and One Step at a Time cigarette filters to help me do it. Hardest things I've ever done.

I don't eat a lot of sweets.

but the carbohydrates that permeate the american diet from bread to potatoes

Then one day, I looked at my empty pack of cigarettes and decided then and there NO MORE!!

It's been 30 years and I've never had the slightest urge-- if anything, I find them revolting. I'm lucky. I read somewhere that nicotine is actually more addictive than heroin-- don't know if that's true.

and it was easy bevcause after having two stents placed in two arteries, I felt like my heart would explode if I smoked another cigarette. I didn't do well with the procedure and was sick for a couple weeks - that is what made it easier. I had tried so many other times and could not make it past 6 months. Now it is over 5 years and I still feel like my heart would explode if I smoked another cigarette.

Sugar. I drastically reduced my sugar intake for 7 days, no sweets, cakes, cookies any desert or desert like food and any sweet drinks . I switched to filtered and smart water. After day 3 it was much easier to avoid the junk and desserts and liquids, after 7 days the taste of the stuff I could eat just a week earlier was intolerably sweet. My tolerance was much lower. I just kept my consumption to my new tolerance and continue to this day. That was 20+ years ago. Quitting sugar helped me avoid becoming a diabetic. Tobacco was a whole other process but I managed to quit after smoking for 40 years.

This is really helpful.

But that was along with carbs, fat, & salt.

Very difficult, but definitely doable.

I would treat myself every couple of days to a small bite of a brownie or piece of cake.

As a diabetic friend shared with me: doc says we only taste the 1st bite anyway. After that, we're just eating.

Good luck!

Who knew apnea causes diabetes? 😱 (Along with a host of other chronic conditions!)

I'm just a junk food vegetarian.

I used diet ice tea, diet candy, & stevia, too.

Increase exercise. Even walking 20-30 min. / day helps a lot!

One article a few mos ago stated even walking 2-3 min after a meal lowers sugar count.

Good luck!

That have been shown to drastically lower sugar count, if that's an issue for you.

I discovered Monk Fruit in the Raw. Seems pretty healthy and only takes a tiny amount for my coffee. You can check it out.
Best part is it has that name because it was used by Buddhist Monks for centuries. Not very cheap either, but like I said it only takes a little bit.

Ty for sharing!

I've been drinking Kool-Aid with Splenda of late and I'm of the opinion that it is safe.

took me years and many attempts but I did it gradually - by the time I FINALLY quit (almost 15 years ago)I had already quit smoking in my home and in my car, for example.......to be honest it wasn't really health concerns or cost that made me quit, it was non-smokers harping at me........I remember a young guy at work telling me I stunk - what woman wants to hear THAT?!

Just said enough and quit

I quit cigs and alcohol cold turkey.

Sugar and caffeine are way harder. Mostly slow weaned off sugar, down to less than 20 grams (or none sometimes) sugar daily. Slow cutdown on the caffeine, 50/50.

And my partner quit at the same time. It seemed easy when we did it together, cold turkey.

I’ve found another habit of mine (holding a grudge) had become useful in the current political situation. I’m not ready to quit grudges against the MAGA cult.

I did notice my coffee intake increased quite a bit when I quit smoking.....

Tobacco was the hard one, took many tries.

Stopped alcohol cold turkey.
After 911 to hospital with anemia and esophogatis(4 ulcers)
Strict diet no alcohol, no red meats and animal fats(butter), minimum sweets.
Med to reduce acid reflux
Eat many veggies, fruits, low sugar fluids.

Quitting smoking for good took several tries. But, finally in 2006, my wife and I quit for good.

I used to bite/chew/pick at my fingernails so bad that sometimes they would bleed because of my nervous habit. I think that therapy, antidepressants and just getting hold of my anxieties helped me to quit.

Alcohol, 40 years.
Tobacco, 10 years.

I quit for one hour. Then one more. Once that was done I tried for one more. Pretty soon the goal was one day, just one day, I can do that. Then, one more day. Then, one more day.

It is still one day at a time.

To quit sugar, I had to quit bread. It incited cravings. I can get away with Ezekiel bread, but why bother?

I have also taken 200 mcg of chromium picolinate for years every morning. It helps with cravings. If I run out, they come back, even when I haven't been paying enough attention to create the reverse-panacea effect in my brain.

One side of my family has type 2 diabetes all over the place. I have managed to avoid that and I think those are the two reasons.

If it's a special occasion and I eat a piece of wedding cake or similar and I have that feeling of "I want more," I take another chromium at bedtime. It's over by morning.

(I'm not a doctor, needless to say. It's just worked for me, and there is medical literature showing successful trials with diabetics. Some doctors recommend it for that. I've tried different types of chromium and the only brand I've found that is that type and dosage is Solgar.)

I will say this, it was a LOT easier to quit sugar than it was to quit smoking! That took about 100 tries. But with sugar, an occasional special event and even a couple of days of them won't completely suck me in if I stay hydrated etc. With cigarettes, it was all or nothing for me.

After you don't have any for a while, just a little fruit will taste much sweeter than it ever did before. (Oh, and I think artificial sweeteners can trick our brains into the sugar craving thing. I read some things about that and wish I'd saved a good source, but I didn't.)

I moved from sweetened colas to diet colas, then I gave up diet colas and switched to other soft drinks. But they are still sweet. Now am moving to unsweetened tea.

I have never smoked and haven't had a drink in decades. That's a "benefit" of having migraines. I can't stand smoke and alcohol triggers headaches.

There are a lot of bad things about sugar. I think its "comfort" food for a lot of us. But if I don't have it at home, I'm unlikely to go out and get it. So if I can conquer shopping that will help a lot.

Edit: I have purchased chromium picolinate in the past but I never really knew what to do with it. Maybe I will try it again.

I just try to be mindful of what I eat and how much sugar said item contains.

Good luck!!

I read in the early 90’s that if you stopped putting salt on your food for a week, your system would no longer crave it. I use it very sporadically mostly only on lettuce - it completely changes the taste.

And I never crave it. I could live the rest of my life without potato chips. Well I suppose there is salt in some things I eat, but I don't add it to anything.

I have no idea why but I rarely eat potato chips but if I’m by a pool I want them.

*sigh*

Smoking. Cold turkey! Many years ago when my job did not permit smoking at the desk. So glad I did.

Gave them up on the same day. It was a Sunday. I was in junior high school. I just thought: “These are really stupid habits, and I’m going to stop doing them”. And I did.

it was one of the hardest things I've ever done. I joined a support group and replaced my smoking with a temporary tootsie roll habit.

She had to be hospitalized for a couple of weeks, and of course she was not allowed to smoke. I told her it was a gift. She had tried so many things to quit, and she really needed to quit for her health.

She did ok for a few weeks, but as soon as her life got stressful she went back to smoking. I think this happens a lot.

and never picked it back up again because I remember just how hard it was to quit the first time. Every once in a while I still get a craving for one though.

especially Bakery foods. No sugar except for a cheat moment once or twice a month I figured out peanut butter m&ms have the least carbs so on a cheat day I can eat about 6 without screwing up my low carb count, try to stay under 25 net carbs a day

I gave up smoking cold turkey when I found out I was pregnant. I changed my routine. No more sitting around the table after dinner with a cigarette. I got up immediately and did dishes or took a walk. I gave up soda after doing a density experiment at a science workshop and discovered that every 12 oz can of soda we tested had between 8 and 10 teaspoons of sugar. I never liked diet soda so I started drinking water instead. Neither was easy but after a few weeks, it was somewhat easier. Best of luck to you.

I make Kool-Aid with Splenda and frankly can't tell the difference. Sugar is hard to give up entirely though.

I wasn't one to gnaw on them like a rabid beaver, but I'd have a neck or chip and next thing I knew I'm "trimming" (chewing) them to the quick. It occurred to me that I couldn't leave those rough spots alone, so I'd eliminate them the wrong way.
I just started ALWAYS carrying a nail clipper and every irregularity was now neatly trimmed or filed.
Completely quit biting at them. Close to instantly.
Also, I smoked cigars. Had a significant unplanned car repair, and had to rent a car for 16 days. Couldn't smoke in the rental car. I still held an unlit cigar in my hand or mouth while driving.
After the 16 days, I realized I didn't miss actually smoking them. I still do them unlit, but I went from 3 or 4 a day to 3 every 4 days, but never lit. If I didn't chew on them a bit (requiring cutting) I'd probably be one a week.

It drove me crazy. I don't think he even knew he was doing it. I don't know if he ever stopped.

I tried other things before, like the nasty tasting nail polish, but the thing that did the trick was formaldehyde. I was a biology major and all of our dissection specimens were preserved in formaldehyde. It made my nails super strong, so I wasn't getting the little chips and tears that I would start chewing on. I grew CLAWS. Once I was out of the habit, I never went back. I also carry nail clippers so I can take of chipped or torn nails and hangnails before I start chewing on them.

I was a tee-totaler until my 30s. I took a promotion where I started traveling lots and going to steakhouse dinners with suppliers where we met for cocktails before and after dinner. Rather than sitting in my hotel room, I’d go to the bar. On most of my flights, I’d get upgraded to first class where I’d get my pre-departure drink and multiple in-flight ones. Drinking became a way of life for me on the road. Then, I began needing it at home. At my worst, I was going through 2-3 jugs of Titos vodka a week. My wife began riding me like a dime store pony over it. I increasingly didnt feel well, and many mornings, I’d wake up with no memory of the evening before. Blacking out like that was very unsettling.

One night in an an effort to get my wife off my ass about my drinking, I told her I’d get counseling. It took me six months to get that started since I wasnt in the biggest hurry! For almost three years, meeting one hour nearly weekly (@ $125 per!), I gradually eliminated alcohol from my life.

I credit my Christian faith as much as the counseling in helping me get straightened out. I met frequently with another man who had gone through the same journey. He’s now my best friend. I had relapses along the way, and he went through the same. He never judged but would encourage me to hang in there. No doubt, I wouldnt have made it without him. I’m now doing the same for a 37 year old man in my church, although I came along to late to help him with his marriage. He’s still relapsing too much, but I’m not giving up on him.

You will never hear me judge people who find themselves in substance abuse. I wasnt always that way.

I can't imagine how difficult it is. I have known many who struggled with alcohol and failed.

I took up cycling, smoking just did not mix that was in 2000, have not missed it a bit. I still cycle and give it credit for the health and flexibility I have at 60.

Last edited Sat Jan 11, 2025, 11:55 PM - Edit history (1)

my younger sister got me to stop in my 20's. Wow, did she badger me! 😄 But that's ok. 👍

But she quit smoking in her ?mid-?late 20's! Now, that's breaking a habit! 🎉 👍

Probably some other one for me, but can't think of it right.

I quit 35 years ago after 24 years of a pack and a half to two packs a day of menthol cigarettes — Kools, Marlboro Menthols. I still remember the exact date; it is indelibly etched on my memory. It was March 23, 1990, and I drove to one of those traveling stop-smoking-by-hypnosis seminars that was coming through town (Columbia, Missouri) from someplace in Indiana. It was being held in one of those big hotels near the Columbia Mall, and I drove through a blizzard to get there. Almost white-out conditions, and so there were only about 12 or 15 people there. I went with very low expectations. At age 40 I had tried several times to quit, with successes of various durations. My record was 63 days, next to that was 49 days, then 22 days. What had always defeated me was that inevitable impossible-to-resist temptation. I'm talking about that one craving for a cigarette that was so overwhelming that my attempt to resist it was as hopeless as the proverbial leaf in a hurricane. So when the man who was conducting the hypnosis seminar said that we would never smoke again, I raised my hand and said, "That's not what I want. What I want is not to never smoke again, but never to WANT to smoke again." He said he couldn't promise that I would never want to smoke again, but that he was going to give us all tools to deal with those cravings. Well, I actually DID never want to smoke again. It was just incredible, but there it is. If I had not quit smoking, I swear to God, I would be dead by now. I just know it.

As I said, the obvious one is smoking. The other obvious one is drinking, but I've never been a drinker at all. That foul, putrid stuff never has had any appeal to me at all. Beer, wine, hard liquor — I can't stand the stuff. And I'm glad I'm like that. There's a whole host of alcohol-related problems that I'll never have.

Several people in this thread have mentioned sugar. Alas, that is my other addiction, and despite my type 2 diabetes, it remains a huge problem for me. Are there any quit-sugar hypnotists out there?

— Ron

an 1/8 tsp every week. To quit smoking I asked my Nurse at the hospital where I could smoke and she said "Nowhere here" so I asked for the patch and she brought it to me within minutes and everyday after unless she had a day off, then the Nurse that was on that day took care of my patch. It's been 8 years and I feel good and strong. You can quit sugar - I know you can. I'm down from 3 tsp to 1 tsp and working towards less. If you need anything let me know. It helps to talk.

How did I do it? By intentionally getting myself banned 😅

My shrink's focus was on the work of Melanie Klein-- and, she was a passive shrink.

My mom was a 1 1/2 or so pack/day smoker. I have nmaaaaybe the vaguest, briefest, fleeting memory, or two I can think of even though my general earliest memories go back somewhen at 4 yrs old. So I'm not sure about my memories.
I don't remember our 1st apt smelling of smoke in general.

I thought she quit when I was around 5, but maaaybe I was closer to 4.

Anyway she caught that bad flu in the mid-late 50's, then got serious asthma which did get more tamed decades later. It was a very rough time early on for her, a few years.. I don't have that many memories of her well.
She did at least got rid of her smoking!

My dad's dad smoked. He had his own room door closed where he smoked in our first apt. It didn't really seep out, though. He died of cancer of the vocal cords (refused operation to remove them) before we moved.

Luckily, I never picked it up. I hated having to use the girls bathroom in the Cafeteria. The stench! Ugh!!!

My dad was almost a teetotaler. But both his parents were heavy drinkers. His dad had the ?dt's twice, sent to a hospital or some place to detox. He probably had a up & down childhood. I think he'd have a social drink, or so at certain business lunches, or diners. Kept some hard liquor up in a high cabinet for our relatives.

I was a light social drinker. Wine at relatives houses. Black & white russians, at one particular bar, pina coladas at some other get togethers. Something with bourbon...I hated whiskey, scotch.
I enjoyed getting a bit of a buzz.

Never had a big sweet tooth, so like no tons of cake. Not too much candy, you'd find me having sweetarts.

Cookies, yes, as a kid through teens. Then less, except for chocolate chips.

Was having a regular coke almost once a day for fairly long time, but now hardly any soda (1 every few ?months) once I had a at the very lowest end of pre-diabetes blood test results.

Always preferred darker chocolates - once I had Hersey's then Special Dark Halloween candy; I went darker & darker. When Lindt's 72% showed up in their Lindt store on 5th Ave (NYC). I love 72% - 85%. 90%'s pretty good, too.
I still like Reese's PB cups. But, wow, when Trader Joe's came out w dark chocolate PB cups! W0000t!

Bc of not having good dark chocolate near me I eat a lot less. I have less money, too...so.... I suppose w the elevated lead, or cadmium content reports. that's a good thing.

My mom, and I started lowering our salt intake maybe late 20's, early 30's (?her later 40's into 50's.).

I use the little salt packets. Usually 1/2 of one on potatoes, rice, pasta, or eggs. About everything gets the pepper packet(s), and garlic powder jar treatment. 😀👍

Last edited Sun Jan 12, 2025, 12:01 PM - Edit history (1)

About 20 years ago. Just stopped.

I was high at the time.

Then a woman who became the love of my life for some years said, "It's cigars or me." I threw the cigar over my shoulder and haven't touched tobacco since.

Wolf

I couldn't remember if the exact date was January 31 or February 1st of 2020.


I recently found a notebook that has the following written in it. The list goes on and on so I shortened it to a select entries for DU.


Feb. 1st 1am to 1pm= 12 hours
Feb, 2nd 1am =24 hours
Feb. 5 1pm= 96hours, 4 days
Feb. 14 =13 days
July 16, 2022= 896 days
Oct. 28, 2022= 1,000 days

Today, January 12, 2025 is 1,807 days without a cigarette for me.


It was by accident. I was a long time cigarette smoker (over 20 years) and I literally choked on a cigarette.

I never looked back.

...and quit alcohol three years ago. Quit the ex in 2004. It's just a matter of self discipline and forming new habits to replace old ones. It's hard sometimes, but doable.

I used to smoke two packs a day and my first drink of the day was when I woke up in the morning.

I weaned myself from sweet tea which took a while. Now I only drink it if it is served to me by accident.

I had a real CocaCola habit when I used to get migraines. I would need heavy starchy food and a Coke to settle my stomach so I could work.

Sugar only if I have sweet things in the house, such as cookies, cake etc. I try to avoid that. However Mr YD made coconut ice cream last night and it calls my name! On the good side it isn't very sweet but it is high in butterfat.

I don't drink a lot, mostly when I am out with my Democratic Women friends and that is because we frequent a BYOB Italian place and there is always a ton of wine.

But having tried moderation with sweets, I cannot do it. I think it will be easier to give up all together. But if I could eat sweets in moderation that would be ok.