Quitting smoking - advice/help/suggestions?

[Morgan.]

Hey guys.

I've been smoking on and off for the past two years now, but now that I'm starting testosterone, I have been trying to boost my willpower to quit. I have cut down MONUMENTALLY, but I still have moments of weakness. My girlfriend has been a huge help, trying to help me set limits so I can monitor how much I smoke a day and try and set goals/cut it down, but there are days where I just get so anxious and stressed and I just snap a little and give in to the temptation.

I am quite proud of how much I've cut down - when I met my girlfriend in June, I would go through about 20 on a bad day. Now, I'm a lot happier and I've been able to average a maximum of 4 a day usually. I just need the extra kick to get rid of those last ones, or even cut that down. I've noticed since I cut down, I'm quite put off smoking at certain times, it'll make me feel nauseous occasionally and that'll be enough for me to stop and put it out. But, when those stressful times come, or I'm out to coffee, I can snap right back into it.

I don't want to maintain this habit through my transition. I'd like to be healthy as possible by the time top surgery becomes a possibility financially - which at earliest, would be this time next year, perhaps give or take a month - and I'd like to keep it that way.

Ex-smokers, or anyone who knows of some good alternatives (besides chewing gum for the oral fixation replacement side of smoking - have tried, can be effective, but I've caved in numerous times) please, help!

[LivingInGrey]

I'm working on a quit right now also, though this morning I picked up a pack

I'm happy with 5 a day but just having them on me makes me want to smoke all the more.

I'd give you my suggestiions on how to quit but none of them have worked for me. I'm just thankfull I havent hurt anyone yet in the process...

Good luck.

[Felix]

I haven't had a cigarette today. I've smoked for 16 years and I've tried to quit over and over. I stayed quit for two years once (pregnancy + nursing). I've tried all sorts of tactics and strategies.

Honestly, bupropion helped me more than anything. I still smoke, and I'm not actually trying to quit, but cigarettes taste pretty nasty to me these days. Most days I smoke one or less, and some days I don't smoke at all.

I had some major surgeries on some splintered bones in the past few years, and the doctors repeatedly pointed out how weak my bones were and how badly I was healing. My last boyfriend repeatedly pointed out how strong my clothes smelled after I smoked. Since I've cut down, my stamina and my spending money have both gotten a lot better.

I want to be quit before I have top surgery. Right now I'm trying to cut down to maybe a few a week, because I'm starting testosterone very soon, and I want to maintain a strong heart and low blood pressure etc. I want to live a long time, and when I smoke less I feel prouder and younger and more energetic.

I'm rambling about cigarettes because I can't sleep, and I want a cigarette.

[BlonT]

After many attempts i quit , I try to minimize but that dint work.
Best is to stop cold turkey, you suffer but it work . Best tip is don't eat things to distract,pounds will get on faster than lightning.

[Morgan.]

I had a pretty good run last week, I went from the Saturday til Wednesday last week without any.
I had my last one from my packet last night, so it's been all through today without any (and it has certainly been a stressful day) so I'm trying to keep myself busy for now.
Here's hoping I can keep this up.

[LordKAT]

Do the CindyJames plan, out the next one off for another 10 minutes, after  that, put it off for another 10 minutes, etc. It seems to work for me and you can always start putting it off for an hour or whatever works.

[King Malachite]

I say stop cold turkey and the money you were going to use for those cigerettes, put it in a special jar or container etc. and say "in the name of top surgery...." and let it go towards that to boot.

[Morgan.]

I'm doing quite well, I've had about 3 cigarettes (socially) since New Year's Eve and before New Years Eve I hadn't had any for about a month or so. I haven't bought a packet since the end of November. Although I think I've gained a tiny bit of weight from quitting, it's worth it. Most of the time when I smell cigarette smoke when I'm out, it grosses me out

[Felix]

I say stop cold turkey and the money you were going to use for those cigerettes, put it in a special jar or container etc. and say "in the name of top surgery...." and let it go towards that to boot.

Great plan, but only works if you spend money on cigarettes.