Help this Cowboy Quit, PLEASE!

[Badlands Walker]

Howdy y'all.  I'm lookin' for some help I hope someone has the answer too!  This old cowboy has been smokin' since I was 12 and I is now 50.  Now, you would think with my heart condition & all, that would be enough to make an hombre quit, but nope!  I have tried the patch, the pills, I even got hypnotized once, and no luck so far.  I would really like to quit, but this dang thing has a hold on me like none other.  I tried the cold turkey approach & I get to shakin' bad & always in a foul mood.  Iffn' anybody out there got an idea that will work, I am all ears & much obliged, trust me!

[Big John Denny]

Badlands, I smoked like a wood stove most my life and then quit cold turkey for over 10 years. After you get past the first 4 days you'll never have to smoke again. Notice I said have to. You might still want to, but that's just a matter of will power. My trick was I promised myself I would quit when I ran out of cigarettes. I smoked the last cigarette I had at a pard's house when I stopped to pick him up to go to a shoot we were in. I told him that was my last cigarette and he rolled on the floor laughing. I'm serious, I used to smoke a pack of cigarettes every 4 hours I was awake.

Never smoked another since. If you have trouble with cold turkey, do up your obituary about dieing from cancer and hang it around your house. If that doesn't motivate you nothing will. You could also try going to the great outdoors camping for a few days. Out of sight out of mind.

[Doc Shapiro]

It might also help if you find something else to occupy your hands.  Smoking is as much tactile as it is physical.  Keeping your hands busy will help.  Maybe do some leather work or crochet or knitting or some such craft.  It really will help.

Doc

[BIGSBY]

BW-
Switch to Copenhagen. It will give your lungs a rest and you will still get your nicotene fix.
-Bigsby

[El Peludo]

BW, I argued myself out of it, and made it cold turkey - been 22 years, now.  Everytime I coughed up a big wad, or got to wheezing and hurting, I'd tell myself what an idiot I was for doing that to myself, and I'd berate myself (I worked alone most of the time, so only had myownself to argue with).  Finally, I just quit.  My bride quit with the patch, but she cheats every now and again, still.  I'll be pullin' for ya'. 

[Wes Virginian]

BW, I started at the age of ten. At 57 I knew that I had to quit or die. I started using nicorette and started a rigorous exercise program. (I was going to get myself in better shape or die trying, and I meant it!) I also quit alcohol at the same time. The alcohol part was easy, the smoking wasn't! I am now 62 and sometimes I think I would like to have a Marlboro about a foot in diameter and about 3 feet long! But I wouldn't smoke again! When you quit, you do it  1 day at a time, from now on ! Good luck and I know you can do it! Make up your mind and then just do it! 
Your Pard,
Wes Virginian

[Badlands Walker]

These are all great posts!  I gotta just quit this nasty habit somehow.  I say all the time that it will read on my headstone "He finally quit today".  The little woman hates that comment.  She don't smoke & never has, but never rides me for doin' it.  She says she is convinced that when I am really ready, I'll just quit!  DANG, I hope she's right!  I have noticed that the smell on my clothing is starting to bug me lately.  Maybe I is gettin' ready!

[Big John Denny]

Badlands,

If I can do it I know you can. Who would run PWDFR if you pass on. Once you really decide you must, do it and don't look back. It also helps that when you initially quit, not to hang out with smokers for a while. The temptation might be too much for you.

[jrdudas]

It's been many years since I quit for the last time.  Prior to that I had quit 3 or 4 times for anywhere from a few weeks to over a year.  Here's a method that a friend told me to try and it worked;   Carry your cigarettes with you and every time you want to smoke one look at your watch.  Tell yourself that you will wait 5 minutes and if you still want the cigarette smoke it.  You will be surprised at how many fewer you will smoke.  Once you get down to a few a day, anyone can quit.

Good luck,

JR
   

[Badlands Walker]

This one sounds like a great idea.  I will test this method today!  Much obliged pard!

[Badlands Walker]

OK, from noon on Friday 6/17/05 to noon Saturday 6/18/05, I have smoked 9 cigarettes.  My norm would be one full pack!  I am on my way, I hope!

[Curley Cole]

BW,

I was lucky I never started smokin'. My step dad and I sat with my mom while she was dyin' from lung cancer. He even held the smoke for her when she was too weak. He quit right then. He never picked up another. On some occasions he wanted one, but he felt it was a gift from God, takin it away like that. Some 10 years later, he developed lung cancer. They took out half a lung and sewed him up saying he was a goner as they couldn't get it all. He took a little Cemo, and prayed a bit, and 2 years later he was declared cancer free. that was about 3 years ago.

I only tell this story cuz it shows that quitin' will buy a person some time. 6 months after quitin' lungs have cleared about 25%.
I hope you can find the strength to stop. I know a lotta cowboys are rootin for ya...
good luck
curley

[Curley Cole]

BW
So how has the day been for you today pard? Hope is going well, it is a hard thing to kick. You are not only dealing with a physical addition, but a very strong psychological one too.

Been think on ya today...keep strong...

curley

[Badlands Walker]

Curley Cole, thanks for askin' pard.  From Saturday to 6:00 a.m. Monday mornin' I have smoked a total of 14 cigarettes.  This is a miracle, as I would have dusted three packs by now from Friday.  I think I may just pull this off!  Thanks fer' rootin' fer' me pard & all the others out there as well.  Much obliged, BW.

[Curley Cole]

Way to go.
Hope the success continues. Keep us posted, and just think of the fresh air you can suck in now, )unless you live in SoCal like me...ahaaaaaa
anyways good goin'
cc

[Badlands Walker]

Monday 6/20/05 - 6:00 a.m. to Tuesday 6/21/05 - 7:30 a.m. ---  5 cigarettes!  Yee Haw!

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Lookin' good, BW. Here's what worked for me many years ago. Every time I lit up, I told myself that soon day I wouldn't want any, wouldn't even feel the need for them and quitting would be easy and no big deal. Your subconscious will work on that and make it a reality for you. One day I suddenly realized I didn't want any more and I just stopped. Never wanted another one again. How long it takes is the variable, but as soon as you get it burned in really well, it will be fact. The problem is most people do just the opposite and tell themselves that it's difficult and they are gonna have trouble quitting so they really have a hard time of it. It's just a matter of re-programming your subconscious to bring about what you really want. Put it to work for you. I haven't had or felt the need or desire for one in the last 30 years, so I guess it was effective.

[Badlands Walker]

Tuesday 7:30 a.m. to Thursday 7:45 a.m. - 7 cigarattes!  Today could be ruff though with a recent personal catastropy at hand!

My one true love, my reason for livin', my 1968 Ford F-250 BROKE today!!!

[jrdudas]

Stay strong; money can fix your pickup, can't do the same for your body.  Focus on the goal.

Good luck,  JR

[Badlands Walker]

Truck is up & running and it only took 4 cigarettes & five hours to do it.  Now the bank book, that's another topic, lol.