Let's quit smoking! - (screaming internally)

[TheRedChair]

I quit smoking cigarettes about 5 or 6 years ago. ( I smoke one cigar a day, but when I smoked cigarettes it was more like one a month.)

The gum worked for me very well. I chewed that until I got sick of it and then slowly replaced it with regular gum, which I also got sick of.

Surprisingly, my doctor doesn't care about the cigars. When I told him I smoked cigars he asked "how many do you smoke a day?" when I said "one" he just shrugged and told me that according to the FDAs aggregate data you have to be in the 3+ a day range before your risk becomes statistically higher than a nonsmoker. Unless you inhale them of course, in which case you're an idiot and you're just going to fucking die.

Quitting cigarettes was hard but I don't really even think about it now. I do worry about the consequences later on down the road (you don't get off the hook entirely just because you quit.) but I didn't take up cigarettes until I was 21, and I quit before I was 40, which are both in my favor apparently.

I don't have much advice beyond saying that the gum totally worked for me, but I know some people don't have any luck with it. Just do whatever you can to quit. It's not easy but it's possible even if you're really addicted like I was.

Yea... I understand were you come from. My story is that I was that "hard hitting" type of guy when he had time off is was "anything goes" But there was that 1 guy in any biker crowd and his nick was "DD" .

He was literally the poster child of what a real biker was all about. Strong as an Ox with long wavy hair smoking his cigs and Jaeger, which he got me hooked on. And we partied fucking hard. Like many things our ways parted. The Biker Community was turning real dark and I already knew what kind of darkness people can do. But DD was to much into the game and I knew he would not leave all that he was accustomed too.

We parted on good terms and after a few years I stopped the heavy drinking and smoking. I went to the o biker bar just to see how things are (that is another sad story but for another time). And there he was, my old partner in crime but he look like Death Warmed over.

All of that muscle mass was gone and in its place was a frail old man shooting pool. After getting over my initial shock, I calmly went over to where he was and talked to him a bit. That man whom I admired had Cancer bad and I knew he was not going to live much longer so we talked about old times and who banged who at the bar while drinking coffee as he could not drink hard liquor no more.

I was still riding my Harley, the one I rode with him on many exploits. He had to sell his because of his illness. We said out last good byes as we both knew he would not be around much longer and I rode away. The next week I gave away all of my smokes and almost all of my alcohol. I kept a few bottles of Jaeger for that special occasion or two.

Moral. How you live your life will have consequences. This was a man I'd admired and he lived his life the way he wanted, but to go out that way in his mid 50's gave me the shutters and a bit of sadness as on how he died.

Cancer is a cruel mother fucker that does not care who you are or who you might be. The Smokes killed him and so did the Drinks.

What is left are the memories of the forgotten times of people interacting with each other who are not here.

 

[infamousbeing]

my country has banned vaping nicotine, i switched to the vape to cut back on the rollies. - Very annoying for me so I just went and bought a pouch.

problem is a pack of smokes in the US costs what like $10? - Here the cheapest 20 pack is $30 and a pouch (roll your own) is upwards of $60-75.

I switched to vaping after finding out you could import a bottle for $25 and it would last me a week or two depending on the strength and I saved so much money. - Now we have to get "nicotine prescriptions" to import anything relating to nicotine as we are allowed to HAVE the juice, but shops aren't permitted to sell it.

This is the same story with weed in some states here, it's legal to grow it, but not smoke or give it to people.

I bet my vape juice I have stockpiled will be worth like $90 in a few months time

 

[Goyslop Muncher]

my country has banned vaping nicotine, i switched to the vape to cut back on the rollies. - Very annoying for me so I just went and bought a pouch.

problem is a pack of smokes in the US costs what like $10? - Here the cheapest 20 pack is $30 and a pouch (roll your own) is upwards of $60-75.

I switched to vaping after finding out you could import a bottle for $25 and it would last me a week or two depending on the strength and I saved so much money. - Now we have to get "nicotine prescriptions" to import anything relating to nicotine as we are allowed to HAVE the juice, but shops aren't permitted to sell it.

This is the same story with weed in some states here, it's legal to grow it, but not smoke or give it to people.

I bet my vape juice I have stockpiled will be worth like $90 in a few months time

Where the fuck do you live? That sounds horrible.
A pack of smokes wildly depends on where you live. The big city states have the highest tax rate, New York is like $10+ a pack. A place like Kentucky you can get dirt cheap cigarettes for like $2 a pack.

 

[duckmysick]

Where the fuck do you live? That sounds horrible.

Could be Thailand. They banned vaping because the Royal family have stakes in nicotine patches.

Wish I never started smoking. I use a e-cig which I'm not proud to say. Shit is like the methadone of nicotine. I find I'm constantly hitting the vape whereas I'd have a smoke every couple of hours.

 

[infamousbeing]

Where the fuck do you live? That sounds horrible.
A pack of smokes wildly depends on where you live. The big city states have the highest tax rate, New York is like $10+ a pack. A place like Kentucky you can get dirt cheap cigarettes for like $2 a pack.

Currently live in Australia, going to be immigrating out of the country shortly.

Keep in mind what i was referring to was the AUD equivalent, so the cheapest 20 pack is $29.9 USD at the time of writing.

Vape juice for one bottle needed to be imported from New Zealand which was equal to $10 usd, which was a fucking god send but now that's illegal without a "nicotine prescription"

 

[Dammit Mandrake!]

Vaping is not a substitute for smoking. I'd rather people that vape quit being pussies and smoke a safer cigarette. Second-hand smoke doesn't make me dizzy and sick; but second-hand vaping absolutely makes me feel sick.

Don't vape.

 

[potatofarms]

smoked heavily from about the age of 7 all the way to 40 something. decided to stop. just stopped dead no problems. my guess is its all in the head with cig companies putting out the message that its addictive on purpose.
the main thing is to have something to do instead. like op said, smoking is often an excuse for other behaviour such as going out, taking a break at work, avoiding conversation, starting conversation...
this is also true for drinking and other drugs or obsessions and compulsions even work or fitness.
learn to identify when you are using these coping methods to enact a desirable situation. when you become aware of them they start to seem silly and contrived. you will soon learn to take that break, not to have a cig, but because you want a break and can do so without shame or excuse.

 

[Frostnipped Todger]

Currently live in Australia, going to be immigrating out of the country shortly.

Keep in mind what i was referring to was the AUD equivalent, so the cheapest 20 pack is $29.9 USD at the time of writing.

Vape juice for one bottle needed to be imported from New Zealand which was equal to $10 usd, which was a fucking god send but now that's illegal without a "nicotine prescription"

The first pouch I ever bought was $6.60, and last time I looked a 50 gram pouch was $90+. The Australian taxes are fucking absurd, and the fact that any smokeless tobacco is illegal has always confused me (in the 80s I saw ads for dip, but apparently it was outlawed in the mid 80s).
I started smoking when I was 15-16, and quit when I was about 43. I was a serious smoker (40-50 a day) but I always rolled my own, so it wasn't that expensive.
I quit for about 6 months in my late 30s, I distinctly remember buying patches, but I planned to see how long I could go before I put one on. About 1pm I was in a dark psychedelic nightmare and decided that it was either the patch, or a bullet. I weaned myself off on patches in about two weeks, and then was fine for about 6 months, even though my ex-girlfriend was still smoking. Then one day we had some stupid argument about something and I had a cigarette to calm down.... Next day, back to 50 a day.
When I got engaged, I got the ultimatum, and I was sick of feeling like shit every morning, so I took up the gum. It's been 3 years now, and I have no desire to ever smoke again.

Quitting fucking sucks, but coughing up a lung every morning is worse. Good luck to all the quitters, and God bless all those who can smoke one or two a day, if I could do that, I'd still smoke.

 

[Grub]

Quit a few months ago, smoked a pack a day or more for 7 or 8 years. Switched to a salt nic vape. I don't really like it, but it works. I feel a lot better, no more brown stains on the fingers, it only took a week or so to stop waking up hacking and coughing, don't have ashtrays full of cigarette butts lying around everywhere. Walking up hills doesn't make me feel like i'm dying any more. Saves a bunch of money. I used to spend $240 every two weeks on smokes. I spend maybe $50/month on the vape shit.

This is the second time i've tried to quit. The first time I was around people that smoked all day. My old job used to let us smoke in the shop. I couldn't do it. Every time someone had a smoke around me it just made me wanna smoke. This time though, I find I don't really like the smell of smokes any more and I don't get cravings from it. I'm more able to just ignore it now when people smoke around me.

I don't really want to vape long term though. It's not really quitting the addiction or the habit, just changing the form of nicotine intake. Still, I figure it's a start.

 

[Cliff Booth]

Anyone else smoke a copious amount of cigs while driving? I've wound down my smoking considerably at home and cut it out entirely during the workday, but I basically chain smoke when I'm in the car. Just an observation.

 

[Niggernerd]

Been smoking since i was like 11. Its cool but you should quit because only squares want to quit after a year and you're a grade A

 

[Flavius Claudius Julianus]

Quit a few months back after tapering for a few weeks. Started again when a dear family member was taken to hospital, basically on death's door. Back on the smokes since.

I'm probably on 10 - 12 per day, spending about 120 Bong bucks monthly. The thing is, I'm not sure I even want to quit. Smoking is just so fucking pleasurable for me. I'm still physically actively and am in the gym everyday, so people find my nicotine habit retarded. I'll legit rip a smoke outside of the gym before going in, then have one when I leave.

My main concern is the expense. I go out of my way to get the cheapest smokes possible, which is just less than 10GBP unless you have a Polish shop hookup of illegal smokes. The extra money each month is tempting... but I just love the cigs, man.

My dick is still hard, my cardio is good, I'm in great shape. Until one of those things changes, I'm an addict. Fuck it.

 

[pro-ana coach]

Is there any way to deal with brain fog when not smoking? This is the only reason I can't quit.

 

[Vexillology]

Is there any way to deal with brain fog when not smoking? This is the only reason I can't quit.

Long story short, except for nicotine replacement, no, but you can compensate for it. If it's really bad, try to quit when you have time off work or, during a slow time, if you work has low-volume seasons.

When I quit, I learned to appreciate lightly-sweetened coffee and espresso without milk. It turned into a cigarette-like habit itself, trying different fancy blends (and to me, coffee and cigarettes remind me of each other). It was something hot that I could make a ritual out of, required preparation, and with a shot or two of espresso it will wire you. Coffee triggers cravings with some people so just be mindful of your own quirks.

Universal advise: Sleep well, continue to exercise (or start) and eat properly. Don't completely let yourself go but don't be afraid of letting yourself have a can of soda if you're feeling sluggish. Sleep in if you must, go to bed early, and generally just take it a little easier until you shake the nicotine, if that's what it takes.

Good luck, I'm sure you'll do it.

 

[Fliddaroonie]

Anyone here trying to quit, this is working for me: think of a smoker you despise. They smoke. You hate them. You don't want to be like a person you hate, do you?

 

[Goyslop Muncher]

Anyone here trying to quit, this is working for me: think of a smoker you despise. They smoke. You hate them. You don't want to be like a person you hate, do you?

Sort of? If you've ever managed to quit for a decent length of time, your sense of smell comes back. I forgot just how bad smokers smell, especially the dirty ones who don't shower or change their clothes daily. Also the "people" that smoke shit Like black and milds. It smells like stale garbage mixed with decomposing rat.
I don't ever want to smell like that.

 

[unsafe]

I smoke because it's a part of my country's work culture but I'm planning to quit. Is it better to go cold turkey or reduce gradually? Is vaping a sufficient substitute?

 

[Bagronkleton]

I smoke because it's a part of my country's work culture but I'm planning to quit. Is it better to go cold turkey or reduce gradually? Is vaping a sufficient substitute?

No. Despite what others say, it's a hard no.
Sure it's 'better' for your lungs because you're not inhaling burnt tar and other shit but you're still getting the nicotine and an easily accessible, smooth, drip feed of juice. Cutting out the middleman and feeding addiction more efficiently, basically.
---

I had a bout with kicking the nic addiction over this last year; the moodswings and cravings were harsh but it was worth sticking it out. Had it bad and lockdowns compounded the need to puff all the more. Was simply too expensive when sitting down and going over the numbers, way too expensive for something bringing no joy.
What really helped me curb the cravings was potent cbd tinctures to break the cycle of bad mood-> nicotine to take the edge off -> better for a bit -> feel like shit after for falling off that horse again. Originally got the stuff to help with exercise soreness and work fatigue; helping break nicotine addiction was a surprise welcome.

 

[Gravityqueen4life]

Anyone doing snus? Thats my new lover

 

[50 bit bitch]

Smoked for 10+ years and now just hit 30 days smoke free, we're all gonna make it