Smoking

[Mango]

The warning on my packet of Benson & Hedges says "smoking is addictive". So true, are those words.

Why cant tobaco companies add folded instructions on how to stop smoking instead of telling us the bleeding obvious.

I'm a smoker but wish there was a sure way of giving the habbit up for good.

I know I'm not the only pilot that smokes and would like some words of wisdom from those that have managed to give the cancer sticks up (I've tried many times).

cant wait,

Mango

[HotDog]

I was suffering from another bout of recurring tonsilitis, which was so painfull I couldn't even think of smoking a fag, let alone do it. For a whole week, I couldn't and didn't smoke. That was some achievement for a twenty a day 34 year old. When I got over my bout of tonsilitis, I seriously questioned my smoking habit. If I could go a whole week without a fag, why not forever? It became a game, who is stronger? I carried a pack of Marlboros and my gold Dunhill lighter in my pocket and in spite of all the jealous urgings of my mates, resisted the craving to light up. In the end I won! In my opinion, if you make up your mind to quit, the only way is cold turkey and willpower. Best of luck. HD.

[???pax]

Firstly I'm no pilot, but....

...I went through many "pretend" give-ups where I would go out with none and end up running to the fag machine at about 2130 gasping for one. Finally got bored of pretending and decided to do the real thing. That was just over a year ago and I have not lapsed once. The hardest part is getting used to yourself as a non-smoker as you have to re-adjust yourslef in those situations that you associate with smoking e.g the pub, after dinner etc..

Apart from the obvious increase in spare cash in your pocket,and all the issues regarding your health, think of it as a challenge to yourself. Have a battle with yourself. It's tough but worth it in the end.

Good luck.

[long final]

Mango,

If there was only one thing I could convince a smoker it would be that IT GOES AWAY.

There are many people out there who can tell you this, so I will keep it short.

You have to want to stop - really. Use any method you can, read all you can about the tobacco industry and its operators. Consider the blatent facts - these people are getting rich by killing you - now call me sensitive, but I dont like people taking the p**s and having a damn good laugh at my expense.

I smoked 40-60 a day. I was convince my life could never be as enjoyable without a cig - I was very wrong. That was three years ago, I havn't had one during that time, and I can honestly say my quality of life is many times better.

Be honest with yourself regarding what you are doing. Educate yourself to how the industry manipulates you. Get the facts and try to consider your smoking logically.

I tried many times, and failed before I decided to find out all I could about smoking BEFORE I tried to stop. I really used to believe that stopping smoking was the hardest thing I would ever have to do. In the end it was one of the easiest things, yet the proudest thing I ever did. ( Doesnt that say something !! <img src="confused.gif" border="0"> )

I'm not an ex smoking preacher ( you did ask after all ), and I have the greatest smypathy with smokers who want to stop. I wish I could express how miserable smoking made me feel at times and how wonderful it is having beaten the weed.

One book I read that I would seriously recommend is by Alan Carr and called How to give up smoking. It does make you look at it all in a different way - it helped me. Remeber in the end though, the only person who can make you stop is you.

Anyhow, outa the pulpit I stepeth. Good luck Mango, when you've stopped the one thing you will not beleive is why you did it for so long. And one more thing, it always confused me why the tobacco companies were the ones telling me that it was so hard to give up <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

Regards,. .LF

[DVR6K]

Well, my old man has been smoking for the best part of his 50 years on the planet and decided one day to stop. He went to a "clinic" in central london, paid 144 quid I think, and an hour and a half after he went in he came out and has not smoked a cigarette since (a good year or so I reckon).

There´s no dodgy hypnosis or anything it´s just the bloke presenting the facts to you as you smoke during the course and then he tells you to throw you fags in one corner of the room and lighters in the other and gives you a quick talk and bob´s your father´s brother.

Give it a shot, 144 quid is nothing compared to how much he´s saved.

[M.Mouse]

In my experience it is no good thinking you ought to give up but more important to really want to.

I smoked from age 13 to 26. I woke up one morning had my normal cough and wheeze, thought this is stupid. Gave my cigarettes to my then wife and stopped.

I guess it is like anything in life if you really want to you will. Bonus is you won't stink anymore and you'll feel better!

Good luck.

[Mango]

Hmmm, I would like to thank you all for the posts. I agree that the willpower needs to come from within. I have managed to stop in the past, but unlike most of you, seem to take it up a few months later.

Long Final, I do like your approach regarding tobaco companies making fortunes out of the slow death of their punters. Seems strange does it not...they are killing the very person that feeds them??? Strang sort of policy.

Hot Dog, sickness is always a great way to stop. I've used that one before. Interesting that you were able to carry the tools of mass destruction in your pocket?

???Pax, getting used to being a non smoker is so true. I think thats the part that gets me every time. I think, not smoking, is the easy part (I've done it many times before). Its the, what do I do now bit, that needs to be mastered. I

It's interesting that most people just give it up, get over it and move on.

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

Mango. There is one other point, apart from the fact it will probably kill you, and that is to non-smokers you stink! It doesn't matter what smokers think, they and their houses actually smell dreadful to others. My wife and I will not have smokers in our house and we won't visit theirs..

Like most workplaces, LTCC has a non-smoking policy so those on the weed have to go to special rest-rooms or stooge around outside in the rain whilst they satisfy their cravings. On return to the work place they STINK - their breath stinks, their clothes stink... Think about it long and hard.

I wish you luck. Like most kids, I had a few fags at school but the taste was so dreadful I packed it in.

[Duke of Burgundy]

Heathrow Director and M.Mouse have hit the nail firmly on the head with the "stink" issue. I gave up twenty years ago when our kids were very young and I realised at last how bad it is for your health and I wanted to be around to see them grow up.

But it wasn`t until I stopped that I realised how anti-social it really is. I hadn`t really smelt a smoker before and I found being in their presence quite disgusting. I like a drink as much as anybody but rarely go into pubs these days because of the smoky smell both in the premises and the following morning in my clothes.

So Mango if for no other reason than avoiding being a pariah among your non-smoking friends give it up.

Best of luck.

[MajorMadMax]

Mango

Smoking is a problem that takes care of itself. The more you smoke, the quicker the problem gets solved.

Best advice is to spend all your money on beer, then you won't have any left over for the cigs! <img src="tongue.gif" border="0">

Seriously, you have to see someone dying from lung cancer to get the full effect of a lifetime of smoking. It isn't pretty.

If you can discipline yourself to fly an airplane, you can stop smoking. Just quit, throw those friggin' cigarettes in the trash and quit! When you get an urge for a cigarette, go to the gym and workout until the urge goes away. You'll be doing yourself two favors that way. And you can send me half of the money you save from not smoking!

Best of luck, but remember, the life you're saving will be your own!

[ 02 February 2002: Message edited by: MajorMadMax ]</p>

[gingernut]

Your over your first hurdle. You actually want to stop, and you sound fairly serious about it. . .Your addicted to a drug more powerful than heroin, and you are not alone (about 25% of adults smoke). There is no magic secret, but here are a few tips.

Give up when the time is right. After a stressful day, nothing beats a pint and a fag. Overcoming this will take all your determination.

Try making a smoking diary. Identify "danger" times and habits. You can plan to change things around a little. (Remember you will be changing your life !)

Think about "craving management." Initially, cravings will be intense, frequent and long lasting. There will be periods in between when you feel normal. Try and find something to do during the craving, eg. walk, drink water, brush teeth, and tell yourself it will pass. Nothing will take the craving away, other than a fag though.

Eventually, the cravings become shorter, less frequent and less intense. Sometimes the odd one will try and trip you up. (eg when in the pub)

Talk to your GP re. NRT/ Zyban etc. Could help if you are determined. Careful if flying with zyban, may have to tell AME.

Try quitline on 0800 00 22 00

Good luck. Don't despair. You will do it eventually.

[Capt. XXXX]

I saw something in terminal 1 at Man the other day, funnily enough in the smokers area, called Stop Smoking Now, and I think they had a web site with a similar name. The lass there gave me a mouthwash, and then told me to try a cig, which made me feel horrible. There is also a mouthspray which kills the cravings. The pack was usually £40, but they were doing it for £20, and thats supposed to last for 8 weeks. Good luck!

[MaximumPete]

Two step-sons,VERY strong willed in their mid thirties, gave up smoking overnight.

They want their kids to watch them grow old and enjoy retirement. It beats going to the cemetary in the middle of winter with a handful of flowers.

Have faith and the best of luck!!

MP

[polzin]

It will be a lot easier to quit after you first heart attack.

Friend of mine was hypnotized and stopped. I asked him it he had cravings and he said yes but only a little and he had enough will power to stop.

[Warrior Chief]

Most NHS hospitals now operate a total non-smoking poilcy for staff on-site. However, when these policies first started some ten to fifteen years ago, most hospitals had to provide a "staff smoking room" to prevent mass rioting! <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

But the most successful implementation of this that I came across in the various hospitals that I worked in whilst I was training was:

Small room, no furniture, no air conditioning, no windows, and rarely cleaned...

... but most important of all, the room was situated in the entrance lobby of the mortuary!

<img src="eek.gif" border="0">

I've never seen so many staff give up smoking so quickly.

Incidentally, next time you visit a hospital, look at the floor around the entrance doors. Maybe the smell and the mess all those butts cause will put you off. <img src="mad.gif" border="0">

[ 16 February 2002: Message edited by: Warrior Chief ]</p>

[Diesel8]

Capt.XXXX,

question for you, might this outfit have a website or something. Live in the US and supposedly a Dentist in Buffalo came up with something similar, but it has yet to be marketed in the US.

Since I endeavour to quit as well, made a bet with the neighbor, any thing would be of help.

Thanks,

D8

[twistedenginestarter]

I went on holiday to Minorca and couldn't find a tobacconist for a few days (that sold cigars). I realised that I had no craving in this situation ie my body could be fooled. I thus made a plan an executed it two years later.

I went on holiday and at each craving time - morning, lunch etc I drank alcohol (as you can on holiday) and ate food. These sensations somewhat overlap with smoking. I made two weeks without a smoke and by then was able to return normal life. From then on I had a sandwich or something to counteract the residual craving. I put on quite a bit of weight but never smoked again for maybe 10 years. Even now I only have the odd one and could go for days without even thinking about one. Weight is easier to correct (although not trivial).

You have to understand your body is like head office management - much clever than you. But you can out-manouevre it if you confuse it.