Giving up smoking...

ChrisD.

ChrisD.

ChrisD.

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Right I ran out of duty free's so I'm trying to quit again. Been wanting to stop for a long time now, and the closer I came to finish the last duty free's the more I hated smoking them. I made a point to myself that I'd quit after finishing them so here goes.

Only difference this time is that I'm not reading that book (Alan Carr) and I had my last smoke yeterday evening and made a point of not wanting another. Before I carried on smoking after I'd finished reading it and I had no real intention of stopping. This time I have. Money, the smell, health etc etc.

I'm sat here like a twitching wreck in work, but I know as soon as I go to the shop, buy a pack and have one I'll hate it and regret doing it.

Last time I went "cold turkey" was about 3 years ago when I was with my ex wife. I lasted 4 days or so till I had to sit in a car with her from York to Dover. I lasted till the M25. The packet of ten "emergency" smokes probably didn't help.

So any tips? Do patches work? Or do I simply need to stop being a fanny and deal with it?
 
Throw away absolutely every bit of smoking paraphanalia - ashtrays, old packets, lighters, smoking jacket, etc.
 
From my experience - No patches, no backup 'emergency' fags. Just stop. It won't be easy but after a week or two it'll start to feel normal not to have a ciggy.
Of course, everyones experiences differ but I think if you have the right mindset, the need to smoke becomes fairly insignificant in the grand scheme of things. Any excuse your mind can conjure up to have 1 more/just a quick drag/whatever is exactly that - an excuse so dismiss it and keep going. Anyone can do it. I used to smoke a fair bit and quitting was the best thing i could have done (bout 5 years ago now). I feel great for it.
Good luck dude!
 
Smoking jacket lol

I wanted to keep the ashtray in my study to remind me of how horrible it'd smell when I go back there after work today, then get rid of it. But I can't help but think "what if I need it again?". Only got the one lighter but need that for other stuff apart from sparking up.

Packets already in the bin.
 
sist_si said:
From my experience - No patches, no backup 'emergency' fags. Just stop. It won't be easy but after a week or two it'll start to feel normal not to have a ciggy.
Of course, everyones experiences differ but I think if you have the right mindset, the need to smoke becomes fairly insignificant in the grand scheme of things. Any excuse your mind can conjure up to have 1 more/just a quick drag/whatever is exactly that - an excuse so dismiss it and keep going. Anyone can do it. I used to smoke a fair bit and quitting was the best thing i could have done (bout 5 years ago now). I feel great for it.
Good luck dude!
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Cheers. I know this feeling of insecurity I have now is just part of the Nicotine addiction. I'm quite lucky that no one round me smokes so I don't have the temptation of going for a fag break with them.

My girlfriend is a very light smoker and she's been looking to stop completely, but I guess I've not been helping by smoking around her etc. Plus with me being there most of the time and no smoking at her place I think that'll work. Not looking forward to Friday night when I'm out with the lads though! :eek:
 
I found that the first two weeks is the hardest, after that it gets easier. I didnt use any patches but substituted (when craving a smoke) to chew chewing gum (my dad did it with tunes). It does help, also if you dont hang around people that smoke helps as you wont be missing is much when you watching people smoke in front of you.

But i guess its all about will power in the end and just not buying any when you desperatly need one.
 
patches worked a treat for me, and I was a fairly heavy smoker.

The shakes and whatnot were horrendous for the first week, but after six weeks I could fairly comfortably go for drinks without thinking about a cigarette..

I'd recommend them, they're expensive, but it's so much easier with them.

Just don't wear them in your sleep.. you get the *strangest* dreams!
 
I can get patches for free, I just don't really want to use them if I don't have to. I've not got the shakes or anything, but then it's not terribly long since I had one (12 hours or so), but on a normal day like today I would have had about 4 so far.
 
uvmain said:
patches worked a treat for me, and I was a fairly heavy smoker.

The shakes and whatnot were horrendous for the first week, but after six weeks I could fairly comfortably go for drinks without thinking about a cigarette..

I'd recommend them, they're expensive, but it's so much easier with them.

Just don't wear them in your sleep.. you get the *strangest* dreams!
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That was the best part for giving up with me, made up for not smoking:D

Gave up a while back now, with patches, and I love not smoking. Couldnt have just stopped though.

Best of luck mate:)
 
After 96 hours the physical addiction is gone. From then on it's purely psychological, but you need to find something to do with all the extra energy you'll have. So I'd recommend exercising for 45mins - 1 hour a day starting asap. Sounds like you'll be adding too much to your plate but it works. Chew chewing gum. Eat fruit.
 
Cold turkey is the best way..but sometimes it does not work.. the longest i have stoped smoking for was about 6 months or so then i started watching the sopranos and that made me want to smoke again :(
which i have been smoking every weekend then it started leeking back into the week which is not good.. i have also noticed that my breathing when i am training at the gym is not as good as it was.
Ive got a pack in the car and in my desk draw at work so i am going to try and not smoke anything.
as i dont drink i find smoking the only thing to so when out when i am bored..

aslong as you keep your mind set and not give in you will do fine :)
 
You have to stop as suggested, throw everything away and then work on your mind. Pick a defining moment when your going to decide "I am no longer a smoker", your not busy giving up or trying to quit no no your picking a clear defining moment when you say "I am no longer a smoker". It's probably good that you have someone there when you do this and tell them that this is the defining moment when you have quit.

Keep mentally telling yourself this over the days and weeks and bring your thoughts back to the moment you quit whenever you get an urge. Tell as many people as possible that you are no longer a smoker, friends and family etc.

Live like a non smoker and believe it 100% and it will be true.
 
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trojan698 said:
After 96 hours the physical addiction is gone. From then on it's purely psychological, but you need to find something to do with all the extra energy you'll have. So I'd recommend exercising for 45mins - 1 hour a day starting asap. Sounds like you'll be adding too much to your plate but it works. Chew chewing gum. Eat fruit.
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I go to the gym 4 times a week, train for football twice a week and play matches weekly. I eat a healthy diet and do lots and lots of excecise. I'd rather not add to it!

Just have to take out any extra energy on the other half!

Don't know why though but I have this immense feeling I won't succeed :o
 
MilanoChris said:
Don't know why though but I have this immense feeling I won't succeed :o
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It's all in the mind. You need basically change how you look at yourself. You need to see yourself as a non smoker. My dad smoked for over 30 years, and gave up about 4 years ago now, hasn't looked back.
 
I went cold turkey. Was climbing the walls for couple weeks, but after that you'll be ok.

You'll notice a big improvment when you do stop. You'll be able to tatse your food again. You won't smell. I cut the amount of colds I got form 3-4 a year down to 0.

It's worth it. Don't give up.
 
Yeah it's awesome being able to taste again, and colds are so much more fun - no coughing like a *******. The best thing you can do is make a list of pros and cons for giving up. You'll find there will be virtually no reason to continue smoking, except as a crutch that doesn't actually work.
 
I'm really feeling it now. So so tempted, but no, I'm being good.

What's them tablets like that inhibit the receptors? Can't remember the name. Are they any good? They basically make the fag taste like crap and stop something or other.
 
MilanoChris said:
Smoking jacket lol
.
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You lol, but I don't go anywhere without mine :D

As a smoker here, I've had times when I haven't wanted to smoke for a bit or couldn't smoke for a couple of weeks. I'd say cold turkey is the best way and just keep yourself occupied whilst you're doing it.
Other than that, best of luck and hope you manage to achieve your (difficult) goal.
 
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