Who is willing to stop or has stopped smoking?

I have been smoke free for almost 10 years now. I have a philosophy that if you cannot afford a habit, you need to give it up. Here in NJ, packs of cigarettes are going for 6 bucks a pack right now. Well when I quit, they were only 3 bucks a pack. But when you smoke more than 3 1/2 packs a day, even at 3 bucks it was adding up to more than I could afford. What is so pathetic, is back then, you could still smoke at your jobs, at your desk, etc. I used to base what job I would take based on if I could smoke at my desk or not. Well, since my habit was more than I could afford, I followed my own advice, and gave it up. Took me two months, and had the help of Welbutrin, then continued with St Johns Wort & Kava Kave for 6 more months, but I don't miss them. I miss the kool menthol smell

and will "snort" a freshly open pack of a co-workers, but would never go back. Yes, I've gained quite a bit of weight since I quit, and cannot seem to get it off. I don't eat hardly anything, and swear all the water I drink is what's making me fat! hysterical

Back then they had discovered that when some patients took "Welbutrin" which is an anti-depressant, the patients either quit or drastically cut down.

Well the greedy medical field being what it is, then did a 360 degree turn around, re-marketed the anti-depressant under the name of "Zyban", a pill to help smokers quit. Problem with that (back then at least)? The insurance companies would not cover the meds under the Zyban name. So if you or your doctor were smart, it was prescribed to you under the Welbutrin name, which was covered and the exact same thing. Understand one thing about Welbutrin/Zyban, this is NOT a mircle drug. It DOES NOT *STOP* the cravings, it only helps you manage the cravings. And it does not work for all. Not a one size fit all drug.

My advise to peeps trying to quit? First of all, if you are not ready, completely ready to quit, then don't. You will fail before you begin. You have to be totally MENTALLY prepared for it. Second, the "TEN MINUTE GAME". Play it! What I mean is, you have to play mental games with yourself. When a craving hits, you look at your watch, say, ahhh, I'll smoke in 10 minutes. Then get busy doing something. By the time the craving hits again, 15-20 minutes might have passed. But, don't "treat" yourself to the cigarette at that time. Say to your self again, ahh, in 10 minutes I'll have that cigarette, and again get yourself busy. You keep this up. Before you know it, you've gone an hour or more. DO NOT, and let me repeat this, DO NOT say more then 10 minutes. An addicted smoker cannot mentally handle more then 10 minutes at a time. Don't say, that you will wait 30 minutes, an hour.... That is too long mentally. But 10 minutes? Easy.

My advise to the family members of a smoker? Be patient. Stay calm. Because the smoker trying to quit won't be. They will need you to help them. To encourage them, to praise them, to support them.
Now... to everyone who, for the new year, has decided to venture down this road.. Good luck to you, and congratulations for trying AND succeeding.