Monday was the 16th anniversary of my last cigarette. May 26, 1992. 
The trick is really to WANT to quit. I only ever quit the one time. Determined to stop as of midnight that night, I must have smoked close to half a pack between 11:30pm and midnight, making myself a bit sick in the process. That surely helped at least a bit.
Good! And encouraging. I’m planning on quitting July 7, just after my 40th birthday. I really, really want to, and need to even more. I’m scared.
I do have the overwhemingly-recommended-in-these-threads Alan Carr book, and I’ve also thought of storing some butts in a jar of water and then smelling it when I get a craving. Aversion therapy can be powerful for me. I’ve thought about Chantix but side effects can be a problem I don’t want to deal with.
Very encouraging for me to know that you did it. Now I can say to myself, “Hey, if Siam Sam can do it, anybody can!” 
Congrats, man. I quit about two years ago in Iraq. I am still not tobacco free, I put in a pinch of Skoal every night for about an hour, but I smoked for 20+ years. I don’t see how people can smoke nowdays. Forget about the health risks, it really smells foul. That is what keeps me from going back. I can’t stand the smell of a smoker.
SSG Schwartz
Flippin’ awesome dude! I’m sure it’s hard. Do you ever want a cigarette on a crisp day, or when you’ve had a few pints? That’s when it’s hardest for me, although I’m only an occasional smoker.
No, that’s the odd thing. I never crave a smoke. I’m in the bars here a lot, and smoke never bothers me. However, they’ve just started enforcing a strict new cigarette ban in the bars, and so far very few are violating the ban. So I end up smelling less like a cigarette of late.
I used the nicotine gum, too, back in 1992. That seemed to work for me well. Once I got past my first couple of months, I really never had the craving again.
Er, thanks?
Congrats, Sam! Your 16 year anniversary was my 14 month day. The freedom is wonderful!
I quit with Chantix. I had many failed attempts using gum, patches, lozenges, Wellbutrin, you name it, I tried it. The Chantx was great for me. The only side effect I had was some vivid dreams of pleasant times during childhood. Some people that didn’t like the dreams said taking the second pill of the day in mid-afternoon provided relief.
It’s not my intention to peddle Chantix, but as crazy as it seems, Chantix made quitting easy for me, even if I wasn’t tough enough to succeed with other methods.
Good luck, whatever method you choose. The rewards of being smoke free are many and great.
Congrats Sam. What a coincidence. I quit on the exact same day, but 4 years ago. May 28th must be a good day to quit on.
Hi sam,
15 years here , Gave up one fine morning…
quit the bottle also in same fashion… 6 months later 
…
17 years this past April 1. From 2-3 packs a day to cold turkey without the help of anything, except the desire to impress a particular woman. That didn’t quite work out, but the quitting stuck.
It was probably about my fifth attempt over the seven years I smoked. It was the first time I quit on the spur of the moment, rather than saying in advance, oh on Friday I’ll quit. I think that was part of why it worked.
The cravings got MUCH less after about six months.
I posted on the 28th, but the anniversary was this past Monday, the 26th. I meant to post on that day but forgot.
The cravings for me disappeared after maybe three months. I’d been on average, I’d say, a pack-a-day smoker for 17 1/2 years. It’s amazing how smoke does not bother me at all now. I’ve known plenty of ex-smokers who said they couldn’t stand it for whatever reason – made them sick, made them want one, whatever – but none of that has been the case with me. I honestly cannot even imagine lighting up now.