Give Up Smoking or Die Trying
Discussion
Coming up to 10 years for me.
On average I have 2 cigarettes per year since then, usually at a work's conference.
I don't miss it, but I won't pretend I didn't enjoy cigarettes when I smoked.
Family was gone for a week recently and I bought a pack for the first time in 10 years when I was out with a friend (lockdown never really happened here). Had 7 in total over the course of 3 days following. It was nice, and kind of a "cat's away" type of moment. But nothing more. Threw the rest away.
Happy to say that I (still) have control over it. I like smoking, that never went away. It's a nice thing to do perhaps twice a year, but nothing more.
On average I have 2 cigarettes per year since then, usually at a work's conference.
I don't miss it, but I won't pretend I didn't enjoy cigarettes when I smoked. Family was gone for a week recently and I bought a pack for the first time in 10 years when I was out with a friend (lockdown never really happened here). Had 7 in total over the course of 3 days following. It was nice, and kind of a "cat's away" type of moment. But nothing more. Threw the rest away.
Happy to say that I (still) have control over it. I like smoking, that never went away. It's a nice thing to do perhaps twice a year, but nothing more.
Nearly 10 years cig-free for me too now and zero regrets. It's bizarre to think that I'm only now getting back to the cancer risk-levels of a non-smoker a decade after stopping. I did pile on the pounds when I stopped though and in March '19 I joined a gym and in August I joined Slimming World - now over 7st lighter (with a way to go still) but very much a healthier, fitter 'me' so far. Have even managed to lose a stone since the start of the lockdown!
GT3Manthey said:
technodup said:
Coming up on two years for me. Still use about a fiver worth of 0% vape juice a month but that's it.
I regulary use a vape and enjoy it but whats your view on the potential damage a vape can cause?I was always about using it as a smoking cessation aid, not as a new hobby like many treat it. I'm pretty sure I could just throw it out now, but so far haven't quite done it...
NAS said:
Coming up to 10 years for me.
On average I have 2 cigarettes per year since then, usually at a work's conference. I don't miss it, but I won't pretend I didn't enjoy cigarettes when I smoked.
Family was gone for a week recently and I bought a pack for the first time in 10 years when I was out with a friend (lockdown never really happened here). Had 7 in total over the course of 3 days following. It was nice, and kind of a "cat's away" type of moment. But nothing more. Threw the rest away.
Happy to say that I (still) have control over it. I like smoking, that never went away. It's a nice thing to do perhaps twice a year, but nothing more.
Interesting that you still enjoy it after quitting. On average I have 2 cigarettes per year since then, usually at a work's conference.
I don't miss it, but I won't pretend I didn't enjoy cigarettes when I smoked. Family was gone for a week recently and I bought a pack for the first time in 10 years when I was out with a friend (lockdown never really happened here). Had 7 in total over the course of 3 days following. It was nice, and kind of a "cat's away" type of moment. But nothing more. Threw the rest away.
Happy to say that I (still) have control over it. I like smoking, that never went away. It's a nice thing to do perhaps twice a year, but nothing more.
6 years quit for me and although I've had a couple of cigs a few years ago I absolutely loathed the taste and sensation and I was a heavy smoker who at one point thought he would never be able to quit because of those pub and after dinner/coffee smokes.
I do however like the odd cuban cigar even once in a while but it's a completely different smoking vibe.
NAS said:
Coming up to 10 years for me.
On average I have 2 cigarettes per year since then, usually at a work's conference. I don't miss it, but I won't pretend I didn't enjoy cigarettes when I smoked.
Family was gone for a week recently and I bought a pack for the first time in 10 years when I was out with a friend (lockdown never really happened here). Had 7 in total over the course of 3 days following. It was nice, and kind of a "cat's away" type of moment. But nothing more. Threw the rest away.
Happy to say that I (still) have control over it. I like smoking, that never went away. It's a nice thing to do perhaps twice a year, but nothing more.
Interesting definition of quitting you have there. On average I have 2 cigarettes per year since then, usually at a work's conference.
I don't miss it, but I won't pretend I didn't enjoy cigarettes when I smoked. Family was gone for a week recently and I bought a pack for the first time in 10 years when I was out with a friend (lockdown never really happened here). Had 7 in total over the course of 3 days following. It was nice, and kind of a "cat's away" type of moment. But nothing more. Threw the rest away.
Happy to say that I (still) have control over it. I like smoking, that never went away. It's a nice thing to do perhaps twice a year, but nothing more.
technodup said:
'm pretty sure inhaling anything foreign into your lungs isn't the best idea, and I'm pretty sure in the end someone will prove it. Then vaping will become a target for legislation, tax etc.
I was always about using it as a smoking cessation aid, not as a new hobby like many treat it. I'm pretty sure I could just throw it out now, but so far haven't quite done it...
Its the only thing that keeps me off the Cigs and tbf has worked. I was always about using it as a smoking cessation aid, not as a new hobby like many treat it. I'm pretty sure I could just throw it out now, but so far haven't quite done it...
Annoyingly i did quit for 7yrs then have a massive wobble and that was it back on the Hamlets/Cigs so turned to the vape.
Have to calm that down though as i end up dragging on it all day !
Piginapoke said:
Interesting definition of quitting you have there.
I guess I never felt addicted, even though I was at 1 pack per day at various points during the 12 years I smoked. I always enjoyed it, why else would I do it?I stopped because I was getting chubby and I started running (a lot), and I noticed smoking wasn't exactly helpful. Sports plus marrying a woman who hates it (and never knew me as a smoker) made it easy to never start properly again.
It's just every now and then I really feel like one. I see myself as a smoker still, just with massive smoking breaks. Keeps the pressure off somehow.
I'm rather different in this approach, but my lungs are better than where they should be for my age (for people who never smoked) so it has worked for me.
wiliferus said:
Ok, so I’m in. After spending the day in A&E being used as a pin cushion and having more wires connected to me than Google’s servers, it’s time to stop.
I’ve been diagnosed with a life threatening heart condition, ironically not smoking related, but it’s given me the f
king big scare I needed to give up the weed.
I’ve been dabbling in vaping on and off for a few years, so I’m gonna hit that hard. Last ciggy is tonight before bed, so it begins tomorrow.
I think the biggest challenge is that due to the diagnosis I’ve also got to stop alcohol (which might be a help giving up the fags), but i’ve also got to give up caffeine. I was a stereotypical, morning coffee and a fag, kind of person. Mornings are going to be a bit of a challenge!! I’m not allowed to use patches, sprays or gums. The doc reluctantly agreed vaping was ok if it got me to the end goal.
So, wish me luck, and hints or tips for cold turkey greatly appreciated.
I thought I’d spring this thread back into life! I’ve been diagnosed with a life threatening heart condition, ironically not smoking related, but it’s given me the f
king big scare I needed to give up the weed. I’ve been dabbling in vaping on and off for a few years, so I’m gonna hit that hard. Last ciggy is tonight before bed, so it begins tomorrow.
I think the biggest challenge is that due to the diagnosis I’ve also got to stop alcohol (which might be a help giving up the fags), but i’ve also got to give up caffeine. I was a stereotypical, morning coffee and a fag, kind of person. Mornings are going to be a bit of a challenge!! I’m not allowed to use patches, sprays or gums. The doc reluctantly agreed vaping was ok if it got me to the end goal.
So, wish me luck, and hints or tips for cold turkey greatly appreciated.
So, I failed miserably at giving up.... however, during lockdown the smoking got a bit out of hand and was nailing 20 a day easily. This resulted in a nasty morning wheeze, and generally feeling like crap.
I put my big boy pants on, got a grip, and today I am one month Ciggy free!
I am vaping, which I see has been the source of much discussion here. I see it quite simply. Is vaping bad for you? Of course it is. But it can’t be as bad as smoking.
I’ve got my sense of smell back, I have more energy, and I have more money!
Long term goal is to stop vaping, but for now if it keeps me away from the Devil’s sticks I’m happy.
wiliferus said:
I thought I’d spring this thread back into life!
So, I failed miserably at giving up.... however, during lockdown the smoking got a bit out of hand and was nailing 20 a day easily. This resulted in a nasty morning wheeze, and generally feeling like crap.
I put my big boy pants on, got a grip, and today I am one month Ciggy free!
I am vaping, which I see has been the source of much discussion here. I see it quite simply. Is vaping bad for you? Of course it is. But it can’t be as bad as smoking.
I’ve got my sense of smell back, I have more energy, and I have more money!
Long term goal is to stop vaping, but for now if it keeps me away from the Devil’s sticks I’m happy.
Been on the vapes for a long time and its the way forward keeps me on the straight and narrow. Some make me a tad wheezy but the current one 'Jule' is ok So, I failed miserably at giving up.... however, during lockdown the smoking got a bit out of hand and was nailing 20 a day easily. This resulted in a nasty morning wheeze, and generally feeling like crap.
I put my big boy pants on, got a grip, and today I am one month Ciggy free!
I am vaping, which I see has been the source of much discussion here. I see it quite simply. Is vaping bad for you? Of course it is. But it can’t be as bad as smoking.
I’ve got my sense of smell back, I have more energy, and I have more money!
Long term goal is to stop vaping, but for now if it keeps me away from the Devil’s sticks I’m happy.
Nice one wiliferus. I vaped on and off through my battle to quit and even carried a zero nicotine vape with me when socialising with friends who smoked. I think it was last summer when I wondered where my vape was. Thought back to when I'd last seen it and it was New Year's Eve. Might have even been the year before and the fact I'm talking in years now is remarkable.
Still fancy a smoke every now and then, sometimes I miss it terribly. I'm deeply flawed and a million miles from having the discipline to drop in and out.
Still fancy a smoke every now and then, sometimes I miss it terribly. I'm deeply flawed and a million miles from having the discipline to drop in and out.
22 said:
Still fancy a smoke every now and then, sometimes I miss it terribly. I'm deeply flawed and a million miles from having the discipline to drop in and out.
This resonates with me. I do, and always will love smoking. But now I don’t feel the need to. I deeply despise people who can have a few smokes with a pint on a Saturday night and then not smoke again for months. I’d love to be that person, but I don’t have the discipline. 5 on Saturday night, then one with my morning coffee on Sunday... and you know the rest.
Afternoon all, aving an idle stroll and thought about this thread (I've lurked in it for a while). Took the decision to stop 29 days ago and I've managed to stick to it! Snacking is an issue and I'm glued to my vape but it's still better than the fags 
. Using a simple Innokin T22 with 10mg nic salt juice and I've a sub ohm that's nic free for when just watching tv, on the pc etc.
Coming off from maybe around 13/14 years on the cigs.
Anyone else in the early days of stopping or away to?
. Using a simple Innokin T22 with 10mg nic salt juice and I've a sub ohm that's nic free for when just watching tv, on the pc etc. Coming off from maybe around 13/14 years on the cigs.
Anyone else in the early days of stopping or away to?
7 years last week for me.
Not one since.
From what I've read about this virus, anyone with less than perfect lungs needs to be ringing the Co Op up if they catch it.
I think vape is great if it gets people off the Fags ( I didn't go that way).
But is it really safe? We won't know for years, then maybe it will be too late.
Doctors used to advertise Fags years ago !
I'll end with Well done to anyone who is still off them.
If your not, keep trying, it is doable.
Not one since.
From what I've read about this virus, anyone with less than perfect lungs needs to be ringing the Co Op up if they catch it.
I think vape is great if it gets people off the Fags ( I didn't go that way).
But is it really safe? We won't know for years, then maybe it will be too late.
Doctors used to advertise Fags years ago !
I'll end with Well done to anyone who is still off them.
If your not, keep trying, it is doable.
I just passed my 11 years-clean anniversary.
I am not a militant anti-smoker. I enjoyed it when I did it. I don't mind the smell now. I miss it when I'm sat in a pub garden with a pint, or when I'm on holiday having a drink outside in the evening.
However, I can't go back. A cigarette has not touched my lips for 11 years and I can't risk having one now, even when I'm hammered. I follow the same ethos as alcoholism - one would be too many, 100 not enough!
To all those trying to quit - you have my respect. It isn't easy but, with tools, it's not impossible if you really don't want to be a smoker.
I am not a militant anti-smoker. I enjoyed it when I did it. I don't mind the smell now. I miss it when I'm sat in a pub garden with a pint, or when I'm on holiday having a drink outside in the evening.
However, I can't go back. A cigarette has not touched my lips for 11 years and I can't risk having one now, even when I'm hammered. I follow the same ethos as alcoholism - one would be too many, 100 not enough!
To all those trying to quit - you have my respect. It isn't easy but, with tools, it's not impossible if you really don't want to be a smoker.
Put my vape in the drawer a couple of months ago and it hasn't been out since.
Having been only a social smoker before, the convenience of a vape enabled me to become more nicotine dependent than I ever had been on cigarettes. Working from home since March gave me constant access and I had a few weeks where my vape was sat on my desk. It got to the point that I was vaping more days than I wasn't, and on the days that I wasn't, I was irritable.
Having been only a social smoker before, the convenience of a vape enabled me to become more nicotine dependent than I ever had been on cigarettes. Working from home since March gave me constant access and I had a few weeks where my vape was sat on my desk. It got to the point that I was vaping more days than I wasn't, and on the days that I wasn't, I was irritable.
I think the main issue with vaping for me is that you're not giving up the habit, you're just replacing it with a vape instead. It's too easy to bum a cigarette from someone when you're vape runs out or you're having a few drinks and forgot to bring your vape. For me the nicotine addiction was easier to break than the habit. I've not had a cigarette in about 5 years now but I doubt I'd be able to say that had I started vaping. I know people who have "given up" but have been offered a cigarette on a night out and took one. Thankfully they didn't go on to start smoking again but my personality is more addictive and as soon as I have one, that's me smoking full time again.
Rod200SX said:
Afternoon all, aving an idle stroll and thought about this thread (I've lurked in it for a while). Took the decision to stop 29 days ago and I've managed to stick to it! Snacking is an issue and I'm glued to my vape but it's still better than the fags . Using a simple Innokin T22 with 10mg nic salt juice and I've a sub ohm that's nic free for when just watching tv, on the pc etc.
Coming off from maybe around 13/14 years on the cigs.
Anyone else in the early days of stopping or away to?
Have tried cutting down in the past, usually allowing myself some cigarettes at the weekend when out drinking. I think my maximum was a couple of months using the vape during the week, cigarettes at the weekend. Gradually the weekend became Thursday and would end up melting into Tuesday etc etc.. Using a simple Innokin T22 with 10mg nic salt juice and I've a sub ohm that's nic free for when just watching tv, on the pc etc. Coming off from maybe around 13/14 years on the cigs.
Anyone else in the early days of stopping or away to?
I love a cigarette with a coffee, with a beer, after a meal, waiting at a bus stop... so allowing them at weekends was never really going to work.
After nearly 17 years of smoking (f
k, that's more time smoking than not) I'm on day 13 without a cigarette. Doesn't sound much and I'm using my vape (3mg) as a crutch but I seem to have broken - or at least weakened - the habit of alcohol = cigarette.It's going to be a long old journey!
Edited by pti on Tuesday 6th October 15:04
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