Today is the 3rd anniversary of me kicking a pack and a half
of Camel non-filters a day habit.
I had at that point tried quitting so often that I set my target date to Feb 2nd as an "It's Ground Hog's Day!" joke.
And yes I got fatter, but there's no proof I wouldn't have done that anyway 
Chantix worked for me, the side effects were rough no lie, but it was worth it.
So for all those still fighting tobacco, keep fighting. It took me a decade to do it but it's worth it in the end
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I know how hard it is to quit smoking.
One day in the mid-80's, I decided to quit. I was not a heavy smoker at all, and one day I put the pack of cigarettes in the freezer and took one as I wanted, knowing that it was my LAST PACK.
It lasted over a week, and I said to myself "that is that", and have never touched a cigarette again.
I remember my dad, several decades ago, taking a cigarette out of his mouth and exclaiming "you little piece of sh*it, you are NOT going to dominate me!"
And that was that. So I salute you for your success, because it was very hard for you to do this, obviously.. CONGRATULATIONS!!!
I had an copd exacerbation and did it cold turkey because I was very ill at the time,,,,
I will say tho that this past year, I have wanted to smoke, get some relief from this stress,,,, but I knew that nicotine would not change anything,,,, and I cannot even imagine drawing smoke down my throat again. Did I mention that I had smoked for 55 years!!??!!
and in a week my Husband will join this celebration 
he quit Feb 11th.
Yay for us all!! 
Quitting smoking was one of the hardest things I've ever done. But, it was also the best thing I ever did for myself. I gained weight, too, but started walking, then running short distances and lifting weights. I felt 15 years younger. So, if possible for you, start walking. The weight will melt off. Again, CONGRATULATIONS! You did it. Don't take one little puff. Matter of fact, put some old smoked cigarette butts in a jar with a small amount of water in it. Screw the lid on. Whenever you think you might want to smoke, take a whiff of what's in that jar. It will gross you out. And to think your hair, your skin, and your clothes smelled like that everyday to non-smokers. Worked for me. 
I have always been grateful I didn't start because I get how difficult it is to quit... I applaud you!
I have an older sister who is hooked and hates herself for not being able to kick it. But we all know the stats: the recidivism rate is higher than that of heroin! I just thank the gods/fates/neurons/oak trees I never took it up.
Weird thing is - I still smoke in my dreams
I quit a pack a day habit back in 2010. I smoked Winstons.
Like you, if I lit up a cigarette today, right now, within a week I would be smoking a pack a day.
They don't have 12-step programs for tobacco. I kicked it cold turkey. Two weeks of hell, and then OK. But I got fatter too.
Funny how capitalism is all about putting addictive things in our hands to keep up shareholder profits. We have nicotine, alcohol, added sugar, excessive salt, and a variety of other things designed to keep you using the product and keep those profits coming in regardless of what the product actually does to your health.
This is why I am not a capitalist, and believe we must find a way to overturn the shareholder primacy doctrine in favor of a stakeholder approach. That would solve SO MANY PROBLEMS. If you want to find out more, the best book I've found on this peculiarly American capitalist cancer is The Shareholder Value Myth, by Lynn Stout. It is really good.
Btw, I consider overeating an addiction also. One I have fought since I was 25. I'm now 64.
Tried to quit by inauguration day but am still failing. Still triggered after eating and writing. Particularly by politics and other annoying things.
I think I'm giving up. 
And one of the best things to do!
Good for you!
I started smoking in my early teens. I quit for over 20 years and then relapsed two or three times. My last time was in 2011 so I guess I'm going on 10 years now.
Chantix was a miracle for me! If someone really, really wants and/or needs to quit, I can't recommend that medication enough. My only side effect were the dreams but they were actually awesome in a weird way.
Once again, congratulations!
That's great to hear!
I sat in my brother's hospital room and held his hand as he died from lung cancer. He had tried everything, but it was impossible for him to quit. He was 9 years older than me and now I'm 2 1/2 years older than he was when he died. That's a very strange feeling.
Meanwhile, his 23-year-old daughter stood outside the hospital, cursing the gods, and chain smoking. It makes me so sad, especially to see young people start.
I smoked when I went back to college in my late 20s, mostly because there was only one student lounge and it was a smoking lounge. I kept it up, off and on, for a few years. Even with such a short time smoking, it was very hard to quit.
Every person who quits represents hope to me. That's one more person whose family will have longer to enjoy him/her. It's one more person who won't have to suffer the way he did. And if the weight gain bothers you, there are ways to beat that too.
Huge kudos to you! What a victory!
I'm touched by that story. Thanks
Worth tooting your own horn about. 
It has been about 15 years since I quit both smoking and drinking at the same time......
I was probably a little cranky for a day or two....
I quit for over a year twice, and you'd think that, after a year, I'd have been done...but constant vigilance is the key. You have to be on guard every day until non-smoking is your habit, and it's hard to say when that day has arrived, let alone when it will arrive.
I finally got that lesson pounded into my own head, and have been a non-smoker for about 36 years. I didn't even keep track of the date, because I didn't want it to be A Thing
Keep at it, everyone. If all you can manage is cutting way down, that's not nothing. Or if your episodes of clean air only last an hour or a few hours, that's not nothing, either.
The most painless method I found was a myriad of tiny battles. "It's 3:17. I can make it to 3:30 without one."
"Oh, now it's 3:30. I bet I can make it to 3:45."
Finally, you can't make it any longer, so you light up, take a couple of puffs - just enough to scratch the itch, or at least diminish it a lot, then put it out.
Soon, the intervals will be longer, and one day, you won't have a single compelling craving, and the constant vigilance chapter begins. It is SOOO worth it. I've known several people who smoking killed, and there are a host of other reasons to do it, as well.
Not the least is cost. I have no idea what a pack costs wherever you are, but here in BC a single pack is about $15. A truly addicted smoker will somehow manage to feed their addiction, but it sure keeps a LOT of kids from picking up the habit.
I'm pulling for ya! And damned good for you, PMS! (didn't foresee that acronym, to be honest. I bet you had a few of those days )
I know a guy who took Welbuterin to quit.
there is also hypnosis and acupuncture as well as nicotine replacements like patches and gum - These have all helped folks quit, so my point in all this is KEEP TRYING
BTW- Nice avatar Gore1FL. How about that Arenado robbery Mo just pulled off? I was ready for him to get fired TBH and then he straight up ROBS Colorado.
I know how difficult it is. I quit cold turkey. I'm now 1 year and 2 days nicotine free.
I've gotten fatter too, but I'll work on that later.
Keep up the excellent achievement of smoking cessation.
