Giving Up Smoking.. Help Wanted!
PPRuNe Playmate of the Month
Join Date: Feb 1999
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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.
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.
Join Date: Aug 1998
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Take a sabbatical
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
But on a serious note , Believe in yourself and god will give you the strength.
cheers
SK
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
) & 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.
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
) & 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.
Join Date: Oct 2002
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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.
Another guy mentioned that it's about 9 months to a yr to really get over it. He's lucky.
Hang in there.
PPRuNe Playmate of the Month
Join Date: Feb 1999
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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.
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.
"but I'm over it now and back on track"
PP, Great attitude and well done!
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.
PP, Great attitude and well done!
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.
Join Date: Feb 2003
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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.
Good luck to you. It's hard, but one day if we all grin and bear it, we'll manage.
PPRuNe Playmate of the Month
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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...
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...
Join Date: May 2003
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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.
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.
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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>
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>
Join Date: Jul 1999
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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
Giving up smoking is not easy but it can be done with the right atitude.
Good Luck
Bluey
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
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.
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
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.
Join Date: May 2002
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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.
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.
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hypnotism
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.
Join Date: Jul 2003
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Wholesome Vitamin C
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
Be Strong
Be Strong
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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.
Good luck.
Flies for fun
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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! 
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quitter
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
Try it if you really want to stop
