[Closed] Stopping Smoking

I know it seems like you'll never be able to do it. You could never imagine ever not wanting a cigarette and it does take a long time.

I gave up about 5 years ago and before I did it felt like I would never be able to go a day without a fag. But really, it starts hard and gets easier every day and by god it's the most amazing feeling. I used bikes to get me through it, my capacity on a bike increased every single day. I rode and rode and rode.

Good luck.

Oh, and avoid those times where you use it to socialise and habitise. I would always have a fag when I first got up and when I first got home from work, hardest bits to give up them.

Coffee was a huge trigger for me.

Six months later I detested smoking. I hated the smell, it made me gag.
I used to think girls who smoked looked cool. Now they make me barf.

roll ups = 160 to 40 quid a month.

Thing is tho, i found the first week or two really easy, it was as i got further on i found it difficult. For example, do a tough climb on the bike, reward myself with a fag, wash the motorbike, sit down and admie it with a fag etc.

Start with one day. Just today. That worked for me.

I cant believe the price of fags now! I think on your sums that you are spunking £2000 a year!

Just start with today. And NRT stuff helps 90% with the physical / cravings side. The rest is in your head / your choice.

Hope that's balanced. You can do it!

Good luck. I only lasted 6 weeks. Been smoking again now for about 3 weeks.
Time to try again soon!

Allen Carr, [url= http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allen_Carr ]this one[/url] not [url= http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Carr ]this one[/url].

I know i want to do it, as i was very anti ciggies before i started 4 years ago. Due to step dad losing his life due to lung cancer. Also I'm a high stroke risk due to High blood pressure, even with medication.

I know its doing me no good as it makes me gag and i have been known to vomit sometimes when i smoke.

[i]eward myself with a fag, wash the motorbike, sit down and admie it with a fag etc. [/i]

It's those habits you have to break. I changed from coffee to tea and that really helped, you may find other things do.

Just to add - it took me a good few "just one day" starts before that turned into 15 years of "just one day". After the first 4 or 6 months and to this day I dont ever think of it now - apart from the occasional whiff of a pipe or cigar which makes me nostalgic - but I always feel sad for the smoker these days.

You can do it!

[i]Allen Carr, this one[/i]

Holy crap. He stopped smoking when he was 48 but got lung cancer when he was 71!!!

You can do it .this is my 2nd week of not smoking never thought I could do it until the wife told me my 3yr old boy had a straw and was pretending to smoke now that was a wake up call.

I feel so much better and thats just 2 weeks.

He stopped smoking when he was 48 but got lung cancer when he was 71!!!

i hate ciggarettes but rollies go down okay and little joints are just flipping lovely..

doin really good since new year though.

Dancing on the pedals lad 🙂

Allen Carr worked for me, I stopped four weeks ago, went from 20 a day for 10 years to nothing just by listening to a £7ish pound audio book, I've been surprised how easy i have found it, I would almost say I have enjoyed quitting, there's a good bit in the book where he says if he could put you in your body three weeks after quitting thats all he would need to do, i feel like my lungs have grown, i have more energy, more money, and her indoors say the bedroom antics have improved, my only regret is not doing it sooner. good luck with it, it a great feeling when someone offers you a ciggie and you can say "no thanks i quit"

I'm something of a serial quitter - I'm on my 9th day of cold turkey today. Each time it seems a bit easier, and I last a bit longer. Suppose I know now what to expect. Some nice stories [url= http://www.woofmang.com/tales/ ]here[/url] - helped keep me going in the first few days.

Allen Carr, this one not this one.

I think the second one is more likely to drive you to drink, which will make giving up the cigerettes a lot harder.

Key to me was riding my body of nicotine asap. Previously I'd tried patches and gum but I found them frustrating as it kept me taking nicotine albeit in a similar experience to Silk Cut ultra light (I smoked Galoise and Lucky Strikes).

I drank alot of fresh OJ as it was anecdotal for leeching out nicotine and thus getting over the withdrawal symptoms quicker.

Once it was all out I wasn't tempted nor did I fancy a smoke whilst drunk.

I smoked from 15 to 28.

In 10yrs you will have saved £20,000.

I don't know what the secret is but I just stopped last August. I spent eight days in the USA on a work trip smoking at least a packet of Malboro a day and when I got home I decided enough was enough. I just stopped, simple as that.
I really have noticed the difference on the bike too, no more coughing a lung up after a hard climb. 🙂

The key to stopping is that [b]you really have to want to stop[/b] otherwise you won't. You might stop for a while but you will always be looking for an excuse to have the odd ciggie. Good luck.

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

This is the truth. In fact, ignore everything above. You *need* to decide that it is something you [b][u]will[/b][/u] do.

On the positive, if you do decide to stop it is an amazing feeling and will make you feel very good about yourself.

You know that thing where you go into a shop and buy cigarettes, go outside and unwrap the cellophane from the box, open the box, take out the bit of folded paper, pull out a cigarette, feel the rush of anticipation, stick one end in your mouth, set light to the other end, suck in the smoke?

Don't do that.

The really wanting to give up bit was very true for me as previous attempts had failed because I did not really want to give up.

This time was different though.

If you do succeed in stopping successfully (my GP said that the measure they use to judge a successful quitter is a year off the smokes) don't become a self-righteous quitter, nobody likes one of them.

Good luck with quitting!

Cigarettes are just like hamsters.

They're both perfectly harmless until you stick them in your mouth and set fire to them.

The key to stopping is that [b]you really have to want to stop[/b] otherwise you won't. You might stop for a while but you will always be looking for an excuse to have the odd ciggie. Good luck.

I gave up over ten years ago. One of the best things I ever did. Not easy. Mood swings and like any addiction, all sorts of 'you can just have one' thoughts. Suggest keeping off the pop for a few weeks as it is very hard to resist when drinking. I used the patches which minimised some of the negative effects.

Also wrote down all the things I thought were good about smoking, and had a good look at these to see if they were true. Then wrote down all the reasons for stopping.

Would never go back. Hate the stuff. It smells bad and does NOTHING for you.

Best of luck!

You have stopped. Now just don't start again.

You know that thing where you go into a shop and buy cigarettes, go outside and unwrap the cellophane from the box, open the box, take out the bit of folded paper, pull out a cigarette, feel the rush of anticipation, stick one end in your mouth, set light to the other end, suck in the smoke?

Don't do that.

Woppit - you are a truly evil man 😆

Firstly its hard IMO. Its not the packin in that got to me as i did that everytime i put one out but the habit thats the killer.

I found that it took upto 3 months to break the habits completely. First couple of weeks its all about the will power and getting the 'pangs' out of my system but would say it took upto 3 months before i wasnt concentrating hourly on having a cig.

Also you have to get it right in your head, i still followed the routine of going to the smoke shed in work with the others but just didnt have one, so i wasnt breaking all routines at once. At first it was hard but in time my routine was the same but just didnt have a smoke.

4 years on and i still think about it but as quickly as it enters my head its gone and its not accompanied by the pangs.

Lastly, further down the road you can never just have one for old times sake. You will be back on them before you know it.

I stopped smoking recently with help from the Stopping Smoking thread on here. When I first stopped, I kept going outside of pubs or clubs whenever my mates went out for a smoke as I didn't want to modify my behavior too much, or miss out on the social side. After a couple of weeks I didn't feel the need to do that anymore, it's bizarre the excuses you give yourself to stop yourself from giving up.

Read Allen Carr and you'll discover that this isn't actually true

Allen Carr didn't work for me as I wasn't really ready to stop but wanting to stop worked. Stopped nearly 3 years ago.

I've tried and failed three or four times over the last few years..

I'm over six months at the moment though.. (lost count)

I'm another one from the school of needing the psychological boost that comes from eliminating all the nicotine from my bloodstream..

I've found that the best way (and easiest to implement in cases of relapse) for me, is to use patches for 2 or 3 days to get the hang of not smoking.. I then stop the patches safe in the knowledge that any physical cravings will be over in just a few more days..

Doing it this way I find that I don't get any significant cravings at all and also I don't get ripped off buying nicotine replacement products for months on end..

I was more surprised than anyone that I've quit so easily.. I've been a very heavy smoker for over 25 years and haven't known a non-smoking lifestyle since before puberty..!

Similar to Yunki. Bought some NR lozenges and sucked on one when I felt I needed one. Used them for just two days and never looked back. Nicotine only stay's in your system for a few days after you've stopped so once you get over that it's all in the mind.

I know it seems like you'll never be able to do it. You could never imagine ever not wanting a cigarette and it does take a long time.

I gave up about 5 years ago and before I did it felt like I would never be able to go a day without a fag. But really, it starts hard and gets easier every day and by god it's the most amazing feeling. I used bikes to get me through it, my capacity on a bike increased every single day. I rode and rode and rode.

Good luck.

All that plus one.

Fact is it's pretty common to fall off the wagon a few times. Just keep stopp ing again, as soon as you can, and the relapses will get fewer and fewer. Use whatever aids help, gum patches etc. but remember at the end of the day it's down to you.

Do whatever you want. If you don't want to be a smoker you will be able to stop. I stopped after 40 years of fags.

Allen Carr didn't work for me as I wasn't really ready to stop but wanting to stop worked. Stopped nearly 3 years ago.

The Stopping Smoking thread previously mentioned, was the catalyst I needed to actually do it.- As others have mentioned, you have to want to give up. - I'd come around to the idea that I actually did want to stop and that me telling myself that I didn't was only a method of me not wanting to put myself in the position of attempting to stop & failing - I can be rather pig headed, stubborn & stupid at times 🙂

There's lots of good advise & info on this forum alone !

Everyone has their own method - Mine was an E-Cig - except I didn't use it as the conventional direct replacement - When the craving was high, I had just a single drag - This proved to be enough.
Within a couple of weeks & without any concious thought or effort, I found I'd stopped using it.

All I can say is..

GOOD LUCK !!!

Chris

When i was stopping the nurse at the doctors said before you stop, when you are smoking think how many of the cigarettes you smoke in a day you really enjoy, and to be honest out of 20 there may have been 3. I did go back to smoking as I gave in to temptation on a stag do after 2 years and slowly started getting back into it, but now I have stopped for good, I think you have to decide yes I want to do it, and when you do if you are tempted think I have done so many days, weeks etc without a fag its only myself I am kidding, and the health issues also.
Good luck you will do it!

I have just past the one year mark. I've had failed attempts before and also chalk this down to whether you really want to stop or not.

The year has shot by and I can hardly believe that I've gone this long. (Listen to me pat myself on the back!).

I found that when I had a "weak" moment I'd say to myself that it'll be back to day 1 again if you smoke now. This strategy really worked for me but will probably only work if you really want to stop.

I really want to stop smoking, as im sick of the yellowing around my thumb and finger and the smell on them is disgusting, it will save me so much money. My main battle is work, if i can get through just one night of not smoking at work, I will quit for good i know it.

Don't know if i should just stop tomoz or wait till the beginning of next week, new week and all that. I have 4 ciggies left.

I do want to go back to the times when i didn't smoke and happily just sat their with a pint while people puffed away.

I should know better as i have seen the bad side of smoking, people with COPD at work due to the cigs and i don't want that for me.

Im 26, so still young.

binners - Member

You know that thing where you go into a shop and buy cigarettes, go outside and unwrap the cellophane from the box, open the box, take out the bit of folded paper, pull out a cigarette, feel the rush of anticipation, stick one end in your mouth, set light to the other end, suck in the smoke?

Don't do that.

Woppit - you are a truly evil man

I feel the love.

I really want to stop smoking, as im sick of the yellowing around my thumb and finger and the smell on them is disgusting, it will save me so much money. My main battle is work, if i can get through just one night of not smoking at work, I will quit for good i know it.

That was my thing. I was always a heavy smoker and always felt the effects of withdrawel very quickly - they'd start within less than 45 minutes.

And because of this, and because my job requires a lot of concentration, I was convinced I couldn't go cold turkey at work.

So I went out and bought some patches, just one day on an urge. And I'd tried patches previously, years ago and got on quite well with them - though made the mistake of having a smoke in the morning when I got up, and a smoke before bed... This time however, I found the patches done very little and so after the first day I just ditched them and took the bull by the horns.

I won't lie...it was horendous. I hated it. Felt like I was drugged up - I suffer really badly in comparrison to the accounts I hear from other people!! But that was 6 months ago now and I'm glad I done it. It's all worth it.

Well I managed a full hour on the bike without stopping for a cig like i normally do. Not had one yet either. I think when my minds occupied i just completely forget about cravings. But at work, we are busy from say 2000 till 0130 and then from 0130 till 0600 there is very little to do other that sit down and watch telly and answer assistance buzzers from Residents.

Maybe i need to get back in the NHS on a ward, as i was lucky if i could have time for a piss, never mind a cig.

I smoked for about 10 years. I tried patches - didn't work and they made me ache. I read several Allen Carr books and quit each time - only to start again within 6 months. Then I bit the bullet and had a go at an Allen Carr clinic - not cheap, but have not looked back. There have been times since I stopped where I have thought about smoking, but I cannot ever imagine a situation now where I would actually be able to smoke a single drag let alone a full cig. Something clicked when I did the course that never fully did when I read the books - I always felt that the books were trying to get you to THINK a certain way about smoking and that would make you stop. When I did the course I realised it wasn't about making you think a certain way, it was about making you see the TRUTH about smoking. Once you see it, and understand that the truth is unchanging and it does not care about your view point - it just IS - smoking is a very difficult thing to do - for me all but impossible.

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.

[img] [/img]

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. 😐