offer cigs.

A couple of things helped when I was quitting:
- the book of Allen Carr
- plastering walls, doors, fridges, any available surface with little messages: 'your skin is worse when you smoke', 'smoke stinks', 'you can quit!', etc...
- the attitude of some people who were ROTFL when they heard that I was trying to quit triggered the 'I'll show you all' in me.

But I think most important was that I didn't want my cigarette cravings to control me. On 01.01.2011 I had my 8 year smoke-free anniversary and I hope I won't start this habit ever again.