Best Ways to Quit?

I have never smoked (except to try it once or twice when I was young) but I help other people to stop smoking by teaching them meditation and yoga. If you can become mentally strong, then it is possible to stop. In fact, Teresa's example above is based on her determination to do something for herself and her baby and it worked. If you need something to build up your mental determination, then try yoga and meditation. It can really help.

Personally, it took me "growing up"' with my life. In my early 20's, I began to date someone who never smoked. He didn't mind that I did, but I started to. I didn't like the thought of him having to kiss me right after I'd just smoked. I also made the active choice to limit my drinking to a nearly zero level, which has helped considerably. Smoking was so ingrained in my social life that i knew i had to change that a little before I could get myself out of that locked in smoker's mode. Now I am able to spend time with my friends who smoke and not feel the urge to have one myself. I'm not a saint, I do occasionally have one myself, but I make sure not to beat myself up about it. That started as maybe one per month, to the point where it's been atleast 3 months since I last had one. The worst thing to do is to berate yourself if you do slip. Also, never pick a date to quit. Then the night before you're sucking down a pack up until midnight and it never lasts more then a few months. Most ppl who pick a date have the motto of "I've quit before so I know I can again" ignoring the fact that because they started again, they never really quit.

I quit in September 2007 after smoking for 36 years (I'm almost 53). I smoked 1-2 packs a day I figure for most of that time. My day of awakening came when my doctor said quit or die in months not years. I quit using Chantix (prescription drug). I put my cigarettes down the evening of my 3rd day taking Chantix. I took the medication longer than usual just because I had smoked so much for so long and I didn't want to fail. The Chantix was not covered by my medical insurance and was expensive ($125 a month) and it gave me gas and I had some problem sleeping and some problems with vivid dreams (not nightmares). I did not however want to smoke a cigarette.

There have been periods of time since I stopped taking the Chantix that I've thought about smoking but I didn't smoke. With each passing day, week, and month I get stronger and my resolve not to return to smoking is stronger.

My son and his wife gave us our first grandchild this past March and I'm happy he will never smell cigarettes on his Nana.