Opinions - Quitting Cigars for NY Resolution

[laws0n]

SWIM has only been smoking cigars for a year now but is getting crap from his family, friends, and decided that All of the bad side effects are not worth the stress a cigar may or may not relieve.

SWIM smokes either black n milds, but recently just short swishers (buy 1 get 1 free). He realizes that 1 ciger = around 3 cigerettes but dosent smoke them all the way down and throws them away so 1 cigar is probly close to 2 cigarettes. SWIM gradually moved up from 1 a week to now 6 a day on average. Which is 12 cigarettes or around half a pack if that helps you cigarette smokers understand so they can help me.

SWIM really wants to quit because he isnt as healthy anymore and notices little things that bother him, like running out of breathe quickly, or smelling bad after smoking one so when I walk by someone I stink. SWIM's mom is on him the most because her parents both dies of lung cancer from smoking and she had to watch her mom basically sufficate to death. the sooner SWIM quits the better, 5 years later SWIM dosent want ALL his clothes to smell like smoke, have a smokers cough, and stained teeth so SWIM thinks its a good idea to get it over with while SWIMs not that far into it.

SWIM is going to have his last cigar before bed tonight but has a couple left just in case that he will make it so its hard to get to. SWIM's mom who used to take him to get cigars isnt going to take him anymore, and all the wrappers boxes and vutts are cleaned up so SWIM wont see a cigar and think of wanting a cigar. SWIM isnt addicted but he notices when stressed or in a bad mood nicotine helps a tad. I was wondering if cigars are easier to quit than Cigarettes? because cigarettes have so many added extra chemicals that cigars dont have, but SWIM realizes that its the nocitine that gets you not those chemicals so cigars are more natural and less additives but might not be easier to quit.

SWIM has told his friends and said to help SWIM out like not be SWIMs parent and take it away but just remind SWIM hes breaking a goal that he made a big deal out of. His boss is quitting for New Years resolution too so having someone for support will help, she has smoked 10 packs a week (25~ daily) so quitting for SWIM should be easier. SWIM is also going to keep the 2 "emergency cigars" at home so if hes not home, too bad, SWIM wont buy a new pack its too much trouble, SWIM would just wait it out and then is he really was craving one would use one of his "emergency cigars" SWIM wrote down these steps SWIM is taking and put them on his wall so SWIM has to read it everyday, to show how serious he is about it.

Those are the steps SWIM is taking, he was also thinking of a reward program like if I get 10 (buy 1 get 1 free) for 5.50 and smoke 5 daily (usually 6 highest has been 9). Thats nearly $20 every week and 77$ monthly, so SWIM has probably spent $924 in total, just short of a thousand, wasted that could have been put to much better use.

Since SWIM has only been smoking cigarsthat converts to roughly half pack a day for about a year he dosent want to do gum or patches, he dosent think he needs it not being a heavy long time smoker, and SWIM thinks he has enough will power to do it.

That is SWIM's plan, he would LOVE to hear advice, tips, tricks, from people who have quit smoking or are trying to and anyone else that would like to put in their 2 cents. SWIM regrets smoking because it turned into a habbit and would like to quit ASAP with using the least # of cigars possible. It would also rock if you tld me your plan, routine, replacements, and how they worked for you. Smoking is a plain nasty habbit in SWIM's humble opinion, help appriciated =).

[trippster]

SWIM was in your exact situation...He found that cigars used to be something he'd enjoy every once in a while as a treat. (On the weekend, by himself, a nice thick Cuban cigar on the front porch). This peaceful, tranquil time that he once enjoyed became an everyday habit, several times a day. He'd find himself smoking cigarillos outside work, before school, after school, lunch, you name it.

For Swim personally, it just took realizing this to stop quickly. One night he was outside, the weather was starting to get cold, nearing winter, plenty of wind chill. He just wondered why he was freezing his balls off just to smoke. It once was something he enjoyed, then turned into something he needed everyday.

Cigars for me was pretty easy to quit..I'm not sure if you inhale them or not (very bad), but that would make it harder to quit as more nicotine is absorbed in your body more quickly than through your mouth.

Good luck. The hardest part is just getting beyond the first few days of mental craving, then you're good. Swim is now back to normal, smoking a cigar or two every weekend/other weekend with the lads, and an occasional cannabis smoker.

[laws0n]

yes SWIM inhales them thats why he calculated them into cigarettes. If SWIY dosent inhale them some smoke gets into SWIY's lungs by gravity. SWIM has found that encouragement through friends really helps because if he is caught smoking by them then he will get crap which he dosent want.

Honestly SWIM found a hidden pack of Backwoods and smoked 2 today, SWIM then threw away the pack and asked himself "Whats the point?" No point.

[sylvanshia]

Swim has found suckers to be an effective way to quit smoking (*both cigars and ciggerettes) swim's problem wasnt just the nicotine addiction but also the needing to have something in his hands and suckers do just that u have something to stimulate your hands and mind with you might end up with cavititys but hey thats better than no lungs.

Reputation Comments on this post:

Good Idea, will try it

[Dracula]

SWIM smokes either black n milds, but recently just short swishers

SWIM and most other cigar smokers would never consider these cigars. For starters, they're made of far cheaper quality tobacco from most cigars, aged and cured a lot quicker, and are machine manufactured (not hand rolled) which usually means unwanted or unnecessary additives. Now, SWIM is not putting SWIY down or anything, this is just the commonly held truth with cigars. That may attribute to why SWIY has not enjoyed them to the fullest for their relaxing properties and is smoking so many. That and cause SWIY inhales...

SWIM hears SWIY though and if he ever needs any advice or tips, just shoot a PM. SWIM knows a guy who smoked at least a pack a day for 20+ years and just recently switched to cigars about 2 years ago, averaging 2-3 a day. He no longer experiences intense coughing, is more physically fit, doctor said he's looking better, and he doesn't stink or have nasty teeth. Just a thought.

[laws0n]

Yeah not like big heavy duty cigars, basically ones that can be bought at the grocery store and arent that expensive. Cigarettes are a little cheaper but for some reason they make SWIM really sick and SWIM would get alot more crap from everyone if he started smoking cigarettes.

SWIM ended up quitting for a couple of weeks but started again because his dad (who dosent live with SWIM) kept stressing out SWIM and kept coming over for 5 hours at a time. the only thing SWIM could do to get away was to go outside for a cigar. SWIM has a pretty bad cold and is coughing alot so isnt smoking cigars right now since it would only make him throw up.

SWIM thinks he just needs to find another thing to do in times of stress (lollipops, gum wont work because SWIM has TMJ) hmmm he will think of one.

SWIM also is planning on excersizine when he is healthy enough to help take off stress.