Giving up smoking will make you even less like chewkw - that’s a pretty strong incentive in any weak moments you have. Good luck!
3 years since I quit now- I'll very much echo what Cougar said about not stopping taking breaks. I spent a long time preparing for quitting, and one of my big concerns was missing those five minutes to myself. I kept doing it, just without the smoking.
I used a combination of Allan Carr audiobooks, NHS counselling and then Champix (nicotine receptor blocking drug). I was definetely ready to stop though, and haven't wavered at all. Being around smoking doesn't make me want to start again, which surprises me.
PM me if you want any help
get an espresso machine and drink vast amounts of coffee.
yes, its one stimulant for another, but tabs dont half make you feel physically rubbish across several metrics and you dont realise until you have quit
I did exactly that too. I just stopped buying them.
Then i didn't have any.
And i still don't.
And it's still the best thing i've ever done to myself.
My wife and I quit together a few months before we married. I think the fact we couldn’t let each other down made it easier. It really didn’t take long until we didn’t even consider smoking.
My old man used to work for Philip Morris and caned 7 packs a day and he managed to give up* so you definitely can!
*apart from cigars and a pipe.
Knocked smoking on the head 22 years ago (scarily). Was on something between 15 and 30 a day. I've never read - or indeed even heard of - the Alan Carr (he's very versatile for a comedian) book, but can relate to the concept of the big monster. For me, it was breaking the link between booze and fags (also the post meal cigarette).
Basically though I was sick of being "dependent" on something. And the cost (and they were cheeeeap compared to now).
Key for me was taking it one day at a time. Crucially if I did relapse occasionally (and I did in the early months) I didn't use it as an excuse to start again. I'd seen too many people (myself included) say "I'm proud of myself, I lasted 12days/weeks/months this time" and promptly start smoking again.
So the key mindset now is that you're a non smoker. If you have the occasional relapse don't use it as an excuse to become a smoker again. From now on you are a non smoker and you are no longer in thrall to the weed!
And Chewkw with his Borneon 'tobacco'. No wonder he has a slightly left field sense of humour 🙄
Flip the perspective - enjoy the withdrawal cravings, they’re your new high, and you’re stronger than the cravings!
It’s cringe, but be the best version of yourself you can be today. You know that the best thing to do is to not smoke today, so do that.
for me it was all about getting through the first month,
Agree, the first month is key as it firstly removes the actual chemical addiction and then the habitual side (which is a main part of it)
For me it took a couple of years before I had 100% forgotten all about it.
Everyone is different mentally but when I decided to give up I knew I would be giving up for good and never smoking again.
Thought I’d pop in and wish you well for this morning. Lots of fag-break length videos for you to watch here:
https://youtube.com/c/AlanCarr
If the other Alan Carr doesn’t float your boat, maybe there’s something else you could do in short intervals throughout the day that would be a distraction?
Stay strong!
Good luck!
Alan Carr worked for me too - and I find self-help books generally ridiculous.
If I remember it was "If smoking is something that's positive for you why don't you encourage your children to smoke?"
I had tried to give up a few times before, but when I actually succeeded I went cold turkey.
I left it 10 years too late, but it was the best thing I ever did - but also one of the hardest things I have ever done - but you have dealt with so much over the last few years I think you'll have the inner strength to stop.
I tried Hypnotherapy, the Allen Carr book but the biggest help was tablets (Champix I think)
Just don't give up giving up!
Wow, wasn't expecting this sort of response but thankyou all for your replies. Will reread them again and answer any specific questions if I can. I was going to post again last night but thought I'd do one fresh the first morning instead.
Guess context is useful. Been smoking for around 15 years and had between 12 and 18 per day, depending on the day. When everything began happening a few years back I'm sure at one point I was easily on 40+ a day but that was then, as time has gone on since I've dropped back down.
Woke up this morning and had my cuppa and no fag. Got them all ready for school then didn't have a fag. Took them to school and I'm now home, made myself a cuppa and I'm sitting here typing this with no fag. I know its only the first morning but by now I'd have probably had 3 already. Think it's the habit of doing it that's going to be the hardest bit initially, already feels a bit weird not doing that. Fingers crossed they all come home in a better mood then they went in to make it a little bit less stressful tonight.
Think it’s the habit of doing it that’s going to be the hardest bit initially, already feels a bit weird not doing that.
It's actually the other way round. You will completely get over the actual physical withdrawal within a very few days, the psychological dependency will take months to get over.
In the early days the fact that you have given up will be foremost in your mind, after a while you will automatically reach for your fags in particular circumstances forgetting that you have given up smoking.
Good luck with today. Tomorrow will be worse. But after about 3 days it will start to get easier and the will power to stick to your decision is what will keep you going.
Keep giving updates as it will help you and others considering quitting.
I was quite a heavy smoker back in the day.
Stopping was one of the hardest things I have ever done.
I used nicotine gum to help. I used to wait until I was really craving a smoke then I would chew the gum. It only took about a week for the gum to be as "enjoyable" as a smoke used to be. I then started to replace the gum with normal chewing gum.
Worked for me.
Get an espresso machine and drink vast amounts of coffee.
yes, its one stimulant for another, but tabs dont half make you feel physically rubbish across several metrics and you dont realise until you have quit
This is sound advice imo. Yes cigarettes are often associated with drinking coffee but imo there are a lot of similarities between nicotine and caffeine. You will need a stimulant and uplift as you will struggle with concentration, you will get a hit from caffeine.
You will of course also get very irritable, it's just one of the withdrawal symptom, but it won't last.
Woke up this morning and had my cuppa and no fag. Got them all ready for school then didn’t have a fag. Took them to school and I’m now home, made myself a cuppa and I’m sitting here typing this with no fag. I know its only the first morning but by now I’d have probably had 3 already. Think it’s the habit of doing it that’s going to be the hardest bit initially, already feels a bit weird not doing that.
I suspect that habit is a big part of addiction, you associate actions with other ones. You have a cigarette after lunch because you've had your lunch so it's time for a cigarette, not because there's a conscious decision that you want one.
A while back I got into a habit of having a glass of wine whilst I made tea. I caught myself one day, I'd started cooking, poured a glass and suddenly thought, "why have I done this?" I didn't particularly want a drink, I'd just poured it on autopilot because that's what I did when I was cooking. Y follows X. That was a bit of a wake-up call.
Great start your doing well
Something I found helps was getting rid of all lighters and ashtrays anything associated to smoking was binned.
Give the house a really good clean to help get rid of the smell of old smoke.
My biggest motivation was not wanting my kids to smoke I gave up when youngest was coming outside with a pencil in her mouth to copy me, I'm of the age where we used to have cigarette sweets, everyone smoked I'm sure it played it's part on why I started smoking, it's far better to set a good role model I think of all the people I know who smoke and have older kids their kids smoke too or vape, in our house the message has always been smoking is for losers they both know me and my wife smoked, it's the one habit I don't want my kids to start.
Keep at it you will crack it you have the support of all of us on here to help.
You can do this, @gnusmas. I hope you find plenty of support on here.
Another thing that may help is preparing yourself mentally for situations where you'd normally reach for the cig packet. I gave up back when smoking was still a thing in pubs, and it felt VERY odd not lighting up when everyone else was doing so.
Think about how you'll respond at other times when you'd normally smoke - waiting for a bus, morning coffee, getting stressful news etc. - and if you've prepared yourself for it to feel a little weird, you'll be better at making sure you remember you don't need that cigarette.
Although if it comes to it, just remember, as one of my friends succinctly said "the key to not smoking, is not smoking."
Oh, and worth knowing that it might take you a couple of days to get back into pooing normally - nicotine triggers both the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, and one of the few times your body naturally does that is when you're preparing to evacuate your bowels. Without the usual nicotine trigger, it will take a couple of days for your body to adapt to doing it itself, but drink plenty of water and it will happen. 😉
@gnusmas How are you doing with the not smoking? Make a note of how much you save and hide half in a secret place… just for a treat for yourself!
This is sound advice imo. Yes cigarettes are often associated with drinking coffee but imo there are a lot of similarities between nicotine and caffeine
This will ALWAYS remain the breakfast of champions and the best way to start the day
I can honestly say it’s the only cig I miss.
My morning routine was get up, walk into the kitchen, fire up the coffee machine, flick radio 4 on the stand at the open back door, spark up a Benson and have a smoke while drinking an Americano. Bliss. Every fag after that I don’t miss
Nowadays I’ve just replaced the Benson with a vape and it’s still the best way to start the day. Caffeine and nicotine is a dream combination, but you can still do it without actually smoking 😃
My routine was fag, then coffee and fag, followed by bowel movement whilst having another fag, followed by another one or two whilst getting ready for work. Having boosted my nicotine levels I could then ease off a bit letting the rest of the day take me to my typical 35 a day.
As they say, if I can give up smoking anyone can. Although it did take me several decades of attempting before finally cracking it.**
My favourite quote on the subject is the one attributed to Mark Twain......."Giving up is easy, I've done it loads of times"
Stick with it gnusmas, the pain is worth the gain.
Edit : ** My first attempt to give up was when I was 15 years old, I managed to give up for 2 weeks.
Caffeine and nicotine is a dream combination
Works without fail every morning for me.....guranteed trigger for a good sh1t4 before work.
Aye… you’ll never find a smoker suffering from constipation 😂
Whoever suggested rollups is not helping. The act of rolling and all the little bits and bobs just makes it even more habitual.
For me it was cold turkey. Get rid of anything smoking related, lighters, ashtray, filters, papers. Everything.
For me the important thing to remember when stressed, in no way does nicotine change my stress level. If I had a smoke, the cause of my stress will still be there.
I'd just have made myself slightly slower on the bike. So better ride the bike instead.
Whoever suggested rollups is not helping. The act of rolling and all the little bits and bobs just makes it even more habitual.
And never mind all the palaver associated with trying to make contact with native people in Borneo.
Whose daft idea was that?
And never mind all the palaver associated with trying to make contact with native people in Borneo.
Whose daft idea was that?
I'm sure I saw a TV program where some chef used to get really special chocolate from Borneo. Might just be the class A's I replaced nicotine with thou.
I’m sure I saw a TV program where some chef used to get really special chocolate from Borneo. Might just be the class A’s I replaced nicotine with thou.
Class A? LOL! My suggestion is NOT to go anywhere near that stuff in Borneo coz if caught they hang you no question ask.
For OP, you will be fine if you are a moderate smoker I mean my 50g tobacco can last me for a month. Just need to be disciplined.
Just managed to get my German colleague to buy me 300g of Old Holborn Original from Deutschland. Woohoo! They are cheaper by £10!!! I was going to get him to buy me 1kg but decided it would be risky for him with the custom. Never mind I shall ask other colleagues to buy me some when they visit EU or wherever with duty free. LOL!
Class A? LOL! My suggestion is NOT to go anywhere near that stuff in Borneo coz if caught they hang you no question ask
Who is going to Borneo?
Doesn't matter.
There's only one thing that got me to give up. Getting close to the age my dad died. He died painfullyhm, one morning over breakfast. I've got the same sluggish heart valve apparently. It'll be the one failed on him. Familial issues.
Almost nine months now and frequently, normally on a night, I have nicotine pangs so bad I end up scoffing too much food, which is, admittedly, just as bad. There are packs of cigarettes I haven't given to neighbour's. I keep them there to remind me not to touch them, at home, or out.
I'm currently under-exercising, because my daily routine is completely destroyed(locked down in China). I have to push myself to do other stuff. Maybe download some plays and walk around outside within my community keeping my mind off the exercise. I'm also moving my multi-gym to another room so I actually use it regularly, not just sometimes.
Getting older, you discover you're not indestructible anymore. I realized that continuing to smoke is just harming myself, and shortening my life drastically. That's how I stopped, and will keep stopped.
This is morning 3, as far as updates go all I can say is I still haven't had a fag. Yes, the want is there but so far I've been managing to not have any. Still going cold turkey, rightly or wrongly.
Like has been mentioned it's the morning one and having one after food. Although a lot of it is in the evening when I'm home by myself and they're all in bed. Sounds stupid but that's the truth, think it's been something to do to help pass the time. Desperately trying not to fill that void with food again.
Well done, the first couple of weeks are really difficult and as you say, the connection to daily events is the hardest to resist.
Just keep reminding yourself that you are never going to smoke a cigarette again, it’s what worked for me.
This is morning 3
It doesn't get any worse in terms of physical addiction/withdrawal symptoms, from now on it gets easier in that respect - you are over the most difficult and challenging bit!
However the psychological dependence will remain for weeks and months and you must be careful it doesn't catch you out, especially at social events - don't get tempted by "just one".
Everyday will get easier and you will spend longer and longer periods not thinking about fags.
Well done for getting over the hardest bit!
Definitely need to watch the psychological element, especially in the first few months where you think you've got it cracked.
I stopped 25 years ago and still feel a pang for a fag with the first sip of beer in a pub; but it now passes in moments.
Never feel that desire in any other situation.
Human minds are odd things.
It's been 2 weeks since I spontaneously decided to try and give up smoking so here is the latest update.
I'd decided to try and do this cold turkey, not easy at all after over 15 years of smoking. No vapes, patches, gum or anything else to replace the nicotine, just will power. The first few days were pretty tough, really missed the morning fag and post food fags. Surprisingly missed the habit of doing it more than the nicotine itself I think.
But I haven't given in to it and I'm pleased to say I haven't had one or succumbed to any alternatives. I know it's still early days and anything could happen but at this moment in time it's going pretty well. Haven't felt any differences as yet apart from my breathing in the morning is better. Only downside is some extra snacking which I kind of expected so that will have to be the next step I guess.
Great work Alan
I've been there, it sucks but does get better!
I miss the habit from time to time even though it's over 20 years since I regularly smoked. Holding things like a pen seems to help me
I've now reached the point where if I get drunk and snag a cig off someone I regret it a lot afterwards and it puts me right off any thoughts of doing it regularly
That's tip news.
It's the habit That's the thing to break not the actual tobacco.
You tried learning guitar or something to keep your hands busy?
Good work. Cold Turkey worked for me. It certainly made me not to have to go through it again! As others have said, mindset is everything. I quit as I realised that I was being exploited by big business at the expense of my health and wealth. Reminding myself of this stopped me even being tempted to touch a cigarette again; I haven't in the last 15 years. I did put on weight due to snacking but told myself that I'd rather be a fat ex-smoker than a (not so) slim smoker. Keep up the good work. It's not easy but you are doing the right thing.
Keep up the good work, the next two weeks or so could be the hardest test.
That's great news. You will be over the physical addiction now and from now on its only psychological - but that will last a long time! You just learn to live with it.
Woooo hooooooooo
Well done. After a while you lose the taste for it, which actually makes it easier - I still find the smell appealing at times, especially at the right distance on a cold day, but the few times I've tried a drag on someone else's cigarette it's tasted like the first time I tried it: absolutely vile!
One of the things in the Allen Carr book is remembering how your first drag on a cigarette tasted and smelt. I challenge ANYONE to say they actually enjoyed it.
One of the things in the Allen Carr book is remembering how your first drag on a cigarette tasted and smelt. I challenge ANYONE to say they actually enjoyed it.
I think my smoking odessey was a bit different in that I went Weed (bowls, bongs & chillums) -> cigars -> joints -> cigarettes
Still thought the first drag on a cigarette was rank, even though i'd been smoking for nearly a year at the point i finally had one
Don't miss any of it nowadays
Don't try learning guitar it requires waaaay more commitment than just giving up smoking. 🤣
How's it going gnusmas?
I’ll follow that up too. How’s it going gnusmas?
