smoking

[flatdog]

Well done all you NON SMOKERS.
I managed to stop 18 years ago using 24h patches.(when they first came out)
Used to smoke 60 a day, even had to wake up every night at 2.00 am for my 2 fixes. Addicted I was.
What I found most daunting about giving up was the belief that once you were addicted to ciggies, you allegedly always felt the urge for another one, even years later, In fact, I used this mindset to convince myself that as this was true I may as well keep on puffing.
As I was such a heavy smoker, In order to overcome the cravings I had to make myself hate the smell of smoke, so much that I became angry if someone smoked near me, and it worked in my case. Unfortunately this is still true today - not angry at the Smoker you understand but at the smell.
After all this time, I have never felt the need and still resent the smell of smoke.
My advise is reward yourself in small doses during the early days rather than something huge/expensive in 12 months time.
In this game every day clean is a win. then continue to reward yourself with the nonsmoking proceeds throughout your life.
So far my main non smoking reward has been 2 houses bought and some overseas holidays.

 

[g.s.john]

its all about mindset if you want to quit you will some have said clean your teeth it does work i think mainly because you are doing something if you you feel the desire destract yourself and not with food as it is a substitute have a bit of fruit at least you keep the weight gain down wish i'd thought of that definatly tosser sized now some have said they have problems inland revenue house moving ect starting again will not make it go away going down the pub is easy now they are all non smoking that was allways a sod for me it has been twelve years for me i dont even think about it now so keep it up it takes around three weeks for nicotine to get out of your system after that its in the mind keep going and good luck

 

[markc]

I suppose a new years resolution is as good as any reason,but obviously its a bit of a tradition to give up smoking,drinking,join a gym etc for everyone and probably isn't taken that seriously. What I've learnt is that it does not really help to say you a an 'ex smoker' This just provokes the how and when conversation. Always be a 'non smoker' You know you have really beaten it when you lose track of how long ago you actually gave up.

The easiest part is beating the actual nicotine addiction. Much harder is beating the behaviour and routine of smoking. It is associated with lots of other pleasurable activities lots of which have been described in other posts e.g drink and tab, stopping somewhere scenic on the bike brew and fag, coffee and fag and 5 minutes peace before starting the day. People often use stressful times in their lives to smoke or start again. Nicotine makes it worse but the association with all other pleasurable activities make it seem 'soothing'

It can be done and its not inhaling burning dried out leafs which is something that is difficult but whats in our own heads.

As for Mr Elefant. Trolls like him depend on the distance of forums such as this to be arseholes.

 

[MickF]

Smoking

Just coming up to six months off the evil weed after almost thirty years of smoking. I had tried on numerous occasions to quit but honestly never took it seriously until this time round. I booked a session with a hypnotist for a Saturday morning and decided the previous Monday that this was it. No more ciggies. I smoked for the week and went to the hypnotist on the Saturday morning. I certainly found the session very relaxing and can't honestly say it made me give up smoking. It did help me towards focusing on why I shouldn't smoke. I was at the stage of being willing to try anything to quit. My 13 year old daughter used to ask me why I was trying to kill myself. I felt so guilty I made up my mind my time had come. If someone told me I could have quit by standing on one leg facing due south while reading an Argus catalogue I would have tried it!! There were times when I felt like smoking. I was even going to buy a pack, smoke one, and then bin the rest, or so I promised myself!! I managed to avoid the temptation and at this stage I have absolutely no desire to smoke. I found that taking doses of vitamin C and B helped curb the urge. I have promised my kid €500 if the find me with a lit cigarette in my hand. They constantly tell me how delighted they are I'm eventually off the cigarettes. I believe it was their constant disproval that pressured me in to quitting. All I can say is that one is never too late to quit. For years I used every excuse to justify my habit. I feel more energetic and have stopped the chesty wheezing. People had warned me I would immediately get struck down with every type of bug and flu after quitting but so far I haven't even got what was my usual winter flu. Go ahead and make the change in your life that will add real value and quality to your day.

 

[markc]

Children are certainly a powerful motivation. My son came to live with me when he was 7 after his mum died. He was obviously traumatised by this loss and became obsessed with the health of his immediate family as he was worried about losing anyone else. One christmas on his list he wrote that for Christmas he wanted me to give up smoking. How could I turn that down.

I drew the line at the ££££s worth of electronic gizmo's he had also asked for

 

[tima]

Good luck to anyone giving up. Some of the websites have a list of the changes and feelings you experience when quitting: Day 1: you'll feel this, but your body is already repairing itself by doing that; Day 2: blah, actually very helpful indeed. Me and the Mrs did it at the same time. We did a couple of years off the fags then knocked the booze on the head by reading this. No witchcraft, just a neat, succinct explosion of all the myths about why we drink (to relax, feel confident, celebrate etc etc). That was nearly 3 years ago - I really recommend the books, either for smoking or drinking. Same price as a pack of 20.

 

[Cogs]

Bit of a milestone...

I have been quit for 9 Months, 3 Weeks, 3 Days, 19 hours and 24 minutes (300 days). I have saved £451.20 by not smoking 3,008 cigarettes. My Quit Date: 20/04/2010 00:30



....and I still get cravings but they're easier to resist

 

[Cogs]

One whole year!!!!

Yep, today is my 1st anniversary, 12 months since my last roll up. Woo Hooooo!

And i could still murder one sometimes...

You're never an ex-smoker, just a smoker who doesn't...

 

[JJ's GS]

Yep, today is my 1st anniversary, 12 months since my last roll up. Woo Hooooo!

And i could still murder one sometimes...

You're never an ex-smoker, just a smoker who doesn't...

Well done Cogs nice one

I personally have had a bad couple of weeks and yes I started again , but just bought some patches and will be off them again tomorrow.
I must remember to check this thread more often as it helped me a lot at the start and unfortunately that's where I am again.

The bad news for you guys is that I will probably have to moan about it over the next few days to help me feel better, so apologies now.


JJ

 

[Cogs]

Feel free to moan, this thread helped me a lot in the early days. Only right we return the favour!

 

[(RIP) DitchWater]

Still Going Strong'ish...

...after having taken one of Roy's menthal abonimations last weekend at the Tossers Spring Camp Out. That was the only failure in over a year and a small one under the circumstances: Last two standing and finishing off the booze.

I too still feel the urge but I aim not to fail and am glad to have put up with the withdrawal symptoms and do not want to go back to the habit.

Well done too all who are successful and good luck to those who have strayed.

 

[Cogs]

From Quitkeeper...

I have been quit for 1 Year, 4 Months, 1 Week, 5 Days, 9 hours and 27 minutes (500 days). I have saved £750.58 by not smoking 5,003 cigarettes. I have saved 2 Months, 1 Week, 1 Day, 11 hours and 40 minutes of my life. My Quit Date: 20/04/2010 00:30

 

[Paul G (BHT)]

I have been quit for 1 Year, 4 Months, 1 Week, 5 Days, 9 hours and 27 minutes (500 days). I have saved £750.58 by not smoking 5,003 cigarettes. I have saved 2 Months, 1 Week, 1 Day, 11 hours and 40 minutes of my life. My Quit Date: 20/04/2010 00:30

... and i could still murder one sometimes...

No wonder you keep getting the 'I could still murder one sometimes' feeling, stop reminding yourself of the days, hours, minutes etc

 

[Deleted account 231002001]

Gave up overnight 10 years ago and haven't touched one since.

 

[codcutter]

I gave up when my (ex) partner was pregnant with my daughter who is now 27.
What seemed really strange at the time was that i couldn't stand the smell after only a week, whereas now if someone is smoking near me it doesn't bother me too much.
Weighed in at a pretty healthy 13 - 14st, went to 17 within the first 6 months and am now the wrong side of 19 (does that make me a S/M/or Large tosser???)
Apart from the partaking of a few "party ciggies" while in oz have managed to stay away from the "evil weed" but chocolate seems to have taken its place.
My current partner gave up in 2002 and is STILL using the nicotine replacement tablets/sweets
The saving money theory hasn't worked either, i'm still skint but do have 3 bikes in the garage
But i suppose that if any one needs an incentive nowadays, the fact that sparking up a tailor made will be 30p ?? out of your pocket should do it

 

[Cogs]

No wonder you keep getting the 'I could still murder one sometimes' feeling, stop reminding yourself of the days, hours, minutes etc

I don't look at the minutes etc, it was just the headline "500 days" that I wanted to share, sorry for poor editting.

But knowing how long I've NOT succumbed and how much 'clean' time I'd sacrifice if I started again....

I'm now fitter than I was on the fags and actually thinner

Glad I posted, it's at least bumped the thread out of the cellar

CoGS