Giving up smoking
Discussion
My history smoking firstly. Now I'm aged 39, started at 13, 20 a day since prob 16, quit once for a year in my late 20's.
I quit 10 days ago, not a drag since. Am on e-cigs, and it is honestly murder! Every day I am struggling, always dragging on the vapes, often really REALLY wanting a cigarette. The first hour of the day is the worst.
Using one of these -
http://vapehq.co.uk/vapehq-iqedge-3827.html
with one of these -
http://vapehq.co.uk/aspire-nautilus-mini.html
Aniseed vape flavour is luuuurvly
Questions. When does it get easier? What coping techniques have others found helped? Does e-cig usage drop over time? (last time when I quit I went from 15ish Nicorette gums a day to prob just one within the year) Will I ever not miss my beloved cigarettes?
Asking as I really want to stay off them, but I am finding it incredibly hard!!
I quit 10 days ago, not a drag since. Am on e-cigs, and it is honestly murder! Every day I am struggling, always dragging on the vapes, often really REALLY wanting a cigarette. The first hour of the day is the worst.
Using one of these -
http://vapehq.co.uk/vapehq-iqedge-3827.html
with one of these -
http://vapehq.co.uk/aspire-nautilus-mini.html
Aniseed vape flavour is luuuurvly
Questions. When does it get easier? What coping techniques have others found helped? Does e-cig usage drop over time? (last time when I quit I went from 15ish Nicorette gums a day to prob just one within the year) Will I ever not miss my beloved cigarettes?
Asking as I really want to stay off them, but I am finding it incredibly hard!!
It really depends on how much you actually want to give up.
Like you, I've smoked on and off (mostly on) since I was 13/14 and am now 42. I gave up a few years ago for 11 months, then went to Le Mans, had one cigarette and that was it - back to getting on for a twenty a day in no time.
I stopped again 6 weeks ago, had a couple of weeks of sort of cutting down, and vaping, stopped one day planning to just vape, but within 24 hours wasn't smoking or vaping.
For me it has always been about two things:
Firstly, actually wanting to quit for me, not anyone else - if you're doing it because other people have taken you into it, then you're not quitting for the right reason
Secondly, is giving myself something to look forward to, which in my case is a new motorbike - My OH wouldn't even entertain the idea of changing my bike because in her words, I had two expensive hobbies 1) the motorbike and 2) cigarettes and asked me which I wanted most
When I thought about it like that, and with my favoured Marlboro lights at over £10 a packet, I quit, figuring that not smoking not only pays for the bike, but also insurance, servicing, tyres....
6 weeks in, I don't even think about having one now, although I'm one of the lucky ones who finds the taste rank after a week or so without one which helps I guess.
Keep going. And good luck
Like you, I've smoked on and off (mostly on) since I was 13/14 and am now 42. I gave up a few years ago for 11 months, then went to Le Mans, had one cigarette and that was it - back to getting on for a twenty a day in no time.
I stopped again 6 weeks ago, had a couple of weeks of sort of cutting down, and vaping, stopped one day planning to just vape, but within 24 hours wasn't smoking or vaping.
For me it has always been about two things:
Firstly, actually wanting to quit for me, not anyone else - if you're doing it because other people have taken you into it, then you're not quitting for the right reason
Secondly, is giving myself something to look forward to, which in my case is a new motorbike - My OH wouldn't even entertain the idea of changing my bike because in her words, I had two expensive hobbies 1) the motorbike and 2) cigarettes and asked me which I wanted most
When I thought about it like that, and with my favoured Marlboro lights at over £10 a packet, I quit, figuring that not smoking not only pays for the bike, but also insurance, servicing, tyres....
6 weeks in, I don't even think about having one now, although I'm one of the lucky ones who finds the taste rank after a week or so without one which helps I guess.
Keep going. And good luck
Try high nicotine fluid , 36ml/3.6%, for a few months then lower when you're ready.
Also, bear in mind that e-cigs won't give you the hit that 1 cigarette every hour or so does. Vaping is a smoother method of taking on nicotine, not the nothing then big hit that smoking a cig does.
It takes a while to get used to how much vape and strength of liquid you need to stop the ciggie cravings, but stick with it, it's worth it.
Also, bear in mind that e-cigs won't give you the hit that 1 cigarette every hour or so does. Vaping is a smoother method of taking on nicotine, not the nothing then big hit that smoking a cig does.
It takes a while to get used to how much vape and strength of liquid you need to stop the ciggie cravings, but stick with it, it's worth it.
I went from a 30 / day, 25 year old habit to absolutely zero 15 months ago by using hypnotherapy alone.
I had one session of 40 minutes. I walked in a heavy smoker and walked out a non smoker. No e-cigs, no patches, no gum. Just one session of hypno. I felt slightly odd for about 3 weeks (it was more about what to do with my hands than craving nicotine) and then was absolutely normal. I now go weeks and months without even thinking about cigarettes. I will never have another, as I know that if I have just one, I'll be straight back to where I was.
If you've made it 10 days, OP, you are so very nearly there!!! Have a look at this page http://whyquit.com/whyquit/A_Benefits_Time_Table.h... to map the benefits you are seeing
I had one session of 40 minutes. I walked in a heavy smoker and walked out a non smoker. No e-cigs, no patches, no gum. Just one session of hypno. I felt slightly odd for about 3 weeks (it was more about what to do with my hands than craving nicotine) and then was absolutely normal. I now go weeks and months without even thinking about cigarettes. I will never have another, as I know that if I have just one, I'll be straight back to where I was.
If you've made it 10 days, OP, you are so very nearly there!!! Have a look at this page http://whyquit.com/whyquit/A_Benefits_Time_Table.h... to map the benefits you are seeing
I quit 5 years ago, I smoked for 25 years, 15 to 40.
I used lozenges, 4 mg, I constantly had one in my cheek and it help to cut the cravings. After a year of lozenges I decided to give up the lozenges...that only took a few days, some odd dreams and that was it.
I think after 3 years the odd craving that I used to get left and now I don't think about it, it's like I never smoked at all.
Stopping smoking is absolutely the right thing to do, everything is easier without an addiction.
I used lozenges, 4 mg, I constantly had one in my cheek and it help to cut the cravings. After a year of lozenges I decided to give up the lozenges...that only took a few days, some odd dreams and that was it.
I think after 3 years the odd craving that I used to get left and now I don't think about it, it's like I never smoked at all.
Stopping smoking is absolutely the right thing to do, everything is easier without an addiction.
I gave up properly 8 years ago and smoked on and off until four years ago.
My reasoning with myself was that I had to give up sooner or later. Either on my terms or not on my terms. I chose the former but it was the toughest thing I've done. Now i feel better than ever and thr smell of smoke makes me feel sick. Good luck.
My reasoning with myself was that I had to give up sooner or later. Either on my terms or not on my terms. I chose the former but it was the toughest thing I've done. Now i feel better than ever and thr smell of smoke makes me feel sick. Good luck.
There's a thread on giving up somewhere..
Anyhow, I smoked my arse off if you could put it in Rizla I'd smoke it all while having 20 BH on top. I tried 20-30 times to stop but I loved it, I adored smoking but could feel the pain in my chest, My heart was gonna pop and I knew. I'd done Amsterdam, Ibiza, morocco and every pub inbetween. I thought I'd never stop.
I went to the docs, she gave me zyban and I thought I'd give it a try.
I was to take them for 30 days and stop smoking while taking the tablets at day 10. After 5 or 6 days I forgot to smoke, I had to remind myself to smoke but I didn't want to. I carried on and took them for the month and I was supposed to go back for another months supply.
I didn't go back, I never wanted to smoke, I've never really wanted to smoke since.
Sometimes I associate things like I'll let this coat dry or this piece of wallpaper hang and have a ciggy but there's no craving, that all went with the pills.
839 days clean
Anyhow, I smoked my arse off if you could put it in Rizla I'd smoke it all while having 20 BH on top. I tried 20-30 times to stop but I loved it, I adored smoking but could feel the pain in my chest, My heart was gonna pop and I knew. I'd done Amsterdam, Ibiza, morocco and every pub inbetween. I thought I'd never stop.
I went to the docs, she gave me zyban and I thought I'd give it a try.
I was to take them for 30 days and stop smoking while taking the tablets at day 10. After 5 or 6 days I forgot to smoke, I had to remind myself to smoke but I didn't want to. I carried on and took them for the month and I was supposed to go back for another months supply.
I didn't go back, I never wanted to smoke, I've never really wanted to smoke since.
Sometimes I associate things like I'll let this coat dry or this piece of wallpaper hang and have a ciggy but there's no craving, that all went with the pills.
839 days clean
Edited by Sheets Tabuer on Friday 9th September 23:25
I gave up just after christmas 2012 aged 39. Been smoking since I was 19 and decided it had been long enough.
I started the process around October by counting on average how many cigarettes I smoked. It was around 14 roll ups a day. Over the next 3 months, I slowly brought the number down. Each week dropping the number by one. Got to 8 without any bother, and then it became a case of deciding which one next.
Sure most smokers have a similar pattern : one when get up, one on way to work, one mid morning, one after lunch etc etc.
When I broke up from work for Christmas I was down to 4 and then I had my very last ciggy 27th December. Not touched one since.
I had figured I needed to drop my nicotine levels slowly in order to reduce my dependency to make actually stopping bearable.
In the end it was the habit that I missed more. There are many occasions where its a case of have a ciggy now that just felt odd not doing so.
Occasionally I still get a twinge of desire, but would never go back to it. Just wish I had done it sooner.
I started the process around October by counting on average how many cigarettes I smoked. It was around 14 roll ups a day. Over the next 3 months, I slowly brought the number down. Each week dropping the number by one. Got to 8 without any bother, and then it became a case of deciding which one next.
Sure most smokers have a similar pattern : one when get up, one on way to work, one mid morning, one after lunch etc etc.
When I broke up from work for Christmas I was down to 4 and then I had my very last ciggy 27th December. Not touched one since.
I had figured I needed to drop my nicotine levels slowly in order to reduce my dependency to make actually stopping bearable.
In the end it was the habit that I missed more. There are many occasions where its a case of have a ciggy now that just felt odd not doing so.
Occasionally I still get a twinge of desire, but would never go back to it. Just wish I had done it sooner.
Another zyban fan here, worked brilliantly for me.
I was on and off with the fags for years, starting when I was 12/13, never a heavy smoker (probably 10 a day on average).
I have been off them since May and generally I am OK but occasionally still get a craving, I try and avoid social situations where I may be tempted as at present I don't think I have the strength to say no if I am drunk.
I had a spell on e-cigs (VIP brand) which i blame for cranking up my nicotine addiction a few notches. Was bought it as a gift and though it did stop/decrease my smoking I found that because I could use it indoors i was unwittingly consuming a vast amount of nicotine. When I reverted back to cigarettes I was smoking several before midday including first thing in the morning, which previously held no interest for me.
I do worry that the cravings may never completely go away.
I was on and off with the fags for years, starting when I was 12/13, never a heavy smoker (probably 10 a day on average).
I have been off them since May and generally I am OK but occasionally still get a craving, I try and avoid social situations where I may be tempted as at present I don't think I have the strength to say no if I am drunk.
I had a spell on e-cigs (VIP brand) which i blame for cranking up my nicotine addiction a few notches. Was bought it as a gift and though it did stop/decrease my smoking I found that because I could use it indoors i was unwittingly consuming a vast amount of nicotine. When I reverted back to cigarettes I was smoking several before midday including first thing in the morning, which previously held no interest for me.
I do worry that the cravings may never completely go away.
I smoked from my teenage years (gigging, hanging out in pubs). Got to my early 30s and realised it was stupid, expensive and going to kill me. I read Allen Carr's "Easy Way to Stop Smoking" and whilst it was a bit oddly-phrased at times, I did spot some 'NLP'-style elements to it. However, it worked for me. I stopped immediately, going from around 20/day to none overnight.
That was 2,080 days ago and I've not wanted to smoke again since. I'd never go back to it. Good luck with stopping; read Carr's book - for the cost of a pack of fags you've got very little to lose.
That was 2,080 days ago and I've not wanted to smoke again since. I'd never go back to it. Good luck with stopping; read Carr's book - for the cost of a pack of fags you've got very little to lose.
Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah said:
Elaborate on that Matt? Is it a Vape HQ product?
https://www.ukecigstore.com/aspire-plato.htmlThat's what I've used, with the 0.4ohm coil in.
You get a much better hit from the vape as opposed to the other type which you are using. I struggled with those, but the sub ohm has changed my opinion entirely.
I'll probably get smacked down for this but it really isn't hard to stop!
I smoked for a number of years and gave up one afternoon because I couldn't be bothered to go to the shop to buy another pack. Then I realised that about 80% of the cigs I smoke were pure habit, not because I actually wanted one. By habit, I mean it was something I did at certain points in the day - have a cup of tea for before getting the train, have a fag. The walk through the park after getting off the tube, have a fag.. 10:30, have a fag. Eat lunch, have a fag. 3:00pm, coffee and a fag. Get home from work, have a fag. Have dinner, have a fag.... See a pattern emerging? It was the same day in, day out. Obviously there were cigs I actually wanted, but they were few and far between when you stripped out the habit/reward cigs.
I smoked for a number of years and gave up one afternoon because I couldn't be bothered to go to the shop to buy another pack. Then I realised that about 80% of the cigs I smoke were pure habit, not because I actually wanted one. By habit, I mean it was something I did at certain points in the day - have a cup of tea for before getting the train, have a fag. The walk through the park after getting off the tube, have a fag.. 10:30, have a fag. Eat lunch, have a fag. 3:00pm, coffee and a fag. Get home from work, have a fag. Have dinner, have a fag.... See a pattern emerging? It was the same day in, day out. Obviously there were cigs I actually wanted, but they were few and far between when you stripped out the habit/reward cigs.
Chainsaw Rebuild said:
I'm no expert but perhaps you need to use liquid with a higher nicotine content?
18mg stuff should do the trick. It does take a week or two to get used to vaping and getting a different kind of hit. Not longer crave cigarettes but have a serious vaping addiction. Still, it's cheaper and probably a fair bit healthier.
Might give zyban a go if you lot found it that effective. Did hear about some really nasty side effects though...
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