Give Up Smoking or Die Trying

Give Up Smoking or Die Trying

Author
Discussion

Gargamel

14,958 posts

260 months

Tuesday 13th October 2015
quotequote all

No point looking back, you may have been back on them for 10 years, but you can't change that now. All you can focus on is quitting now.

I wouldn't get the E cigs, just go cold turkey. You need two weeks to get the nicotine out of your body. E Cigs won't help you to do this, so you remain susceptible to restarting or having a "real" cigarette when they are available but your E cig isn't.

I am up to three months now, though I had a one box relapse in the middle whilst I was on a business trip.. not ideal, but at least I stayed off them when I got home.

Back to running again and feeling much better for it.


Funk

26,254 posts

208 months

Tuesday 13th October 2015
quotequote all
I completely agree on the vaping thing. Break the nicotine habit and break the physical action of putting something to your mouth.

I stopped cold and it'll be 5 years this January for me. Best thing I ever did.

Origin Unknown

2,293 posts

168 months

Tuesday 13th October 2015
quotequote all
I'll echo the above comments also. I tried the vaping thing and TBH, after a few weeks, I was more or less permanently vaping. The more I decreased the nicotine, the more I vaped, increasing the nicotine didn't help. It's probably a discipline thing but for me, not having an end of cigarette to smoke to meant it was a never ending vape.

Went back on the fags in the end.

Now, my wife and I are just over the 6 month mark. Wife did cold turkey but patches worked perfectly for me. If you last 1 week or slightly more, do the patches and follow the programme to you over the 1/2 week failure hurdle.

toon10

6,140 posts

156 months

Wednesday 14th October 2015
quotequote all
Again cold turkey is the way to go. Using substitutes gets rid of the nicotine addiction but not the habbit which is the hardest thing to kick.

22

Original Poster:

2,269 posts

136 months

Wednesday 14th October 2015
quotequote all
Appreciate the comments and well done to those who have quit. I'm struggling a bit in the cold turkey department. I think I 'prove' to myself I can go beyond the 72 hours and then start again because I can rinse and repeat. I was also in that very bad place where I was enjoying smoking (or so my brain would have me believe).

Thought I'd try the vaping for a few days (24 hours in!) and then perhaps go cold turkey (but no firm plan in place) then if I'm struggling, at least the vape-thing will become the go-to remedy.

Not quite sure how it'll pan out, but having tried most things several times over, a change of approach was required.


Funk

26,254 posts

208 months

Wednesday 14th October 2015
quotequote all
22 said:
Appreciate the comments and well done to those who have quit. I'm struggling a bit in the cold turkey department. I think I 'prove' to myself I can go beyond the 72 hours and then start again because I can rinse and repeat. I was also in that very bad place where I was enjoying smoking (or so my brain would have me believe).

Thought I'd try the vaping for a few days (24 hours in!) and then perhaps go cold turkey (but no firm plan in place) then if I'm struggling, at least the vape-thing will become the go-to remedy.

Not quite sure how it'll pan out, but having tried most things several times over, a change of approach was required.
Just do it.

Stop making it bigger in your head than it has to be. I realised how stupid it was that a little white stick with a bit of dead leaf in it pretty much controlled my life. The hardest part is over in 36 hours - that's the time it takes for nicotine to completely leave your system. From there on in it's all in your head.

If you've not already, pick up a copy of Allan Carr's Easy Way to Stop Smoking. It's helped so many people I know to kick the habit and for the cost of a replacement vape vial it's worth a go, no?

AndyT77

1,755 posts

161 months

Thursday 15th October 2015
quotequote all
I recommend reading a book by Allen Carr, called Easyway to stop smoking. If you are thinking about stopping, or have recently stopped, or maybe you're finding it hard, read the book. It's very impressive.

jmorgan

36,010 posts

283 months

Thursday 15th October 2015
quotequote all
Funk said:
22 said:
Appreciate the comments and well done to those who have quit. I'm struggling a bit in the cold turkey department. I think I 'prove' to myself I can go beyond the 72 hours and then start again because I can rinse and repeat. I was also in that very bad place where I was enjoying smoking (or so my brain would have me believe).

Thought I'd try the vaping for a few days (24 hours in!) and then perhaps go cold turkey (but no firm plan in place) then if I'm struggling, at least the vape-thing will become the go-to remedy.

Not quite sure how it'll pan out, but having tried most things several times over, a change of approach was required.
Just do it.

Stop making it bigger in your head than it has to be. I realised how stupid it was that a little white stick with a bit of dead leaf in it pretty much controlled my life. The hardest part is over in 36 hours - that's the time it takes for nicotine to completely leave your system. From there on in it's all in your head.

If you've not already, pick up a copy of Allan Carr's Easy Way to Stop Smoking. It's helped so many people I know to kick the habit and for the cost of a replacement vape vial it's worth a go, no?
Same here. I just saw all the electronic cigs as NOT removing all but the dangerous bits, and then sucking on some "juice" from an unknown source, no way. The bits your noggin will associate with a fag are still there and programmed in and you are in effect habitually still doing it. Short step back to the weed.

The whole method needs to go.

I appreciate different people look at it different ways and different levels of will power etc. But that is how I did it, just stop and stop thinking about it. Not read that book BTW.

schmalex

13,616 posts

205 months

Thursday 5th November 2015
quotequote all
On Monday, I'll be celebrating my 6 month anniversary of being smoke free!!!!

Bungleaio

6,324 posts

201 months

Thursday 5th November 2015
quotequote all
Good man! Well done, you should feel very proud of yourself.

Just don't think ahh feck it one won't hurt.

schmalex

13,616 posts

205 months

Thursday 5th November 2015
quotequote all
Good lord, no!

Since I stopped, I've started a new job, been hammered, travelled to the 4 corners with work, been on holiday, had massive rows etc, etc; all things that would have triggered the desire for a smoke and I have had not a single relapse so I'm not starting now. Since my hypnotherapy on May 11th, I simply haven't wanted to have a cigarette in any situation.

I never intend to smoke again. I simply have no need to

Gargamel

14,958 posts

260 months

Thursday 5th November 2015
quotequote all
schmalex said:
On Monday, I'll be celebrating my 6 month anniversary of being smoke free!!!!
Fantastic news, you sound very much over it.

Zedboy1200

813 posts

210 months

Saturday 7th November 2015
quotequote all
8,623 smoke free days and counting for me.... And every morning I still wake up and feel elated to have kicked my 20 Marlboro a day habit. Best of luck to everyone on here trying soooooo hard.

AndyT77

1,755 posts

161 months

Saturday 7th November 2015
quotequote all
Zedboy1200 said:
8,623 smoke free days and counting for me.... And every morning I still wake up and feel elated to have kicked my 20 Marlboro a day habit. Best of luck to everyone on here trying soooooo hard.
Superb, can I ask after so long if you still get the odd urge at all?

Zedboy1200

813 posts

210 months

Sunday 8th November 2015
quotequote all
It's strange Andy, I do get cravings maybe once a week, but they're never strong enough to tempt me. In 2011 / 12 I endured an immensely stressful time, and again this summer. Once more, I did remember the perceived relief and coping'ability cigarettes seemed to give, but the smell seems dreadful enough to keep me away.

I was actually hypnotised, back in the day. It felt rather like relaxation therapy and I certainly didn't 'sleep'. I guess I'm a very lucky guy who was very susceptible to it. To this day I thank my lucky stars.

Colonial

13,553 posts

204 months

Monday 30th November 2015
quotequote all
Well. 3 days down. I haven't quit smoking. I'm a non smoker.

Read Alan Carr. Tried before. It has never been this controllable before.

I did a half marathon. Was dieing for a smoke. Thought how ridiculous it was. Got the ebook and read it straight through.

Funk

26,254 posts

208 months

Monday 30th November 2015
quotequote all
Well done mate, stick with it.

I stopped after reading The Book, it worked for me. 5 years come end of December, no cravings or desire to smoke and I know I never will again.

grumbledoak

31,499 posts

232 months

Monday 30th November 2015
quotequote all
I won't wish you luck.

Just remember Morpheus' instruction to Neo in The Matrix:
"Stop trying to hit me and hit me!"

Colonial

13,553 posts

204 months

Thursday 3rd December 2015
quotequote all
Still getting the odd craving (have one now) but so much more manageable than previously.

It's a mix of actually wanting to be smoke free and having the right mindset going in to it. Yep, you'll get cravings, but it's only a bit of an empty feeling. It's not pain. It's just a niggle. And it gets less and less as you beat it.

gus607

916 posts

135 months

Thursday 3rd December 2015
quotequote all
I found the best incentive to cure the craving was to think of all the money you are better off without fags !

I know which I would rather have.