DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Everything Else... Smoking cigarettes How'd you quit?

No easy task.

Like I said before, it was 1 1/2 months of urges everyday for me.

Then poof, like magic it was over. I was free.

Good luck!

moment of frustration...

So what you're saying is that in addition to quitting smoking, you are going to have to quit posting about politics as well

'U.S. proposes cigarette nicotine cut, shift toward e-cigarettes'

https://www.yahoo.com/news/u-fda-aims-cut-nicotine-cigarettes-ease-e-144539286--finance.html

By Toni Clarke

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. government proposed cutting nicotine in cigarettes to "non-addictive" levels on Friday in a major regulatory shift designed to move smokers toward potentially less harmful e-cigarettes.

Shares of major tobacco companies in the United States and UK slumped in heavy trading volume after the proposal was unveiled by the head of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, with the world's biggest producers losing about $26 billion of market value.

"Nicotine itself is not responsible for the cancer, the lung disease and heart disease that kill hundreds of thousands of Americans each year," FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said.

"It's the other chemical compounds in tobacco and in the smoke created by setting tobacco on fire that directly cause illness and death."

The FDA cannot reduce nicotine levels to zero, nor can it ban cigarettes. But Gottlieb said the agency would study regulating nicotine levels with a view toward the "FDA's potential to render cigarettes minimally addictive or non-addictive."

Analysts said they expect regulators in Europe to study similar actions on nicotine products.

The action shakes up a debate among public health advocates as to whether e-cigarettes represent a health risk or potential benefit.

"While there's still much research to be done on these products and the risks that they may pose, they may also present benefits that we must consider," Gottlieb said.

The FDA's announcement sets in motion a lengthy rule-making process that will involve public comment and input from multiple stakeholders before any measures take effect.

"It’s hard to overstate what this could mean for the companies affected: non-addictive levels of nicotine would likely mean a lot fewer smokers and of those people who do still light up, smoking a lot less," said Neil Wilson, a senior market analyst with ETX Capital in London.

Most big tobacco makers have long seen the writing on the wall and have invested in e-cigarettes and other alternative nicotine delivery systems, potentially mitigating the blow from any decline in cigarette sales.

"We see this as an opportune entry point for long-term investors and would recommend building positions on today's broad weakness," Bonnie Herzog, an analyst at Wells Fargo Securities said in a research report, noting that the FDA is currently reviewing IQOS, a product from Altria Group Inc and Philip Morris International that heats tobacco instead of burning it.

For e-cigarettes, the agency extended the deadline by up to four years, and up to three years for cigar companies, to comply with a 2016 rule that gave the FDA oversight over the products, giving them more time on the market without regulation.

Matthew Myers, president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, said the FDA's proposal "represents a bold and comprehensive vision with the potential to accelerate progress in reducing tobacco use and death."

But he added that the extension of e-cigarette deadlines "will allow egregious, kid-friendly e-cigarettes and cigars, in flavors like gummy bear, cherry crush and banana smash, to stay on the market with little public health oversight."

Gottlieb said the FDA would consider regulating "kid-appealing flavors" in e-cigarettes and cigars, and possibly banning menthol in all tobacco products.

British American Tobacco shares, trading close to all-time highs, fell 6.8 percent to post their biggest one-day loss in nine 9 years.

Altria, which makes the Marlboro brand of cigarettes, closed down 9.5 percent.

British American said it was not surprised by the FDA move to cut nicotine.

"Our American subsidiary, Reynolds American Inc. and its operating companies are encouraged by FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb’s comments today recognizing tobacco harm reduction policies and the continuum of risk for tobacco products," the company said in a statement.

Gottlieb also held out the possibility that premium cigars would be exempted from FDA oversight, but the overall outlook for traditional tobacco products appeared grim.


(Reporting by Toni Clarke and Ginger Gibson in Washington; additional reporting by Vikram Subhedar in London; editing by Chris Sanders and Tom Brown)

How'd I quit?

Easy.

I finished my cigarette. And because of that, I stopped smoking.

Will quit again after dinner too.

I have never smoked. My husband has smoked a pack a day for many years. He is now only smoking the e-cigarettes, has been doing this for the last 3 months. This is a huge step for him. Praying that he stays off the regular cigs forever.

To everybody on here who quit, congrats. To those of you who tried to quit and failed, don't give up. Smoking is an addiction just like booze is to some people. Just like opioids. Heroin, crack, etc. Just remember because you have been smoke free for a week, a month, or a year, your still an addict. You can't have another cigarette EVER if you want to remain free of them. Remember to tell yourself every day that your an addict and you will not smoke TODAY.

I'm lucky I know this.

I enjoy smoking and I like the smell of cigarette smoke.

But I also know if I have so much as one cigarette, it will be one today, one again maybe in a month, again in a week, and before long I'll be smoking a pack-a-day.

And I wouldn't mind smoking again if:

1) It were maybe one cigarette a day,
2) If cigarette smokers weren't now basically considered child-killers.
3) I left out cost but at a smoke-a-day that's not too bad.

And there's that 1 1/2 months of torture (constant intense urges for a cigarette) I went through to quit. Once was enough.

**BUMP***

Today: 1 year cig-free.
365 days.

I've been looking forward to typing out this post. Thought about it earlier this week. First three months were so, so hard. I almost never feel a craving any more- maybe once/twice per month. And they're not nearly as intense as in those first days.

approx savings in cash: $2,746 US
approx cigs NOT consumed: 10982.7

Now, here's what's weird- about 2-3 times per month, I'll have an extremely vivid and hyper-real dream in which I'm lighting up. In those dreams, I take a drag or two, then realize that I'm an ex-smoker... and toss it/grind it out. I awaken from them each time, and the feeling of guilt is palpable.

So... this is the start of Year Two.

#1day@atime

I can't even remember how long ago I quit. It was before I bought this house, and that was 11 years ago.

Also, I think that you misplaced a decimal point in your packs not smoked. lol (or maybe I can't add, myself)

Mibad.

Congrats. Well done.
I’m in year three.
Anyone can do it if they put their mind to it.

I smoked a pack per day for 23 years.

I'm in year 6 of not smoking.

The only thing that finally got me to quit for good was becoming extremely ill with pneumonia and being hospitalized for a bit (forced cold turkey).

Nothing (including my Cambridge smokes) tasted the same after that.

Couldn't afford the habit now anyway.

Congrats on a year.

Congrats Clem!


Proper motivation works. I don't necessarily recommend my method, but it does work. At least it did for me.

I smoked, something, a lot of things, for 40 years. Cigarettes, Cigars and my beloved pipe. Needless to say, I smoked all the time. Enjoyed almost every minute of it. When I was on a putting clock, practicing, people would approach me and ask, "aren't you the guy with the pipe", then they'd ask me to smoke it because it smelled so good.

Then, five years ago last Thanksgiving, or the week of, that Tuesday actually. I was mowing the lawn, pipe in my face, having a real tough time of it. 2 or 3 passes with the mower and I was tuckered out. I had to stop and rest. It took me 4 hours to do my front yard. I called my wife, a nurse, explained what was going on, explained my bottom lip was numb and I felt a little tight in my upper chest, just below my throat.

I explained to her I looked it up on Google and it said I had a sinus infection. Neither one of us really believed it but it did give me reason for pause. Not wanting to call an ambulance on myself, not wanting to be that guy. I waited for my wife to get home as I didn't want to risk driving myself either.

At about 6:00pm we went to the minor emergency place down the street, the lady ahead of me in line told them to take me first as I didn't look good. I looked at my wife like, what the hell do I look like? The clinic couldn't figure out how to get their EKG machine operating so they called the local ambulance. They did the EKG and immediately began shoving nitroglycerine pills under my tongue and off I went, a free ride noisy ride to the hospital of my wife's choosing.

They took me straight into surgery, don't pass go, don't collect $200. In the elevator ride up to surgery there were people filling the cab as I just laid there. They began sharing stories of what they were doing when they got the call. Then as they wheeled me into the operating room all those same people went with me. I realized they had been called from home to deal with my issue.

Lucky me, I didn't have to have my chest opened, just a couple of stints installed. 100% blockage on one of the arteries leading down. Not the widow-maker thanks goodness. At one point in the surgery, a lady, unknown if she was a doctor or nurse, asked me if I was still with them. I replied I was. After the surgery I asked her why she asked me that question. She replied, it was because I was purple from the nipples up, and usually that means the patient is no longer with them.


Proper motivation. I have not smoked a thing since that night. I had no troubles with withdrawal at all. Not one urge to light up, mental or physical. I suddenly didn't miss it, I was glad to be free of it.

Like I said, I don't recommend it, but it does work.

I have been smoke free for 1221 days. I wouldn't recommend doing it my way either Tulsa

quote above by Clem:



rockyhilldawg
500 Cold Spring Rd
Rocky Hill, CT 06067

A direct round trip flight from Cleveland Hopkins-to-Bradley International (CT) probably runs ~ $350.

Residence Inn by Marriott ~ $135/night. (a mile from ground zero).



Hmm... Must be Connecticut Palms. Very hardy.

Ever been to Connecticut?

Just in Rocky Hill:

Oldest continuously operating ferry in the country:



Dinosaur State park:



Rocky Hill Congregational Church (established 1727) (70 years before Moses Cleaveland first stepped foot on the banks of the Cuyahoga)



The greatest Browns Backers club outside the state of Ohio (Southern New England Browns Backers):



Just ask airport security. They'll be able to direct you to my apartment (after a brief detainment and interrogation).



By the way, congrats on year anniversary. I was a two-pack a day smoker until ~ 2009.

Now, I spend my savings on my high-tech home entertainment center.

Yay! My year was April 11th.

Congratulations Clem and to all of you who've managed to quit and stay smoke-free. It isn't easy!

Let's see, I found out my wife was pregnant in March of 2014, and I haven't touched a cigarette since. I'd been a pack a day smoker for about 12 years prior to that. I couldn't do cold turkey, as it never worked for me in the past, so I used nicotine lozenges and was able to suck on them while at work, while at the poker table, or the ball game, or even the bar.

It was actually better than smoking lol. And I was able to ween myself off of those to successfully quit.

And Clem, those dreams are normal man. I still have them. Up until about 2 years ago I used to still get the craving to fill my lungs with smoke too. But that's gone now.

Sincere congrats man!

I quit smoking 7 years ago, but used a vape pen for 18 months after that. I used the vape pen strictly to quit smoking, cutting the nicotine to 0 and then stopping. Even with no nicotine, the cravings were bad the first week.

I'll smoke a cigar on a special event, usually 2 or 3 a year. I'll probably have one next week after my wifes C-Section with the twins

August 7th, 2007 for me. Keep up the good work, everyone.

What a stinky nasty habit. I quit mostly because I couldn't stand the smell of it the air, in my hair, or on my clothes anymore. That smell...just makes me want to hurl now.

Wow man! Twins!

It'll be great man, best of wishes for your wife and babies and a speedy recovery. And an early congrats!

Congrats Clem. Ditto for others who shared their experiences.

I do remember you talking about quitting. It must have been in another thread because it's not showing up here.

I quit 14 years ago with the help of my Lord I tried for years and then I turned it over to Him and now I have no urge for a Cigarette, in fact the smell is horrible to me now after smoking for 30+ years ...

Thanks 442! With a 3 year old at home it's going to be busy busy busy for a while.

I started when I was 12 and smoked all through high school and the service. My wife & I talked about quitting for a few years and then she just quit cold turkey. That woman is so mean I don't think it even bothered her...So I tried but every time I stopped after work with the boys I started again. So I started chewing but it turned my teeth brown. I looked like a Steeler fan. Now I'm clean except when I go to Tampa for work. There is a Cuban guy that sits in a window and makes cigars I always stop in Ybor city and buy one from him. ( 10 bucks )

I was waiting for a pizza outside of Little Caesar's one day because inside was just way too hot.

Another customer was out there waiting for his pizza too, so I struck up a conversation with him to kill some time.

He told me he had smoked for over two decades, two packs a day, every day. He then told me he hadn't smoked in something like 5 or 6 years.

How did he quit?

He got lazer treatment, and just once.

I found the companies website he went to, it says 84% success rate. Cost? 225 bucks. I never smoked cigarettes, but if I did? I'd definitely try it.

Link, if interested:

http://www.advlasersolutions.com/

I've got a 3 year old at home as well, and a 6 month old baby, and that's hectic... can't imagine twins

What do they do....laser your lips off?? LOL I really don't see what the treatment is.

Edit: Found this from a different place: "The laser treatment to quit smoking requires that you position yourself on a comfortable chaise lounge in a room with warm colors and calming sounds in the background. A technician will ask you to wear a pair of protective goggles. A total of 33 areas on the ears, face, hands and wrists will be stimulated, each for a total of 30 seconds."

Here's a hint.

Advanced Laser Solutions is based in Parma.

If I'm going to pay $255 bucks to have something stimulated, it's not going to be my ears, or wrists

I used the patch. Smoke free since October.

Keep up the good work people! Congrats!

I will still smoke one or two when drinking enough to get a considerable buzz so I never technically quit.

But I got to feeling so damn lousy from them that all of a sudden it was just easy giving them up the majority of the time, when not drinking. I might only drink once a month, even every other month, these days. I have a pack of Camel lights that I have kept in the freezer for a good while now.

If I quit drinking for good, the cigs would go bye-bye as well.

A moment of complete honesty... my girlfriend and I quit three years ago but while we were in Cambodia this past fall we bought a pack of Camels and split them. Smoking in Cambodia is a way of life. Watching everyone doing it, the warm tropical air, the fact they were only $0.75 per pack....we couldn’t resist. We each enjoyed our 10 cigarettes immensely. Swore we’d not smoke anymore that trip. Swore it would only ever be allowed if we vacation, and only if we fly longer than 10 hours away. So no Mexico, or Maui type trips.
I’ll say I enjoyed my 10, but honestly didn’t want more once we finished.