Give Up Smoking or Die Trying
Discussion
Can I join this party? 
I ran out of smokes 4 weekends ago at home, and I was too lazy (and it was freezing outside)to pop out to buy more. So I thought, why not give up instead? Done it without any nicotine patches or those e-fags. Went to a party last weekend, and it went better than I thought as I had no craving to smoke even after a few drinks. Admittedly, I had moments thinking I could do with a smoke e.g. after dinner, but overall, it has been much easier than I expected.
Rgds
Tom
I ran out of smokes 4 weekends ago at home, and I was too lazy (and it was freezing outside)to pop out to buy more. So I thought, why not give up instead? Done it without any nicotine patches or those e-fags. Went to a party last weekend, and it went better than I thought as I had no craving to smoke even after a few drinks. Admittedly, I had moments thinking I could do with a smoke e.g. after dinner, but overall, it has been much easier than I expected.
Rgds
Tom
joscal said:
Jaysus hope you are ok mrpurple..
I'm off them from January and don't miss them one bit now although it was very tough at the start - just hope the damage isn't already done..
Filthy, filthy habit. If I had have known when I had my first one all those years ago that I'd be smoking 40 a day for 20 years I would have never believed it.
I am now thanks.....just back from a 2 hour walk in the Cotswold hills with inlaws dog...must admit I am still very reliant on the e-ciggy but absolutely no craving for the real thing.... in fact the smell of them is awful to me now.I'm off them from January and don't miss them one bit now although it was very tough at the start - just hope the damage isn't already done..
Filthy, filthy habit. If I had have known when I had my first one all those years ago that I'd be smoking 40 a day for 20 years I would have never believed it.
It's funny. I gave up 3 and a bit years ago after 35 odd years on cigars, 100,000 plus of them to be exact. For some while the smell was the most alluring thing that was reaching out to me to take it up again.
Suddenly though, about a year in the smell suddenly became abhorrent and pretty foul. Now I walk past a little group shedding in London, or follow someone walking along and it's like a toxic gas.
If you are planning on stopping, stop. As mentioned above. Don't put it off, just do it. Don't blame the boozy nights coming up, blame the fags for making you want another one. Read the book.
Suddenly though, about a year in the smell suddenly became abhorrent and pretty foul. Now I walk past a little group shedding in London, or follow someone walking along and it's like a toxic gas.
If you are planning on stopping, stop. As mentioned above. Don't put it off, just do it. Don't blame the boozy nights coming up, blame the fags for making you want another one. Read the book.
thenortherner said:
Three weeks to go and I'm a year done. Certainly feeling much better for it. In fact, I've signed up to Ironman 70.3 in Luxembourg in June of next year.
I cannot have imagined me even considering that a year ago!
Good on you and to all those who have quit and stayed off them! I fell off the wagon (again) so bought the book (to read on my phone). So far it just seems to be a lot of claims, testimonials and hyperbole rather than any substance. I cannot have imagined me even considering that a year ago!
The first half of this year I was vaping mostly with the occasional smoke. Once I fell out with the vaping gear, I've struggled and bounced between smoking and not. I think (marginally) I've had more smoke-free days in 2013 than smoking, but still a way to go as it seems I'm almost looking for an excuse to smoke even though I don't appear to be craving as such. Many moons ago I had a girlfriend (non-smoker) and we settled on ONE cigarette a day. I was working in the city back then so way more stress than I have today, but knowing I could have that one, kept me going (although to be fair, smoking was the least of my lifestyle worries). I suppose my time is up as I'd previously quit for eight years with 2005 when I started again, that's 8 years of smoking (on and off) since I restarted! I'd take another 8 years to be honest, but probably should set my sights a little lower.
I still think the hardest part of giving up is the habbit not the nicotine addiction so things like gum and electronic cigarettes keep the habbit alive. I'm not sure the actual chemical addiction lasts that long after giving up so I'm not convinced by patches either. I think the best thing to do (from previous experience) is to plan a date and keep it in mind. Simply stop and get rid of any lighters and ash trays, etc. Never keep an emergency pack like someone I worked with did. This seemed to work for me for 8 years before, well falling off the wagon so to speak.
thenortherner said:
Cheers. Still a way to go, but I'm definitely getting there!
Keep at it mate. Though I've got to ask, and please don't take this as me being holier-than-thou, do you want to give up?
I go through phases when I'm 'enjoying' smoking and not. If I *try* to stop, my brain tells me I'm craving and I'll use NRP with mixed success. Other times I could not smoke for a week without making a concious decision to stop and I don't crave (until I realise I've not smoked for a week and then fancy a smoke). Keep at it mate. Though I've got to ask, and please don't take this as me being holier-than-thou, do you want to give up?
Anything 2+ days and that first smoke is so rank you'd think it'd put me off for life. I suppose they all taste equally as rank, just your mouth gets used to it. Not sure where my Eureka moment is going to come from at the moment. Maybe the book (although I'd forgotten all about it until just now).
So..... it looks like I'm joining the class of 2014. Still it's a few days smoking then a few days not, can't quite shake it.
Visiting family between Christmas and new year (where I don't smoke), so hopefully the 'new year' will start with me already a few days clean. Will try and read 'the book' while I'm away.
Anyone else giving up for the new year?
Visiting family between Christmas and new year (where I don't smoke), so hopefully the 'new year' will start with me already a few days clean. Will try and read 'the book' while I'm away.
Anyone else giving up for the new year?
I'm not sure if this will be massively helpful to anyone, but I finally stopped after 30 years by choosing a specific date to stop on (a random Saturday) and using the little mini-tablets to calm the mild pangs for nicotine. It took me about a month of fairly painless tablet consumption to be completely free from the need to smoke. I found that I needed fewer and fewer tablets as the days went by.
Actually, having thought about this some more, my belief is that the nicotine craving is actually fairly mild and that the addiction is mainly in the mind. In other words, you need to want to stop and at that point it becomes relatively easy.
I was on 20 medium tar filter cigarettes a day before I stopped.
Now I've quit I cannot understand why I bothered in the first place.
Actually, having thought about this some more, my belief is that the nicotine craving is actually fairly mild and that the addiction is mainly in the mind. In other words, you need to want to stop and at that point it becomes relatively easy.
I was on 20 medium tar filter cigarettes a day before I stopped.
Now I've quit I cannot understand why I bothered in the first place.
I smoked for 20 years, but in 5 days time it will be a year without it.
I started out in the October thinking that I would reduce the amount I smoked and see how far I got with it.
I counted how many cigarettes I was smoking a day (typically 13) and then endevoured to reduce by one each week.
13 to 9 was easy enough, but then I stayed at 9 for a couple of weeks, until I could get my head around knocking out the 'routine' ones - getting up, drive to work, morning break etc etc.
9 became 5 over the ensuing weeks and then when I broke up from work for christmas, I fairly quickly managed to get it to 3, then 2 and then finally I had one cigarette on the 27th.
Doing it the way I did worked well for me as I figured that I was bringing my nicotine levels down all the time, so that the transition from smoker to none smoker would be easier.
In the end it really wasn't too bad. Sure I had cravings, but nothing too strong, and having made the leap, I didn't want to have to do it again.
The ensuing months were a learning curve as clearly smoking was ingrained in my pysche and such things as when I mowed the lawn for the first time in the spring, I set the mower up, got everything prepared and then wanted a smoke before I started mowing as I always had. Clearly activity association.
There are times I miss it still, but I coldn't go back to it now and I only wish I had given up years before I did.
As a final thing, I smoked roll ups, but didn't finish my last pouch of baccy. I found it much easier knowing I could have one if I wanted, as opposed to thinking that I couldn't if I didn't have any left.
That bit certainly helped me, because if I had gone to the shop to buy some, I would certainly have then wanted to smoke it.
Good luck to all that give up the habit.
I started out in the October thinking that I would reduce the amount I smoked and see how far I got with it.
I counted how many cigarettes I was smoking a day (typically 13) and then endevoured to reduce by one each week.
13 to 9 was easy enough, but then I stayed at 9 for a couple of weeks, until I could get my head around knocking out the 'routine' ones - getting up, drive to work, morning break etc etc.
9 became 5 over the ensuing weeks and then when I broke up from work for christmas, I fairly quickly managed to get it to 3, then 2 and then finally I had one cigarette on the 27th.
Doing it the way I did worked well for me as I figured that I was bringing my nicotine levels down all the time, so that the transition from smoker to none smoker would be easier.
In the end it really wasn't too bad. Sure I had cravings, but nothing too strong, and having made the leap, I didn't want to have to do it again.
The ensuing months were a learning curve as clearly smoking was ingrained in my pysche and such things as when I mowed the lawn for the first time in the spring, I set the mower up, got everything prepared and then wanted a smoke before I started mowing as I always had. Clearly activity association.
There are times I miss it still, but I coldn't go back to it now and I only wish I had given up years before I did.
As a final thing, I smoked roll ups, but didn't finish my last pouch of baccy. I found it much easier knowing I could have one if I wanted, as opposed to thinking that I couldn't if I didn't have any left.
That bit certainly helped me, because if I had gone to the shop to buy some, I would certainly have then wanted to smoke it.
Good luck to all that give up the habit.
Rich1973 said:
As a final thing, I smoked roll ups, but didn't finish my last pouch of baccy. I found it much easier knowing I could have one if I wanted, as opposed to thinking that I couldn't if I didn't have any left.
That bit certainly helped me, because if I had gone to the shop to buy some, I would certainly have then wanted to smoke it.
Good luck to all that give up the habit.
Thanks for the input guys, hope it helps me and others. It's funny how you mention about not finishing your pouch. This goes against all the 'advice' about removing temptation, but sometimes during my non-smoking periods, I'll get a 'craving' for a smoke and shoot down the garage and buy a pack. Once they're in the car, they can sit unopened for several days (comfort blanket I suppose) without being smoked (eventually they do though That bit certainly helped me, because if I had gone to the shop to buy some, I would certainly have then wanted to smoke it.
Good luck to all that give up the habit.
) Well I had my 'last' cigarette just over 4 weeks ago. I wnet to the doctors and they prescribed 'Champix'. Went on the low dose for 5 days before stopping smoking. I've had 2 cigarettes since stopping. The first was after 1 week and was lovely. The second was a week later and did nothing for me! Not fancied one since!
PoleDriver said:
Well I had my 'last' cigarette just over 4 weeks ago. I wnet to the doctors and they prescribed 'Champix'. Went on the low dose for 5 days before stopping smoking. I've had 2 cigarettes since stopping. The first was after 1 week and was lovely. The second was a week later and did nothing for me! Not fancied one since!
You know you're over the worst of it when you can enter a supermarket or petrol station without thinking about buying fags.PoleDriver said:
Well I had my 'last' cigarette just over 4 weeks ago. I wnet to the doctors and they prescribed 'Champix'. Went on the low dose for 5 days before stopping smoking. I've had 2 cigarettes since stopping. The first was after 1 week and was lovely. The second was a week later and did nothing for me! Not fancied one since!
Keep going!How are the dreams?
Rawwr said:
You know you're over the worst of it when you can enter a supermarket or petrol station without thinking about buying fags.
Currently in another attempt to stop, had my last one on Christmas Day, have been ok, but have mad urges to pop to the petrol station for a box. Resisting so far, but am missing them....
Marcellus said:
PoleDriver said:
Well I had my 'last' cigarette just over 4 weeks ago. I wnet to the doctors and they prescribed 'Champix'. Went on the low dose for 5 days before stopping smoking. I've had 2 cigarettes since stopping. The first was after 1 week and was lovely. The second was a week later and did nothing for me! Not fancied one since!
Keep going!How are the dreams?
Gargamel said:
Rawwr said:
You know you're over the worst of it when you can enter a supermarket or petrol station without thinking about buying fags.
Currently in another attempt to stop, had my last one on Christmas Day, have been ok, but have mad urges to pop to the petrol station for a box. Resisting so far, but am missing them....
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