The Colonel has made a concerted effort to close down one of life's little pleasures. The dreaded weed. Oscar Wilde said, "A cigarette is the perfect type of pleasure. It is exquisite and it leaves one unsatisfied. What more could one want."

I have found an alternative in dried Mallow leaves. At first I added about a proportion of half Tobacco to half Mallow leaves, but after 10 days I have now got the Tobacco down to about a fifth. The Mallow is an excellent alternative and I am amazed that I have had but few cravings since semi-quitting.

My intention is that I will have no desire for nicotine, yet will carry on my daily routine by smoking the Mallow. Once the nicotine desire is gone, then I can change my routine.

It was surprising to me how spontaneous it was. My wife saw it on sale at a shop and bought some and I just began to mix it with my baccy. Shall let you know when I go to zero tobacco and when the smoking of Mallow stops too.

Anyone else giving/given up or can't/won't give up?

This post has been edited by The Colonel: Nov 16 2007, 05:30 PM

Oh good grief Colonel, I wish! Good luck on quitting.

Question? What are mallow leaves and why are they a good replacement?? Never heard of it before.

I am beginning to really hate smoking, but just can't seem to find the inner strength to take that plunge.

Am not sure now that 'dried Mallow leaves' are the best description. The herb's leaves are certainly used in this herbal tobacco my wife found, but on closer inspection of the packets, there are other herbs and stuff; coltsfoot and sage mixed with fruit juice and honey for flavour. Anyhow, I find it quite a good substitute.

This post has been edited by The Colonel: Nov 16 2007, 07:03 PM

Giving up smoking is very easy. I have done it thousands of times.
Z

You all have my sympathy and genuine best wishes in your "knocking the weed" - I know it's hard. Little story that might help ..... back in '96 I was a smoker, fairly heavy until about '90 then down to around 5 - 8 a day, (unless I was driving any distance - then it was a really sinful amount!). The drop to 5 or so a day was I went to live with friends who did not and would not smoke, so I only smoked away from the house. anyway in '96 had a triple by pass and was off the smokes for good, naturally!

However, at my son's 40th birthday party in '04, I had "just a couple" to go with the excellent wines that were flowing, and guess what - was back on them (not heaily) but enough to be a worry. On and off for about 2 years, then asthma (?) started to creep in, gettint breathless after half a k walking ec., so I really stopped, totally. This was fairly easy to do this time, because I visited some friends of mine, hubby and wife team, keen on fitness, but both moderate smokers, who both got hit with asthma developing into emhpysema and were not much better than me in the lung capacity area, and this kinda bought home the total stupidity of smoking - no matter how well you think you are, all the time that smoke (even the herbal stuf, sorry to say) is destroying the lung cillia, cells, elasticity and capacity and it sorta creeps up on you until suddenly you're panting after quite light effort!

Now I'm pointing no fingers, been there, done that, but I do strongly urge you all to keep at the giving up - even if you go cold turkey - it's hard for a while, but after a couple of weeks you can really handle it. The gurus tell us that everyone beats the craving in their own way, but just about everyone finds that chewing sunflower seeds seems to help a lot - I dunno - I just gritted the teeth and ignored it. Been off the smokes for about 18 months and not getting any cravings that I can't brush aside easiy.

For what it's worth, if you DO get resticted breathing, asthma/emphysema, look up hydrogen peroxide therapy (some good stuff in google) - under the direction of a qualified health specialist of course. The big pharma and AMA guys don't like it (Can't patent it!)- in the wrong hands it can do harm, but properly applied it's a miracle worker.

Anyway all - I really wish you well with your efforts - you can and will do it!!!! All the best,
Regards, Mike

There is not trick to quit smoking, you just have to want to do it. If you want to stop you can, if you don't you will not. I quit cold turkey seven years ago, I had one uncomfortable evening but nothing major. People at work would ask me how it was going and I would reply that I hadn't killed any, but the day is young.

I'll give you a short history, how I quit smoking, and how I'm staying smoke free for today.

I didn't even start smoking until the age of 18 after having joined the U.S.Navy.
Peer pressure and perks for smoking with the DI's, etc. (only my Dad smoked in our family up until then.)

Cigarettes were 15 cent USD a pack. 25 cents from a machine, but one got back two cents taped to the bottom of the pack. At sea or in some overseas stations they were free.

I soon graduated to cigars very quickly, as one could still chew on them if one couldn't actually fire one up. (The Smoking Lamp was out.)

Fast forward three decades and I find myself smoking 6+ cigars a day, with some cigarettes in between.
And not cheap cigars either. $6 to $12 USD each. (Figure that cost out per annum.)

Two and 3/4 years ago +/-, I returned from an overseas job bearing serveral boxes of Cuba's finest product.

My GD (5 years old) asked me if I'd stopped the smoking while I was gone.
She didn't like the stink. I'd never smoked around her, as I had with my own kids.

I gave away the cigars and quit!

I've had a couple of relapses since then, but only a few puffs under stress.
(None in the last year.)

Previously, I been through two stop smoking clinics; did the patches, gum, and even tried the hypnotic-suggestion game. None worked for me. Cold quit!

Took me 30 days or a bit to lose the itch; and probably ninety days to not think about getting a cigar about every waking hour.

I still want a cigar when I smell them or when the sun is shinning.
(I'm not affected by cigarettes that same way.)

I have to avoid all the other places that cigar smokers gather, or I have to leave when they light up.

It's not easy to quit, but don't let that deter anyone!

Quit just today, and work on it then tomorrow.

Talk with others that have quit. Sort it out.
(One of my best supporters in my quiting is a fellow that still smokes cigars occasionally. He's still working through the mental addiction.)

It's an addiction only surpassed I've been told by the smoking of opiates.

Be right back, I smell cigar smoke.... (Joke)

//Some will recognize this as a post I've made at another site also. he he he//

This post has been edited by Conundrum: Nov 17 2007, 02:57 PM

Thank you for the advice and support chaps, I am determined to ditch the weed and will let you know how I get on.

Hi Colonol - really wish you well in quitting - I know it's particularly hard back in the U.K. (where I started - mainly to try and look like 16 to get into "A" films! and then of course it was very cool to smoke...) All the earlier films and anything connected with a good time showed everyone puffing away, looking very sauve - if only!

Anyway, good on yer cobber! Regards Mike

Quit back around 84(?) started in High School . After boot camp It was pretty much 2+ packs a day, during "cruises" 3+ a day (23 cents a pack out side of US territory ).The morning I stopped I had just lit one up and on the first drag thought it was the worst tasting thing ever (first one out of a new pack) Threw it out the window along with the rest of the pack , said a little prayer , and quit cold turkey then and there. didn't have any major problems with it which I accredit to Gods help . Didn't smoke anything again till around 97-98 and tried a cigar , and still enjoy a cigar occasionally (3-4 a year) which I prefer to be a Maduro Cohiba (5 1/2 x 52 thank you) and only if I can be outside with out being bothered with a good drink. I have to drive a hour to find a decent cigar shop with any real selection and decent price, of which I thank God for , as I don't just do that very often.

I would like to add to what I said earlier, I happened to be in Home Despot and saw a power miter saw on sale for $150.00 US and lusted after it. I really couldn't justify the purchase, but after walking around the store gathering my purchase I came to realize that I was spending that much on cigarettes a month. I made my self a deal, I quit smoking that day with the understanding that I would then allow myself that amount on a monthly basis for my toys. I have not smoked another cigarette since.

Good, today I went totally herbal. Just the [marsh] mallow leaves (and other herbs and bits!). It went well and I have not craved nicotine at all, although I really did not expect to as I mixed very little tobacco with the herbs. I hope to quit the herbs at New Year, for as Quietmike pointed out, herbal smoke is not good for you either.

I think changing routine will be worst than losing the nicotine craving, which I got over quiet easily. Will let you know how I get on come New Year.

I'm rooting for you too, The Colonel!

Well Colonel,

This week I decided to take the plunge. Though I have not given up totally, I am doing it my way.
I still have my morning smokes before work, but once in the car and heading to work that's it till I get home again.
I've been doing this for five days now and have gone from apprx 16-20 ciggies a day to 5-8 ciggies a day.
I'm using the gum, even though it tastes like cardboard with pepper, it does the trick.
I now go without for apprx 10-12hrs each day and am beginning to think I may just be successful this time around............maybe......don't want to put pressure on myself..........we'll see.
If I do succeed I will save apprx $3,500 per annum.

Well it appears your doing well Colonel and I hope you reach your goal.

Good Luck To You! I've tried - made it 10 weeks (added 15 lbs) then life set in again and well... I Still have that vice -Only one I have Left