OMG giving up smoking is hard!!

[Toad]

Alex,
Good luck hope you can see it through buddy.

I stopped in March 1992, always found it funny that I can remember it like yesterday, I was out playing darts and had just bought a new pack, I lit one up and was hit with the thought why am I doing this, so stubbed it out and gave the packet and lighter to one of the lads on my team.
He thought I was kidding and said I'll give you them back later but I never had another one.

Found the first week the hardest but the craving soon dies and to be honest I have forgotten what it was like to smoke.

 

[JT77]

Well mate, I am sorry as I dont smoke, so please ignore me if you wish......

Anyway, my mother smoked for 32 years and then quit, she just gave up, I think she found it hard to start, but eventually it got easier, and now she doesnt, and is quite happy
Good luck mate

 

[medwayjon]

I gave up smoking about 5 years ago and to be honest, I did nothing fancy, smoked my last pack of marlboros and that was it.

Didnt find it particularly hard going and still enjoyed cigars every once in a while as a treat, the only downside is that I became rather fond of fishermans friends and extra strong mints.

I think that different people react to addictions differently. I know a guy who has been a smoker, alcoholic, gambling addict and drug-addict. He seems to have a personality that requires him to have an addiction of some sort on the go.

All I would suggest is do whatever works for you, ignore and pre-formed oppinions and go with the flow.

 

[Leftie]

"OMG giving up smoking is hard!!"

No it's not!


Hello everyone. My name is Leftie .............


As someone who gave up smoking 30+ years ago and found it easy, may I put a slightly different perspective on this?

It is in the best interests (to the tune of £££Billions a year) of the tobacco companies, the government and the pharmaceutical industry to perpetuate the myth that giving up the weed is difficult. Yes, nicotene is addictive, but once it is through your system then that's it. The addiction is gone.

Smokers are conditioned into believing that it's very difficult to give it up. You believe the hype, so it becomes difficult. Even months after all traces of the addictive nicotene have left the body you are conditioned to feel that you really need to smoke again - because you are told that that is what you are going to do because it is supposedly what most people do.

I had no prior intent to give it up. Had 1 ciggie left in the packet, busy at work and couldn't be bothered to go out and buy more so decided that I would have it later. Several months later threw that cigarette away.

I only gave up one fag and it didn't hurt a bit.

Just my opinion of course

 

[lobthewedge]

I quit 5 years ago, went cold turkey, tough as hell but well worth it. Got a new 4week old daughter and couldnt imagine smoke anywhere near her, so keep that as your motivation.

Must admit i did have a slight relapse, but it was in amsterdam and wasnt your average cigarette!

 

[RGDave]

I had no prior intent to give it up. Had 1 ciggie left in the packet, busy at work and couldn't be bothered to go out and buy more so decided that I would have it later. Several months later threw that cigarette away.

I only gave up one fag and it didn't hurt a bit.

Inspirational.

Now, that's a story. Nice.

 

[Leftie]

Is it only politicians that never inhale??

 

[Leftie]

Is it only politicians that never inhale??

Or swallow??

 

[lobthewedge]

Even if you dont inhale, the special tea and cakes will mess you up instead!

 

[Leftie]

Thanks Dave and, yes, it's absolutely true.

My guess is that hypnotherapy works because they wait until the nicotene is out of the system and then they re-adjust your conditioning and make you realise that it isn't difficult after all and there is really no reason to start again.

Worried about what to do with your hands when down the pub having a drink? One thing you don't need is a fag between your fingers. Hold the glass with one hand and, if necessary, play pocket billiards with the other. Might make you go blind but it may also prolong your life.

 

[Region3]

I've tried a couple of times.

First time it seemed easy (ish) and I lasted 6 months. I was in a rather stressful situation and was looking after my wife's cigarettes and before I knew what I was doing I was halfway down the first one.

Second time was at the start of this year. Myself and 2 of my kids all decided to try at the same time. No.1 son lasted about a month, I lasted 6 weeks, but no.2 son hasn't had one since so in that respect it was very worthwhile.

I didn't really want to give up enough for myself but I tried because I wanted nothing more than for my kids to stop.

Both times I found the lozenges a great help, but the most important thing like others have said is that you really want to stop rather than just thinking you ought to stop.

Good luck with it, it will be the best thing you've done for yourself if you manage it.

 

[USER1999]

I stopped ages ago. There wans't all the stuff around to help that there is now. Probably a good thing, or I would be on 60 patches a day, instead of fags.

It is all about you. If you want to stop enough, you will. It isn't hard, it's just a habit you need to break, and it is easier to give in to it than not.

 

[viscount17]

I smoked from when I was 15 until 39, gave up once for 2 years in between then was given a cigarette after a car crash and started again. Finally gave up when I had a long leave (7 weeks) in winter; couldn't smoke in the house (son was asthmatic) so the choice was keep taking the dog out or go in the garden. I stopped cold on the first day of leave and thought I did it easily - apparently no else thought the same!

I believe that the 'secret' to stopping smoking is that it is a selfish action. You stop because YOU want to, for YOUR reasons; no amount of education, nagging from HID (or the kids), or price increases, can make you do so. Similarly you fail because you don't want to stop.

My opinion of patches etc is that they are excuses not to stop, its just tapering off disguised as something else.

If you have a time, after meals in your case, when you find it particularly difficult put yourself into a position where you can't smoke; eg wash the clubs with something highly flammable, go swimming.

The hard bit doesn't last and I can honestly say I have never wanted to smoke since. (Actually I'm very much anti-smoking now. Once your sense of smell returns you'll realise just how bad you and clothes were and wonder how non-smokers put up with it - I've left queues because of it!)

 

[Lawrence22]

I successfully gave up smoking 15 years ago after smoking for 12 years. I had tried several times before and failed. The key to my success was giving up the booze for a while at the same time. Every time before I had gone back to smoking when I'd had a few and will power was lowered. So I went off the booze for 8 weeks, by the time I started drinking again the nicotine was out of my system and it didn't bother me.

 

[bobmac]

I only smoke after meals.
I'm down to 20 meals a day

Myself and Teegirl went to see a hypnotherapist 18 months ago. It was a doddle.
Walked out of his room and knew I wouldn't smoke again.
£100 well spent.(each)

However, the first guy we saw previously had a serious cough which didnt help and I had a cig in the car on the way home.

If you don't stop, (assuming you smoke 20 a day), between now and Christmas you will spend almost £300 making yourself ill.

Good luck with it, your child will thank you for it one day.

 

[viscount17]

just wanted to add this but time expired to edit.

Just so you know, I was a chain smoker. I got 300 duty free cigarettes a month (ashore) and by the time I was quitting you could pick up enough stamps for way more than that - I did. At its worst I was up to 100-a-day (I used to spend up to 10-12hrs a day sitting in a snow field waiting for a helicopter to return). I quit cold from that. That was over 20 years ago; it takes 15 until your system is clear - provided you haven't done any long term damage (which I seem to have avoided - lucky, lucky me.

 

[bernix]

I stopped smoking back in 1991 but only for 12 years

 

[Alex1975]

Thanks all, I have had a great day, worked my ASS off to keep busy, just had my meal and am gagging for a fag so reading the post to remember all the nice things people have said. Bob WOW, that sounds unreal, you knew when you left the place that you would never smoke again?? ye worth the £100 I would pay it right now!!

Going to see the Dr tomorrow to see what they have to say. I dont want patches as I dont want to be addicted to them in place of fags, I want it all out of my system and seem to be doing ok... ish.

2 fags in 48 hrs. Hope I can say the same in another 24 hrs.

thx again all.

 

[GasMan]

If you're getting medical help then if it's available to you get Champix on prescription. It's the weirdest thing ever but within 2 weeks of being on it you just lose the "want" to smoke and they start to make you feel sick too when you do smoke one. Only advice I would give is to make sure you have a proper breakfast/meal before you take each tablet as when the dosage increases you feel really sick if you take them on an empty stomach.

I quit on boxing day last year on it and even though I could murder a fag right now I'm well beyond being close to giving in.

It's as hard as it is for you not anybody else!

All I'll say is good luck.

 

[Alex1975]

If you're getting medical help then if it's available to you get Champix on prescription. It's the weirdest thing ever but within 2 weeks of being on it you just lose the "want" to smoke and they start to make you feel sick too when you do smoke one. Only advice I would give is to make sure you have a proper breakfast/meal before you take each tablet as when the dosage increases you feel really sick if you take them on an empty stomach.

I quit on boxing day last year on it and even though I could murder a fag right now I'm well beyond being close to giving in.

It's as hard as it is for you not anybody else!

All I'll say is good luck.

Where did you get this stuff?