I gave up for 17mths cold turkey! I worked out how much it was I spent on ciggies and how often I was buying a packet (in my case every 3 days at $13.95). Then everytime you would normally be buying some, put the amount of cash u would have spent into a jar. After a month take it out and spend up big cos u will find u will have a decent amount in there! Look at putting the money into your kids bank accounts for a present for when they move out of home, or use it as a savings for a holiday. It will all add up real quick! Even tho I started again, I found this method helpful as u have something u can actually see in return.LOTS OF MONEY!!!

I'm going to cut and paste these idea's so I can keep them. Hubby leaves for a week tonight and I was thinking about giving it a go too (he's a smoker too).  I have half a pack of 40's lft and the flu so have cut down heaps over the past few days already, I figure this is a good opportunity as ever.  I like the jar idea.  I quit once before (well several times really) and one thing I did was to keep one in a taped up tin, that way I didn't panic because I didn't have any....I had an emergancy one and I never smoked it.  That time my girlfriend bought me a pack because she was sick of my wingeing and whining.....and I thought I was doing okay LOL.  But I think I'll try that again as well.  I also NEED to lose weight, bad idea to combine the two, but thought I might try excercising and as I only smoke outside I thought I'd attack the garden whilst out there to replace that with the habit of smoking, hard to smoke when your hands are covered in dirt.  I saw a thing on tv that said a habit DOES need to be replaced with another habit, so you need to have a plan before you start.  Ie. what to do when you're outside, have something for your fingers to do, (I'm going to chew on tooth picks, cheap, dissposable and non fattening), I am also going to by weight watchers brands of deserts etc as I'm addicted also to choclate so I think replacing that with a weight watches choc moose (how do u spell it???)  will fill the spot & stop me eating anything & everything with sugar.

I love the tips about vitamin c etc. I have never heard that before.  Maybe we need a quit smoking group??????

Hooray for you!

I have just made it to two months without a smoke and it was the best decision I made. Take all the advice given to you, and tailor it to suit your lifestyle.

Use nicotine replacement ( gum, patches, lozenges ) if you feel you need to, as they can greatly increase your chances of continuing to be smoke free. Don't feel like you are cheating by doing this. You are helping yourself conquer your cravings.

If you don't already smoke outside, smoke outside starting NOW! Get rid of or hide ashtrays, lighters, cigarette cases... anything that reminds you of smoking.

Have a stash of fat free crackers and sugar free/low fat lollies for when you have cravings. When you smoke a cigarette, you put your fingers to your lips at least 10 times, so nibbling on a cracker helps with the physical aspect of your craving.

Increase your vitamin c intake, as this helps flush the nicotine from your system, which in turn will reduce your cravings.

Hope this helps, message me if you want more tips.

Hubby and I are just starting our third week of being smoke free.

What tips can I give you - welllll - the bloke sitting opposite you on the bus does really not deserve to die for looking at you sideways - honestly

Helpful tips I can give

1.   Try going on fish oil capsules - they help straighten out the brain waves - hubby is finding them helpful.

2.  Buy yourself a piggy bank and pop 50cents in each time you resist a craving.  Check this at the end of the first week, and you will just about fall over.

3.  St johns Wort is supposed to be helpful, but I would consult a doctor before taking that.

4.  I love the idea of the jar filled with watersogged cigarettes.  We had a commercial ashtray out the front of the house.  By the end of week 1, Hubby threw it in the trash because we could no longer cope with the stench.

5.  Walk, walk lots, open your eyes to all the flowers in the gardens as you walk.  Check out the birds hiding in the foliage.  The big bonus is that after a week your sense of smell will start to return and some of those flowers smell divine.

6.  Keep a stressball handy at all times,  gives your hands something to do.

7.  Avoid clubs like the plague - my big smoke trigger is alchol - so I havent been to the club for three weeks.  Good side point is no poker machines eating a few twenty dollar bills each trip.  Woo hoo.

Stay strong, and remember my first point.  Strangers who look at you sideways do not deserve to die

hi good on you well done

it is one of the hard things that i have done, what i did was just kept lollies and gum in my bag,car and the house,  and a straw.  the reason for the straw is i found that when i was giving it up i always had to have something in my hand (the smoke hand),  i hope that that helps you.

keep us posted as to how you are doing GOOD LUCK