Give Up Smoking or Die Trying
Discussion
Good work folks. When I had a vape, I'd stop using my favourite flavour for a few days and then go back - but with reduced nicotine.
Ultimately, I had a eureka moment (while smoking rather than vaping) but at least vapes give you that path to reduce/remove nicotine, cigarettes have you by the short and curlies.
Ultimately, I had a eureka moment (while smoking rather than vaping) but at least vapes give you that path to reduce/remove nicotine, cigarettes have you by the short and curlies.
I had a TIA in 2006 and was told to stop smoking, which I did for a year or so. 
But I had been a smoker since 1974 so eventually (inevitably?) I got back on the weed!
I did notice my usual Marlboro gave me the same "heady" sensation I got just before my TIA so I went back to roll-ups (and have been on them ever since).
I never smoke any "ready-mades" - it seems like they are full of chemicals and other substances to keep you addicted and stop them going out!
So maybe I'll die not trying.
We only get one go, so might as well enjoy it doing what we want if that's possible!
But I had been a smoker since 1974 so eventually (inevitably?) I got back on the weed!
I did notice my usual Marlboro gave me the same "heady" sensation I got just before my TIA so I went back to roll-ups (and have been on them ever since).
I never smoke any "ready-mades" - it seems like they are full of chemicals and other substances to keep you addicted and stop them going out!
So maybe I'll die not trying.
We only get one go, so might as well enjoy it doing what we want if that's possible!
Mr Tidy said:
I never smoke any "ready-mades" - it seems like they are full of chemicals and other substances to keep you addicted and stop them going out!
And here you are addicted to rollies having already suffered ill health from it. Mr Tidy said:
We only get one go, so might as well enjoy it doing what we want if that's possible!
If you die from something smoking related then it won't be while sat on the patio enjoying a smoke. As much as I never wanted to be a militant ex smoker, I think a lot of people realised their brains were tricking them into thinking they enjoyed smoking to feed the addiction.
I hope the choice to give up remains yours at some point.
22 said:
Mr Tidy said:
I never smoke any "ready-mades" - it seems like they are full of chemicals and other substances to keep you addicted and stop them going out!
And here you are addicted to rollies having already suffered ill health from it. Mr Tidy said:
We only get one go, so might as well enjoy it doing what we want if that's possible!
If you die from something smoking related then it won't be while sat on the patio enjoying a smoke. As much as I never wanted to be a militant ex smoker, I think a lot of people realised their brains were tricking them into thinking they enjoyed smoking to feed the addiction.
I hope the choice to give up remains yours at some point.
Once you kick it permanently you wonder why you ever did it in the first place. I hope those who want to stop or have already stopped are successful - stick with it!
God, I need to give up the fags; problem (if it's really a problem) is that I know I need to quit them, just I don't feel I want to quit them.
Have tried patches (found them incredibly itchy), lozenges (gave me hiccups) - neither of which took away cravings. Tried vaping, but found it didn't give the same 'hit' as a fag so went back on the fags.
Have tried 'cold turkey' in the past, usually only managed to stay off a week, or 2 at most. Most annoyingly made it to 9 months once this way, but things in personal life and a weekend bender and I was back on them.
Worst of all, when I fail at quitting I seem to then smoke more than I did before the quit attempt.
Not sure what the above ramblings mean, maybe (hopefully) writing this down is first step to becoming smoke free (!)
Guess where I'm really going is does anyone have thoughts on getting to the right mental place of 'I'm giving them up' ?
Have tried patches (found them incredibly itchy), lozenges (gave me hiccups) - neither of which took away cravings. Tried vaping, but found it didn't give the same 'hit' as a fag so went back on the fags.
Have tried 'cold turkey' in the past, usually only managed to stay off a week, or 2 at most. Most annoyingly made it to 9 months once this way, but things in personal life and a weekend bender and I was back on them.
Worst of all, when I fail at quitting I seem to then smoke more than I did before the quit attempt.
Not sure what the above ramblings mean, maybe (hopefully) writing this down is first step to becoming smoke free (!)
Guess where I'm really going is does anyone have thoughts on getting to the right mental place of 'I'm giving them up' ?
Pinkie15 said:
Have tried patches (found them incredibly itchy), lozenges (gave me hiccups) - neither of which took away cravings. Tried vaping, but found it didn't give the same 'hit' as a fag so went back on the fags.
I'd play around with different vape combinations until you get one that does mimic a fag well. I did that then reduced the nicotine over a year, went onto 0% for a year and I used it less and less to the point where it's been in the car for two days and I haven't been near it.
Pinkie15 said:
God, I need to give up the fags; problem (if it's really a problem) is that I know I need to quit them, just I don't feel I want to quit them.
Have tried patches (found them incredibly itchy), lozenges (gave me hiccups) - neither of which took away cravings. Tried vaping, but found it didn't give the same 'hit' as a fag so went back on the fags.
Have tried 'cold turkey' in the past, usually only managed to stay off a week, or 2 at most. Most annoyingly made it to 9 months once this way, but things in personal life and a weekend bender and I was back on them.
Worst of all, when I fail at quitting I seem to then smoke more than I did before the quit attempt.
Not sure what the above ramblings mean, maybe (hopefully) writing this down is first step to becoming smoke free (!)
Guess where I'm really going is does anyone have thoughts on getting to the right mental place of 'I'm giving them up' ?
The Allen Carr book did it for me.Have tried patches (found them incredibly itchy), lozenges (gave me hiccups) - neither of which took away cravings. Tried vaping, but found it didn't give the same 'hit' as a fag so went back on the fags.
Have tried 'cold turkey' in the past, usually only managed to stay off a week, or 2 at most. Most annoyingly made it to 9 months once this way, but things in personal life and a weekend bender and I was back on them.
Worst of all, when I fail at quitting I seem to then smoke more than I did before the quit attempt.
Not sure what the above ramblings mean, maybe (hopefully) writing this down is first step to becoming smoke free (!)
Guess where I'm really going is does anyone have thoughts on getting to the right mental place of 'I'm giving them up' ?
A rational explanation of why you smoke, what happens when you try to quit and what your body is doing during withdrawal.
I wanted to quit (you have to have that) but I wasn’t vehement. I haven’t smoked since I finished the book.
Key thing for me was getting out of physical addiction, which takes around 2 weeks. After that, it’s a choice that you make whether to start again. If you don’t want to, don’t.
Been off them for about 18 months - Still vape 0% like I did ciggies. I used to chain-smoke 10 in bed before even getting up for a shower - now I spend the same time vaping and looking at my phone, with the radio on. Same routine, less harmful. And I am what, £42 a day better off.
A great cash saver which can be used to buy even more harmful drugs or hookers or both, if cheap hookers meet your needs.
A great cash saver which can be used to buy even more harmful drugs or hookers or both, if cheap hookers meet your needs.
14 months off small cigars (smoked them like cigarettes). Still using nicotine lozenges though but they work.
This all followed a conversation with wife and son one August evening, smoked my last proper cigar over 2 hrs until my fingers burnt. That was that.
Didn’t fancy the idea of vapes, inhalers were ok but the spray and lozenges worked for me.
This all followed a conversation with wife and son one August evening, smoked my last proper cigar over 2 hrs until my fingers burnt. That was that.
Didn’t fancy the idea of vapes, inhalers were ok but the spray and lozenges worked for me.
Nearly 8 years since the thread started and took me half that time to get off them. Worth every post along the way.
To the Christmas and new year quitters, use the thread if it helps, just do it.
As someone who (very rarely these days) thinks I fancy a smoke, I now know I never will.
You really are not giving anything up, you are taking back control of your devious mind.
To the Christmas and new year quitters, use the thread if it helps, just do it.
As someone who (very rarely these days) thinks I fancy a smoke, I now know I never will.
You really are not giving anything up, you are taking back control of your devious mind.
First time I've read this thread and quite probably the first time in this corner of the forums.
I bloody loved smoking but knew it was slowly killing me.
I found excuse after excuse not to swap, anyway - the local doctor's surgery contacted me to go in for a chat about stopping.
It was all free so why not.
So a course of Champix and on the first of April I stopped.
Bloody brilliant, never fancied another tab. I know it sounds too good to be true but it was like flipping a switch.
It's not like I was a part time smoker either, 10g of baccy a day and had smoked for 40 years.
I'm now in month 9 and occasionally I think, I'd generally have a fag now but that's it.
There's help out there people if you want it.
I bloody loved smoking but knew it was slowly killing me.
I found excuse after excuse not to swap, anyway - the local doctor's surgery contacted me to go in for a chat about stopping.
It was all free so why not.
So a course of Champix and on the first of April I stopped.
Bloody brilliant, never fancied another tab. I know it sounds too good to be true but it was like flipping a switch.
It's not like I was a part time smoker either, 10g of baccy a day and had smoked for 40 years.
I'm now in month 9 and occasionally I think, I'd generally have a fag now but that's it.
There's help out there people if you want it.
Just had my first contact with a local support group. We decided that my best approach would be to use Champix so he's requested that my GP prescribes it for me. I'm going to start with a couple of breaking the habit techniques from tomorrow morning - the hardest of which, I expect, will be on my 40 mile commute to work in the car.
I still enjoy a smoke but really need to give up. I'm 37 and have been smoking for more of my life than not! I've got a 2 year old son and I really don't want him to see me smoking and be influenced in later life. Also, with the cost savings (currently buying mine and the wife's cigarettes) I will be able to treat myself to a new car.
I expect my prescription to be ready by Friday so it's all systems stop over the Christmas period, not that it will be too much of a hardship this year as I'm working and there won't be any piss ups with friends.
Wish me luck!!
I still enjoy a smoke but really need to give up. I'm 37 and have been smoking for more of my life than not! I've got a 2 year old son and I really don't want him to see me smoking and be influenced in later life. Also, with the cost savings (currently buying mine and the wife's cigarettes) I will be able to treat myself to a new car.
I expect my prescription to be ready by Friday so it's all systems stop over the Christmas period, not that it will be too much of a hardship this year as I'm working and there won't be any piss ups with friends.
Wish me luck!!
Squishey said:
Just had my first contact with a local support group. We decided that my best approach would be to use Champix so he's requested that my GP prescribes it for me. I'm going to start with a couple of breaking the habit techniques from tomorrow morning - the hardest of which, I expect, will be on my 40 mile commute to work in the car.
I still enjoy a smoke but really need to give up. I'm 37 and have been smoking for more of my life than not! I've got a 2 year old son and I really don't want him to see me smoking and be influenced in later life. Also, with the cost savings (currently buying mine and the wife's cigarettes) I will be able to treat myself to a new car.
I expect my prescription to be ready by Friday so it's all systems stop over the Christmas period, not that it will be too much of a hardship this year as I'm working and there won't be any piss ups with friends.
Wish me luck!!
It’s surprising how many couples smoke. Any chance of your wife also stopping? I still enjoy a smoke but really need to give up. I'm 37 and have been smoking for more of my life than not! I've got a 2 year old son and I really don't want him to see me smoking and be influenced in later life. Also, with the cost savings (currently buying mine and the wife's cigarettes) I will be able to treat myself to a new car.
I expect my prescription to be ready by Friday so it's all systems stop over the Christmas period, not that it will be too much of a hardship this year as I'm working and there won't be any piss ups with friends.
Wish me luck!!
pti said:
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.
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!
Original post from 6th October 2020.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
Thought I'd kick this thread back into life, I've had the grand total of two cigarettes since I posted my last comment. The most recent being at the start of December, and I stubbed half of it out because I wasn't enjoying it.
I've no doubt that the pubs being closed are playing a large part in my longevity this time round, and long may it continue when (if) they repoen.
Hope everyone is doing well
pti said:
Original post from 6th October 2020.
Thought I'd kick this thread back into life, I've had the grand total of two cigarettes since I posted my last comment. The most recent being at the start of December, and I stubbed half of it out because I wasn't enjoying it.
I've no doubt that the pubs being closed are playing a large part in my longevity this time round, and long may it continue when (if) they repoen.
Hope everyone is doing well
All good here, start month 11 tomorrow.Thought I'd kick this thread back into life, I've had the grand total of two cigarettes since I posted my last comment. The most recent being at the start of December, and I stubbed half of it out because I wasn't enjoying it.
I've no doubt that the pubs being closed are playing a large part in my longevity this time round, and long may it continue when (if) they repoen.
Hope everyone is doing well
Not had so much as a drag.
Vaping 4 years with the occasional cig when having a drink. On the lowest 3% v/v nic level. Get posted to Qatar early January where I was told vaping wasn't allowed. Stocked up on gum / sprays and tabs.
Had full on locked in a hotel room quarantine for 7 days and just about went out of my mind. Got out of quarantine and still bad. Wandered past a supermarket and bought a carton of cigarettes. No willpower, not even an ounce.
Will get back on the vape as soon as I get back to the UK but that was the hardest week of sitting about that I've ever done.
Had full on locked in a hotel room quarantine for 7 days and just about went out of my mind. Got out of quarantine and still bad. Wandered past a supermarket and bought a carton of cigarettes. No willpower, not even an ounce.
Will get back on the vape as soon as I get back to the UK but that was the hardest week of sitting about that I've ever done.
RichTT said:
Vaping 4 years with the occasional cig when having a drink. On the lowest 3% v/v nic level. Get posted to Qatar early January where I was told vaping wasn't allowed. Stocked up on gum / sprays and tabs.
Had full on locked in a hotel room quarantine for 7 days and just about went out of my mind. Got out of quarantine and still bad. Wandered past a supermarket and bought a carton of cigarettes. No willpower, not even an ounce.
Will get back on the vape as soon as I get back to the UK but that was the hardest week of sitting about that I've ever done.
Haven’t touched a cig in years purely vape now. Had full on locked in a hotel room quarantine for 7 days and just about went out of my mind. Got out of quarantine and still bad. Wandered past a supermarket and bought a carton of cigarettes. No willpower, not even an ounce.
Will get back on the vape as soon as I get back to the UK but that was the hardest week of sitting about that I've ever done.
I always need a crutch and although I probably use the vape too much it’s better than cigs so I’d say get back on those if possible
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