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Randy, I have L4/L5 and S1/S2 disc herniation that cause sciatica, which as you probably know is very painful and can be very debilitating, but I go for a walk nearly every evening after dinner.

An Inversion Table has helped with my sciatica and with proper diet and moderate exercise, I can keep my weight down and within a normal “BMI” for my height/weight.

Keeping my weight down also puts less weight and less pressure on my spine and discs as well.

I also practice good “back hygiene” by being very careful when lifting, bending, twisting and by do stretching exercises as well. The above mentioned Inversion Table helps a lot as it takes a lot of pressure off of the spine and I will get on the Table 2-3 times a day for 5-10 minutes.

My sciatica occurrences have dropped significantly by doing the above.

A good weight loss tip is the old saying: “Eat breakfast like a King, lunch like a Prince and dinner like a Pauper”

Examine your diet and get rid of the bad stuff - sugar and carbs will put on the weight like crazy, so go with more protein and veggies.

Add more Salmon, Chicken, Turkey, Tuna Salad, Egg Salad, Red Meat, Bacon and Eggs etc... and most veggies to your diet and less sugar and simple carbs like bread and pasta.

I would avoid going “cold turkey” on the cigs as that method has the highest failure rate and will make you miserable and want to smoke to relieve the stress and to curb the sudden nicotine withdrawals.

It took a while to become addicted to nicotine, so it will take a while to undo the addiction to nicotine, just like any other addictive drug.

While ‘cold turkey’ may work for some people, I found it to be brutal and didn’t last more than 48 hours without a cigarette.

I would say in my experience the major factors to success are the ones I outlined in my earlier post.

Taper off of nicotine using the Nicotine patch and then use Nicotine gum to further taper and to deal with any cravings.

Avoid alcohol as that will derail your efforts.

Exercise, even if it’s just a short walk after dinner.

Change to a healthier diet that will keep you from putting on weight.

Avoid self-rationalization to have “just one” as that will lead you back to being a full time smoker.

Start putting the money you would spend on cigs in a big glass jar so you can see how much money you were spending on smokes and use the money to reward yourself with something nice. One poster mentioned being able to afford a nice car on what they spend on cigs per month.

I quit during the summer, and when winter came around and I put on my warm coat for the first time of the year, I couldn’t believe how terrible it smelled from smoking while wearing it the previous winter.

I don’t know how much you smoke or how much a pack costs in your state, but here in California, they are about $4.50 a pack and there is talk of adding yet another .50 cent tax per pack.

In NYC, cigs are nearly $10.00 per pack.

Taper off gradually, exercise in moderation, improve your dietary habits and you will feel 1000% better in both mind and body in a short time, especially once your lungs clear up and your breathing and oxygen intake improves.

I believe the post I wrote and the post that “sockhead” wrote in post #72 give you the best advice on quitting.

Again, good luck to you and all others wishing to quit this terrible addiction and if you follow the advice given by myself and by “sockhead” in this thread you will succeed.

Yes, it takes some work, but the payoff and the end result is well worth the effort.

I know you guys can do it.

I did it as I had my last cigarette in 1997 and I posted how I did it and truly believe that my success in quitting and staying smoke free can be duplicated by any current smoker.

Bottom line is that there isn’t any shortcut to successfully quitting and it’s a process that takes time and effort.

Set a date, set goals, buy the patches, put that big glass money jar out there, shop for healthier food next time you go to the store. Start getting the “tools” you will need together.

No excuses. No rationalizing for not doing it. Go out and do it.

It will be one of the best things you will ever do in your life and just might save it as well.

Is your life worth the effort? Of course it is, so do it!