Packing in the the smokes

Big Chris · 3 Dec 2009 at 08:44

So who here is planning on giving up the totems of doom come the New Year?

I myself have smoked 10 a day for 14 years now and have decided once and for all to get it dealt with.

What would people recommend from experience, cold turkey or one of the many over the counter pills/gums/patches/books that I keep hearing about?

Might be worth us putting our ideas and plans in here then updating once we're on the wagon.

Wish me luck! :eek:

Ceryndrion · 3 Dec 2009 at 08:46

I gave up back in march, basically went cold turkey, found myself really wanting one this week. hoping the feeling goes away again.

HeadlessChicken · 3 Dec 2009 at 08:47

I smoked rollies for 10 years, gave them up about 4 years a go now.

I used an Alan Carr easy way book. It's one of those things, you never know if the book actually helped you stop, but it doesn't really matter. not touched one since. A few mates have had success with it too.

Good luck, it's honestly one of the best decisions I ever made

Edrof · 3 Dec 2009 at 08:48

I gave up a 20 a day for 10 years habit by going cold turkey and playing lots of PC games. Treat yourself to something accessible that you can distract yuorself with, like a PS3 or whatever. Basically, replace the smokes with something less harmful but enjoyable!

Pookie Bear · 3 Dec 2009 at 08:49

I went cold turkey a few months back. I put on a stone in weight - without really making any noticeable changes to my diet! Well, I didn't notice anyway

Half of it is gone now, thanks to getting back in the gym and the fact that I've only been out on the drink once in the last six weeks! I caught a few colds in the first couple months, which made it easier for me to not want a smoke - so my advice is to go cold turkey, keep out the pub, get some exercise and then snog someone with a cold

rick fowler · 3 Dec 2009 at 09:07

i am at the minute going throught the process of quitting, smoked 30 roll ups a day for 14yrs gone from 24mgram patches to 14mgrams now and doing really well,no gravings ect and to be honest i feel i can now stop using the patches got one more week on them then i can decide if i want to stop all together or go to stage 3 patches,i was offered champix tablets as i have tried so many times to quite but felt that the side effects my bother me to much so far all is good.

.Kencs · 3 Dec 2009 at 09:11

Think i'll be joining you on that long road to success.
I quit for about 4 months at the beginning of the year, used patches tho, so think I may give it another go in the new year. Starting smoking again was a big mistake as it seems harder 2nd or 3rd time round to quit again...

kevmeister · 3 Dec 2009 at 09:12

good luck op, life without the little white cancer sticks will be great.

rick fowler · 3 Dec 2009 at 09:14

.Kencs said:
Think i'll be joining you on that long road to success.
I quit for about 4 months at the beginning of the year, used patches tho, so think I may give it another go in the new year. Starting smoking again was a big mistake as it seems harder 2nd or 3rd time round to quit again...

try champix if you can handle the side effects these pills do work as puts receptors in your brain to make you think you dont smoke pretty good reviews on them but it comes with side effects on some people,and you have to pay for them not like the patches where you get them free on nhs.

Bar · 3 Dec 2009 at 09:16

I gave up a long time ago - approximately 8 years ago and the main thing that helped was removing myself from those who smoked.

I worked with a group of people who all smoked. Changed jobs, went cold turkey and started working with people who didnt smoke. Also avoided going to pubs back then - one of the prime places of temptation, but since the smoking ban this should not be as big an issue anymore.

MonkeyNews · 3 Dec 2009 at 09:17

I smoked for many many years but gave up this year and feel great for it. Had the patches and gum which really helped for the first few months, now I dont need anything but still get the cravings here and there but well under control. As always with these things the thing you really need is will power, without that you are doomed to failure.

I still do love the smell of people smoking but now hate the smell of stale smoke on people.

Cosimo · 3 Dec 2009 at 09:17

I went cold turkey, the first week was a bit iffy and the urge went away fairly quickly after that. I put some weight on but you do compensate for giving up habits. I ate a lot of crisps.

Don't wait for the New Year give up now, New Year's resolutions almost inevitably end up in the bin. Remember it is a habit you can kick, you do have the will power. Good luck.

.Kencs · 3 Dec 2009 at 09:20

rick fowler said:
try champix if you can handle the side effects these pills do work as puts receptors in your brain to make you think you dont smoke pretty good reviews on them but it comes with side effects on some people,and you have to pay for them not like the patches where you get them free on nhs.

What side-effects?

The IPB · 3 Dec 2009 at 09:20

I went cold Turkey when I quit 6 years of 10 or so a day. Just said I didn't want to do it anymore and wanted to get fit.

I don't think I'll ever stop wanting to smoke though, whenever my mate sparks up I always get that mmmmm feeling, but I control it.

When I first stopped I would still have hiccups normally drink induced, but a few on a night out once a month is much better than 10 a day.

rick fowler · 3 Dec 2009 at 09:23

.Kencs said:
What side-effects?

it can make throw up or feel sick but not everyone has it,its when you start taking two of the blue pills it can make you feel sick,you can reduce the amount to one pill and carry on that way but might not be as effective.

[FnG]magnolia · 3 Dec 2009 at 09:23

I smoked quite heavily between the ages of 20 and 32. I gave up then and have been clean for 5 years. I don't miss it; in fact, I barely think about it. If you'd told me this back then I would have laughed in your face and gone on about how you didn't understand addictive personalities and just how hard it is to give up.

My dad - a heavy smoker all his life, although less so at the end of it - died when I was 34. He was 61 years old.

Throw your cigarettes away or burn them or give them to someone else. Whichever way helps you give up these evil things is the right way.

Or don't

Your call, as all the really important life impact decisions are.

cm1179 · 3 Dec 2009 at 09:26

i can't see me ever giving up

no way i could go out to a pub/club without smokiing, nor commute or go without one on a break at work

bledd · 3 Dec 2009 at 09:29

Chris, just give up now, no point sticking with it until the end of Dec..

Guerrilla · 3 Dec 2009 at 09:32

It seems to greatly differ from person to person which method is best for quitting.

Haven't smoked myself for quite a while now and do feel better for it.
My dad has also just quit, he's in his 50s and smoked since 14, he used that Champix (sp?) from the doctor which helped him a lot.

Good luck with it, hope you manage to give them up!

V4NT0M · 3 Dec 2009 at 09:33

bledd. said:
Chris, just give up now, no point sticking with it until the end of Dec..

I concur, if you can actually quit then why wait!? Prove to yourself that you can do it by quitting RIGHT NOW, not tomorrow, not in a week or at new year... Now!