how did you stop and what was the biggest change?
I have a friend who smoked a pack a day for years.
When he decided to quit he went to the local health food store and purchased a homeopathic stop smoking remedy.
[Rule of use is don't touch the pills because it effects the remedy coating. Homeopathic tablet containers have the lid fixed so you can load the tablets into the lid without touching them. And then drop them under your tongue to dissolve. Also, don't eat or drink anything 20 minutes or more before use. The residue from food/drinks impairs full absorption of the remedy.]
To satisfy that hand to mouth reflex, because the remedy also reduces cravings, he bagged fresh fruits, veggies,dried fruits, so to eat those instead.
That was 20 years ago and he is still smoke free.
Nicotine patches,Gums, are toxic. Because they're still giving you a nicotine fix.