Giving up smoking
Discussion
I know this has been done to death (no pun intended) but I'm struggling a little.
I've cut down from 20-30 a day to just a few, maybe max 5, in the evenings but I can't make that final jump to completely stopping - I don't know why. When I have the urge during the day I simply brush it aside and can deal with it but the evening thing is really annoying me.
Not having any smokes in the house doesn't help because I simply go and get some so i can have the odd one.
Any ideas?
I've cut down from 20-30 a day to just a few, maybe max 5, in the evenings but I can't make that final jump to completely stopping - I don't know why. When I have the urge during the day I simply brush it aside and can deal with it but the evening thing is really annoying me.
Not having any smokes in the house doesn't help because I simply go and get some so i can have the odd one.
Any ideas?
Very timely - its been 12 months pretty much to the day that I quit for good.
However, it took me about a year of just having one/two per day to finally saying good bye to the dirty things forever.
There does come a point when you finally stop counting the individual days since your last one, but until then, or until this weak patch passes, keep away from sexy women that smoke & drink!! Also un-supportive smoker buddies / 'friends'... They hate the fact you are trying to do what they arn't strong enough to try. Be warned!
However, it took me about a year of just having one/two per day to finally saying good bye to the dirty things forever.
There does come a point when you finally stop counting the individual days since your last one, but until then, or until this weak patch passes, keep away from sexy women that smoke & drink!! Also un-supportive smoker buddies / 'friends'... They hate the fact you are trying to do what they arn't strong enough to try. Be warned!
Last week I didn't smoke from tuesday to thurs night, then smoked pretty much most of the weekend visiting friends and being out drinking.
Got back on Sunday, finished the two in a packet and haven't smoked since. I don't think I'll smoke again. I've not been getting urges, but the evening is the hardest bit. I'm not going to the pub, I had a beer last night and only had to tell myself once that I didn't want to smoke.
It really is a stupid habit. Noticing the smell on others now helps with my motivation.
Got back on Sunday, finished the two in a packet and haven't smoked since. I don't think I'll smoke again. I've not been getting urges, but the evening is the hardest bit. I'm not going to the pub, I had a beer last night and only had to tell myself once that I didn't want to smoke.
It really is a stupid habit. Noticing the smell on others now helps with my motivation.
Is there anything creative you can do to occupy your mind?
I get involved in music and then forget about wanting one. I recently moved and made a rule of no smoking inside. So would always stand at the back door. Now when I'm in the house and doing something, I'm out of the habit of just lighting up, and it seems to help. Before I would be doing some music, and just making a rollie without thinking about it.
Making it a conscience decision to go and smoke has helped me consider it more.
I get involved in music and then forget about wanting one. I recently moved and made a rule of no smoking inside. So would always stand at the back door. Now when I'm in the house and doing something, I'm out of the habit of just lighting up, and it seems to help. Before I would be doing some music, and just making a rollie without thinking about it.
Making it a conscience decision to go and smoke has helped me consider it more.
Glassman said:
Asterix said:
BliarOut said:
Get the Alan Carr book.
Read it three times 
Two weeks later he was back on 'em.
condor said:
Glassman said:
Asterix said:
BliarOut said:
Get the Alan Carr book.
Read it three times Two weeks later he was back on 'em.
Glassman said:
condor said:
Glassman said:
Asterix said:
BliarOut said:
Get the Alan Carr book.
Read it three times Two weeks later he was back on 'em.
I quit a couple of months ago, had one ciggie since, and a couple of cigars, but definitely broke the habit.
I've tried once before to quit, and simply went cold turkey thinking I had the will power to smash the habit - and failed miserably having smoked for quite some time.
This time round I quit as a spur of the moment thing. Went to the cash and carry and got a big jar of chupa chups lollies to help me get past the oral / fidgety fingers fixation, and stopped off at tesco on the way home to get some NiQuitin lozenges.
Ordered myself an NHS quit smoking pack which was a load of guff, and a couple of mp3's they give you a link to which at first I dismissed as being in the same vein as homeopathy and the like, but the one time I listened to them I'll admit they did take my mind off the slight craving I had at the time.
The lozenges work really well in taking the edge off. They're only 4mg nicotine but they really do help take that 'I want to rip everyone's face off their big fat ugly heads' feeling you get now and then. I had 10 ciggies left, and followed the instructions on the nicotine lozenges which basically said have a lozenge when you want a smoke. I think I had 2 ciggies the day I decided it was time to quit, 2 the next day and binned them after that. I struggled to have the amount of nicotene lozenges they recommended (they're like minty asprins at first, and christ do they give you a dry mouth), but so far it's worked for me.
Still on the lozenges, but only a couple a day. Feel great for it too Had a ciggie when I was hammered a few weeks back and got absolutely nothing from it. It gets a shed load easier after the first week but you still get the odd craving I've noticed even a month or two down the line.
Because I frequently work from home I could sit and smoke myself stupid over the course of a day, hence the fidgety finger / oral fixation. The lollies helped deal with that for the first couple of weeks but I got bored of them just at the right time.
The Alan Carr book is great too, but I found the lozenges and chuppa chups - and the fact I no longer wanted to smell like an ash tray regardless of how much I loved my marlboros - helped infinitely.
Best of luck quitting mate, it's a git of an addiction to break at first, but it does get a lot easier
I've tried once before to quit, and simply went cold turkey thinking I had the will power to smash the habit - and failed miserably having smoked for quite some time.
This time round I quit as a spur of the moment thing. Went to the cash and carry and got a big jar of chupa chups lollies to help me get past the oral / fidgety fingers fixation, and stopped off at tesco on the way home to get some NiQuitin lozenges.
Ordered myself an NHS quit smoking pack which was a load of guff, and a couple of mp3's they give you a link to which at first I dismissed as being in the same vein as homeopathy and the like, but the one time I listened to them I'll admit they did take my mind off the slight craving I had at the time.
The lozenges work really well in taking the edge off. They're only 4mg nicotine but they really do help take that 'I want to rip everyone's face off their big fat ugly heads' feeling you get now and then. I had 10 ciggies left, and followed the instructions on the nicotine lozenges which basically said have a lozenge when you want a smoke. I think I had 2 ciggies the day I decided it was time to quit, 2 the next day and binned them after that. I struggled to have the amount of nicotene lozenges they recommended (they're like minty asprins at first, and christ do they give you a dry mouth), but so far it's worked for me.
Still on the lozenges, but only a couple a day. Feel great for it too
Had a ciggie when I was hammered a few weeks back and got absolutely nothing from it. It gets a shed load easier after the first week but you still get the odd craving I've noticed even a month or two down the line. Because I frequently work from home I could sit and smoke myself stupid over the course of a day, hence the fidgety finger / oral fixation. The lollies helped deal with that for the first couple of weeks but I got bored of them just at the right time.
The Alan Carr book is great too, but I found the lozenges and chuppa chups - and the fact I no longer wanted to smell like an ash tray regardless of how much I loved my marlboros - helped infinitely.
Best of luck quitting mate, it's a git of an addiction to break at first, but it does get a lot easier
Writing as a 25 year 10-20/day smoker.
Everything has to feel 'right' before you can do it. You build up to it, imagining in your mind how much better things will be without them. You know they're expensive, they make you smell, discolour your teeth, and cost you a couple of grand a year. ETA: And you'll die young, of course.
I chose to give up when I went on holiday, no way I could have done it during my normal routine at home/work. Eat/drink/**** whatever it takes. After a few weeks, you'll get used to the idea. After that, it gets really difficult. Every time you get near mates with cigarettes, you'll be tempted.
After 4 years I tried one drag thinking I'd hate it, but it was still just as enticing as when I was 10 years old. After 5 years, I treated myself to a cigar, but I'd be very wary of cigarettes. I might have another after 10 years.
Stay strong, and you can do it. Good luck!
Everything has to feel 'right' before you can do it. You build up to it, imagining in your mind how much better things will be without them. You know they're expensive, they make you smell, discolour your teeth, and cost you a couple of grand a year. ETA: And you'll die young, of course.
I chose to give up when I went on holiday, no way I could have done it during my normal routine at home/work. Eat/drink/**** whatever it takes. After a few weeks, you'll get used to the idea. After that, it gets really difficult. Every time you get near mates with cigarettes, you'll be tempted.
After 4 years I tried one drag thinking I'd hate it, but it was still just as enticing as when I was 10 years old. After 5 years, I treated myself to a cigar, but I'd be very wary of cigarettes. I might have another after 10 years.
Stay strong, and you can do it. Good luck!
Edited by -Pete- on Tuesday 27th July 22:35
I've tried and failed many times over the last 25 years to give up. To get you over the initial few weeks, Champix, on prescription, is fantastic. I can normally manage 6 months at a time, then I weaken for whatever reason...........
At the moment, I've got an electronic cigarette, which I use when I'm driving. It's a very acceptable substitute, and it has reduced the number of cigarettes I smoke during the day. I used to smoke mostly when I was driving - I do about 1000 miles a week, and now I don't smoke for those 40 hours a week. It's chipping away at it, but every little helps.
Good luck with it, and don't get too disheartened if you don't do it this time. Every cigarette you don't smoke is helping your health, appearance and smell.
At the moment, I've got an electronic cigarette, which I use when I'm driving. It's a very acceptable substitute, and it has reduced the number of cigarettes I smoke during the day. I used to smoke mostly when I was driving - I do about 1000 miles a week, and now I don't smoke for those 40 hours a week. It's chipping away at it, but every little helps.
Good luck with it, and don't get too disheartened if you don't do it this time. Every cigarette you don't smoke is helping your health, appearance and smell.
The hardest part is deciding you are going to give up and when you have decided it is not for you you have to keep reminding yourself that you are now a non smoker.
Look at other people smoking and tell yourself how stupid they look.
It helps a lot if you stop drinking alcohol for the first couple of weeks because fags & booze have always gone together.
Don't go around with other smokers, avoid them like the plague.
Tell everyone you have given up, it will make you feel better about yourself and you would feel a right plonker if you went back to smoking again.
If you like curries go for the milder one, as your usual will taste a lot hotter.
Take it week by week and after a month you are a bit closer to being a n/s
Took me a couple of years before I started to completely stop thing about 'I'll just have one' if you do you will be back up to 20/day within a week.
Don't waste money on patches as all you are doing is perpetuating the addiction for longer, you can do it quicker without them, the craving is worse but it wears off quicker.
Work out how much you were spending each week and do a standing order for the same amount to a deposit account. You will see it increase and think about what you are going to buy with it when you have decided you are no longer a smoker.
Good luck you can do it.
Look at other people smoking and tell yourself how stupid they look.
It helps a lot if you stop drinking alcohol for the first couple of weeks because fags & booze have always gone together.
Don't go around with other smokers, avoid them like the plague.
Tell everyone you have given up, it will make you feel better about yourself and you would feel a right plonker if you went back to smoking again.
If you like curries go for the milder one, as your usual will taste a lot hotter.
Take it week by week and after a month you are a bit closer to being a n/s
Took me a couple of years before I started to completely stop thing about 'I'll just have one' if you do you will be back up to 20/day within a week.
Don't waste money on patches as all you are doing is perpetuating the addiction for longer, you can do it quicker without them, the craving is worse but it wears off quicker.
Work out how much you were spending each week and do a standing order for the same amount to a deposit account. You will see it increase and think about what you are going to buy with it when you have decided you are no longer a smoker.
Good luck you can do it.
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