The Last Camel

Itsfine

Goodbye old friend. I have thoroughly enjoyed your company. You were non-judgemental and always there for me. You were a great drinking companion, and you got me through some of my most stressful moments.

But it's time for you to go. Our relationship is unhealthy, to say the least. You are too controlling. You've been strangling me for two decades.  You call me at least 20 times a day. Whenever I'm busy doing something, you call. You call me first thing in the morning, and you're the last thing I see at night. My family hates you. My doctor really hates you.

I'm sure I'll want you a lot over the next few days, but as time passes, that will lessen. Call all you want. I'll no longer answer. I'll be with my new friends: AJ, Monty, Ramon, Drew, Romeo, and ol H. just to name a few.

It's been real. It's been fun. Peace.

silvermouse

nasty things. Glad to see you are keeping better company now; do your best to not inhale. 

Itsfine

No way brother, I'm Bill Clinton when it comes to cigars. Oh wait that didn't come out right. Oh that's what she said.

peter4jc

Even though cigars aren't cheap, your ex-friend cost you plenty - both in tangible and intangible ways.

I never smoked those evil things so I don't know the power of that addiction.  Enjoy your new freedom.  Stay strong.

dirtdude

Stay strong Frank

KenpoKnight

Glad to hear you are making this positive change! Sounds like you will have much better friends to hang out with.  Not to mention the great company on here 😆

Wylaff

Good call Frank! A bit of dark chocolate helps for the first week when the cravings get strong.

After about 7 days the chemicals will be out of your body. After that point any craving you have is just mental. Try to develop new habits in the times you used to smoke cigarettes as quickly as you can (IE: pop a piece of gun in any time you drive, grab a toothpick after every meal). Otherwise you will find yourself craving during certain times or for quite a bit longer.

deadman

Good luck. I have cut back and need to follow your lead

Amos_Umwhat

Those Camels were my frenemy, too.  10 years since I gave them up and returned to my first love, cigars, except that I'd learned the difference between a good cigar and a machine rolled one.  

Cigarettes are insidious, they build themselves into your personality.  I found that when I was quitting there were times when the addiction overpowered me and I'd smoke one.  I tried to smoke it as if it were a tiny cigar, no inhaling.  Also, I'd tell myself things like:  "The difference between a man and an ape is that a man chooses what he's doing.  Be a Man."  

Stay strong.

Captain_Call

About 10 days in when you feel like you woke up with your skin on crooked, I found that raising and then settling my blood pressure kind of reset the bar. Like Wayne said, the chemicals are gone but the remaining mental attachment is what got me. Two years off of wet snuff and I still smell it some days driving down the road when I know there isn't a can for 2 miles.

jd50ae

My father smoked Camels, courtesy of the US government in those field ration kits.
I smoked them for 30 years at least, courtesy of my fathers packs being left around.
Then, for some reason, I started on Backwoods. Too much of a problem carrying enough packs. Went to Swisher Sweets, again reason unknown.
Had a custom pool stick made. The owner (Tony) of the shop (Black Boar) offered me a R&J, a real Cuban Churchill. He went to Switzerland twice a year to purchase them. 
That is all it took, and I have never looked back, except for the Backwoods. Of course I have never found a cigar as good as the one he gave me. But I keep looking.

Itsfine

Thanks gents!  Great advice & stories.  First day was a little long, but doing good so far!

BKDog

Cigarette-free for over 20 years, disgusting habit. I remember when a friend and I were smoking Camels way back when we were barely 18 and I told him the best cigarette ever would be a Camel menthol. Sure enough, it was like the universe is really my very own playground, and they simply came into being one day...but they sucked. This further instills my belief in God being a woman.

Patrickbrick

Wylaff said:

Good call Frank! A bit of dark chocolate helps for the first week when the cravings get strong.

After about 7 days the chemicals will be out of your body. After that point any craving you have is just mental. Try to develop new habits in the times you used to smoke cigarettes as quickly as you can (IE: pop a piece of gun in any time you drive, grab a toothpick after every meal). Otherwise you will find yourself craving during certain times or for quite a bit longer.

Bullshit, I had the shakes and headaches for almost two months after I quit smoking cigarettes.  Had a cigar and did not feel like crap anymore, been smoking cigars ever since.

Wylaff

Patrickbrick said:

Wylaff said:

Good call Frank! A bit of dark chocolate helps for the first week when the cravings get strong.

After about 7 days the chemicals will be out of your body. After that point any craving you have is just mental. Try to develop new habits in the times you used to smoke cigarettes as quickly as you can (IE: pop a piece of gun in any time you drive, grab a toothpick after every meal). Otherwise you will find yourself craving during certain times or for quite a bit longer.

Bullshit, I had the shakes and headaches for almost two months after I quit smoking cigarettes.  Had a cigar and did not feel like crap anymore, been smoking cigars ever since.

But as in many things, your a case study all in yourself.

rsherman24

Not easy.  It becomes so much of a part of your physical day that it is tough to break.  For a month after I quit, whenever I got into my truck I would reach for the console to grab a pack of Marlboro.

The cigar was a good incentive.  Get through the day and reward yourself with a good cigar at night

jlmarta

What made it easy for me was finally being scared enough. 

I had tried unsuccessfully many times previously to quit cigarettes but facing bypass surgery in 1994 was the turning point. After smoking for around forty years I quit cold turkey immediately after surgery. 

I then went for about fourteen years smoking nothing until taking up premium cigars around 2008. 

That surgery scared the pee out of me......  😎

Rhamlin

Now you won’t stink but just walk around with that wonderful aroma on you!

transplant

Smoked cigarettes to 40 years. Started smoking cigars about 4 years ago. My wife hates cigars more than cigarettes.

Anyway, you made a good decision. Cigars are way more interesting and as long as you limit yourself to one of two a day, it's a lot cheaper. God luck.

Itsfine

transplant said:

Smoked cigarettes to 40 years. Started smoking cigars about 4 years ago. My wife hates cigars more than cigarettes.

Anyway, you made a good decision. Cigars are way more interesting and as long as you limit yourself to one of two a day, it's a lot cheaper. God luck.

Yeah, our wives should form a club...

SteveJ

I can completely agree with the OP.  I just quit smoking cigarettes two weeks ago.  It was due to all of the reasons he listed, however, I was dealing with some congestion that made me think of breathing issues and ventilators when I get older (if not sooner).  Not sure about anyone else, but that was enough motivation for me, as I need air more than just about anything else.  That actually has been enough for me when any temptation to smoke one pops up.

On the bright side, I had been wanting to start smoking cigars (only on the weekends).  I picked up a 10 pack tin of DE Acid Blue Connecticuts and so far I've really enjoyed them.  And as everyone has already pointed out, it's a heckuva lot cheaper.

Itsfine

Welcome @SteveJ! It's been over a month and I'm still on the wagon. I'm getting a lot more enjoyment out of cigars now as well!

SteveJ

@VegasFrank don't give up trying.  I know each person's experience is different when trying to quit, but you can do it.  Take it one craving at a time.

Outside of that, keep enjoying those cigars