Real Quit Experiences
The Experience Database
Structured, de-identified, de-duplicated records of real quit attempts from public quit-smoking communities. Each record is one person's report — not evidence, not advice, and never a prediction.
Quit in April 2007: A House and a Car to Save For
After ten years of smoking and many days of internal debate, a member found this forum by chance and decided to quit on April 23, 2007 — motivated by concrete life goals: buying a house and a car.
January 2008: Every Withdrawal Reaction in the Book — and Still Holding at Day 40
Quitting since January 10, 2008, this member reported by day 40 that nearly every withdrawal symptom described in the forum had appeared in some form — and declared the intention to keep going regardless.
Quit, Weight Loss and Exercise — All Three on National Day 2010
Starting on October 1, 2010, a ~20-year smoker combined quitting with a 6-month weight-loss target (5 kg) and a walking-then-jogging exercise plan, checking in with the community.
Smoke-Free Since 2011: 2,774 Days and a Check-In Streak That Survived a Deleted Thread
A community member smoke-free since October 2011 — 2,774 days — with 2,457 consecutive daily check-ins, reopened their record after the original years-long thread was deleted.
One Thousand Days Smoke-Free
On November 2, 2011, a quit began that reached 1,000 days — the poster returned to encourage new members and honor the older members who inspired them.
A Bedtime Decision: Sixteen Years of Smoking Ends
On the night of November 2, 2011, lying in bed, a 16-year smoker decided to quit — and at day 16, was still holding, posting to keep the word given to themselves.
The First Three Days, One Symptom at a Time
A 29-year-old with 14 years of smoking logs the first three days: day 1 dominated by anxiety and irritability, day 2 by chest tightness, day 3 by a surge in sleepiness.
Day 4 on the Morning Commute: Walking Faster Past the Smoke
On day 4, walking past smokers on the way to work, a community member quickens the pace — afraid the smell of smoke will be too hard to resist.
36 Years of Smoking, Then a Written Taper: Five, Then Two a Day, Then None
A 36-year smoker who had failed N times planned this quit on paper: five cigarettes a day for a week, then two a day, then complete stop. At day 11, the taper held.
Twenty-One Years of Smoking, Hard-Held for a Month, and a 4 AM Insomnia Post
After 21 years of smoking, a member white-knuckled the first month without posting, then opened a diary at 4 AM during a sleepless night to keep going.
March 15, 2013: A Group Quit, Ten Years In the Making
Smoking began in July 2002 during a factory internship, bought to make conversation with older workers — a few packs over a month, no addiction felt. Ten years later, this member quit together with the community on March 15, 2013.
A Teacher's Day Declaration: Quitting for Myself and My Family
On September 10, 2013 — Teacher's Day — a member formally declared the quit in a one-line statement: for themselves and for their family.
Eight Years Smoke-Free After 40 Years of Smoking: The Book That Changed It
A smoker with a 40-year history — 30 to 80 cigarettes a day — read Allen Carr's method on the forum and quit in March 2014. Eight years later, still smoke-free and still check-ing in.
A Father-in-Law's Lung Cancer and a Son's Request: 'Dad, Stop'
A 20-year smoker spending at least 1,000 yuan a month on cigarettes quit on August 17, 2014, after the father-in-law died of lung cancer and the poster's son took their hand and asked them to stop.
Half a Pack a Day, Twenty Years — and Suddenly It Felt Pointless
A smoker of nearly twenty years, down to half a pack a day, opened a diary on November 4, 2014 with a simple reason: smoking had stopped feeling meaningful.
August 1, 2014, 00:00 — and Nothing Felt Different
This member started the quit at midnight sharp on August 1, 2014, and reported a first day with no noticeable physical sensations — an ordinary start to what would become an ongoing check-in.
Ten Years Smoke-Free: 3,643 Daily Check-Ins and Counting
On the tenth anniversary of quitting, a community member reflects on a 20-plus-year smoking history — chest tightness, cough, high blood pressure in their forties — and the daily check-in habit that carried a successful decade-long quit.
A Lung Nodule on the Checkup, a Neighbor's Funeral, and Quit Day
After 31 years of smoking and many failed attempts, two events lined up — a lung nodule found at a checkup, and a neighbor dying of cancer at 62 — and June 1, 2015 became quit day.
A Month of Coughing, a Clean CT, and a Brother-in-Law's Diagnosis
After 22 years of smoking, a month-long cough led to a lung CT — clear, to great relief. Days later, a brother-in-law was diagnosed with lung cancer at 52. The quit started the next Tuesday.
First Quit at 44: High Blood Pressure, High Cholesterol, and Hardening Arteries on the Checkup
A 44-year-old with 27 years of smoking made a first-ever quit attempt after a checkup found hypertension, high cholesterol and arteriosclerosis. At day 57, a cold was suspected to be a 'detox reaction'.
Quitting Smoking, Dieting, and Exercising — All at Once
An 18-year smoker decided to change everything at once: cigarettes out, a vegetarian one-bowl diet in, weight target from 90 kg to 70–75 kg, with exercise — and found the first days bearable.
Ten Years Smoke-Free: 3,643 Consecutive Check-Ins
On the tenth anniversary of quitting (October 27, 2015), a member recounted the decade: 3,643 consecutive daily check-ins, the highest forum levels reached, and a 20-plus-year smoking history left behind.
Thirty a Day, a Dry Cough, and a Lunar New Year Quit
After 20 years at 30 cigarettes a day, a dry cough, shortness of breath and chest fullness — plus family persuasion — led to a quit on the 20th day of the first lunar month, 2015, with a public pledge to prevent retreat.
Day 95 After a 10 PM Last Cigarette
Quitting began at 10 PM on August 8, 2015 — the past left unmentioned. At day 95, encouraged by a friend, the member opened a diary to record the rest of the journey.
Two Years After the Last Cigarette: Three Packs a Day, One Book
After 26 years of smoking three packs a day, a community member quit with a reading-based program and was still smoke-free two years later — describing the quit as easy.
Third Attempt, Worst Withdrawal: Waking Every Hour, Soaked in Sweat
A 24-year smoker's third attempt was different: the first night brought waking every hour, heavy sweating, dizziness and poor concentration. A week later it eased. At day 90, still holding.
Ritual as an Anchor: A Ceremony to Steady the Quit
Quitting since April 24, 2016, this member learned about withdrawal reactions from the forum in mid-May, adapted to them, and deliberately used daily check-in rituals to strengthen resolve — with a one-year target set from the start.
Two Years Quit, With the Five-Year Clinical Milestone as the Next Target
On day 735 smoke-free, a community member announced the next goal: the five-year mark, which clinical cessation guidelines treat as a success boundary.
Valentine's Day 2017: A Memorable Date to Quit
A smoker with over ten years of history and a longest previous quit of four months (with occasional slips) chose Valentine's Day 2017 as a date easy to remember — day 12 at the time of the report.
Quit in 2017, Now in Year Six
A member who quit in 2017 returned to note the milestone: the quit has now entered its sixth year.
18 Years of Smoking, Attempts From Two Hours to One Month: A Planned Restart
A 38-year-old with 18 years of smoking and attempts ranging from two hours to one month analyzed past failures — talking themselves into 'just one' — and restarted with the cigarettes thrown away and a daily check-in pledge.
Thirty Years of Smoking, One Abrupt Declaration
After 30 years, a community member announced a single-shot, no-negotiation quit at a precise recorded moment — 11:00 on November 2, 2018 — and told themselves: don't let yourself down.
Bought the Whole Book Set, Quit for a Month, Quit for Two Hours
At 38 with 18 years of smoking and a pack and a half a day, this member had tried several times — longest a month, shortest two hours — and concluded the failures came from not truly understanding what smoking is. January 3, 2018, 9 AM was the new start.
Seventeen Hours In: The Longest Previous Quit Was Half a Year
At 1 PM on April 11, 2018 — seventeen hours after the last cigarette — a 15-year smoker with many failed attempts (longest: over six months) declared this attempt the one that must be the last.
The Day Before Chinese Valentine's Day: Tired of Hiding to Smoke
With over ten years of smoking and many failed attempts behind them, a member decided to quit on the eve of the Qixi festival (August 6, 2019) — driven by the quiet shame of always slipping away to dark corners to smoke.
The Last Cigarette at 6:30 PM, October 20, 2019
A member recorded the exact time of the final cigarette — around 6:30 in the evening of October 20, 2019 — and was five days in at the time of the post.
After 40 Years of Smoking: A Quit With No Withdrawal Symptoms
A 40-year smoker with a history of failed attempts — including a relapse that doubled the habit to two packs a day — reports this attempt brought no withdrawal symptoms at all, and by day 15, an instinctive aversion to the smell of smoke.
Nine Months Lost to Family Stress, Two Years of Heavier Smoking, Then a Second Quit
A 2017 quit that lasted nine months ended in the strain of a daughter's wedding preparations. Smoking returned harder than before for two years — until stomach pain and headaches pushed a second quit in January 2020.
World No Tobacco Day 2020: A Quit Started at 21:27
To mark the 33rd World No Tobacco Day, a member began this round of quitting at 21:27 on May 30, 2020, pledging daily check-ins. An earlier diary of quit sensations had been lost to accidental deletion.
Day 322: A Quiet Milestone After March 2020
Quitting since March 22, 2020, this member reported in at day 322 — the bulk of a year completed with a matter-of-fact update.
1,730 Days Lost — and a Return in June 2020
A previous quit had run from May 22, 2013 to February 15, 2018 — about 1,730 days — before it was lost. On June 15, 2020 the member returned with a new start: from the beginning again.
One Scare, Two Quits: Stopping Alcohol and Cigarettes Within a Week
After a night of heavy drinking brought on racing heartbeat, shortness of breath and sweating — and an emergency-room visit found sinus tachycardia — a community member quit alcohol, then finished the last cigarettes and quit smoking four days later.
April 14, 2021 — and No Check-Ins Until It's Real
After more than ten years of smoking, this member set the start date, declared that daily check-ins were pointless — and promised to come back only after one full week smoke-free.
Three Years Smoke-Free: Daily 7 km Runs Beat the Cravings
After 17 years of smoking and two years of recurring left-lung pain, a community member quit in one attempt and credits a daily 7 km running habit — especially effective when cravings hit.
March 8, 2022: Day 15 and Asking for Supervision
Quitting since March 8, 2022, this member checked in at day 15 and explicitly asked the community for supervision — a public commitment as a support mechanism.
Seven Months Smoke-Free, Six Months Back: Restarting the Log
After seven months smoke-free, a community member returned to smoking for half a year — and restarted daily check-ins, reporting that quitting had made them feel brighter, more confident and happier.
January 7, 2025, 17:28: A Second Attempt After 30-Plus Years
With more than thirty years of smoking and one previous failed quit behind them, a member set the formal start at 17:28 on January 7, 2025 — framing the new attempt as a test of themselves, one that must succeed.
Day 20 Without Smoking: Choosing Not to Smoke, One Craving at a Time
On day 20 of quitting after nine years of smoking, a community member reports yellow phlegm in the first week, fatigue, and daily cravings met with a single choice: not to smoke.
23 Years of Smoking, Countless Attempts: Starting Again
After 23 years of smoking and more quit attempts than the person can count — the longest lasting eight months — another attempt begins.
Day 162 by Willpower Alone: Two Years Quit Before, Then Relapse, Now Back
After a previous two-year quit ended in relapse, a 31-year-old is now 162 days smoke-free using willpower alone — and reports the body clearly feels better, despite friends insisting men don't need to quit.
Nearly 14 Years Smoke-Free: The Craving That Never Fully Left
Three months short of 14 years after quitting, a long-term ex-smoker's biggest reported feeling is still really wanting to smoke — and a new understanding of why quitting is so hard.
One Month Smoke-Free, Then the Dorm Desk: A Place-Triggered Craving
After more than a month without a single cigarette, returning to school — and sitting at the dorm desk — triggered an urge so strong it felt uncontrollable.
A Year and a Half Quit, Then a Return to Smoking
After quitting abruptly for a year and a half on willpower alone, a community member relapsed — reporting that the craving never fully went away during that entire smoke-free period.
Seven Years Quit, but Alcohol Still Breaks the Wall
Seven years after quitting, a long-term ex-smoker reports normally finding smoke smell unpleasant — but after drinking, the urge becomes hard to resist, and asks the community for strategies.
After Divorce and Job Loss: An 18-Year Smoker's New Quit
At 35, after 18 years of smoking and multiple failed attempts — the longest lasting a month — a community member starts a new quit journey in the aftermath of divorce and unemployment.
Five Days In: Resting Heart Rate Dropped From the 90s to 65
A community member with 20-plus years of smoking and five or six failed attempts reports a measurable change five days into this quit: resting heart rate fell from the 90s to 65.
Two Relapses With Clear Triggers, and a Third Attempt at Day 21
A first quit ended at 100 days with a 'reward' cigarette; a second ended at seven months with one drunk cigarette at a friend's wedding. The third attempt is at day 21, lessons learned.
One Year Quit, Then a Relapse That Doubled the Habit
After 33 years of smoking, a first quit lasted one year — then relapse brought the habit back at two packs a day. A second quit attempt is now in its third week.
30 Years of Smoking, and a Colleague's Hospitalization as the Turning Point
After 30 years at about a pack a day and several failed attempts, seeing a colleague hospitalized with serious lung problems became the shock that launched a new quit attempt.
Abrupt Quit With Medication: 20 Days Down, Day 5 Fully Off Cigarettes
A community member reports quitting abruptly with the help of a cessation medication: 20 days into treatment and five days completely cigarette-free.
E-Cigarettes and Cigarettes All Thrown Away: Rethinking What Smoking 'Gives' You
After multiple quits and relapses, a community member threw away e-cigarette devices, pods and cigarettes together — and reports this attempt starts from a clearer understanding of what smoking really offers.
14 Years on the Quit Forum: One Morning Craving Won, One Lost in the Car
A forum member since 2011 describes the daily reality of an unresolved quit: morning craving resisted, then a cigarette smoked in the garage car — while symptoms like tears, cough and rhinitis keep mounting.
A Smoking History From Primary School: Day 8 With Little Discomfort
A community member whose smoking began in primary school, paused through boarding school, and resumed in college reports that eight days into quitting, the discomfort is far milder than expected — an occasional vague sense of loss.
Two Relapses Behind, Day 2 Ahead: No Third Time Into the Trap
After two relapses — one at six months and one at three months — a community member starts a third attempt with a clear rule: not a single cigarette, ever again.
Day 31: Two Weeks of Chest Tightness, and a Question About Medication Cost
On day 31 of quitting after 12 years of smoking, a community member reports the first two weeks brought chest tightness and shortness of breath — and weighs whether cessation medication, at nearly 10 yuan a pill, is worth the cost.
30-Plus Years of Smoking, One Failed Quit Behind: Testing Themselves Again
A community member with over 30 years of smoking and one previous failed quit announces a second attempt, framing it as a test of themselves.
Drinking With Smoking Friends in the First Two Weeks — and Holding the Line
In the first two weeks of a quit, a community member got drunk several times while friends smoked at the table — and reports managing to hold the line each time.
Fifty, Hospitalized, and Smoking in the Stairwell Every Hour
A 50-year-old admitted to hospital after a diabetes diagnosis describes smoking roughly every hour in the stairwell during the stay — caught repeatedly by doctors and nurses — before deciding to quit.
Day 3 Almost Broke: Sunflower Seeds Instead of Cigarettes at the Supermarket
A 25-year-old quitting after a checkup found moderate fatty liver and folliculitis describes day 3 as the hardest — nearly buying cigarettes at the supermarket, buying a bag of sunflower seeds instead, and the relief of leaving without them.
Abrupt Quit, Detailed Symptom List: A Two-Week Report
After 15 years of smoking and one earlier gradual quit, a community member reports the full symptom list two weeks into an abrupt quit: heart palpitations, mid-sternum pain, easily startled sleep with racing heart, bigger appetite, irritability, drowsiness, dizziness, and stomach bloating.
Twenty-Plus Years, Zero Cigarettes Since July — and No Black Phlegm at All
A 20-plus-year smoker now smoke-free reports something different from the typical stories: no coughing up black phlegm — and questions the idea that a first quit is destined to fail.
Day 500: Stepping Out of Seven Years of Depression and Anxiety
At 500 days smoke-free, a community member reflects that quitting revealed seven years of severe depression and anxiety — and describes the quit as the beginning of walking out of a long dark period.
Three Years Quit After 32 Years of Smoking: 'Just Don't Smoke'
After 32 years of smoking, a community member marks three years smoke-free and answers the question everyone asks — what's the trick? — with: there is no trick, you simply don't smoke.
35 Years of Smoking, a One-Year Quit Lost, and a New Start
A 35-year smoker who has made several attempts since 2014 — the longest lasting a year — restarted after the New Year, describing it as settling accounts with the addiction for good.
28 Days In: A 14-Year Habit That Started as Internship Boredom
A community member traces 14 years of smoking back to a teaching internship where a dorm of bored students played cards — and reports being 28 days smoke-free.
Day 37: No Major Withdrawal — Then the Smoking Dreams Began
A community member reports a mild first month with little withdrawal — and then, after the first month, dreams of smoking.
A Stroke, a Doctor's Order, and 91 Days Smoke-Free
After 32 years of smoking and up to 2–3 packs a day, a hospitalization for a stroke-like diagnosis came with a doctor's order to quit. Now 91 days smoke-free, the person reports waking every 2–3 hours, chest tightness, anxiety and irritability — and a fear of relapse after reading relapse stories.
Five Attempts in a Year, the Longest Two Months: 'This Is the Last Cigarette'
After five on-and-off attempts since the previous October — the longest two months — and a relapse after drinking, a community member woke with chest pain and a muddled head, and declared the current cigarette the last one.
Day 3: Poor Sleep, Dizziness, and Thigh Muscle Twitching
An 18-year smoker with less than two weeks of total smoke-free time reports the third-day picture: difficulty falling asleep, waking through the night, dizziness and blurred vision, and thigh muscle twitching.
A Blurred Left Eye, an Injection, and a Doctor's Order to Quit
A 32-year-old with 15 years of smoking lost their first quit — three months — at a classmate gathering, then failed every attempt for years. A diagnosis of left-eye macular disease with distorted vision, treated by injection, and the doctor's instruction to stop smoking and drinking became the new push.
Ten Years of Smoking, Morning Cough With Blood-Streaked Phlegm
A 27-year-old lists what ten years of smoking brought — morning cough, phlegm with traces of blood, mouth and body odor, memory decline, chest tightness — and sets a 20-year smoke-free goal with daily check-ins.
Fifteen Years In: Chest Tightness and a Throat Too Sore to Swallow
After nearly 15 years since starting in college, a community member describes a year of chest tightness, chronic pharyngitis severe enough to make swallowing difficult, rib-area twinges and growing phlegm — and a decision to quit by willpower alone.
The Low-Profile Quit: No Check-Ins, No Substitutes
A 20-year smoker argues against both check-in rituals and substitutes — they keep reminding you that you were a smoker — and reports day 3 of a quiet quit built on one idea: I no longer need tobacco.
Two Cartons of Cigarettes Left on the Shelf: Quitting Anyway
At 46, after 26 years at more than two packs a day, a community member quit abruptly — leaving two cartons of premium cigarettes untouched at home — and hit day 30.
A Year and a Half Lost to 'One Is Fine' Thinking
After 18 months smoke-free, 'one cigarette is fine' became one a day, then two — and slowly a full return to smoking. A new attempt is at day 7 with a new rule: no excuses, ever.
Three Weeks Lost, One Insight Gained: Smoking Does Not Help Depression
After a three-week quit ended in relapse, a community member concluded from direct experience that smoking never eased low mood — it deepened it, because relapse adds failure on top of life's troubles. The restart included throwing away the pack and a dental cleaning.
Nearly Three Months In: Recurring Fevers That Started a Week After Quitting
A long-time smoker quit after a friend's remark about phlegm — and a week later developed cold-like symptoms: cough, phlegm, weakness, fever, headache. Fevers above 38°C returned weekly for weeks. At the report, two weeks fever-free.
A Near-Fatal Illness, a Month in Hospital, and Secret Cigarettes at Home
A 30-plus-year smoker nearly died, spent a month in hospital with doctors' orders to stop — begged a sibling to buy cigarettes (refused), then smoked secretly at home, up to two a day, caught by their spouse. The forum posts of successful quitters finally prompted a real attempt.
Wisdom Tooth Out, Smoking Banned: Turning a Dental Window Into a Quit
After wisdom tooth extraction, the dentist's no-smoking instruction opened a window. Day two, and the person had already read the quit-smoking method and decided to use the opportunity for a full quit.
Four Months Quit, Severe Insomnia Ongoing
After 25 years at two packs a day, four months smoke-free — but severe insomnia persists, and the person asks the community for strategies from anyone who has been through the same.
The Half-Year Taper, Written Down Cigarette by Cigarette
After an 18-year habit and one failed cold-turkey attempt (20 days), this person spent half a year cutting from two packs to one, then stepped down day by day: 19, 16, 11, 4, 1 cigarettes.
Mineral Water Sips and Solo Beer: The First Three Days
Quitting in November 2011, this person got through the first three days with sips of mineral water for cravings and solo beer-drinking in the evenings to fast-forward through the hardest hours. Day 10: still zero cigarettes.
A Few Cigarettes at a Friend's Dinner — and Then Back to the Quit
Quit on April 6; at a friend's dinner on April 13, smoked a few cigarettes; then returned to the quit. The first period brought poor concentration, irritability and broken sleep — all improving by day 18.
A Four-Year Quit, Lost to Troubles — and a 2010 Restart
The longest quit — nearly four years — ended under heavy personal troubles, followed by seven months of smoking and several failed short attempts. Family frustration and a New Year resolve brought a 2010 restart.
Five Years Smoke-Free: Simple Method, Careful Guarding, Happy Living
On the fifth anniversary, a member reflected that the winning approach was simple — holding the line daily while living happily, acting on what one knows, and letting the quit become ordinary rather than a constant battle.
Thirty Years, Deliberately Not Inhaling Deeply — and Still Winded Jogging
A 30-year, pack-a-day smoker had been limiting each cigarette to two-thirds without deep inhalation since 2011. Despite no heavy coughing or phlegm, slow jogging revealed poor lung capacity — and the person had long known cigarettes were worthless.
Fatty Liver at 25: Day Four, and Day Three Was the Wall
A 25-year-old who started smoking at 16 quit after a checkup found moderate fatty liver and folliculitis. Days 1–2 brought manageable cravings; day 3 nearly broke them. By day 4, the worst had passed.
Started at Ten, Quitting at Twenty-Two
A member who began smoking at age ten — to imitate older boys looking cool — reached 22 with a twelve-year, pack-a-day habit. An illness made cigarettes feel unpleasant, and the quit began the day after.
Nearly Five Years, One Post a Day: A Blood Pressure Log in Public
After almost five years of daily posting, a member's thread became un-saveable due to its size, so a new one opened — continuing the habit of logging daily life and occasional health readings (a blood pressure of 129/83 among them) as part of staying quit.
A Woman's Day One: Finish the Carton, Then Never Buy Again
A female member tracked the last supply precisely — a carton finished by a self-imposed deadline, 10 on one day, 13 discovered and smoked on the next — then went 24 hours without a cigarette and declared the first day of a determined quit.
Twenty Years, Five or Six Quits, Longest Three Months — Day Five
A smoker since high school with five or six past attempts (longest three months, shortest under a week) started this quit quietly — no diary until day 5, wanting to consolidate first. Work pressure and fear of another failure had delayed the start for a long time.
July 14, 2025: The Morning Reach for the Pack Ends
A member described cigarettes as a weight that grew heavier each year — the first reflex every morning was reaching for the pack; coming home at night, the smoke smell drew frowns from family. On July 14, 2025, the farewell was declared, with daily check-ins to follow.
Preparation Before the Quit: Reading Success Stories, Counting the Last Packs
After several failed attempts, this member decided not to rush in. They spent time reading highlighted forum threads, then gathered all remaining cigarettes — about two packs — and planned to finish them deliberately as the final supply before quitting.
Four Years Smoke-Free: Careful Guarding, Simple Method
On the fourth anniversary, a member reflected: the method was simple — hold the line carefully and live happily, with the understanding that the longer it holds, the greater the win. The quit, once internalized, becomes ordinary.
Quitting at Mid-Autumn: Pharyngitis and High Blood Pressure Forced the Decision
Years of smoking had already cost health — pharyngitis and hypertension among the symptoms — and with age showing, the decision came: quit now. The quit began around the Mid-Autumn Festival, the date chosen deliberately.
Sixteen Years, Many Failed Quits — This Time, Reading the Book Seriously
Smoking started intermittently in middle school and took off in university. After sixteen years and multiple failed attempts, this member returned to the quit method book with new seriousness — framing the fight as one against nicotine and one's own willpower.
One Year Clean — and Watching Others Relapse
At 365 days smoke-free with no slips, a member looked back: quitting was actually a single-step thing, but the relapse-prone back-and-forth made it seem hard. Watching fellow members relapse — and quietly disappear from the forum — sharpened the resolve to keep the record going.
One Cigarette on Day Three: Dizziness, Blurred Vision, and a Higher Reading
On day 3 of a quit, this member gave in and smoked one cigarette — and immediately felt dizzy, blurry-eyed and weak-legged, with a blood pressure reading higher than usual. The experience hardened the resolve: daily check-ins and no more slips.
Twenty Years, Up to Fifty a Day at the Peak
A 34-year-old with nearly twenty years of smoking — at the peak, close to fifty cigarettes a day — recounted the habit's arc from low-cost packs to accepting any brand from anyone, and reported having successfully stopped.
Quit Drinking First — and Smoking Got Worse
This member believed they were only a casual smoker with no addiction. Then they quit alcohol — and found smoking increased. Frightened by what drinking had done, they finally turned to quitting cigarettes too, after their mother's quiet words, giving up cigars, cigarettes and even the lighter collection.
Twenty-Three Years, Two Packs a Day — and a Three-Step Plan
A 23-year, two-packs-a-day smoker set a structured plan: no more buying packs (finish the remaining eleven cigarettes first), tell anyone who offers one that the quit has started, and announce the decision to family and friends — closing every door back.
Third Attempt at 21 Years: A Child's Question Started It
After 21 years of smoking and two failed quits, a member's son asked about alcohol's harm to the liver — and the research that followed led, by association, to reading about cigarettes. The third quit attempt began.
A Dorm of Eight, Seven Smokers — and the Farewell Cigarette That Started a Habit
A 25-year-old with three years of smoking traced the start: a dorm swap in junior year put them with seven smokers; they held out a semester, then a holiday 'farewell cigarette' from a roommate began the slide. Now they quit.
Unemployed at 48, Thirty Years of Smoking, and the Nth Attempt
A 48-year-old IT worker — unemployed, thirty years of smoking, having read the famous quit book and still failed — began the Nth attempt on March 24, candid about lost confidence and determined this time to see it through.
One Month In: The Mind Won't Focus
A month after quitting, this member reported the unexpected symptom: difficulty concentrating, constant mind-wandering, slower reactions than before — enough to affect work. The response was to keep going and note the improvement in other areas.
A Woman's Secret Smoking: Yellowing Teeth as the Last Straw
A female member whose traditional family forbade smoking hid it for years — every cigarette smoked furtively, 'like a thief.' The motivation that finally stuck was simpler than health: keeping her teeth from yellowing.
Day Two of a Three-Pronged Defense: E-Cigarette, Patch, and Toothpaste
After 18 years of smoking with frequent cough and insomnia, and a child who drew anti-smoking posters for them, this member started a combination approach: an e-cigarette learned from a colleague, nicotine patches, and a special toothpaste — checking in on day 2.
The Long March: Quit for Years, Relapsed for One, Starting Over
This member had quit for years, then — by their own admission — gave themselves excuses and relapsed for a full year. The restart was framed as a 'Long March': day one of the journey again, with good wishes for everyone walking the same road.
Fifteen Years of Smoking, Two Years Smoke-Free — and Starting Again
With 15 years of smoking and a previous two-year quit that had been sustained with the community's company, this member came back to begin again.
Always Thought Check-Ins Were Boring — Trying One Anyway
After many failed attempts and years of only occasionally browsing the forum, a self-described skeptic of daily check-ins decided to try the thing they once dismissed — 'let's see how many days this lasts.'
Day 140: Illness Forced the Quit — and It Has Been Hard
This member quit because of illness and, at day 140, finally opened up: the days had been painful, and the decision to start writing was an attempt to let the weight out.
Coughing Blood: The Decision to Make It the Last Day
A member reported coughing up blood and declared the day the last day of smoking — with a quit to begin on the 7th.
Day 13: A Tormented Day, Three Puffs at the Edge — Not Inhaled
Thirteen days in, a member described a day of back-and-forth struggle that ended with three puffs taken — deliberately not inhaled into the lungs — and a determination that the quit would not be thrown away.
Quitting Cigarettes and Betel Nut Together: The Heart Has to Change
A member set out to quit cigarettes and betel nut simultaneously, insisting that suppression alone never works — the craving has to be met at the level of the heart, not just resisted.
Cigarettes Got Expensive — the Last Pack Is the Last Straw
Angered by rising cigarette prices, a member declared the current pack the final one — refusing to keep paying for the habit, and asking the community for support.
Farewell to Cigarettes: The Construction Site in 1993 Where It Began
The origin story: in 1993, after failing the college entrance exam, an 18-year-old went to a construction site. Hard labor by day; at night, a hundred workers in one shed — heat, mosquitoes, and almost everyone lighting cigarette after cigarette. By the end of one summer, a student had become a sun-darkened construction worker — and a smoker.
Day 18 After the February 4 Start: Not One Cigarette
Starting on the afternoon of February 4, this member opened a commemorative post at day 18: eighteen days, not a single cigarette.
Day 19, a Pack a Day for 13 Years — and a Desperate Craving
Thirteen years of smoking a pack a day; at day 19 of the quit, the urge to smoke one cigarette hit hard. The member wrote it out in real time — asking how to get through it.
Every Cigarette Torn Apart and Thrown Away: Day One
Day one began with an act of destruction: every cigarette torn apart and thrown away, then a pledge to keep checking in.
Twenty-Five, Twelve Years of Smoking, Many Failures — and an Oath
A 25-year-old with twelve years of smoking and many failed attempts made a public oath: not a single cigarette, ever, with daily check-ins and the community as witnesses.
One Puff, One Month In — and the Realization That Broke the Illusion
On a second quit, one month in, the member couldn't hold and took a single puff — and immediately felt the internal relaxation of the rule. The lesson, stated plainly: after the first puff comes the next. No reasons, no excuses. Always refuse the first one.
Daily Check-Ins With the Dog as Witness
A member opened a check-in diary with a lighthearted accountability twist: every smoke-free day would be recorded with the family dog as the witness.
Day Five: The Tongue Is Broken Out
On the fifth day of a quit, a member reported an unexpected symptom: a broken-out, ulcerated tongue.
What a structured record captures
Every record is extracted into the same fields, so patterns become visible across hundreds of attempts:
- Smoking history (only what the person explicitly reported)
- Quit method, quit attempt number and recovery day
- Triggers, cravings, emotional state, physical symptoms
- What the person tried, and the reported outcome
- Relapse details — trigger, context, what happened afterward, lessons
- Reported changes, positive and negative
Privacy by design
- No usernames, avatars, UIDs, contact details or real names are ever published.
- Content is editorial synthesis, never verbatim copies or translations of posts.
- Unreported fields are marked "Not reported" — never guessed.
- Records that do not meet the quality threshold stay internal.
Experiences ≠ evidence
Community reports show what happens in real life. Research shows what is supported by evidence. Both are here — clearly labeled.