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Hernando Today

How I Kicked The Habit

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By MICHAEL D. BATES

Hernando Today

Published: January 11, 2009

The year 1991 will always be impressed upon my memory.

That was when I quit smoking after roughly 12 years.

The funny thing is, I didn't wake up one morning and tell myself I was going to stop smoking for good. Instead, I told myself I would only stop one day.

That's it. One day, just to see whether I could do it.

I said it half-heartedly because I'd attempted to stop before with no success. I really didn't look at the long-range picture.

I didn't resort to nicotine patches or gum or any other crutch.

I planned to go cold turkey.

But I had a game plan.

You see, smoking is not just a physical addiction. It's also mental. Your mind tells you to light up at certain key moments of the day: after a good meal, on a break, after a drink.

So at those times I would normally crave a cigarette, I would actually go through the motions of going outside or to a smoking section and instead of whipping out a menthol cigarette, I'd pop a couple Tic-Tacs into my mouth.

Over time, I tried to fool my mind into thinking these little breath mints were the same as those cancer sticks.

And it worked to some degree.

Especially the first day.

That evening, I was rather proud of myself for going smoke-free 24 hours.

So then I told myself, "Well, that wasn't too bad, maybe I'll try going without cigarettes one more day.

So day two, found me outside with my Tic Tacs, trying to use them as a nicotine substitute.

But now, it was harder.

After a time, the craving for nicotine pushed aside all other thoughts and the Tic Tacs just weren't doing the trick.

But I persevered and got through that second day. And the third.

I was grumpy as heck. I remember my wife telling me to start smoking again because I was in such a bad mood.

I was almost tempted to light up again. After all, I could always say, "Well, you told me to."

But I forged ahead. A week passed. Two weeks. The craving diminished. My taste buds improved. My attitude improved.

After about 40 days, I no longer wanted to smoke.

In fact, there came a day when I couldn't stand to be around cigarette smoke. To this day, I can't be near that stench.

It's true that ex-smokers are the worst!

Looking back, I think two things helped: substituting the action of lighting a cigarette with some other activity (such as breath mints).

Also, the fact that I never thought beyond the next day, or even the next hour.

It's too intimidating at first to say, "I'm kicking the habit forever." Tell yourself you only need to quit for one day, which for many people is a major accomplishment.

If you can get through that one day, then say, "Well, let's try one more day and that will be it."

Take it in small bites and don't look beyond that.

It worked for me.

It can work for you.

Reporter Michael D. Bates can be reached at 352-544-5290 or mbates@hernandotoday.com.

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