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Post by moz on Jul 21, 2012 17:46:40 GMT
Basically a shout-out to any former smokers who might be able to help. I gave up three months ago and went over to the electronic cigarettes that simply give a Nicotine buzz, however a couple of nights back I fell back to the tobacco cigs and I'm going through them like nobody's business. Any hints or tips on how to knock this addiction on the head? Ta!
Moz
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Post by Deleted on Jul 21, 2012 18:19:41 GMT
I used to smoke five a day. The way I stopped was slowly and gradually reducing it, so every week I'd reduce it by one until eventually I felt like I didn't need it any more.
Also good to find something else, less harmful, to distract yourself and almost replace the actual comfort they bring. As such, I used to chew through tonnes of Wrigley's Chewing Gum - but then that's far better than smoking!
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Post by RM5chris on Jul 21, 2012 19:08:18 GMT
I finally quit 5 years ago.
I just stopped and went cold turkey, but carried loads of packets of Polos with me....
IMO, the only way you can quit is if you really want to - either for yourself or for a very specific reason. I personally felt that I had to just stop and go through it, not go through cutting down, patches etc, I thought that would prelong the agony and might not be really successful as it would be too easy to just start again.
Biggest temptation though - going to the pub. I gave up going to my local for 2+ years as I knew with good company, good beer I might start!
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Post by moz on Jul 21, 2012 23:26:17 GMT
I finally quit 5 years ago. I just stopped and went cold turkey, but carried loads of packets of Polos with me.... IMO, the only way you can quit is if you really want to - either for yourself or for a very specific reason. I personally felt that I had to just stop and go through it, not go through cutting down, patches etc, I thought that would prelong the agony and might not be really successful as it would be too easy to just start again. Biggest temptation though - going to the pub. I gave up going to my local for 2+ years as I knew with good company, good beer I might start! Yup - it was the pub that restarted me as everyone I know there smokes. Not sure I can give the pub up as there are some properly good friends there I really would miss and most are not online and three of them don't have mobiles! However, the cold turkey option seems to be the only one open now so I'll give that a go. Once I've stubbed this out.... Moz |
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Post by vjaska on Jul 21, 2012 23:27:31 GMT
Good luck 'Moz' in eradicating your addiction. I can't speak from experience as I've never smoked in my entire life but I can imagine it will be hard and what 'RM5chris' said is true - if you really want to stop, then you can but you must want to in the first place.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 22, 2012 0:58:14 GMT
Good luck 'Moz' in eradicating your addiction. I can't speak from experience as I've never smoked in my entire life but I can imagine it will be hard and what 'RM5chris' said is true - if you really want to stop, then you can but you must want to in the first place. Same here, I've only smoked the cig once and didn't like done the same with weed and didn't like it. As most people say don't knock it til you try it. The only thing I do do, is Drink only on special occasions and sometimes weekend. I'm no alcoholic mind you..  |
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Post by londonbusboy on Jul 22, 2012 8:48:06 GMT
I have thought about packing in smoking but again i havent because my friends and work colleagues smoke and i know it will be extremely difficult if i did as so many people i know smoke!
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Post by snoggle on Jul 22, 2012 11:29:23 GMT
I have thought about packing in smoking but again i havent because my friends and work colleagues smoke and i know it will be extremely difficult if i did as so many people i know smoke! If you really want to do it then you can. You might find friends and colleagues also wish to give up but are having the same thoughts as you. Asking them for help to stop yourself (like not offering you a ciggie) or possibly giving up with others can provide some encouragement and discipline. If you don't ask them then you'll never know. @ Moz - I agree with what RM5 wrote. I went cold turkey because I decided I had had enough. There are some bad days and even years later temptation can still present itself. You have to take it one day at a time. Given the cost these days I don't know how anyone can afford over £7 for a pack of 20! |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 22, 2012 12:22:58 GMT
I agree with Chris that you have to really wanna stop, going into it half heartedly will not work. If you do really wanna stop its not that difficult, its just mind over matter. Think of what you could do with the money you save. I found chewing gum instead really helpful. I've not smoked for about 15years now and can safely say I never will again.
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Post by londonbusboy on Jul 23, 2012 0:18:03 GMT
Thanks for the advice chaps i will have a think and decide. I only usually smoke when going out or at work so have about 10 a day but with the cost of them keep going up the spending is getting ridiculous.
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Post by Steve80 on Jul 24, 2012 2:31:38 GMT
I have thought about packing in smoking but again i havent because my friends and work colleagues smoke and i know it will be extremely difficult if i did as so many people i know smoke! Im in the same position as you. I do it because of friends and colleagues  Bit of a lame reason but there you go. Like moz I did stop for roughly three months and then started again as soon as I was told that I would transfer to QB with the route 3. Now I smoke on and off. Right now, I haven't smoked for two days but im sure I will have one later in the week |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 26, 2012 10:53:25 GMT
I'll be 2 years in October. I can only nod in agreement with things like wanting to give up - it doesn't matter if you go cold turkey, use patches or any other method.....you still need will power otherwise you will fail. Going cold turkey is by far the easiest, cheapest and best way to quit. There's a few facts that are useful to keep in mind/remind yourself of: - It takes 7 seconds to satisfy the nicotine craving - one puff!!
- If you go cold turkey, your body will be nicotine free in 72 hours
- A 20 a day smoker, taking an average of 10 puffs per cig, puts their hand to their mouth 200 times a day
- Most people go through a number of quit attempts before succeeding
- week 4/5 is the hardest period!!!!
As you'll see from above, nicotine replacement therapy (patches, pretend electronic devices, gum, etc) are essentially all a big con - go cold turkey and its gone in 72 hours. Quiting nicotine is the easy bit!! When you quit smoking, you are actually trying to break the habit of putting your hand to your mouth 200 times a day. In my case I'd been doing that for 21 years. I found that the best substitute initially was lollipops. That's only half the battle though - trigger points is the other. You have to recognise all your trigger points and prepare for them in advance. First thing in the morning, walking out ya front door, after eating a meal, before or after a smoke free area, getting in a car/driving, being around other smokers, last thing at night, etc, etc. Patches, gums and pretend cigarettes will not help you with the hand-to-mouth habit or your trigger points - that's why cold turkey and sheer will power is the most successful quit method. Be aware of the "tripping hazards". Weeks 4 & 5 can be difficult and you may be tempted to slip. As you found out at around the three month mark, its very easy to think you cracked it and before you know it you've slipped back. This is where you need to keep up the focus and ensure that your will power remains strong. Even at a year afterwards I would get the odd temptation - maybe once in a month or so - of course by then its easier to brush the temptation aside, but yeah, even after 12 months you might well still get that feeling. Only now, almost 2 years on, do I feel like I have cracked it and won't ever go back. All of my friends are smokers so I do appreciate the argument that its harder. When we out to the local pub I would stay inside whilst they went outside for their drag - trouble is, all the people I associate with are now outside and I'm left inside with the group I hardly know. That puts you on a downer and you realise you've just missed out on some conversation as they all come back in - stick with it though - you'll end up making new friends, your pint will stay cooler in the summer and you'll have less colds in the winter!! That being said, sometimes I do go outside with them now [as long as it ain't too cold] so I have the best of both worlds. Support is useful and I didn't let the fact that all my friends are smokers stop me getting that support. You're reading this forum and interacting with people right now - so join a quit smoking forum!! The beauty of such a forum, and there are a few out there, is that you can find people that quit at the same time as you and as well as interact with people that are just ahead of you - so you can prepare for what's coming - and get support from those that have gone a little longer. I said that even a year afterwards you'll still get the odd craving - well you can go back to that forum and re-read what you wrote in those first few days & weeks. Trust me, having that facility can be such a boost when you're down. There is of course disadvantage to quitting - you will gain weight!! But again as long as you are aware of it in advance you can deal with that later on. On the plus side, food does taste so much better once your taste buds come back to life!! I wish you all the best and just remember, you will probably fail a few times before you succeed - just make sure you leave it a while before you try again |
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Bit of a lame reason but there you go. Like moz I did stop for roughly three months and then started again as soon as I was told that I would transfer to QB with the route 3.