I have the deepest admiration for 2 friends who stopped cold. One was a 22-year old who'd been smoking since 15 or 16. He read the book "Allen Carr's Easy Way to Stop Smoking", which made him realise that it had to be a 100% firm, personal decision to stop and he did just that. Another mate was an engineer in a high-pressure position, who'd smoked for more than 10 years. He developed bronchitis and smoking made it hard to breathe. So he quit, and hasn't looked back at all for 2 years.
Just keep reminding yourself of reasons for quitting. There's some useful info here:
(http://whyquit.com/joel/Joel_03_32_How_do_people_quit.htm)
Here's a few quotes from people on SA forums:
* I have smoked for 13 years when I realised one morning (while having a siggy) that it is a useless habit that is doing more harm than making me "feel good". And I quit right there and then, without any cravings ever again. Did the same with drinking.
Now if you are not one of those people that has this "realisation" then go sit down somewhere quiet and have a nice chat with yourself. Ask yourself why do you smoke, and why you want to quit. Do you REALLY want to quit. Why do you REALLY want to quit.
When you have answered all these questions for yourself, honestly answered them, make your choice to quit or not.
When you catch yourself wanting a smoke, make the choice NOT to have it.
* It's all a case of mind-over-matter - if you want to stop, you will. Either you have the mettle to kick the filthy, stinking, expensive habit, or you could find yourself a buddy, who's willing to chat you through the cravings.
* Don't think of as "giving-up" or "quitting", those words are seen as doing something negative. Rather say something like: "I'm stopping a bad habit". A lot of the addiction is habit, not nicotine. You have to stop the habit, such as smoking while having coffee in the morning or smoking while having a drink or even playing games on your PC.
* Everything works in 3's - 3 hours, 3 days, 3 weeks, 3 months, 3 years. First 3 days are the worst (nicotine and initial shock), 3 weeks breaking/changing the habit, first 3 months - getting comfortable again, first 3 years is a fight to not give in to temptation and start again.
* To get rid of the habit is the real mental challenge: I decided on a date. I bought a box of 20's (sealed) and placed it on the top of my cupboard and a week before stopping I woke up looked at the box and said to myself "Who's stronger, me or you" (I know its cheesy but it worked). Then came the 1st day, surprisingly, it went easier than I had imagined, but the next few day became harder. However, after the 3rd day it became easier again and the morning ritual strengthened my mind on that immediate wake-up.
Do you allow an expensive box of smelly, harmful pieces of dried plants to control you?
* I want to get rid of the crap that I have been polluting my system with. I want to get rid of the nicotine. I want to stop smelling of smoke, washing smoke off my hands after each smoke
But above all reasons is it's my dad's 60th, and he told me all he wants for his 60th is for me to stop smoking
But I guess I will be.. Good luck!