So we have decided it is time to give up
Actually this is the hardest bit
I am going to tell you my story. This is for real

I was an anti-smoker until I was 19 years old

I had a lovely girl as a girl friend who was 2 years younger and was a smoker. She got me smoking

I smoked until I was smoking 60 cigarettes a day. The cigarettes I smoked Gauloises Disque Bleu Caporal and Gitanes both French High in Tar and also no filters. They were also Turkish tobacco known to friends and relatives as Camel Dung.

I continued to smoke until I was 34 years of age and then I had my first divorce, which was devastation.

Long and short of it was that I had to quit smoking and drinking, if I was planning to live to become 50 and beyond

At the time I also weighed 238 lbs complete package for disaster

So the problem was not just packing up smoking or drinking or losing weight
The problem was more fundamental than that. It was the way of life and if I was to rid myself from the chains upon my feet I had to change the life style

The analysis of the life style was fatty foods, drinks, high sugar, a lot of tea, no body movements smoking, drinking, late dinners, more drinks, more cigarettes after the meal. Drive the car park as close as possible to the door of the supermarket etc.
So how to do what to do.

I loved food, I loved drink and loved the cigarettes but I also loved to live, but the rate I was going I was not going to be 40 yrs old

I started with not going to the pubs. This is a big deal in the UK because you don�t go to pubs purely for drinking. It is our community and it gets together for all kinds of activities and socializing. I had to do this because if I drank then the natural progression was to have a cigarette, and in order not to smoke it was necessary not to drink either.

I had been away from the sports arena for almost 12 years when I gave up smoking. At the time the idea of the gym was becoming popular so I decided to join a gym. This was a good thing because it allowed all my daily frustrations to manifest themselves in the gym, which I fought with vigor battling against the machines.

Back at home Most of the time after a meal it was a cup of tea, the couch, and a cigarette. In order not to want a cigarette it was then after a dinner I would wear my running gear and walk for two hours until I got so tired so when I came home I dropped of to bed and out.
At work the first few days I became so aggressive that I had to take 2 weeks off to deal with it and in that period I did not want to see or talk to any one all I wanted was a fix bit I had sworn that I a was not going to allow any smoke to enter in my lungs and I was determined to carry that through. Every time I wanted a cigarette I could imagine this fat red chick tycoon rubbing his hands together with a smile similar to JHS smiley (Big smile) yet putting another chain upon my feet.

When I was throwing all the cigarettes away from the house I held on to 3 individual cigarettes for the mental security purposes. I remember one night I was so so desperate for a cigarette and at the same time so determined not to inhale the smoke that I in a moment of desperation ate the damn thing and it tasted so horrible I threw the other two away and decided I did not need them. Every time I felt I needed a cigarette I put my shorts on and went for a run and as I would get tired and was unable for go forward I would swear at myself �Come on you Bast**rd, Pay back time for the indulgence endure or f**king die� and every time I made a bit of progress. On the food line I learnt the lean eating and healthy eating habits. I used to go to the local shop and by the daily packet of the cigarettes. I made a habit of going to the bank and deposit the price of the cigarettes in an account called the wellness fund. By this time a mere 4 weeks had gone and I was craving oh craving for a puff. It always came back to me in this thought that �You know you want to give it up are you going to put up with the pain as you did again are you stupid? Do not tarnish the record�

3 months down the line
1 I had lost 37 pounds in weight,
2 had not smoked a single cigarette
3 had not drank a drop of alcohol

What I found out that from the day one immediately the food tasted better
My clothes didn�t smell
I was getting to become a more stable person as the cigarettes seem to have a calming effect but in general they are catalyst to being more nervous.

Foods I ate salads with chicken without skin Tuna fish with salads
Boiled potato, jacket potato

I have maintained below 200 pound weight over 22 years and the size of trousers is 34 still. I drink occasionally

The good news was after 12 months I had accumulated enough in the bank to go to my first cruise all paid while sticking my middle finger to the man with red chicks and the big grin and there were no chains upon my feet.

Talk to me if the will dwindles

you sure look good now......just like popeye!

Good for you hun and I used to be well over 300lbs....we all have certain things we need to strive for.

It really does go away. Once in a very great while (super stressed) I might still want one but after 5 years of not smoking I was visiting with old friends, having some beers and took a drag off of one just because. It was like licking a dirty ashtray! Gross!!! Its now been 6 years again and I have no urges to have one any time soon.

Very proud of you for hanging in there, it's not too easy to quit smoking...congrats to you..

Robert, thank you so much for sharing this with everyone. BRAVO!!

How funny but did you ever notice 55 years they made those films but never ever in any of them he sucks the pipe always blows it out think about that for a moment.

your wrong robert.....he did suck in spinach with that pipe!

Good for you !!! Beating any addication is so tough but smoking and dieting at the same time wow ..that must have been really hard !

I meant and you know too that I meant smoke as we were on the subject of smoking and not vegetating, which is another topic for another time . I hope you would agree.

I put it out there because a dear friend I just learnt is trying to quit and it is not easy. So I wanted this to be a support for all that it is worth.

I am sure it is worth a lot and maybe you will inspire others as well

Thank you for that inspiring story Robert. I quit smoking on September 22, 2007 after 19 years and so far so good. I do have my days where I want one, but I get through it.

I am working on losing my weight as well and that is going good too. I have a stomach ulcer and a hiatal hernia and was forced on a restricted diet so that pretty much was the kick in the butt that I needed to start losing the weight.

I'm hoping by the time I reach my anniversary quit date I'll be down to my normal weight again.

congratulations quitting smoking is tough. I did it myself haven't had a cigarette in 8 years. I'm in better shape now at 40 than I was when I was 20.

One habit I would like to keep and not to kick........................................................................................................................Breathing

Kudos my man

How right you are
all this needs a rude awakening before we get hold of ourselves good luck love

I wrote this because a nice friend of mine is strugling to kick the habit I do sincerely hope she reads this thread That person knows who I am referring to.

i quit about 3 years ago,,,,,god i bet they miss th money,,,,,,now if we cn stop buying gas