Tips for quitting smoking!

It's "D" day, baby!!!
Honestly, wouldn't it be great if we had some kind of life moderator? Just someone to step in when you're messing up and shove you back onto the right track...
No more smoking!

Lawrence Garcia93 said:Man, you totally misread my intentions here.
I don't give a damn about anyone else; honestly, who cares? They’re just poisoning their own lungs and wasting their own money...
It's just that right now, this horrible smoke is really getting to me.
Believe it or not, it's actually true...

I can be quite the grouch myself, too. If someone decides to light up a cigarette in a section of a restaurant—even when it's strictly prohibited—I'll practically yell at them to get out. I suppose it’s because back when I was still smoking, if I was bothering anyone, I'd make sure to step away immediately...

Just wanted to share a little win with you all. It’s been a solid 8 months now, and I'm feeling great. 😎

I think I might've actually survived the worst of the withdrawals. Honestly, I’m starting to get this weird little hit of satisfaction from being smoke-free for three whole days. I even managed to sit down and drink a cup of coffee without that frantic, desperate urge to light up.
What an idiot—if after two or three days the struggle just turns into these weak, occasional urges—then what kind of hell was I living through before?!

Kimberly Williams — have you given it a shot?

boldpuma89 said:I think I’ve finally made it through the worst of the storms. Lately, there’s actually been this growing sense of satisfaction in being able to go three days without a cigarette. I even managed to sit down and enjoy my morning coffee without that nagging, intrusive urge to reach for a lighter.
What an absolute fool I was—if after two or three days the struggle boils down to nothing more than these faint, passing shadows of cravings, then where on earth was the actual nightmare I thought I was facing before?!

Kimberly Williams—have you tried it yet?

I’m closing in on my 100th day smoke-free, and while those occasional waves still hit me from time to time, they aren't nearly as devastating as I feared... In truth, I dealt with much more intense cravings back when I was actually smoking—you know, those moments when you run out or when you're stuck in a situation where you simply can't light up. Just keep pushing forward!

mellowcanyon20 said:I’m closing in on my 100th day smoke-free—and yeah, I still get those occasional hits of withdrawal, but honestly? It’s nothing major. If I’m being real, I actually had way more attacks back when I was still smoking... you know, that frantic feeling when you run out or when you're stuck somewhere and aren't allowed to light up. Just keep pushing forward.

🙂 So, when does this whole shooting spree actually end? Seriously, where's the finish line on this madness? 🙂
That’s exactly why the color matters, but who even cares? 🙂 Man, it’s gonna be a total trench warfare battle with these symptoms—it's basically guerrilla warfare at this point. 🙂 warring and... 🙂 anti-terrorist 🙂 The method for the final showdown: "Right at noon—greetings from Dubrovnik!" (And there you have it... what a pro!) 🙂 🙂

I figured it was time I weighed in too. 🙂
For the last five years, I’ve been burning through more than two packs a day. My total history with smoking spans about ten years, but I’ve finally made the call to quit for good—assuming I can actually stick to it. I’m currently six days nicotine-free. Those first four days were brutal. Everything in my body ached, and my mood swung wildly from mild irritability to pure, unadulterated rage. The last two days have been slightly better. 🙂
Whenever the urge to light up hits, I just grab a glass of water. During those first few days, I was practically drowning myself; I was drinking over six liters a day, though I’ve dialed it back to about four now. 😁
I can already tell I’m waking up differently. Even after only a few days without a cigarette, breathing feels noticeably easier. My sense of taste is shifting too, which makes things feel different; some foods don't even appeal to me anymore, but since my stomach is constantly full of water, I don't really feel hungry anyway. I eat because it's necessary, not because I'm actually hungry.
I’m certainly hoping I can hold the line. I wish everyone else here the best of luck in their own fight. 👋 👋

goldenowl said:I thought I’d jump in and share my own experience too... 🙂
For about the last five years, I was smoking over two packs a day, with a total smoking history of ten years. Finally, I made the decision that I am never picking up a cigarette again (well, hopefully that stays the case!) and I’ve officially been smoke-free for six days now. Those first four days were honestly pretty brutal. Everything seemed to ache, and my mood was all over the place—swinging from slight irritability to absolute rage. These last two days, though, things have started looking up 🙂
Whenever the urge to light up hits me, I just grab a glass of water instead. Because of that, the amount of water I was guzzling during those first few days was insane—over 6 liters a day—though I've dialed it back to about 4 liters now 😁
I can already feel a difference when I wake up; I feel like I'm breathing so much easier, even though it's only been a few days without nicotine. My sense of taste is shifting too, and everything feels different. Some foods don't even appeal to me anymore, but since my stomach is constantly full of water, I don't really feel hungry anyway. I only eat because I know I need to, not because I actually feel an appetite.
I’m really hoping I can stick it out, and I want to wish everyone else here massive success in their journey, too... 👋 👋

Maybe try chewing some gum? It really helped both me and my old man...

I’m officially five weeks smoke-free today. I still get those random urges here and there—mostly just out of old habit—but they pass pretty quickly. That first week was hands down the absolute worst part of this whole thing. Once you actually push through that initial hump, everything gets so much easier.

Man, last night was brutal—had a total meltdown, throat pain, felt like my brain was seizing up! I ended up lighting one just to deal with it. Five or six puffs, nothing inhaled. It’s been three days since my "last" cigarette. Honestly, considering I spent 20 years burning through two or three packs a day, I can't complain too much about how things are looking right now.
Can I actually keep counting this streak, or did yesterday just reset me back to zero?

We shall find it in our hearts to forgive you...

Go ahead and light up a Cuban cigar after a truly spectacular dinner—maybe some finger foods, succulent shrimp, or a massive lobster, or something along those lines—and just enjoy the moment without worrying about what goes down your throat.

But cigarettes? Absolutely not! Those things are pure garbage (and I mean the low-quality kind).

mellowcanyon20 said:We’ll forgive you for that...

Just light up a cigar after some damn good dinner (maybe finger foods, shrimp, lobster, or something like that) and don't inhale deeply.

But stay away from cigarettes! Those things are absolute garbage (well, low-grade garbage at least).

Actually, you know, I completely forgot to mention—I still love having a nice cigar after a meal and all that. It might actually help you manage those cravings, since you'll still get a little bit of nicotine absorbed through your stomach...

boldpuma89 said:Kimberly Williams - have you tried it yet?

Just wanted to drop a quick note to say I haven't touched a cigarette in 15 days now. 😁 Honestly, screw them. They aren't even worth the hype once you actually crunch the numbers on what you're spending versus what you're getting.

I've been avoiding coffee and those long, lazy hangouts at cafes—that's usually when the cravings hit hardest. Instead, I'm sticking to tons of green tea. I can already tell my skin looks fresher. Seriously, tobacco is trash; I really don't want to look like an old wreck by the time I'm 22. 😂 (I mean, I haven't had any health issues from smoking so far, but I know that's coming eventually.)

Looking at this thread, some people are mentioning cigars. That actually sounds like a decent occasional substitute, unlike that toxic junk they sell in local shops. If I ever saw the actual ingredients in those cigarettes, I'd lose it. 🙂
I've made a pact: if I even feel the urge to light up, I'll post about it here and expose myself to public ridicule. 🤣 At least that way, I'll stay motivated just out of pure spite. 😉

I’ve got a few "cubas" sitting at home—honestly, I practically forgot they were even there. They’ve just been acting like little decorations on my cabinet for the last two or three years. To be fair, they never really did much for me, even back when I was dealing with those headaches with the delivery guys from San Francisco.
Bravo, Kimberly Williams! I haven't touched coffee or booze in maybe three or four days. Now, I feel like a single cup of coffee once a day and one beer after dinner actually hits the spot. It kind of keeps me level.

boldpuma89 said:Had an episode last night... throat pain, brain spasms... absolute hell. Lit one up. Just five or six puffs without even inhaling. It’s been three days since my "last" cigarette. Considering I smoked two or three packs a day for twenty years, I guess I can't complain too much about where I'm at.
Can I keep counting, or was yesterday just Day Zero again?

forget that crap
either you quit or you smoke
anything else is just lying to yourself
(not saying I haven't been there myself)
but that's not how I finally kicked the habit

Exactly—it’s not really about quitting, per se.

Got two questions for everyone here:

1. "If you could somehow cap yourself at just 0 to 3 cigarettes a day—guaranteed, with zero chance of sneaking in extra ones,
WOULD YOU FINALLY CALL IT QUITS AND STOP SMOKING ENTIRELY?"

2. "IS DOING JUST 1 OR 2 CIGARETTES A DAY STILL A TOXIC, BAD HABIT THAT NEEDS TO BE KICKED?"

Just so there's no confusion, I am TOTALLY pro-non-smoking. It's just that I can't seem to bring myself to say "never again" to my own face, so I find this little comfort in thinking about just having 1 or 2 a day.
Keep in mind, this is my VERY FIRST attempt at quitting (and man, I really want this to be the last one—the successful one).

It seems I’m standing here acting like some sort of wise sage, which is quite ironic considering that just three months ago, I was tearing through two packs a day without a second thought...

Here is my honest take on boldpuma89:

Your current strategy is fundamentally flawed!!

If you decide to just scale back to one or two cigarettes a day, you aren't actually quitting; you're just spending your entire existence counting down the minutes until you can have that next little fix. If you ask me, I predict you'll manage about fifteen days before the old habits come roaring back to reclaim you.

It is abundantly clear that you haven't truly made up your mind yet.

I highly doubt you were ever even a more hardcore smoker than I was. In fact, I find such immense joy in contributing to this discussion that I often feel as though I am smoking just by typing out these posts.

Please, ponder this deeply: It is infinitely easier to walk away from smoking when you are feeling healthy and vibrant, rather than waiting until a doctor stands over you and insists that you absolutely must quit for the sake of your survival.

So, I'm officially back in the ring against cigarettes. Day one is in the books—survived four coffees at the local cafes without lighting up once.

mellowcanyon20 said:I actually kind of love writing posts in this thread. It’s like—honestly?—I feel like I'm smoking just doing it.

Honestly, I feel like I’m sitting there with a cigarette between my lips just typing this thread—and honestly? I’m kind of loving it.

Look, if I feel even a single cigarette is dragging me back toward the gates of hell, I’m shutting it down immediately—completely. Like, full stop. Even though I’m calling this my "first attempt," I honestly think it’s gonna be my last... because this time, I'm actually going to nail it.

I'm not kidding myself when I say this is the final stretch—whatever it takes, I'm going all in. Last time, I lasted five months before I folded because of my own stupidity and some minor life drama that popped up.