"Within 48hrs the nicotine has left the body - after that you are fighting the hand-to-mouth habit and the psychological need to reward yourself with a cigarette " ~ Sourdough

I tried quitting my pack-a-day habit four times since I started at age 16. Each time I quit for a year or longer. Then like an arrogant smartass I decided that since I had quit, I could light up a fag for a friend anytime and it wouldn't hurt anything... HAH!

I finally did quit completely. About 15 years ago now I guess. The thing that helped with the "oral habit" was taking up playing a 15-inch bamboo flute. It forced me to pull air into my lungs (instead of smoke) and it gave me something socially acceptable to put in my mouth. I spent a lot of time in the parks that summer playing out in the (relatively) fresh air.

A few years later I found out that I was allergic to smoke, and particularly tobacco smoke.

Funny how the desire to smoke just went away after I filled my life with music instead... ;`)

~ Jande