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StatmanCrothers wrote:On the plus side, telling people about your plans is a big deal. You set yourself up for ridicule if you fail, which for most people is a motivator, so "going public" is a big step. Kudos. However, this is a message board, try telling family and work and the strangers on the train as well.

On the minus side, wow, from your phrasing, you are like 5 maybes away from almost quitting.

"I think I'm going to try to kick the habit"
"I'm going to try to kick the habit"
"I'm going to kick habit"
"I'm kicking the habit"

hey, why not

"Starting NOW, I quit!"

no suspense, no building up to it. If you aren't sure you want to quit, you will fail. If are sure you want to quit, just jump in the water and quit.

If you've quit several times but you are still doing it then you never quit at all.

I was a smoker and quit once, relapsed, and then quit for good.

Here's how you do it:

1) Make quitting the number one priority in your life--give it your full attention. Did you forget to put on pants before going to work? No problem--at least you aren't on the snuff.

2) No cutting down first. And No cheating or occasional "reward" after you quit. Cold Turkey--- completely quit. In many ways this is far far less stressful than cutting down, or occasionally cheating. When your mind starts to consider it, the answer is easy: "NO NEVER AGAIN". So go masturbate or whatever gets you through it. Yell at the kids. Scare the fish. Chew gum with a sneer. If you have to draw a mental line in the gray area between "too much" or "not yet, wait a little longer" it will stress you to no end. You will talk yourself into things. Even in the most stressful drunken moments, you will understand the rule of "NO NEVER AGAIN" .. if you cut down or allow yourself the occasional "reward" the slippery slope will get you. Don't doubt it.

3) Figure out how much you are spending EACH WEEK on your habit (before cutting down--see #2 above). At the start of the week, spend that money on something else, just for yourself, something you wouldn't normally allow yourself to have. For me, it was CDs. It can be extra stuff for your model train, maybe a little extra from your favorite hooker, what ever. For at least the first 3 to 6 months, don't just put the money aside. If you feel you must put the money aside, put it in a new separate account, and specifically put the money in there every week. Vacation fund for you and yours.

4) Enjoy the moral high ground. Develop a disgust and disdain for all the poor lesser folk who have no control of their habits. Practice using the phrase "yer worthless an' weak" and dispense it as necessary.

5) Have lots of Cold Turkey sandwiches. Have at it!

jim wrote: The downside is I am now a fat alcoholic, but hey I don't chew!

StatmanCrothers wrote:Hmm... after reading jim's useful advice i thought, no wonder I like that guy, he thinks like me! then I thought... wait a minute... somebody actually took some of my advice? I searched last year's threads, and here is the advice I gave jim last august when he was quitting....

I'd forgotten it was you that had quit the habit last year, jim! I'm doubly glad you weren't chewing terbacky when we saw the Cardinals at Wrigley!

reading this again, it was mildly humorous. Jim's version above is probably a more practical adaptation. Take what you need, make it your own, Make it work for you Pops!

StatmanCrothers wrote:On the plus side, telling people about your plans is a big deal. You set yourself up for ridicule if you fail, which for most people is a motivator, so "going public" is a big step. Kudos. However, this is a message board, try telling family and work and the strangers on the train as well.

On the minus side, wow, from your phrasing, you are like 5 maybes away from almost quitting.

"I think I'm going to try to kick the habit"
"I'm going to try to kick the habit"
"I'm going to kick habit"
"I'm kicking the habit"

hey, why not

"Starting NOW, I quit!"

no suspense, no building up to it. If you aren't sure you want to quit, you will fail. If are sure you want to quit, just jump in the water and quit.

If you've quit several times but you are still doing it then you never quit at all.

I was a smoker and quit once, relapsed, and then quit for good.

Here's how you do it:

1) Make quitting the number one priority in your life--give it your full attention. Did you forget to put on pants before going to work? No problem--at least you aren't on the snuff.

2) No cutting down first. And No cheating or occasional "reward" after you quit. Cold Turkey--- completely quit. In many ways this is far far less stressful than cutting down, or occasionally cheating. When your mind starts to consider it, the answer is easy: "NO NEVER AGAIN". So go masturbate or whatever gets you through it. Yell at the kids. Scare the fish. Chew gum with a sneer. If you have to draw a mental line in the gray area between "too much" or "not yet, wait a little longer" it will stress you to no end. You will talk yourself into things. Even in the most stressful drunken moments, you will understand the rule of "NO NEVER AGAIN" .. if you cut down or allow yourself the occasional "reward" the slippery slope will get you. Don't doubt it.

3) Figure out how much you are spending EACH WEEK on your habit (before cutting down--see #2 above). At the start of the week, spend that money on something else, just for yourself, something you wouldn't normally allow yourself to have. For me, it was CDs. It can be extra stuff for your model train, maybe a little extra from your favorite hooker, what ever. For at least the first 3 to 6 months, don't just put the money aside. If you feel you must put the money aside, put it in a new separate account, and specifically put the money in there every week. Vacation fund for you and yours.

4) Enjoy the moral high ground. Develop a disgust and disdain for all the poor lesser folk who have no control of their habits. Practice using the phrase "yer worthless an' weak" and dispense it as necessary.

5) Have lots of Cold Turkey sandwiches. Have at it!