I started smoking from social interaction whilst drinking and regularity increased and has had an impact on my entire life steming from self actions in regard to time management leading to a smorgus board of social detriments. I originally was using patches to get away from the first day cravings and found out that the tabaccoo indusries have benifit in nicotine replacment therapies. This gave me motivation to do it with no drugs and aa programme steps aswell as the techniques and work book QUIT sent out. So yeah any brothers and sisters struggling with it never quit quitting.

I'm 42 years old and have tried several times to quit in the last 10 years. I did successfully quit for one year but took it back up and continued for another few years until now. It's like being an alcoholic I guess. Once you stop, you can never have another one. There are two steps to successfully kicking the habit - 1. simply stop doing it and 2. never have another cigarette. The second step is the hardest. I have tried the drugs and the patches but found cold turkey to be the best quit method because it's a clean break. You start saving money immediately instead of transferring the spending from cigarettes to stop smoking tools. The most surprising benefit is the enormous amount of time I now seem to have to do other things. Also, I can start the week with a redback in my purse and it can still be there at the end of that week. Phenomenal dollars to be saved. My tip would be to start at the gym before you quit. It will give you an idea of just how unfit you are because you smoke and then you will be surprised at how much harder you can go with the cardio after you stop. I know I am.

I smoked for ten years. i have now been a nonsmoker for about 7 months. Quitting was one of the EASIEST THINGS I HAVE EVER DONE! please read my story if you are finding it hard to quit. i hope i can help. i believe no matter what method to quit you choose (cold turkey/patches/champix/hypnosis etc) IT ALL COMES DOWN TO JUST NOT PUTTING A CIGGY IN YOUR MOUTH!! IF YOU CAN JUST KEEP DOING THAT THEN BINGO YOU DONT SMOKE! I quit cold turkey and dont even remember the date as i didnt want to be timing how long i had been smoke free for. because if im never smoking again then what does it matter how many hours etc its been. i made a decision to be a nonsmoker. my husband smokes, i work with 6 girls who are all heavy smokers. When they have a smoke break i still sit with them and i put moisturiser on instead, or hand cream. many of my friends smoke. But i told them i dont smoke anymore- not "im trying to quit". as my nan says "trying is lying" and "DONT THINK ABOUT IT JUST DO IT". I made a decision to be in charge of smoking instead of it being in charge of me. and it was as simple as that. I think you have to WANT to not smoke anymore, not be stopping because you think you SHOULD or other people are pushing you to . I USED BEING ADDICTED TO SMOKING AS AN EXCUSE TO SMOKE THROUGH MY PREGNANCY. i now wish i could go back in time and slap myself!. i even knew it was wrong and only smoked at home so i wouldnt be ridiculed. isnt that disgraceful. i was being such a hypocryt as i had always thought pregnant smokers were as bad a pregnant hard drug users. but when my child was about one i just decided thats enough of that. that phase of my life is over. even my smoker friends think its great ive quit because they think they cant. i used to think that to. i hope my story helps at least one person. i made a decision IM STOPPING NOW AND THATS THAT. if you want to take the pressure off do as i did- for the first week i just told people i wasnt smoking for a few days as i had a sore throat. No one seems to care about that- whereas if you say "im quitting" people make a hoo ha out of it and then you may convince yourself its difficult. I made a decision THIS WILL ONLY BE AS HARD AS I MAKE IT. SO I MAY AS WELL FORGET ABOUT IT AND GO SHOPPING AND SPEND $12 ON SOMETHING ELSE. IF IM A NONSMOKER THEN THERE IS NO POINT THINKING ABOUT SMOKING BECAUSE IM NEVER GOING TO DO IT AGAIN. any reason that crops up is an excuse your brain is making. and it will come up with some really stupid ones to try and trick you into having one. BUT NON SMOKERS DONT SMOKE AND NOW THATS WHAT I AM SO I AM NOT HAVING ONE!. put something on lay by and pay it off using your smoking money. as i sit here typing i look around and almost everything in my lounge room is new (since quitting). yes i have blown the "extra money" at least its not on something that will most likely kill me. I DONT WANT TO FESTER AWAY IN A DINGY HOSPITAL ROOM WITH OTHER PEOPLE ON THE WAY TO DEATH. COUGHING UP BITS OF LUNG AND HAVING A MOUTH LIKE THAT FERAL PICTURE ON THE CIGGY PACKET. NO THANKS. ID RATHER BE AROUND ANOTHER FEW YEARS TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN MY CHILDRENS LIVES! THATS HEAPS MORE INTERESTING. REMEMBER: WHAT IS THE WORST THING THAT CAN HAPPEN IF I STOP? (please have a careful think about this for at least a few seconds.). good luck and THANKYOU for taking some time to read this.

Hi,Im Jodie,Ive been smoking for 15 yrs I smoked 40 to 50 per day I have cut down to under 10 a day and keep reducing the number till none smoked I am haveing lollie pops instead of smokes to break the habit and its working well .The smoking habit can be stopped never give up on giving up you can do it.all the best

at 21 yrs smoking already made me unfit and difficult to breath- I couldnt stop even when unwell so I simply stopped drawback then after 3 weeks stopped altogether it helps when u cant breath to break the smelly loser habit - anyway I sat down and worked out that in the 33 yrs that I have now not smoked I have saved $ 127,450 now if you add compounding interest comes to around $400,000 !! and guess what at 54 I breath better than when I was a 21 yo smoker (and my teeth are white) Dont fall victim to the film and tv subtle advertising tell em up yours !! all the best

I went on the Champix tablets for the full course and after four months free of the smokes a few problems arose that I went back to the smokes. I have gone from a packet of 50's 16mg every day to none. I do not cough any more, and my chest feels clear.[ I'm an Asthmetic which is not good with smoking] I waited for the Nickabates to come on the P.B.S. Today a few things happened and wanted a smoke. I asked a neighbour for a couple and wondered why my coffee [Nescafe Capichino] tasted awful and put it down to the smokes so went and cleaned my teeth and the coffee was fine. I started the Nicabates on Saturday and was somking. Sunday before getting out of bed I lit up but couldn't smoke it. I recommend that anyone wishing to give up, give the patches ago. On the P.B.S. they are $5:60. I want to save money for my honeymoon so $44's plus a week is going into a bank account for it.

Please quit! Smoking relieves you only of the craving that it itself causes. It is harmful to yourself and those around you. That body you have is your home and you can't live without it. Treat it the best you can and live long. Never say die!

Hi everyone, it has been 1 week and 5 days since my last smoke. Ive been smoking since I was 15, and im now almost 20, ive never felt better. I forgot what it was like to feel good until now….sense of smell and taste has improved dramatically. I went to my doctor 3 weeks ago, begging for his help to QUIT….he suggested I try patches and nicotine gum…..unfortunately that failed for me as my new years resolution. He then suggested I try “Zyban” which is a prescription drug, its an 8 week course, you smoke on the first 7 days of taking it, after that you just don’t want one….no cravings…nothing. On the 6th day of me taking zyban, I had my morning cigarette as usual and it did nothing for me at all, all I could taste was this horrible chemical taste. I thought this was it, its working and 2 days earlier than expected. I have not had one since, I cant stand the smell, the thought of having one makes me quinge, even when im stressed out, I don’t automatically think of having a cigarette, I think of other ways. Zyban for me has been the best thing I could have ever done….my sister and my mum have now started to use zyban after seeing how successful I have been. I am still able to go out with friends who smoke, have a few drinks and still not get cravings of wanting a cigarette. There are a few side effects of taking zyban, the only one I got was lack of sleep for the first 5 or so nights of taking it, but all of that has gone now. I strongly recommend you try zyban if you failed using patches. Its been less than 2 weeks for me and I know that I CAN DO IT! This is a test to show that a person like me or you can do it, the key is to ACT, not just think about it “IF YOU STAY WHERE YOU ARE, YOU STAY AS YOU ARE!” STAY POSITIVE AND WORK HARD TO ACHIEVE YOUR GOAL! GOOD LUCK!.....Madeleine

hi there, i have been smoke free for 5 weeks now and feeling great. i have been using the 24hour patches and the lozengers at first, after 2weeks i stopped using the lozengers and continued with the patches. i sometimes get a craving but i think of something else, i drink a lot of water now. it's great to be able to smell and taste my food. my fitness has increased as well. i get up at 5.30am and go for 3klm walk and intend to increase this distance. cheers everybody keep up the good work.

I decided on the 27th December 2005 to quit. I had been thinking and trying to quit many times previously, but always fell off the wagon, even after giving up for 5 months one time. I was sick of cigarettes running my life and decided to take charge again. This time I decided I needed help and bought a packet of patches. They worked, whether it was all in my mind or not I don't care......it worked. I was able to stop using the patches after three weeks. Of course it wasn't a breeze, but then nothing good comes easy. Now I consider my self to be a non smoker, and pray to God I never go back. I find forums such as this one to be helpfull in reinforcing my best decision I have ever made. Thanks and Regards Gooddog

I am not as young as the girls on this web site,but giving up should be aimed at all ages.I had been a smoker for 32 years.I started smoking when I was 15.I have had numerous attempts to give up but always seemed to fail.I stopped smoking cold turkey 2 weeks ago and have not looked back.I have taken up walking and am looking at joining a gym.I am more determined this time ,the ads on TV make me feel ill and made me think that i want to be around for years to come to see my grandkids grow up.Everything seems to smell and taste much better now.I have a lot of family support to help me get through. I love my new life and am very confident that I WILL SUCCEED this time..................

My name is Sarah and I am 21, I started smoking when I was 15 because it seemed cool to do it and quickly became addicted. I used to smoke 150 cigarettes a week and was spending 70 on a carton a week. I quit approximately 7 weeks ago. While I was smoking I saw the ads about how bad it was for you but never took notice. The shock factor didnt affect me, all I cared about was my next ciggie. I used to smoke a lot when I was using the computer or with my friends. I decided to quit because I cant afford to smoke anymore being a student and because I was sick of feeling short of breath when exercising. I am currently using patches and although they help, they dont stop the cravings. I find I crave the most at night. All of my friends smoke too. When I told them I was going to quit a couple laughed, a couple said they would quit with me and all bar two agreed that it would never happen. Two of my friends would even offer me smokes or drags and I have to say, strange as it may sound, that has encouraged me to keep up with my quitting. Im a competitive person and Im determined to show them that I can quit. For the first five weeks of my quitting I would give in and have one or two when I was with them but now Im not smoking at all. Another tip I can offer is having one of those Pump water bottles. I found I drank heaps of water because the action of drinking from one of these is similar to smoking. I was replacing smoking with drinking from the water bottle. Whenever I got a craving I would drink from it and it works. I would like to wish everyone out there quitting good luck because I know how hard it is and also to let them know that they arent alone.

I am 44 years old and have been smoking for over 25 years. I started smoking because I thought it was cool and then it just became a way of life. I was smoking 20 cigarettes a day for as long as I can remember. A couple of years ago my dad died of problems caused by smoking and it has been worrying me that I needed to give up ever since. I just felt so tired all of the time . I have tried about 6 times in the past but have failed every time.This time I was determined to make it work, I had acupuncture and joined the gym, it has been 10 weeks since my last smoke. I can't believe how great I feel, I have so much energy,so much more time I feel so happy in myself at my sense of achievement and can't beleive it's taken me this long to give up my comfort blanket.

I smoked for 24 years. Probably 20 of those years at 30 smokes per day. I'm now 20 days without a cigarette. I'm loving every minute of it. I'm using patches and they have taken the edge of the withdrawal symptoms making it possible for me to break the physcological side of being addicted. I started smoking when I was 12 so until now I have never really known what my body is capable of without adding in the 4000 chemicals that come with lighting each cigarette. It's a huge buzz discovering things I never knew. So far I haven't put on any weight, i'm sticking to eating lots of fruit and drinking lots and lots of water. But the benefits are great. I can smell things, taste things, breathe easier and do things i never had the energy to do before. Plus the other benefit is I've saved $224 in 20 days. I do believe my mind is finally in the right place to be able to do this and I know I will never smoke again. I just don't want to smoke anymore. So if I can do it after smoking for so long then I believe anyone can. All you have to do is take control again.

I smoked for 15 years. For the last 10 years I would have easily smoked 20+ per day. I got to the point where I was just sick of it! I could feel my body was not great, I also felt like a social leper. My brother was a 40+ smoker per day and stopped, just like that. He had been reading a book called "easyway to stop smoking" by Allen Carr. I got the book, read it, and by the last page was a non smoker. I put my last cigarette out March 30 and that was that. I did not use any form of nicotine replacement. I guess I could not see the sense in it. I need to stress that I did not have cravings, nor unpleasantness associated with withdrawl. I barely was aware of any of these things. I felt a bit "funny" bit "fluey" on day one, and that was it. I have not changed any ofmy behaviours, for example I still go the the club, I drink coffee, my friends and my partner smoke, yet I do not feel at all tempted. I am smoke free and know that I will never desecrate my body with the filth of cigarettes and risk my daughter not having her mum. I look at smokers now, and feel sad for them. I would strongly recommend reading the book that I did. I feel so strongly about this that to date I have purchased 22 copies of this book for my family and friends. I want for them to be free too.

If you are going to give up, it has to be a whole lifestyle thing... you just have to work out your social life, basically. If you are going to give up, you need to counteract how much you go out and how much you drink. If you get really intoxicated, you are going to start smoking even if you hold back for most of the night. So modify different things in your life.

I quit 4 days ago and something has really clicked this time. For the past few weeks I kept saying to myself I was ready to quit but every time I ran out of cigarettes I would find myself at the servo buying another pack. I have two young children and was trying to work out what it was that I was holding on to. I realised that having a smoke through out the day was actually giving me a break from the kids and if I didn't smoke I didn't actually sit down all day. So I decided to change this. Now every time I feel like a cigarette I make sure I organise the kids an activity just like a use to do, get a cup of tea and sit outside and relax. I love the feeling of finishing my cup of tea and hugging my kids and not stinking of an ash tray. I think they love it too.

To quit, you need to break the association with the comfort factor. Like, I tend to have a smoke before I go to work, when I get home from work, before dinner, after dinner and just like kind of breaking. To quit and stay a non-smoker you need to wipe the slate clean and break the association.

I smoked since i was 15 years old, after i turned 25 i was always saying that i want to give up, but i felt it was the only thing other then my daughter in my life. Just before my 28th birthday i found love from a friend and not a stranger. I decided that i was going to give up smoking. It took a couple of weeks to feel like i didnt need to smoke . By christmas that year my presant from my best friend and partner was an engagment ring, given to me with as much love and suport that he had given me when i was giving up smoking. We have now been married for a year and i have been smoke free for a year and a half. There are tempting times and then i see what i now have and i would not give that up for smoking or anything else. every day it gets easier not to go back.

I invented my own quit strategy. Every time I felt like a cigarette at work, Id go and brush my teeth instead. It gave me a break from my desk I had a desk job by then and left me feeling refreshed instead of sourmouthed. Then the next time the urge struck, Id go and fill up a water jug and return to my desk and drink as much water as I could visualising the water cleaning my body, not polluting.