Cigarrettes for Kilts

[Dan R Porter]

Okay I atempted to quit smoking yesterday, for the umpteenth time, and failed. I am now rationed 1 cigarrette per 2 hours thanks to my loving wife.

They run 5.oo+ a pack here in STL. I was smoking a pack a day. Thats around 40.00 a week! 160.00 a month. or 2000.00 a year! This will bring my Double box dream to fruition! So I am going to attempt it again.

Anyone else made the big Q U I T? Was it as difficult for you? Tobacco has been my friend for over 15 years, whenever I was mad/sad I turned to it. Its hard to give up a friend.

[McMurdo]

I smoked for years, I started when I was about 11. I quit several times just to pick it up again finally sometime in my mid 30's I woke up one day and said I don't need these anymore, and that was it. I'd say that was about 6 or 7 years ago, was it hard? Oh yeah it was harder than quitting anything else including putting down alcohol, and I had 12 steps to help with that. Best of luck with it.

[ozth3dog]

I smoked 2 packs a day for 6years. whenthey went up to over $6.00 a pack here in Baltimore, my wife made me quit. I have been smoke free now for 1 and 1/2 years. The first 2 weeks are horriable! I was aggravated and angry, very short tempered. After those 2 weeks though I was fine. The only time I crave a cig is when I have been drinking. Which dosen't happen to often at all. My advice is to just stick with it and have will power. Just think how many kilts you can buy for what you save in money! You could one tank per year, every year till death!

[Dardanelles]

Hi Dan, it's not easy giving up smoking, i wish you all the best. But look at all the kilts you can buy, good luck.

[KFCarter]

Anyone else made the big Q U I T? Was it as difficult for you? Tobacco has been my friend for over 15 years, whenever I was mad/sad I turned to it. Its hard to give up a friend.

I was in the restaurant / nightclub business for about 15 years and in the early days of that I was in a band. Cigarettes were everywhere and I loved (and still love) tobacco. I tried lots of different ways to quit... lots of different rationalizations... tricks... everything but hypnosis... and I always started back.

Then my Aunt died from emphysema. We were close. She and my mom grew up on the Southside of Chicago and had been smoking since they were kids. Their aunt, my Great Aunt, had been smoking for something like 60 years. The day after my Aunt died my Great Aunt, who was about 75 at the time, quit cold turkey. No tricks. No excuses. No help.
She just quit. She never smoked again. She lived to 97.

So... I figured if my Great Aunt who had been romancing tobacco for 60 years could go cold turkey then I could do too.

So I did. That was about 27 years ago. I still love tobacco. Love to smell it when someone else smokes. Love to walk past cigar stores and inhale. If I picked up a cigarette tonight, I'd be buying a pack tomorrow. That never goes away. Any time I think about it, I think about my Great Aunt. And the Aunt I lost to emphysema. And I just don't do it.

Wish I had a "system" or a "patch" or a "guru" story to tell, but frankly, IMHO, I don't think you can rely on anyone but yourself to get off tobacco.

One thing I can promise: it's not easy. And another thing: you can do it.

you really can

:ootd:

[Seumas52]

I totally understand where you are coming from. I just quit again the other day for the billionth (so it seems) time. I used to smoke a pack to a pack and a half a day. But after two strokes, two heart attacks and now emphasemia I figured its time to seriously quit. At first I thought oh well the damage is done now, why stop what I enjoy. But then the rational side of me kicked in and booted me in the ****. What made me decide to try to quit for good? I had a nice long talk with myself and came to realize what a great family I have here at XMTS. I have met a lot of wonderful people here and I intend to hang around and enjoy many more conversations. Thanks guys.

Aye,
Seumas52

[george7]

And your new kilts wont smell like cigarette smoke!

[Bigkahuna]

I have seen a number of people die from lung cancer and cigarette related diseases. Trust me. You do not want to go that way.

[dfmacliam]

I was smoking a pack a day for a few years now, around Lent of this year, I had a cold and was breathing with a little labor, I just decided to quit.... I used Lent as an excuse to stop, and not started back. There are times it has been tough, but the guys at work will not allow me to relapse. What's funny is they have trouble stopping, so they help me ...
you have to want to quit, and you have to tell the folks at the store you stop in.. Not to sell you any.. Ask for help at work, and you can do it... It's not easy, but you will feel alot better, once your done.

[tulloch]

I smoked for ten years. I made a study and a big plan and then was able to quit. First I looked at all the cessation programs that people I knew were doing. I saw when I liked to smoke particularly; after breakfast, with coffee, while driving, drinking, talking on phone. Then I began separating the acts. No cigarette in car, while on phone, while having a drink. Separate smoking from any activitiy by longer and longer times. I stopped buying them - too much like candy - with multiple units and the celophane and the taste. I began rolling my own. My smoking dropped fast to a more sane amount. Then I set a significant anniversary - 10 years to the best I could estimate - and I paid close attention to the negative aspects. I extinguished my cigarette at the hour my 26th birthday began and I put smoking in the same category with other horrible things I would never do like killing and suicide. The first week was really shockingly tough but that was something that showed me how important my mission was. I made it through the week and I have not had one since. 28 years next month. I deal with people who are in trouble from drug addictions and I can speak with authority about addiction based on my experiences. Amazing how cigarette addiction has similar characteristics to heroin addiction. Good luck. Don't cigarettes it or anybody take away your free will!