[Closed] Stopping smoking!!

best of luck

(from a serial quitter, actually not even a quitter I just think about it and try somewhere near new year, most years)

good luck dude... managed to cut down significantly to just smoking while at work and then its only 2 or 3 per day, but I can't seem to stop at work!!??

If you really want to do it... you will.

Good Luck! There're a number of us on here who quit at the beginning of the year and most are still smoke free.

Have you read the not-so-chatty-man Alan Carr book?

It worked for me, I think the important thing is to get it into your head that you're not missing out on anything by not smoking but gaining something. Cutting down doesn't work you need to break the cycle and stop dead, get all that adictive crap out of the bloodstream. As soon as you have one you're back to square one again, so don't.

Good luck!

Edit: smoked cigs and a very large amount of weed for 19 years, now 19 months completely smoke free.

work is my main issue...

I don't smoke at home (at all!) and only at work and when out. I have two jobs (office during the week and doors at the weekend) and the smoking is the thing that breaks up the jobs up.

Can sometimes get through 10 fags on a 5 hour door shift...it can get pretty boring and helps pass the time.

Just been told if I last 2 weeks, I get an extra £20 in my Mo-vember fund..... gotta be worth a try!

something tells me Schrick and myself used to have something in common 😉

but yeah its boredom that does me in everytime.

I've found that after stopping and starting and stopping again many many times I've managed to get it under control. I still have the odd smoke or buy 10/20 if I'm going out for a few pints or at a festival, but it can be months between fags, it's been about a month now, I may never have another one, if I do, that's ok.

So the theory that if you have one you're back to square one again doesn't seem to apply to me anymore, just don't beat yourself up if you do have some, just stop again.

It took me four attempts to stop smoking (over a long time period - probably 4yrs or something). The last time I went to a smoking cessation clinic, I also used nicotine patches and lozenges, available on prescription from the smoking cessation lot. The patches were great, had some fantastic dreams when wearing them (go for the 24hr patches!). The lozenges were for when I got a craving, something to pop in my mouth.

You really need to want to quit, if you really want to be an ex smoker then you will be. If you don't stop this time don't beat yourself up over it, your time will come.

Good luck.

cheers guys...

just posted this link to some colleagues....

hoping the supportive comments will help provide an 'up yours' to them 😀

Another serial quitter and un-quitter here. I may well have another go with you actually. I'm sick of wheezing up climbs, bringing up the rear like last night

I've been on about having another go at quitting for a while. Hmmmmmmmmmm

binners - I'm blaming you for the inaugural STW quittee ball not happening, so get on with it, eh?

...don't worry binners, I'll start another thread sometime in the new year 🙂

strangely I have the opposite problem to those above. At work I am very strict about not smoking. As soon as I get home is where it all happens.

Me and Binners - Mo-vember quitters!

Anyone else joining in for the typical STW group support available?

something tells me Schrick and myself used to have something in common

I was more of a bong man. 🙂

So the theory that if you have one you're back to square one again doesn't seem to apply to me anymore, just don't beat yourself up if you do have some, just stop again.

It does seem that some people can take or leave it but I think majority would only need a few to get back in the loop, and I'm talking more about while actually quitting. Same applies for the nicoteine replacement stuff sooner or later you have to stop and go through that period of cold turkey so just get it over and done with ASAP.

whippersnapper - you joining in too?

Its a fair cop Yeti!

whippersnapper - I'm the same. Don't smoke through the day and it doesn't bother me at all. Its once I'm done the pangs begin

Right! I'm going to give it a crack. Going to finish this pack off tonight, then join the healthy smoke free lot.

I may have to maintain the illusion that I'm still smoking though, to annoy Hora 😉

Gave up 14 months ago now and its definitely worth it. I never thought I could give up but thought I'd give it a go. Still miss the occasional fag when I get to the top of a climb but getting there is a lot easier.
When the craving gets bad...go for a ride, read a book or something and remember how hard can it be NOT to do something

wo, put on the spot there 😀

ummmm....now then (excuses at the ready). I was in fact speaking to my girlfriend about this yesterday. We decided when we do stop we are going to have to separate for a week or two otherwise we will try and kill each other (been there, done that). Got to prepare for that. Maybe next we.....ye...year, definitely year.

However, I give full support to the mustachioed quitters from the sidelines for now....and will join you all soon

Giving up is easy, I've done it thousands of times... 😛
Staying off is, in fact, very easy too. I can't actually remember when I gave up, simply that I gave up and it was for ever. I am a non-smoker not an ex-smoker, when I smoked I could comfortably put away two packs a day (at the weekend more).

come on, snapper......all the money you save on fags can buy you a travelodge for a few weeks 🙂

Good luck, all. I shall follow your lead - one day!

a travelodge you say, very tempting

soon Morgs soon....

be strong

i'm willing to cut down on the crack pipe in support

Well, the first test is fast approaching! Out dedicated afternoon 'smoke break' is at 3pm....finish at 5:30 and need to leave straig away as I have an hour drive to meet up with the better halffollowed by a meal and cinema so no opportunity to smoke there!

So, suggestions needed on how to spend the smoke break.....and no points are awarded for the answer 'erm.....no smoking?'

DW?

binners.....is the 'D' refers to 'Danger' and the 'W' is a four letter word ending in 'k', then NO!

press-ups?

Me too Morgs, stay strong. My nth attempt over the last 9 years.

Giving up is fairly easy, I've found, preventing yourself from having a celebratory "yay I've quit smoking" cigarette less so.

I'm giving these a go

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too early to say if they help or not as my cravings don't normally kick in till about day 4. Having said that I did wake up at 4:10 this morning, not sure if that's a side effect or coincidence.

Spend the smoke break calling your smoking coworkers filthy animals and shaking your head in disapproval, and eat something nice. Did I mention I put on 3.5st when I quit? 😀

Eating crisps. That's what I'm planning on doing.

And it gives you a good five minutes of thinking "what crisps do I fancy?

I'll get you started

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or how about

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Not strictly a crisp, but bloody hell, they're good!

Surely good old fashioned onion rings should get top billing?

Frazzles.

problem is, I'm the last of the smokers!!!!

I do have some white choccie chip cookies in my drawer though.....and a nice cuppa tea....?

No there's a plan!

7 mins to go until tea-time!

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?

I was at least 40 a day regular, plus most illegal substances. Used to chain smoke when on e's or speed.

smoked constantly during the day on construction sites.
When i got a new role which would involve a lot of driving, i decided that i wasn't going to smoke in the car, and gradually over about 4 or 5 years i cut down where i would smoke.
it ended up with me just smoking at weekends in the pub, then just one night. so i thought - if i only smoke one night a week why bother at all. No tobacco and weed free for about 4 years.
I know now that if the craving takes over when i have a couple of beers, i can have a couple of cigs - but the shitty taste the next day means i will never start again.

Good Luck - only you can stop it if you really want to.

Made it!!!

first break has past....went outside for a breath of air with a colleague (also a non/ex-smoker)and just chewed the fat before making a brew and getting back to my desk!

Next testing time: 5:30!

Remember the rule of 3's...

First 3 breaks will be the hardest.
Then you get through 3 days.
3 weeks will pass fine.
3 months - the one to watch out for. Many a good man has fallen at this landmark.

Cheers Yeti... 1 down, 2 to go!

What's your support medication of choice, morgs?

I'll be getting those über strong patches (again) I suppose...

camo - cold turkey for me 🙂

You know what somebody should invent ? A drug that makes you violently ill if you smoke. Like the one for alcoholics, they take it in the morning then are sick as a pack of dogs if they touch alcohol.

Then you only have to be strong once a day and take your pill.

camo - cold turkey for me

You are such a hero!

* salutes morgs *

I am weak and need to MTFU prontissimo. 😳

I'm going to do cold turkey too. Nothing seems to make any difference anyway

I would hereby like to apoligise in advance to anyone who is at the receiving end of any gratuitous and totally unwarranted tirades and abuse over the next week or so

Apart from the people who are normally at the receiving end of any gratuitous and totally unwarranted tirades and abuse. Business as usual there I'm afraid. 😀

hels - there is one.

Camo - I'd advise using something that not only replaces the nicotine but replaces the habit. Remember you get over the nicotine addiction in 3 days. The habit is harder to break.

My first ciggy of the day was in the car on the way to work... I started having an apple instead.

I chewed gum for a short while, but quickly moved that over to normal chewing gum too.

Really ?? Well surely thats the whole thing sorted then ??

Yeti, that's some good advice.

I tried patches, which worked as long as I was on the kick-ass powerful one but stopped working when I had to move onto the weaker ones.

The habit, for me, is as much about having time to myself several times a day as it is about enjoying the smoke. Getting out of the office is especially wonderful.

It's this regular escape habit that's difficult to break. 😳

Violently sick is a bit of an overstatement but it certainly makes a smoker feel pretty ill.

You still need the will power to take it though.

Camo16 - Apples. Go off and have an apple. They take about the same time to have, they involve your hand and your mouth and they're good for you.

I would hereby like to apoligise in advance to anyone who is at the receiving end of any gratuitous and totally unwarranted tirades and abuse over the next week or so

Apart from the people who are normally at the receiving end of any gratuitous and totally unwarranted tirades and abuse. Business as usual there I'm afraid

This +1!!!!!

Camo - 😳 - no need to salute your superior, it'll make mu gush 😉

You're actually inspiring me, Yeti, you know that?

I think, perhaps, the time's come to have another, proper go.

If it goes well, you're going to be my official hero - and I will need a poster-size picture for my wall. 😆

Camo16 - Apples. Go off and have an apple. They take about the same time to have, they involve your hand and your mouth and they're good for you.

what about when they slice your gums open and make you bleed? (or is that just me....?)

Us Yeti's are notoriously shy Camo... you'll be a very lucky person to get one with my face in it.

Seriously though, if quitting smoking is something you've tried before, or something you've considered for a long while...

By quitting you'll come to realise that you are more Awesome!!! than you had ever imagined. You'll no longer have that nagging feeling that you shouldn't be doing something, you'll no longer loathe youself a little bit everytime you have one. You can't help but feel more in control and feel happier with yourself.

Quitting smoking is the one time when it's actually good to be a quitter 🙂

and I will need a poster-size picture for my wall

😯

Shut up morgs - have you seen how beautiful I am?

Sammie-Louise x

You'll no longer have that nagging feeling that you shouldn't be doing something, you'll no longer loathe youself a little bit everytime you have one.

* senses previously unnoticed levels of perspective and wisdom in TSY, and is impressed * 😆

Right. I'll have a word with Mrs 16 (this co-dependency lark is tough) and see what I/we can do.

I want to be Awesome!

I want to be awesome too!!!! 😀

Coming up to 4 1/2 years for me after 20 years on 20 a day.
Read the book over about 2 months and then went cold turkey
If you get your head right its not too hard and very worthwhile.

Got me into cycling and my 2 boys as a consequence-one of the best things I did.

The habit, for me, is as much about having time to myself several times a day as it is about enjoying the smoke. Getting out of the office is especially wonderful.

Once you proper stop you will wonder why you ever smoked tbh the only issue is how long it takes you to get to that point

When you achieve Awesome!!!ness we can all meet up for a smoke-free blast up a hill, eat some flapjack and then hammer back down again 🙂

Re the co-dependancy. Tell her you're doing it and then tell her you can't kiss her anymore because she stinks*.

*hopefully has regained idiot status, although this did actually work for me.

I use those inhaler things as for me it's the hand to mouth thing I like! I have kind of figured it doesn't matter if I never give those up, as it's not nicotine that's bad for you. Still they should be banned ****ing horrible things!

I am a week into no smoking, from a packet a day. First four days with feeling of wanting to kill everyone and argue with everyone, that's now subsided. Got to keep it going, the comment about not hating yourself like i did every time i had a smoke is a good one.

The Southern Yeti - Member

Shut up morgs - have you seen how beautiful I am?

Sammie-Louise x

You are such a hero!

* salutes morgs *

Surely camo wanted a picture of me......who'd want one of you????????? 8)

I stopped for good in 2007, though I had been tending to smoke less and less for quite a while. My partner and I were thinking about a family so it was a good time to do it, and it gave me something to focus on. Just did it cold turkey, but it really was just the habit I was breaking for me (rather than nicotine), so replacing one habit with another seemed a bad idea to me 🙂

Good luck anyone who's trying - it really, really does get easier the longer you go on. One hour, one day, one week - break it down into manageable chunks and it makes it seem less daunting.

Fags are shit, you don't need 'em!!!

random pointless update....

got through the afternoon with out too many problems.

The evening entertainment will keep me smoke free until tomorrow.....so all I have to master is the driving without a smoke!

Look out for other smokers in their cars... don't envy them, pity them.

One of the most hardcore smokers I know did this to great (and comedic) effect.

Go for it - I quit 'cold turkey' about 15 years ago, and it's a brilliant feeling once you get past the side effects.

I say 'cold turkey', but I did actually develop a serious Fruit Pastille habit for about 6 months - had to work to limit myself to one bag a day, especially as I was supposed to be writing my Masters thesis at the time, and found it really difficult to concentrate for the first few weeks.

One of the things that really got me over the hump mentally was working hard on my fitness - as I got back more and more of my aerobic fitness, I really began to resent the idea of smoking again because I didn't want to lose the feeling of being able to exert myself without becoming breathless.

Good luck!

Been quit 4 months, but wobbled several times in the 3rd month, due to drinking. So I've quit alcohol for the time being also. I don't get on with Alan Carr personally - though some people swear by him - but "the Nicotine Trick" by Neil Casey is good if you can get a copy.

It's hard to get your head around, but what worked for me was [i]finally[/i] properly understanding that I didn't smoke because I wanted a cigarette... I wanted a cigarette because I'd smoked.

I recently looked at the price of decent cigs. **** they aren't cheap 😮 I think when I quit they were 3.50 for 20.

The ironic thing is when I finally quit I went to work in one of the most stressful industries out there. So if you think its stress that makes you smoke it isn't. You'll find ANY excuse to spark up- such are the cravings. Get your head round this- its addiction saying to you 'just need one more'..

I found patches and gum just prolonged the painful cravings- I just drank A LOT of fresh orange juice

When you achieve Awesome!!!ness we can all meet up for a smoke-free blast up a hill, eat some flapjack and then hammer back down again

Sure, sounds great Yeti – that's when I'll take a sly photo for my poster-size inspiration wall! 😆

Do ex-smokers really get up hills faster?

Surely camo wanted a picture of me...

Yeah, you'll be on the wall too when we're both fit, healthy and utterly, horribly smug non-smokers. 😆

I found patches and gum just prolonged the painful cravings

Is it honestly better to go cold turkey, then?

I'm worried I'll become (more of) an angry ****.

It was the stop smoking thread that was on here before that made me stop. have been mostly smoking free for ages now. and I don't smoke unless I'm really pissed and really whiney and even then my friends won't give in.

It's worth it, I've saved loads of money, and I feel LOADS better. and best of all your non-smoking gf will snog you more: FACT!!

I'm interested to know how long after you quit can you legitimately start glaring self-righteously at the poor faggin' fools huddled up in doorways?

I'd also tut-tut-tut them and raise my eyes like this... 🙄 , but I wouldn't be smiling.

*dons skinny chinos* 🙂

about an hour camo.

this is the length of time it took me to become the single most irritating non smoker (according to some of my so-called mates) apparently.

😆

about an hour camo.

Suh-weet!

I'm definitely doing this now... well, I'll start tomorrow. Wouldn't like to waste money and not utilise the ones still in the pack. 😳

Which means by 8am tomorrow I'm going to be one self-righteous ****.

Probably shouldn't post here for a while or I'll lose my 'impossibly cool' rep.

I bunged the pack away, i think it was Yeti who said if you're going to stop then ****ing well just stop.

It's good advice really.

soz

Ah camo16 moving from big hitter to big quitter?

Good luck hope you manage it, holding my first kid after a 24 hr labour then c-section stress and noticing her little head in my blackened nicotine stained fingers convinced me and I've never smoked from that day to this. (Except the occasional extremely pissed induced spliff).

Great if you manage it.

Well I'm going to try, derekrides. I wish the OP and Binners all the best and (following TSY's advice) hope I don't get sick of apples...

I stopped 9.5 years ago after smoking from when I was 12 till I was 31, I reckon I've saved myself £15,000+

OP the cravings are of course caused by Nicotine still in your system. Taking gum/patches keeps the Nicotine in you and prolongs the agony. All you've done is sidestepped the issue. Then at somepoint you'll get a trigger that makes you say '**** this I'm having a fag'. It could be as little as a friend disagreeing with you and because you are in period-head mode (sorry for the discriptive) you mini-flip. Its all you need.

Another (possibly not a great analogy) but would you take anabolic steroids now?

If the answer is ****ing hell no way!

Then why do you smoke?

Whats my point? you enjoy something now then in your early 50's its payback time.

If you are 40 now. In just over 10yrs time do you want to be seeing your GP for breathing difficulties, taking meds and the possibility of the big C? Yes people can smoke until they are 90 but there are always the Genetic anomalies.

I've been to the Manchester Royal Infirmary a few times during the day with hora junior and outside the entrance you always see this age range fagging it, looking ****ed etc etc.

Whats your motivation? See your children past their 20th birthday?

Lets say you live until your 80. Who wants 20-30yrs of a poorer quality life shuffling, popping alot of daily meds etc?

I'd love to be still riding my bike in my 60's - road or mtb.