I smoked for 22 years, about a pack a day. My brand was Vantage, the one with a hole in the filter. I tried to quit a couple of times back in the 1990's but started back again. My first wife was diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal cancer in November 2002. I went with her to Moffitt Cancer Center for her radiation and chemo sessions and saw a lot of people really sick with different kinds of cancer there, but I kept on smoking. I finally quit for good on Dec. 4, 2003. My wife was very sick by then, and I swore to myself that my daughter, who was 11 at the time would never watch me suffer like that. My wife died on May 21, 2004. She was only 38 years old.
My daughter was my main reason and motivator when I quit, that and the fact that I do not want to die of lung cancer or emphysema/COPD. What helped me was I set a date on Dec. 4th for my last cigarette and when that day came I had my last one at 11:45 that night and that was it. I ate a lot of Werther's chewy caramels and Storck Chocolate Reisen's during the first few weeks. I don't care for cinnamon, but some people have said cinnamon gum or candy does help cut the cravings. For me it was caramels, Reisens and beef jerky. I also ate a lot of vanilla and chocolate ice cream in the first few days that I quit. I gradually cut down on the candy and ice cream the further along I went and cut them out completely after about the first 2 weeks.
The first few days were rough, no doubt about that. But to me every hour, every minute, every second that I did not smoke was a little victory. I was highly motivated and determined to quit for good, and the longer I went without it the easier it was to stay quit. I also did my best to avoid other smokers and keep my stress level as low as possible. When a person is a smoker you can smell it on them, and if you are near a smoker the smell can drive you insane, even if that person is not smoking at the time. I also kept my last half a pack and a lighter in my dresser drawer. During that first few weeks if I got an uncontrollable urge to light up I went and looked at the pack in my drawer and pretty much gave it the finger and said "I win, you lose" or "I control you now, you don't control me any more". Keeping those last few cigarettes on hand like that really helped my determination, will power and sense of victory over the cigarettes. I was able to face my enemy and every time I did, I was the winner. Again, the longer I went without smoking, the easier it got.
That is part of my story. Motivation, determination to be here for my daughter, picking up healthy habits (I also started logging a lot of miles on my mountain bike around town and on the local bike trails) are all part of what worked for me. You have to want to quit more than you want to smoke. Nicorette was nasty then, probably just as bad now. It did not help me much. Eat healthy, develop healthy hobbies and habits you really enjoy, get a good night's sleep, try to keep stress levels down and celebrate every day and every minute without smoking as a personal victory. Bottom line, the longer you go without smoking, the easier it gets. I sure don't miss it now and will never ever smoke again. I met my best friend and the best woman on the planet in December 2008 and we got married in April 2012. My wife and my daughter and the rest of my family are all of my reasons now for not smoking and trying my best to stay healthy.
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