Giving Up Smoking.. Help Wanted!

[Paintbox]

How can I give up the dreaded weed? tobacco that is..

Down to 25 X 1mg a day, have tried to quit altogether, and have gone 6 months once. Seems the moment something awful or something really good happens I'm back on them again.

Any "quitters" in here? How'd you do it? Any suggestions I'd be grateful.

http://www.stopstart.freeserve.co.uk/smilie/hatthing.gif

[BlueEagle]

It is all to do with will power, nothing else!:E

A variety of 'help aids' are available on the market, quite expensive too but they are simply crutches.

Once you have made your mind up you don't smoke then don't smoke! Pack all the ashtrays away, get rid of any cigarettes you may still have and then save the money you would have spent and plan to use it for something useful - you will be pleasantly surprised at how much you are saving, (I got a colour TV).

There are a whole stack of things in life that you simply wouldn't dream of doing - make smoking one of them.

There are no easy answers, as already said, it is will power and a desire to feel more healthy.

Best of luck!:D

[Louie the Fly]

Giving up smoking is easy.
I've done it hundreds of times!:*

[T_richard]

I gave up smoking in 1987 the night I got engaged. Started again 12 years later when I found out she wanted a divorce. I quit on 12/31/02 and was fine for three months, multiple stresses all hit at once and I started to sneak em again. BUT since I had announced to all my friends and all the bartenders that I had quit, it was hard to sart up again. There is no secret to quitting, I just can't ever have another cigarette EVER. I take zyban to ease the crunchies it helps, but I realize that I can't ever have another.

For what its worth, when I quit the first time, I was relieved to be free of the expense, smell, and all the other stuff thats part of the ugly side of smoking. I look forward to getting there again. Keep trying.

Good Luck

[reynoldsno1]

Gave up 16 years ago as well - you just have to grit your teeth and bear it. About 9 month to 1 year after quitting I found the hardest. I can't stand cigarette smoke now - and seem to be able to smell it from miles away!

[Hostie from Hell]

look at jetblast, few weeks back there was alot of useful advise on how to give up, hope it is of some help;)

[epreye]

Best help I ever got was from my Doc!

"I will sign you off this time, but if you come back in 6 months, sorry! no medical"

Made up my mind that I don't smoke anymore, hard for about three weeks, but stayed determined. Now I hate the smell, dirty ashtrays, lingering whiff on clothes, smoky breath....yeah I'm a reformed smoker, a real pain in the ass where the weed is concerned.

If you are offered a cigarette, say "I don't smoke", not "oh! I just gave them up" less pressure and makes you feel a little better. Stick at it.:ok:

[skinteastwood]

Try "The Easyway" by Allen Carr. Lots of my mates have used it and the success rate is high.

www.allencarrseasyway.com/main.htm

[acmi48]

gave up in 1996-got a nicorette pen type thingy with a cartridge and just sucked it all day long.. pretty soon i did nt need the cartridge and bang..it just happened..its something to do with your hands .. after that even when u feel like it the craving goes after a minute or two and for the rest of the time you dont even think about..they say the system begins to flush after 24 hours and in 7 days you have a gained a day on your life

good luck.. oh reckon i also saved about 8400 quid possibly??

now to sort out that last beer before home problem

[wobblyprop]

You're not giving up. Giving up implies you need it. What you want to do is stop somking.

Helped a friend of mine by thinking this way.

[Saab Dastard]

Paintbox,

I quit 13 years ago (took 3 attempts) from 20-30 Camels a day.

The thing I really remember was that, after the first couple of weeks when the physical addiction was broken (that was the easy bit!), I had to seriously change my habits to avoid those occasions / situations where the mental craving was at it's highest.

I avoided pubs for (quite) a while, I got up after eating instead of sitting back and craving the delightful post-prandial ciggy. It worked.

I also allowed myself any food anytime anywhere to get over the cravings - black olives and tortilla chips seemed to hit the back of the throat in a vaguely satisfactory way!

As others have said, having a specific (tangible) use for the money you save is another good thing - I spent my money on learning to fly gliders.

Scare yourself - go visit a cancer ward. My mother (still) works at a hospital that specialises in treating cancer patients and she was happy to facilitate a visit for her son, believe me!

Look forward to being a smug b*****d ex-smoker!

Whatever works for you, I wish you every success

Good luck!

SD

[SuperOwl]

The way I did it was to avoid situations where I would be offered a cigarette, for example the pub. But what I found was that after a few months of not smoking, I accepted the offer of a cigarette and found that when I took that first draw, I found it repulsive and immediately put the cigarette out. I was a little annoyed for accepting the cig but at the same time was so glad to find that having once yearned for them, I could not stand them anymore.

I know that the cravings can make you feel bad at times, but think how good you WILL feel when you can say that you HAVE given up!

Best of luck.

[Sensible]

I gave up smoking dozens of times, then one day after visiting the doc for a cough problem, he gave me a prescription that he said "would clear up the problem very quickly" On my way to the chemist, I looked at the prescription to see how many items were listed and on the otherwise blank prescription form was written "stop smoking immediately" I took the hint and the next day told everybody that I had given up smoking and that if they saw smoke issueing from me then I was on fire and would they please put out the fire with a bucket of water! Being in the construction industry, I knew that my collegues would assist in that way. :ok: I then took to dental floss, mouthwash and breath fresheners, the flossing replace the ritual lighting up aftera meal, the mouthwash/breath fresheners replaced the taste which is often why smokers light up a weed directly after a drink or meal.

[Loose rivets]

From a crusader

Smoking ruined 40 years of my mother’s life. The last 15 years, my wife and I would regularly lug O2 cylinders to her flat and dole out the nebulizer refills. She was a highly intelligent person who gave up 20 years ago……but it was too late.

Just say - I don’t smoke.

However, you will not only want to eat more, and you will also convert more from the food you eat (to fat if you are not careful). It’s a double whammy. Don’t use food as a prop.

Good luck.

[Laurienz]

Good luck on giving up smoking.

I am a non smoker so don't know what its like to give up. However, I have worked for 12 years in casualty and for some time in health promotion instructing in smoking cessation. As such I have not only seen the results of smoking diseases but witnessed incidents like people who have had a cancerous lung removed sitting outside the hospital smoking; people with a tracheostomy smoking through the hole in their neck and people bringing asthmatic children into the department whilst smoking above them! Children of smokers are 10 times more likely to be smokers themselves.

Different methods of quitting suit different people - if you smoke for the nicotine rush then you need the patches to wean yourself off it. A friend of mine swears by the nose spray that gives an immediate nicotine rush. If you miss not doing something with your hands then go for the replacement cigarettes. Then there is always Zyban. Apparently it works pretty quickly and works on the messages to the brain so removes the desire to smoke. However, I have heard reports that it can make you very depressed - although withdrawal from smoking may give the same symptoms!

The first couple of weeks are hell but it gets better after that. You need to plan an appropriate day in advance, one where you are not likely to be stressed and tell everyone. If you go anywhere new tell them you're a 'non smoker'.

Why not keep us updated on how it's going on the site?

Laurie

:ok:

[Firestorm]

I decided to stop being a smoker, and most of the process was about wanting to be free of the control of a stupid little packet of paper tubes. Have you ever noticed how those things CONTROL your life. You can not leave the house without them, everytime you go somewhere you have to stop en route to get some more, etc, etc etc.

As someone else said it is mostly about will power. But I felt I needed something to reinforce my decision and settled on hypnotism. It didn't cost alot, but cost enough to make me think twice about whether I would ever want to have a fag again if I went through with it. I had the hypnotism course just over 3 years ago, and haven't even nearly wanted one since.

I would like to say that stopping was the best thing I have ever achieved in my life, if it wasn't for the fact that starting was the stupidest.

I wish you every sort of strength in stopping. You can do it: lesser men and women have achieved more.

[gingernut]

Paintbox, what people tend to forget is that the old weed tastes and makes you feel sooooooo good !

Or that's how your mind seems to work.

Actually, the nicotine doesn't make you feel good, the withdrawal makes you feel lousy, the fag just helps you feel normal again. That's why that first one in the morning tastes so good.

Try and steer clear of the doom and gloom folk. You are addicted to a chemical as powerful (and ? as dangerous) as heroin, and you need help with your addiction, not telling off.

It looks like you have reached the most important stage, you actually want to give up. There are some good hints and tips contained within this thread, and if you perform a search within pprune, you will find lots of solid advice.

There are many interventions which may be of use to you. Nicotine replacement therapy (gum/inhalator/patches/lozengers) and zyban (a drug which helps with cravings) can help. Accupuncture, hypnosis, herbal therapy are not likely to help.

I'd be a little careful with zyban (chemical name buprpion) if you are currently flying. It can induce fits in some succeptible people, and I expect that it is contra-indicated for pilots.

Have a chat with your local community pharmacist/GP/practice nurse. Smoking cessation is meant to be a government priority, and there is lots of help out there. Good luck.

[Paintbox]

Thanks everyone, bit of a surprise with all the replys! I'm going to go back and have a more thorough read later. What I've done so far is a visit to my doctor. He's sent me to a psychologist and have had two sessions of hypnosis. Two weeks and one day... and am not missing them so far, I have to do a few minutes relaxation first thing in the morning with some visualisation I've been taught. So far so good and have not been tempted.

I am going back to see the replys later..thanks in advance.

[slim_slag]

Hypnosis is good stuff. Learn to self-hypnotise and it will help you relax and provide all sorts of other beneficial effects too.

I tried many times to give up the foul habit but it's real tough. Eventually I realised the problem was I really quite enjoyed it, and I was so totally addicted I could not believe myself when I said I would never have another cigarette again. Essentially I knew I was fooling myself when I decided to give it up, again.

So I told myself I'd have another one tomorrow. To not have another cigarette today was do-able, in fact it made sense and I could believe myself. When tomorrow came, I fooled myself into thinking I'd have another one the day after. Tomorrow never comes!

So I was able to do all the normal things, never got cravings, and a year later when somebody offered me a ciggy I thought I had cracked it, and accepted. Within a week I was on twenty a day and hooked for another year.

So I did the tomorrow thing again, and it worked.

So never, ever, ever have another. I know very few people who have actually never had another cigarette after giving up. Some are "lucky" in that they can control their input, most sucumb now and again . I never could control it, so best thing for me to do is avoid them.

Strange thing is, when we go to one of those nasty smoky pubs they say we smoke several second-hand-smoke cigarettes, but I don't crave for them. So for me, and so I assume others, it is also a mind-game battle to be won. Other person's mileage may vary.

Gingernut,

You are addicted to a chemical as powerful (and ? as dangerous) as heroin

Nicotine is far more addictive than heroin. I've seen a few heroin addicts brought into hospital with nasty complications of their habit (usually a septicaemia due to poor injection procedures), and their heroin addiction is the easy part to manage. Animal studies would suggest the same.

I've also been taught that quite a few people get "addicted" to the diamorph given for pain relief after some surgeries. It is relatively easy to ween them off in a day or so, just don't let them know about it :) Don't have a link to that, might be one of these old wive's tales.

Personally I think heroin is pretty safe in itself, but it does immense sociological (is that a real word?) harm to people. I used to walk around the streets with it in the old bag when doing house visits as a student, not sure if that sort of thing is done anymore. I also think I remember carrying twelve winchesters of high grade diamorphine around when I worked as a pharmacy boy in the hospital during a summer vacation. Always wondered how much that would be worth on the street :)

[ratsarrse]

I thought this little book was quite useful:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0717132706/ref=sr_aps_books_1_1/202-5419754-8210240

Not too much bullsh!t, well-reasoned ideas and approach. Costs about the same as 20 fags...

[Synthetic]

Paintbox

Firstly the very best of luck from someone else in a similar position. I posted this on Jetblast a few months ago here (http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?threadid=84380&highlight=smoking) and a number of people were very helpful, BUT the bottom line is that it is down to pure will power.

One trick I use is to make sure that I always have my baccy, papers and lighter with me. I know that this flies in the face of conventional wisdom, but I find that being without the stress caused by knowing I can't have a fag helps me not to want one!

[PilotsPal]

I've just been on a trip to the US - very helpful place for giving up smoking. Not many places where you can smoke, which does make it easier.

Only two weeks on but am doing OK. The odd cravings at work are still hitting but manageable - just.

[5milesbaby]

I stopped smoking this year at the start of January. It was about my 7th or 8th attempt, but this time was different and well planned. i had read most of the Alan Carr book, but it was the change of lifestyle that helped the most.

Never say you are giving up, its only psychological, but it makes you think EVERY time you correct someone why you don't smoke. You will always be a smoker, just currently not participating so have STOPPED. I was fortunate to have gone on holiday around the time I felt best to stop, the other 9 people were all non-smokers, we stayed in a non-smoking chalet, and I asked for no-one to mention it unless I did first. 9 people supporting you was great and rare, but still it was tough. Willpower is the ultimate goal but tayloring your life to suit this is imperitive. Let everyone close to you know you are trying to stop, and fully define their role in this. Their help can be critical, by either constantly asking, or avoiding the subject completely. So you miss a few months down the pub with your mates, better than missing the last 15 years with them.

If you don't succeed don't think it'll never happen. Just plan the next time differently and try to find something new to interrupt the thoughts. I totally disagree with the 'aids' as I think they only move the dependency rather than stop it, however they can be easier to cut out so if these work, just remember that its a 2 stage effort, and keep trying. NEVER feel a failure if the cravings get the better either, just try to screw them by lasting longer next time, feel the strength from combatting the weed.

Lastly, NEVER take the advice of a non-smoker. As much as they think they know, they will never ever feel the same cravings as you will for nearly all of your life. GOOD LUCK :ok:

[Just an other number]

But if you want a laugh while you cough, try these babies (http://www.theonion.com/onion3325/nicarest.html)

[no username]

Just stop the habit, everytime you are in for a need of nicotine, just think, ITS ONLY A HABIT>

Nice to join the club of non smokers!
LIVE:D

[lamplighter]

A man dates his quitting smoking from a day on which he had gone to pick up his children from the city library.

A thunderstorm greeted him as he arrived there; and at the same time a search of his pockets disclosed a familiar problem: he was out of cigarettes.

Glancing back at the library, he caught a glimpse of his children stepping out in the rain, but he continued around the corner, certain that he could find a parking space, rush in, buy the cigarettes, and be back before the children got seriously wet.

The view of himself as a father who would "actually leave the kids in the rain while he ran after cigarretes" was humiliating, and he quit smoking.

[fireflybob]

Find a good qualified hypnotherapist and you will kick the habit withina a couple of sessions. Good Luck!

[rags]

Adiction stops after about a month of not smoking. AFTER that is is all about killing the habit.

Ex smoker (gave up 25 years ago but still dreaming about it)

[PilotsPal]

I'm still hanging on in there despite last week being a complete bitch, stress-wise.

[strafer]

You're looking at it the wrong way. 'Withdrawl', 'giving up' etc are not things that affect non-smokers. The physical addiction will be gone after 48 hours, so if you're going back after that, it's because some part of you is saying 'Why should I deny myself something that I enjoy?'. Ask yourself whether your non-smoking mates enjoy going to the pub/restaurant etc less than you because they don't smoke. Or whether the part of your life when you weren't a smoker (only the first 11 years in my case!) were worse because you didn't think about tabs. How many cigarettes do you really enjoy anyway?

I smoked 3 packs a day for 25 years. Six months later, I don't even think about them. It's just a state of mind, my man. Good luck.

[loz from glasgow]

well, I've never really started smoking, don't see what the big deal is personally...

good luck anyway big man! :ok:

[gdnhalley]

Paintbox
I worked out how much I was spending on tobacco, then opened a new bank account and paid in that ammount each week. I paid for my flying lessons with that money and any time I had the urge to have one I thought "would I rather fly at the w/e or have one now?".
It doesn't have to be flying, just something you really want.
Certainly worked for me, I've now got a few hours and a frozen atpl.
good luck
gdn

[PilotsPal]

I'm still persevering but have to confess to a lapse 10 days ago.

God, it was good....

[purr]

From 40 a day to nil.Yes it is possible this is how I did it .

1.) First study your smoking pattern write down when/under what circumstances you smoked .How many times, did you smoke impulsively,do you tend to lite a smoke after a drink or a heavy meal.After/before a flight.

2)Now study your own pattern and build up a resolve to attack a pattern.One pattern at a time.

3)Do it.

I t took me one long year to stop smoking then started and stopped a couple of times.Not tried one for 6 years now .
:cool:

[D McQuire]

Haven't read the rest of this thread but I gave up the ciggies 5 years ago with Allan Carr's "Easy Way to Give Up Smoking" book(published by Penguin). It worked for me and I recommended to 6 buddies and 5 of them are still off them.

No hocus pocus, no trickery it works. The author assumes you know they are killing you and costing you a fortune. Read it in 2 or 3 nights. Smoke while you read it - Mr Carr recommends this! Uses logic and sense to explain how to get off them.

I think the book cost me a fiver (5 years ago) and has saved me about 5 grand and probably a lung.

Am I happy now - you f*ckin bet man :D :D :D :D :D :D

[iak001]

take the drug Zyban for 2 weeks and you'll never smoke again. It worked for me. Available in Europe by prescription although you might not be allowed to fly while taking the tablets....

[PilotsPal]

Zyban doesn't work for everyone and, if you're unlucky, the side effects can be seriously unpleasant. I had a word with my doctor about it and despite his commitment to stopping his patients from smoking, he was distinctly ambivalent about it.

[The Hedge]

My suggestion is to reward yourself for at least 3 months with the money saved by not smoking.

Give up for a week.....maybe a nice meal out somewhere. 3-4 weeks maybe a weekend away etc.

You need to add up how much you are spending and spend it on yourself on items you wouldn't usually buy. By spoiling yourself and having something nice will make you feel better.

Strange maybe, but worked for me.

Cheers

The Hedge

[VFE]

Can't be arsed to read all the posts previous to this one but I heard that the actual time your body is physically addicted to the nicotine is about two days I think. So, after two ciggie-free days you should no longer physically crave the smokes, any desire you feel for them after that is purely in your head and any psychological side effectc you feel from not smoking after that period *should* be handled with strong determination and inner strength to stop.

Sometimes removing ones self from their circle of friends who smoke and places where smoke is common is a good idea to assist in the early stages of quitting just like an alcoholic/drug addict is advised to change their circle of friends when trying to get sober/clean is a positive step.

I enjoy smoking when I'm having a drink (guess you might call me a social smoker) but I do go through phases when I smoke during the day too. I have at various times been a 20 a day man but after a while I began to notice the snotty nose, coughs and general crappy feeling so cut down with staggering ease.

Fundamental to quitting is having the desire to do so. If you wish to quit but still crave the vice you are trying to escape from then you don't really have the required desire as far as I can see.

I enjoy the times I smoke and feel fine compared to the 20 a day periods I went through. I think it's possible to sustain the pleasure derived from the occasional ciggie without being a sucker to the nicotine cravings which I personally have not found all that strong anyway.

VFE.

[VFR800]

Dude,

I likewise can't be bothered to read all the posts, but if you use all the so-called aids to giving up smoking you will spend as much as you do on fags ! Why do you think all these products have 'must be used in conjunction with willpower', 'cause they don't effin work, that's why!

You just have to stop, that's what I did (although I was in hospital for a couple of days with some 'orrid Malaysian bug, which helped ! !).

Sorry chap, but quitting is all in the mind. :cool:

[PilotsPal]

Hedge

My rewards to self are so far about three times the amount I would have spent on smoking.....

And as for the cravings, for some reason today has been a bad day. I've thought about wanting one about ten times so far.

[Skyking]

Just take a sabbatical to Calcutta , India for about 2 months between the months of Sept and Jan . After you have experienced the pollution here and begin coughing up Black Phlem , you will quit automatically !!!!

But on a serious note , Believe in yourself and god will give you the strength.

cheers
SK

[Tinstaafl]

My story: I smoked from pre-teenage years until 1 week before my 21st b'day. I remember in my late teens that I disliked breathing in chemicals eg fly spray, chemical odours etc so smoking was at odds with that. My brother had a new girlfriend who didn't smoke & he said he was going to quit. I thought that if he could do it so could I.

I was smoking ~1/2 to 1 pack of 25s per day, a bit more if partying. That worked out to ~1 / half hour so that's what I set myself: An absolute limit of 1 cig. no earlier than 30mins since the last cig AND it must be on the hour/half hour. If I missed that smoking window then I'd have to wait for the next one. I couldn't 'save' missed cigarettes. Use it then or lose it. I also would have to wait as long as possible in the morning for my 1st smoke, still using the appropriate time period though.

About half way throught the 1st day (Sunday) I found I was tolerating what pangs I got & bumped the period to 1/hour. They were similar to being hungry and ignoring feeling hungry. The next day I started on 1/hr but early on moved it to every 2 hrs then 3 hourly.

On the 3rd day (Tuesday) I had my 1st cig. about lunch time (and nearly drove myself of the road with the head rush I got :ooh: ) & then only had another couple of cigs. that day. Wednesday was my last cigarette.

I had one puff on a cigar a week later at my 21st b'day party & that's the last weed I've ever had.

For a few/several months after I'd habitually reach for a pack of cigarettes when doing activities where I'd previously smoked eg driving, reading, drinking. These were habitual actions & not cravings so I'd divert my attention for a little bit soon forget about it. The frequency deteriorated over time.

I'm not far off 38 yo now and find I now dislike tobacco smoke & avoid it when I can. I have no desire to smoke whatsoever. I still don't like breathing in or consuming chemicals & attribute it to that underlying reason.

Sad thing is that my brother got a new girlfriend and smokes to this day. An example that the motivation has to be internal and not external, I suppose.

Good luck to those stopping. I hope it goes as easy for you as it did for me.

[crack up]

I woke up one morning and realized that I had gone all nite without a cig and I was OK. A couple of hrs later, when I had the feeling of necessity, I realized that I had gone that long with out and I was still OK. This want on for a few weeks. That was 2 years ago, haven't had one since. I smoked for about 15 years prior, 1-2 packs a day. About $5K a year.

Another guy mentioned that it's about 9 months to a yr to really get over it. He's lucky.


Hang in there.

[PilotsPal]

I have to confess there has been a lapse. Usual scenario - it was a social situation and a friend had his pack and lighter out on the table in front of me. No excuses, I just took one. Well, it was two - but I'm over it now and back on track.

Have now become utterly addicted to manicures and professional nail care instead of smoking so I'm still poor but I do have fabulous fingers.

[McD]

"but I'm over it now and back on track"

PP, Great attitude and well done! :ok:

As a wise poster said, on one of the earlier pages in this thread, don't feel too bad about the occasional lapse. It happens. The important thing is to pick up and carry on, and it sounds like you're doing that.

Think about how many days have passed since May that you have NOT had a cigarette! I'd definitely call that success.

Keep up the good work, and hang in there. Soon you will not even want one in the social situations.

[Huron Topp]

I'm smoking my last pack now, anyone want to volunteer to smack me in the head if I consider buying another?:ok:

[STS]

I think it's right that at about 9/10 months or so it gets harder. I managed that long after a 40 a day habit for 15 years. Had a lapse of about a couple of weeks and stopped again. After 3 months am currently having another lapse. Am refusing to stop trying to quit this sh!t though. I now have asthma and one day, sooner rather than later sadly, it will probably kill me. Am now thinking of banning smoking by my friends when they come round to mine as this gives me cravings.

Good luck to you. It's hard, but one day if we all grin and bear it, we'll manage.

[PilotsPal]

My two problems are getting stressed out - work, personal stuff,
whatever - when the urge to rush outside for a cigarette can be really hard to resist, and people leaving a pack & lighter on a table in front of me (Checkboard, take note!). Other people smoking doesn't bother me too much in general.

The weight issue is hard work though - the coffee & cigarette meal replacement regime seems to have given way to actual food...

[GuinnessPWS]

I wish you success in your effort to quit.

I quit 9 years ago. No real planning, I happened to run out of smokes on this particular night. I was also out at the pub but the entire group of friends I was with did not smoke, so I didn't want to offend them by being the only one puffing at the table. That evening I had the most amazing nicotine craving but once it was over it was manageable. I decided then to quit.

I only had one lapse and that was half a cigarette 3 months later. I just kept telling myself the only way to quit is to stop picking them up and lighting them.

In all honesty it was quite easy to stop smoking. It took a bit of willpower but I'm sure you'll manage. You just have to want to quit. Some of the things Mrs. GPWS and I were doing prior to quitting that helped me were:

-Didn't smoke in the house.
-Didn't smoke in the car.
-Didn't smoke around kids.

There will be an awkward period where you have to adjust your mannerisms in situations that you would normally smoke in, but after a relatively short time you will not even notice it. It is a good feeling to look back knowing that you previously smoked, but not be able to mentally picture yourself having one. You'll notice food tastes better, your sense of smell will improve, any shortness of breath and nagging cough will go away and you'll also realize from other smokers, how much it makes your clothes stink, hair stink, breath smell etc..Definately one of the best things a person can do for themselves IMHO.
:ok:

[razzele]

I stopped a month ago now, i was a religious smoker. I loved to smoke at any given chance id sneak away and fill my lungs.


I quit through a time approved method, well my version of it anyway!


The trick is to have a weekend free, and preferably an easy following week. go drinking all friday and all night and smoke as much you can! the next day u wake up feeling so sick, you go through the usual vows " im never drinking again and i never want to smell another cigarette again"


From there if u truly wanted to stop smoking you should have the required mindset to accomplish this.

The saturday hangover day will be an easy day not to smoke on, so by the sunday your blood nicotine level is lowering. As the level of nicotine decreases in your body the regularity and intensity of cravings decrease.

So the sunday will be a day stricken with powerful cravings. I find the ultimate enemy of cigarettes to be exercise. If i exercise i do not smoke whilst doing it and do not feel the craving for a few hours.

Therefore what i am saying is on the sunday you must do a heavy exercise session to relieve a little of the phsyical craving.

When monday arrives you will feel better to the extent you wear a smug smile whilst not smoking on the way to work.

But the craving will still be there! This is when you must use as much motivation as you can for the first week off smokes will be the hardest.

As time passes you start to realise that you are not craving them as regulary if at all!

though there will be times . untill you can anticipate the moments of weakness and avoid the lead up to these you need motivations and will power.

I DO SAY THAT ALL NICOTINE REPLACEMENTS DO NOT WORK AS WELL> THE DRUG IS STILL IN YOUR BODY>

[flappless]

I gave up smoking some three years ago. I used the nicotine chewing gum. My jaw ached at times but it worked. I have only one bit of advice. When you are just starting to give up, don't look any further than getting through the next hour. Forget about the next day or the next week, just think about how you are going to get through the next hour. Don't think about your sim trip next week, just think about driving home after work on that day, and get through that.

Giving up smoking is not easy but it can be done with the right atitude.

Good Luck

[BlueDiamond]

I haven't read through all of this thread so please excuse me if any of this has been posted before.

I have been off the weed for six months, my first non-smoking day was May 1st this year and I have not had any since then. The things that helped me were ...

Setting a date - not too close, give yourself time to get used to the idea.

Keep repeating to yourself something like "On November 20th, I become a non-smoker and do that as often as you think of it.

make it a challenge and invite a fellow smoker to make the attempt with you.

Set rewards for yourself ... if I make it through the first day, the first week, the first month, then I will ... (whatever your reward is).

Consult your doctor and tell him/her your plans. Take the advice offered. Go to your local pharmacy, surf the net and find out what assistance is available.

Use anything and everything you can get your hand on that you believe will help. I had patches and inhalers to control the cravings and bought bucket loads of chewing gum (ordinary sort, not nicotine). Use ALL of it according to instructions.

At first, you will think about cigarettes constantly but after a few months you will think about lighting up only about every five minutes or so :D :p

It is NOT easy at all and you have a difficult task ahead of you. Keep at it, practice distracting yourself when the cravings hit and you can do it. You CAN ABSOLUTELY DO IT>

The very best of luck to you.

:ok:

[doubleu-anker]

Considering myself very lucky. I gave it up 20years ago. Made a clean break and have not smoked one since. I am not a non-smoker. I am a smoker that has given up. A very big difference.

Like all drug addicts, the chemical is in your system for life.

They say, it's 10 times more difficult to kick cigarettes than cocaine.

You have to want to stop. That is the 1st hurdle you have overcome. You will not do it alone. You will need help, especially during the first week or so. Help could be one or all of:

-Chemical replacement etc.
-Divine.
-Understanding from friends and family.

Hope this helps.

[livinginspain]

I had smoked for 20 odd years, and simply loved the taste !Visited a hypnotist and emerged a non smoker. The session only took a couple of hours, I still, 8 years later, have no idea what was said to me during most of the session, but I stopped there and then with no side effects, no cravings . I have put on a few kilos, but these days there's no way I'd even thing about using tobacco in any form. I think I must be one of the lucky ones, as I know it must be hell for some to stop.

[daredevil]

I heard on good authority when trying to stop smoking is to take in lots of vitamin C because it expels the nicotine from your body in about two weeks. The person told me to drink lots of Orange juixce ( but not too much, too fast beacause it gives you gas) se it gives you gas) He also said to buy some those vitamin C candy thing and suck on one when you feel like having having one. I hope this helps and wish you all the best man:ok:

Be Strong

[SuperOwl]

I've gone from 40+ a day to the point where the smell of them makes me feel ill. It was willpower that did it and it was hard. I had to overcome the lapses on the way but I got there and I have to say that it was well worth it.

Good luck.

[Sensible]

I packed up a 30+ a day smoking habit 20 years ago. I lit up a cigarette for a road accident casualty the other day and just can't understand how I started smoking as a teen - the taste and experience this time was absolutely foul! :yuk:

[airball]

I've been stopped now for 4 weeks having smoked 20/day 20+years given up numerous times.This time opted for the bush whacko method hypnosis.Have to say very strange my attitude to smoking is now totally different even the standard pub scenario surrounded by smokers etc.. There is nothing sinister or even odd about the process only that it appears to be working more succesfully than any other method I've used. £120 one visit required, but think I shall return for one more sesh in 6 months just to make sure.
Try it if you really want to stop