Okay I finally did it. Down on day 5 of no smoking and no relapses or slips. I have stopped counting hours, and am now counting days.

The last time I did I made it to 90 hours before slipping for 2 days. However, this attempt did condition me for the latest one.

My smoking. 20 years of smoking of about a pack to two packs a day, of the red stuff.

My recommendations:

1. Cold Turkey. No gum no patches (the same tobacco companies that sold us cancer sell nicotine to the pharmaceuticals, I have been told).

2. No drugs, as these drugs were not meant for smoking cesation but for depression.They do have their side effects. Again, why use drugs when you can quit without them. All it takes is NOT will power, but the right frame of mind. It could be just the removing the willingness to smoke, instead of WILLING yourself to quitting.

3. Have lots of sour gum, lollies, low fat sugar sweets, jam, etc. When I quit smoking,I developed a sudden sweet tooth. This is because, as I learnt, nicotine takes control of the sugar levels in your body (through insulin and serotonin)when its there and always releases sugar quickly. With cessation, hormones and the body go back to trying work normally. Eat regularly, and do wait for 20 minutes to let the food digest and be used as energy. There’s not point overeating and gaining weight while quitting smoking.

4. Keep a lemon in your pocket, or bag. When you reach for the phantom pack and lighter, there’s be a lemon there to remind you that you’ve quit smoking, and that there is no cancer pack in your bag. Idf the urge gets superbad, bite the lemon, and it will condition you negatively against smoking. Also, the acidity of lemon will neutralise the alkaloid nicotine in your body.

5. Keep your mind busy with positive activities. Stay away from smokers and drinkers for awhile; Helps a LOT. Stay away from booze. period. 2 beers MAX.