I tried cigarettes when I was 10, just a puff and I was in pain, didn't try them again untill I was 14, very light smoking, by 16 I was smoking a pack a day, 17-18 I was up to 2 packs a day or so, then I went up to 2-3 packs, Winston, Luck strikes, Marlboros and Djarum blacks.

I started buying cartons to "save" money, they would end up going even faster, lighters lasted longer because I only need to light up once and use that to light the next one and the next, etc......

I was also drinking alot, everyday, I didn't want to quit smoking, better health? better breathing? cancer? throat cancer? death? cmon, who cares about that when you're 19, people would joke around saying "so you like cancer sticks?" "did you know that second hand smoke is JUST as bad ?" and puff towards them, I really didn't care about all that, even if I did have cancer I would still smoke if I didn't have my reason to quit.

I quit one time for 3 months "just for the hell of it" and went back, I didn't see a point in quitting untill I started reading about something and I got very interested in it, and it requires excellent fitness, run times, strength, health, etc..... so now I had a reason, but I still wasn't dead set about doing it so I tried by cutting down slowly.

I finally stopped for a month or 2 then had cravings, bought a carton and smoked it in almost 3 days lol, continued smoking for a few more months then I really got serious about doing that and said If I want to do that, I have to quit smoking I cannot achieve these scores while smoking, I had 3 packs left, finished them, never bought cigarettes again.

Next day I went for a run with some people for evaluation mainly , I did horrible, couldn't even finish the run because I couldn't breathe, which confirmed to me that I have to quit.

I didn't buy anymore cigarettes, although I did smoke some cigars and dip a little but cigars lead to cigarette cravings and dip makes me too calm, light headed and very sweaty so I also cut them out.

I have a goal and I'm determined to achieve it no matter what, I will not let anything get in my way, that's how I quit, I had a damn good reason.

I still get cravings, just like I sometimes do with junk food, I don't do anything about them.

Right now no cigarettes for about 4-5+ months? no tobacco for 2-4 months, I don't keep track because I know that I will not use tobacco again period.

However during my last years, I think I will probably smoke again (maybe not but right now I think I will, but who knows what the future will bring?), I will be done with everything and finished what I wanted to do, I didn't quit because I think smoking is bad, HELL NO, I LOVE SMOKING, I LOVE THE SMELL OF CIGARETTES, I love people who smell like cigarettes, rooms that smell like cigarettes, second hand smoke, no kidding, I really do, I think smoking is great but it just interferes with a more important thing to me so it had to go, do I miss it? yes, but I don't look back, this is deffinatly a better desicion.

My point is, without a good reason, I couldn't quit, I didn't want to, I believe if you have a very good reason, goal, etc..... you will be successfull in quiting, without that honestly it just seems like something not worth doing atleast to me.

Whatever your reason is, health, living longer, aging better, etc..... whatever your reason/goal is make sure it's a reason/goal you strongly believe in and REALLY want IMO you will be more successfull in quitting.

I hope this helps.

Good luck to those who want to quit and to those who quit keep going, take it one day at a time, concentrate on finishing this day and it will be over, your brain is playing with you, but YOU have the mental power to quit and not smoke again, if you can do it for just 1 minute without a cigarette you can do it till the day you die, the will to not to smoke is there you just have to practice it.

P.S: I would like to hear how other people quit, like me cold turkey or gradually, patch, etc.... you're welcome to comment and post your own story too!