[Closed] Stopping Smoking

Keep it up bwfc.

I've stopped a few times in the past. No patches, gum etc, just stopped. First 3-4 days are the hardest. Tried substituting Penguin biccies for fags the first time - ended up costing more. Then used carrots which made my poo orange. I'm due to stop again soon, but need to get rid of my bag of green first.

I think I've finally done it! Having been a serial quitter for goodness knows how long I think I have finally found a solution that works for me. I tried Alan Carr, all nicotine replacement products and was heavily motivated by Team Awesome and the smoking thread last year. However none of it worked. At the beginning of year I tried herbal tobacco to replace the rollies and the special rollies in the evening. At first I carried on smoking the stuff as I would have done with tobacco but slowly it became less and less as all it did was make the house smell like a bonfire. It did satisfy the craving momentarily though (probably more the habit than the need for nicotine). I went away for a week with two heavy smokers and succumbed thrice but since I have been back, a few weeks now, I have smoked nothing at all, not even the good stuff. I get the odd craving but they dimish very quickly now. It seems to have also made me drink less too.

So, probably not everyone's solution but it seems to be working for me. Honey Rose Honeyblend if anyone is interested.

...keep up the good work quitters.

I'm quite liking the idea of the Honeyrose thing - what do they taste like?

The key to stopping is that you really have to want to stop otherwise you won't.

I won't lie...it was horendous. I hated it. Felt like I was drugged up...

I had vertigo for a week after I gave up. Could not understand people speaking and I don't think I was all that clever speaking either. That was cold turkey method (went to bed a smoker, woke up a non smoker). Real bad shape for a week.

After explaining to people around me why I was out of it, and avoiding people who smoked while I was tender - it got better day by day. Now 18 months on brain is back to normal (without the nictoine highs), and I love being a non smoker.

Stopping smoking was the best gift I have ever been given, shame my buddy had to die of the big C - to give me that gift.

You can overcome, have faith, stay strong and do not give in. Good luck. 😉

I'm quite liking the idea of the Honeyrose thing - what do they taste like?

Odd if I am honest and not as good as tobacco unfortunately. It tastes kind of sweetish, a bit flowery. Smells like a bonfire though. Careful with it though, I have burned more holes in my clothes than I have in all the time I have smoked. Still, I'd thoroughly recommend it to help kick the habit.

I'm thinking of mixing some normal baccy in with that Honeyrose, then gradually reducing the quantity - wonder if that'll work?

I'm thinking of mixing some normal baccy in with that Honeyrose, then gradually reducing the quantity - wonder if that'll work?

Dunno, but I suspect it's going to be fun finding out... 🙂

I gave up the day after I started at the age of 8 yrs old

borrowed my dads pipe and was so ill I thought I was going to die
that was enough to make me never want to try again .

unlike beer Dad said I wont like it its an acquired taste He was right I didnt like the first few but it didnt put me off trying more 😛

World's smallest nicotine addict:

Well its over 24 hours and i have had two. Helped by the sudden announcement that my smoking partner at work has quite. Which came as a shock, as she smoked like a chimney.

She's on patches, i just think thats prolonging the agony.

Bought some Honeyrose baccy today - it doesn't taste anywhere near as bad as I feared. In actual fact it doesn't really have much taste at all. I hope this plan works!

I'm at about week 10 now. Went cold turkey, after week 4 the cravings stopped. Had a pang at week 8 but just ignored it.
I found drinking water (the colder the better) really helped with the cravings and just keeping calm and thinking about it instead of being panicked and thinking I needed one.
I'm convinced it's done now. I don't like the smell of them, it doesn't cross my mind to buy any and the thought of inhaling smoke seems daft to me. I'm also liking having so much money to play with.
Good luck and just keep plodding. The days soon turn into weeks.

after week 4 the cravings stopped

You didnt smoke though did you? Give yourself a little reward for that (not a fag!) you deserve it.
Keep thinking like this, small goals and rewards for doing well.
NRT can work but it really does prolong the process IMO. If you think you can, try to go without it.

Ooh, that's a result already - having been smoking the herbal mixed with a tiny bit of real baccy since lunchtime, I thought I'd treat myself to a "real" rollie before bed, and I've had two drags on it and put it out! I don't like it! Woo hoo 🙂

When you are gagging for one, just tell yourself that "this shall pass" and the cravings will eventually, it may take a little bit of time, but they will go 🙂

Yeah, best thing I read was that all cravings pass after 5-10 minutes regardless. This is true. Except after most of a bottle of red wine...

That's now 8 days of the Honeyrose stuff - the first few days I did mix in some real baccy, but the last few days it's just been Honeyrose - so I guess I'm off nicotine now, and no reason really to keep smoking the Honeyrose, apart from out of habit?

Good stuff m'lady. I keep a packet with me for emergencies. Not needed it yet.

Well done Lady G.

Keep up the good work 🙂

This weekend is, I think, the time to ditch the Honeyrose - then I'll be totally clean 🙂

This weekend is, I think, the time to ditch the Honeyrose - then I'll be totally clean 🙂

Quit smoking after several attempts, some of which even lasted a couple of years! Social breaks at work were the worst. Finally cut mu smoking down to 20 a week, but they were all smoked between 7 and 11pm on a monday night playing pool! Eventually quit pool for 4 years while back at uni, and never missed them. Even back playing now and still dont miss them, been 8 years now! Good luck fella...

Update - I'm still off the cigs - so that's been, errrm, two or three or four weeks now 🙂
How's other folks doing?

Excellent stuff... Keep it up.

I've had unfortunate experiences with stopping smoking. Going cold turkey in the past has always been the most effective. But you need a time slot to do it in and personal issues can get in the way.

Patches: I sweat too much, they fall off
Lozenges: white crap round the lips
Gum: hmm, I think there's a corellation with fillings/crowns loosening over time
Zyban: almost lost my job. Jaw chattering, couldn't stop talking, vision affected. Many stories of zyban/champix psychosis (and some deaths)

Tried vaping? Electronic cigarettes, just use lessening nicotine strength oils over time and then go cold turkey when you feel ready. In the meantime you're cutting out the majority of the cancer causing stuff, don't smell like an ashtray, can vape indoors the majority of places. If we assume it's part nicotine addiction, part social addiction, then it's a quandary with vaping because you're playing with your hands, breathing in on the unit and then blowing out smoke.

http://ukvapers.com/forum/44-new-user-questions/ FAQ's questions on vaping.

Basic kit from UK dealers that imo 'works':

http://www.liberty-flights.co.uk/product.asp?id=98 quality ego-t passthrough unit. battery lasts 6-9 months perhaps.
http://www.liberty-flights.co.uk/product.asp?id=165 vision clearomisers - wash once a week and last 1-2 months
http://www.thebestecigarette.co.uk/e-liquid/e-liquid-refil cheap Dekang oil. I use 3-4ml a day.

Tried vaping? Electronic cigarettes, just use lessening nicotine strength oils over time and then go cold turkey when you feel ready. In the meantime you're cutting out the majority of the cancer causing stuff,

You are actually cutting out [b]All of the cancer causing stuff[/b]

Happy days.

But you need a time slot to do it in and personal issues can get in the way.

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May I suggest you do a bit of research before jumping on the "troll" bandwagon?
There are lots of people who understand the addiction and simply put out the last cigarette. That's it. No fuss. No drama.
If you'd rather believe the marketing men who tell you it's difficult and you'll never succeed without product A,B or C.
But hey, what would I know? I only gave up ten or so years agono withdrawal symptoms, no cravings (just like many others).

Have you tried snake oil? I believe that might work.

4 months smoke free for me. 😀

don_simon I already stated cold turkey is the best method.

However, I'm sure many people here will agree that the first month is hell and the risk to employment and relationships is to consider.

You seem to be giving out advice to just go cold turkey and everything will be okay. The snake oil here is you acting like a revival preacher and leaving a trail of devestation in your wake with no responsibility.

The snake oil here is you acting like a revival preacher and leaving a trail of devestation in your wake with no responsibility.

I've had unfortunate experiences with stopping smoking. Going cold turkey in the past has always been the most effective. But you need a time slot to do it in and personal issues can get in the way.

always the most effective?? Not sure how always and effective work in the same sentence about quitting.
I gave up nearly five months ago now. Have to agree with don (although Alan Carr didn't do it for me) it was getting my head ready that worked, my way was; No excuses, just get it done. Then it will be over far sooner than patch/placebo prolongation. I imagined it as a hangover and realised I'd would be over soon, and sure enough, with far less stress than I imagined, it was.

Each to their own though. Still really pleased with myself. Saved four hundred quid too.

Everyone's different don. What somebody really needs when he is giving up is a smartarse telling him that he's just some marketing man's shmuck. That really helps. Lots. 🙄

You need to step back from the site for a bit tbh matey. The last few days have seen you get into row after row after row.

Unless that's what you're here for. 😐

The last few days have seen you get into row after row after row.

deferred nicotine withdrawal innit..

When my son was born I stopped. Dont seem to have saved any money with this method though!

You need to step back from the site for a bit tbh matey. The last few days have seen you get into row after row after row.

I reckon Andrew Lansley is missing a trick here. All he needs to do is appoint Simon as a "Smoking Tsar" and Bobs-yer-aunties-live-in-lover: a smoke free country!

I've heard some namby pamby psychologists suggest that smug, self-satisfied preachyness may not be the best way to deal with complex issues involving addiction, buy hey... WTF do they know?

A good kick up the arse from the don! Job done!

Joking aside and with all due respect binners. How many times have [i]you[/i] tried giving up? 😀

Personally whilst knowing all about the addiction I like to use the lowest dose of nictoine gum at a couple of key times to keep me from being an utter shit bag for the first few days of not smoking. By day 3 I don't need them, nor do I need ciggies.

I just have to remember that I can't reminisce over lazy student days, ever, as this will result in the same 2-3 month smoking cycle that it always does.

Just thought I'd resurrect this one, as I'm now over 2 weeks into packing in. I just went cold turkey. i was away for the week with the kids, so I was out of my normal routine. Seemed like an ideal opportunity

I had a brief lapse on Friday on account of being pretty spectacularly drunk. Oops! 😳

Any further progress to report from the quitees. Hows it going with everyone. Any further tips pointers?

good man over the actuall addiction now just time for the MTFU and ignore that voice time

It takes a while but one day you will not only not think about it you will wonder why you ever smoked in the first place

Not had a smoke since December the 1st last year and have been off the Champix since New Year's Day 2012.

So far I have lost the weight I put on during the quit process and am now down to about 92 kilos from my pre-quit 95 and my max at about 98 kilos. I am now no longer even wanting a smoke in an even abstract sense and the smell of smoke makes me feel sick. I'm even able to smell and taste stuff again, which is nice.

Tips? Don't put yourself in a position where you feel you need to smoke because you used to. If it means avoiding the pub for a while, so be it. It will save you money in the long run and will also keep you away from the temptation of having a smoke with a pint.

Other than that, keep at it. The physical addiction will pass quite quickly, it's your mind that will keep you hooked. Be strong.

Well done binners!

Keep it up.

It's almost 2 and a half years for me now, but I still regularly think about cigarettes. There is no desire to smoke, but thinking about smoking still happens.

I don't think that is ever going to change for me.

The last time was this morning whilst walking down the stairs to the train station. The thought soon passed though.