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Have a helpful hint or motivating thought to share? Tell us your story. Encourage others. Share strategies for quitting smoking. This area is for you.

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Take at look at pictures of a person with smoker's' lungs. That should made me want to stop smoking.

TravelBavaria from Alabama

It's day three and all I can think about is having just one cigarette. This is hard. Thank you for your help.

Joanne from AF Afric/Can/Euro/Mideast (AE)

I think the key to weight gain from quitting smoking is to have plenty of non-fattening low-calorie snacks on hand. My appetite has increased but I am following the booklet instructions on low-fat snacks. Instead of a high cal breakfast I am now eating oatmeal and occasionally boiled eggs. I am pretty proud of myself. I am smoke free for 14 days now and the urge to smoke is at a minimum already. I am using the patch and they are working fine.

Ed from Indiana

It has been 8 years since I quit smoking. I started up again after 3 years of cold turkey and after hanging out with old friends of mine. I didn't want the guy I was dating (ended up marrying him!) to know I smoked so I would have to scrub myself clean and use lotion to cover up the horrible smell. I got so sick of having to shower and change clothes and hide smoking that I quit again after 2 months. So if you don't count those 2 months I have been smoke free for 8 years. I still miss it. I miss smoke breaks and the socializing I did while smoking. I miss talking on the phone to my friends and smoking. I am so proud of myself for not doing it though. I save so much money. I don't smell. I once kissed a guy that smoked – YUCK! If you only knew how nasty it tastes to kiss a smoker. I wish you guys luck!

Leilani from Arizona

I'm going to quit!! I've made the decision. I'm 41 and stupidly didn't start smoking until I was 28. I quit easily when I got pregnant at 30 and started up after my baby was born. Now, it's going on 12 years later and I'm still smoking. I can't believe I am this person. I used to be so against smoking and didn't want to be around anyone who smoked. I don't want to be this "smoker" anymore. I tell myself I am in control... nothing else. Some of my friends at work are making April 1 our quit day. We are all in this together and I know we can do it. We will support and pray for each other. Please don't let me fail at quitting. One friend of mine said to keep telling myself "failure is not an option." I like that! I'm so nervous but I know I can become the person I was before or even better!

Khristina from Arizona

On March 1, 2009 I quit smoking cold turkey. I smoked a pack every two days for ten years. I thought I was enjoying smoking but I really just enjoyed feeding my addiction. I developed an ulcer two months ago and continued to smoke with a sore on my stomach. Two months later it clicked. I am not going to continue smoking with an ulcer. This has got to stop and it did. I am 19 days smoke free. Whenever I have cravings I drink flavored water. The sweetness of the drink helps ease the craving. Overall it was easy because I kept telling myself,"I am not giving up smoking, I am gaining my health".

Sarah from New Jersey

I’m 22 and have smoked 10-30 cigarettes daily for close to 10 years. Recently I had a scare with testicle cancer (wasn't cancer). I thought to myself, cancer is what I am asking for by smoking. So I quit cold turkey. I used gum for 2 days for the worst cravings. I’ve also spent a lot of time reading forums and blogs when I have cravings. Reading other peoples horror stories keeps me from picking up that next smoke and breaking my quit (almost a month now!). If you don’t smoke, don’t start. And it’s never too late to quit. Best of luck to us all!

Richard from Alabama

Today I made it through 6 days of not smoking and I feel great! I feel like a better person.

Stephanie from New York

I finally decided to quit when I realized that one, I was truly a closet smoker (and at 40 I that felt ridiculous). And two, when a very close family member of mine recently passed away from lung cancer. In all honesty - even when I started to quit, I didn't want to give up my cigarettes - but I knew I had to. I ended up using a combination of things. I used a smoking cessation device. I also used the gum, which I’d use when I'd go out to events where I knew I'd have a drink or two (my Achilles heal). I've been smoke free for 3 months now - and while I still miss my cigarettes - I'm happy to not be in a closet!

DL from Rhode Island

Hi, I gave up smoking 8 weeks ago, after smoking for 21 years. I’ve opted to go cold turkey. It’s been difficult, especially at the beginning. You have to get past those habits, like the first smoke in the morning and after meals. But before you know it, you don’t miss them anymore. I don’t want to claim I’ve quit completely after 8 weeks, but I feel positive that I will stay clean. Good luck everyone!

Steve from England

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Content last updated April 9, 2009.

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