[RRU96]

I did not set an actual quit date, I finally realized that this was my time.

A month or so before Christmas, I started becoming (hypo)/manic with my bipolar and decided that I needed to do something to change the way I was living my life. My wife's health is very serious, and it was a motivation for me to make these changes in my life, in the hopes that my wife would follow suit.

I have since decided to put down cigarettes, though this was not an easy task. I knew that smoking them was a comfort thing, and a reaction to my surroundings.

If I jump in the car.... light a smoke.
If I eat a big meal..... light a smoke.

I knew that the first thing I had to stop... was the cigarettes. I couldnt stop the smoking... that habit was far more ingrained in me than the nicotine.

One day I finally said, "No More Cigarettes".. But I didn't punish myself that much. I went from smoking Cigarettes to smoking Cigars. The Black and Milds I went to were more tolerable for me... and I noticed that I still had some cigarette cravings. To me this meant that it was a somewhat healthy step since the cigars were not fulfilling something the cigarettes were. When I got the cravings, I would smoke a couple puffs on the cigar.

After a short while, I had no cravings for the cigarettes. I did end up getting one of the black and milds after I was done with it, and pulled out the tobacco and would use the wooden tip as a smoking cessation device whenever I didn't feel like lighting up, or wanted to stay inside (my wife and I banned smoking in the house). The sweetness in that wooden tip though eventually would cause me to not be able to stomach even that and as of right now I have been cigarette free for probably 2 months.... cigar free for roughly..2 weeks. (Don't remember the date. It wasn't important for me as much as quitting was)

During this time, my wife and I have also eliminated caffeine. I was a VERY heavy Mt. Dew drinker. Went from probably.... 8 cans a day of dew.... to less than that of Sprite.

Had to take steps again though. Had to get used to LESS caffeine. I couldn't go from Dew to Diet... so we weened off... using Root Beer's and other flavored caffeine free beverages as stepping stones. Now we dont even deal much with the root beer or other flavored carreine-free drinks.

This isnt the first time I tryed to quit. I hope it is the last though !

[cutebagaddict08]

Good for you on your progess!!! That's awesome, it takes alot of strength and courage to quite a habit that has been a part of your life.