Ah you see that’s where people are going wrong….have you tried keeping a cig going with your head in concrete mixer.
No problem Bear just drop me a mail when you’ve herded ya ducks!

The only time I ever successfully quit was during a similar ‘lightbulb’ moment..
Just bear in mind that a physical craving only realistically lasts a couple of seconds and breathing through each craving is gonna do wonders for your body chemistry in a yogic way..
It’s also worth remembering that in just three short days your body will have rid itself of all traces of nicotine so your withdrawal will be officially over..

Using this method under the mindset you described, I simply realised that within a few days, there had actually been no battle and I was suddenly and very happily a non smoker

My dad gave up smoking way too late. Had a 40 a day habit for most of his adult life – he would even wake up a couple of times in the night to smoke. Now my dad was an insulin-dependant diabetic for the last 34 years of his life and diagnosed with lupus about 15 years after that. However, I’m sure smoking didn’t help him out. He had an initial arterial bypass at 47, and a further bypass 10 years later. He only made it to 63 years old. He was very nearly outlived by his parents.

It was so bloody hard watching him falter. The man who loved walking everywhere who now couldn’t make it to his local shop 100 yards away, or who used to race up the stairs with me on his back who couldn’t tie shoelaces without pain and someone I’d known look after so many people in his care couldn’t even bathe himself. The hardest thing was when he asked me if he “Could go?”

I wouldn’t wish it on anyone else. I know we all watch people we love die and grieve – but his wasn’t a good way to go. In pain, struggling and drowning in the fluid he couldn’t get out of his lungs. The only positive was that he wasn’t afraid and he was at peace with himself and the people he loved. He was a good man, gone too soon and he has left a big gap…

Over fifteen years normal, no wish ever to smoke again (i sometimes dream I have started and am angry with myself!)

The only thing stopping me is the fact that it will make me slightly less irritating and annoying to exactly the type of people I really like irritating and annoying.

You could be grumpy and rude to them instead and blame withdrawal.

The drift of this thread brings to mind a great joke from Clare in the Community a few weeks ago. Brian is at his men’s group:
“…and so we are all agreed that pornography is degrading to women and we are all going to stop using it…as soon as someone comes up with a viable alternative.”

*fist bumps Bear*

😀

My chain smoking neighbours used to pay the window cleaner extra to scrub the soffits that used to turn yellow above the window, from them smoking in the bedroom…

[url=https://flic.kr/p/3HiJCV]IMG_0970[/url] by pten2106, on Flickr

I’m not a smoker, but enjoy the very occasional cigar for special occasions, i would much rather have to put up with the occasional wiff of smoke than the ongoing nauseum of some drunken oaf and his mates.

Alcohol is a drug too, but it’s okay, this drugs okay right?

ANECDOTE: My mum smoked probably 30 a day for most of her adult life. Starts having trouble with breathlessness. Obviously assumes cancer. Goes to doctor. “Well, you don’t have cancer” “YES! Get in” You have COPD” “**** yeahhhhhh **** you cancer ya dick!” “It’s worse than cancer” “WOOHOoowoah wait, what did you say?” “Because there’s not really any treatment. PS stop smoking right now or I’ll break your legs.” “ok”. She’s quite lucky, in a way, it causes her massive problems but it really could be a lot worse. I gave her a lift to rehab a few times and some of the poor bastards in there…

Alcohol is a drug too, but it’s okay, this drugs okay right?

That took a lot longer than normal.

Of course it’s not no but this thread is about someone quitting smoking.

I’m trying again to stop. With the price of a box of 20 at $25 and my 40th birthday in Feb, it’s about time.

I have tried and failed many times. It’s awkward as the psychiatric HDU unit I worked on until recently, patients were not permitted to have lighters (risk items) so the staff had to take them out one by one into the courtyard and light their smokes. Imagine being an alcoholic and pulling pints all day?

Anyway, recent job change and one of those “you can do it this time” vibes. I’m not going to succumb to the “I’ll just buy one more packet” mentality as I’ve been doing that for a couple of years.

Best of luck to anyone else going to pack it in.

@malvernrider – I don’t know you, but don’t be so hard on yourself fella. Sounds to me like you’re well ahead in the ‘doing the right things’ arena. It’s great that you’ve made that decision though and that you’ll have some cash each week for a little treat for yourselves.

Light bulb moments like that are quite rare in recovery so grasp yours with both hands OP.
Keep it going and you will be amazed with all the added positives you will find. Soon enough you will see it through the eyes of a non smoker and wonder how you ever managed to get suckered in.

Well done to every one stopping. A momentous day for you and your friends and family.

We need to make this a sticky so that wavering ex-smokers can come on here for some gentle abuse and encouragement.

Well played OP and others. Pop back on in a couple of weeks when you’re still off the fags.

I was a smoker for nineteen years, cigs and weed and quit five years ago. For several years I realised I wasn’t really enjoying it and tried cutting down several times but always relapsed. Again one day something clicked in my head and thought this is it,I must stop as I don’t want to be smoking for the rest of my life.
I managed to get hold of the Easy Way book and that was the deciding factor for me, even though I only read about half of it. Being told through the book to keep smoking several times that was it, I wasn’t going to be told to smoke anymore, I was done. I had six weeks of insomnia and night terrors to go through but I quickly adopted a satisfying self righteous and judgemental attitude towards anyone I saw smoking. Inspired quite a few other people to quit too, which was nice.

2 years ago my friend urged me to read “Allan carrrs quit smoking” book,every smoker hates preaching folk,well that’s what smokers see it as,took me 6 months to read the book on and off,I’m not a big reader anyway.
I could never imagine life without smoking,although E-CIGS are smoke free the don’t offer the release of quitting the addiction,very clever way of keeping people hooked but also very transparent to ex smokers,good luck OP,try the book iff you still crave,circa £7 on Amazon,I would give you mine but I sold it surplus to requirements.

I gave up about 9 years ago now

I was on holiday and about to buy 1000 cigarettes to bring back to the UK, changed my mind and bought a nicorette plastic cigarette, used that for a few months and haven’t touched one since.

It gets easier, there is virtually no chance any event would ever cause me to smoke again, however, I still do get occasional cravings. These usually last a few seconds a couple of times a year.

I think the key thing for me and what I see others fail on is that you can’t just cut down, it’s all or nothing

Righty ho. Here we go again!

There was a full and frank discussion in the binners household last night about the relative merits of this…..

And these….

The upshot of this was that one is probably more fun than the other, considerably better for my health, and more to the point makes me come over all funny with lust.

So, this weekend I shall remain a smoker. We’ve a couple of do’s on with my mates who smoke, and there will be beer, so theres no point making life hard for myself. Then on Monday, its on the e-cig and banishing the fags from my life for good. I bloody mean it this time too.

All monies usually spent by me on fags are being retained by Mrs Binners, and when I’ve saved a certain amount and can safely say I’ve kicked the habit properly, I’ve got the green light to acquire the object of my affections. I’ve got that picture set as my wallpaper on the Mac, so I’m reminded all day of my motivation for doing this – actually its not my motivation – thats the more logical ‘not wanting to die’ one – its my reward though.To keep me focussed

Wish me luck 😀

As one of your more acerbic critics previously I congratulate your decision and wish you the very best! 😀

Oranges aren’t the only fruit, but good luck (all)

I gave up on new years day 2005 after reading an Allan Carr article in the noospaper on the train back from a particulalry insidious bout of liver/lung abuse. Just realised that the addiction was about relieving the withdrawl not any real ‘pleasure’ and that I was sating the avarice of corpulent corporates with my weakness at the cost of my money and health.

Still have the odd one when I’m pissed or at the top of a particulalry strenuous climb, seriously, but maybe once every three months and always other peoples! (having gone about four years cold turkey). Don’t want it or miss it day to day and I was a packet a day tab monster.

Go for it Binners!

Downside is you can sit next to me in a beer garden.

As one ex-smoker to[potentially] another@ Go for it Binners!!

Think of the extra money you can put into Greggs with what you save.

I mean, a new bike. Yes, a new bike.

My mothers boss had a good system, from the day she gave up she put the cost of a packet of cigarettes in a jar, and used it for buying treats from time to time. Still does as far as I know. (and she had a successful career and is in fact a Dame now so knows a few things – no flies on her etc).

Good luck !

I would also say, don’t consider a setback a total capitulation. Stick with it, and enjoy your lovely Orange. P.S and try not to shout at Mrs Binners too much…

Good luck Binners! and anyone else trying to give up!

Have we got an update on how bearnecessities is getting on with his first week smoke free?

Bloke in the next road from me has been flicking his fag-butts into the alley that goes past my house.. I threw them back in his garden. Twice now, as he threw them back out onto the path the first time. Seems to have stopped now.
Disgusting habit indeed.. 🙂

Binners, all the best, one day at a time and all that!!

As Taki’s post above, a mate is a painter. He did a ceiling in the house of one of his neighbours that was the colour of putty within 12 months of a nice coat of brilliant white.

He dropped some paint on the tv screen. Oops; cleaned it and found the tv had a layer of nicotine on it so thick, where it was wiped stood out like mad.

So he cleaned the whole thing to even it out. He gave up his rollies, and the old gots were really happy with the job; it made the whole room and even the tv brighter.

My mate gave up using nicotine patches.
He only needed two.
Put one over each eye and couldn’t find his fags…..IGMC 😀

Binners:

Well done Binners – get more pictures of the bike (lots of the same ones) and put them in places where you see them a lot (including where you keep the fags) as a reminder, on the fridge is a good one 🙂

So, this weekend I shall remain a smoker. We’ve a couple of do’s on with my mates who smoke, and there will be beer, so theres no point making life hard for myself. Then on Monday, its on the e-cig and banishing the fags from my life for good. I bloody mean it this time too.

All monies usually spent by me on fags are being retained by Mrs Binners, and when I’ve saved a certain amount and can safely say I’ve kicked the habit properly, I’ve got the green light to acquire the object of my affections. I’ve got that picture set as my wallpaper on the Mac, so I’m reminded all day of my motivation for doing this – actually its not my motivation – thats the more logical ‘not wanting to die’ one – its my reward though.To keep me focussed

in the same boat as Binners. been a smoker since i was 18 and now i’m 38 something’s got to give. i did manage to stop for a while after i got married nearly 9 years ago then some life changing events got me back on them. i again quit and this time i managed to stay off for about 3 years then all of a sudden i felt the urge and i couldnt resist.
considering i can find the willpower to fast for 30 days and not eat, drink or smoke for up to 18 hours per day during Ramadan…i dont know why i cant find that same willpower and discipline to quit again.
i’m not completely stupid, i can do the maths and know how much its costing me on a weekly/monthly basis and what that money could go on instead of this dirty habit of mine.
having said that, i’ve never been a heavy smoker (no more than 10 a day) but smoking’s smoking…whether its 1 a day or 20…and its a nasty addiction.
i’m gonna kick the habit once and for all this weekend…its been playing on my mind for the last few weeks and the cigs seem to taste mankier every time i take a puff on one so i know the time is right.

Good luck gonzy! I’ve just had enough of it! And I want a new bike, and it seems bloody stupid continually spanking all that cash on an ongoing daily basis.

Good luck gonzy! I’ve just had enough of it! And I want a new bike, and it seems bloody stupid continually spanking all that cash on an ongoing daily basis.

thanks Binners! good luck to you too!
i want a new bike too…£4.50 per day works out to £126 per month!! WTF have i been doing for the last few years!? Absolute madness!!
the money i save could easily go on a new Capra with the remainder coming from the sale of my current bike!!

i want a new bike too…£4.50 per day works out to £126 per month!! WTF have i been doing for the last few years!? Absolute madness!!

Holy shit, I always thought it was a daft habit simply for throwing money at Tobacco companies, government taxes and also slowly killing you but wow….

That’s over £1600 a year.

So basically… if you quit smoking and put aside that £4.50 everyday for the rest of your life you could afford to buy a brand new Santa Cruz Bronson Carbon every two years. ****. 😯

That’s over £1600 a year.

This is making me wish I smoked just so I could quit…

So basically… if you quit smoking and put aside that £4.50 everyday for the rest of your life you could afford to buy a brand new Santa Cruz Bronson Carbon every two years. ****.

yep….now i’m going out to own myself with a pair of bombers…i may be a while…

If its any consolation Gonzy, I’ve just weed in my own shoes

120 a month? I spent 30-35 tops (1 or 2 x 12.5g packs of rolling tobacco a week)

Still too much, savings going on treating Mrs MR and self to healthier food and the odd day out. Have also sold my touring bike and MTB. Arguably too much quitting and self-sacrifice for one month – but will recover in time 🙂

Vaper arrived yesterday, last pack of baccy nearly gone. It begins.

Bigup all quitters!

Good luck to all of you, hope it goes well 😀 😀

120 a month?

to be honest…at my peak thats probably what i was spending. my normal day would see me smoking up to 7 during the day so therefore its costing me about £20 a week. when i’m at home i tend not to smoke due to the kids…i dont want them smelling it on me and i certainly dont want them to see me do it!!
so in actual fact i’m robbing myself of around £100 per month and killing myself in the process!

If its any consolation Gonzy, I’ve just weed in my own shoes

😆 😆 😆