Giving Up Smoking.. Help Wanted!
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Paintbox
Firstly the very best of luck from someone else in a similar position. I posted this on Jetblast a few months ago here 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!
Firstly the very best of luck from someone else in a similar position. I posted this on Jetblast a few months ago here 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!
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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.
Only two weeks on but am doing OK. The odd cravings at work are still hitting but manageable - just.
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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
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
Just an other digit
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But if you want a laugh while you cough, try these babies
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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.
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.
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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.
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.
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SMOKING
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
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
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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 .
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 .
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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
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
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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....
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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.
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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
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
Dancing with the devil, going with the flow... it's all a game to me.
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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.
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.
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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.
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.