The fifth try was my Lucky One! Since my forth try, I continued to read about people’s various methods and medical devices and didn’t find one specific method right for me. I came up with my own method though, and Finally, Totally, Stopped Smoking!!! It doesn’t matter when you had your last cigarette. The fact is, you became a proud Non-Smoker just a MINUTE AFTER 
Reading so much about this topic since my last try, I came to the conclusion that learning about other people’s motivations wasn’t enough. So I came up with a plan. Here are the most important steps and my example to guide you. If you’re reading to forget about the addiction and battle the cravings, I’ve saved the best for last! I’m sure you’ll love some of my tips… 
1) Preparation
In my last smoking period I was trying to reduce the nicotine level and I was skipping cigarettes as much as I could. For example the night before I was fulling myself that I shout not smoke two hours before bed time, and until morning cofee. In that particular two hours I was writing down the disadvantages. I filled out each side of a small paper box with what I hated about smoking, making a LIST. Starting from smell, skin appearance to health aspects (from my point or anyone’s point of view I knew or read about before).
2) Finding a powerful motivation
Writing down was the way I found the MOST POWERFUL MOTIVATION . Mine is a little different (try finding yours from the list) Ok… I’ll name it: To avoid a state of mind I’ve associated with smoking addiction. You’ll probably not think that something like that can be so powerful, but I’ve associated my sadness, my bad times with the addiction and a cold sweat that I thought it was caused the nicotine intoxication. Lately I’m into all the mind control theory everyone’s writing about, and that’s what’s helping me. Working with your mind can give you amazing results!
3) Naming and overcoming all possible obstacles
As we get to this 3′rd step I consider the most important for people like me, I must tell you I wasn’t sure it will be the last time till I understood I can loose weight easier and control my appetite better after I became a NON_SMOKER. There was more of these obstacles such as:What should I do with my hands when I’m nervous? I bitted my nail polish for a month and I detest doing that as much as I hate gaining weight. So I’ve divided my addiction in many small addictions. But after some time loose them one by one
I now spend more time thinking of what I should eat, but I find fresh vegetables more tasty… I have carrots on my desk, parsley (detoxify), tee, chewing gums, sunflower seeds (my worst addiction for the first month), and many, many options…
I spent time with smokers eating more that one fruit salad. I’ve studied their moves Not so easy… but it’s fun if you take it as a game…
4) Finding the best painkillers
From all I read, all the results of modern medical methods are based on the water intake. Being an engineer, I’ve studied some devices and my conclusion was that the PERFECT QUIT SMOKING DEVICE was still my brain , so I decided to listen to the water intake instructions: For a week- one glass each 30 minutes- after that one glass each hour. They say that the results of their devices isn’t granted if you don’t drink enough water, but it’s clear to me that is speeds the detoxify process.
If you believe in GOD ask him to ease your pain first days. IT worked on me… If you have some pains, you’ll think TWICE about going back on that road…
5) Choosing the Best way to maintain the motivation
(Last but not leasts) Be PROUD! Be very proud. Name yourself a NON_SMOKER from DAY ONE! I’ve written down on my “list box” with capital letters “STARTING TODAY YOU”RE A NON_SMOKER”
I’ve made myself a NON-SMOKER using paint and the most beautiful paper I’ve seen and FRAME IT I’ve started telling people around me after 4 days. And from that day I’m bragging about it . I started with my family, my closest friends, relatives, kith , new people and now you. Why I didn’t told you till now? Because I’ve written about my last try and I needed to be sure! I’m SURE because I’m FREE, very PROUD and I wouldn’t want to go back being addictive, I have more relaxing rabbits options. I think it was my only addiction for…TADAAAAAA…12 YEARS!?You got that right!
You’re now CONVINCED IT’S POSSIBLE? If so, make me proud of the METHOD! Write me about you! Let’s kill the BEAST!
November 28th, 2007 at 7:21 pm
Your quit-smoking method seems very reasonable to me, Maddie, and it’s refreshing to see a sensible post on the subject! There are so many blogs out there that post the same bad advice as all the others just so they can make a few cents from adsense ads. Thanks for being real.
November 28th, 2007 at 9:12 pm
Congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If only everyone would try this…
November 29th, 2007 at 6:17 am
Thanks Rory! I’m sure others can benefit from my experience and research! It took me quite some time to think that gaining weight or any other obstacle is easy to overcome comparing to this awful habbit. You can loose weight or anything, when you’re a non-smoker! And we mustn’t forget about the medical aspects.
November 29th, 2007 at 5:15 pm
Not to mention the prevention of wrinkles, bad breath and various other benefits!
December 4th, 2007 at 11:12 am
and passive smoking… urks!
December 4th, 2007 at 1:48 pm
What is passive smoking, would that be like second hand smoking?
December 5th, 2007 at 8:57 am
i’m glad i’m not a smoker!! i wouldn’t have to go through all that, but i know an uncle who had to go cold turkey just to stop!!
December 5th, 2007 at 6:04 pm
Mary, I’m glad about your uncle. But I know people who CAN’T stop and will die because of it. It’s so sad.
December 5th, 2007 at 7:46 pm
yes, it’s 2nd hand smoking!
December 6th, 2007 at 10:46 am
They say passive smoking is as bad for your health, as being a smoker. This is so not true!!! Do you think non-smokers should avoid smokers? I already think to stop dating smokers…:) Is this the right way to avoid a relapse?
December 6th, 2007 at 4:27 pm
I think it’d be hard to be with someone who smoked all the time when you don’t smoke anymore. I wouldn’t stop seeing this person, I’d just try to change their way for the better. If this didn’t work…. I’d consider someone new.
December 8th, 2007 at 8:07 pm
The picture for this post is so funny. Is there a story behind it, by any chance?
December 10th, 2007 at 7:40 am
Good luck and stick to it — it ain’t easy!
December 10th, 2007 at 8:01 am
Hi Ptamaro, Thanks! After two months I’ve started dreaming about smoking and feeling guilty in my dream. When I wake up I realize how hard it is, but I know a relapse will make things worse… I ‘ll try to remember my motivation and feel proud, till I’ll totally hate this habit!
December 10th, 2007 at 3:09 pm
I wish I could convince my bf to stop smoking, any ideas? such a pighead! =)
December 10th, 2007 at 7:37 pm
Tell him no action until he quits!
December 11th, 2007 at 5:15 am
Yes, I am also working on this. I was smoking 10 cigg per day. But now reduced to one per day, I wish if I can totally give up this habit.
December 11th, 2007 at 7:48 am
It’s a very difficult habit to stop. I have been able to replace the bad habit with better/healthy things and change my behavior to reduce the daily number to about 5/day. The last time I quit (for three years) I used the patch. I also chew gum which helps a bit…
These days, there are more options. Basically, the person has to want to quit for things to stick. As you watch your friends and family get cancer it makes it harder to make excuses and continue to smoke.
December 11th, 2007 at 11:33 am
what have that healthy things been?
December 11th, 2007 at 12:58 pm
@KittiChai
I try to have a snack, or take a short walk, or chew gum — anything to fight the urge, and “put it off” and get into something else and I generally get over the urge. Drinking water helps too. Stay away from “trigger” situations, and try to minimize on stress full environments is also a good thing.
I smoked for 27+ years but was able to quit for three. I don’t smoke in the house or in front of the kids — and that can help minimize the opportunity too.
Basically, I need to mentally make the commitment — and then enlist the help of a nicotine gum as a backup, and to give me the confidence that I can quit again. I guess I’m still not ready to make the effort.
Today, I’ve had three, so I’m not doing as well as I’d like. If you attack the behavior, and the addiction it can greatly increase your chances of success…
December 11th, 2007 at 6:10 pm
Smoking seems like a bad addiction. I hope I never face it.
December 12th, 2007 at 1:41 pm
@ptamaro
I think that’s a good way to go!
do these nicotine gums really help?
December 12th, 2007 at 8:45 pm
I’ve known someone to not get over their habit of smoking even w/ the gum.
December 14th, 2007 at 1:07 pm
maybe that just wasn’t the right method for him or her…?!
December 14th, 2007 at 8:09 pm
Maybe some people simply can’t stop if they aren’t like chained to the ground.
December 14th, 2007 at 10:05 pm
I guess I they are ok with smoking you can’t really do anything…
December 14th, 2007 at 10:06 pm
I = if, sorry!
December 15th, 2007 at 2:57 pm
I hate when people are actually ok w/ smoking.
December 15th, 2007 at 4:15 pm
I hate it when parents smoke inside their houses and let kids breath in the smoke… I think that’s something that should be disciplined since kids can’t do much about that!
December 16th, 2007 at 1:39 pm
It is gross when people get those holes in their necks…
February 6th, 2008 at 9:02 am
Hi there,
I quit smoking over a year ago and have since written a guide on how to quit smoking which can be found here - Quit Smoking
Good Luck!
February 6th, 2008 at 10:32 pm
To quit smoking is a licence to a longer life.Smokers plzzzzz Quit for good.