OP the cravings are of course caused by Nicotine still in your system. Taking gum/patches keeps the Nicotine in you and prolongs the agony. All you’ve done is sidestepped the issue. Then at somepoint you’ll get a trigger that makes you say ‘**** this I’m having a fag’. It could be as little as a friend disagreeing with you and because you are in period-head mode (sorry for the discriptive) you mini-flip. Its all you need.
Another (possibly not a great analogy) but would you take anabolic steroids now?
If the answer is **** hell no way!
Then why do you smoke?
Whats my point? you enjoy something now then in your early 50’s its payback time.
If you are 40 now. In just over 10yrs time do you want to be seeing your GP for breathing difficulties, taking meds and the possibility of the big C? Yes people can smoke until they are 90 but there are always the Genetic anomalies.
I’ve been to the Manchester Royal Infirmary a few times during the day with hora junior and outside the entrance you always see this age range fagging it, looking **** etc etc.
Whats your motivation? See your children past their 20th birthday?
Lets say you live until your 80. Who wants 20-30yrs of a poorer quality life shuffling, popping alot of daily meds etc?
I’d love to be still riding my bike in my 60’s – road or mtb.