I kicked it cold turkey like my dad. He had smoked since he was 17 (born in 44) and in 1980 when my younger sister was born, my mom asked him to stop and he quit cold turkey from a 2 pack a day habit. I didn't start smoking until I was in the USMC and did it for nearly 13 years about two or so packs a week, sometimes more and sometimes less but either way the charm just wore off and I kicked it when I ran out.
Some recommendations that have worked for others I know, drink lots of juice during the quiting period, it helps flush it out of your system faster, eating apples will make the taste bitter and non-pleasant and has detering effect, avoid too much caffeine as it triggers the urge, use the patch or gum, if you must as it helps you wheen off of it and most of all have a support system of people who care about you continually riding your ass, I have noticed it helps someone of the people I know. Either way best of luck to you and it will do you alot of good. Plus I have young kids and I felt like a hypocrite telling them not to do it when I was doing it myself.
@Lel wrote:I never really smoked, but in my current position I find myself often encouraging people to stop smoking. I can't say there is any particular method that works for them, and my suggestions are usually tailored to what I know about the individual.
There is one thing that I always do, that people seem to like. I whip out my calculator, and ask, "How much is a pack of cigarettes? $4? Let's see...$4 x 365. That's $1460 a year. What would you like to do with $1460?" Never fails to get at least a smile and an acknowledgement of the financial burden of smoking.
Now imagine how much of a smile you would get if you used the real price of $5.75 for a pack of Marlboros to do the same calculation. 
@dizbuster wrote:Thanks Guardian for the recomendations, a couple of those I've never considered. I am setting a target date to stop, April 1st. I am taking a vacation from work and it is also my spring break from school. It's really stressful doing both and I find myself craving a cigarette.
I also am very aware of the financial burden of smoking. Unfortunatly, I live on an Indian Reservation and can get smokes for about $1.50 a pack, so it's easy to scrounge up some change and break down and buy a pack. I really need to do this though for my girls sake. Thanks for the support.
I know, for me it was very stress triggered and that's why it took so long before I quit. But then I realized, hell I am always going to have stress and its killing me already, why give it an extra hand, you know? Yeah I know you can get 1.50 smokes, my neighbor smokes Carnivals and they taste like ass, no offense, or even basic. I was never for cheap nasty smokes. I always smokes American Spirits or Marlboro as the least. But on a reservation, you can probably get good stuff for 1.50, I used to go down to Arizona every year to visit a friend and we used to go visit his grandpa on the reservation and he used to always roll us some tasty ones, went great with the ehem...you know...You should do it for your girls and foremost for yourself to be there and see them thrive. You are welcome and you have my support anytime. You ever feel like venting to someone or need someone to talk you out of it, let me know. We can keep each other honest.
