Martian,
Great to hear! My wife had smoked for 20 years and then a month before our wedding she went to New Beginnings Laser Therapy for the treatment to help her quit. It has been 4 years now and she can't stand the smell of cigarettes now. It was well worth the cost ($300). I wish you the best. If you need anything give me a yell.
ABS

A profound thank you to All!

I did forget to mention that I've also really had it with the whole addiction aspect and I'm sick and tired of wrapping my life around my smoking and having to make concessions and allowances for it too. I REALLY want to be free of it once and for all. Both my parents died from cancer and I've seen how devastating it is. At the risk of being redundant, I honestly and truly just want cigarettes out of my life once and for all, the faster the better!

_________________
You dig?

The first day is the worst. Remember why you are quitting. After 72 hours the physical addiction is over, but you will battle the mental addiction the rest of your life. I know. I am a former smoker. It took me 6-7 attempts to finally put it behind me. I tried cold turkey, gum, patches, and both pills. It was finally when I tried Chantix that I quit. Chantix is not for everyone, try the least evasive method first (cold turkey) and if you fail, keep trying until you succeed. Small steps...I am here for you. It really is the best think you can do for you and the people you care about.

Try not to do the usual stuff that triggers a want for smoking. Ease back into those other activities. I still hav a hard time obstaining when I drink alcohol. Soon you will become sensitive to smoke and can tell when somebody has been smoking a mile away.

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RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head

I am also most definitely here for you as well martian, You will be absolutely amazed at how much better you feel, how everything, will taste and smell so much better! No more coughing! more energy! clearer thinking, you name it. remember, cigarette smoke has over 4,000 very nasty chemicals in it. your body is going to thank you buddy! After reading your last reply, i am very excited for you! I'm sure that you will see Quitting smoking will be one of the best good things that you will ever do for yourself. Go for it man, you can do it! If you fail, or backslide, don't ever give up! Keep after it, as long as it takes, however many attempts, are required, are all steps in the right direction. Success to you, my friend!

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I believe in Christianity as i believe that the sun has risen. not only because i see it, but because by it, i see everything else. C.S. Lewis

A fine life decision indeed, sir! Once you're over the "3-day hump" things will become a lot easier. You'll also find that given enough time you'll feel a lot healthier, and that's a big thing when it comes to having a good, cheerful attitude day in and day out.

You and your family will appreciate it, and so will your body. Again, congrats.

You are there mentally. Addiction is slavery. You have decided it's over, but don't forget there is a little monster in your brain that does want it. It is that addiction monster that wants more, you won't. Don't give in to it, good luck. I made it after umpteen tries after about 35 years. I did use aids. If you resist the terrible urges, they'll pass. Deciding you want to quit is the deal. Good luck.

Martian
Quiting cold turkey is the hardest way to quit. It works for some but not all. Do not hesitate to see your Dr. if it doesn't work for you.

I quit a meth habit cold turkey. No issues and I don't even want it.

I quit a Jack Daniels habit cold turkey. No issues and I don't even think about it.

I tried to quit cigarettes cold turkey, didn't work. I tried the patch to quit, didn't work. I finally saw my Dr. and got a prescription to Zyban. That did the trick and I have not looked back.

Unfortunately it was too late for me. After smoking for over 33 years I have Emphysema and that has now turned into COPD. I am terminal, there is no cure. I am on Oxygen at night and during the day when I need it. The top half of my lungs are no longer functioning. My Dr. wants to do Lung Reduction Surgery. I am all for it. The Pulmonary Rehab I'm doing now is just one step in that direction. They are doing Lung Transplants, but there are many things to do before you may even be considered and it takes years to get there. If you get there.

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Chet Feathers

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I didn't Lose my mind, I traded it for this guitar.

Congrats on the move to quit!!!!
I was smoking a pack+ a day back in 95' and took My 6 year old son to school one day and had just lit a smoke and he said put it out Dad! I asked why I just lit it he said I don't want my friends to know my Dad smokes. They had learned about it in school and I felt so bad that My Son was embarrassed of his Dad that I have not smoked since!!!! For weeks when I had a craving for a cigarette I would eat a Dill pickle, I went through jars of them after a month I was done it did not even bother me that I quit.
That cigarette the day outside the elementary school was my last.
When your done you will find food taste better and that people who smoke stink BADLY!!!!

Plus I aways like good dill pickles!!!!

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The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson

Wow didn't know that! I guess one way to get rid of the nicotine after quiting is to stay drunk

I am going to keep an eye on this thread as I'm also thinking about quiting, I wanna be able to afford more gear and live long enough to enjoy them... so Martian, I wish you the best and I will be joining you very soon!

my dads 52 and he's been smoking since 13, he's tryed to quit without anything, didn't work, but it did lower his standard, which is good.
Good luck anyway, ive taken one puff under peer pressure, i dont know how smokers smoke smokes, utterly disgusting and putrid. and that was one puff, never ever gonna even touch one of those things again.

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riley

Martian,
Congratulations of making the first step.

I cannot offer any real tips other than
a) avoid any uneccesary stress.
b) avoid enviroments that encourage smoking 1: driving 2: others who smoke 3: the clubs 4: films that depict smoking 5: the news
c) occupy yourself in other things that require the use of your hands
d) make it very clear to your friends and family, your intent and warn them that you may get extremely irritable particularly in the first couple of days to a week or two.
e) tell yourself how much you will be saving in terms of money and potential future medical expenses.
f) change your routines

I have smoked for the past 21 years and currently smoke a pack a day and I can see a day coming when I need to just quit.
I did quit for about a month 15 years ago and darned if I didn't pick it right up again. - that was my own fault. I drove big rigs for a livin' and that enviroment was the perfect setting for cigarettes and the stress associated with it just overwhelmed me. The other factor is that I LOVE to smoke.

They say that nicotine is one of, if not the hardest substances to quit. More so than many other drugs.

I would never encourage anyone to smoke and it bothers me when people
would ask to bum a cigarette. I don't smoke in the house, though I still smoke in my pickup truck, in my shop and garage.

One activity is to go bike riding. It requires that you have both hands on the bars and the huffing and puffing while pedaling just doesn't invite a smoke at all. Also it is good exercise and you can see places at a much slower pace. That's definitely what I discovered when I rode for the first time after about 6 years of invalidity. I have type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and a heart condition and no health insurance.


Cold turkey is tough and quick but not always successful.

Another is progressive reduction (works for some though not all)
You may consider backing off the number you smoke per day.
example if smoking a pack a day, drop it to 3/4 pack a day the first week
then again to 1/2 pack a day the following week, to 1/4 per day the third week. Your body is having to get used to not getting the nicotine it wants.
A month later you can start dividing the amount by half each day until your down to one cigarette a day. Pretty easy deny yourself when your
nicotine dependancy is already drastically reduced.

Anyway, best wishes to you. IMHO, anyone who can quit smoking is cooler than anyone who ever started and anyone who never struck a match. It's tough and can be REAL tough for some -

One last point: keep 1 pack accessable. IF you can truly ignore the temptation, you have gained control over your addiction.

Sorry if what I said sounds familiar but it's the best I can offer.

PS
You'll never listen to the Fab Four the same way ever again when you hear
them singin this song

Good for you Martian! I quit smoking by going back to my original addiction, that being snuff. Definitely not much better, but at least I can smell and taste again, and I can keep it away from my two year old son, whereas smoking is impossible to hide from anyone. You stink to high heavens all the time, and the taste in your mouth when you wake up, even if you brush your teeth before bed, is just awful. Now maybe one day I can quit dipping and do like Bill said about the jar. Then within a few months I can buy that Peavey VB-3 bass amp and 810 enclosure that I am GASing over so badly.

-Dave

Martian I am in your corner pal and know you will do it. I am 48 and still am smoking, but I am disgusted just like you. When I was young and used to box I was able to stop on a dime, as there is no way you can do roadwork while smoking. But after I blew my back out in my 30s I have not quit once since. I dread hearing my kids telling me one day we told you so as they are always on my back. We are also at an age where we are not indestructable anymore. Just this week I was with 3 friends on different occasions. One is 44 and had a quadruple bypass 2 years ago. One is 65 and has cancer that has come back and the other is 51 and has cancer and more than likely will not see Christmas. I know sooner or later my luck is going to run out but I know I have to mentally be ready as that is the whole thing in a nutshell-really wanting to quit. I was never a drinker or drug user though later in life I had 3 bouts of dependence on prescription pain killers due to my back which lasted about 10 months each time where I had to go to my brothers and just lock myself in the bedroom for 3 days where every minute seems like an hour and every hour a day but then its gone.Cold turkey does not work for everyone but if you slip up and stumble try the patch, pill oe E-cigarette till you find what works best for you. Believe it or not when I play guitar I probably smoke more than ever. But I got the wake up call this week with my friends, so I am wishing you the best and buy a lot of gum.lol Really it used to help me a lot when I was younger as it is habit to put something in your mouth when stressed.

Good for you Martian,I have tried to quit many times and have lasted almost a whole year without the dirty things.All it takes is one little moment of weakness and just one puff and it's right back on them. One quit smoking program I was on suggested mega doses of Vitamin C for the first 5 days to help purge the body of nicotine and that's the one that help me quit the longest-along with laser treatment -believe it or not. Anyway keep at it and don't give in,if you find yourself wanting one just geta glass of water,get up and walk around a bit,pick up a guitar,anything but go for the cigarette pack.Good Luck with it and I hope that you have the will power to kick the habit for good.Some day I hope that I will.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

Martian,

My heart goes out to you. You have embarked on the most difficult journey of your life. My mother quit in 1974, the year the EXPO world's fair went to Spokane. She didn't want to smoke on the fair grounds. She went back to it one time for a few months in 1975 and then stopped again for good. She still gets cravings to this day, sometimes bad ones. I've heard recovered alcoholics say that quitting smoking is much harder than quitting booze.

It's already been said but it bears repeating. This will be a test of your will. Quitting smoking is entirely about what you really and truly CHOOSE deep down inside you where the real you lives. The reason many people fail to quit is because they feel compelled to quit by external forces but they don't truly WANT to quit. They actually quite enjoy smoking.

I have struggled with smoking my entire adult life. Started at 12 and first tried to quit at 21. 30 years later I'm still fighting those urges. 36 for my mum.

I would wish you good luck but I know from personal experience that luck plays no part at all in quitting smoking. I wish you bull dog tenacity.

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Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.