[gypsymama]

I have smoked for 16 years, and just now have decided to cut back. I actually really love and enjoy smoking, so quitting is just a silly idea to me. But I have made it 2 weeks on the gum and only smoked one pack of cigarettes. I just can't give up that first morning cigarette or smoking when drinking socially. And I really don't want to give it up, but my poor body is telling me otherwise. Uggghhh!!!!!!

[kadesgirl09]

great job!! I quit smoking cigarettes with the gum about 2 months ago... since I quit the gum I have started back smoking a little mini cigar a day... not as bad as a pack of cigarettes but I think I may have to start chewing the gum again to quit these things... smoking is SSSOOO bad for our health... and any cut back is better than none

[seeker1950]

Hi, Gypsy and Kades....
I have been a 35 year smoker, off and on trying to "quit" that whole time.
(Boy, I hate writing that!)...
I've tried everything...the patch, gum, Chantix, cold turkey. I might have success for a while, but then something distressing would happen, and I was back buying a pack of Marlboro Lights. A lot of people like the gum, but I found it stomach-upsetting as well as noticing a receding of my gums, which was alarming.
I really think the tobacco companies add something extra addictive to tobacco, not to mention the many carcinogenic chemicals within tobacco smoke.
So, here, I'm going to share with you my story with the e-cigarette. I'm not going to try to persuade you to try this, but it has worked for me. I did a lot of research, and back in Dec. '09, I bought a "kit" online. With this kit, you can choose varied levels of nicotine, from high, med., down to zero. My intention, when purchasing the kit, was to quit while tapering down on the nic levels. I've discovered that the ecig is not nearly so compulsively addictive as the tobacco cigarette. It's pleasurable, yes, but I can take a puff or two, or let it go and not bother with it at all...totally unlike when I was smoking the Marlboros.
We've discussed this here already in the smoking threads. If you have questions, please feel free to pm me, or ask here as well.
Patty