I always wound back where I started until I had a 100 percent quit day. That was 10 + years ago. How about you?
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I always wound back where I started until I had a 100 percent quit day. That was 10 + years ago. How about you?
Reducing the number per day didn't work at all for me. If I decided I was only going to smoke a certain number, decreasing over time, I found I was thinking about smoking all the time. I was bargaining with myself: "if I smoke an extra now, maybe I can just go to bed earlier, or go longer in between my next two, or..." Kept me thinking about it ALL the time. I gave up on trying to do that I pretty much chain smoked the day before my selected quit date. Did, though, put all that were left the night before under running water and kept my decided upon quit date. It was my first and only attempt; I was successful - and I will be EIGHT years quit on July 4th.
Just as every person is different, so is every route taken to a successful quit, I think.
Good idea for a blog, as usual!
It didn't work out for me. I have been cutting down and my quit was when the carton would run out. I got very good at the cutting down part but when it came time to stop, the panic would happen, then the excuses. I have been doing that for years. I have just read Allen Carr's Easy way to quit. It has changed how I will try this time. And the people here I think will make all the difference for me. Good luck..
I think the key to this working is being a "schedule" kind of person. I did this for 7 days. One cigarette every hour the first day, then every two hours the second day, and so on. By the 7th day, I was allowed two cigarettes. I had to buy another pack to finish this process. I took what I needed and threw the rest away. Something else I did that was different- I enjoyed every cigarette. I didn't lament that it would be my last. When smoking normally, my mind would wander and often I smoked another cigarette because I didn't even "remember" smoking the last. I concentrated on the smoking routine and enjoyed every single cigarette. Worked for me!
No, it never worked for me. But like every other method, it was worth a try.
I'm with Youngatheart.7.4.12 Similar experience: I thought about cigarettes ALL the time, and bargained with myself, well if I skip my 4 pm cig I can then have two at 5pm or whatever. Nancy is fortunate to have had only one experience at this quitting thing. Most of us go through it numerous times before we attain a lasting quit. I also agree with Barbscloud that perhaps the key is being a "schedule" type of person. Although I also thought about cigarettes all the time during the first several weeks of my quit, because there was no bargaining in my mind (my commitment was total) - it wasn't as crazy-making. I'm also just an all-or-nothing type. (14 year quit currently, just for reference)
No, cutting down never worked for me. I needed to 'cold turkey' it or I believe I would still be serial quitting. It was the nature of my addiction, I think. Everyone is different so it's different for everyone but I think you really need to know which will work for you. Commit to your quit no matter what.
No cutting back did not help. My addiction wanted it all or none. I finally had to do cold turkey, that was the only think that worked for me and believe me, I tried everything.
Just a thought. I know some people suggest delaying the next cigarette when someone is quitting. Is that different from cutting down? Mine was more structured, but it seems the same to me.
To my mind there's a world of different between the two psychologically. I think if I had been presented with the "delay" option, that might just have worked for me. Maybe. But I'll never know.
Here's what they say at Whyquit.com about this : cutting back
Basically, without importing the whole article, (which everyone should read, IMO), it says that "Gradual quitting" is something you should wish only on your worst enemy.
My experience was similar. It made each next cigarette that much more precious and looked forward to, instead of preparing myself for a change of mindset (which is what SHOULD be happening in the days prior to quitting, if you are a planner). My eyes were constantly on the clock wishing it to be time for another. (not in the first days if their described scenario or omitting just one cigarette per day). Bargaining (extra one today, two less tomorrow yadda yadda). No good for me.
Lets face it. Cigarettes are going to be on the mind 24/7 for the first little while of a real quit, why extend that awfulness with the extra step of gradually cutting down?
And...TBH, I did it so many times with the same result I could truly be defined as "insane" ("Insanity: doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result").
Your mileage may vary, and obviously it works for some. But if it doesn't work for you the first time, try something else . ASAP
There are also many articles out there about how cutting down works.
Just one:
If you reduce your smoking as a step towards quitting, this may help you quit for good. Gradually cutting down the number of cigarettes you smoke and going longer without smoking can help you feel more in control of your smoking. You will be less dependent on nicotine, which can make it easier to quit.
Yes Barbscloud I've seen them all. And believed them. And knew something was terribly wrong with ME because their recommendations didn't work for me. I was doomed to be a smoker forever. And ever. And ever.
The question in the OP was "does it/did it work for you?", and I answered, with a link to the information/post that helped me the most to realize that I actually wasn't doomed because of something lacking in myself, and that I really wasn't "the only one".
I'm glad it worked for you, and that you, and I, are both comfy EX'ers regardless which road we traveled to get here.
Certainly nothing lacking in you. 
Barb
Cutting back never worked for ME either, I always ended up smoking more it had to be cold turkey for me I actually should say Smart Turkey because I had the help of this community that was a tremendous help along with all the reading that was suggested to me which I read that really strengthened my resolve to be successful.....
Yes it did. Along with taking Welbutrin prior, I cut down for a week on a strict schedule prior to my quit date.